Film Geeks - Episode 31

Title: EPISODE31 - Geeks Behind Bars

Episode Notes: We didn't do it! It was the one armed man! After a week off we're back...this time we're going to discuss prison movies. From those who are innocent, to those who aren't, and to even the POW camps. (NOTE - The reason for the last posting is exactly why we record in Skype. Talkshoe fails at everything it every attempts to do)

Download the show here - http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-14391/TS-151227.mp3

Download other shows here - http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/14391

Movie News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20080925/en_top_eo/30975
A new Batman for JLA movie

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/27/paul.newman.dead/
Paul Newman dies at 83

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86486
- Useless MPAA
- Marky Mark - kid friendly?

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-09-25-fireproof_N.htm?csp=34
Kirk Cameron's new movie accounts for 41% of movie tickets being sold on Fandango

http://www.avclub.com/content/cinema/fireproof
A review finding the movie bad - showing you why Hollywood and the typical crew of critics are out of it

BONUS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSjP2GBTr9U&
Mark Hamill's Star Wars audition tape (a taste at how much the script changed)

Movie Reviews:
- Burn After Reading - C- for Patrick
- Eagle Eye - B- for Briney
- Starship Troopers 3 - Marauder
- The Fall

Prison Movies:
* = talked about
- The Shawshank Redemtion*
- The Last Castle*
- The Great Escape
- Stalag 17
- Escape From Alcatraz*
- Death Race
- Cool Hand Luke*
- Bridge On The River Kwai
- The Green Mile*
- Alien 3
- Andersonville
- Sleepers
- The Rock - close enough!
- Escape From New York/L.A.
- American History X
- Schindler's List
- The Count Of Monte Cristo
- Brubaker

Starship Troopers 3 - Marauder - Review

Starship Troopers 3 - Marauder

There was a lot of talk going on about this movie before it even came out. It's almost unheard of for movies that go straight to DVD would get any ink. It's even more unheard of that any movie that is a sequel to the abomination that "Starship Troopers 2 - Hero Of The Federation" was. That movie was so bad it almost didn't make it into my collection of bad movies it was so bad. The biggest theory I heard about this installment was that it would follow the book, written by Robert A. Heinlein, and that it might just start all over again - another re-imagination movie. The other rumor was Casper Van Dien would come back to reprise his role as Johnny Rico. Only one of these rumors came true. As you can tell from the movie cover, Johnny Rico is back!

The one good thing that can be said about this installment of the series is at least this sequel has a semblance of a plot (unlike two). The never ending war with the bugs is still ongoing. Both sides have made advances and suffered setbacks. Colonel Johnny Rico is in command of a battle with the bugs on a farmer's planet. The site is overrun and it just so happens that a beloved singing Sky Marshall, Omar Anoke (played by Stephen Hogan) must flee from the planet causing the Sky Marshall and his crew to crash lands on a bug controlled planet OM-1. Johnny Rico is blamed for the loss of the planet and the Sky Marshall's MIA status is kept under wraps. The Sky Marshall is accompanied by his ship's pilot, Captain Lola Beck (played by Jolene Blalock who you might know for playing Sub-Commander T'Pol in "Star Trek - Enterprise"); cook, Jingo Ryan (played by Cokey Falkow); flight attendant, Holly Little (played by Marnette Patterson); and another marine, Chief Bull Brittles (played by Stelio Savante). The planet seems a little too quiet and the Sky Marshall seems to be loosing it. Although it appears that this crew didn't just happen upon this planet. Maybe God or bug, chose them to crash land on OM-1. Meanwhile, Johnny Ricco is saved from the noose by his friend General Dix Hauser (played by Boris Kodjoe) and is recited to the super secret Marauder program to go and rescue the Sky Marshall.

Grade - C+

First off let me say that this movie is NOT "Starship Troopers 2". In fact, it is on par with the cheese factor that the original movie had going for it. However, I do not understand why we cannot have another big battle with man and bug rather than an outcropping of people being forced to try to get off another planet where the bugs seem to have more in store than just to kill them all. The fake commercials show up a lot more in this one and add to the storyline. They are a lot cheesier which make them kind of more fun to watch than the actual movie. The main story is a bit too far fetched to me but comparing to movie two this is Casablanca with bugs! I have to say the biggest disappointment is the relatively few scenes with Johnny Rico and his character feels more like a cameo appearance than a real character. Jolene Blalock is not hard on the eyes and she turned me into putty holding various weapons and wearing a flight suit. Don't worry either, there is a scene dedicated to naked people that has no purpose to the movie; this is a constant staple that runs throughout all the movies.

With the animated version of this series it should come to no surprise what the Marauder program is. The Marauder program is the typical progression of the technology in these movies. They're mechs; clear and simple.

A little light on Rico and action, a decent subplot involving religion, more use of cheesy fake commercials that actually moves the story along make this installment an average movie. At least this one isn't number two. When the question was asked in that movie if I "want to live forever?", I would have taken my own life rather than watch that movie. With number three, I wouldn't mind watching more installments with Jolene Blalock, Marnette Patterson, and Cécile Breccia in it. That is, as long as I don't have to watch them in "Starship Troopers 2" director's "enhanced" cut.

Film Geeks - Episode 30

Title: EPISODE30 - Geek Riff

Episode Notes: The Geeks Riff this week on movie news, movies they've seen this week, and whatever else comes up

Download the show here - http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-14391/TS-147299.mp3

Download other shows here - http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/14391

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/09/david-boreanaz-and-carla-gugin.html
"Angel" as the Green Lanter

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/director%20bays%20apartment%20burgled_1080252
Briney has Michael Bay's underwear collection

http://mst3k.booyaka.com/mimosa/the_hand_that_time_forgot.html
Manos: The Hands Of Fate back story

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/12/future.cinema/index.html
3-D Movies Making A Come Back

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/09/oscar.outlook.ap/index.html
No Dark Knight, No Oscar For You

Film Geeks - Episode 29 - 12 Angry Geeks

Title: EPISODE29 - 12 Angry Geeks

Episode Notes: And the father of the baby is... With my dying breath, the money's location is... The killer is *lights off, a scream, and a shot*... the detective is...DEAD! This week we'll be talking about the most dramatic movies we've seen and why we go so wrapped up into them. We cover some movie news and where the technology is going to take us and where WE want it to go.

Remember we now record on Skype for betting audio quality. The username is "agentx216" and we ask you to mute your microphone and if you want to come in an talk just type it in the chat.

Download the show - http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-14391/TS-145163.mp3

Other shows - http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/14391

Movie News

http://www.variety.com/VR1117991656.html
Big Budget Chances

http://www.businesssheet.com/2008/9/christopher-nolan-not-making-another-batman-movie
Batman news

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Rosemary-s-Baby-Remake-Confirmed-8144.html
Jessica "Rosemary" Alba?

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/exclusive-sony-sets-sam-raimi-studio-may-shoot-4-and-5-at-same-time/
Spidy 4 and 5 Suck-a-thon

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3id9a975e26c8545c58af3176ddf00e637
Inside Man 2?

Dramatic Movies:

* - movies talked about

- 12 Angry Men*
- A Few Good Men
- Apollo 13*
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)*
- Casablanca
- The Shawshank Redemtion
- The 6th Sense
- The Young Mr. Lincoln
- Crimson Tide
- Do The Right Thing
- Failsafe
- Martian Child
- Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
- Rear Window - pretty much anything by Alfred Hitchcock
- Phone Booth*
- To Kill A Mocking Bird
- 25th Hour
- Inside Man*
- Cube
- The Mothman Prophecies
- The Never Ending Story*
- Star Wars - Episode IV - A New Hope
- Signs
- Right At Your Door
- Shooter
- John Q

Film Geeks - Disaster/End Of The World Movies Episode

Title: EPISODE28 - Every Geek And Sexy Scientist For Themselves!

Episode Notes: Ever been involved in a Twister or at the End Of Days? Aliens invade your Independence Day party or you live in Kansas and a nuke goes off and you have to survive the Day After? Have you ever had to sit through Battlefield Earth? Then you will enjoy our show about disaster/end of the world movies!

Download the specific show here - http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-14391/TS-142220.mp3

Download other shows here - http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/14391

Movie News

http://io9.com/5042831/on-the-set-of-crank-2-whose-script-is-the-most-offensive-stathams-ever-read
Crank 2 star bashes the script

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_en_mo/film_dark_knight
Dark Night surpasses 500 million

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/26/india.harry.potter.ap/index.html
India Harry Potter rip off?

http://www.allfacebook.com/2008/08/more-details-on-the-upcoming-facebook-movie/
Facebook movie

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/08/27/buy-a-role-in-spider-man-4/
Buy a role in Spider-Man 4

End Of The World/Disaster movies

* = ones we talked about

- Deep Impact*
- Right At Your Door*
- Armageddon*
- When Worlds Collide*
- Day After Tomorrow*
- Dr. Stranglove
- Left Behind
- Independence Day
- Mars Attack*
- Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea
- Volcano*
- Failsafe*
- The Day After
- A Boy And His Dog*
- Mad Max
- The Core*
- 12 Monkies*
- I Am Legend*
- Omega Man
- Dante's Peak*
- Waterworld*
- Towering Inferno
- The Andromeda Strain
- Outbreak*
- End Of Days
- Twister
- Cloverfield
- War Of The Worlds - 1953
- War Of The Worlds - 2006

The Maltese Falcon (1941) - Review

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

This movie is a staple of not only classic film noir but is also an example that Hollywood use to make good movies once. Filmed over a two month period and for the extravagant price of $300,000, the movie hosts smart directing, crafty writing, and a gala of talent that is not seen today. Of course, this is one of the first movies to be a remake of the original (the original being only ten years pervious in 1931, which was directed by Roy Del Ruth and starred Ricardo Cortez as the principle character). This is a movie which earns its accolades and is an enjoyment to watch in an age where extreme violence and nudity are a "must have" for you mystery/action/thriller movie.

Private detective, Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) finds himself hounded by police and ruffians after his partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan), gets gunned down on a case they were working on. Spade must find out what the real motives of the beautiful dame, Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Mary Astor), who hired them was really up to, who killed his partner, and find out just exactly what he's in the middle of. He comes to find out that the object of everyone's desire is an ebony falcon from Malta that is suppose to be covered in gold and jewels and from the ancient past. Sam's loyalty to the job and to the memory of his old partner is tested against the girl he might be in love with. He must also battle wits with the men; Kasper Gutman (Sydney Greenstreet), Joel Cairo (Peter Lorre), and Wilmer Cook (Elisha Cook, Jr.); who aren't afraid to kill him if Spade doesn't have the leverage of where to find the sought after bird.

John Huston not only directed this movie but he wrote the screenplay from the novel by Dashiell Hammett. The movie is pretty much scene-for-scene and line-for-line exactly like the novel. Huston used storyboards that allowed him to focus more on camera movement and how a scene is set up which anyone looking can really tell the class that John Huston shows in his first directorial role. This film helped to define him not only as a bankable director/writer but also as an artist and credit to his profession.

When watching the acting in this you have to take in the fact that acting styles have changed since the early times of the industry. When a mystery movie wants to add tension you have the actors hold position and time almost seems to stand still. Lines today are delivered slower and are weighted to add tension. In this film, the acting is excellent when you watch it with an eye of the time. Sam Spade is your heartthrob character who makes it by the skin of his teeth but tries to put it out there like he knows exactly where everything is going. From the slight smile Bogey puts on his character you believe he has the case wrapped up - he just hasn't put all the puzzle pieces in place yet but he knows what the picture is. I bet you George Raft kicked himself for turning down this role later. Mary Astor in here delivers her lines very nicely and you can never get a handle on who she really is, which is the point of her character. The first acting job of Sydney Greenstreet is done marvelously. His character, Gutman (what else would you call a close to 400lb man?), has an err of gentlemen gangster. You just don't find that breed of criminal anymore. Not quick to anger and wanting people to take him at his word, even after he drugs you and has his henchmen kick you in the face. The characters deliver their lines a little bit too fast, but as I said, this is a different acting style that we are use to. Of course, it could be that Huston wanted Spade smarter than the audience watching it which is a gamble, especially in today's world of Stallones and Schwarzeneggers, where you don't have to worry about moving faster with their intellect.

Because Huston didn't change much to Hammett's novel (hint hint Hollywood of today), the story is amazing. You never really can figure out what happened until the Spade figures it out piece by piece and then he figures it all out at the very end and you feel as if you're only a step away with him talking out what happened. This type of mentality makes you feel a bit like Spade's Dr. Watson to his Sherlock; he's a little bit smarter and faster than you but you're right on his heels. The range that Spade has to go through lends a testament to the greatness that Humphrey Bogart was as an actor. Spade must act for the different people he meets to find out what he can but he also struggles with duty over love. The final reveal of who the killer of his partner had me in a tizzy and it's great to watch this classic movie in high definition for content and acting. I do have one little gripe, the audio quality is not as it could be. I do not know if it was a compression fault or just degradation of the film. Still, the writing of a great novel comes through in the three fold dimensions of directing, writing, and acting.

Grade - A+

There are some movies that are popular because people are told they are good. There are some movies that are popular because they are, indeed, great. This movie is the latter. John Huston shows himself to be a credit to his trade not only as a director but also a writer. He allows the original work to speak for itself and he only adds the pictures. Bogart is still the man as ever and he's still charming for today, even he does use "sweetheart" and "darling" that seems to almost diminish the female characters. Mary Astor does a great job of keeping you guessing to what her character is really all about and whether or not she is lying and when. Greenstreet's Gutman wonderfully portrays the old romantic gangster image of a gentlemen criminal. The cinematography shows the classic film noir style and it's a sadly missed style, in this reviewer's humble opinion. In today's crapfest of Hollywood rehashed and unoriginal dreck, this movie is "the stuff that dreams are made of".

Fido - Review

Fido

Recently, it seems as if the zombie genre has been teaming up with an unlikely partner - comedy. With the recent success of "Shaun Of The Dead" zombies can now be seen in a comedic light, and not just unintentional comedy either. "Shaun" is not the first movie to mar the two elements into a movie, Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive" is not only a zombie comedy but I think it's one of the most disturbing and just plain weird movies ever made. You also have "Army Of Darkness" lend a bit to the two genre combination. This movie is attempting to follow in the footsteps of movies like these.

This movie is a bit odd. The time that it takes place in is never revealed but it appears as if it's the future but we've reverted back to the 1950s. The movie even opens up with a 50's style newsreel about the zombie war. So mankind had fought against the zombie horde and pretty much won. They have developed communities that shelter themselves from attack and ZombCo has developed a control collar that stops a zombies craving for flesh and will take orders from the owner. That's all back story to a young Timmy Robinson (K'Sun Ray - seriously that's his name) who befriends a zombie he names Fido (Billy Connolly - yes Il Duce!). Fido is Timmy's only friend and his home life seems as if he more gets in the way of his parents, Bill (Dylan Baker) and Helen (Carrie-Anne Moss - she not butch or in leather in this one!). Fido's collar has problems one day and he eats part of the next-door neighbor. The story is about Billy protecting Fido and Fido learning his place as an undead person. Imagine it a bit like "Old Yeller" but instead of a dog it's a zombie!

Grade - C+

I really liked the 50's feel to this movie but there just wasn't enough plot for me to really get interested. The mom seems to switch character stance half way through the movie without explanation. Timmy also quickly changes from not liking zombies at all to loving one. It's the lack of caring about anything else that's really going on in the movie that hurts it. I would have liked to seen a focus on Timmy and Fido but you don't really get that. The scenes we do see are kind of sporadic in what the movie is trying to focus on but it never really stays with one for too long. My least favorite part is Fido doesn't end up needing his control collar...for some odd reason. This was the turning point where I just cared a lot less about the movie because it made no sense. The mother becomes my favorite character when she starts caring about her son (again for no reason whatsoever) and it's fun to see Carrie-Ann Moss pull off a 50's mom. Billy Connolly as a zombie is hilarious to see but his character changes from being a zombie to being a zombie who can control his urges. I wanted to like this movie more but without more of a plot and the constant changes of the character it's really hard for me to like this one a whole lot.