The reason GI Joe had such a high success rate saving the world is apparently Cobra didn't have the brightest bulbs working for them.
Pretty cool that the Vatican is digitzing its ancient manuscripts and then putting them out on the Internet for people to explore them.
A comprehensive look at where members of bands stand on stage while performing.
If you're a fan of The Last Waltz, and more importantly The Band, you'll enjoy this ranking of every song during that concert.
I don't know...this John Wick movie looks fairly straightforward and uninteresting, but then you read a review like this and you start to wonder...could Hollywood have allowed someone to stretch outside the norm and create something that is awesome?
If you're interested, here's the Bill Murray interview from the Howard Stern show.
Quite possibly the best thing you will get from the internet this week...I don't know the story behind Sammy Davis Jr. adding lyrics to the Hawaii 5-0 theme song, but I'm not complaining. (via @ReelQuinn)
Of course, while great, that's not near the greatest "television theme song with made up lyrics" on the internet...
Showing posts with label GI Joe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GI Joe. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Friday, August 7, 2009
Links of Interest 8/7
It amazes me how we as a society really have to do things like create a dolphin holocaust.
Well this is an innovative way to use a slip n slide.
Speaking of crazy videos, bicycle safety goes weird in this one.
A photo gallery of the world’s largest yard sale. This is on my list of things to do one day.
Al Qaeda – remember them?
Adibisi talks about being in GI Joe.
Vanity Fair does a lengthy piece on Mad Men.
Garlic ice cream? Now I’ve seen everything.
That Saddam Hussein lived the high life.
The mysteries of your own body.
Well this is an innovative way to use a slip n slide.
Speaking of crazy videos, bicycle safety goes weird in this one.
A photo gallery of the world’s largest yard sale. This is on my list of things to do one day.
Al Qaeda – remember them?
Adibisi talks about being in GI Joe.
Vanity Fair does a lengthy piece on Mad Men.
Garlic ice cream? Now I’ve seen everything.
That Saddam Hussein lived the high life.
The mysteries of your own body.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Links of Interest 7/16
The gyro.
Anyone interested in Thomas Pynchon’s new book cover?
A deeper look into that guy’s lawsuit against Lost.
P.J. O’Rourke has a new book out. Here’s an interview with him.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize this movie is going to be bad. Still, I’m a little sad.
Kottke lays out step-by-step instructions how to read Infinite Jest.
The more unusual state fair foods.
In the world of marine biology in this lagoon, who’s talking to who?
An ode to Wimbledon.
Is there not anything we can’t learn from Dante’s Peak?
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/50807692.html
Friday, July 10, 2009
Links of Interest 7/10
Enjoy a thesis on the “myspace” picture angle that enhances the sexiness. And you think I’m kidding.
It’s like geometry proofs for the existence (or non existence) of God.
Potential Sarah Palin television vehicles. You know, since she’s out of a job.
The 20 unsexiest beautiful people.
Brilliant. Ricky Gervais ladies and gentlemen.
This is a silly decision. And a lot of debate over something that didn’t need to be brought to light.
Into full frontal male nudity? Check out this list of the best in film,
Much like the A-Team, no GI Joe soldier ever died. See how they often escaped death.
Super trains that will speed you across the country. Unfortunately not the 1979 series fo the same name shown below...
Imagery from The Salton Sea. The actual sea, and not the Val Kilmer movie.
It’s like geometry proofs for the existence (or non existence) of God.
Potential Sarah Palin television vehicles. You know, since she’s out of a job.
The 20 unsexiest beautiful people.
Brilliant. Ricky Gervais ladies and gentlemen.
This is a silly decision. And a lot of debate over something that didn’t need to be brought to light.
Into full frontal male nudity? Check out this list of the best in film,
Much like the A-Team, no GI Joe soldier ever died. See how they often escaped death.
Super trains that will speed you across the country. Unfortunately not the 1979 series fo the same name shown below...
Imagery from The Salton Sea. The actual sea, and not the Val Kilmer movie.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A look at the Super Bowl movie trailers
Underwhelmed by a game in which neither team spoke to my cheering emotion (other than a small affinity for Kurt Warner after drafting him as a joke in a fantasy football league in his first year with the Rams) and the number of commercials that were clearly affected by the current economic downturn we find ourselves in, I chose to focus my attention to the movie trailers we all got to see during the game. On the flip side I go into much greater detail about each one, as well as grade them...
Links in the titles go to the official pages with hi-def viewing options.
Race to Witch Mountain
I vaguely remember the Disney movie, "Escape to Witch Mountain." I'm pretty sure I enjoyed watching it. This trailer? Not so much. The Rock has some charismatic qualities, but I'm not sure he can carry a movie all by himself. Especially with two kids supporting him. Add that to the corniness the trailer tries to relay and I don't think this is a winner. I did get a slight Close Encounters of the Third Kind vibe with the helicopters, but I don't think that's enough to get me into the theater.
Grade: D+
Up
It's tough to find fault with Pixar. They are the leaders in computer animation and always seem to push the bar with each movie they release, and also strive to tell a compelling story. When it works (Toy Story, The Incredibles) you have a film anyone and everyone can enjoy. When it doesn't quite work (Cars), you still have a cool canvas to look at and enjoy.
Unfortunately, Up looks like it might be in the Cars category. The first clue is how the trailer reminds us of many of the Pixar titles of the past. Sure, it may be a sly marketing move since there seems to be a group of people out there that will see everything Pixar does no matter what. Still, it has to be at least considered a minor red flag.
The other potential issue is the old man main character. I'm sure he's good and fine and well defined, but he also seems a bit of a cliche. The trailer really doesn't hint at a plot at all, and I can pretty much guarantee the old man will show a soft heart by film's end, so you have to ask yourself - are you jazzed to see awesome animation on the big screen, regardless of the story?
Grade: C+
Star Trek
JJ Abrams much anticipated Star Trek "prequel" doesn't disappoint on action or edits. And it certainly doesn't look like your father's Star Trek. While it has an established anticipation level of providing a back story for many of the characters millions love, I feel slightly underwhelmed and I can't put my finger on why. It might be because the original series taught parables and fables in a science fiction setting. It did more than entertain, it educated. And I didn't get a sense of too much education during the viewing of this trailer.
Grade: C-
Land of the Lost
Jurassic Park, meet Anchorman. That's the immediate vibe I got after watching this. I think Generation X has an interesting choice to make when it comes time to decide whether or not to support this. On the one hand, they found Will Ferrell, and used to hold him in high regard for making Saturday Night Live funny and for giving them Old School and Anchorman. But then he kept the formula going without mixing it up at all. A backlash began, and he currently sits on the down side of the log flume. Hasn't hit the water yet, but it's looming. Then you have the fond memories of the cheesy Land of the Lost television show. Corny, but what Saturday morning television wasn't?
And now the two have mixed.
Will we get a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ending, or a Koolaid Pickle? We'll know soon enough. The trailer did seem to have many of the same characteristics as the cheesy tv show, which is a promising start.
Grade: B
Year One
Yeah, not looking too good. There's really no synopsis of what the movie's about which can't be good. And neither Jack Black nor Michael Cera are going to be able to carry a movie. Not only did I not laugh at all, I'm still trying to figure out the humor of the scene in which they show excitement after the ox starts pulling their cart. What is funny about that at all? I realize the joke might need some setup, but if that's the case then don't include it in a Super Bowl tease of your movie.
Grade: F-
Angels and Demons
At least Hanks got a better haircut for this one.
Grade: D
Monsters vs. Aliens
Dreamworks' answer to Pixar and they've been doing a fairly decent job. No one's going to confuse the two, but there's room in the market for both.
That said, I think this trailer blew Up out of the water. At least from a marketing standpoint. I realize Up was simply a tease to let us know about the world of the next Pixar. But I think it was too much of a tease. While Mvs.A may have given a little too much away, I still think it works because everyone knows exactly what to expect walking in to the theater. It has humor, action, and a plot. Paper thin perhaps, but it's there.
Not to mention it's about aliens and monsters.
It's interesting to see the two different strategies at play here. Methinks there's a thesis paper for some marketing student in here. Ok, at least a term paper.
Grade: B+
Fast and Furious
Cars, Vin Diesel and a whole lot of awesome. You're a headless zombie if you go into this not knowing what to expect. A dumb, headless zombie.
Grade A+ (x a billion)
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
I saw about a third of the first Transformers movie, and will admit to being pleasantly surprised. The interaction between people and robots seemed realistic - as realistic as the implausible scenario allows. Megan Fox(y)'s presence certainly doesn't hurt anything either.
The trailer for the sequel doesn't offer us much other than let us know the cast is back for another round, and there's a bigger, meaner Transformer that seems to dwarf Optimus Prime. Honestly, the trailer didn't look all that great from an aesthetic point of view. Blurry in most parts and very disjointed - and that's saying something with a Michael Bay movie. Despite that, I'm guessing it's probably going to be like the first one, just with more Transformers. If that's your cup of tea, then you should be happy.
Grade: C+
GI Joe
First, a little backstory...
I'm not going to lie...I was (ok am) a huge GI Joe fan. As a child I enjoyed playing War, and GI Joe gave the soldiers an individuality (as well as cool weapons) that I bought into. The surprisingly complex back story the comic books and cartoons fleshed out only helped.
So of course I was frightened when I heard they were turning it into a movie.
Look, I get that older people (I'm including myself) want to see their childhood toys become a facsimile of their memories on the silver screen. Nothing would please me more to see a gritty, super violent GI Joe movie with real consequences (and real physics - which we'll address). But I also understand that Hollywood's bottom line is about the bottom line, so they have to craft a movie that today's youth will gobble up.
So, how does the trailer stand up?
First of all, this trailer is very Baroness centric. Which is cool, since the Baroness probably led many a young boy, hand in hand into the age of adulthood. Still, she was a minor character in the GI Joe universe. I'm afraid they might be "bulking" her presence up to sell us a spandex clad superbabe - which makes my brain so conflicted. Let's just hope she's a good villainess for the Joes to deal with.
Second of all - no silver head Destro? I can only hope some Joe (please let it be Shipwreck, please let it be Shipwreck) does something at the end of the movie to melt Destro's pretty boy looks, forcing him to don the silver head for the sequel.
The Joes look generic - everyone knows Snake Eyes was/is/will always be the coolest Joe. But why everyone has to now mimic is look is going to make it harder to distinguish individuals on the screen.
The action looks cartoonish, which CGI gives us the capability to create, but why? Why must it become exaggerated to the point of absurdity? It's no longer based in reality. I'm not talking Saving Private Ryan, but there has to be a balance everyone can strike.
Regardless of how generic or hokey, or silly, or implausible the trailer looks however, I can't help but be excited for this one. Though I do wish it had a few more elements as this trailer I found on youtube...
Official trailer Grade: B-
Unofficial youtube trailer Grade: A+ (x one billion -1. Nothing beats Fast and Furious. Nothing.)
Links in the titles go to the official pages with hi-def viewing options.
Race to Witch Mountain
I vaguely remember the Disney movie, "Escape to Witch Mountain." I'm pretty sure I enjoyed watching it. This trailer? Not so much. The Rock has some charismatic qualities, but I'm not sure he can carry a movie all by himself. Especially with two kids supporting him. Add that to the corniness the trailer tries to relay and I don't think this is a winner. I did get a slight Close Encounters of the Third Kind vibe with the helicopters, but I don't think that's enough to get me into the theater.
Grade: D+
Up
It's tough to find fault with Pixar. They are the leaders in computer animation and always seem to push the bar with each movie they release, and also strive to tell a compelling story. When it works (Toy Story, The Incredibles) you have a film anyone and everyone can enjoy. When it doesn't quite work (Cars), you still have a cool canvas to look at and enjoy.
Unfortunately, Up looks like it might be in the Cars category. The first clue is how the trailer reminds us of many of the Pixar titles of the past. Sure, it may be a sly marketing move since there seems to be a group of people out there that will see everything Pixar does no matter what. Still, it has to be at least considered a minor red flag.
The other potential issue is the old man main character. I'm sure he's good and fine and well defined, but he also seems a bit of a cliche. The trailer really doesn't hint at a plot at all, and I can pretty much guarantee the old man will show a soft heart by film's end, so you have to ask yourself - are you jazzed to see awesome animation on the big screen, regardless of the story?
Grade: C+
Star Trek
JJ Abrams much anticipated Star Trek "prequel" doesn't disappoint on action or edits. And it certainly doesn't look like your father's Star Trek. While it has an established anticipation level of providing a back story for many of the characters millions love, I feel slightly underwhelmed and I can't put my finger on why. It might be because the original series taught parables and fables in a science fiction setting. It did more than entertain, it educated. And I didn't get a sense of too much education during the viewing of this trailer.
Grade: C-
Land of the Lost
Jurassic Park, meet Anchorman. That's the immediate vibe I got after watching this. I think Generation X has an interesting choice to make when it comes time to decide whether or not to support this. On the one hand, they found Will Ferrell, and used to hold him in high regard for making Saturday Night Live funny and for giving them Old School and Anchorman. But then he kept the formula going without mixing it up at all. A backlash began, and he currently sits on the down side of the log flume. Hasn't hit the water yet, but it's looming. Then you have the fond memories of the cheesy Land of the Lost television show. Corny, but what Saturday morning television wasn't?
And now the two have mixed.
Will we get a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ending, or a Koolaid Pickle? We'll know soon enough. The trailer did seem to have many of the same characteristics as the cheesy tv show, which is a promising start.
Grade: B
Year One
Yeah, not looking too good. There's really no synopsis of what the movie's about which can't be good. And neither Jack Black nor Michael Cera are going to be able to carry a movie. Not only did I not laugh at all, I'm still trying to figure out the humor of the scene in which they show excitement after the ox starts pulling their cart. What is funny about that at all? I realize the joke might need some setup, but if that's the case then don't include it in a Super Bowl tease of your movie.
Grade: F-
Angels and Demons
At least Hanks got a better haircut for this one.
Grade: D
Monsters vs. Aliens
Dreamworks' answer to Pixar and they've been doing a fairly decent job. No one's going to confuse the two, but there's room in the market for both.
That said, I think this trailer blew Up out of the water. At least from a marketing standpoint. I realize Up was simply a tease to let us know about the world of the next Pixar. But I think it was too much of a tease. While Mvs.A may have given a little too much away, I still think it works because everyone knows exactly what to expect walking in to the theater. It has humor, action, and a plot. Paper thin perhaps, but it's there.
Not to mention it's about aliens and monsters.
It's interesting to see the two different strategies at play here. Methinks there's a thesis paper for some marketing student in here. Ok, at least a term paper.
Grade: B+
Fast and Furious
Cars, Vin Diesel and a whole lot of awesome. You're a headless zombie if you go into this not knowing what to expect. A dumb, headless zombie.
Grade A+ (x a billion)
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
I saw about a third of the first Transformers movie, and will admit to being pleasantly surprised. The interaction between people and robots seemed realistic - as realistic as the implausible scenario allows. Megan Fox(y)'s presence certainly doesn't hurt anything either.
The trailer for the sequel doesn't offer us much other than let us know the cast is back for another round, and there's a bigger, meaner Transformer that seems to dwarf Optimus Prime. Honestly, the trailer didn't look all that great from an aesthetic point of view. Blurry in most parts and very disjointed - and that's saying something with a Michael Bay movie. Despite that, I'm guessing it's probably going to be like the first one, just with more Transformers. If that's your cup of tea, then you should be happy.
Grade: C+
GI Joe
First, a little backstory...
I'm not going to lie...I was (ok am) a huge GI Joe fan. As a child I enjoyed playing War, and GI Joe gave the soldiers an individuality (as well as cool weapons) that I bought into. The surprisingly complex back story the comic books and cartoons fleshed out only helped.
So of course I was frightened when I heard they were turning it into a movie.
Look, I get that older people (I'm including myself) want to see their childhood toys become a facsimile of their memories on the silver screen. Nothing would please me more to see a gritty, super violent GI Joe movie with real consequences (and real physics - which we'll address). But I also understand that Hollywood's bottom line is about the bottom line, so they have to craft a movie that today's youth will gobble up.
So, how does the trailer stand up?
First of all, this trailer is very Baroness centric. Which is cool, since the Baroness probably led many a young boy, hand in hand into the age of adulthood. Still, she was a minor character in the GI Joe universe. I'm afraid they might be "bulking" her presence up to sell us a spandex clad superbabe - which makes my brain so conflicted. Let's just hope she's a good villainess for the Joes to deal with.
Second of all - no silver head Destro? I can only hope some Joe (please let it be Shipwreck, please let it be Shipwreck) does something at the end of the movie to melt Destro's pretty boy looks, forcing him to don the silver head for the sequel.
The Joes look generic - everyone knows Snake Eyes was/is/will always be the coolest Joe. But why everyone has to now mimic is look is going to make it harder to distinguish individuals on the screen.
The action looks cartoonish, which CGI gives us the capability to create, but why? Why must it become exaggerated to the point of absurdity? It's no longer based in reality. I'm not talking Saving Private Ryan, but there has to be a balance everyone can strike.
Regardless of how generic or hokey, or silly, or implausible the trailer looks however, I can't help but be excited for this one. Though I do wish it had a few more elements as this trailer I found on youtube...
Official trailer Grade: B-
Unofficial youtube trailer Grade: A+ (x one billion -1. Nothing beats Fast and Furious. Nothing.)
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Good...the Bad...the Beautiful #3
THE GOOD:
"Use of tunnels and hiding underground is an example of the ninja technique using the earth element for invisibility."
And so begins what might possibly be the greatest ninja training video ever (if there is more than this one). Honestly, I thought to become a ninja took years of training and discipline, but apparently I was wrong. I simply have to watch these 5 videos and keep notes.
THE BAD:
Ok. I love GI Joe as much as the next guy (probably more) but not enough to invest a lot of money and time to make something like this. I mean, the creators have done just enough to make you realize that they have some skill, but not enough to pull something like this off.
THE BEAUTIFUL:
Maybe you've seen it, but it's worth seeing again. Who doesn't like water balloons and slow motion?
"Use of tunnels and hiding underground is an example of the ninja technique using the earth element for invisibility."
And so begins what might possibly be the greatest ninja training video ever (if there is more than this one). Honestly, I thought to become a ninja took years of training and discipline, but apparently I was wrong. I simply have to watch these 5 videos and keep notes.
THE BAD:
Ok. I love GI Joe as much as the next guy (probably more) but not enough to invest a lot of money and time to make something like this. I mean, the creators have done just enough to make you realize that they have some skill, but not enough to pull something like this off.
THE BEAUTIFUL:
Maybe you've seen it, but it's worth seeing again. Who doesn't like water balloons and slow motion?
Monday, August 4, 2008
Links of Interest 8/4
On a very special Punky Brewster. How high and mighty must television networks feel that they needed to educate its audience with these "special" episodes of shows that were created so that America could forget their problems. That or actors really wanted to be nominated for Emmys.
I'm not ashamed; I love the Olympics. Not a huge fan of the professionals over there - or at least the professionals I don't know about. To me, professionals defeat the purpose of the spirit of the Olympics, which above all else is competition. To me, the professionals bring an element of jadedness, which soils the vibe. Regardless, here's a breakdown of 10 of the events that will be highlighted in less than a week.
Only included because if you are already a fan of The Popcorn Trick, you already know about Numbers Stations and how awesome they are. If not, you should subscribe to our podcast. It's over there on the right.
Probably the creepiest thing you will see all year. For fans of John Carpenter's The Thing, GI Joe, and having nightmares.
Who's the bigger ass here - Lucas or Spielberg?
I'm not ashamed; I love the Olympics. Not a huge fan of the professionals over there - or at least the professionals I don't know about. To me, professionals defeat the purpose of the spirit of the Olympics, which above all else is competition. To me, the professionals bring an element of jadedness, which soils the vibe. Regardless, here's a breakdown of 10 of the events that will be highlighted in less than a week.
Only included because if you are already a fan of The Popcorn Trick, you already know about Numbers Stations and how awesome they are. If not, you should subscribe to our podcast. It's over there on the right.
Probably the creepiest thing you will see all year. For fans of John Carpenter's The Thing, GI Joe, and having nightmares.
Who's the bigger ass here - Lucas or Spielberg?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)