SKYFALL falls short of maintaing 007 "Escapist" factor

SKYFALL, the latest installment of the James Bond 007 franchise, seems to be breaking records all over the world. Yet for it's flashy trailers and ad claims of hugeness, the 23rd "official" film in the series of Ian Flemming's british secret agent fails to entertain on the WOW level of it's predecessors. 

SKYFALL relies heavily on the popularity of it's casting rather than it's suspension of disbelief; reaffirming the power of marketing appeasing to existing fan bases rather than innovating.

As an example of the power of marketing, the classic 007 cocktail (martini-shaken, not stirred) has been replaced by beer. Yes, beer. Heineken USA has signed a reported $45 million partnership agreement with Sony Pictures for the use of Heineken products. 

I am not ashamed to say that this is the kind of news that leaves me, an avid Bond fan, shaken AND stirred.

Ian Flemming's handsome, playboy secret agent usually engages in numerous sexual encounters with gorgeous scantly-clad women who we've come to know as "Bond Girls". This kind of promiscuous romping has been replaced by more sexual suggestive activity, no doubt a nod toward the softer PG-13 rating and a way to get more ticket sales. Even the female silhouettes in the opening credits are less sexually suggestive than the earlier films, which are now visually edited when they play on television.

Bond villans are no longer interested in world domination via death ray or blowing up earth and creating a master race on a space station, favoring instead to exact revenge on Britain's intelligence community or cornering the market on real estate. Gimmie a guy who has a shark that wears a lazer. Thank god for Dr. Evil!

Comic relief from 007's gadget master "Q", MI6's brilliant curmudgeon technical advisor/inventor has been replaced by a young computer nerd (Ben Whishaw) whose snappy quips are unfunny hipster commentary on how current technical advancements overshadow the British intelligence's "bygone era" tools of the trade. And, of course, he messes up. Betcha he won't get fired. #BringbackJohnCleese.

OK. Don't get me wrong. Skyfall is a great film, Sam Mendes does a great job handling the new James bond franchise with break-neck action sequences, amazing cinematography and great acting by Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem. 

But it seems that the JAMES BOND franchise more resembles the JASON BOURNE films in it's affirmation of current-world politics and technology, and less of the over-the-top, cartoonish charm that gave film-goers a much-needed shot of cinematic escapism. 

The acting range of Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Bronson encapsulated a sexually-charged, macho bravado as well as comic timing, adding a wide range of emotions to the James Bond character. 

Without taking anything away from Daniel Craig, the role of 007 could be played by a more seasoned actor like Liam Niesen, who has shown by his gritty performance in "TAKEN" that he may also have the swagger to fill her majesty's favorite tuxedo.

But current audiences, weaned on "reality" entertainment, seems to favor a humorless  no-nonsense 007 and story lines that mirror current news instead of escapist fiction.

Oh, well. There's always The Avengers.

Skyfall is rated PG-13: for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking.

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench

Studio: 2012 Columbia/MGM

Website: Official site for Skyfall.

Teen bullies beware: CARRIE returns!!!

Among the many cool film trailers premiering this weekend at New York Comic-Con was the first teaser for the remake of the 1976 Brian De Palma thriller "Carrie". 

If you're a huge BDP fan like me (apologies to old school rapper KRS-ONE), I'm sure you're hoping that this spine tingling, Stephen King adaptation gets the royal treatment via cast and crew.

Well, it seems that Carrie's bloody 2013 makeover won't disappoint die-hard fans as director
Kimberly Peirce (the award- winning "Boys Don’t Cry") directs, talented newcomer Chloe Grace Moretz plays the lead role that Sissy Spacek made famous and Julianne Moore plays the role of Carrie's religious mom. 

"Carrie" is a film about a socially outcast teenage girl who discovers she has psionic powers which seems to flare up when she gets angry or distressed. Her powers become apparent after she gets humiliated by her peers, teachers and an abusive, bible-toting mother, eventually resulting in tragedy. 

With the current climate of teen bullying on the rise, it makes sense that this classic cinema teen revenge fantasy gets a redux and must've been a dream role for Ms. Moretz, a more-than-capable young Hollywood asset whose career mirrors other talented actresses like Jody Foster (Taxi Driver) and Natalie Portman (The Professional). 

This new incarnation of "Carrie" is now on my "MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2013" list. Check out the teaser below and the full 30-minute NYCC press conference video.

TRAILER: The New DIE HARD movie.

The 2nd trailer for the 8th film by Quentin Tarantino.

Opening Christmas day.

Watch the restricted trailer for RZA'S "The Man With The Iron Fists"

PHATFLIX presents...GREAT CASTING!

REVIEW: Ridley Scott's "Prometheus"

Hands down, one of the greatest prequels in movie history. This tense nail-biter mirrors the original "Alien" film's dedication to developing story & character and finds a clever way to show the origin of the creepy extraterrestrial we know so well.

Aside from stellar performances by a kick ass cast (Noomi Raplace, Michael Fasbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan-Marshall-Green and Charlize Theron) the film's impressive visual effects were enhanced by the (well used) 3D technology which may make you feel better about kicking up a hefty ticket price... before you pay for that "Bloomberg-free", ginormous soft drink.

What makes this such an entertaining film is the fact that a person who has never seen one of the four "Alien" films can enjoy it as a stand-alone entity.

 But those who have seen the Alien Quadrilogy
(Sorry. "Verses Predator" doesn't count.) are in for some familiar elements to marvel over:

_________________SPOILER ZONE____________________

ALIEN MOVIE STUFF WE LIKE

1.) Bad Ass Female Lead- Actress Noomi Rapace brings an effective intensity to naive archeologist Elisabeth Shaw, whos positive outlook and dedicated faith is shattered when the revelation of a grand Alien plan to end human life comes into play. Ms. Rapace's "Elizabeth" rises to the occasion and reminds one of the fierce anxiety portrayed by Sigourney Weaver's "Ripley".

2.) Creature Attacks- Not only do we get to see the story of creature's origin but it's beginning stages of life and it's metamorphosis into the huge, slimy thing that has a nasty way of reproducing and defending itself.

3.) Bad Ass Brother- " LUTHER" tv series star Idris Elba plays Janek, (captain of the Prometheus) who tries too keep the ship, his crew and himself together as tempers flair and crisis ensues. His performance took me back to the original film where "Live & Let Die", African-American bond villan Yaphet Kotto played the role of "Parker", Chief engineer of The Nostromo.

Michael Fassbender plays "David".

4.) Andriod Assist - Joining the "Alien" robot hall of fame with ASH (Ian Holm) and BISHOP (Lance Hendrickson) is Prometheus' butler & maintenance man DAVID.

Actor Michael Fassbender adds a whole new level of creepy to this digital "Felix Unger" and gives a riveting (and at times unsettling) performance as an intelligent machine that conceals horrible secrets like humans.



TICKET WORTH: $18.50 (3D)
RENT/BUY/STREAM: By all means.

SIX AWESOME 'DARK KNIGHT RISES' POSTERS

WHAT' CHA WATCHIN'?: Check out one of these "top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies"..

If you're in the mood for a movie that will thrill & chill 'till you've had your fill, check out one 'o these heart-stopping classics on the list of the American Film Institute's "Top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American movies". Adjust you Netflix cue, pop some corn, strap in and get ready for the ride of your life.

1. PSYCHO 1960

2. JAWS 1975

3. THE EXORCIST 1973

4. NORTH BY NORTHWEST 1959

5. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 1991

6. ALIEN 1979

7. THE BIRDS 1963

8. THE FRENCH CONNECTION 1971

9. ROSEMARY'S BABY 1968

10. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 1981

11. THE GODFATHER 1972

12. KING KONG 1933

13. BONNIE AND CLYDE 1967

14. REAR WINDOW 1954

15. DELIVERANCE 1972

16. CHINATOWN 1974

17. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE 1962

18. VERTIGO 1958

19. THE GREAT ESCAPE 1963

20. HIGH NOON 1952

21. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE 1971

22. TAXI DRIVER 1976

23. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 1962

24. DOUBLE INDEMNITY 1944

25. TITANIC 1997

26. THE MALTESE FALCON 1941

27. STAR WARS 1977

28. FATAL ATTRACTION 1987

29. THE SHINING 1980

30. THE DEER HUNTER 1978

31. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND 1977

32. STRANGERS ON A TRAIN 1951

33. THE FUGITIVE 1993

34. THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER 1955

35. JURASSIC PARK 1993

36. BULLITT 1968

37. CASABLANCA 1942

38. NOTORIOUS 1946

39. DIE HARD 1988

40. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968

41. DIRTY HARRY 1971

42. THE TERMINATOR 1984

43. THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939

44. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982

45. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1998

61. CAPE FEAR 1962

46. CARRIE 1976

47. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS 1956

48. DIAL M FOR MURDER 1954
49. BEN-HUR 1959

50. MARATHON MAN 1976

51. RAGING BULL 1980

52. ROCKY 1976

53. PULP FICTION 1994

54. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID 1969

55. WAIT UNTIL DARK 1967

56. FRANKENSTEIN 1931

57. ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN 1976

58. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI 1957

59. PLANET OF THE APES 1968

60. THE SIXTH SENSE 1999

62. SPARTACUS 1960

63. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? 1962

64. TOUCH OF EVIL 1958

66. THE MATRIX 1999

67. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE 1948

68. HALLOWEEN 1978

65. THE DIRTY DOZEN 1967

69. THE WILD BUNCH 1969

70. DOG DAY AFTERNOON 1975

71. GOLDFINGER 1964

73. LAURA 1944

74. BLADE RUNNER 1982

75. THE THIRD MAN 1949

72. PLATOON 1986

76. THELMA & LOUISE 1991

77. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY 1991

78. GASLIGHT 1944

79. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 1960

80. REBECCA 1940

81. THE OMEN 1976

82. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL 1951

83. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1925

84. POLTERGEIST 1982

85. DRACULA 1931

86. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY 1945

88. 12 ANGRY MEN 1957

89. THE GUNS OF NAVARONE 1961

90. THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE

1972

91. BRAVEHEART 1995

92. BODY HEAT 1981

93. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 1968

94. THE CHINA SYNDROME 1979

95. FULL METAL JACKET 1987

96. BLUE VELVET 1986

97. SAFETY LAST 1923

98. BLOOD SIMPLE 1984

87. THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD 1951

99. SPEED 1994

100. THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD 1938









© 2002 American Film Institute
www.AFI.com
AFI is a trademark of the American Film Institute.
Copyright 2005 American Film Institute. All Rights Reserved.

EXCLUSIVE TRAILER: Whitney Houston/ Jordan Sparks in "Sparkle"

The Black Dude Dies First

(Re-posted from "TV TROPES.ORG)

Pretty self-explanatory trope: in a film which involves a lot of character deaths, it seems like the black actor will inevitably be the first to go.

In the past this perception was because there were few black leads in big-budget films outside of those that focused specifically on race or used it to make a point. Historical moviemakers were generally writing to white audiences, so it was natural (at least in their opinion) for whites to get more screen time. And if the writers throw in a Token Minority to give the cast more believable racial balance, who do you think is going to die first, them or the folks who have a bigger role in the script?

A notable subversion of this trope came from the 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Nowadays the film is known more for popularizing Blaxploitation films, but most of those films were popular with audiences at the time for ignoring this trope all together. As more black people with money to spend went to theaters, more and more prominent black characters and more big-name black actors emerged-none of which were likely to get killed off quietly. Studios had also finally accepted that white audiences are not generally as racist as was once assumed, and do not need to have a white protagonist. In other words, if you're gonna go after the black man nowadays, you might want to check the credits to see who's playing him. If it's no one you've actually heard of, they're probably fair game. Tony Todd? Go for it. Samuel L. Jackson? You can take your chances. Rosario Dawson? Yeah, good luck on that. Denzel Washington? Bad idea. Morgan Freeman? You should give up. Will Smith? Run away and hide.

As black actors became more common in significant roles, this trope found new ways to stay relevant. Films would take a Scary Black Man, turn him into The Big Guy, and kill him off to show how strong their monster is. In horror films, the afflicted main character might have a sassy Black Best Friend that gets killed off to show that this is no laughing matter. 80s horror shows were good at this, and film makers had growing backlash against all the exploitation films.

Will Trayvon Martin tragedy effect "Neighborhood Watch" box office sales?

Will the Trayvon Martin tragedy effect the box office sales of the new movie "Neighborhood Watch" starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill?

The comedy centers around a bunch of suburban dads who form a neighborhood watch group to get time away from their families, only to discover a plot to destroy Earth

The film's trailer shows a van full of white men driving slowly through a residential neighborhood as Jonah Hill's character mimics a gun with his fingers out the mini van's window. All this is in slow motion using a slow Hip Hop beat as a sound track.

Will contemporary events in the news like the Trayvon Martin or Sean Bell tragedies cause the trailer or film to be edited to show more "sensitivity"?

Films have been changed before. "Return Of The Jedi" was supposed to be billed as "Revenge Of The Jedi" and was changed at almost the last minute because revenge is an emotion unbecoming of a Jedi, sending the wrong message.

The film also stars Richard Ayode (The I.T. Crowd) and was written by Seth Rogan Evan Goldberg. Akiva Schaffer directs. Opens in July.

What'cha Watchin'? Try cornbread.

Peep little Larry Fishburne in the 1974 Urban drama "Cornbread, Earl And Me". Solid, man. Right on.

TRAILER

IMDB INFO

ON NETFLIX

Whitney Houston will "Sparkle" in musical remake.

Whitney Houston will be featured in a remake of the 1976 film "SPARKLE", a music-themed film inspired by the story of the Supremes.

The film's soundtrack will feature two songs by the pop diva, (who died on Saturday, February 11th) a cover of a gospel song and a duet with former American Idol winner JORDAN SPARKS (pictured) who also plays her daughter in the film.

The original film centers on a girl group who rose to fame from a church choir in harlem and suffer internal conflicts after a sudden rise to fame complicates matters for the group and it's gifted lead singer named Sparkle.

Directed by Salim Akil (The Game), this rags-to-riches contemporary musical classic also features Mike Epps (Next Friday, The Hangover) and Cee-Lo Green. It is set for an August 2012 release.

It's not hard to see that millions of Whitney's adoring fans, Americal Idol watchers and fans of the original film will come out in record numbers to see the new "Sparkle".

Expect this to be one of the most HIGHEST-GROSSING FILMS OF ALL TIME, a boost for the film industry and a welcome catalyst for the resurgence of musical films in general.