Category: Movies

Rocky Balboa a G.I. Joe?

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Did you know that Rocky Balboa was once a member of G.I. Joe?  In 1986 it was announced that he was.

But then a month later came… 

So the question remains… was Rocky a member of team G.I. Joe or was it a mistake made by an overzealous member of the G.I. Joe publicity team?  

Or perhaps… just maybe, Rocky was a secret member of the Joe’s and the first file was somehow leaked so a denial was needed.  ; )   – Craig

Source: iFanboy

Z-View: “World War Z” [& That Doesn’t Stand for Zablo]

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The Pitch: “Let’s make a zombie movie [zombies are hot] based on Max Brooks’ World War Z novel [that book is hot] starring Brad Pitt [he’s hot].”

The Overview: A worldwide zombie outbreak is spreading at such an alarming rate that it threatens to wipeout humanity.  Brad Pitt plays Gerry Lane, a former UN investigator asked to go with a young scientist and a team of Navy SEALS into a hot zone to see if the scientist can get information to stop the zombie infection. Nothing goes as planned… but does it ever during a zombie outbreak?

The Good:

  • Many thought that Max Brooks’ World War Z novel would be impossible to adapt into a movie.  Perhaps they were right.  Purists will be upset that many liberties were taken in turning World War Z  the novel into World War Z  the movie.  The writers did an excellent job of getting across the worldwide crisis and how different areas are dealing with it.
  • The movie starts off with action almost straight away and lets up only long enough for the audience to get a breath and to set up the next “are you kidding me” sequence.
  • I love the confusion when the outbreaks first hits.
  • Brad Pitt counting the time it takes a bitten person to turn and then counting again when he runs to the roof’s ledge is cool.
  • The scene when Pitt raises his hands to the cop and the officer walks past him to the baby formula makes it clear that priorities have changed and people are on their own.
  • There are several action sequences and they’re all well done.  I like that Pitt is not the man sent in to save the day, but instead he’s the man to keep “that guy” alive.

The Bad:

  • The zombie outbreak.  These zombies are fast.  Again, purists will hate fast-moving zombies.  They don’t bug me and in World War Z  they work well.
  • I was concerned that the ant-like climbing that we see in World War Z  previews would come off as hokey in the movie.  They didn’t.
  • I was also concerned that director Marc [Quantum of Solace] Forster wasn’t the best choice for this film.  I was wrong. Foster did an excellent job.
  • So really the only things bad in World War Z  [other than the outbreak itself] were my preconceived notions… oh, and that thing that happens to Brad Pitt after the commercial airliner sequence.

The Ugly:

  • What happens when you are given a firearm and aren’t trained to use it.
  • It’s also pretty ugly when you think that you’re safe behind a giant wall and start celebrating a little too soon.
  • Oh, and it’s really ugly when a zombie  makes it on a commercial airliner.

The Rating:  A

“Killing Season” Trailer Doesn’t Kill

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Have you seen the trailer for Killing Season starring Robert Deniro and John Travolta?  If not, please check it out and then we’ll talk. [For those who have seen it, please give me a second and we’ll resume below.]

 

 

Okay.  Now that everyone is on the same page, what did you think?

Yeah.  I agree.  Killing Season has one of those trailers that after you watch it, you feel you’ve seen the movie.  My guess is that I’ll wait to Netflix or rent Killing Season.

“Escape Plan” Gets a Poster & 3 Wallpapers

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The poster for Escape Plan, starring Sly and Arnold Schwarzenegger was released this week and it is a nice one!

Inspired by the Escape Plan poster, StalloneZoner, Ferhat TEMİZ made these three wallpapers. Click on each to get the wallpaper-sized version.  Thanks to Ferhat! – Craig

“Elysium” Makes the “Must See” List

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Until today, I hadn’t really paid close attention to Elysium.

Sure, I knew it was a sci-fi film written and directed by Neill [District Nine] Blomkamp and had Matt Damon and Jodie Foster as its leads.  It wasn’t until I watched this trailer that Elysium made it to my “must see” list.

 

 

If you want to see a larger version of the Elysium poster you can over at IMPAwards.  Elysium also has a Facebook page.

The 30 Greatest War Movies Ever

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Over at Shortlist.com, they posted their choices for The 30 Greatest War Films Ever.  That’s them pictured above.

Ok, using just their choices, here are my top five:

1. The Dirty Dozen – Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Clint Walker, Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, Robert Ryan, George Kennedy.  These guys were the original Expendables.

2. Saving Private Ryan – The opening sequence is enough to put this at the top of any great movie list.  Add in Spielberg, Hanks, Sizemore, Pepper, Burns, Diesel, Damon, Danson and the rest and you end up with a solid war movie.

3. Zulu: A small band of British soldiers vs the whole Zulu nation.  Look for a young Michael Caine in a supporting role.

4. Platoon: I have to admit, I didn’t really care for this movie when I first saw it in a theater.  My buddy, John Beatty told me to give it another shot.  I went back and saw it again in a theater.  I liked it a lot better.  It has grown on me with each additional viewing over the years.  Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, and Tom Berenger are the three biggest stars but look for a young Johnnie Depp in a supporting role.

5. Full Metal Jacket: It’s almost like you have two different war movies for the price of one.  Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio and R. Lee Ermey (in a breakout role), directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Although they didn’t make the list, what about: Blackhawk Down and Aliens?