Saturday, March 7, 2009
Blood: The Last Vampire *UPDATE*
There is a new trailer on the net for my favorite upcoming vampire-slaying anime adaptation 'Blood: The Last Vampire'. This UK Trailer gives us more of the action we crave. Can't wait for this one.
2009 Preview
I rarely ever watch the Oscars, I'm not sure why, I have quite a bit of respect for the amount of work that goes into a film, but not in the spectacle surrounding when these people are recognized for their work. The same was true for me this year as I tuned in for probably a total of 10 minutes to see Hugh Jackman sing and dance, and Slumdog Millionaire win a couple of many awards. While surfing the net I ran across a video which, for those of you who stuck it out til the end, gave a glimpse of what to expect from this next year at the movies. BTW 'Terminator Salvation' is at the top of this list for me, next to 'The Road', which tragically is not included here. Here's the vid:
Gentlemen Broncos
I was watching TV today when a preview for the film 'Nacho Libre' came on, which was director Jared Hess' fitting follow up to 'Napoleon Dynamite'. Out of curiosity I looked up the director to see what he's doing these days and I'm excited to report that his next project entitled 'Gentlemen Broncos' looks hilarious. IMDB describes the plot as "Benjamin, home-schooled by his eccentric mother, is a loner whose passion for writing leads him on an journey as his story first gets ripped off by the legendary fantasy novelist, Ronald Chevalier and then is adapted into a disastrous movie by the small town's most prolific homespun filmmaker." Apparently this fantasy writer is being played by the taller half of 'Flight of the Conchords', Jermaine Clement. Sam Rockwell also stars. The movie has a hilarious website set up for Jermaine's author character Ronald Chevalier. This video will help you understand what kind of genius your dealing with here:
Monday, February 16, 2009
i make music
Well, since this is my blog, I guess this is the most appropriate place for me to debut my music. I've been working hard clicking buttons on my Laptop creating music that is sort of a mixmash of all the sorts of things I connect with. So it sort of ended up being an instrumental, post-rock, shoe-gaze, post-apocalyptic, 80's synth, epic. I'm doing it under the name 'Subsist the Apocalypse', which is ridiculous in all the right ways.
I embedded a flash player for the song at the top of the right hand menu, so throw on some headphones, (really, it plays much better that way) give a listen, and if you want you can come back over to this post and let me know what you think. If you really like it, and want a copy for yourself, I put a download link underneath the flash player. Just copy and paste the link in the address bar and your good to go. I'll keep posting music as I create it, so stay tuned.
Blood: The Last Vampire
Anyone who has seen the original anime that this live action version is based on would be wetting their pants in excitement for this film. This has great potential to be the best anime adaptation yet. It seems void of stupid casting decisions (Korean actress Jeon Ji Hyun looks perfect in the role of Saya), and it is reportedly going to stick very close to the source material. This gorgeous teaser trailer only heightens these expectations. For those of you unfamiliar with the story:
On the surface, Saya is a stunning 16-year old, but that youthful exterior hides the tormented soul of a 400 year-old halfling. Born to a human father and a vampire mother, she has for centuries been a loner obsessed with using her samurai skills to rid the world of vampires, all the while knowing that she herself can survive only on blood like those she hunts.
When she is sent onto an American military base in Tokyo by the clandestine organization she works for, Saya immediately senses that this may be her opportunity to finally destroy Onigen, the evil patriarch of all vampires. Using her superhuman strength and her sword, she begins to rid the base of its evil infestation in a series of spectacular and elaborate showdowns. However, it is not until she forms her first human friendship in centuries with the young daughter of the bases general that Saya learns her greatest power over Onigen may well be her ability for human connection.
On the surface, Saya is a stunning 16-year old, but that youthful exterior hides the tormented soul of a 400 year-old halfling. Born to a human father and a vampire mother, she has for centuries been a loner obsessed with using her samurai skills to rid the world of vampires, all the while knowing that she herself can survive only on blood like those she hunts.
When she is sent onto an American military base in Tokyo by the clandestine organization she works for, Saya immediately senses that this may be her opportunity to finally destroy Onigen, the evil patriarch of all vampires. Using her superhuman strength and her sword, she begins to rid the base of its evil infestation in a series of spectacular and elaborate showdowns. However, it is not until she forms her first human friendship in centuries with the young daughter of the bases general that Saya learns her greatest power over Onigen may well be her ability for human connection.
Push
Push is a film about people with special powers, specifically psychic-powers. Some have the ability to move physical objects, others to implant memories, others can see the immediate future based on other people decisions. These people are being watched and gathered up by the government so they can do experiments to enhance these abilities. Treated like lab rats many die in the process, but there are some who will come out of hiding and find the strength to resist. Sound interesting? Well it should be, but its not.
Set in Hong Kong, which in itself provides a colorful and interesting backdrop, Push plays out a little too much like an episode of Heroes and is far to familiar to spark any excitement. The special effect are just ok, and the acting is at times sub-par, even from a post-puberty Dakota Fanning (its just awkward now to watch her act drunk). Everything centers around when the first psychic to survive the governments drug testing, escapes with a vile of the special enhancement drug. A cat and mouse game ensues between the government's own psychics, an interesting asian gang of psychics, and our heroes who are looking all looking to find the drug and use it to get a leg up. As with many of these types of films, the wasted potential outweighs any bright spots in the story. Rent it if you just looking to kill a few hours with some semi-mindless fun.
Set in Hong Kong, which in itself provides a colorful and interesting backdrop, Push plays out a little too much like an episode of Heroes and is far to familiar to spark any excitement. The special effect are just ok, and the acting is at times sub-par, even from a post-puberty Dakota Fanning (its just awkward now to watch her act drunk). Everything centers around when the first psychic to survive the governments drug testing, escapes with a vile of the special enhancement drug. A cat and mouse game ensues between the government's own psychics, an interesting asian gang of psychics, and our heroes who are looking all looking to find the drug and use it to get a leg up. As with many of these types of films, the wasted potential outweighs any bright spots in the story. Rent it if you just looking to kill a few hours with some semi-mindless fun.
Babylon A.D.
Vin Diesel, you may not be the best actor, action hero, and even a little down-syndrome, but you seem to be my only hope recently for the sci-fi genre. You've been been consistently getting roles in films that could have been much better starring someone else, but certainly could have been much worse as well. Basically you neither add or take away, your just there...you and your deep voice and muscles. Babylon A.D is no different...a film with a lot of potential in my favorite genre, but just ok. Not good, not bad, just Vin Diesel.
I'm not sure if this story is pre or post-apocalyptic, but as long as apocalyptic is somewhere in there I'll probably give it a shot. If nothing else the production design was quite interesting, very dark, grim, dystopian...just how I like it. Even the prominent French casting is fun, but in the end this is a Vin Diesel movie. This film slowly goes from mildly interesting, with decent action, too confusing and convoluted.
I won't say much more than that about the film, either you like this stuff or you don't...I do, so on a 10 point scale I would give it a very generous 6. But PLEASE, Vinny boy, I loved Pitch Black, but if your gonna be the guy in all the films I want to see, can you step up your game a little?
I'm not sure if this story is pre or post-apocalyptic, but as long as apocalyptic is somewhere in there I'll probably give it a shot. If nothing else the production design was quite interesting, very dark, grim, dystopian...just how I like it. Even the prominent French casting is fun, but in the end this is a Vin Diesel movie. This film slowly goes from mildly interesting, with decent action, too confusing and convoluted.
I won't say much more than that about the film, either you like this stuff or you don't...I do, so on a 10 point scale I would give it a very generous 6. But PLEASE, Vinny boy, I loved Pitch Black, but if your gonna be the guy in all the films I want to see, can you step up your game a little?
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