G.I. Joe The Movie

I so want this movie to be great but pictures like the following (of Storm Shadow and The Baroness) have me worried.



The Baroness looks true to my adolescent image but what the hell is with Storm Shadow?! Where is his mask and why is he wearing a lab coat? Aside from this picture, another red flag that this movie is going to suck is the cast. I like the Wayans brothers in Scary Movie but can't imagine any of them bringing much to the table for GI Joe.

Oh, well at least I have Transformers II to look forward to.

pop-o-matic Reviews ... 30 Days Of Night

Critic's reviews have never influenced my decision to see or avoid something. Thumbs up or thumbs down, five stars, four apples, or ten rabbits - I don't care what someone I've never met thinks. The largest influencers of my viewing consumption are friends and fellow bloggers. In other words, you.

So here is my new review section in which, I'll share my thoughts on something and hope you chime in with your opinion in the comments section. Don't expect anything well thought-out or in depth from me. What you will get is whether I liked it or not.

Up first, horror flick, 30 Days Of Night, rated R and out now on DVD.

The story takes place in a small, remote, oil-refining town in northern Alaska, where once a year, the sun sets and doesn't rise again for 30 days - making it the perfect vacation spot for blood thirsty vampires. The film's star, Josh Hartnett is sort of annoying but he managed to play a likable character that I wasn't hoping would be killed off quickly after the start. 30 Days is a great mix of violent blood-shed, action, and suspense. Unfortunately, a lot of the suspense revolves around Hartnett's character who you know isn't going to be killed too early in the movie, which diminishes the suspense. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie until the final 15 minutes, which were ridiculous, seemingly thrown together at the last minute, and just plain crappy. Despite the ending, this was a good horror movie and I would recommend to fans of the genre.

My closing take on 30 Days Of Night? I liked it!

Iron Man

Last night I was invited to attend a screening of the new Iron Man movie, which opens in theaters tomorrow (Friday). As a comic book reader and huge fan of comic book movies I've been looking forward to this movie for years and headed to the theater yesterday both excited and nervous. Nervous because let's face it, for every great comic book movie, like X-Men or Spider-Man, there are just as many disappointments (ahem Elektra, Hulk).

I'm happy to say that Iron Man was a blast! The movie is an adaptation of Marvel's comic book series about a flawed billionaire weapons manufacturer - Tony Stark - who after a life-threatening experience, creates a suit of armor and takes to the sky to fight the bad guys. I have to admit, Iron Man has never been one of the comics on my reading list so I can't say how true to the comic the movie was. What I can say is that this is a great action movie with amazing special effects and a fantastic cast, which is led by Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Downey was perfect as the smug, jet-setting, playboy and the rest of the cast, including Terrence Howard (Jim Rhodes), Jeff Bridges (Obadiah Stane) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) were equally as impressive. The only odd casting was the film's director, Jon Favreau, playing Stark's driver/buddy who was in every scene of the first 15 minutes of the film then disappears entirely without any reason given as to why.

The movie opens in theaters Nationwide tomorrow.

New Toy Guy Poll

As you may or may not know, in addition to the quality entertainment I provide here on pop-o-matic, I also contribute to theToyGuy.blogspot.com. Today on the ToyGuy's blog, we launched a new monthly poll asking people to pick the Summer big budget flick they are most excited about.

Following are the movies. If you would like to vote for your favorite - click here and answer the poll in the right hand column.

Iron Man
Speed Racer
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Sex and the City: the Movie
Kung Fu Panda
The Incredible Hulk
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Batman: The Dark Knight
The X-Files 2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Go Speed Go!

Are you excited about the Speed Racer movie coming out in May? Did you even know that this was happening? I was mildly interested until I saw the following trailer. Now, my engine is revving with anticipation.

Brawndo! It's Got What Plants Crave

In what will undoubtedly play out in some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy of doom, Mike Judge (Idiocracy) has given the licensing rights to a company to produce BRAWNDO, The Thirst Mutilator energy drink!


In addition to all the electrolytes, BRAWNDO is loaded with 200mg of caffeine per can plus Taurine, Inositol, Guarana, Potassium, and Vitamins B6, B12, and C.

Available by the case (24 - 16oz cans) from ThinkGeek for $39.99.

Hey Look, I've Got A Poll

Check it out! My first poll. Just look to the right and don't forget to answer.

I Don't Get It

So I finally saw Knocked Up over the weekend and I thought it was ok. Not great, not bad. Just ok. It had some funny lines, like most of the sister's comments and there were even a few references that I really got a kick out of like the mushroom trip to Vegas. But overall, I didn't think it was very funny and it lacked energy. Considering that most of the people I know who saw this movie said it was "great!" and "the funniest movie", what did I miss?

Zombies On My Brain

Last night, Seth, Kitty, Kitty's Husband and I saw Resident Evil Extinction and now we are all ready to kick some zombie ass! This is the third film in the RE series and judging by the ending, may not be the last. I won't give anything away in case you haven't seen it yet but rest assured, its worth it!

Zombie movies are my favorite style of horror flick and I've always been a bit obsessed with zombies. The only recurring nightmare I've ever had has been the one I have several times a year in which I'm being chased by zombies. I think this obsession has a lot to do with my germophobic hang-ups since zombie-ism is a rapidly spreading infection. But that only affects the living population, there are also the zombies that crawl out from the graves in search of brains. When I "go", I plan to be cremated to avoid coming back as one of the walking dead.

Until then, I'm working on building my zombie-safe refuge in the wilderness of upstate New York. When the outbreak happens, you are all welcome on the refuge but be prepared for a full body inspection first because if I see any bite marks, you aren't getting in.

Thundercats Are Loose!

Warner Bros. has optioned a script to turn the Thundercats into a CGI-animated feature.

I'm a little nervous about the animated aspect of this movie. Hopefully it will be more Manga style than Pixar. In any event, I'm looking forward to new adventures with Lion-O, Cheetara, Mumm-Ra, Ratar-O and even the twins (Wylie-Cat and Kit). Hopefully the new millenium edition will have Snarf die a tragic death on Thundera when it is destroyed. Its too bad they aren't doing a live-action film because Ving Rhames would make an excellent Panthro.

Your Man On The Inside

Fact: A lot of my friends and readers don't live in New York City.
Fact: Lots of TV shows and movies use New York City as both a backdrop and often a character. Therefore I've decide to start a new post, "Your Man On The Inside", where I will dispel the rumors that Hollywood would have you believe about New York City.

Item #2: Crime Dramas on both television and in the movies would have you believe that New York City is literally bisected and disected by alleys. Hollywood often portrays theses alleys as havens for hobos warming their hands or baking their beans over garbage can fires, escape routes for crooks during hi-speed chases, the perfect spot to score and shoot crack, concert halls for crooning cats, and long maze-like halls that end at tall wooden fences.

The truth is there are little to no alleys like those mentioned above in NYC. While these places may exist in Queens or the Bronx, real estate in Manhattan is so valuable and scarce that no space, no matter how small, is overlooked.

The Most Important Film You Have Never Seen

A long time ago (the 90's I think), in a galaxy far far away (West Chester, PA), a group of energetic young people, high on life, booze and rubber cement, joined together to form HiFive Productions. This talented group would go on to make an epic short film titled 'Bango'!

The film became an instant sensation among everyone lucky enough to view it at one of the many exclusive showings. Bango-mania swept the land and fans instantly began clamoring for more. Unfortunately the film's makers moved on to solo projects and divergent paths but the dream of reuniting to create 'Bango Two' was never far from their minds.

Several years ago, the emails and coffee shops were all a buzz that the sequel was finally in the works when the following teaser appeared.



To date, Bango Two, has yet to be made but all original members of HiFive Productions were recently spotted together in West Chester, PA. We can only hope and launch a petition that Bango Two is finally in the works.

Your Man On The Inside

Fact: A majority of my friends and readers don't live in New York City.
Fact: Lots of TV shows and movies use New York City as both a backdrop and often a character. Therefore I've decide to start a new post, "Your Man On The Inside", where I will dispel the rumors that Hollywood would have you believe about New York City.

Item #1: If you had watched a recent episode of 'Ugly Betty' you might believe that "The Middle Ages" theme restaurant exists in the heart of Times Square. I have to admit, I avoid Times Square like the plague but if this theme restaurant exists, its new to me. The closest thing to a middle ages theme restaurant in Times Square that I'm aware of would have to be the ESPN Zone. With two giant shishkebob skewers flanking the doorway and MoCap Boxing events inside, this place is just as barbaric as a pack of Huns. So please, non-New Yorkers, don't plan your next vacation to New York City with hopes of taking in a staged joust and eating mutton chops because it doesn't exist, at least not outside of Staten Island.

Life Lessons

I've learned more from Hollywood than I ever learned in School. For example, Hollywood has taught me that I should never leave New York City. Following is a list of places, which Hollywood has taught me I should never find myself in.

Place - Hollywood's lesson

Brazil - Touristas
Columbia - Romancing The Stone
Texas - Texas Chainsaw Masacre
Tatooine- Star Wars
Geidi Prime - Dune
Camp Crystal Lake - Friday The 13th
India - The Amazing Race
The North Atlantic Ocean - Titanic
Central Africa - Blood Diamond
North Africa - Casablanca
The Appalachian Mountains - The Descent
Raccoon City - Resident Evil
Thermopylae - The 300
Mexico City - I don't need Hollywood to scare me of this place.
Kansas - The Wizard of Oz
Harlem - The Wiz

Lucas And Hamill, Together Again!

George Lucas and Mark Hamill* will reunite for Robot Chicken": Star Wars," a special 30-minute, Star Wars spoof.

The special makes fun of popular scenes and characters from the "Star Wars" movies and was done in collaboration with Lucas' production company Lucasfilm. George himself, will provide the voice for, uh, himself and Hamill will once again play everyone's favorite whiny Jedi, Luke Skywalker.

The special is set to premiere at 10 p.m. on June 17, and will also include the voice talents of Conan O'Brien, Seth MacFarlane, Malcolm McDowell, Hulk Hogan, James "I don't want your life"** Van Der Beek, Breckin Meyer and Joey Fatone.

*If you follow just one link in this post, make it this one!
**If you follow just two links in this post, make this the second one!

Fight!

Of all the things I saw and heard at last year's E3 (May 2006), one juicy tidbit lodged in my brain when a rep from Midway Games mentioned in passing, there was talk of a new Mortal Kombat movie in development. Almost a year later, some more details of that movie are emerging and it seems that it is definitely going to happen.

The new movie will be a restart for the brand rather than a prequel or sequel to the two films released in the 1990's. It's still too early to talk about release dates but it appears that a script is in the works.

Flawless Victory!