#BestOf The Simpsons - #SpiderPig

Alright, to be precise, this scene's from the awesome Simpsons: Movie.
The famous Spider-pig, which I just added to my drawing character's faces jam recently.

#Recap - Prometheus

So yesterday evening I went with my bro to see Ridley Scott's Prometheus - which is already out over here.

And here's my lil' recap, as usual.

Warning! I'll try to stay light in the spoilers areas, if possible. In any case, don't read this right away if you fear I might spoil any of the movie's many surprises....

Let me start right away with this.
How was the movie? Great...but...

First up, I just want to say I love watching big science fiction movies with big budget, the way Hollywood doesn't seem to like that much anymore nowadays.

It was big, it was loud, it was creepy and fascinating all at the same time.

Sure I'm sure fanboys and some other nerds will nitpick. Heck even from purely a movie standpoint there's some problems with it.
But I liked it.
The move was basically the myth of Prometheus - adapted as a scifi film.
Without spoiling anything, you know, "taking the light from the gods" and playing "god" creating life, etc.
The question here's is what are the consequence for either man or "the original engineers" (aka Alien's "Space Jockeys"). Yes, it's a bit Lovecraftian , and !SPOILERS!they even got a Chtulu-like creature in here at some point.

Like Predators before, 20Th Century Fox didn't take much risks in making a new entry in the series and simply disguised this new modern take on the original film for a modernday audience.
That's the secret behind this movie.
Predators was simply Predator 1's jungle and characters transposed to an alien planet.
Prometheus basically Alien 1 but instead of a Xenomorph (...or not?) we have a Space Jockey/Engineer this time around.

The movie follows the same basic structure.
Crew arrives on mysterious planet, explores ship, infection, monster on rampage, final climatic fight aboard the lifesupport ship with monster(s). The End...or is it?

The movie serves as a prequel to Alien but explore some new territory Ridly Scott always wanted to explore...before other directors/writers and Fox started following-up his original classic with the same character (Rpiley) and monster (the Xenos).
In a way this movie's the real sequel (or rather prequel )to the themes and universe of the same film...but because of all the stuff that happened in-between (sequels, games, comics, pop culture, etc.) this movie might seem a bit off or apart.
Mr. Scott was already talking about making a third one, this time closer to the events of Alien, either in-between both films or long after everything.

I liked the fact he went free around with the concepts, not taking care if story elements, details or other "continuity issues" worked together. (with the old Mr. Weyland from the AVP films for example, which was such a bad movie anyway...)

He actually got Damon Lindelof from Bad Robot (and Lost) to rewrite the script as less tied-in with Alien. Which is great to explore the same universe.

The picture was so perfect! I missed watching a new blockbuster from such a good director, nothing like those Michael Bays and other Paul Andersons....
Every screen, every angle, every scenery was well presented and well thought.

The musical score was a bit... on the downside.
The score from the previous Alien movies were so iconic and perfect. Here it got either a bit too generic or too similar. The overall tone was closer to the action-filled epic sequel Aliens.
But I'd have preferred something closer to Alien 1's atmospheric and oppressive sound.

The characters were a bit generic as well, not well defined or interest. Which made every death a bit unimportant.
I know some disliked her, but I actually kinda liked Noomi Rapace in the main role.
Her love story/motivations/boyfriend on the other hand...
The crew was just a bunch of douches mostly.
Besides my hero, Capt. Janek, who was awesome and easily the most likable of the bunch!

In the end, it was an highly awaited movie with great hype and all.
I found it great.
But...
So much more could have been done with it.
As a movie, it was fantastic...but a bit too simple coming from Ridley Scott, who usually nails such interesting and original characters in his films (see the fantastic Matchstick Men)
As an Alien movie...well despite what you might hear online, I found it much better. Exploring previously unexplored elements turned out better here that in The Thing prequel. Because the tone was the same here and it didn't feel that cheap. I loved that Space Jockey-ship. While "The Thing"'s spaceship was such a letdown...

I loved the creatures, the creepiness of it all. The "original of life" storyline. Big fun science fiction.
But the movie could easily have been shorter/better handled. The characters more interesting. And music more appropriate.

Guyz Nite - Die Hard

Did ya guys hear, apparently there's gonna be a new Die Hard?

And it will be titled A Good Day to Die Hard and is aiming for a Valentine's Day 2013 release date.
Max Payne director John Moore is currently signed to direct it...which doesn't sound good if you ask me.
Why does Fox insist on being cheap? Can't they hire a real director?
Not necessary bring back John McTiernan, but at least a good action films veteran.
Someone that could get an award or something, not another one of those noobs that is on his 1st/3rd film only....

I quote:

The film is said to involve John McClane and his son heading to Russia.

Okay... We'll see how this turns out, at least it sounds better (even if cliché) than the mess of a plot of the 4th one... (cyber-hackers taking over Washington...really?... -sigh-)

Anyways, here's the fantastic epic song by Guyz Nite that brought my love for the series back despite what the 4th movie did to me after its theater release! (need I repeat the above paragraph??)



Rockin' Hard, John McLane style!
Yipee ki yay motherf****r!!

Update! (since this honestly doesn't require a new post) Here's a first pic of the upcoming Die Hard 5 aka A Good Day to Die Hard:

It's Jai Courtney as John McClane’s Son, John Jr.!

Marvel NEWS! The Wolverine teaser poster

Fox released a teaser poster for their upcoming next entry in the X-Men movie series.

Okay, I understand some Japanese might not like this one, but as far as design go, this is a pretty badass poster!
Heck, I wouldn't have any problem with any flag getting clawed by Wolverine. But the circle cut down this way does look neat visually speaking.

The Wolverine is aimed for a July 26, 2013 and will be directed by James Mangold.
The film had been postponed so Hugh Jackman could work on the upcoming British adaptation/remake of Les Misérables.

Movie NEWS! Prometheus' all new trailer

Guess who cameos at some point in this trailer??

So 20th Century Fox' just released an official trailer for Ridley Scott's upcoming Prometheus! - much more revealing than the previous teaser.
Watch it in all its full glory.
Warning, this shows a lot of the plot and whatnot.

Enjoy,



I absolutely love seeing the Alien's Space Jockey coming to life!
And the spaceship!! Oh, my!

I dunno for you guys, but this is seriously looking like the best movie of the year to me.
I like where the Avengers are going to. Even Spider-man might be fun despite its moody/gritty premise.
Dark Knight Rises, well....not my cup of tea so far. (to each their own!)  Too much Chris Nolan-esque takes on the Batman mytho for me...

But this, Prometheus!
Wooow! Just, wow!

Fringe - A Sitdown with J.J. Abrams

So the awesome TV series Fringe is going into hiatus until March 23. (!!)
Boy, it's gonna be a long time to wait for the new episodes...specially after this cliffhanger...

The show's already turned into my favorite series, even more so than Lost previously. At least it embraces and goes exploring science fiction themes more openly.

Anyways, here's a little interview with the show's producer and co-creator J.J. Abrams!
You just don't see him talking about Fringe as often as Lost or Alcatraz (the latest production from Bad Robot).



Epic!
You heard the man! Watch the show, buy the DVD boxsets and support the show!
It's rare to see big epic scifi shows like this one on major networks nowadays, specially one as good as this one. Great production value, and incredible writing!

I really hope we'll get another (and why not even more) season(s)!
Can't they let Abrams direct a two-parter for the opening of the new season?

Anyways, in the mean time, enjoy the series. I'll be watching all the "Fans Ask" videos on Fox's own youtube channel.

MovieTrailers - Alien/Prometheus

Did you love Prometheus' teaser trailer as much as me?
Well here's something fun while you await for the movie's (long overdue) release.

Here's the original trailer for the first Alien movie.
In case you still had doubts that Prometheus was a prequel to Alien, Ridley Scott isn't just recapturing the tone and settings of the horror classic, but even the trailer's built fllowing the same template:

Alien (1979) - Trailer

Just click on my Alien tag to have both posts one above the other :P

Movie NEWS! Prometheus teaser trailer

And after so much "cocktease", Prometheus teaser trailer debuts!



I'm so pumped for this one! This is looking outstanding! Can't wait to see a new scifi monster movie from the man who helped out define the genre!

(also Damon Lindelof from Lost/Bad Robots is involved with this movie? now I really can't wait for this soon enough~)

Movie NEWS! various teasers and trailers

The new Batman gets a trailer, the new Tolkien epic is revealed and an upcoming Ridley Scott movie's trailer gets its own trailer!
How crazy is that?!
First up, Peter Jackson's all-new Lord of the Ring episode The Hobbit is finally revealed!
The movie gets a poster...

A summary...

The first of a two-part film based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel of the same name, due for release in December 2012. 

And a trailer!...



A two parter...
I don't really know if this book actually need such...but I loved the last movies I know filmed like so.
(well... The Matrix 2&3 and BTTF Part 2&3)
Wait and see~

(though I'm not that a fan of fantasy anymore, these days...)

~

Last week Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises had its trailer leaked over the net...but Warner took care of that and took 'em out. This week we can finally have an official look at the sequel:

This is looking nice. Definitively a good movie. A good Batman movie, I'm not so sure..

(then again, I love the previous Nolan-esque Batmans as movies, but as great as the Joker was, the Batman part was always sorta...I dunno....wrong to me..)
This Bane is definitively looking like a great character (like the villains in the past movies), but his voice though...


~


Finally, here's something new regarding Ridley Scott's new movie, Prometheus.
Prometheus had such a long and convulsed development.
First an Alien prequel, then not anymore, finally back as an Alien prequel. Only not in name.
Why? Because it won't be featuring the titular monsters.

Simply summarized, it is a prequel to the story seen in the first Alien movie.
We won't see Xenomorphs in it. Humans will come in contact to alien creatures. (the giant fossilized "Space Jockey" from the first movie?) They will probably leave a signal for Ripley's team in the first movie at the end.


The movie itself is being directed by Scott with H.R.Giger back on creature and direction design.
They're quite secretive concerning this new movie.


And we don't even have a trailer so far...and only this "teaser" for the actual upcoming teaser trailer:





Looking nice so far, from the few we know.
After a good entryin the Predator franchise (Predators), are we getting a good new Alien entry as well? XD
Looks like the curse of the AVP movies is finally burned in the ground for good!

Movie NEWS! new X-men clips

Check out these new X-men: First Class clips!

(and survive these awful photoshop jobs on the official poster above)
First up, some bacon for ya~



It seems Magneto will get his helmet from Sebastian Shaw actually, who might or might not build it to protect his mind from Xavier/mutants/mind readers?

Now, this lackbuster's main big epic CGi/action scene, already revealed in trailers like Fox tends to do:



The X-men in action:



Banshee's in this movie?

And finally a last one, a "character spotlight" for Mystique:

More X-Men: First Class Videos

And that is all~

My opinion? No comment!

Movie NEWS! Conan & X-men new trailers

Time for a new round of trailers!
First up the real actual trailer for the upcoming Conan the barbarian movie!



We've already saw some first pics and the teaser.
Now we get a better look thanks to this real trailer.
I gotta say...not really confident here..could turn out boring... Too much trying the realistic modern approach loses the fun sometimes. (the new live Street Fighter movie compared to the JCVD one from the 90's anyone?)


And now, here's a bunch of character-centric trailers for that X-Men: First Class movie!

First, Havok:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Alex Summers? So they'll keep him related to Cyclops in the movie? Will Scott Summers' comics brother become his father? Uncle perhaps? (note in case you forgot: this "lackbuster" takes place waaaay back in the past, in the ~60s)

The Beast:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Huh...no comment.
(as good as it gets in these "sort of" movies by Fox...)

And finally Banshee:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Wow...the crazy Irish X-Men is in this movie?
Seems..okay-ysh.
Nerds are already trying to connect him to the Syrin cameo in the previous movies...guess what guys? It was only a cameo and has nothing to do with this "new" character.
And I don't imagine the writers/producers involved in First Class thought this as much as you're doing!

The movie's still looking like a big hit or miss... (looming towards the "miss" moreso..)

Movie NEWS! Cowboys, aliens and mutants

New trailers!

The Rat sez: Hell Yeah!

Cowboys, aliens and mutants...
All different, all comic book adaptations.
So there's a new Cowboys & Aliens trailer out.



Are you motivated to see this Jon Favreau movie?
The original indie comic was a fun & fresh original take on such a B-movie subject.
Hope the movie turns out great. (heck, with Harrison Ford in it, how couln't it be fun to watch?)


Second trailer, it's a brand new good trailer of the (hopefully not) bad new X-Men installment, X-Men First Class.

Alright... as bad as I can smell this movie's going to be...this trailer was pretty decent. Clearly, at 20th Century Fox, they got some pretty trailer maker guys...
How could this turn out 100% bad, I mean, there's some Bacon in it! XD

And that is all for this time~

Movie NEWS! X-men First Class TRAILER with extra cheese

It's here...
Awww yeah...

Witness the horror...the crazy...the wicked...trailer to X-men First Class!

 Duuun duuun duuuun!!~

I already covered this plenty times in the past.
Some had doubts it would follow the previous 20th Century Fox movies lackbusters.


Like it was going to be a "reboot" (side note: What's up with Hollywood and reboots lately??)
Of course it would by in the same series as the past titles.

Don't try to hard to connect this Emma Frost to the one in Wolverine Origins. It's not like its their first time doing so (Shadowcat in X-men1/2 compared to X-men 3? :P)

I knew this would tie in to the previous movies. From a marketing point of view (they're not trying to make "art" here, just cash in before a license reverts back to Marvel) it makes more sense. You can build upon the previous audience of Fox's X-men movies and even sell "Complete series" DVD/Bluray bundles, etc..

Now, the trailer. Enjoy:

Movie NEWS! X-men *ups*, Spidey, Hydra and Bats

Here's some tiny tidbits for the day!

First, just saying I've updated my X-men post from yesterday with better pictures!
Well, only the pictures' quality is better, not the movie itself.

Secondly there's been some pics from the new Spider-man (reboot) movie.
And it may be "currently in production" and with no filters applied to the screen whatsoever (normal!). But I wanted to say the costume, from far away, does look pretty nice and colorful.
Even faithful, as blurry as it may look here.
(video here)

Maybe his belt is removable? (which explains the previous sneak pic-reveal "battle damaged" look going on)

As for Captain America,
here's an Hydra Truck from the movie:

Historically accurate?

And finally, on Batman's side.
Christopher Nolan revealed some details about his upcoming Dark Knight Rises.

The villains were announced! (at least the following ones, some other 3rd one may surrise us in the movie, as usual)

Anne Hathaway will play Selina Kyle (and Catwoman?), while Tom Hardy will play Bane.
Kinda sad for Bane..one of the few Hispanic Bat-characters, couldn't they get some better suited actor for the role? (he's even sported an accent and well matched actor in all cartoons!)
They better turn him into the intelligent enemy he's always been in the comics, I'm kinda tired of the Batman & Robin (movie) stereotype Bane that has been going on in Batman media.
As for Catwoman? I'm not that "hip" on Hollywood current actors and as no idea who that skinny girl is. :/

Here's what Christopher Nolan said about Hathaway:
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story." And about Hardy, he says: "I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batman's most formidable enemies."

Movie NEWS! Yet another Fox lackbuster UPDATE!

UPDATE: at the bottom of the page!

We've been getting an awful lot of sneak peaks at upcoming superheroes movies.
Marvel showed how awesome and aunthentic Captain America will look like.
Sony had angry gritty Spider-man looking all serious and stuff.

Now it's 20th Century Fox, trying to impress us with...

Air-xmen, 2nd class tickets.
Huh...
I mean,
X-Men First Class!

What are we looking at exactly??
In the order, introducing:

• Michael Fassbender as Magneto
• Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert
• January Jones as Emma Frost
• Jason Flemyng as Azazel
• Nicholas Hoult as Beast
• Lucas Til as Havok
• Zoë Kravitz as Angel Salvadore
• Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique
• James McAvoy as Professor X

Matthew Vaughn's movie isn't a reboot!
It's in fact a prequel.
Of the spinoff Wolverine Origins. (which showed Xavier near the end recruiting a young Cyclops amongst others)
This mess of a movie will actually take place in the current Fox's X-men movie continuity, it's not a retake of the franchise by Marvel films! (also like the new reboot Spider-man at Sony's)
The story will take place in the 60s (huh?), which fans thought we'd get a funky/retro-ysh take on the classic Stan Lee-era costumes...yet we will get what looks like a drunk fratboy's idea of what the 60s would look like in a popcorn flick, directed by Michael Bay.

Strangely, they're still slighty comic book-inspired (I remember the X-men sporting X-yellow jackets at one point). And in the middle of all this, some girl seems to be cosplaying as Emma Frost (!?).
What about the rest?
People loved Nightcrawler, so now they've made a palette swap and TADAAA! here's his father.
And Havok will be ~50 years older than Cyclops yet call him his brother, and since his costume usually has a circle-logo in the middle, they put it right above his X-yellow jacket (because why try to make original costume or base the design on the originals when you can just randomly mix up things with no clear idea what you're doing!).
Mystique is...well, similar to the one from X-men 1, 2 and 3 only with a different actress. No opinion here.
And since there's no clear look at who is Magneto or Xavier, no recognisable character from the past movies..the question everyone will have from this movie: Who are these character and why should we care??
Seriously, this looks like a bad direct-to-dvd sequel for the moment, without trailer.

The big question now is why!?
Why this movie?
It's simple.
$$$

If Fox doesn't make this movie, the rights wil lrevert back to Marvel/Disney.
Marvel's beeng trying to regain all of their proprieties, which has been pretty succesful until now. They now can use any of their characters in most medias, cartoons, games, etc..
Spidey and the Ghost Rider are trapped at Sony if they don't use the rights until 2012 (which explains both upcoming sequels/reboots)
Fox will lose all their franchises if they don't put out new movies as well. The Fantastic Four will revert to Marvel at the end of this year (so they announced a random reboot to keep the rights, which they'll produce, write, direct improvise this summer I guess). So will the X-men, that's why they started making this prequel and will have the sequel to Wolverine Origins nobody was expecting, amazingly titled The Wolverine, later this year/early 2012, and why they also announced Brett Ratner's X-Men 4 for 2012 next year/2013.
Oh, but they already lost Daredevil.
One down, 2 more to go!

UPDATE Jan.20:

And here's some Hi-Res pics to have a better look at this...disaster in the making as well as some other pics!

 Kevin Bacon brings some "meat" to First Class as "Sebastian Shaw" (head of the Hellfire Club in the comics)

This looks more and more like a failed pilot from the late 90s. than a proper movie..
And they're supposed to be in the 60s.... They couldn't look more modern/gritty if they were trying...

Source: bleedingcool

MR Predators

Let's kick off this year with another long overdue review!

After all those previews I have been doing before its theatre release on my blog, here's finally a MR of the latest film in the Predator series!

Movie: Predators
Directed by Nimród Antal
Release date 2010
Genre Scifi/horror
Country USA

Note: I already briefly reviewed this movie after watching it.

Often rumoured, this third Predator movie has been through a lot before being finally produced and released last year. Making it exactly 20 years since the last "real" Predator movie hit theatres.

To be precise, the studio 20th Century Fox wasn't very keen on making a sequel to both the Predator and Alien series. These kind of movies could cost a lot to produce, counting pretty expensive practical effects (suits, gore aspects, etc..) and the scifi part (space/spaceship settings, open sets for the Predator, etc..).
And since these last bunch of years (around the 2000s), Fox's been well known for making what I call lackbuster movies. Meaning cheap fake-blockbusters. Where most costs go to one or two big action scenes and the rest of the movies being easily shot/cost effective, oh and also featuring one or two well known popular faces amongst cheap actors. (TV/movie actors)
They've done it with both Fantastic Four movies (isn't it crazy than the only "epic" scene of a superhero movie like FF is when a a Firetruck almost fall of a bridge because of the hero who ends up saving it!), X-men 3, Daredevil/Elektra and many more..even (specially) Die Hard 4 to some extend!!

Anyway, back on Predator!
The movie had been stuck for many years on pre-production. Many scripts went by.
Robert Rodriguez, who loved the concept and the original movie, wrote in fact many screenplays around the time Predator 2 came out. Since they never got made, some were eventually translated into funny books by Dark Horse Comics.
One of those stories was about a Predator in the 1600s, meeting pirates and getting the gun he would give to Danny Glover in the 2nd movie.
Another was about Predators against samurais.
And finally one was about a game preserve, where Predators would keep Prey for competition...

Best Opening Ever.

The movie starts right from the go.
As almost no movie does anymore. No big shiny presentation of a logo, or long complicated CGi opening.
The story starts with Royce.

He and a bunch of others mercenaries and thugs happen to drop from the ski (?) and land in a mysterious jungle.
The team gets to know each other, but these guy put together are pretty disfunctional.
They seem to come from various unrelated backgrounds. A mexican enforcer called Cuchillo, a spetsnaz soldier named Nikolai, an inmate who goes by "Stans", Hanzo a yakuza, etc..
The only female on board, an israeli sniper Isabelle.
And finally a "doctor", Edwin, who seems rather out of place there.
Apart from Edwin, they all have only one common point, they're all killers.
But why were they all gathered there??

Adrian Brody in all his manly manliness.

The movie is a big "return to basics".
After two horrible awful lackbuster Alien Versus Predator movies, which where so cheap they plainly avoided to use space as battlground for the Aliens and Predators or any fun plot from the games or comics they were named after, this movie Predators takes a lot from the original Predator movie.

We're back in a jungle, hunted by a mysterious killer.
The movie spends most of its first act developing and introducing to the character.
They're not your usual cannon folder, or cliché characters.
All in their own ways, all get some nice character introduction and motivations. Also it shows the actors were actually having fun on the set.

Rodriguez, who wrote the script, played a bit with his usual brand of character in each of these guys, you could almost imagine them in one of his Desperado flicks.
Adrien Brody really surprised me there! He totally lived up the role, I was originally afraid he wasn't suited for this franchise after protagonists played by "Terminator" Schwarzy and "Lethal Weapon" Danny Glover.
Sadly, Danny Trejo is mostly a cameo in this movie, being on screen so...little time... :/

Even the music goes back to the percussion and jungle beats.
When I read John Debney (Sin City, Iron Man 2, The Mummy 3) was the composer, I had my doubts...
But he perfectly catched Alan Silvestri's original score here. Sometimes a bit modern-ysh sounding in the more action scenes, other times pretty in tune with Predator 1 in the tension parts and when the hunt is on similar to Predator 2.
Perfect score for the music!

My new favorite scene in all 3 Predator movies!

The movie starts pretty much ground based.
It re-imagines a similar situation to Predator 1 with new twists and modern ideas.
The movie is a continuation to both Predator 1 and 2 (and 2!! unlike what some news may have make it sound, misquoting Rodriguez!) and perfectly ignores any connection to Alien or the AVP franchise. There are some "alien" elements, as in other creatures, but not the Xenomorphs themselves.
When  the Preds finally appear on screen, the movie goes completly scifi...for a while. We're introduced to other creatures, strange Predator-tech, see some derelict ships.... Then the movie is able to go back to a more reality-grounded atmosphere again like in Predator 1.
I'm kinda sad the movie didn't totally embrace its science fiction roots more.
At least the final half has some nice twists and surprises.

In his original screenplay (which some versions have been leaked online), Rodriguez planned main roles for returning character and in the later forms at least a cameo for both Danni Glover and Schwarzennegger.
It seems Dutch would have appeared in the end with a mean to escape for Royce and Isabelle and I guess Harrigan would have appeared instead of Laurence Fishburne's character.

The movie also rehashes some concepts Rodriguez wanted to try, since he wasn't sure he would be able to make/produce another Predator movie after that.
Scrapped ideas such as a sword fight with a Predator came from older scripts, and it was pretty nice to see this in here. Specially since it takes the Predator creature into new playgrounds.

Mano-a-mano between Preds this time?!

For the fans, the movie isn't without any twists like I said.
We finally clearly see some distinction amongst Predator clans, playing with the motif of the original Predator design and bringing new member of the same specie. The three new "main" Predators (refered to Super Predators in early promotion and behind the scenes material) are clearly a different breed who seem, like the humans, trapped in this planet.

Near the end, when the objective becomes to escape this world rather than stay and fight, Royce makes an alliance with what seems a more classic Predator creature.
By the way, from what Robert Rodriguez let know, this movie wasn't supposed to have any reference to AVP, right?
Then, why did we need to see a human & Predator teaming up one more time and using the same "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"-bulls*** again??

Anyhow, Rodriguez was pretty smart to get 20th Century Fox's approval on this movie.
With the success of both previous AVPs (a moderate box office revenue on a tiny budget = profit!), Rodriguez was able to make Fox accept to produce this one.
And since he knowns his business, he was also able to keep budget on a reasonable level and use mostly practical special effects and only relying on slight CGi for minor details (such as the landscape).

Overall, finally the third entry in the Predator series!
One more to go and they'll catch the Alien seires (that is, if they do it first, over thsoe new rumoured Alien movie prequels-btw, ugh..awful idea!!)
And a righful sequel at that!

Director Nimród Antal, who's mostly known for great thrillers full of thrills, did great behind the camera.
He was Rodriguez first choice, since he couldn't make it anymore as director. But he stayed on the set most of the times, contributing as he could with his tight shedule.

The movie makes a lot of references to the previous episodes.
Mostly Predator 1 as anyone can guess, but also Predator 2 in its structure and devleopment (to be exact, it even follows closely the patterns and the way Pred 2 introduced the monster, set the confrontations until the final 20+ minutes of final showdown ending with the ultimate smackdown).
They were a lot of reflections to the originals.
The Yakuza vs. the Pred mirrored Billy vs. the Pred over the river in the original. (but this time on screen!)
Even the whole squad was sort of based on Predator 2 characters (Isabelle/Leona Cantrell, Stans/Bill Paxton's character...).
They were even able to make a reference to the old never-seen-before alien suit wore by Jean Claude Van Damme in the original Predator before redesigning the monster, the monster actually happens as a sort of red herring for our characters early on, before being killed.

The movie also actually refers to Aliens a lot, the second Alien movie.
Not just in its title, this third Predator introduces a more military-based aspect to the series (not seen since the original), more creatures and different designs, like Aliens did.

I would love to rate this one higher, but due to Danny Trejo being underused (ooh...), some misdirection from the trailers and promotions (a lot of Preds hunting Brody? huh...nope) and the fact that it doesn't bring anything new to the table other than a return to the roots (duly appreciated)..I only recommend to watch it if you're interested or like these sort of violent monster movies.
In the opposite case, it won't change your mind about this series!
(watch it/give it a try!)

And finally a little note.
'loved listening to Little Richard's Long Tall Sally in the end, which was a great tribute to the only song heard in Predator 1 (in the choppa!!) and a perfect cue to end a great action R-Rated violent flick.
'nuff said

I give it:

 2 / 3 UFOs!

Movie NEWS! Comic movies update!

Here's a new round-up off the upcoming new Comic Movies adaptations!

VROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~

First up, Captain America: The First Avenger!
We can finally have a good look at Cap's costume, thanks to some shots taken during its production.
His costume, the shield (pictured above), some henchmen and some old school vehicles of the era.

As you can see, in the costume it's not Chris Evans, the actor playing Steve Rogers, but a stuntman.
(or an older Captain? some other "character" in the suit..?)
Anyway, the suit looks good. Very Ultimate Marvel-ysh. The helmet makes me think of those awful TV movies of Captain America (not the watchable later movie with the great costume)

Here's some more shots:

I like those Rocketeer-like henchmen! Old school!


A little info about the new Ghost Rider movie.
Yep, another one!
I kinda liked the first one, despite how supra-powerful the Rider was and how easily he defeated those "boss fights". And Blackheart, the main foe, was pretty stupid and kinda lame.. Oh well... At least the Rider looked great, there was a ghost horse on fire, Sam Elliot and the Rider even used his "Penance Stare" (TM), something I wouldn't even imagine someone adapting live in a movie ever!

So the movie will be called Ghost Rider: Spirits Of Vengeance. It is written by David S. Goyer, Nicky will be back as the torso for the good ol' CGi flammehead and it will be directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor who made the movie Crank.

It is supposed to take place some years later after the first one, Johnny Blaze is on the run, still kickin' demon's ass and such...
The movie will be darker and more violent.. but I guess producers say that for every new super hero movie now these days, specially after the Dark Knight...


And finally, some stuff about the new lackbuster straight from the super-duper producers at 20th Century Fox, the brilliant minds behind such "classics" as Elektra, the Fantastic Four and X-Men 3... -sigh-
X-Men First Class! A movie which just finally started after adding to the cast a ton of unnecessary more charaters to an already convulted mass characters-filled movie...

It will be a prequel in the Fox's X-Men movies, taking places in the 60s... and...oh god... that's already too much right there..
I would have prefered an in-movie-universe Marvel flick X-Men. Not another Fox' movie. Another lackbuster..
It's not even a real movie, but a cheap cash-in, 20th Century Fox is only making this movie to keep the rights before they revert back to Disney/Marvel, they even admitted it!!
(like they'll be doing with the Fantastic Four soon too)

Anyway, the whole concept sounds crazy...

Moving on!

Here's a first look at Emma Frost, the White Queen. Who's in fact an 80s/90s character (and with her current "interpretation" being from the 2000s).
Couldn't they use like Quick Silver or the Scarlet Witch instead? Those would be great for a story taking place in the sixties.. (I completly hate this concept as well.. it could have been an excuse to use retro costumes, the original X-Men First Class characters.. instead.. we won't have Cyclops but Havok..making the movie Summers Brothers completly unrelated..)

I see...double!!

Sure, her costume's not as skimpy as the comic one...Rather, she looks soviet-ysh.
Call me pessimistic, I'm not really feeling this direction...

CBR Predator: Concrete Jungle

It's time for more Predator stuff!

Today's review, the comic book that inspired the name for that Predator game!

Comic title: Predator: Concrete Jungle
Art by Chris Warner & Ron Randall
Written by Mark Verheiden

Published by Dark Horse Comics
From 1990
Lineup Predator
Format: Trade paperback collecting Predator #1-4

Just after starting making comics about the Alien franchise in '88, 20th Century Fox launched a Predator line as well under the same publisher, Dark Horse.

It wasn't to adapt the movie, but to expand the franchise, to create a whole new original universe, which is in my eyes a better move, more creative in the end.

Concrete Jungle was the first story-arc that was created from '89 to 1990. It set the bar for future Predator comics as well as developed new concepts that would be kept in the movies later on...

Schaefer's brother is about to have one helluva week...

The story opens this time in New York City.
Detective Schaefer and his partner Detective Rasche are caught between turf wars between gang lords...
The city is havin' sort of a crisis, shoot-outs, war, high criminality... and a very hot summer time!

That is when our story's Predator decide to pick on the locals.

You probably guessed it, the story (which was in fact created before the movie) has a very familiar set-up.
Predator 2 might be an original sequel but does recycle lots of elements from this comic book!
As many as it almost seems like a comic book adaptation rather than the "original" sequel you thought it was!
But don't think the two follow the same path.
Predator 2 might share many similar aspects, Concrete Jungle doesn't share as much elements..for only the first of the 3 acts takes place in the city amongst gang wars...

This time around, the mano-a-mano fight takes place in the middle of the story...

The story follows this newly introduced brother to Schwarzennegger's character in the first Predator movie.
Schaefer follows the gangs... and meets his very first Predator in NYC in the first issue!
The fight it out...and Schaefer gets "tagged".

Is this monster connected to his brother disappearance?
What's the link with this mysterious conspiration and government guys?
What's General Phillips hidding from him about these creatures?

Schaefer tracks down the monster to South America, Columbia, where he ends face to face with it as well as a drug lord...
Big classic mano-a-mano combat against the alien...
Schaefer is now in possession of a Pred helmet..goes back to Big Apple...and...

It's an invasion!!

The final act brings the character back to the streets of NY...
And a Predator invasion!!

You see, Concrete Jungle isn't the same kind of story as the ones seen on theatres..
It's a lot more epic on a scale-aspect, more scifi-ysh and, even if written before P2, bridges the gap between those two kind of movies.
The first part of the movie, very much like Predator 2, tries to bring new elements and a new setting to the franchise. (unlike the movie, it's not in LA but New York)
The second part goes back to the jungle, much familiar, and has the big confrontation take place in the middle of the story...
The final act rather than trying to redo more "one on one" combats against the Predator or something of the same scope, goes wider, wilder and ends the story in a much climatic final.

The writing, as with most Dark Horse comics, is pretty consistent, well done.
Not incredible, but it works for this kind of movie/tv-to-comic adaptation.
The art is pretty nice, the new Predators are similar to the movie ones, yet kinda unique as well.
Only the color is sort of "moody". Like red-ysh in crisis, dangerous situations, yellow-ysh for dialogues, etc...

Overall, it's a great Predator entry in the franchise!

It would even work as a movie (I like to count it as the real 3rd movie, with the other Concrete Jungle game as the next one and Predators as the 5th "big Predator story").
It predates (arf :P) the 2nd movie, offers the same basis, yet could easily work in the franchise after that installment.

I really dig this comic.
Sure, there might have been better Predator comics later on, but this one set the bar and the foundations of future Predator works.
It introduced many aspects such as their "civilisation" aspect (a whole specie of alien hunters, which we only thought there was only one in P1), new weapons, their spaceships, and many more!
The story also partially uses the fact that the government knows about these monsters, which is one of the main plots of Predator 2.

Anyway, if you like the monster, the movies or are interested in checkin' some good ol' scifi comics from the 90s, you might wanna try Concrete Jungle!

I give it:

  2 / 3 Aaylas!