Movie Review: Due Date

                                                        

Hey everyone!  Here is my review for the comedy Due Date.  Due Date is set for release on DVD/Blu Ray February 22.  I was pretty stoked to see this film.  Robert Downey Jr has made an amazing comeback to film and Zack Galafianakis was great in the Hangover so who really wouldn't want to watch this flick?  It was also directed by Todd Phillips who has directed such smash hits as Old School, Road Trip, Starsky and Hutch and The Hangover.

As far as the story goes, you have seen this film more than once.  It actually kind of reminds me a lot of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.  The premise is by a series of unfortunate events 2 guys get thrown into a crazy road trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles.  Downey is an architect trying to get home to witness the birth of his first baby and Galafianiakis is a wannabe actor trying to get to Hollywood to fulfill his acting dreams.  Your probably wondering why they are not flying.  Watch the movie and find out but to make a long story short they are both put on the "no fly list" which in turn births the road trip.  Do they get home in time?  Would it be a good movie if they didn't?  C'mon people!  

Did I speak the words "Road Trip"?  Now that was a great movie!  I suggest that if you have not seen the 2000 film starring Sean William Scott, Breckin Meyer and Tom Green to do so!  If you have already seen that film and are expecting more of the same from Due Date, well, it's going to be a big hit and miss for you.  That's how I felt watching this film.  Their were some really funny and crazy parts but they were too far and in between to really be able to save this film.

As far as acting goes, Downey Jr. was fine.  He pretty much played a normal guy with a major selfish jerky side who is annoyed and almost killed by Galfainakis's character through out the whole film.  Zach seemed almost like the character he was in The Hangover.  I'm not sure if the director Todd Phillips liked that character so much he wanted to span it between 2 movies and then make a sequel to The Hangover or what?  It's not exactly the same character but it's so damn close you are constantly thinking that while watching this film.  He's funny because you haven't seen him in a thousand movies like Will Ferrel or Jim Carrey so your not sick and tired of seeing his scruffy beard and permed haircut.  Juliet Lewis makes a cameo and so does Danny Mcbride and Jamie Foxx.  

I think for Todd Phillips that it is hard to make something up to par and such a high level and success as The Hangover was.  Can you get any higher than that?  Will The Hangover 2 trump the first?  That is a good question and one that will be answered this summer.  As far as Due Date goes.  Push the date back because this baby has way more cooking to do before I can really say it was that great of a film.  Rent it.  Enjoy a few laughs and take it back.     

Your New Superman: Henry Cavill

Hey everyone!  Big news in the movie world today.  All of the major movie websites are reporting that Henry Cavill will play the role of Clark Kent/Superman for Zack Snyder in the 2012 film Superman: The Man of Steel.  I personally liked Brandon Routh from Superman Returns.  I think that Zack Snyder will do an amazing job though and it will be a great film!  The official web release is below:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Henry Cavill has won the coveted role of Superman, the iconic superhero.  The film will be directed by Zack Snyder, who stated, “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.”  Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.  Cavill recently wrapped production on “The Cold Light of Day” and stars in the upcoming “Immortals,” opening this fall.

Targeted for release in December 2012, the new Superman movie will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Below is a fan made photoshop image of what he would look like as Superman.

Movie Review: Unstoppable

Here comes my review of the new film Unstoppable!  As a child I was often fond of trains and my dad loved the old steam engine locomotives from back in the day.  I remember taking a trip to Seattle on an Amtrak train once and it was really cool.  I think it was slower than actually taking a car but fun and different none the less.  Living in Oregon, I don't think we ride trains nearly as much as folks that live back east that travel from city to city.  They are still cool though and watching movies about high speed out of control trains is even better!  All in all, I could not have enjoyed this film any more than what I already have!

The film stars Denzel Washington and Captian Kirk errrrr I mean Chris Pine.  When the film begins it tells you that it was inspired by true events.  Now what exactly does this mean?  I have not done any research of my own to see if their were any events that this could have been based off of but who knows?  Check it out and if you find anything, let me know.  The story in a nutshell is this: dummy leaves a train unmanned and in full throttle which in turn sets the train on a course of events speeding towards a heavily populated city carrying toxic and highly hazardous chemicals.  Not too complicated but not entirely stupid or unbelievable.

Ta da da daaaaa!  To the rescue is Eli and Captain James T. Kirk.  If you haven't seen Denzel in The Book of Eli, you should.  Not a half bad movie!  Ok, so back to the review.  We have the unmanned train pushing speeds of up to 70 MPH.  The train company tries to stop the train in various ways but ultimately is unsuccessful.  This leaves the story up to our 2 main heroes whom attempt to slow the train down by hooking their engine to the back car and slowing it down that way.  Does it work?  Well, watch the movie and find out!  You see, not really a major complicated story but it still keeps you on your feet through the whole film.

The film is directed by Tony Scott whom directed other films such as Top Gun, Taking of Pelham 123 and Man on Fire.  Tony and Denzel often collaborate together.  Denzel is Denzel.  What can I say?  He is a great actor and does a fine job in this one.  Chris Pine also is great.  I don't think the characters are much that you really have to dig deep down and pull your inner train engineer out if you know what I mean.  No one is getting an Academy Award from this movie.  Rosario Dawnson  and Kevin Dunn also star respectively.  The film is shot fast.  What I mean by that is that it pans in and out and their are many scenes with the train moving fast or some kind of action in it.  Their is also a lot of shots from the sky which makes it really cool.  Again, it makes the movie play out nicely and leaves you guessing and wanting more.  

All in all, I totally recommend this movie!  I don't think it did all too well at the box office but nowadays that doesn't mean anything.  100% totally a rent and pretty much a buy in my opinion.  I also think it has a high re-watch value to it so it's not going to be one of those films that just gather dust on your shelf either.  4 out of 4 pizzas!

TMN Fan Film: Fight The Foot!

When I was a kid I remember when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon show debuted on tv.  My brother and I were instant fans and begged our parents to buy us everything from the toys to the trading cards to the pajamas. I wish we would have kept the toys.  Now I am spending a fortune re-buying rare toys that were sold 20 years ago instead of just keeping the the toys I originally owned.  Needless to say, over the years through out the countless theatrical films and other tv shows, I have still followed the brand.  I think many fans are ready for a re-tooling of a live action kick ass film.  It looks like some of the fans could not wait and made a TMNT fan film titled "Fight The Foot".  Check it out below!

The Green Hornet Review

It's the month of January and usually films that are released this time of the year are films that are not expected to make much profit or are not the tent pole blockbusters that are reserved to be released during the summer and fall months.  Does The Green Bee, errrr, I mean Hornet break the mold and come out as a winner?

This is a film that I have been following off and on for the past couple of years.  It had many early production problems.  In the beginning I believe it had script problems and then one of it's main stars, acclaimed Asian star Steven Chow, left for other opportunities.  I think the geek community did not embrace the idea of Seth Rogen playing the lead "super hero" character and ultimately after seeing this film, I agree.

Seth Rogen plays Britt Reid, heir to a billion dollar fortune when his newspaper tycoon father is found dead from an apparent bee sting not knowing he was allergic all along.  Seth Rogen is one of my favorite actors of today.  Superbad, Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Pineapple Express and Funny People are all great and funny films.  Does Seth Rogen make the cut as a kick ass crime fighter?  No!  Seth, you just need to stick with making hilarious films about you smoking weed and having some crazy adventure.  I know that is limiting him to a certain stereo type but so far that is what seems to work best for him.  I'm not saying that he at one point will not be able to branch out to do other kinds of roles.  Just not the kind he did for this film.  I laughed a couple of times but Seth was limited a lot in this film.  Then again, do you want to see The Green Hornet running around with a green bong?  Ok, that would be kind of funny.

Cameron Diaz also stars in this film.  Why?  Is she so desperate for roles that she will take about anything that Hollywood throws on her plate?  She didn't fit well and I am not sure if she was there for the eye candy or what?  She has starred in so many films of her own.  It was kind of weird to see her not be the main star in a film.  Perhaps she was going for the Gwyneth Paltrow aka Pepper Pots Iron Man character?  Who knows?  She almost reminded of the character she played in The Mask with Jim Carrey.  Different but that thought came into mind when I watched her in this.  A surprise in this film was Jay Chou as Kato.  He filled the shoes nicely and did a good job fighting in the few fight scenes that were even in this film.  What is up with that?  I guess I was expecting more that what their was.  Christoph Waltz plays Chudnofsky the villian.  He did great as the bad guy going through an identity crisis and still trying to be the baddest of the bad guys.  You are far better off to watch him in Quentin Tarantinos Inglorious Basterds.  Christoph played one of the scariest bad guys in film in that movie!  Their are also a couple of cameos which I will not mention that lighten things up along the way.

I never read the comic books or saw the old television show so I am really going into this with not much background.  The story over all is a generic story that you have seen a hundred times.  Seth Rogen is a spoiled man who loses his dad, befriends the mechanic, they decide to fight crime and eventually beat the bad guy.  That is the movie in a nutshell.  I have to give it to Christopher Nolan.  Wait, your probably wondering where I am going with this.  Christopher Nolan made Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.  Those films are amazing, emotional and action packed super hero movies!  When watching films such as Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Green Hornet etc. etc. they just do not hold a candle to the Batman films.  Perhaps if Batman had not been made I might think more highly of these kinds of films but in my opinion it was a waste of money to make and a waste of money to watch.  I already see the same thing in this summers upcoming flick The Green Lantern.  Really?  Ryan Reynolds?  Campy super heroes again?  Really?  It's worth a rental and that is about it.  2 out of 4 pizzas only because I like Seth Rogen so much.  

**Update:  The Green Hornet pulled in 34 Million dollars this weekend.  I guess people wanted to see it!

First Official Hangover 2 photo!

Warner Bros. Pictures has released a new photo from The Hangover Part II, opening in theaters on May 26. The sequel, directed by Todd Phillips, stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Tyson, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Liam Neeson and Bryan Callen.

In the follow-up to the record-breaking hit comedy The Hangover, Phil (Cooper), Stu (Helms), Alan (Galifianakis) and Doug (Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu's wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don't always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can't even be imagined.

**Personal Note- I have actually been to Bangkok Thailand and it is one of the craziest, scariest places I have ever been in the world. This movie is going to be insane!

New Toy Purchase: The Incredible Hulk!

HULK SMASH! To give you a little background information on this post, I have been going to my local comic book store the past year or so and been eying this toy. First of all, you can not miss it sitting on the shelf. It is a massive piece of sculpted plastic! This toy is at least 2 or 3 times bigger than your normal action figure. From the moment I saw it I knew that one day I was going to purchase it for my collection. Anymore, a lot of toys/collectibles that I purchase I tend to leave them in their original plastic shell on card, but this one I could not resist to take out and sit on my desk. This thing could be a paperweight or a bookend or something! It is truly a work of art and something that attracts your attention when you first see it! It's part of the Marvel Select Series made by Diamond Select Toys.  I have added a gallery of pictures below for a better look!

Your new Spider Man for 2012!

Here you go everyone, Aint it Cool News just received the first official picture of Andrew Garfield in the new Spider Man outfit for the upcoming 2012 reboot of the franchise.  I personally liked Tobey Maguire!  You may not recognize Andrew Garfield.  You can see him in The Social Network and he also stars in Never Let Me go.

Tron Legacy Sequel in the works?

According to Harry Knowles over at Aint It Cool News it is.  This is again, one of those films that look awesome from the trailers and I was totally planning to see it and just haven't.  Plus, do you really want to watch it anything but the 3D version?  I really want to see it in 3D but the price of 3D tickets are too damn expensive for a poor man like me.  Jeff Bridges is the man, or should I say the dude, and I am sure pulls off another awesome performance.  What do you guys think?

Game of Thrones trailer!

Here is a preview of the new HBO series Game of Thrones.  This series is based off the very popular George R.R. Martin books.  I have not read the books but my wife has and says they are some of the best novels that she has ever read.  The series being on HBO is more of like a movie rather than your regular tv series.  True Blood is another series that runs on HBO and is freaking awesome and I don't even like the original content of vampires and werewolves.  Game of Thrones is a fantasy series which I am not that big into but I am sure it will still be great!  Watch the preview below!

Pineapple Express Clip!

In honor of it being The Green Hornet weekend over here at Mechamania, I am posting random clips from other Seth Rogen films. Embedded below is a scene from the hit film Pineapple Express.  Seth plays a guy named Dale Denton who doesn't like to do much other than smoke weed along with James Franco.  Can't praise James Franco enough for his performance in this film.  Both are very fine actors!  This film also stars Danny Mcbride as the local drug dealer in a very funny comedic role.  If you have not seen this movie then check it out!

The Green Hornet opening weekend!

Hey everyone, what do you all think about The Green Hornet opening this weekend?  For me, I have always been a big Seth Rogen fan and loved all of his films except for Observe and Report.  I didn't really like Funny People either but that is one of those films that when you watch it over and over you begin to enjoy it more each time.  I totally loved Superbad and Pineapple Express....classic stuff.  When I first saw the previews for this movie I really wasn't sold on it.  I can't really say that I am still sold on it either but early reviews that I have read and peoples reactions from the early screenings have been pretty positive.  Movies are so damn expensive and throw the 3D price on top of that and it almost wants to make a guy just wait and pirate the flick but I think I will spend the dough that I don't have and watch it.  I have heard the 3D was done great and that Seth Rogen proves himself to be a superhero.  I know, i'll believe it when I see it but I am going to give it a chance......will you?

New Battle: Los Angeles Trailer

After watching this trailer....could this, no, this almost looks better then one of the greatest alien invasion movies of all time.....Independence Day!  I just gotta say.  Am I the only one or am I getting vibes of a District 9 feeling but not sucking.  Aaron Eckhart looks like a certified badass along with our favorite "lostie" Michelle Rodriguez.  This is going to be a no brainer for all of you fanboys out there come March! Check it out below and let me know what you think!

127 Hours Movie Review

So, I am still working on my Inception review.  That movie is so complicated and amazing that it is taking me much longer to produce that I originally thought.  Either way, I wanted to let you all know about 127 Hours and how much of an awesome movie this is!  Everything up front here, go and see it in the theater if you get the chance!  I am recommending this film 110%.  This film stars James Franco of many great movies such as Pineapple Express, Spiderman and Milk which he was nominated for supporting actor for.  He is pretty much the only character in the movie.  If you enjoyed films such as Castaway where it pretty much centers on one guy through the whole film then you will not have a problem with this flick.  Don't worry though.  James Franco is an excellent actor and keeps your attention through out the whole flick.

This film centers around Aron Ralston, a free spirit, go with the wind kinda guy. Aron is an outdoorsy, nature and adventurist that has been on many a mission before today and many more after today. One fateful day he decided to go trekking in the outback of Moab Utah. A place for hikers, back packers and outdoor bicyclists which he did all of. Aron knows the area like the back of his hand even helping other hikers that could get easily turned around and lost in the wilderness. It is only when Aron decides to climb down a steep cavern, he slips and falls crushing his arm under a giant boulder. That is where things take a turn for the worse. Aron did not tell anyone where he went and only has enough water to last a couple of days.....

If you have ever seen the trailer for this film then you pretty much know what is going to happen. Odds are, you have heard of the courageous though horrific ending to this film. Don't be fooled that this is not a good film or because you know what happens will ruin it because it won't. The performance that James Franco delivers is worthy of every award that is given away. Not to mention, this film is also directed by Danny Boyle of Slum Dog Millionare fame. In my opinion, Danny Boyle is one of the greatest directors making movies out there.

Overall, an amazing film that will keep you awake and excited and rooting for Aron to survive and overcome his dilemma any way that he possibly can.  I found myself after the movie looking up Youtube videos about the real Aron and the story behind the film.  Worth every minute and more!  4 out of 4 pepperonis baby!

Matty Collectors Ghostbusters 2 Review

Ok guys, if you know me then you know a little fact that for the past couple of years I have been collecting movie memorabilia including many movie toys.  The toy company Mattel has an adult collectors line of toys that it makes for dorks like me called Matty Collector.  These toys are generally made for a short period of time and that is it.  Once they are sold out, good luck purchasing one other than on Ebay for double or triple the original price.  A lot of the toys Matty Collector makes are throwback or remakes of older toys, especially toys that I played with as a child like He-Man.  Matty has been producing the Ghostbuster line for the past year or so and have done an amazing job at recreating the characters from the iconic films!  I am one of the lucky few to have been able to purchase the set above.  Click on the picture to read more and an depth review.

Undercity Short Film

I came across this film the other day and wanted to share it with everyone here at Mechamania. This film is called Undercity and is about a guy and a camera man exploring the underside of New York City.  I think from watching this, it brings out the boy in me that loves to explore and check out new, or old, places and see what the rest of the world seldom does.


UNDERCITY from Andrew Wonder on Vimeo.

Something new to collect!

Hey everyone!  I thought I would make a quick post about some new stuff I have started to collect lately.  For Christmas I got a 1974 Planet of the Apes vintage lunch box.  It is identical to the one in the photo and amazing it has lasted as many years as it has.  My personal box has more wear and tear as is the one in the photo is mint or near mint condition.  To my limited knowledge about lunch boxes, they do not make them in tin anymore.  I believe they are mostly plastic with a sticker pasted to the box.  I'm curious to know how these old lunch boxers were made.  They were obviously made well to be able to outlast the years.  I also recently picked up the He-Mean lunch box from a local comic book store.  Having looked both of these up on Ebay, they can be a fortune!  I like them more for the movie memorabilia side of things and the craftmanship.  If anyone has any thoughts or info please share below!

The Trailer Round Up

Hey everyone. I am late getting some of these trailers out but thought you would all enjoy them if you have not seen them yet!

If you loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz then this film is for you. It stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and with the voice of Seth Rogen as Paul the alien. Two geeks on the way to the San Diego Comic Convention run across an alien named Paul who takes them on a wild adventure.  This film was directed by Greg Mittola who also directed Superbad and Adventurland.

Up next is Your Highness.  Imagine the Lord of the Rings rejects on a tale to rescue the fairy princess and you will get this movie.  This film stars two of my favorite actors, James Franco and Danny McBride.  I can not say enough about James Franco.  His performance in 127 Hours was amazing!  Danny McBride is one of todays comic geniuses!  The film also stars Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel.  It is directed by David Gordon Green who directed one of my all time favorite films, Pineapple Express!  No, not triangle face!  I hate triangle face!

This is by far one of the biggest movies I am waiting for!  Fast Five is the fifth film in the Fast and the Furious saga and brings back most of it's big actors plus the addition of The Rock!  Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson also return from the previous films.  Is it just me or is every one of these films the same?  Doesn't matter to me as long as there are fast cars and a lot of actions!



Here are other newly released trailers that look very good! You can click on the picture to be taken to the trailer page.

               

Dancing With The Stars......WARS

I came across this interesting video and just had to post it! I guess at Disneyland and Disneyworld each year they have a Star Wars fan weekend. On this weekend they have many different Star Wars themed activities including the video embedded below. Enjoy!