I Saw Ted Today!

My review of 'Ted' will be typed up by tomorrow, I just want to say that it is really funny. It is definitely more funny if you are a fan of Family Guy, buit there are plenty of funny bits to satisfy everyones taste. The films is perfect for you if you are a fan of 'Flash Gordon'.

Movie Recommendation Of The Week: Starship Troopers (1997)

This week (6/8/12) my movie recommendation is the 1997 films 'Starship Troopers', directed by Paul Verhoeven, based off the novel by Robert A. Heinlein. Normall my recommendation of the week has something to do with the films coming out on that particular week, but this week I chose this one purely because me and my mate were talking about science fiction. I suppose it is related to the 'Total Recall' remake because Verhoeven directed the original.

The story revolves around a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry (a futuristic unit). He doesn't join because he wants to serve mankind, but because he is convinced his girlfriend that it is the right thing to. When the relationship goes doesn't go the way he planned, he questions whether or not he wishes to stay with the Mobil Infantry. Rico's military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between mankind and an arachnoid species known as 'the bugs'.

This is one of the cheesiest movies that people love to make fun of, but it is also one of those films that you cannot help but love. It is almost nothing like the book, but we don't care because the whole film is filled with soldiers shooting at giant bugs and the same giant bugs tearing soldier apart. It has been announced that 'Starship Troopers' is being remade, but is getting a 12A rating, which is a horrible decision, because you can't have a non-gory 'Starship Troopers' film. There is however a CGI sequel called 'Starship Troopers: Invasion', which is supposed to the sequel to the first film that we've been waiting for for years. 'Starship Troopers' is a 9/10 for me, i absolutely love how ridiculous and violent it is. It is one of those films you have to see before you die. Simple as.

Weekly Blu Ray Review: Batman and The Bourne Identity

I've been very lucky this week (starting 30/7/12), because a good friend of mine has lent me the Batman Anthology blu ray which includes 'Batman', 'Batman Returns', Batman Forever' and 'Batman & Robin'(it's a shame I didn't have this during my Batman week) and also my steelbook of The Bourne Trilogy has arrived. So that has me sorted for at least two weeks of reviews, I'm hoping to have all of the Bourne films reviewed before 'The Bourne Legacy' comes out. I will also be doing a post going through all of the Bourne films and what exactly Jason Bourne's legacy is. So this week, I am reviewing the blu rays of Tim Burton's 'Batman' and 'The Bourne Identity'.

Batman (1989)
A real game changer in the Batman world, it meant an end to the campy vision left by the live-action TV series from the 1960s. With a dark gritty story played out by a flawless cast including Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, no wonder it changed Batman forever. The blu ray quality is amazing, the picture is great and the sound is good and it comes with more than enough special features. This includes commentary by Tim burton, an on set with Bob Kane featurette. Also a documentary called 'Legends of The Dark Knight: The History of Batman' which goes through how the comics have changed over the years. The whole anthology comes with a set of documentaries called 'Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga', each film has different parts, this one has one to three and it is possibly the most interesting thing i've ever watched on a blu ray. It goes through the marathon they went through to get this movie made, how 'Superman: The movie'  helped get Batman to the big screen, the casting, the story, the reinvisioning of Batman, it goes incredibly in depth. On top of that we have galleries, showing how they designed Batman and Gotham, three Prince videos, heroes and villains profile galleries and also, an animated story board which shows how Robin was supposed to fit into the movie, voiced by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. Finally it includes the theatrical trailer. For the first film I've watched from this Anthology, it looks like my mates got value for his money and i am really looking forward to watching the rest of this 'Shadows of the Bat' documentary. Definitely worth your time and money, an amazing film with more than enough special features to justify purchasing it, a 10/10.

The Bourne Identity (2002)
The first chapter in one of the greatest spy film series ever made. This was the film that made those in charge of the Bond films to reboot them and make them more gritty and realistic to compete with Bourne. The picture looks pretty good throughout, although it does drop a bit in areas and the sound sounds really good during the major scenes, but sometimes it sounds like its been taken straight from the DVD. The special very are very good. It includes a three-piece documentary called 'The Ludlum Identity', 'The Ludlum Supremacy' and 'The Ludlum Ultimatum' which goes through Ludlum's life, his other writers, his inspiration and his legacy. There's also deleted scenes, along with an alternate opening and an alternate ending (which is alright, nothing major), there's also bits on the making of the film. I got this as part of the Bourne steelbook edition, with the first film being quite good quality I am looking forward to watching the rest of them, I just hope they didn't use all the special features on the writer in the first film of the boxset.  I am going to give 'The Bourne Identity' an 8.5/10, it is still a good quality blu ray and definitely worth your time.

That's it for this week, next week I will most likely be reviewing one or two Batman films and the second installation of the Bourne Trilogy. Also look forward to my 'Ted' review tomorrow night and after that I will be doing a piece of the original 'Total Recall' and how it is a great film.

Which Of These Action Films Are You Most Looking Forward To? (Poll Results)

Again apologies for things being a bit late, can't quite seem to juggle work time and me time at the moment, but here they are, the results!

What's interesting this week is that there isn't a third place winner! All the votes went across too films.

In 2nd Place we have: 'The Bourne Legacy' (the Jason Bourne film without Jason Bourne in it?)

And in 1st Place: 'Total Recall'

Both look like very good films and I can't wait to see them both! Thanks for voting guys.

Batman Reboot Set For 2016

We all saw it coming, with the 'Justice League' movie in the works the only way they could include Batman would be to start the whole thing again. Well it's happening, and it is set for a 2016 release. Warner Bros. isn't falling into the same trap as 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and re-telling the origin story too soon. The new batman film is concentrating on Batman's second year second year as the caped crusader. The project name is 'The Batman', which could well become the films actual title.

What's interesting about this is that it is a sequel to the 'Justice League' movie, which is set for a 2015 release. So is Batman not in the Justice League? Or is he introduced in it? It has been announced that Batman will be part of the same shared DC Universe as the Justice League. So this suggests that he won't be in it. Batman and Superman are the two main founding members and so far neither of them seem to be in the movie.

At first we were told that Henry Cavill's Superman would not be appearing in the 'Justice League' and that 'Man of Steel' has nothing to do with it. But now apparently it is? What is going on DC, you really need to get yourselves together. They're rushing this because 'The Avengers 2' is set for a 2015 or 2016 release also. What they need to do is take their time and get it right. Set it for a 2017 or 2018 release and do it properly.

I'm hearing a lot of people going on about how four years is too soon to reboot Batman but to be honest, there was only seven years between 'Batman & Robin' and the 2005 reboot 'Batman Begins'. I am going to embrace this reboot because I wouldn't mind seeing more of a superhero movie, because Nolan's movies may have made a very realistic world, but especially by the end it didn't feel like a comic book movie.

What do you think? Is it too soon?

Don't Forget To Vote On Which Action Film You Want To See!

There's only two days left to vote on which of these action movies you want you to see!

So far 'Total Recall' is in the lead with all the votes! So we're going to need a second and third place. The films you can choose from are the 'Total Recall' remake (obviously), 'The expendables 2' (the film with the hugely awesome cast), 'Taken 2' and 'The Bourne Legacy' (the riskiest sequel this year).

So don't forget to vote! The poll is to the right hand side of this post.

New Skyfall Trailer!

I first saw this trailer at the Imax screening of 'The Dark Knight Rises' and I have to say that the 2008' Quantum of Solace' wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be, but this trailer has easily revived my faith in Bond movies.

But enough of nattering on, here's the trailer:

How epic does that look!

My absolute favourite part of this trailer is when the end of the train is torn off and Bond decides that after jumping into the remainder of the train that that is the best time to adjust his suit. That is so typically British, so typically Bond.

So what do we know from this trailer? Daniel Craig returns as 007 James Bond and Dame Judy Dench is also returning as M (there's a rumour going around that this is her final Bond film). We know that Bond gets shot (by accident, or is it?) at the beginning of the movie and is assumed dead for a few months. At some point a hard drive is stolen that contains the identity of every secret agent that is embedded in terrorist organisations all over the world (reminds me a bit of the 1996 'Mission: Impossible', but obviously this will be better). There's a new Q, so we're seeing a return the classic Bond gadgets, which I can understand why they were left out of 'Casino Royale' and 'Quantum of Solace', but I've always felt like they should be there. The main storyline seems to be that someone is killing off agents (probably using the stolen hard drive) and Bond is sent to go and take care of him. From what we can see there's a lot of shooting and explosions and hopefully a good story.

You'd think jumping out of a helicopter with the Queen at the Olympic opening ceremony would be enough adventure for Bond this year.

I also know that 'Skyfall' isn't following the story line put in place by 'Casino Royale' and Quantum of Solace', but that doesn't mean that it won't be referenced at all.

I am extremely excited for this movie, it has the potential to be one of the greatest Bond films ever made. Let me know what you think.