So I Lied
Posted on June 3, 2008
Filed Under Site Update | 2 Comments
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Well, not really. I had every intention of posting last week and yesterday, so I didn’t lie. The fact is, I started a new job recently and I just haven’t found the time to post. Heck, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to visit my favorite blogs/sites either. Bummer.
Rest assured though, I will get some RELEVANT content posted soon. We’ll finish that pesky Top 100 Movies list, I’ve got some new lists to post, some reviews, a follow-up to my Iron Man movie theater experience rant, and some more fun stuff. So hang in there, I’ll be back and better than ever soon. Really. I mean it. 
Tags: iron man, movie lists, site update, top 100 movies
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Classic Trailer Tuesday: Robert Downey Jr.
Posted on May 6, 2008
Filed Under Trailers | Leave a Comment
In honor of Robert Downey Jr.’s role in a recent limited release independent feature, Iron Man, here are three trailers featuring Mr. Tony Stark himself. And if you haven’t seen Iron Man yet, you should. I hear it’s pretty good
Natural Born Killers (1994)
Chaplin (1992)
Air America (1990)
Tags: classic trailer tuesday, iron man, robert downey jr, tony stark, trailers
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8 Reasons I Didn’t Enjoy Iron Man
Posted on May 5, 2008
Filed Under General | 15 Comments
I’m sure I have your attention, as everyone, and I mean pretty much EVERYONE, has nothing but positive things to say about Iron Man, which is one of the best reviewed movies of the year. I really liked Iron Man as well. I just didn’t ENJOY it. Why? Here are 8 reasons:
1. There were a ton of kids at the 4:30 showing my wife and I went to. I don’t mean teenagers. I can deal with teenagers because they are there to actually watch the movie. No, I’m talking about 6, 7, 8, 9 year olds, and babies. Not Swingers-style babies, actual infants. Now, I have no problem with kids. I’m a big kid myself at times. But when I go see a movie I have been dying to see for more than a year, well that’s a different story.
2. My wife and I picked seats in the middle of the theater, with a nice buffer zone, about two minutes before the trailers started. Then a lady with a child of about 6 or 7 sat in front of us and, you guessed it, they talked through the whole movie. Not only did they talk, but the lady’s cell phone rings in the middle of the movie and they get up a few times and go to the lobby. The problem was the kid could care less about the movie. It’s mom who really wanted to see it. So, this ignorant and inconsiderate person, who knew that the kid was probably not going to like this flick (she continued to try to bribe him to be quiet throughout the movie) decided it was OK to disturb other people in the theater so that she could see Iron Man. The funny thing is, there is no way she could have enjoyed the movie either.
3. There was an adult, an ADULT, behind us and to the left who received a phone call during the movie. He then got another one and was talking on the phone as he walked down the steps toward the lobby. At least he was whispering.
4. There was a couple in their 40’s or 50’s behind us and to the right who talked throughout the movie. The adult male even told a long-winded story about fighter jets during the very cool “dogfight” scene .
5. There were at least two babies in attendance. That’s right, two Utah. And they both cried at various intervals. One of these babies sat in the front with his or her parents and cried a lot. I felt sorry for these parents. All they wanted to do was watch the movie, but that baby kept crying. What did they do? They sat there for five minutes or so to see if the baby would stop crying. Then one of the parents took the crying baby to the lobby for a minute or so and walked back in the theater so that they wouldn’t miss too much of the movie. Unfortunately the baby kept crying. Never mind the rest of us who paid $10/ticket to see this flick.
6. There were no ushers. Not one.
7. There was either a problem with the screen or the film itself. The picture was not crisp and there were spots on a large area of the screen that were very easy to see during scenes with bright backgrounds. I’m just glad there were no desert scenes or scenes of Iron Man flying during the daytime.
8. The sound was bad. It was hard to hear the actors speak at times (and no it wasn’t because of the talking or crying in the theater) and there was no surround sound despite the existence of numerous speakers lining the sides of the theater.
Now to answer your questions:
Question: Why did we go to a 4:30 movie on opening weekend?
Answer: Because I am an idiot. I should have known that there would be a lot of kids there and a lot of talking. That said, my wife and I once went to a very hard R-rated horror flick at 9:00 p.m. a few years ago and a guy brought four kids ranging in age from 4 to 10 and an infant. Sometimes you just never know.
Question: Why didn’t we get up to complain?
Answer: Well, we paid $20 for tickets and I wasn’t about to miss any of this flick. I also made up my mind about 20 minutes in that I was going to go see it again because of the issues we were having.
Question: Why didn’t you complain after the flick?
Answer: We did. Apparently some of these issues were our fault (we didn’t move, leave the movie to complain, allowed babies to enter the theater, etc.) This part of the story is not over.
Question: Why didn’t we move to a different part of the theater?
Answer: For a few reasons. 1) It would not have made a huge difference because the theater was pretty crowded and we didn’t know if we would be in worse shape if we would have moved; 2) we didn’t want to miss any of the movie; 3) I kept “shushing” and thought someone would eventually get the hint. They didn’t.
OK, the longest post I have ever written is coming to a close, but just bear with me a little longer . . .
I am so sick of ignorant and inconsiderant people in movie theaters. This isn’t the first time this has happened, but it was the worst ever. Please, please PLEASE just shut up when the movie starts, turn off your cell phones (don’t just switch them to vibrate), and don’t bring your children to the theater unless: 1) they can behave themselves; 2) they are old enough to enjoy the movie; and 3) they actually WANT TO SEE the movie. If you can’t say with accuracy that you can meet each of these requirements - get a babysitter or don’t come to the movie.
And for theater owners - please make sure your theaters are in good working order and/or the film isn’t damaged (for 10 bucks a ticket EVERYTHING should look and sound excellent), please have ushers walking through the theaters, and please institute policies against children under a certain age from attending movies that are not rated G. Oh yeah, please take some responsibility for these issues as well.
That’s it. I’m done. I actually feel a little better. Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to see this movie again this week. If not, I’ll probably have to wait for the DVD release. At least then I’ll know that there will be no talking or crying - unless the DVD is damaged
Tags: iron man, rant
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Which Summer Blockbuster Are You Most Excited to See?
Posted on March 14, 2008
Filed Under Anticipated/Upcoming Movies | 2 Comments
Summer 2008 is shaping up to be one of the biggest summer movie seasons ever. There are four movies coming out this summer that I am particularly excited to see. Three are “comic book” movies and one features the return of an old friend. They are listed below in order of my “excitement level.” Trailers are also present for your viewing pleasure. Soooooo, which Summer 2008 movie are you most excited about?
1. The Dark Knight (July 18, 2008) - I can’t wait to see what the late, great Heath Ledger did with this juicy role. Still can’t believe he’s gone.
2. Iron Man (May 2, 2008) - Great actors, action, humor, Black Sabbath. ‘Nuff said.
3. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22, 2008) - Uh, do I need to say anything? Didn’t think so.
4. The Incredible Hulk (June 13, 2008) - I know some are concerned about this flick. I think they are in for a pleasant surprise.
Tags: anticipated movies, batman, heath ledger, indiana jones, indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull, iron man, the dark knight, the incredible hulk, trailers
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10 Reasons I Can’t Wait to See The Dark Knight
Posted on December 21, 2007
Filed Under Anticipated/Upcoming Movies | 4 Comments
I just finished watching the new trailer for The Dark Knight for about the twentieth time. Every time I watch it I get more excited for this flick - July 18, 2008 can’t get here fast enough. Here are ten reasons why (in no particular order):
Has he failed us? No. His track record is impeccable and everything I have seen or read about this flick leads me to the conclusion that he will not let us down this time.
2. Christian Bale
Best. Batman. Ever. I thought Michael Keaton was great, but Christian Bale is the perfect Bruce Wayne/Batman. I fully expect him to raise his game yet again. When hasn’t he? OK, maybe in that dragon flick. But everybody gets a mulligan, right?
It’s the best comic book movie ever and set up The Dark Knight perfectly with this ending:
4. Heath Ledger
When Heath Ledger was announced as The Joker I thought, simply, “WOW.” It was an inspired bit of casting and from the trailer it looks like he is going to be magnificent. That leads us right to . . .
5. The Joker
I know there has been some skepticism about the look of The Joker, but . . . he looks perfect. Batman Begins showed us what a “comic book movie” could be in terms of realism, plot and action. To continue with that tradition, you need a different kind of Joker - one that is more creepy, sadistic and could possibly exist in the really real world.
6. The Supporting Cast
The supporting cast in Batman Begins was phenomenal. It is ratcheted up a notch in this flick with the addition of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Aaron Eckhart.
7. The Hype
Like most eagerly anticipated movies, there is a lot of hype surrounding The Dark Knight. The viral marketing, the recent release of the posters, the new trailer - it’s all leading us toward a great cinematic experience next summer.
8. The Trailer
An obvious reason, but one nonetheless. It focuses more on the villain than on our hero, but that’s OK. We already know Batman. What we really needed to see was how The Joker was going to be portrayed in this flick.
9. Iron Man
Granted, they are being released on different dates next summer (Iron Man is being released on May 2, 2008), but do you think Christopher Nolan and the studio want their flick eclipsed by Iron Man? Never. That being said, I have similarly high expectations for Iron Man and may have to post a similar list for it.
10. Because it’s a comic book movie
I love comic book movies. Not all of them, but for some reason I get the feeling I will love The Dark Knight.
Tags: aaron eckhart, anticpated movies, batman, batman begins, christian bale, christopher nolan, comic book movie, heath ledger, iron man, list, maggie gyllenhaal, michael keaton, the dark knight, the joker, trailer
