Welly, welly, welly my little droogies...times about for another blog right, right? I have chosen as a topic for this article a true American past-time, as modern as it may be. Trailers. Or as they are known to the general public, previews. That 10 or 15 minutes of mini-movies that get you excited to come back and watch movies and see more previews. I love 'em, you love 'em, everybody loves 'em. Especially this time of year, winter is about over and the previews for the spring and summer blockbusters come out...women look forward to new bikinis, guys love action movie previews, that's what we look forward to. I have compiled a list of the movies that have great trailers and that I am definitely planning on seeing this film year. In order of opening day:
'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'- May 1st, 2009 Also on the roster: Gambit, Deadpool, Sabertooth.
'Star Trek'- May 8, 2009 I can't say anything a Trekkie hasn't already said.
'Angels & Demons'- May 15, 2009 The book is better than the DaVinci, so I expect the movie will be too.
'Terminator: Salvation'- May 21, 2009 Christian Bale is John Connor. Insert 'rage' comment here.
'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'- June 24, 2009 Story? Wow, look at those robots!
'Public Enemies'- July 1, 2009 Johnny Depp is John Dillinger. Michael Mann directs, with Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard.
'Funny People'- July 31, 2009 Judd Apatow project starring Adam Sandler, serious funny.
'Inglorious Bastards'- August 21, 2009 Quentin Tarentino, WWII, Brad Pitt, holy s***.
If we were at the races, I would say these horses were sure winners. Check them all out at Apple Trailers (appletrailers.com). Stay tuned for more exciting adventures and enjoy your feature!
The Movie Doc
3.24.2009
3.13.2009
Time for the Faceoff
What's on my mind today? I found out the Moorhead Spuds (yes, we were potatoes) boys hockey team will be playing in the Minnesota State High School hockey championship game. This is neat for a couple reasons: I am from Moorhead and have always loved their hockey games, I've been going to them since I was a kid. And the other reason is well known but not talked about amongst the Moorhead hockey community so I won't speak of it here. Instead I'll talk about hockey movies, my three personal favorites anyway: 'Slap Shot', 'The Mighty Ducks', and 'Miracle'.
I'll start with 'Slap Shot'. What a classic, and stars Paul Newman as the player/coach of the Charleston Chiefs, a team on the verge of collapse. One of the biggest things this movie has going for it is the characters on the team, every guy is insane yet relatable to people you know. And then there's the Hanson brothers, a spectacled trio of brothers who are nothing short of goons, these characters alone are worth seeing. This movie is hilarious and the hockey sequences are done very well. Definitely a must see for any hockey fan.
Next up, 'The Mighty Ducks'. First off, this movie came out when I was about nine, so it was pretty mindblowing. Second, it takes place in Minneapolis, also great because I'm obviously from Minnesota. The plot's been seen in every kid's sports movie ever, and as far as action 'The Mighty Ducks' isn't exactly adrenaline pumping, but it's still a great movie for kids and especially kids who play hockey. In Minnesota hockey is bred into 75% of the male species, similar to Texas and their football, so that means that 75% of Minnesotans probably own it...get it for your kids.
To have seen "The Miracle on Ice" live would have been unbelievable, it was to those who did see it and even more so for the guys who played in it. I really can't say enough good things about the movie 'Miracle'. When I was 19 I actually auditioned for the movie, they had been casting in Boston and Minnesota since that is where the majority of the players were from. 'Miracle' stars Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks (spot on performance!), the coach of the 1980 USA Olympic Men's Hockey Team. His goal is simple: Beat the team that has dominated world hockey for over 20 years including the past 4 Olympic games, the Russians. The US team is comprised of college age men who don't really get along. Each player is represented well, and the acting is superb, especially for those who had never done it before. The hockey sequences here are second to none. The sound, by far the most addictive part of watching a game, is captured perfectly. Every shot, every skate, every hit...all put together from game footage and seamlessly put together for the action packed games. The final game against Russia alone is nearly 30 minutes long. SEE THIS MOVIE!
Notable hockey movies (not necessarily games about hockey): 'Youngblood', 'Happy Gilmore', 'D2: The Mighty Ducks Are Back', and 'Mystery, Alaska'.
So that's it, the buzzer has sounded, game's over. In fact here comes the Zamboni right now to wipe the ice clean. Later folks!
The Movie Doc
I'll start with 'Slap Shot'. What a classic, and stars Paul Newman as the player/coach of the Charleston Chiefs, a team on the verge of collapse. One of the biggest things this movie has going for it is the characters on the team, every guy is insane yet relatable to people you know. And then there's the Hanson brothers, a spectacled trio of brothers who are nothing short of goons, these characters alone are worth seeing. This movie is hilarious and the hockey sequences are done very well. Definitely a must see for any hockey fan.
Next up, 'The Mighty Ducks'. First off, this movie came out when I was about nine, so it was pretty mindblowing. Second, it takes place in Minneapolis, also great because I'm obviously from Minnesota. The plot's been seen in every kid's sports movie ever, and as far as action 'The Mighty Ducks' isn't exactly adrenaline pumping, but it's still a great movie for kids and especially kids who play hockey. In Minnesota hockey is bred into 75% of the male species, similar to Texas and their football, so that means that 75% of Minnesotans probably own it...get it for your kids.
To have seen "The Miracle on Ice" live would have been unbelievable, it was to those who did see it and even more so for the guys who played in it. I really can't say enough good things about the movie 'Miracle'. When I was 19 I actually auditioned for the movie, they had been casting in Boston and Minnesota since that is where the majority of the players were from. 'Miracle' stars Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks (spot on performance!), the coach of the 1980 USA Olympic Men's Hockey Team. His goal is simple: Beat the team that has dominated world hockey for over 20 years including the past 4 Olympic games, the Russians. The US team is comprised of college age men who don't really get along. Each player is represented well, and the acting is superb, especially for those who had never done it before. The hockey sequences here are second to none. The sound, by far the most addictive part of watching a game, is captured perfectly. Every shot, every skate, every hit...all put together from game footage and seamlessly put together for the action packed games. The final game against Russia alone is nearly 30 minutes long. SEE THIS MOVIE!
Notable hockey movies (not necessarily games about hockey): 'Youngblood', 'Happy Gilmore', 'D2: The Mighty Ducks Are Back', and 'Mystery, Alaska'.
So that's it, the buzzer has sounded, game's over. In fact here comes the Zamboni right now to wipe the ice clean. Later folks!
The Movie Doc
3.11.2009
I love Liam Neeson
It's true, he's amazing no matter what he does. He's done good guys like Rob Roy or a Jedi Master, bad guys like Ra's al Ghul in Batman, and complicated characters like Oscar Shindler. There is a movie in theaters right now called 'Taken', I highly recommend this film. Neeson stars as a special ops man who is still getting his life together after a divorce and retirement. He is also trying to get closer to his daughter, who soon travels to Europe with a friend. After being in Europe for only a few hours, Neeson's daughter is kidnapped while she is on the phone with him. Neeson then decides to use his professional training personally.
If you're a fan of Bond films, or the Bourne movies, this is a must see. If you don't catch it in theaters, definitely rent it. After tracking down his daughter's assailants, Neeson wastes no time in punishing them to find her. His character is a downright BAD-ASS, so be ready to 'Ooh' and 'Aah' and cheer him on.
Neeson is also looking thinner than usual, this may have something to do with the proposed Abraham Lincoln biopic by Steven Spielberg...I'll keep everyone updated on the big screen portrayal of our 16th President.
So go see 'Taken', if you've been staying away from it because it sounds like a crappy supernatural thriller by M. Night Shyamalan or starring Nic Cage, it's worth the money.
The Movie Doc
If you're a fan of Bond films, or the Bourne movies, this is a must see. If you don't catch it in theaters, definitely rent it. After tracking down his daughter's assailants, Neeson wastes no time in punishing them to find her. His character is a downright BAD-ASS, so be ready to 'Ooh' and 'Aah' and cheer him on.
Neeson is also looking thinner than usual, this may have something to do with the proposed Abraham Lincoln biopic by Steven Spielberg...I'll keep everyone updated on the big screen portrayal of our 16th President.
So go see 'Taken', if you've been staying away from it because it sounds like a crappy supernatural thriller by M. Night Shyamalan or starring Nic Cage, it's worth the money.
The Movie Doc
3.10.2009
Fear and Loathing
What's up everybody? I haven't posted in awhile, sorry about that, but now I'm back from outer space and I just walked in and saw that look upon your face saying, 'Hey, where'd you go?'. I recently watched 'Where the Buffalo Roam' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. I've seen these movies many many times of course, but when you watch them both on the same day it's quite an experience. These two films are about a fellow named Hunter Stockton Thompson. Or as he was known Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. He was a sports journalist mostly, best known for creating what is called Gonzo journalism. Whereby the author's involvement in the story becomes more important than the story itself. This is the case with these stories turned films.
Released in 1980, 'Where the Buffalo Roam' stars Bill Murray as Thompson and Peter Boyle as Carl Laslow (real name Oscar Zeta Acosta), Thompson's lawyer and partner in crime. This film follows Thompson and Laslow from a hospital, to a San Francisco courtroom, the Super Bowl and beyond. Murray's portrayal of Hunter is more true-to-life than Johnny Depp's portrayal of Raoul Duke, Thompson's drug-crazy character from 'Fear and Loathing', though Depp's speech and mannerisms are spot on to Thompson himself and Murray's is a bit more stiff. In both films Thompson's narrative carries us through most of the action. This is a good thing as his writing is both eloquent and insane. Both actor's have Thompson's slightly slack-jawed Kentucky quick speech down very well, only adding to the character Thompson was, or created. One of the film's best lines, also one of Thompson's best quotes, sums up the persona of Thompson: "I hate to advocate weird chemicals, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone... but in my case it's worked."
Many actors, writers, and directors wanted to bring more of Dr. Thompson's work to the big screen, but thankfully none of them made it happen until Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro and Terry Gilliam came together to make 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', released in 1998. Based on the book of the same name, this is true Gonzo journalism and even Thompson says anyone who would write that and claim it to all be true would be crazy. Depp plays Thompson, or more accurately the character based on Thompson named Raoul Duke. Del Toro is opposite in the role of Dr. Gonzo, based on real life friend and attorney Acosta. Joined by a suitcase full of drugs, Acapulco shirts, and a convertible; they decide to turn Las Vegas on it's head. Duke is supposed to be covering an off-road dirt bike race, but he and Gonzo have other plans. Their chase of the American Dream leads them from one casino to the next, even through a proverbial hornet's nest at a DA's convention, in "the foul year of our Lord, 1971." With appearances by Tobey McGuire, Christina Ricci, Cameron Diaz and if you believe it there's more. This is one of the best films I have ever seen; the content is lewd, so not everyone will like it, but I'll no doubt do blogs about movies with even worse content that is not so hated on, so it's fair. Acting, writing, notable directing by Terry Gilliam (you'll read his name again), cinematography, all excellent...and done in the face of adversity nearly the whole time. It's a movie you will either watch once, or all the time.
Well that's it for now, it was a strange and weird journey, but I've made it home safely thank you kindly. I think this could be, my best work.
The Movie Doc Thompson
Released in 1980, 'Where the Buffalo Roam' stars Bill Murray as Thompson and Peter Boyle as Carl Laslow (real name Oscar Zeta Acosta), Thompson's lawyer and partner in crime. This film follows Thompson and Laslow from a hospital, to a San Francisco courtroom, the Super Bowl and beyond. Murray's portrayal of Hunter is more true-to-life than Johnny Depp's portrayal of Raoul Duke, Thompson's drug-crazy character from 'Fear and Loathing', though Depp's speech and mannerisms are spot on to Thompson himself and Murray's is a bit more stiff. In both films Thompson's narrative carries us through most of the action. This is a good thing as his writing is both eloquent and insane. Both actor's have Thompson's slightly slack-jawed Kentucky quick speech down very well, only adding to the character Thompson was, or created. One of the film's best lines, also one of Thompson's best quotes, sums up the persona of Thompson: "I hate to advocate weird chemicals, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone... but in my case it's worked."
Many actors, writers, and directors wanted to bring more of Dr. Thompson's work to the big screen, but thankfully none of them made it happen until Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro and Terry Gilliam came together to make 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', released in 1998. Based on the book of the same name, this is true Gonzo journalism and even Thompson says anyone who would write that and claim it to all be true would be crazy. Depp plays Thompson, or more accurately the character based on Thompson named Raoul Duke. Del Toro is opposite in the role of Dr. Gonzo, based on real life friend and attorney Acosta. Joined by a suitcase full of drugs, Acapulco shirts, and a convertible; they decide to turn Las Vegas on it's head. Duke is supposed to be covering an off-road dirt bike race, but he and Gonzo have other plans. Their chase of the American Dream leads them from one casino to the next, even through a proverbial hornet's nest at a DA's convention, in "the foul year of our Lord, 1971." With appearances by Tobey McGuire, Christina Ricci, Cameron Diaz and if you believe it there's more. This is one of the best films I have ever seen; the content is lewd, so not everyone will like it, but I'll no doubt do blogs about movies with even worse content that is not so hated on, so it's fair. Acting, writing, notable directing by Terry Gilliam (you'll read his name again), cinematography, all excellent...and done in the face of adversity nearly the whole time. It's a movie you will either watch once, or all the time.
Well that's it for now, it was a strange and weird journey, but I've made it home safely thank you kindly. I think this could be, my best work.
The Movie Doc Thompson
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