Month: October 2014

Otaku Film Review: John Wick

JohnWickDirectors: David Leitch and Chad Stahelski

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki

E: John Wick is one of those films where Keanu Reeves lays down the law heavy, if he was an enforcement officer. Instead, he’s a former hitman that everyone in New York respected. But he found a life outside of the seedy underground that operates. There’s a lady he loved, but when she passed away due to cancer and left him an adorable puppy, life seemed good. However, after meeting one spoiled brat of a Russian kingpin, Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen), that quickly changes. Much of the film speeds along like Terminator 2 meets The Raid 2.

J: And speed along it does with lots of gunplay involving fluid fight scenes. You can tell the action sequences were choreographed and it looks good in the finished film. And Reeves as John Wicks wasn’t just respected, he was also feared even by the criminal underworld.

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On Bill Murray and St. Vincent, A Movie Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

StVincentMaybe there is a big reason as to why Bill Murray isn’t interested returning to the Ghostbusters universe. He looks ready to retire from the acting world for good after appearing in the movie St. Vincent. However, this film is not going to mark the end of his illustrious career as more films are in the pipeline featuring either him or his voice.

Although he’s the star of this comedic social drama about Vincent, an unlikable misanthrope, there’s a heart of gold that’s gently wanting to come out — hence this film’s title. He takes a liking to Oliver Bronstein (Jaeden Lieberher), a scrawny but very intelligent 12-year old. Lieberher provides some brilliant young Macaulay Culkin type moments and his talent should not go unnoticed, especially when his character is what ultimately wins many an audience’s heart. As Oliver, he’s tossed into a world he’s not ready for. The story mixes in elements of a coming of age tale along with awkward father-son style moments even though these two are not related. In the way they bond, they might as well be grandfather having fun with the grandson he never had much like how PIXAR’s Up, worked.

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The Avengers 1st Trailer: I’ve Got No Strings

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

The first trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron is finally out.

Things look bleak for the Avengers in this first trailer, some internal squabbling is taking place and the moral of the team of heroes are at an all-time low.

In this trailer we get to see the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Iron Man’s Hulkbuster armour, and a very creepy Ultron.

And with this darker version of Leigh Harline and Ned Washington’s “I’ve Got No Strings” accompanying the trailer, I’ll probably never look at that song number in Walt Disney’s Pinocchio (1940) the same way again.


 

Chris Pine Takes a Bite Out of Funny or Die

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Chris Pine, star of Star Trek, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, and the new Horrible Bosses 2 gets into the spirit of Halloween with this Funny or Die sketch. In Vampire Lawyer, Pine trades in his Starfleet uniform for a cape and a pair of false teeth.

Enjoy!

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/6c544605e7/vampire-lawyer
 

Source(s): TrekNews.net and Funny or Die.

Benedict Cumberbatch on Set of The Hollow Crown

By james Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Cumberbatch3Photos of Benedict Cumberbatch in his role as Richard III have appeared on the internet. The photos, taken on October 20th, show Cumberbatch on the set of the BBC’s television series The Hollow Crown: War of the Roses. It is unknown if these are scenes from the Richard III episode or his appearance in Henry VI, Part II but they are being filmed around the Wells Cathedral in Somerset.

Hollow Crown is based off the works of William Shakespeare and focuses on England’s past monarchs.

The first series titled The Hollow Crown, contained stories on Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V. The second series will feature Henry VI and Richard III.

In Richard III, Cumberbatch will star alongside Dame Judi Dench, Sophie Okonedo, Keeley Hawes, Sam Troughton, and James Fleet.

The Hollow Crown: War of the Roses will broadcast in 2016.

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Celebrate the Book of Life, Western-Style

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

the-book-of-life-poster

Not many films truly acknowledge what another culture’s celebration is mainly about, and with The Book of Life, it does more than introduce to the world what the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is about. It’s known as a time for family and friends to gather together to honour and remember those who have passed, but there’s more; for some people, it is a time of introspection. This three-day celebration begins October 31st and not everyone considers the image of the skull frightening.

This time to celebrate is a communion to show that nobody, in close familial bonds or mutual companionship, is not forgotten. And that’s what makes this film enjoyable to follow. The story is centred upon the deep affection three close friends have for each other while growing up in the fictional Mexican town of San Ángel. In their childhood, Manolo (Diego Luna), Maria (Zoe Saldaña), and Joaquin (Channing Tatum) are inseparable even though the passion of the heart and following what their parents want for them to become as adults would insert daggers into their relationship. After Maria is taken away to learn how to grow up to be a proper lady, Manolo and Joaquin are groomed to be, respectively, the world’s greatest bull fighter and soldier for their little town.

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