24 Season 6 Preview - Jack is almost back!
Sunday, December 10. 2006
Did Superman Return?
Sunday, July 16. 2006
Short Answer: Yes! I'll keep this spoiler free for those who have not seen it. Begin a fan of the first two Superman films, I was thrilled when Bryan Singer signed on as Director. Singer proved his worth as a comic book movie maker with the first two X-Men films. It was even more encouraging to hear that Singer would stick to the original vision of Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner. Thankfully Superman Returns ignores the horrid Superman 3 and Superman IV films and picks up roughly where Superman II left off. The premise is simple: Superman has been away from earth for five years searching for any survivors of his doomed home world of Krypton. He returns to find a much different world than the one he left.Brandon Rough seamlessly assumes the Superman role. I believed he was Superman the first time he appeared on screen. This is not your daddy's Superman. This Man of Steel has feelings and emotion. Some strict comic book fans may not like this new take. This approach mirrors the Clark of Smallville, the TV-series about Clark Kent's high school and college years, and it works. Superman is, after all, an alien who desperately wants to fit in. You find yourself feeling sad for him. His love for Lois Lane is so clear, yet he must hide behind the facade of Clark Kent to protect his identity. Superman also receives sage advice from his father Jor-El, again played by the late Marlon Brando. Singer utilized clips cut from the original Superman films and integrates them nicely here.
Kevin Spacey plays a different Lex Luthor than Gene Hackman did. Spacey is less comedian, more evil mastermind. You can clearly see the hatred in his eyes and the pleasure he takes in hurting Superman. Kate Bosworth is a good, if not stiff, Lois Lane. Lois now has a child and has moved on with her life. At the start of the film the world hadn't seen Superman for five years. Lois won a Pulitzer Prize for her story "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman". It becomes clear she wrote that article as therapy to bury her true emotions.
Set design is beautiful. CGI is used only when needed. The film was well acted by the entire cast. It's a little long at 2.5 hours, but I've seen it twice and it didn't bother me. The film did its job well. It paid enough tribute to the Superman of old, with plenty to please a new generation. This "kinder, gentler" Superman is not for everyone. It does however serve as a great "reboot" of the Superman series, though not quite as strong a reboot as last year's flawless Batman Begins. So what about "the kid"? He does a great job. Singer shows it is possible to use a child in a film without him being supremely annoying (*ahem*, are you listening George Lucas?).
As a fan of instrumental Movie Soundtracks, I must mention John Ottman's score. Ottman smartly pays tribute to the iconic Superman fanfare (John Williams) in the Main Title track. He also touches upon the classic Lois and Superman love theme, and the classy Krypton theme. Ottman integrates these themes into his own mix of high quality chorals and themes. His soundtrack is always "there", capturing emotional moments better than big action scenes. I have a feeling he'll be able to explore more original territory in a Returns sequel.
Superman Returns is a film you can enjoy even if you are not a comic book geek (no offense to any comic books geeks out there). It has something for everyone. It leaves you satisfied yet wanting more. Superman left earth for five years looking for family and companionship. Little did he know those things were already here waiting for him.
Oh “24"...How do I love thee?
Saturday, March 25. 2006
Few words can describe the utter awesomeness that is “24” (Fox, Monday, 9:00 PM). Now I admit, I missed out on the first four seasons. Blasphemy you say? Well, yes. I don’t know, I guess I ignored the hype. When something is hyped so much it usually sucks. Once 24 got to Season 5 (“Day 5”), I figured it was time to tune in. And boy was I not disappointed!Those of us that are addicted know that Mondays will never be the same. When you arrive to work at the start of the week, it really is “Happy Monday” because you know what awaits you at 9:00 PM. You watch the clock with anticipation. You start to see that distinctive digital clock appear below when people talk. [Walken] "You got a fever, and the only prescription, is more 24!" [/Walken]
So who is the best character on 24? There is one that rises above the rest. All the actors are top notch, and you can tell they are well directed. Obviously Kiefer Sutherland is an A-List actor, one of the best ever. So is the butt-kicking Jack Bauer the best? No!
In my opinion it is Gregory Itzin. Give him the Oscar, the Golden Globe, the Emmy, the Tony, hell, give the man a g-damn gold medal! Wait. What's this? You don’t know his name? Well you probably know him better as the indecisive, wishy-washy President of the United States, Charles Logan. Any actor that can make you scream at the TV is good in my book. Don’t you just want to strangle this guy? His facial expressions, his timing, just everything, make him one of the most believable characters I have ever seen in any performance medium. Awesome, just awesome.
I could go on and on. Instead let me give you a few awesome and humorous “24” links to tide you over until Monday. (Unless of course you are reading this on a Monday, in which case click them anyway!)
This amusing Amazon.com list of 24 stuff rules the earth. Now you can own Jack Bauer’s Messenger Bag he uses in "Day 5". Be sure to visit the Wikipedia entry for “24”.
You can spend well over two hours reading about the characters, the
backstories, and all the details you can digest! Finally, what
self-respecting “24” fan would NOT have the CTU ringtone on their cell phone? None!
Tick, Tick, Tick...(fade to black).
John Williams - Nominated for "Sith"
Wednesday, December 14. 2005
The excellent and incomparable movie score composer, John Williams, has been nominated for a few Grammys based on his work on the Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith movie score. (review) He was specifically nominated for Best Instrumental Composition for a track called "Anakin's Betrayal". For those who do not follow movie scores, this great piece of music is heard in Episode III when Emperor Palpatine issues "Order 66" and continues to play as the clones turn on the Jedi and Anakin slaughters the Jedi children.
John Williams has written most of the famous themes heard in movies for the past 30 years, including Jaws, Star Wars (I-VI), Indiana Jones, Superman, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter. It's just amazing what the man can do. With Episode III, he was able to convey the wide range of emotions through music so we as an audience could feel Anakin's fall.
John Williams' best work on Episode III was not released on the soundtrack
but should be included on the super-duper Special Edition we all know is
coming. It is a small :45 second piece where Williams brilliantly intertwines
three main themes that describe Anakin’s journey perfectly.
For those of you with the DVD, go to Padme's funeral scene. As the
camera pans to Padme's necklace (the one Anakin gave her as a boy) we hear the
Qui-Gon funeral music. This gives way to the Force theme. As Darth
Vader walks onto the bridge of the Star Destroyer, the Force Theme gives way again to
the Qui-Gon funeral theme, culminating with the Imperial March as Darth Vader
crosses his arms and takes his place at the Emperor’s side. While this particular arrangement of music
may have gone unnoticed by most movie-goers, more astute listeners (ok geeks!)
will immediately notice the significance.
The Force theme represents what he was, a Jedi, Qui-Gon’s funeral theme represents the death
of that Jedi, and the Imperial March
represents what he has become.
This is the genius of John Williams.
"...and you'll never have to."
Saturday, November 26. 2005
In Tim
Burton’s Batman
(1989) the Joker asks: “Where does he get those wonderful toys?” Well it
only took us 16 years to find out. Batman Begins (2005) not only answers that question, but
many others. After four Batman films focused on villains, we finally learn what
drives Bruce Wayne. I watched this again for the first time since I saw it
opening weekend. I can easily say Batman Begins is the best movie based on a
superhero ever made.
Christopher
Nolan did an excellent job bringing Batman to life. We see Bruce Wayne
(Christian Bale) diving into the mind of a criminal, so as not to become one
himself. By the end of the film we see a man willing to sacrifice himself for
the good of others. The future Commissioner Gordon (Gary
Oldman) tells Batman he never said “Thank You”. Batman responds with the title
of this entry. Gordon cracks a smile.
I am a big fan of Movie Scores. James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer composed an
understated yet impressive score for this film. Much different from Danny
Elfman’s triumphant Batman score. Check out a very good review of the score at
cinemusic.net.
If you have not seen this movie, see it. Even if you are not a comic book or
superhero fan you owe it to yourself to see it. As much as I like Star Wars, I
must say this was my favorite big budget
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