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Podcast

MOV120: “Suck It, Douchebag!”

In this episode of COL Movies it’s a veritable world tour as the boys head around the globe. First, it’s off to Hong Kong where the boys head back in time to check out the 1993 martial arts super-heroine film, “The Heroic Trio”. From there we’re back in the USA where we head to NYC to see how the bike messengers operate in “Premium Rush”. Finally we’re off to jolly old England to review the trailer for the much anticipated Bond film, “Skyfall” (not to be confused with that piece of junk, “Skyline”). All this and news about the upcoming film adaptation of the “Metal Gear Solid” game, more “Robocop” stuff, and how you might be able to catch “The Avengers” on the big screen again if you missed it the first time around. All this and more on this 120th reel of COL Movies – “Suck it, Douchebag!”

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News:

The Past: The Heroic Trio (1992)
Rotten Tomatoes 88% Fresh; 61% Audience

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Director: Johnnie To

Staring: Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung

Trivia:

  • The film has a huge cult following
  • Maggie Cheung was a recent Miss Hong Kong when she filmed the movie.
  • Anita Mui died in 2003 from cervical cancer after a long movie and singing career, through which she earned the moniker “The Madonna of Asia” for being very controversial with her content.
  • Lots of comparisons are made to this and the McG movie, “Charlie’s Angels”

Talking Points:

  • What the hell did I just watch?
  • Did they just blow up a sewer full of babies?

What We Learned:

  • Chinese superhero movies can be really wacky!

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: *blink, blink, blink* What did I just watch? Wait, there’s a sequel? Why did Michelle Yoeh do this movie? /cry. Plus side, Retrograde is still worse.
Ray: I love me some old Kung Fu / martial arts movies..many of hours of my childhood were wasted watching Samurai Sunday! Something about this just didn’t hold up… Maybe back in 1993 this would have been more entertaining to me, but something about the production comes off like a bad 80’s kung fu soft core porno, I can see why people seem to like this though.There are plenty of unintentionally funny moments. So maybe
Steve: I always remembered seeing this movie and wondered what other people would think. It’s fantastical, of course – but an interesting play on female superheros. It’s a movie where you have to just let go and enjoy the ride.

The Present: Premium Rush
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Fresh; 70% Audience

Director: David Koepp

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez

Trivia:

  • While filming, Joseph Gordon-Levitt rode his bike into a cab and smashed into the rear windshield, shattering it. He managed to block his face with his arms and needed 31 stitches on the right. Despite the large amount of blood streaming down his arm, he thought it was “f**king cool.” He took responsibility saying, “No, but it was my fault, I was going too fast.” Footage after the accident is shown in the end credits before the cast is listed.
  • Premium Rush was shot simultaneously as “Triple Rush” the TV docu-reality series about bike messengers in NY was wrapping up. And many of the stunt doubles and characters from the underground TV series appear in the movie
  • Bobby Monday’s use of the alias Forrest J Ackerman is a tribute to the real Forey Ackerman, noted (literary) science fiction and horror movie fan and memorabilia collector (and coiner of the term “sci fi” (1959)). He appeared in 48 movies in either bit parts or cameos, represented Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and even Hugo Gernsbeck (the “Hugo” after which the award is named) as their literary agent, and was widely regarded as a first-person source of historical veritas within Hollywood (due to his personal relationships with the the likes of Vincent Price, Karloff, and George Pal), and the Science Fiction community (see above).
  • Although some of the scenes are filmed at Columbia Law School, as stated in the movie, most of the interior and exterior scenes supposedly there are actually filmed in Lerner Hall (the student center).

Talking Points:

  • Does the film send a mixed message about illegal human trafficking?
  • “Sherlock Holmes” moments
  • 90% riding, about 10% dialogue
  • The Asian Bodyguards – woofy!

Critic Notes

  • Positives: The pace doesn’t give you much time to think about plausibility; The riding is thrilling through realistic NYC traffic; Not that it’s exactly Shakespeare, but it is entertaining; Michael Shannon is definitely a memorable bad guy; an adrenaline rush
  • Negatives: (not many negatives) Writers should have “put on the brakes”; Too cartoonish and unbelievable; Just never comes together because of a lack of consistent tone; While interesting, it just gets repetitive

What We Learned:

  • You can’t be zen if you’re wearing a gold chain.
  • Snorting Ritalin makes taking the Bar Exam a cakewalk
  • Brakes are death
  • The Hawala settles it’s own problems
  • The city is not your village.
  • The Bike wants to go fast.

Trailer:

Recommendations :
Jeff: I was never sure exactly what to expect in this movie but did seem like it would at least be somewhat fun. Wow, it was better then I thought it would be. The bike riding gave me a similar feeling to Run Lola Run. It was exciting at times but the bad guy was just annoying. But that could have also been the point. See it as a Matinee or wait for DVD.
Ray: Went in with really low expectations, but ended up really enjoying it. Is it as smart as everyone has been saying? Production wise for sure.. not so sure that the story is all that smart, but it’s not bad for a turn your brain off and enjoy the ride kinda flick. Great for a $5 Matinee
Steve: I didn’t think I would like this, but I have to admit that I wound up really enjoying it. I liked seeing it in the theater for the feeling as though I was watching it in one of those video rollercoaster rides. I don’t know how much I cared for the whole “cops are stupid or murderers” vibe, but I got how it was part of the plot.

The Future: Skyfall

Release: November 9, 2012

Director: Sam Mendes

Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Judi Dench

Summary:

Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost

Talking Points:

  • How big of a bond fan are you?
  • Does it feel like a blend of Bond and Bourne?

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: It’s Bond. There’s no reason why I wouldn’t see this. I’m excited for the new Q.
Ray: Sort of torn.. I like Daniel Craig, and i loved Casino Royale.. but Quantum was a big stinker for me… I’m hoping for good things though. I’ve seen almost every Bond flick multiple times.. even if this wasn’t already on the list I know I would see it eventually.
Steve: Comes off a bit of Bond and Bourne mixed. I’ve never been a super Bond fan, but this one does seem like I’d be more interested because it’s not the standard “Bond’s on a case” type film.

The Past: Noises Off!

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The Present: Lawless

The Future: Wreck-It Ralph

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MOV099: “A Titan Against A Titan!!”

In this reel of COL Movies, it’s a veritable Titan-fest, when the boys review both the 1981 and 2010 versions of “Clash of the Titans”. Of course, this leads them to the current follow-up to the 2010 movie, “Wrath of the Titans”. Are these “epic” tales even…um…epic? In trailer-world, they review the historical “mash up” novel come to life in “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”, slated for a June release. Finally, in news, the boys break down the best movie-related April Fools jokes they found. All this and we’re only 1 episode away from our historical 100th episode!! It’s the 99th reel of COL Movies…”A Titan Against A Titan!!”

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News:

The Past: Clash of the Titans (1981)
Rotten Tomatoes: 65% Fresh, 69% Audience

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Director: Desmond Davis

Starring: Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Claire Bloom

Trivia:

  • This big budget 1981 release became the last feature film for which Ray Harryhausen created the special effects. It was also the only one in which he had assistants.
  • According to mythology there was Cerberus, the THREE-headed dog but no Dioskilos with two. They asked Ray Harryhausen why he didn’t use a three-headed dog, and he said it takes too much time to animate the extra head.
  • Ironically, none of the Titans from Greek mythology appear in Clash of the Titans. In the movie the Titans are the Norse Kraken (who never appeared in Greek mythology at all) and Medusa (who was never considered a Titan by the Greeks).
  • The character Calibos, son of Thetis, does not appear in Greek mythology.
  • Bubo, the mechanical owl, was introduced to capitalize on the popularity of R2-D2 from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The name “Bubo” is a scientific term for the genus of eagle owls and horned owls, which is interesting because the robot Bubo is modeled on a barn owl, which is the genus Tyto, and not a Bubo at all.

Trailer

The Past: Clash of the Titans (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes: 28% Rotten, 48% Audience

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Director: Louis Leterrier

Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes

Trivia:

  • Director Louis Leterrier frequently requested that Ray Harryhausen, co-producer and visual effects creator of Clash of the Titans, be involved in the film. However, Harryhausen had retired in 1981 and would not be drawn back.
  • The mechanical owl Bubo from Clash of the Titans has a cameo as the toy Perseus picks up before he leaves on his quest. According to the filmmakers, the cameo was widely debated as to whether to keep it in the film or not. It was eventually decided to keep it in the film to please the fans of the original film.
  • While the film is primarily based on Greco-Roman mythology, aspects of it are drawn from other cultures. The Kraken comes from Norse mythology, and the Djinn originated in the Arabian/Oriental regions, while Cepheus’s snipe about Perseus being a missionary might hint at the coming Christianity (Christians often served as missionaries).
  • In Greek mythology, Io is Perseus’ great great great great great great great grandmother, and an old flame of his father Zeus.
  • This film begins with a set of constellations portraying history’s events. Clash of the Titans ended with a set of constellations portraying history’s events (though not the same constellations).
  • Sam Worthington’s sandals are Nike trainers with toes painted on them; he didn’t wear sandals because he needed shoes to perform the stunts well.
  • A replica of the owl Bubo used in Clash of the Titans was used for this film. Sam Worthington hated it and threatened to destroy it when director Louis Leterrier wasn’t looking. According to Leterrier, “Worthington would say: ‘This is ridiculous! This is a ridiculous thing to have in the movie! You’re going to ruin my career with that owl!’
  • Louis Leterrier originally wanted to make the film in 3D but Warner Brothers nixed the idea as it was too expensive. After the success of Avatar, the studio reconsidered. At this stage, however, most of the filming had been done so the 3D conversion was a retrofit.
  • The 3D conversion cost $10 million
  • Louis Leterrier donned a green suit for the green screen sequences so that he could act out the part of the Kraken.
  • The Stygian Witches were actually played by men.
  • Luke Evans plays Apollo, a son of Zeus. He went on to play Zeus himself a year later in Immortals.
  • According to the director, the movie was meant to end with Perseus and Andromeda ending up together (as in all previous tellings of the Perseus story) with Perseus and Io’s relationship being purely platonic. However the studio disliked this idea and the movie was re-shot to have Perseus and Io end up together.

Trailer

Talking Points:

  • Story Differences

What We’ve Learned:

  • Throwing your unwed daughter and grandson into the sea is a perfectly acceptable solution to the teen pregnancy problem in greece
  • 100 good deeds cannot atone for one murder
  • The moon affects the brain
  • Divine gifts should be accepted without question
  • Don’t fuck with the gods….literally

Recommendations:
Jeff: In all honesty, I think I like the 1981 Story better. I would have loved to see what it would have been like with the 2010 technology. The Owl may have been a bit silly and might have been some consessions to remove it for a 2010 version, but still, would have liked it better if they stayed true to the original. In either way I think both movies are enjoyable and watchable. Rentals for sure, wish Netflix had them on streaming.
Ray: I will always pick the 1981 version over the 2010. For me the 1981 version is at it’s heart an old fashioned adventure epic. The 2010 version just felt like a revenge film… with no sense of adventure. Skip seeing 2010 clash in 3D (blu-ray), I watched 90% of it with my glasses off.
Steve: 1981 version blows the 2010 version away! OK…1981 doesn’t hold up as far as the technology, but it was totally epic when it came out. It also comes off much more slowly paced, but that helps in the build up of the big fights and you actually feel for the characters. 2010 just seems like it wanted to update the film and it didn’t have the same feeling. It was just a film about mythology that was fun to watch – in 2D.

The Present: Wrath of the Titans
Rotten Tomatoes: 24% Rotten; 52% Audience

Directors: Jonathan Liebesman

Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Rosamund Pike

Trivia:

  • Javier Bardem was considered for the role of Ares, and James Franco was considered to play Agenor. Ultimately Édgar Ramírez and Toby Kebbell were cast.
  • The role of Andromeda was recast in this movie, and contenders were Hayley Atwell, Georgina Haig, Janet Montgomery, Dominique McElligott and Clémence Poésy. She was previously portrayed by Alexa Davalos.
  • Alexa Davalos is the only surviving cast member not to return, citing she was ‘unavailable’ for the sequel. Rosamund Pike was then cast as Andromeda.
  • Gemma Arterton was originally supposed to return, but scheduling conflicts with Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters prevented the actress from taking the role.
  • The title in Spanish for the first movie (and the old one) is “Furia de Titanes”, Which in English means Wrath of the Titans, the name of this sequel.
  • Hephaestus is seen conversing with Bubo, the mechanical owl from Clash of the Titans.

Talking Points:

  • The story of father and son.
  • Forced “epic” nature
  • Mythology and plot holes

What We Learned:

  • There are no good gods
  • There are many useless demigods
  • When a god dies it isn’t death, just absence
  • Its perfectly acceptable to use the plural form of the word Titan in the title of your movie when in fact there maybe only ONE or maybe even NO Titans is your film.

Trailer:

Recommendations :
Jeff: This movie was very enjoyable to me. It did feel epic at time but the hooks
Ray: I enjoyed this much more than the Clash remake, I think they would have been better off skipping clash and just made this the first time. Critics are calling this “Bland” although I’m not sure why exactly. It’s not great, but it was entertaining and they could have done worse. 3D was used to much better effect in this one and actually got a flinch outta me. And god damn it STOP TEASING ME WITH THE OWL!
Steve: My biggest problem with this movie was that it felt like it was trying to convince me it was this “epic” that really didn’t reach that pinnacle. There were definitely some plot holes that annoyed me and some big liberties taken with the mythology. I thought it was better than the 2010 Clash, but just for the pure entertainment value.

The Future: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Release: 6-22-2012

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper

Summary:

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them. President Lincoln’s mother was killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

Talking Points

  • Tom Hardy was approached for the title role of Lincoln, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts with The Dark Knight Rises. Later, Eric Bana, Timothy Olyphant, Adrien Brody, Josh Lucas, James D’Arcy and Oliver Jackson-Cohen were considered to play the role before Benjamin Walker was cast.
  • Joaquin Phoenix was the first choice for the role of Henry Sturgess, but turned it down.
  • Is said that the film will mix numerous historical parts of the American Civil War with the book’s rich “vampire hunter” imagery.
  • Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was originally scheduled to be released in 2D and 3D on October 28, 2011, but was later pushed back to June 22, 2012.
  • What do you think about the mix of a historical real life person being portrayed in this way?

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: I’ve wanted to see this kind of movie since I heard about the book. The trailer didn’t impress me much besides show me the tone of the movie. I’d love to go see this.
Ray: Wait you mean this isn’t a comedy? WTF. I’m excited that Timur is directing, that’s about it.
Steve: Personally, it looks very Sherlock Holmes, but I am excited about seeing what comes of it. Looks like it was very well shot and it will have an interesting storyline.

The Past:

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The Present:

The Future:

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MOV062: “I know you are, but what am I?”

Take off those training wheels and go on a whimsical bike ride back to 1985 where we examine the silly campy and sometimes creepy Pee-Wee Herman in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. Was this Tim Burton / Danny Elfman debut a match made in heaven? or does it crash and burn in hell like a bad twisted sister video? Next the boys dissapperate to Hogwarts one last time to discuss the spectacle that is Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2. Does the film live up to expectations and end the franchise in a way fans of the movies and book series were hoping for? Or does the movie cast a killing curse on the future careers of its child actors? Next we bound into the future to take a look at the film Abduction, does twilight start Taylor Lautner have the chops to be an action star or will we be putting this one down with a silver bullet? All this and news about Dwarves, Kryptonians, Eco-Terrorists and Gunslingers on this reel of COL Movies! I know you are, but what am I?

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The Past: Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Fresh; 66% Audience

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Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Paul Rubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger

Trivia:

  • Tim Burton’s Directorial Debut, Danny Elfman’s first film score.
  • Jan hooks improvised her dialogue for the Alamo scenes
  • During the magic shop scene, Mario shows Pee-wee heads of different sizes. The largest head that he shows Pee-wee last is actually Aleister Crowley.
  • The Drive-in sequence was filmed at the Studio Drive In, formerly located in Culver City CA. The Studio was built in the 1930s, and was the first Drive-in Theatre constructed in California. It served as a set for several films, including Grease. It was closed in 1993 and demolished in 1998. No trace of this Drive-in remains.

Talking Points:

  • Who does this appeal to OR was it supposed to appeal to when it came out?
  • Who even knew this was a Tim Burton film back in the day? I can totally see it now…but had no idea then.

What We’ve Learned:

  • Don’t cut the tags off your mattress
  • The Alamo doesn’t have a basement
  • Never let Pee-Wee drive your car
  • Convertibles have built in parachutes
  • You can’t just wish and hope for something to come true you have to make it happen
  • Tell em Large Marge sent ya!

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: This was a well put together movie. That being said, this was a complete waste of my time.
Ray: A film that combines the child like zaniness of Pee-Wee and the slight tinge of the bizarre ala Tim Burton and what do you get? A film you can’t go wrong with.
Steve: Pee Wee is Pee Wee. You either love him or hate him. I like the quotables and cameos in the movie, but don’t much care for the movie in is entirety.

The Present: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Fresh; 93% Audience

Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes,

Trivia:

  • When David Heyman was asked if there were any actors that he wished had been in the series but never were, he answered Eileen Atkins, Ian McKellen, Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Craig, James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff. He now wished to work with them in future projects. Daniel Radcliffe would have loved to see Helen Mirren, Judi Dench and Stephen Fry (the narrator of the UK Harry Potter audio-books.)
  • The last of eight movies based on the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling.
  • This film is the only Harry Potter film to be released in 3D in cinemas in their entirety (only select scenes were available for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and only in IMAX).
  • It had been reported that, due to her commitment to Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, Emma Thompson would be unable to appear in this film. However, she was able to return shortly before the end of filming to once again play Professor Trelawney. She joins her real-life sister Sophie Thompson, as well as her Nanny McPhee cast mates Maggie Smith, Rhys Ifans and Ralph Fiennes.
  • It was reported that a huge blaze wrecked the Hogwarts set after a battle scene went spectacularly wrong. According to the report, explosives used in action sequences set light to scenery for the wizardry school, and that firefighters battled for 40 minutes to bring the flames under control but the set – centerpiece for the film’s Battle of Hogwarts climax – was left badly damaged. It was later confirmed that the fire was greatly exaggerated, and that the set that had been damaged was going to need be rebuilt anyway for use in another scene. Some actors were still filming at the studio but none of the movie’s biggest stars – Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione) or Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) – were involved. No one was injured.
  • Kate Winslet was first considered for and reportedly offered the role of Helena Ravenclaw. The role was rejected by her agent before she was able to consider it, believing that Winslet would not want to “follow suit with every other actor in Britain by being a part of Harry Potter”. The role subsequently went to Kelly Macdonald.
  • John Hurt and Jim Broadbent previously appeared together in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. George Harris appeared in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
  • In the two parts of this movie, Hermione impersonates both Mafalda Hopkirk; played by Emma Thompson’s sister Sophie Thompson; and Bellatrix Lestrange; played by Helena Bonham Carter, who played Emma’s sister in Howards End.
  • Most of the events in this film – from the raid of Gringotts to the Battle of Hogwarts – take place over the course of a single day.
  • In the story, Voldemort has created several Horcruxes in an attempt to cheat death. Appropriately, his name is French for “Flight of Death” or it can also mean “Stealer/Cheater of death”.
  • Alan Rickman, Bonnie Wright, Devon Murray, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Geraldine Somerville, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Robbie Coltrane, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Josh Herdman and Warwick Davis (as Prof. Flitwick and/or Griphook the Goblin) are the only actors to have appeared in all eight movies.
  • As with the first half of the film, Warwick Davis’s company, Willow Personnel Management, was called upon to provide little people to portray the goblins at Gringotts.
  • When Harry goes into the Room of Requirement in the bottom left hand corner there is the knight that Ron rides from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
  • In every shot in which Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange appear together, she always moves so that she stands on his right, traditionally the position of the most loyal and trusted follower.

Talking Points:

  • Are we happy its over?
  • Now that it is over, will the actors be able to break out into new things?
  • Lack of exposition..did you like that or not?
  • 3D conversion… any good?
  • Did the Battle of Hogwarts live up to our expectations?
  • David Yates Letter to projectionists

What We Learned:

  • Do not pity the dead, Pity the living.

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: Amazing ending to the HP saga. Well worth the see. I paid for the 3D and it was well worth it. Not for the 3D, but because I like the movie that much.
Ray: A movie that mostly lived up to my expectations, if I had any complaints is that they should have made each of the last two films a little longer and gotten a little more character development in, I felt a little robbed of some of the more emotional scenes from the book. I thought the 3D was non existent for most of the film.
Steve: I definitely enjoyed it. Took on more of a horror tone and coloring for this film, which got me interested. Definitely not a kids movie. 3D was nice, in my humble opinion.

The Future: Abduction

Director: John Singleton
Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lily Colins, Alfred Molina

Trivia:

  • Principal photography began on July 12, 2010 in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. Lionsgate returned to the region due to tax benefits from Pennsylvania’s tax credit program, after filming My Bloody Valentine 3D, Warrior, and The Next Three Days there in 2008 and 2009.
  • An open casting call for extras held at Carnegie Mellon University drew over 900 people in June, many of whom were teenage fans of the Twilight film series.
  • Many of the film’s scenes were shot in suburban Mount Lebanon, and some others in Forward Township. Scenes were shot at Hampton High School in Hampton Township, a suburb north of Pittsburgh. The school’s name and mascot, the Talbot, will appear in the film, as well as real students, cheerleaders, and the marching band.

Talking Points:

  • Remind anyone of The Bourne Identity?

Summary:

For as long as he can remember, Nathan Price (Taylor Lautner) has had the uneasiest feeling that he is living someone else’s life. When he stumbles upon an image of himself as a little boy on a missing persons website, all of Nathan’s darkest fears come true: he realizes his parents are not his own and his life is a lie, carefully fabricated to hide something more mysterious and dangerous than he could have ever imagined. Just as he begins to piece together his true identity, Nathan is targeted by a team of trained killers, forcing him on the run with the only person he can trust, his neighbor, Karen (Lily Collins). Every second counts as Nathan and Karen race to evade an army of assassins and federal operatives. But as his opponents close in, Nathan realizes that the only way he will survive and solve the mystery of his elusive biological father is to stop running and take matters into his own hands

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: This trailer SCREAMS horrible movie. It looks fun, action shiney, but unlike Transformers, still tells me not to go see it.
Ray: This smells too much like a Bourne Franchise rip-off with a Twilight star thrown in to draw in that fan base.
Steve: Doesn’t look awful…but does seem like it’s just an opportunity for Lautner to do a solo project away from the Twilight gang. He has the goods to be an action star…now the question is if he can carry it.

Coming Attractions

The Past
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The Present

The Future

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MOV028: “Fair Warning, It Tastes Like Goblin Piss.”

Harry Potter, need I say more?

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News:

Feedback: Green Lantern Trailer

Joshua (Tyler TX) I still disagree with the casting of Ryan Reynolds for Hal.. he could be a good Kyle but Hal is really more of a stoic character with moments of humor I don’t mind the suit so much but it would have been nice to go with a more classic look to it. I did think Kilowog looked pretty good in the second he was on screen.

John John (Austin TX Via Fuzz’s FB) It’s pretty cool although some dislike the cg suit. Also Hal Jordan is a stoic character while Ryan Reynolds isn’t.

The Past:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

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Director:
1,2 Christopher Columbus
3 Alfonso Curon (Columbus Stayed on to Produce)
4 Mike Newell
5-7 David Yates (Tale of the Three Brothers Sequence Directed by Ben Hibon)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Dame Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane

Trivia:

  • 1- The movie and book are known as the “Philosopher’s” stone everywhere except the USA.. every scene where they said “Philosopher” was shot again with them saying “Sorcerer”
  • 1 – Richard Harris only agreed to play the role of Albus Dumbledore when his then 11 year old granddaughter threatened to never speak to him again if he didn’t take it
  • 2 – Nurses were drafted into the production due to an outbreak of head lice among the younger cast members.
  • 2 – Supposedly Russian Premier Vladimir Putin was deeply disturbed that Dobby the house elf was created in his image (unverified)
  • 3 – Sir Ian Mckellen turned down the role of Dumbledore – Having appeared as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, he said, “I had enough trouble living up to one legend. Two would be too much to hope for.”
  • 3 – Warner Brothers supplied ushers at cinemas with night vision goggles to prevent illegal recording and pirating of the film
  • 3 – In order to acquaint himself with his three lead actors, director Alfonso Cuarón had each of them write an essay about their characters, from a first-person point of view. Emma Watson, in true Hermione fashion, went a little overboard and wrote a 16-page essay. Daniel Radcliffe wrote a simple one-page summary, and Rupert Grint never even turned his in.
  • 4 – over 3000 girls showed up to audition for the part of Cho Chang
  • 4 – was orginially planned to be a 2 part movie released several months apart, but this decided against by Director Mike Newell at the recommendation of Azkaban Director Alfonso Curaon
  • 5- Dumbledore’s line “Don’t fight him, Harry, you can’t win” was featured prominently in just about every trailer and TV-spot, yet it is nowhere in the final version of the film, nor in the DVD’s extended scenes.
  • 5 – The Department of Mysteries set marks the first time that a totally computer-generated set was used throughout the movie
  • 5 – The only Harry Potter film not written by Steve Kloves.
  • 6 – This is the first Harry Potter film that does not feature any aspect of Defense Against the Dark Arts classes on screen, either direct (second through fifth films) or indirect (first film). The only mention of the subject occurs when Dumbledore announces Snape’s appointment to the open teaching position.
  • 6 – At the beginning of the film, the Death Eaters destroy the Millennium Bridge in London. In the Book it is actually the Brockdale Bridge that is destroyed, the Millenium Bridge was not built in the time period the Book is set in 1995-1996
  • 6 -The omission in this movie of the battle at Hogwarts between members of the Order of the Phoenix and Death Eaters was due to the fact that they writers did not want to seek repetition when they film the climactic battle of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Talking Points:

  • Did you read the books?
  • Favorite? Least Favorite?
  • Favorite Book?

What house would you be sorted into?

  • Steve: Ravenclaw: Witty, Intelligent & Capable
  • Fuzz: Gryffindor: Brave, Chivalrous, Courageous
  • Jeff: Hufflepuff: Loyal, Dependable, Hardworking

What is your patronus?

  • Jeff: Your Result: Your Patronus is a Hedgehog! – Bravery is your strong suit, and you are a kind creature to all, though your spiney exterior may make others think otherwise. You are proud of the strange parts of you that make you different!
  • Steve: Your Patronus is a Wolf! You work best in a close support group and are fiercely loyal to those you love. You are unbeatable in a group and incredibly strong even alone due to your cunning at getting the job done.
  • Fuzz: Your Patronus is a Wolf!

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: It’s such an enjoyable series. I just hate the Goblet of Fire, it’s just terrible. I still own it though.
Ray: The first two can come off very kid film.. but if you can get past that.. its a fun ride for the most part. Ill always recommend reading the books first though.
Steve: I really started enjoying them as they progressed to more adult adventure, versus kid level entertainment. It started with 3 for me and kept going.

The Present: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt 1

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter

Trivia:

  • M Night Shyamalan was interested in directing this one!
  • Guilermo Del Toro – Who Turned down Directing 1,2 and 3 because they were “too happy” to interest him expressed interest in directing this one.
  • First time that Brendan Gleeson, Michael Byrne, Peter Mullan, and David O’Hara have appeared in the same movie since Braveheart
  • Over 500 wands were created for the film. They are checked out and checked in before, during, and after the filming day is completed. Many came back broken.
  • First film in the franchise to cite “sensuality” as a concept for its MPAA rating.
  • First of the films to have J.K. Rowling as producer.

Talking Points:
3D version was cancelled?
3 Brothers Animation? Did that seem odd to anyone else?

What We Learned:
Harry Potter has a happy trail.
Hermoine overpacks! But she’s handy if you’re camping!

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: What? You didn’t go see this?
Ray: Great! but you will have no clue whats going on if you dont watch 1-6
Steve: Thoroughly enjoyed…must have seen the others to get anything though.

The Future: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt 2 (7-15-2011)

Starring: yah yah yah..

Talking Points:

  • Battle of Hogwarts… nuff said.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: I yield the floor to Fuzz
Ray: is it July Yet? Is it July yet? is it July yet?
Steve: I’ll be looking forward to it, but will be glad it’s all over! 🙂

Coming Attractions

The Past

The Present

The Future

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