“When dealing with aliens, try to be polite, but firm. And always remember that a smile is cheaper than a bullet.”
The Scoop: 2009, R. Directed by Neill Blomkamp and starring Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and Nathalie Boltt
Tagline: You are not welcome here
Summary Capsule: (Bleep) phoning home. Christopher Johnson wants to go there.
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“The numbers are the key to everything.”
The Scoop: 2009, PG-13 Directed by Alex Proyas and starring Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury and Rose Byrne
Summary Capsule: MIT professor happens upon a sheet of numbers that predicts major disasters, including possibly the End of the World.
Greetings, cinemaphiles! Because you demanded it, I’m back with yet another list of independent comics that would make for good movies. Even though this is my third go-around, the problem once again wasn’t finding enough indie comics that could make the transition, it was narrowing down the list. Some were easy to discount, like Whiteout, a thriller about a U.S. marshal stationed in Antarctica investigating a series of grisly murders among scientists at research bases. Why didn’t it make the list? One reason and one reason only: it’s already a movie, opening this September. (I have high hopes, even though they prettied up the homely protagonist by casting Kate Beckinsale and replaced her female British spy cohort with a male love interest.) Or Wildguard, a comic about an American Idol-esque reality show where rookie superheroes compete to join a new superteam. Great premise, but I honestly think it’d work better as a TV show than a movie. Other choices weren’t so easy to weed out, but weed them out I did so that I could bring you the following: five more indie comics that could be turned into terrific films.
“The final blast from the Gloom Beam will obliterate the women and children from the planet! And, if we’re lucky, we could hit a few innocent bystanders.”
The Scoop: 1986 PG. Directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney, Myke R. Mueller, and Jackie Welch.
Tagline: None
Summary Capsule: A madman assumes many guises in order to destroy the world! *dun dun dun*
There are few things I find more irritating than tired cliches in movies. However, in stark contrast to my usual hipper-than-thou cynical attitude, I have to come clean and admit that I hold a very soft spot for one of the most hackneyed genres in Hollywood – the dance flick.
I suppose it’s not that strange of a guilty pleasure. After all, from a young age I fantasized about a life in which I’d be some dowdy (but glamorously beautiful underneath it all) heroine with years of classical ballet training. I’d get swept off my feet by the school’s resident bad boy (of course, he’d have an uncharacteristic passion for b-boying or disco or the Charleston – some less traditional and more fun form of dance.) But our relationship would only work if we could get over our differences and find that special spark that can only lead to physics-defying choreography. Read the rest of this entry »
This is the first in a series of articles on the music of the James Bond film series, with occasional forays into music inspired by the films, as well as music that clearly should have been included for various obvious reasons.
For the inaugural article on the music of the James Bond films, one would think I would pick out a fairly monumental theme song; one that topped the charts here and in the UK and continues to make its presence felt on the radio, on iTunes, or perhaps just in the minds of burgeoning fans as they pop their Bond DVDs into their home systems and find their minds blown by Bondmania.
But, no. I’m not only choosing one of the arguably more obscure Bond theme songs, I’m choosing the ending titles disco version that probably plays to empty living rooms across the world, as people get up to stretch or run to the bathroom. Heaven forbid they turn off the film right as the credits begin to roll: sacrilege!
Yes, for today’s analysis I’m highlighting “Moonraker (End Title)” by Shirley Bassey, from 1979’s Moonraker starring Roger Moore as James Bond.
“Don’t blink or you’ll miss the fun!“
The Scoop: 1993 PG-13. Directed by Yuen Wo Ping and starring Donnie Yen, Rongguang Yu, and Jean Wang.
Tagline: Sometimes the only way to become a hero is to be an outlaw.
Summary Capsule: A masked hero battles greedy governors, misled martial artists, and royal pains in the neck in nineteenth-century China.
“Fine, don’t believe me. Just wait until he kills you!”
The Scoop: 1984, R, directed by Michael Winner and starring Rachael Kelley, David Allen Brooks, and Rocco Sisto
Tagline: First he tried to kill Mom. Now he’s after me. But no one believes me!
Summary: Typical teen angst story of a girl who’s parents try to murder her.
“Help! Help! I’m being repressed! Come see the violence inherent in the system!”
The Scoop: 1975 PG, directed by Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones and starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin
Tagline: And now! At Last! Another film completely different from some of the other films which aren’t quite the same as this one is.
Summary: Monty Python, that wacky British street gang, travel old England in search for the Holy Grail and a sorcerer named Tim
“Nobody digs your music but yourself!”
The Scoop: 1984 R, directed by Albert Magnoli and starring Prince, Apollonia Kotero and Morris Day
Tagline: None
Summary: Two crazy kids are struggling with their dreams of becoming singers, and a little thing called love, in that music capitol of the world – Minneapolis, Minnesota.
