Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012, and I can think of no better way to ring in the new year than with a brand new episode of U62: The Targ!
We start the new year with Episode 5.06: A Week Full of Thursdays. I discuss the pains of being recognized, I lament the end of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and I spend my time dissecting the trailer for The Hobbit.
So, once a year, I decide to e-mail out a letter to friends and aquaintiances just to update them on what's going on in my life. Since e-mail address change and go defunct and all that, I decided to post it to the blog this year, in the hopes that maybe, some long lost friends who are curious as to what happened to me, may Google my name some night. Here's my 2011 letter.
Good day, ladies, gentlemen, and various other individuals I haven�t e-mailed in over a year.
�Tis I, Mark Cappis, with my annual note updating you on all the occurrences in my life. Usually, I send this out at the start of December, to get snail mail addresses and weed out my Christmas card list. But, life got busy and I wound up putting this off for most of December. It�s too late now to be a Christmas letter, so I guess it�s a New Years letter. All for the best, really. I�ve always felt that New Years was a more universal and inclusive holiday.
Writing this letter reminds me of the classic fantasy comic book The Sandman. In one issue, a man comes up with the ultimate scheme to live forever. When Death comes to collect his soul, he�ll simply say, �No thanks. I�m not going.� Death, overhearing this conversation and being a cheeky character, decides to grant this wish for immortality. Death�s brother, Dreams, not having much of a life, decides to strike up a friendship with this newly immortal person, and they vow to meet every 100 years, have a drink, and catch-up.
So what I�m trying to say here is, it�s been a hundred years. Who�s buying this round?
What�s Going On In My Life
My life is still very much uneventful. You�ll still find me up in Athabasca, working at 94.1 the River. I�m still the wacky morning guy, and you can hear me on the air every morning from 6AM to noon. Back in April, I celebrated 5 years up in Athabasca, and I�m still loving every minute of it.
The job really showed me how important a radio station can be to a community. You may recall that back in May, Slave Lake was victim to some devastating wildfires that burned down a portion of the town, resulting in the entire town being evacuated. Athabasca became home to the largest evacuation centre. Every day, on the air, I�d provide daily updates on what was needed at the evacuation centre, and every day, the listeners would provide it in droves. It was a very busy couple of weeks, but really reminded me that this job does have certain great powers, and great responsibilities, to paraphrase an old comic book.
This year, I also ended my time with the Magnificent River Rats Festival, Athabasca�s Canada Day celebration and music festival. I spent two years as treasurer, and I was really starting to find the job very taxing. I�m proud of my work with the festival, and I�m sure it will be very successful in the years to come. But rather than kick back and relax, I quickly found something else to fill my time.
Like a lot of other facets of the entertainment industry, radio tends to be full time work for part time pay. I�ve spent my five years in Athabasca living on a very tight budget, and I had some cost-of-living increases over the past year that threw my budget out of whack. So, I finally had to break down and, like a lot of my radio brethren before me, get a second job. I now spend my evenings down at Buy-Low Foods keeping the produce section stocked. It�s created some interesting reactions from listeners who recognize me. One assumed I was starting some kind of Dirty Jobs segment on my show and wanted to know when I�d be coming down to her business. Another seemed genuinely angry that I have to work two jobs and threatened to call my radio boss and demand I get a raise. I never got a befuddled memo from my radio boss about that, so I�m guessing he never called.
That�s the main reason why this letter is so delayed. Between Christmas events that I was broadcasting live from, and working double shifts at the grocery store for the Christmas rush, I was run pretty ragged this December. But now, I�m looking forward to a quiet January and things settling back into some sense of normalcy.
Favourite Quote of the Year
�Didn�t you go to NAIT? Didn�t you run for president? Dude, your campaign was hilarious.� � An Edmonton Oilers PR exec, when the Oilers came to Athabasca for an event. Turns out he was taking some business courses at NAIT when I decided to...make an impression. Let this serve as a reminder that you never know when, where, and what you�ll be remembered for.
�How on Earth can I find you?� �Just make a wish. That seems to work.�
As always, my online footprint is massive, so if you ever want to catch up with me, a quick Google search will turn up all manner of options.
And that pretty much sums up my 2011. No runs, no hits, no errors, as my dear ol� Dad would say. All in all though, I�m starting to find that Dr. Johnny Fever summed up the radio announcer lifestyle quite accurately on a rerun of WKRP: �Pushing 40, and still living like a college kid.� But when all is said and done, I can�t imagine doing anything else.
See you again in 100 years. Next time, you�re buying.
Director: Scott Hicks Writer: Will Fetters Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Jay R. Ferguson, Riley Thomas Stewart, Joe Chrest, Adam LeFevre
Synopsis: U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive-a photograph he found of a woman he doesn't even know. Learning her name is Beth (Taylor Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm.
Director: Joe Carnahan Writer: Joe Carnahan, Ian Mackenzie Jeffers Cast: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, James Badge Dale, Nonso Anozie
In Alaska, an oil drilling team struggle to survive after a plane crash strands them in the wild. Hunting the humans are a pack of wolves who see them as intruders.
Director: Michael Sucsy Writer: Michael Sucsy, Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein Cast: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Scott Speedman, Jessica McNamee, Jessica Lange, Sam Neill
Synopsis: A newlywed couple recovers from a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband endeavors to win her heart again.
Director: Anthony Hemingway Writer: John Ridley, George Lucas Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Tristan Wilds, Cliff Smith, Kevin Phillips, Rick Otto, Lee Tergesen, Andre Royo, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, Marcus T. Paulk, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael B. Jordan, Jazmine Sullivan, Edwina Finley, Daniela Ruah, Stacie Davis, Gerald McRaney
Synopsis: 1944. As the war in Europe continues to take its toll on Allied forces, the Pentagon brass has no recourse but to consider unorthodox options -- including the untried and untested African-American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training program. Just as the young Tuskegee men are on the brink of being shut down and shipped back home, they are given the ultimate chance to show their courage. Against all the odds, with something to prove and everything to lose, these intrepid young airmen take to the skies to fight for their country -- and the fate of the free world.
Director: Baltasar Korm�kur Writer: Aaron Guzikowski Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Caleb Landry Jones, Lukas Haas, Diego Luna, J.K. Simmons
Synopsis: Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best--running contraband--to settle Andy's debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), to head to Panama and return with millions in counterfeit bills.
Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target
Director: Asger Leth Writer: Pablo Fenjves, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber Cast: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Edward Burns, Titus Welliver, Genesis Rodriguez, Kyra Sedgwick
Synopsis: An ex-cop and now wanted fugitive (Sam Worthington) stands on the ledge of a high-rise building while a hard-living New York Police Department hostage negotiator (Elizabeth Banks) tries to talk him down. The longer they are on the ledge, the more she realizes that he might have an ulterior objective.
Director: Ridley Scott Writer: Damon Lindelof, Jon Spaihts, Ridley Scott Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Logan Marshall-Green, Patrick Wilson
Synopsis: Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define. With Prometheus, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Director: Brad Peyton Writer: Richard Outten, Mark Gunn, Brian Gunn Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzman, Kristen Davis
Synopsis: The new journey begins when young adventurer Sean (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist--a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean's new stepfather (Dwayne Johnson) joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.
Director: Andrew Stanton Writer: Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Hayden Church, Willem Dafoe
Synopsis: From Academy Award�winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes John Carter�a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.
Director: Peter Berg Writer: Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna, Liam Neeson, Hamish Linklater
Synopsis: Peter Berg produces and directs Battleship, an epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Based on Hasbro's classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam, a physical therapist and Hopper's fianc�e; Alexander Skarsg�rd as Hopper's older brother, Commanding Officer Stone of the USS Samson; Rihanna as Lt. Raikes, Hopper's crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones; and international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone's superior (and Sam's father), Admiral Shane
Director: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg Writer: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg Cast: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy
Synopsis: In the comedy American Reunion, all the American Pie characters we met a little more than a decade ago are returning to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship.
It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler's mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about�and get inspired by�the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend.
Director: Daniel Espinosa Writer: David Guggenheim, Terry George, John Lee Hancock Cast: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga, Fares Fares, Robert Patrick, Nora Arnezeder, Liam Cunningham, Joel Kinnaman, Ruben Blades
Synopsis: Oscar winner Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the action-thriller Safe House. Washington plays the most dangerous renegade from the CIA, who comes back onto the grid after a decade on the run. When the South African safe house he's remanded to is attacked by mercenaries, a rookie operative (Reynolds) escapes with him. Now, the unlikely allies must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. For the past year, Matt Weston has been frustrated by his inactive, backwater post in Cape Town. A "housekeeper" who aspires to be a full-fledged agent, the loyal company man has been waiting for an opportunity to prove himself. When the first and only occupant he's had proves to be the most dangerous man he's ever met, Weston readies for duty. Tobin Frost has eluded capture for almost a decade. One of the best ops men that the CIA's known, the ex-intelligence officer has given up assets and sold military intel to anyone with cash since he turned. From trading secrets to North Korea to aiding splinter cells, the damage he's done to the U.S. is immeasurable. And he's now back on the reservation with a secret. As soon as Frost is brought in for debriefing, mercenaries come and tear apart Weston's safe house. Barely escaping, the unlikely partners must discover if their attackers have been sent by terrorists or someone on the inside who will kill anyone standing in the way. Now it's up to Weston to figure out who he can trust before they're both eliminated from the game.
Director: Peter Jackson Writer: Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro Cast: Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, James Nesbitt, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt, Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Saoirse Ronan, Elijah Wood
Synopsis: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths ofguile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities ... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know
Well, today, we got our first official look at one of the more mysterious blockbusters coming in the summer of 2012, Prometheus.
Why is this film so mysterious? As we all know, in this day and age, everything is preqeuls, sequels, and remakes. So, 20th Century Fox eventually decided to make a prequel to their best-know horror/sci-fi franchise, Alien. The general concept was to tell the story of the "space jockey," the pilot of the downed ship that our brave humans discover in Alien where they eventually unleash the Alien.
People were ready to shrug this off as just another shameless cash-in for the franchise. But then, things got interesting. Fox was actually able to convince Ridley Scott to come on board and direct this. Scott, of course, director of such blockbusters as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down, the recent Robin Hood and...the original Alien way back in 1979. This is Scott's return to the sci-fi genre even since he made the cult-classic Blade Runner way back in 1982. The Alien fanboys have longed for Scott to return to the universe he created, and Scott's involvement brought a new excitement to the project.
So, the development stage went on. The script was refined. And then, Scott and the writers and producers started saying that things had taken a turn. As they continued exploring the story and its possibilites, it evolved into something new. Scott went on record as saying that the film had changed so much that it was no longer an Alien prequel, but that the fans would be able "to see the strands of Alien's DNA." Adding to the confusion was that many Fox higher-ups and several of the cast members continued to refer to it as an Alien prequel.
And that's what makes this film so mysterious. What exactly is it about? Just how much of a connection is there to Alien? Yeah, there's been a spoiler-filled script review circling the Internet for months now, and I could go read it, but where's the fun in that?
The first trailer went online today, and the questions continue.
Well, one thing people seem to be agreeing on...based on the visual asthetics in the trailer, it at least takes place in the same sci-fi universe as Alien. Many have pointed out that the trailer itself seems to be an homage to the original trailer for Alien.
Needless to say, I am intrigued by Prometheus. The mystery that's been surrounding this film is starting to get to me. What little we see in the teaser does some intriguing...it's almost like Scott finally has the budget, or the special effects technology, to really open up the universe he created, rather than the minimalist approach he had with the original film.
It's gotta a pretty star-studded cast, too. Noomi Rapace, the original Swedish Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, is Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, an archeologist heading out to the stars to discover the origins of mankind. Charlize Theron is along as Meridith Vickers, a corporate figurehead, and Michael Fassbender, who was the young Magneto in X-Men: First Class, is David, the Alien stock character of the cold-hearted android.
I think I'll be seeing this this summer. It's been enough of a tease so far that I'm hooked.
How exactly does this fit in to the Alien universe? I guess will find out on June 8.
Director: Julie Anne Robinson Cast: Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguiziamo, Debbie Reynolds, Debra Monk
Unemployed and newly-divorced Stephanie Plum lands a job at her cousin's bail-bond business, where her first assignment puts her on the trail of a wanted local cop from her romantic past.
Director: Nicholas Stoller Writer: Nicholas Stoller, Jason Segel Cast: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie, Rhys Ifans
Synopsis: The director and writer/star of Forgetting Sarah Marshall reteam for the irreverent comedy The Five-Year Engagement. Beginning where most romantic comedies end, the new film from director Nicholas Stoller, producer Judd Apatow and Rodney Rothman looks at what happens when an engaged couple, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt, keeps getting tripped up on the long walk down the aisle.
The Avengers - Tony Stark / Iron Man - Robert Downey Jr.
The Avengers - Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow - Scarlett Johansson
The Avengers - Thor - Chris Hemsworth
The Avengers - Steve Rogers / Captain America - Chris Evans
The Avengers - Clint Barton / Hawkeye - Jeremy Renner
The Avengers - Loki - Tom Hiddleston
The Avengers - Nick Fury - Samuel L. Jackson
The Avengers - Bruce Banner - Mark Ruffalo
The Avengers
Release: May 4, 2012
Director: Joss Whedon Writer: Zak Penn, Joss Whedon Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Clark Gregg, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston
Synopsis: The Avengers - the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel's The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series "The Avengers," first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when Marvel's The Avengers assemble in summer 2012. In "Marvel's The Avengers," superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.
So. Let's talk about The Lord of the Rings. Truthfully, not much of a fan. Don't get me wrong, the movies are good, and I respect that it sparked this whole trend of "filming the unfilmable" that's getting such upcoming movies as John Carter.
But I've never really been able to get into them because of the books. I've tried many, many times in my short life to read the books, but I find them so boring. That's why I've avoided the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings. From what I gather, all they really did for the extended editions was put in all the exposition and back story that brings the plot to a halt in the books.
22 years ago -- Christmas 1989 -- I got this handsome boxed set of The Lord of the Rings, and just by looking at the spines on my bookshelf, you can see all my previous attempts to read the trilogy. The Fellowship of the Ring is well-worn, like it's been read a dozen times. The Two Towers is in pretty good shape, like it's been read once or twice. And The Return of the King is as pristine as the day I tore off the wrapping paper.
However, also in the boxed set is the prequel to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit. The Hobbit is beat-up, dog-eared, slightly torn like it's been read a thousand times. And it has. Despite my distaste for The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit remains one of my favourite books. It's just such an easier read...it's nowhere near as dense. My fantasy-loving friends once told me that The Lord of the Rings is simply The Hobbit with every single footstep described in painstaking detail. I haven't read The Hobbit in a few years...I think I'm due to read it again.
So, then, like a lot of nerds, when The Lord of the Rings started making serious coin at the box office, we knew it was just a matter of time before they made The Hobbit in order to keep the franchise going. There was some legal stuff to sort out first...the movie rights to The Hobbit were owned by MGM, and The Lord of the Rings was owned by New Line. Eventually, they figured out the legal stuff and resolved to work together. Peter Jackson, director of the trilogy, was on board...as a producer.
To direct The Hobbit, Jackson selected Guillermo Del Toro, the director of the Hellboy films and fresh off the Oscar-winning fantasy epic Pan's Labrynth. The plan at the time was to make two films: the first one, a straight up adaptation of The Hobbit. The second one, they were going to pour through all the various appendicies and footnotes that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote and concoct an original story to fill in the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
However, MGM was going through some financial woes, and Del Toro got fed up just standing around, waiting for the bankruptcy thing to sort itself out. So, Del Toro quit the project. And Jackson said, "Well, I guess it's up to me," and decided to direct The Hobbit. Also around this time they tossed the original "bridge the gap" film idea...instead, they were just going to cut The Hobbit in two and make two movies.
Of course, we have some returning cast members from The Lord of the Rings. Sir Ian McKellan is back as Gandalf, Andy Serkis is back as Gollum, Hugo Weaving is back as the Elf king Elrond, and they even worked in some cameos for Elijah Wood as Frodo and Orlando Bloom as Legolas.
Our hero, Bilbo Baggins, will be played by Martin Freeman. This isn't the first time that Freeman has played a cult-classic literary character...he was also Arthur Dent in the film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and on the new BBC production of Sherlock Holmes (you know...the one that's supervised by Steven Moffat of Doctor Who fame), he's Dr. Watson. He was also Tim Canturbury, the original British version of Jim Halperin, on the original British version of The Office.
The first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, hits theaters on December 14, 2012. The second film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, comes out December 13, 2013.
And the first trailer just went online.
I do get a little goosebumpy watching this. It's truly nice to see a return to this cinematic world. And as I've always enjoyed The Hobbit, I'm more familiar with it.
I think it's time to re-read The Hobbit to get ready for this film. And who knows? It might even give me enough of a running start to finally tackle The Lord of the Rings.
Director: Gary Ross Writer: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks, Dayo Okeniyi, Amandla Stenberg, Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, Willow Shields, Paula Malcomson, Ian Nelson, Kalia Prescott, Ethan Jamieson, Tara Macken, Chris Mark, Jacqueline Emerson, Ashton Moio, Kara Petersen, Sam Ly, Leigha Hancock, Samuel Tan, Mackenzie Lintz, Imanol Yepez-Frias, Annie Thurman, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Latarsha Rose, Brooke Bundy, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones, Amber Chaney, Kimiko Gelman, Nelson Ascencio, Donald Sutherland
Synopsis: Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains.
Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
So, if you went to see Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows over the weekend, you probably saw the latest trailer for the latest Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises.
The third and final in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy hits theatres Summer 2012, and I like what I'm seeing so far. Part of me is really, really glad that they're ending this with a third film. Having grown up with Star Wars and Back to the Future, one thing I learned is that it's best to end a film franchise as a trilogy. Besides, last time a Batman film went to a fourth, we got & Robin, a name that still sends shudders down the spines of Batman geeks.
But what really gets me is how they're really playing up that this the last one in this particular tale of Batman. Shouldn't be too surprised, though. As they pointed out in a recent Cracked.com article, there really is only one reason why you'd want to use Bane in a Batman movie.
I think I blogged before that before that Bane was on my shortlist of villains I really wanted to see in this next Batman film. Bane fits in with Christopher Nolan's realistic take on Batman quite nicely, especially if they go with the animated series interpretation: a superstrong South American hitman brought in by the mob to settle the Batman problem once and for all.
And besides, Bane really needs to be done justice. One thing folks forget is that Bane is super-smart. In his first appearance, the legendary Knighfall storyline, he successfully determined Batman's true identity and set about to thoroughly destroy Batman. And it really looks like that's what we're going with in this film.
Still scratching my head trying to figure out how Catwoman figures into all this. But what Selina Kyle whispers into Bruce Wayne's ear has me intrigued. And with the references to Commissioner Gordon being a "war hero, but we're not at war," is really starting to make think that Gotham City has been lulled into a false sense of security. One thing that's already been confirmed is that this takes place 8 years after The Dark Knight. Who knows how kind the past 8 years have been to Batman?
I'm going to throw in the latest poster now, just so I have a kick-ass thumbnail when I post this to all the social networking sites I'll be plugging this blog entry on.
All in all, with all the references to this being "The final adventure" and "The legend ends," I'm starting to think that this might be the closest we'll get to a cinematic rendition of The Dark Knight Returns...Batman's final adventure before he retires, dies in action, and/or takes his war on crime to the next level.
How will things end for the Dark Knight? We'll find out on July 20.
Director: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt Writer: Gideon Defoe Cast: Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Imelda Staunton, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek, Brian Blessed, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, Ashley Jensen
Synopsis: In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Hugh Grant stars in his first animated role as the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain � a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen), and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream:... to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award. It�s a quest that takes our heroes from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London. Along the way they battle a diabolical queen (Imelda Staunton) and team up with a haplessly smitten young scientist (David Tennant), but never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure!
Director: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier Writer: Michael Berg, Jason Fuchs, Mike Reiss Cast: Ray Romano, Karen Disher, Queen Latifah, John Leguizamo, Chris Wedge, Denis Leary, Wanda Sykes, Josh Peck, Ciara Bravo
Synopsis: Scrat's nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he's been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences - a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home
Sorry I missed things last night, things got busy and all in my dayjob. But I'm back now with an all-new episode of U62: The Targ!
In Episode 5.05: Cold Hands, Cold Heart, I decide to vent some anger by complaining about the cutting of Christmas specials, the cancelling of my new favourite TV shows, and getting into a Twitter feud with a celebrity.
Director: Sam Fell, Chris Butler Writer: Chris Butler Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Casey Affleck, Tempestt Bledsoe, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Bernard Hill, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Tucker Albrizzi, Alex Borstein, Jodelle Ferland, Elaine Stritch
Synopsis: In ParaNorman, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
Director: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda Writer: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio Cast: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Rob Riggle, Taylor Swift, Betty White
Synopsis: The 3D-CGI feature Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic young boy who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted's dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O'Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted's wise Grammy Norma.
Director: Mark Andrews Writer: Brenda Chapman, Irene Mecchi Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane
Synopsis: Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin, surly Lord Macintosh and cantankerous Lord Dingwall. Merida�s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it�s too late
It's that time of year. The trailers for the big blockbusters of next summer are starting to roll out, and as we all know, sequels are still the name of the game. So let's take a look at a couple of the sequels coming out this summer. Let's start with the one I'm not so excited about.
Men in Black. Loved the first movie. I felt the second one was a tired retread. It's been 15 years since the first film (holy moly, has it been that long?) and 10 years since the second. Is it too late for a third? Well, we'll find out when Men in Black III hits theatres this May.
Men in Black III is known in Hollywood circles right now for being a very troubled production. They had to shut down production for a few months to work out some kinks in the script. Executive producer Steven Spielberg even brought in his Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull script doctors Jeff Nathanson and David Koepp to iron things out. So it's going to be interesting to see what kind of film comes out of this.
I already talked about executive producer Steven Spielberg coming back...also back as director is Barry Sonnenfeld. I've mentioned before that Sonnenfeld is a director due for a comeback. In the 1990s, he proved he could do blockbusters with Men in Black and The Addams Family films. He proved he could do character-based comedy with Get Shorty. But, he did make Wild Wild West, which kind of killed his big screen career. He's been biding his time with some "brilliant-but-cancelled" television, being responsible for some of my favourite short-lived TV shows, mainly the live-action version of The Tick and Pushing Daisies. So I'm kind of hoping that Men in Black III re-energizes his big screen career.
Not much is known yet about the plot...just that we find Agent J time traveling back to the 1960s to help out a young Agent K. Will Smith is back as Agent J, Tommy Lee Jones returns as Agent K, Josh Brolin plays the young Agent K, Emma Thompson plays the new MiB commander, Agent O, with Alice Eve playing the young Agent O.
Men in Black III hits theatres this May.
And now, let's get on to the sequel I am excited about...the second G.I. Joe film, G.I. Joe: Retaliation. I've blogged before that I enjoyed the first live-action G.I. Joe film. While it offered nothing new in the way of action films and there some glaring plot holes, my childhood nostalgia for the property blinded me to the flaws. And given the cliffhanger that the film ended on, I knew a sequel could be good.
I've already blogged about the new cast members and who's working behind the scenes, so I'll just provide a link rather than re-hash myself. (That would be this link right here. Clicky click!) All I can say is...wow. I love this trailer. Once again, my childhood nostalgia for the property is making me giggle. Unlike the Transformers film, I'm getting the feeling that they're trying to advance the story. I can hardly wait for this one.
Director: Jason Reitman Writer: Diablo Cody Cast: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt, Elizabeth Reaser
Academy Award winner Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gary, a writer of teen literature who returns to her small hometown to relive her glory days and attempt to reclaim her happily married high school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson). When returning home proves more difficult than she thought, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate (Patton Oswalt) who hasn't quite gotten over high school either.
Director: Nick Murphy Writer: Stephen Volk, Nick Murphy Cast: Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, Imelda Stauton
Synopsis: Set in post-World War I England in 1921, The Awakening follows a skeptical woman (Rebecca Hall) who travels to a countryside boarding school to investigate rumours of an apparent haunting. Just when she thinks she has debunked the ghost theory, she has a chilling spectral encounter which defies all her rational beliefs.
