Blu Under Ten- MISSION IMPOSSIBLE : GHOST PROTOCOL is the Best of the Bunch!

 

    Recently, theater goers were treated to another movie in the Bourne franchise, THE BOURNE LEGACY. Those of us who spend too much time on movie news sites were then treated to a few weeks of the tired Bourne vs. Bond argument. For me, it's always been a FACT that Bond is so much better than Bourne, but I've also always felt that the Bourne or Bond discussion was misguided. They are very different series that just happen to have secret agents as central characters. Whereas Bond is about an agent working for the government with the help of crazy gadgets, the Bourne films are about former agents running from/getting revenge on their government overlords.

    No, I've always thought that if any franchise was trying to take the Bond crown, it was the Mission Impossible films. They are closer to the Bond formula than the Bourne movies, what with the insane stunts, gadgets, and extreme globetrotting.

    I still think Bond wins hands down, but that's not to say the M:I films don't have their moments. I rather enjoyed the first film for what it was, and the second film was - less good. After all of the ridiculous slow mo dove craziness of that second outing, the series reached a new high with the J.J. Abrams helmed third film. It returned to series to more of a team effort than just "Ethan Hunt: Super Spy", which was good since that's what the source material was all about.

    Last year, Brad Bird (in his live action debut) brought the world another IMF adventure with GHOST PROTOCOL, and now I'm here to tell you that it is hands down the best one so far.
I got my copy of the two disc Blu Ray/DVD combo brand new on Amazon for $9.99, which not only falls under my magic price point of ten bucks, but is also way cheaper than I've seen it anywhere else. I never got to see the film in theaters, so this was a blind buy. I was confident in the gamble, though, because I love spy films and the price was just so nice. On top of that, director Brad Bird has earned my loyalty over the years with his phenomenal animated work. THE INCREDIBLES is probably my favorite superhero flick to date, and THE IRON GIANT is an amazing work of retro science fiction.

   Now, then... I really enjoyed this outing for the IMF team. From the first scene with Josh Holloway running from baddies, I was completely pulled into the world of  MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. The plot centers around the whole of IMF being disavowed due to being framed for an act of terrorism. This makes Ethan Hunt and his small band of four the only remnants of the agency, so it's up to them to clear their names and save the world from a fanatic that wants to force nuclear war on the planet. I don't want to get into too many of the particulars since a lot of the fun of spy flicks is all the twists and turns the stories usually take. Instead, I will focus on the things I loved about this movie.

   First off, the stunts are spectacular. In particular, there is a sequence filmed on the tallest building in the world in Dubai that makes you feel the adrenaline in your veins. Seriously, it is amazingly high, and shot in a way that really  makes the audience feel like they could fall to their doom any second. One of the special features on the Blu-Ray focuses on this crazy outside the building climb, and it is amazing to see how much effort went into doing it as real as possible. There's also an insane chase/fight in a parking garage that was another highlight. Oh, and that sandstorm chase... just sublime spy chase gold.

   For that matter, all of the action was very well done. Even the less splashy stuff was pulled off with the proper level of tension. There's a scene where Cruise and Pegg are trying to secretly move down a hallway that was pitch perfect. Any time these guys were using gadgets, I was happy with the results. One big change from the previous films, however, was a lot less use of the famous masks. There's a reason for it written into the script, and the inability to use one of the series go-to tricks only serves to put our heroes in bigger predicaments.

   Another thing that was really well done was the casting. Simon Pegg returns from the third film, and still serves as a kind of comic relief character. However, unlike other movies that have a similar archetype, Pegg is a capable agent who gets out from behind the computer screen and helps in the field. I thought his character was utilized very well. Jeremy Renner plays an IMF office drone who has field skills of his own. There is a sense that maybe they are starting the process of having Renner take over the franchise from Cruise, and I think his character can do it. Of course, he is also taking over the Bourne films (maybe... I hear all kinds of things), so it might be kind of weird if he has too many spy irons in the spy fire. A real surprise for me was Paula Patton, whom I hadn't heard of before. She really kicks ass in this, and at no time did I feel like I had to suspend my disbelief that a girl could take on the thugs she fights.

   So that's how I feel about he supporting players, but what about the biggest name on the poster? Well, Tom Cruise seems to have taken a lot of things said about his onscreen ego to heart, and he seems like he's really trying to let the others play too. That is the biggest plus for this movie. Some of the other ones had moments that felt like they only existed so that Cruise could check something off of his extreme sports to do list or otherwise stroke his inflated ego. The only real ego in this one came in the last scene, and that was just how a few closeups were shot. Of course, maybe that's just me.

   I would be remiss if I didn't give special mention to Michael Giacchino. His music is always spectacular, from THE INCREDIBLES to his TV work, and he really gives this film his all. It reminded me of some of the better Barry scores for the Bond films. I really think he's one of the best composers working today, and I always perk up when I see his name in the credits. The last score I really loved was his work on JOHN CARTER,  a film that I feel was very wrongly derided - but that's a post for another day.

   Overall, this was a really good action packed flick. I'm really glad I got a copy, because i feel that it will be revisited often in the coming years. In a way, it also makes the previous films have more of a draw for me now, so I fully expect to grab that three pack Blu box that's available. I really can't wait to see what Brad Bird does next, because I feel that he has really proven his ability to move from animation to live action.

Previous Blu Under Ten posts:
Blazing Saddles

Weekend Flix Pix - Cops, Baseball, and the Judge

   Wondering what to see this weekend? Well, you could go see THE MASTER, which I touched on last week, or maybe one of these tickles your fancy... (ed note: sorry for being so brief. I was running really late on getting this up.)


DREDD

This is definitely the geekiest pick this week. Karl Urban plays the 2000 AD comic character that Sylvester Stallone pretty much soiled back in '95. I was always kind of partial to the Stallone outing, but not because it was a good film. I liked the design of it, and found it to be fun on that LAST ACTION HERO kind of level. This reboot totally tries to make us all forget the Stallone film by staying truer to the character and keeping the iconic helmet on. From what I hear, 3D is definitely the way to go with this, as it uses the effect really well.

TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE

Back when GRAN TORINO came out, Clint Eastwood announced that he was retiring from acting. I, for one, am glad that turned out not to be true. This film is about a baseball scout who is losing his sight. It's also a film about a man reconnecting with his daughter (Amy Adams). From the trailers, it looks to be quite touching and funny. John Goodman also stars.

END OF WATCH

I know very little about this film, other than the fact that Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena play cops that have a hit on them. That, and that it is made by the guy who wrote TRAINING DAY. The trailers didn't really speak to me, but the reviews have been really good, so maybe my instincts are wrong on this one.

Anyway, not a huge week. Next week brings LOOPER, so expect me to be a lot more verbose.

Blu-Ray and DVD Geek Picks for the Third Week of September

   Howdy Hey, fellow film geeks. Tomorrow is Tuesday, and you know what that means- a whole new batch of discs to put on the ol' movie shelf. Below you'll find my picks for the week. As always, this is far from a complete list of what's coming out, just the things that tickle my fancy.

Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures (Blu-Ray)

   Here it is, folks. All four Indiana Jones films in high definition. I'm a huge fan of all of these films. That's right, I said ALL. I know it may make me lose some geek cred in the film community, but I never had the same problems with KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL that others had. Just as the first three films were a tribute to the RKO adventure serials of the 30's, the last film was a loving send up of the drive-in sci-fi of the 50's. Sure, there are a few unbelievable moments, but I feel that if anyone can survive being nuked n a fridge, it's Indiana Jones.

    There are some new extras on these discs, but I have heard that not all of the special features from previous sets carried over, so you'll have to make the decision for yourself to keep them or pass them on.
    All in all, this is an essential piece of any film geek's collection. My girlfriend has only ever seen RAIDERS (at my insistence), so I'm looking forward to showing her the rest of my favorite archaeologist's great adventures. Furthermore, when my sons grow up a little bit more, I know this box will be well used. This is definitely the biggest release this Tuesday.

Modern Family : Season Three

When I first saw promos for this, I rolled my eyes. It looked like a major failure in the making, but -you know what- it's pretty darn good. I'm particularly impressed by the cleverness of it all and Ed O'Neill as the patriarch of the clan. The biggest surprise for me was how much I liked Cam and Mitchell. Their relationship is comedy gold.

Steve Martin : The Television Stuff

    I cannot wait to get my hands on this. Ever since I saw THE JERK (edited for TV, no less) in junior high, Steve Martin has been my main comedy idol. I still remember finding an old 8 track player and a copy of WILD AND CRAZY GUY shortly after my obsession began. The tape broke after one play through, but the album was a revelation. Here was a guy who found out how to play an idiot while being extremely highbrow. After that, I tracked down all of his albums on vinyl, listening to them repeatedly until I knew every word. The whole time, however, I really wanted to be able to see what sounded like a fairly visual act.
    Now, that dream is reality. This set contains some of the only filmed performances of his stand up act, as well as some TV specials and talk show appearances. I'm super excited about putting this on, getting "small", and laughing my ass off at one of the greats.

Ed Wood (Blu Ray)

    I've only seen this once, and I feel it demands another viewing. Now, it's coming to Blu-Ray for the first time, so it seems like a good opportunity to revisit what is surely one of Tim Burton's most personal films. I have such foggy memories of this, so it'll be good to get them all straight in my head. In particular, I remember liking Martin Landau a lot, and Sarah Jessica Parker not so much. I also seem to remember Bill Murray having a short bit that was pretty funny.

Weekend Flix Pix - Fish, Cults, and Zombies.

Wondering what to see this weekend in your local cinema? Well, here are a few suggestions...

FINDING NEMO 3D

I know some of you out there hate the current trend of rereleasing older films to theaters in 3D. Even more perplexing to me is the disdain aimed at films getting rereleased at all. Sure, you can rent the same movie or pull it off your shelf and watch it in the comfort of your home, but there is something truly special about seeing some of these films on a screen that's way bigger than anything you could put in your house - no matter what dimension you see it in.
As far as the 3D thing goes, I am a fan as long as the theater adjusts the brightness accordingly. I think that it really does offer the opportunity to immerse yourself in the movie's universe. Sure, there have been films that use it purely as a gimmick, but in something like AVATAR, it really adds to the overall experience.
The latest film to use the technology to find new life is Pixar's FINDING NEMO, which should be mesmerizing. The underwater setting is already gorgeous and can only benefit from 3D.
When NEMO first came out, I was literally living and breathing Disney, since I was working at Epcot in Florida. I remember loving the film, finding it funny and touching with a great voice cast. I've seen a few times in the interim, and it always held up to further scrutiny.
If you have really young children who never got to see everyone's favorite clownfish on the big screen, do yourself (and them) a favor and revisit this classic film. I know I wish my son was old enough to sit still in a theater. Maybe he will be in time for FINDING NEMO 2 when that hits in a few years...

THE MASTER - limited release

I can't wait to see this, but I will have to. At least until September 21. Some of you will be able to see it this weekend, though, and for that, I envy you.
I first heard about director Paul Thomas Anderson back when BOOGIE NIGHTS came out. I liked that film and his somewhat confusing followup, MAGNOLIA. Unfortunately, I have yet to see PUNCH DRUNK LOVE. As much as I liked his early films, they weren't movies that I just raved about. Then, a few years back, he really won me over with THERE WILL BE BLOOD, which I considered to be the best picture that year.
Now he turns his eye on the weird world of cults and the people who join them. Joaquin Phoenix plays a WWII vet seeking what Phillip Seymour Hoffman's cult leader is selling. I don't know a ton of the plot outside of that, wishing to watch it unfold before me on screen - much as I did with THERE WILL BE BLOOD. If this film can reach even a portion if the greatness of that film, I will be a happy camper.
Advance word is good, and we may be looking at a major Oscar contender here. Side note: see this in 70mm if you can.

RESIDENT EVIL RETRIBUTION 3D

Look, either you want to see Milla Jovavich fight 3D zombies, or you don't. While I honestly lean towards the latter, I feel that this film definitely falls under the "Geek" banner.
I only saw one of these films (the second?) and I thought it was pretty good for a mainstream zombie flick based on a series of video games I've never played. Of course, the fact that I haven't seen any of the others shows how little impact it made on me overall.
I feel like I will eventually see the others. In particular, I remember kind of wanting to see the one that had the trailer with Las Vegas in ruins. Some day...

Well, those are my picks for the week. Overall, not a big weekend, but we are in that weird early fall film season.

Blu Under Ten - BLAZING SADDLES

   I love collecting movies. In the heyday of DVD, I acquired more films than anyone I knew. Unfortunately, some if them had to be sent back into the world during a few years of low income, but now that I have a Blu-Ray player (finally), I can slowly but surely rebuild my collection to its former glory.
   One of the great things about being a somewhat late adopter to the superior format is that so many formerly expensive titles are now available at an agreeable price.
   I remember the first time I saw a DVD bin of movies for five bucks. To someone who thought his fifteen dollar copy of SUICIDE KINGS was a good deal in 1999, this was amazing. Now, with Blu-Ray, I have set the magic number at ten - about the cost of a movie ticket.
   Those of you with a Wal-Mart nearby may have noticed that they now have bins of Blus for $7.88, and, very recently, have started to have five dollar Blu bins. Add to that the hundreds of Blu titles available on Amazon for less than ten bucks, and you have the makings of a golden age for collectors of pristine copies of their favorite films.
   With all that in mind, I hope to start a regular column here on Geek Flix that highlights some of these essential (and not so essential) films you can pick up for a tenner -or less- starting with Mel Brooks' classic send up of the western genre: BLAZING SADDLES!
   I got my copy from Wal-Mart in one if those $7.88 bins I mentioned above. A quick look at Amazon shows that they are currently letting it go for $7.99.
Now then, on to the movie itself:

   First off, I love this movie! From the Frankie Laine theme song, to the menace of Mongo, I have always felt it was one of the funniest flicks I've ever seen.
   I first saw this when I was in junior high, smack dab in the middle of my spoof phase. Since then, the spoof genre has devolved into a sad shadow of the glory days of Mel Brooks and the Zuckers. Nowadays, most spoof films are just regurgitations of scenes from trailers of other films with the occasional "popular character dancing to hip hop" scene thrown in. I'm looking at you, DISASTER MOVIE, EPIC MOVIE, DATE MOVIE, etc.
   If you want to see how a spoof flick should be done, BLAZING SADDLES is a good place to start. In it, Brooks sends up the beloved old school westerns of previous decades while placing a heaping helping of social commentary front and center.
   It stars Cleavon Little as Bart, a black man who becomes sheriff of Rock Ridge- a town full of racists. The role was originally intended for comedian Richard Pryor (who helped write the screenplay) but the studio felt he was too risky. I, for one, am glad things worked out the way they did because Little is dynamite in the role. Joining him onscreen are Harvey Korman, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, and Mel Brooks himself (in multiple roles, no less).
   All are great in their roles, but, for me, Gene Wilder is the most likable as The Waco Kid, a boozehound gunfighter that acts as Bart's deputy. To a kid who mostly knew Wilder from his brilliant turn as chocolatier Willy Wonka, it was great to see him in a more adult role.
   The jokes are sharp (if cheesy),and never feel as dated as other spoof movies - focusing on making fun of the western genre as a whole instead of specific films. Even AIRPLANE (another top notch classic spoof) fails in that regard a few times. One notable gag is a symphony of farts around the campfire in a scene that may be the first instance of audible flatulence in film history.
   Some may be turned off by the blatant racism perpetrated by some of the characters, but I think they may be missing the point entirely. Sure, it's a little uncomfortable to hear the dreaded N-word but, by making the racism so blatant, Brooks manages to push America's dirty little secret front and center. I don't think anyone else managed to use the word so effectively as a mirror for siciety until Dave Chappelle and his "Blind Klansman" sketch.
   Still, you'd have a hard time making this movie today. Amidst all of its silliness, there are real issues being addressed and a lot of them would get buried under the modern world's tendency to sensationalize small things in the pursuit of creating ratings making controversy.
   One thing I was impressed with was how cinematic some of the scenes are. Some of Brooks films feel "closed in", obviously being shot on sets. I'm thinking, in particular, of ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS. With this movie, however, he makes use of the vistas of the west to add to the overall atmosphere. This and HISTORY OF THE WORLD : PART ONE are the only two movies he shot this wide, and it really helps make such a goofy movie feel like more than it could have.
   The Blu-Ray itself looks spectacular. In fact, it was the first full movie I saw in the format, and it made me a Blu believer.  There are plenty of special features, including a director's commentary (although Brook's barely whispers it), a making of, and the pilot episode of "Black Bart" - a spinoff TV series that never came to be. The pilot shows you why a full series never materialized, as it pales greatly in comparison to the way funnier film. There is also a small tribute to Madeline Kahn, who's Marlene Dietrich inspired Lili Von Shtupp is one if the film's highlights.
   For under ten bucks, BLAZING SADDLES is an essential comedy that should be on any film collector or comedy lover's movie shelf. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem.

Blu-Ray and DVD Geek Pix for the second week of September

Even in the age of digital media, there's something almost magical about owning some of your favorite films in a physical format. Having a disk to go to any time you want to revisit something will always be the way to go for someone like me. So, with that in mind, here's a a few things to look forward to this Tuesday.

Titanic 3D

     Since my exile to West Texas, I haven't been able to see as many movies in theaters. This 90's epic was one of the big re-releases I was looking forward to seeing on the big screen. I've only seen the movie once, and that was back in '97 at the Northpark 1&2 in Dallas (God rest its soul). It was one of the most impressive theatrical screenings I have ever seen. Projected in glorious 70mm- with incredible sound- I was captivated by this film.
     Of course, this was several weeks after it had come out. The initial night of its release, I went to an epic of a different sort, Kevin Costner's postapocalyptic The Postman with my dad. I remember being confused by the long lines around the building full of teenage girls waiting for Titanic. Everything I had heard about the film was that it was going to be a disaster, but the lines seemed to indicate a major hit. And it was...it really was.
    The rest is history. The movie went on to become one of the biggest films of all time, giving Leonardo DiCaprio true superstar status and filling all of our ears with Celine Dion for months on end.
    Having not seen it for myself, I can't speak of the 3D quality on this film, but the word is good. I can't wait to give this a spin and see Titanic in all it's Blu-Ray glory. 3D re-releases in general seem to get a lot of hate, but this geek thinks the technology is actually kind of fun. I never thought I'd enjoy The Phantom Menace as much as I did when that came out in 3D, but I loved that particular revisit, so hopefully this one will be even better.

Terra Nova

    I only got the chance to see the pilot for this show when it was airing, so I can't speak to how the series played out. All I know is that Spielberg and dinosaurs are involved, so it deserves my attention - even if it does wind up being crap.
   The story of Terra Nova starts in the future, when the world has become unlivable. Certain people are chosen to go back in time to start a new human colony in the time of the dinosaurs. Doesn't look like this show is coming to Blu Ray - yet.


Produced by George Martin

     Confession time - I am a fanatic when it comes to The Beatles. So it is with great glee that I discovered this documentary on their longtime producer George Martin. Of course, George Martin did so much more than just sit in the booth during the recording of some of the greatest songs ever laid down. He produced comedy albums for the likes of Peter Sellers and even scored the adventures of 007 in Live and Let Die.
     Of course, I haven't seen this, but I would hope such a legendary man would get a top notch doc.


Tim Burton Collection -  wide release

     This set has previously been available only on Amazon bundled with a book. This week, the set goes out for wide release, losing the book and about ten dollars on its price tag. For around forty bucks you get seven of Tim Burton's movies in glorious Blu-Ray. Here's the lineup:

Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985) 
Beetlejuice (1988) 
Batman (1989) 
Batman Returns (1992) 
Mars Attacks! (1996) 
Corpse Bride (2005) 
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

     Those first five are worth the cost for me, with Corpse Bride and Charlie as nice bonuses. (that's how I see it, anyway.) I know some will deride the fact that it is missing some big titles like Edward Scissorhands, but that is from another studio. Same goes for the rest of the missing flicks. These seven are all from Warner Brothers.


Well, that's all for this week. Happy shopping, disc collectors!

                                     

Geek Toys: DONKEY KONG JENGA!!

I was an NES kid. I got one when I six, and I spent countless hours playing games that seem very simple now. But they weren't, really. Some were very hard. Some were DONKEY KONG. For years, I struggled in vain to get that monkey for good. I finally did so on a Gameboy in a Target's electronics department.

Now, it would appear that there is a whole new way to get frustrated by that insidious ape.

Imagine another world, just like ours, floating overhead...

ANOTHER EARTH is looking like the kind of high concept sci-fi I love.

Michael Shannon is Zod... Plus, James Bond is Superman's Daddy!

I'll admit, that second part is a bit of a tease. I didn't necessarily mean one of the Bonds will be Jor-El in Snyder's upcoming MAN OF STEEL. I meant he is, or rather was Jor-El. Sorry to mislead you.

Which bond, you ask?

Why, it's George Lazenby, of course, the most misunderstood of all the Bonds. Personally, I feel he was always a bit underrated. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE stands today as one of the best of the Bond films. Some will vehemently oppose that statement, but I rest by it. Apparently, Lazenby played Jor-El in a second season episode of the 80's series SUPERBOY. I remember watching it as a kid, but have only been able to see the first season since subsequent seasons still exist only in bootlegs. 

I'm really curious if Jor-El has a place in the new film. I hear there will be krypton scenes, so I would assume he will be prominently featured. There's a rumor that Daniel Day Lewis might be in the running, and part of me would want nothing more than for that to be true.  That, or (again) Sean Connery. I just want him to do one more film. A good one. That way, LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN won't stand as his final film. 

Anyways, enjoy this bit of Superman weirdness...

Now... about Michael Shannon being cast in the role of General Zod.

It pleases me. It feels more right than when Jude Law was bandied about the internet as Zod years ago. Shannon has a good face for Zod. He's a little scary. Have you seen BOARDWALK EMPIRE?  He's intense in that show, and his turn as Kim Fowley in THE RUNAWAYS was the best part about that film (which felt like a string of meaningless montages). 

Will he be Better than Terrence Stamp. His Zod is a total classic, and his take on the character is why SUPERMAN II is the best live action Superman film so far. 

Sure, it gave Zod some weird powers that Superman has never apparently tapped into, and it never really explained how in the hell Clark and Lois make it back to civilization from the Fortress of Solitude after he gives up his powers. They flew in- did he have a helicopter up there? Is there a North Pole bus stop I'm unaware of? 

But you know what? Terrence Stamp plays Zod so masterfully, that all of those flaws are forgivable. I'll even forget that expanding saran wrap logo net that Superman somehow pulls off his uniform.

I just like the idea of Zod. I recently read SUPERMAN: FOR TOMORROW, and was very pleased to see Zod pop up. To me, Zod is the perfect villain for Superman. He represents a foe on equal footing. I can't wait to see a clash between these two characters on the big screen again. I was never fully satisfied with how the final battle took place in SUPERMAN II. I always thought it should have been more like the final battle between Neo and Smith in MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. Two unstoppable forces meeting with great impact.

Some wanted a different villain. Should it have been Brainiac? Darkseid? Parasite (a personal fave of mine due to how he was handled in the animated series in the 90's)?

What do you think?

EVERY SUPERMAN FILM ON BLU-RAY!

THE POWER IS YOURS!!!!! - New Release Tuesday brings us CAPTAIN PLANET:SEASON 1

Captain Planet And The Planeteers: Season One

"With your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!"

This Tuesday doesn't seem to be brimming with geeky new releases, but I did see that the first season of the now vintage kid's cartoon about the environment is available today. I DVR'd a whole bunch of these from Boomerang (I love that channel) a few years back and, I have to say, it doesn't really hold up as a beacon of quality, but the nostalgia factor still makes it entertaining. The theme song is especially guaranteed to crawl out of the recesses of your mind if you grew up watching this.

For those of you who were never exposed to the glory of Captain Planet and his team of Planeteers, let me explain it to you:

Gaia, the earth spirit, gives five magic rings to multinational teenagers, each with a ridiculous name, because the Earth needs their protection from a roster of Eco-Villains voiced by the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Martin Sheen, Ed Asner, and Meg Ryan plus many more. Each of these rings has a power tied to one of the four elements, with a fifth ring imbued with the ambiguous power of "Heart".

When the teens combine their powers, they bring about Captain Planet, a Superman like demigod with ridiculous hair and an extreme allergy to pollution, which saps his powers. That's good because his main purpose for existing is to fight...well... pollution. Pollution and villains who exist to make pollution. I swear I once saw an episode where one of them made a factory that seemed to make only pollution. No other products, or even energy production... just lots and lots of sludge. What kind of business model is that?

The environmental message is at times not in line with current thoughts on certain issues, and feels pretty heavy handed throughout. Still, it does encourage a positive attitude towards the environment, so that's good.

This set includes the complete first season of episodes over four discs. It's light on special features with only some concept art, and a featurette "The Power is Yours: The Story of Captain Planet."

Remember, The Power Is Yours!!!

It's finally on it's way! Star Wars on Blu-Ray! 

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES trailer has me looking very forward to August.

Recently a trailer for the new reboot of the PLANET OF THE APES franchise has started making it's way around the net. As a huge fan of the APES films, I've been eagerly anticipating footage of this since I first heard of it under the title PLANET OF THE APES : GENESIS.  

First off, if you haven't watched the trailer, you should do so now... 

 So, What did you think? Me, I'm very excited.

  

I'll admit that James Franco still seems like an odd fit in this movie, but I'm willing to give him a chance to change my mind when the film is released. He has surprised me before. I love him in FREAKS AND GEEKS, but always felt underwhelmed by his Harry Osbourne in Sam Raimi's SPIDER-MAN trilogy. I suppose my favorite part of his career is probably his stoner from PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. 

The shots we see of the ape are promising, but I've never been a big fan of the conquest of the VFX world

by CGI. Overblown effects tend to pull me out of movies. Weta is behind this, though, so hopefully, it will be impressive AND effective in terms of story progression and character work. Andy Serkis is a master of the performance capture arts, and I have full faith that his hand in all this will be something to behold.

I'm extremely glad that they are launching this new franchise attempt with a remake of the fourth film in the original series, CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. After Burton's crack at APES, I doubt anyone would want to see the "astronaut lands on a simian planet" storyline rehashed yet again

 I, for one, am looking very forward to August. I almost can't believe I'm going to get to see a new APES film. I was there on opening night for the last go round, and found myself alone on my like for the 2001 film. I really hope they don't drop the ball on this one, and we can get even more new APES films down the line. I want to see these new fangled photo realistic apes evolved into the ape/man hybrid we saw in the originals. Admittedly, I'm a fanatic about these movies. A few years back, I even bought the Collector's set of DVD's which came in a bust of Caesar , which sits proudly in my home, where it lets visitors know they are dealing with a special kind of movie lover.

Rest assured, I will be bringing updates on this film as more info is released,

100's of Blu-Rays for under $10