Movies I've Seen, CW Emmy Mag insert...
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Maybe it was because I had no expectations. Maybe it was because it was 6am and I was eating popcorn the live organist played at the El Capitan (a single screen overpriced Disney owned theater here), but I really enjoyed this film. I didn’t hate Jake Gyllenhaal, his Basset hound face didn’t make me ill.
Holy sh*t, it’s Jake Gyllenhaal!
I thought he was quite fun and swashbuckling and rakish. Alfred Molina was great fun in his role and it was wonderful seeing Toby Krebell and Richard Coyle in a big budget film.
I judge sweeping, adventure films like “Prince of Persia” against “The Mummy” or “Mummy 3”. Is it as good as “The Mummy” or is it as terrible as “The Mummy 3”? It wasn’t as terrible as “The Mummy 3” so I was satisfied.
The film, based on a videogame (the only awareness of the videogame is a shot of the Prince jumping off a building, a shot which is used in the movie) is about impulsive Dastan (Gyllenhaal), an orphan taken in by a king (in where? Oh, I don’t know, maybe Persia?) who, along with his brothers (Krebell and Coyle) lead a raid on a sacred city and capture their princess, Tamina (Gemma Atherton), who willingly goes along because unbeknownst to Dastan, he’s carrying a special dagger that holds the Sands of Time.
After realizing he’s being used in a ploy to take his father’s throne, Dastan and Tamina go on the run in an attempt to clear his name.
Gyllenhaal and Atherton work well together, nice FX in the sequences where they use the Sand of Time. My big complaint was there’s a big fight scene and it looked like they were on a high school stage. You could tell the handpainted sets and the fake facades. That really looked like a 1930s Errol Flynn film.
But overall, I liked it.
And again, thrilled to see Richard Coyle. Coyle was on the BBC series “Coupling” as the daft Jeff and he broke my heart and made me stop watching the show when he left it. Then I began watching “Strange” in which he played a former minister or maybe Vicar who solves paranormal cases, then that just ended out of nowhere. I hate that he’s just so comfortable with working in the UK when I need him here like his former “Coupling” costars Jack Davenport (“FlashForward”) and Gina Bellman (“Leverage”).
Richard (beard) with some other dude at the Empire Awards
Richard in "Coupling"
Click to viewOthers at the Empire Awards-
Andy Sirkis (LOTR) and Simon Pegg
The very handsome Jimi Mistry
We all know this right, sexy bastard
Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright
*I told a friend I give up on guessing what film would do what this summer because my choices have been wrong. I really thought “The Losers” would find an audience, I thought “Kick Ass” would get word of mouth (although I don’t think it did as poorly at the box office as people say because with the R rating, there were kids who would’ve paid to see it, but had to resort to paying for “How to Train Your Dragon” and ducking into “Kick Ass”. This was going on at a theater I went to, so I have to think it’s happening other places). I loved “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”. I thought it was inventive, vibrant and a perfect balance that is rarely struck with comic book to film adaptations. Love it or hate it, I think “Sin City’ has been the only film that I can think of that effectively brought the comic feel to life. I hope that despite Michael Cera and his annoying ass, people will see this film. If you have no prior knowledge of Scott Pilgrim, don’t worry about it. If you liked “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” and it’s energy, then you’d like this one.
Fuzzy Character One-Sheets that Edgar tweeted
Fuzzy Brandon Routh: Boyfriend #3
Boyfriend #1
Of course with the El Capitan being a Disney owned theater they showed a slew of trailers for upcoming Disney films.
By audience reaction, everyone is really looking forward to “Toy Story 3”. No one cared about the Diane Lane/John Malkovich starrer “Secretariat” (which is just “Seabiscuit” with a woman in the lead). I was excited about “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” because for some reason I am drawn to crappy Nic Cage films.
Character one-sheets
Hi, I’m Alfred Molina, I’m going to do every film offered to me.
I don’t have a real reaction to “Tron” because I remember being bored by the original, but I did get a kick out of seeing Bruce Boxleitner in the trailer and this lovely lady
Serinda Swan as one of the Sirens
Just Wright
This movie was Just (W)right for me ::rimshot:: I loved this film. There are some really wonky moments in terms of music choice and progression of the story that took me out of the moment, but I fixate on these little things because I loved the movie so much. It’s what I’ve been waiting for: a contemporary romantic film with African American leads. There was an article months ago-maybe even last year-questioning where were the contemporary African American love stories like the ones that came out in the late Ninties such as “Love Jones” and “Brown Sugar” (which “Just Wright”s writer, Michael Eliot wrote).
The film stars Queen Latifah as Leslie Wright, a physical therapist who is constantly being hounded by her mother (Pam Grier) to be as feminine and on the prowl for a husband as her god sister Morgan (Paula Patton). Her situation is made worse by always being put in the friend zone by guys she’s interested in. A bit smitten after a chance meeting with a pro NBA player Scott McKnight (Common), Leslie quickly resigns herself to losing out for his affections to her Morgan. After suffering a possible career ending injury, Leslie is hired as Scott’s physical therapist, a job which involves her moving in with he and Morgan. Will Scott see Leslie for all that she is? Will he see Morgan as the gold digger she is? We all know the answer, but it was still worth watching how the story rolls out.
Queen Latifah is always enjoyable, Common is oh so sexy and charming (although sometimes I kinda wished Coby Bell of “The Game” was in the role) and Paula Patton did a wonderful job at not making Morgan a one-dimensional character. You can’t hate Morgan for her ambition as wrong as they are and I think most actresses would play that role as a conniving character, but Paula made her loveable despite her faults.
Easy A
There are a lot of teen films that want to be the successor of John Hughes films and with the numerous Hughes film references in “Easy A”, I think the writer, Bert V. Royal wants his film to be the heir (oddly enough all afternoon I was thinking about the Thompson Twins song "If You Were Here" used in "Sixteen Candles" and they use it in "Easy A"). I wouldn’t give this film that crown, but it definitely holds its own with the Savage Steve Holland films starring John Cusack like “Better Off Dead” and “One Crazy Summer”.
The film stars Emma Stone (“Zombieland”) as Olive, a non-entity at school, who lies to her best friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka, “Hellcats”) about losing her virginity. She’s overheard and it spreads like wildfire throughout the school (with the typical embellishments that happen with the game of telephone). She decides to use this new infamy for her own gains and helping fellow classmates along the way.
Emma is marvelous in this film. I have not heard this voice and demeanor for a female character in a teen film in a very long time, it’s usually male characters who get to be awkward and funny and sarcastic and still charming, all at once. Her character really does remind me of John Cusack in his teen films.
Another thing that was nice to see were fully formed parents (played so well by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson) who weren’t shown as idiots, loving relationship, lovely family dynamics and they were just as entertaining as Emma. Royal actually wrote the adults really well: Thomas Haden Church as Emma’s teacher uses his special brand of dead pan delivery to full effect and also turns the trope of ‘want to be hip’ teacher on its nose. Lisa Kudrow as the school guidance counselor is also great.
And I have a feeling I will begin liking Aly Michalka in the same way I do Amber Rose and Katie Cassidy: I don’t quite know what you do, but I’ll stan you for.
Speaking of my girl Katie.
Leighton Meester, Katie Cass and Selena Gomez on set of their new film
Remarkably great film. I’m very surprised actually. It really boggles the mind.
Also rounding out the cast are CW/WB actors Penn Badgley (“Gossip Girl”), Amanda Bynes (former WB series “What I Like About You”), Cam Gigandet (former WB series “Jack and Bobby”) and Dan Byrd (former WB series “Alien in America”).
The A-Team
Liam Neeson, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, director Joe Carnahan, Sharlto Copley and Bradley Cooper
11-year old “A Team” fan, Sharlto Copley
Honestly, the only thing I remember about the series is the opening credit and that when I visited Universal Studios as a kid they had a replica of the van that you could lift and you’d take pictures like, “Whoa, I’m so strong I just lifted up the A-Team van! Tubular! (cos I’m a child of the 80s)” So maybe that’s why I thought the film was okay. When I see this current cast, they don’t strike me as being very similar to the ones in the series in act, just by name and maybe it’s better for fans to treat this as a completely different animal versus a faithful adaptation of the series.
The film starts out on the faithful mission that brought the majority of the team together. Flash forward a few years and the team has to now clear their name after a failed mission, keeping one step ahead of Army Captain Sosa (Jessica Biel) all the while.
I have to put on my conspiracy cap here and question the writing of this film and “The Losers”. “The A-Team” is written by Joe Carnahan (“Smokin’ Aces”) and Brian Bloom (yes, the actor who was on “OZ” and Keller had to kill him (after kissing him) and was in all those great 80s TV movies like “Dance Til Dawn”. Brian was alson “Smokin’ Aces” and this film.). Peter Berg is a frequent partner of Carnahan and Berg also wrote the first draft of “The Losers”. Both films are about military personnel who are trying to clear their names after a failed mission, both have sequences that take place at the Port of Los Angeles and at least two other similarities that I won’t reveal because it’s too spoilery. Coincidental or friends copying off of each other? I don’t know.
The movie is good, the audience loved it. It’s very frenetic, very Carnahan. Sharlto Copley is terrific, I loved Jessica Biel in this. Bradley Cooper was Bradley Cooper.
And I mean shirtless
The surprising gem was Patrick Wilson. He does a great job. It’s standard fare popcorn flick, not bad at all.
Stick around until the very, very end for a scene.
Movie Misc
“The Karate Kid” premiere pics
Will and Jaden Smith, Ralph Macchio and son and Jackie Chan
The Smith family
Smith men: Will’s dad and son
William “Johnny” Zabka
Martin “Kreese” Kove
Arsenio Hall and son
*On the remake front, the remake of "Fright Night" is casting up. Added to the cast is David Tennant and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who I hate on the same level as Chad Michael Murray. No, I take that back, I think I hate this weedy, hackey dork more. At least it's fun to hate Mayhem, what I feel for Mintz-Plasse may make me seek out therapy. It's almost a debilitating hate.
As it stands Anton Yeltchin and Colin Farrell play the lead roles, Tennant has Roddy McDowell's role, dipshit Mintz Plasse will play Evil Ed and Toni Collette will play Yeltchin's mom.
*Captain America promo poster
Cappy concept art
Green Lantern promo poster
Green Hornet promo poster
The Expendables. Yeah, this is going to be crap, but epic. Look at this badassery in one film.
“Inception” character posters
The new rumor is that Joseph Gordon Levitt will be the Riddler in the next Batman film
Tom Hardy and his luscious lips
Cillian Murphy
*Reunited: Tom Cruise and Kelly McGinnis. Whudda thunk it that the two leads of “Top Gun” are gay?
Tom and his lookalike son (to me, even though how that’s possible, I do not know
Connor, maybe Sean Faris can be your big brother.
*”Empire Strikes Back” celebration for whatever reason. Isn’t there always one?
Lando Calrissian, Hans Solo, Chewie and Ewan, franchise killer McGregor
But dapper
Jason Momoa as Conan. Sexay.
~I didn’t go to the premiere per se, but I did go to the red carpet for “Killers”.
My friends laugh at me, but I am a big fan of Ashton and really respect the career path he has carved out for himself. I wish that Tom Welling would even take a few cues from him in terms of press and promotion. I don’t know if it’s from his friendship with Diddy or if he just is a natural self-promoter, but Ashton has shown that he isn’t only concerned about the role or title, but being a force to promote the work. It was Ashton who took to Twitter posted the publicity photos for the CW’s “The Beautiful Life” (he was the producer) while the CW just sat on it. After the CW canned the show, Ashton worked out a deal to upload the episodes to Youtube so that the cast’s work would not have been in vain and for audiences to get a chance to see it.
I watched Ashton on the red carpet and he did the nice fan service of taking pictures and signing autographs
I didn’t take this one. This woman beside me jokingly yelled out, “Ashton, sign my camera.” And I laughed because I love those commercials, so we began laughing together and her friend, I guess seeing us share this moment, offered to take pictures for me because he was taller. These are the results.
At least I try to get full shots. They may be blurry and off center, but full.
I didn’t try very hard with Katherine
But just as important as the fans, he took his time with the press. Everyone has their own way of working and that’s fine, but it was nice to see that when everyone went into the screening, he stayed out there and worked the press line, I left before he even went inside. After the press, he went to the other side of the street to sign and take pictures with the other fans who had gathered. He seems to be just as much as a fierce promoter for projects that bear his name as bear his presence. And it really does show how serious he is about his work because I remember the scuttlebutt being that he lost “Elizabethtown” to Orlando Bloom because Cameron Crowe did not think he could give up his partying ways and yeah, I think he was going through a “moment” there, but it’s great to see how he is now handling his success.
It’s great to see how many of “That 70’s Show” cast members have achieved behind the scene success: Danny Masterson is a impressario: he owns clubs here in L.A and at least one boutique.
Wilmer is a producer, voice over artist (You know this terrible shot is all me)
Mila Kunis didn’t take the easy route and do girl next door roles ::cough:: Kristen Bell::, but does action films like “Max Payne” and “Book of Eli”.
Where’s Topher been?
And Ashton still models. Tom needs to get on this.
Ashton for Pepe jeans
~Speaking of Tom…got the Emmy mag. Other than the picture, there’s nothing really special about the CW insert. It’s great that they did it, but I was surprised that the DVD wasn’t full episodes, but trailers for their shows. The DVD says to visit the site for the full episodes.
On one hand, it’s very in line with what the CW is doing in terms of new media and trying to use all the platforms available so that viewers can see their content. The CW site does really well with online traffic to their site to stream episodes, but the voters are use to traditional means of watching FYC discs. If the Academy and studios ever decides to stop screenings at theaters during Oscar time and instead just have people rely on the DVD screeners they send out, there’d be a revolt. People are accustomed to certain ways of operation. I suspect it has more to do with Warner’s focus and since they sent out really nice promotional material for “The Big Bang Theory” (a folder that looks like a laptop and a spring-loaded trap so that the disc pops out like it would on a laptop), I think they really think their big chance at Emmy is with that show versus the other WB produced series on the CW.
Still on the CW front, a fan posted pics
from the recent “Days of Our Lives” event with Lindsay and Justin Hartley. The woman says that the two recently renewed their vows. They’re so cute, I can’t take it.
*The gorgeousness that is Lee Thompson Young finally has updated profile pic on TNT’s “Rizzoli and Isles” site.
Oh, baby, I don’t know if I can watch this even for you.
Also in Emmy magazine is a “Glee” spread It’s been announced that there will now be a Glee merchandise and apparel line (as well as one for “90210”. You’ve been warned.)
~And for the sake of info sharing, here are pics of Make Me a Supermodel” S1 contestant Ronnie Kroell NAKED NAKED NSFW NAKED
~Random anecdote: Last Saturday I got the best “judging you” look. There was a knock at my door; it was the mail lady with a delivery. I opened the door and she thrusts my packages out and she’s standing with a hand on a hip, sorta looking me up and down. I thank her and close the door and I just thought she was taken aback by my being home because I never am when I get deliveries. I look at the packages: one from Torrid and another from Starlets & Harlots. She probably thought I was a stripper little did she know only thing that was in there were PJs, a purse and cheap looking necklaces (really, next time I’m going to just dip a razor blade in acrylic and paint it instead of shelling out money for their cheapo wares.)
~latxcvi, in a comment, a while ago said that all posts should end with Tom Welling and I think that will be my hiatus project. A Tom a Post pic.
His lips!
