Summer Movie Hype

The winter video game season is dead and gone.  Next up to bat is the summer movie blockbuster season.  With a lot of great titles coming out this year lets start getting excited.  First movie on the list is not in the summer, but it is getting so much attention it is worth putting on this list.

HUNGER GAMES

(March 23)

If you didn’t know, this movie is based off of a very popular book series.  The book/movie is set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television.  Sounds like a good time right.  Now personally I have not read the books, but from what I hear this book is going to be a bit challenging to turn into a movie.  I say this because I can only assume that the book is violent.  Now that’s not so bad right, wrong, I would bet money that the writers and the director are going to cut the violence back to get a PG-13 rating to get the teen crowd to fill the seats.  Now for someone who hasn’t read the stories, like me, this wont be a huge problem.  Just wait until the die hard fans see the movie and complain about that.  Regardless what everyone thinks, I’m interested in seeing this move, if only to see how they get away with a movie based on kids killing each other.

THE AVENGERS

(May 4)

This is the movie that all comic book fans have been waiting for.  Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army.  Movie fans are familiar with most of the members of the Avengers, because four of the six of them have has their own summer hits (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America).  Personally I am excited, not only because I’m a comic nerd, but because I want to see of they can pull off a movie with all of these big name superheroes.  You can bet if this makes bank, DC is going to try and make a Justice League movie.

MEN IN BLACK III

(May 25)

Most people aren’t to excited for the third installment of this series.  On the other hand I can’t wait for this.  I have loved the first two Men in Black movies.  To really enjoy these movie, I think you have to familiarize yourself with old scifi classics.  You can’t take the series to seriously.  Go see this movie if you are looking for a comedy that is a modern interpretation on classic science fiction hits.  I mean come on, Will Smith goes back in time to the 60’s

BRAVE

(June 22)

it’s Pixars now movie, need I saw more.  Well if I do here you go, this is a brief on IMBD “Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. ”  But honestly, this is going to look beautiful, and sound beautiful because of its cast.  If you are a Pixar fan, Disney fan, or an animation fan go see this film.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

(July 3)

The Amazing Spider-Man is hopefully going to be a good comic book movie.  This film is going to be the much needed reboot for the spider-man films.  Unfortunately for this series, I feel it is being over shadowed by The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises.  I still think it will do well.  The main character casting is far better than the original films.  James Garfield makes a better Peter Parker, and Emma Stone makes a better love interest as Gwen Stacy.  Peter feels more like he should, an awkward nerd, but still makes joke when dealing with criminals.  I feel Garfield will bring a Peter Parker we can relate to, who wont wine as much as the Peter in previous films.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

(July 20)

This is the movie most of us are waiting for.  The conclusion of Nolan’s Batman trilogy.  Like always, this movie has a great cast, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, and Liam Neeson.  If you loved the first two movies in the series, I don’t have to convince you to go see this film…You’re going to see this movie.  (Who’s taking bets on if Bane breaks Batman’s back).

THE BOURNE LEGACY

(August 3)

I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Bourne series, but this trailer really sold me on this film.  I like the fact that Matt Damon’s story is over and they are dealing with a new charter.  Not because I don;t like Damon, but because I’m glad the story is moving forward and not dragging its face across the pavement.  I feel Jeremy Renner will do a great job and, even if it’s not the best it will be worth the price of the ticket…Maybe not the price of the popcorn with the prices these theaters charge.

Throwback Thursday (2/23/2012)

Thursday is upon is once again, so let me tell you my pick for this weeks throwback.  To break the trend of nothing but video games on this website, I bring you a movie.

Kung Fu Hustle

I can’t explain it, I love this movie for some odd reason.  It is one of those movies, where if it is on TV, I have to drop what I’m doing and watch it.  It is a total guy movie.  It’s goofy, has great over the top fight scenes, and it has Stephen Chow in it.  I mean just look at this scene where they introduce the fearsome “Axe Gang”.

You have no reason not to check this strange movie out.  It has been out for a while so you can get it cheep at any movie store.  (Unfortunately it is not on Netflix streaming.)  Trust me, you will love it and well be a good addition to your DVD/Blu-ray collection.

Making Movies

There is a question that has been asked on almost every message board, game website, and game channel.  It is a question that we all can’t agree on.  What video game should be made into a movie?  Now before you start answering this question, I’m going to ask a counter question.  Do we really need to turn video games into movies?  With how far the gaming industry has come, I don’t understand why fan boys and girls are so eager for their favorite games to hit the big screen.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but, video games can be better than movies.  Not only do you get sucked into a great story, but you actually get to play as the characters instead of watching an actor surrounded by special effects do everything.

The thing is, I don’t know if the average player understands that current games are treated similar to movies.  Even though it is all digital, the creators still need to worry about a script, lighting, blocking the scenes, transitions, continuity, etc.  The first time I really understood this was when I saw a video in which Hideo Kojima was showing the intricacies if the engine that Metal Gear Solid 4 ran on.  The ting about the video that I remember the most was how he could instantly tweak the smallest detail of the lighting, and the particle effects of snakes surroundings in real time.  The funny thing is that people made fun of metal gear solid for being more of a movie than a game because of the number of cut scenes in it, and every time the original question is posed, people want a MGS movie.  On a similar note, Uncharted 3 is practically a movie.  The uncharted series is one of the most realistic looking games on the market.  This is because the game is motion captured and voiced at the same time.  This means that there is no longer a disconnect from the voice actor and the motion.  This adds more realism because the voice actor can get into character better and do a better job.  Below is a short video interview with the actors of Uncharted.

For me, I’m not sure I could ever like a video game movie more than the game the characters originated from.  I say this because one of the aspects of movie would be casting the characters, and if the characters voice doesn’t match it would bother me.  I would rather a director change the look of a character slightly over changing the voice.   Nolan North will always be Nathan Drake, Carlos Ferro will always be Dominic Santiago, and Link will never have a voice.

In the end, do we really need another video game movie.  Just look at the track record of these movies.  I mean, don’t get me wrong I would pay to see Matthew Fox as Commander Shepard in a Mass Effect movie, or Nathan Fillion as Nathan Drake in an Uncharted Film.  but is it necessary.  I would love to see original ideas coming out of Hollywood for a change, but that is for a different post.

Hell, for the fun of it there is a poll if you want to vote.