Friday, May 25, 2012

'Men in Black 3' Review - A Great Sequel to Finish the Series


It's hard to believe that it's been fifteen years since Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones graced the screen in those black suits and shades in the first 'Men in Black' film. The film was an instant hit with audiences and critics alike, and helped solidify Will Smith's fame as a box office star. It's been ten years since we've last seen the men in black suits, and I was almost beginning to think that 'Men in Black 2' was going to be the end of the series. But if you know Hollywood, nothing that's worth money is left alone for long, and this series is no exception. After a rather turbulent and unusual production, including a long hiatus and an unfinished script, 'Men in Black 3' arrives this weekend hoping to win over audiences once again in the way the original did. Bringing back Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent J and K, as well as director Barry Sonnenfeld in the director's seat, and a turn by Josh Brolin as a young version of Agent K,  'Men in Black 3' while not a perfect movie, is a vast improvement over its predecessor and a fun way to spend a summer afternoon at the theater. Especially considering the circumstances.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Celebrate 50 Years of Bond With This New Blu-ray Set September 25



I'm a huge fan of the James Bond franchise, I always have been. Going back to when I was young, my dad would show me the older Sean Connery movies, and I instantly fell in love with the suave and cool super spy who worked for M16. Over the years, I fully immersed myself into the world including the books, games, and whatever else I could get my hands on. I loved watching the different things each actor would bring to the role, because each being so different. The six actors, including Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierece Brosnan, and Daniel Craig all brought something new to the role that the previous ones hadn't. Not many movies series last as long, or as well known, as the Bond franchise, and the lasting power really shows how fun, exciting, and timeless the series really is. 

I've owned the series many times over, first on VHS, and twice over on DVD, and I have the select few that are on blu-ray. So I'm pleased to see that Fox is releasing this exciting new box set for blu-ray for Bond fans of all ages. The Bond 50 box set features all twenty two of the official James Bond films (Sorry, Connery fans, but Never Say Never Again is not included.) starting from 'Dr. No' and ending with 'Quantum of Solace'. It even includes the video blogs for this years upcoming film, 'Skyfall', which sees Daniel Craig return for the third time as Bond. I am definitely excited for this, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. It's going to be a fantastic set, and I can't wait to really dig into it's new special features. Hit the jump for the full press release and a look at the special features. 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

'Dark Shadows' Review - A Misguided Fan Tribute That Doesn't Quite Know What It Wants to Be


I've always been a fan of 'Dark Shadows', ever since I was young and sci-fi channel would air reruns of the cult soap opera from the 1970s. It was something I really looked forward to watching whenever it was on, and while cheesy now, it still had great storytelling and fantastic characters, especially in the late Johnathon Frid's Barnabus Collins, who would go on to become what the show was best known for. There have been two tries at bringing back the franchise since it went off the air, neither of which gained any traction. One of them, the series from the nineties even featured a young Joseph Gordon Levitt as the young David Collins. But some things are just better left alone, and sadly, the same can be said about this newest try at recreating the cult favorite. This time, we have Tim Burton at the helm, with a script written by Seth Grahame-Smith, and starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, and Jackie Earl Haley. The formula sounds like it should be a real winner, but needless to say, the film feels more like a mediocre fan film with a big budget than the great adaptation that it could have been.