Our blog has been pretty fanboyish of late, but what are you going to do? This news is big though, it is an atom bomb. I heard that Akira was going ahead with the Hughes brothers at the helm. That pissed me off a lot because I don’ t think the Hughes brothers have really made a good move since their first feature. Regardless, obviously from the title you know what is up – Zach Efron was offered the role of Kaneda.
Now it is really, really hard to describe what Akira is to people who are unaware. Most people know it as a really influential anime from the mid-eighties. That it is, but before that it was a hugely influential manga that changed the world of cyberpunk.
What’s cyberpunk you ask? Well, Wikipedia it. I don’t wanna’ use a whole post explaining it, but it is really cool. Most people thought the pressure was on when Snyder made Watchman. I think Akira is a great deal more sacred and the producers have already been shitting all over it.
Do I think Efron is a bad choice? Surprisingly I think he is a great choice. Naturally I think the conversion of Asian to white actors is kind of racist, but hey, how else can you make a bazillion dollar movie? Efron will be bring the androgynous look that so defines the Japanese “pretty-man” look.
Moreover, what I think is most important is who will be cast as Tetsuo. I’m literally shitting myself wondering. I read in the same article that Joseph Gordon-Levitt might play the part, which would be tits, but I’m still holding my breath. After I saw X-men origins: Wolverine and The Last Airbender I literally can take no more poor adaptations. If the Hughes brothers butt fuck the best manga ever, I’ll be devastated.
Lastly, if you haven’t read any manga, please don’t be a douche and say that it is just for weirdos. Yes, lots and lots of weirdos read manga, but that is no reason not to read it. A lot of freaks watch and read porno and you still use it.
Grab a copy of Akira at your local library, hide it from you girlfriend or boyfriend if you have to, but read it. Akira is a great place to start in the manga world, but be careful, you might get hooked.
It is violent, action-packed, and all six volumes are a really quick read. I’m mad about the film being PG-13, but after seeing Walking Dead on TV, I’m convinced violence means nothing compared to cursing and sex.
-Collin
By Collin, on November 4th, 2010
Warner Brothers releases a new Sucker Punch trailer and it sure does look crazay.
Zach Snyder had a set of balls remaking the 1970s classic Dawn of the Dead. Sure, the original was a dated movie and he had a lot of help from the talented Tromatic screenwriter/filmmaker James Gunn, but it still was a gamble for a first feature. His follow-up 300 was more-or-less an action masterpiece and then he fucking did it again with Watchman.
Now I haven’t seen his new owl movie, but I have reason to believe it is pretty cool as well. Are people discounting him as one of the great directors around right now? They just might. His new Sucker Punch movie looks like a home run:
I don’t know about any of you, but the trailer actually kind of turned my excitement down a little bit. I still think it looks awesome, but maybe it is just a poorly cut trailer? If they’re going to create a semi-narrative trailer, they should try to make the story a bit more clear and not so ambiguous.
Another thing I noticed was how special-effect heavy the film looks. With a budget of only eighty-million (I know “only”), the movie looks like every scene has some type of great special-effect. It makes you wonder why Inception cost two hundred million and this film cost eighty. I know the Inception‘s special effects are more organic, but is that better? Sure, it went on to gross almost a billion dollars, but still. It seems risky not going with CGI.
-Collin
By Collin, on November 3rd, 2010
Who will be the next batman villain, fanboyism, and why everyone should try something different.
I don’t consider myself a fanboy for a number of reasons. The main reason being I like pretty much anything artistic and don’t defend things other people think is lame and/or childish. I know when my interests are bizarre and keep my protests to myself.
After all, describing the greatness of say Spring Awakening to a person who likes Glee, the merits of Jack Kerouac to someone who likes John Grisham, or Mad Men to Dexter, is pointless. I’m not saying my preferences are better…I’m really not. They’re just different.
I will say, however, that the best things in life are an acquired taste. Whether that means trying to enjoy an American Football game if you hate the sport or going to see ballet even though all your friends call it “gay”. Just trying something different is a spice of life.
Anyway, where was I? Batman..right. I’ve been obsessed with keeping up-to-date on the latest Batman film news. After all, instead of being obsessed with celebrities, like many males and females get criticized for, I’m obsessed with a fictional universe. I’d joke that they were the same, but fuck it, I’m not that lame.
The buzz on the internet is: Who is going to be the new batman villain?
Your first impression might be: Why do people care? Why do you care?
I don’t know really…I guess it is like finding out if a star player is going to come to your football team, an equally trivial and fruitless pursuit.
But get this: The Los Angles Times reported that the Riddler and Mr. Freeze will not be in the next movie.
So the scarecrow is already in the series. Heath is dead, so they won’t bring The Joker back. Ra’s Al Ghul is dead. Harvey Dent is technically dead. There have been theories that he will come back, but I just don’t buy it. So who is left?
The Penguin
Nope, this ain’t gonna’ happen.
Clayface
Clayface doesn’t fit with the style of Nolan. After all, he’s a big fucking pile of clay. He’s one of the darkest characters, but c’mon, he is ludicrous.
Bane
I honestly think Bane just might show up. I really do. But he can’t be a main villian. I don’t think he has psychological edge that Nolan loves. But if Nolan proved anything with his last film it was that he doesn’t care at all about reinventing characters, such as the Joker, to his vision.
Hush
Hmm…this would be my choice, but what do I know? I’m gonna ball out and call Hush the character Nolan will pick. But is he too unknown?
Catwoman/Posion Ivy/Any female character
I really think some kind of pop-female character will come into play. All big budget films have to have some romance, so Bruce needs a new love interest/sexual interest. I think one of these characters will come in as an ancillary character and I really don’t think it matters which one. My guess is Poison Ivy.
-Collin
By Collin, on November 3rd, 2010
Top Fifteen Best Movie Scores
I was told in film school that a film’s score can often be a crutch for lack of good visual and story-telling elements. I use to think that was bullshit, but when you watch too many Speilberg movies, you start to believe. Collected here are the best of the best of the best.
I limited myself to only two by Eastwood and Mansell. After all, I didn’t want the whole list to just be them. I mean have you heard the new Hereafter soundtrack? SO pimp. And yes I know I didn’t have Braveheart, Gladiator, Forrest Gump, blah blah. This ain’t play time. This is great music scores.
This list was one of my favorite to actually make because I got to listen to hundreds of my favorite soundtracks these are the best. Listen, enjoy, and don’t forget to comment at the bottom. No Braveheart, Gladiator, or Forrest Gump bitching allowed though. Unless you’re trolling, which is awesome.
15. Letters from Iwo Jima
This movie is the best war film ever made. I hate soundtracks that over-manipulate the audience. I don’t exactly know what that means, but my point is that Eastwood’s soundtracks are so simple, so delicate, but say so much. They matche his visual style almost impeccably.
14. Meet Joe Black
This is pretty good example of a manipulative soundtrack. It makes you feel things that the story hasn’t necessarily achieved on its own. Its like the shoes not matching the outfit. But this music still succeeds on it’s own terms. No need to ever see the movie…..
13. Atonement
I forgot this movie in my list of fifteen favorite movies. A lot of people consider it one of those chick-flick, Academy-Award bait movies. That it might be, but I don’t think it should necessarily be dismissed because of that. I mean, I don’t think ANY movie should be, but this one really is a classic. Its music by Dario Marianelli possesses the feel of great tragedy. I love big Oscar-type movies like this. If it is a genre, it might be my favorite.
12. Slumdog Millionaire
This soundtrack is a lot of fun, but also gives the movie the feeling of a breezy fairy tale. If not for the soundtrack, it could have been a much darker film.
11. Solaris
Very few people have ever seen this weird remake of an even weirder Russian science-fiction film. I hate using the word atmospheric, at the risk of sounding like A.O. Scott, but the soundtrack creates a very distinct atmosphere that visuals would struggle to do.
10. The Social Network
This is the best soundtrack of 2010. It has the urgency that defines my generation.
9. Last of the Mohicans
The first soundtrack I ever owned was this one. Few directors understand the power music has to tell a story like Michael Mann. The climax of the film contains zero dialogue.
8. Lord of the Rings
Lord of the mother fucking rings.
7. Star Wars Films
I don’t even listen to this one that much, but it is too fucking classic.
6. Sunshine
What an awesome soundtrack. The movie isn’t as well known as other great Danny Boyle features, such as 28 Days Later, Trainspotting or Slumdog. But this movie is really, really cool. The soundtrack was actually reused in parts of Kickass, if I’m not mistaken.
5. English Patient
Big and showy soundtracks in movies about people in love and divided by war get my dick hard.
4. Million Dollar Baby
This soundtrack breaks your heart. Like Eastwood’s visual style his music is so simple. Often incorporating just a few notes by a piano or guitar, with stringed instruments coming in after a minute or two. I don’t like to say it is the case of “less is more” because I think his style is harder to classify than that. I’m in constant awe of music’s ability to “say” things to people. Eastwood does this over and over and over again with such ease and simplicity it boggles the fucking mind.
3. Once
How can I incoporate a musical? Well, all the songs are original and basically a score, but that isn’t the point. I always try to tell people the only kind of romantic love is the kind that is unfulfilled and for some reason the songs in this musical kind of exemplify that idea. And for you hard nuts out there, it isn’t a sing and dance musical, but instead, the songs take place within the logic of the film and are not bizarre interludes.
2. Requiem For a Dream
A fanboy favorite. The main song is obviously the highlight, but people often overlook the other hugely admirable parts of this score. The WHOLE THING is awesome.
1. The Fountain
I’ve caught a lot of shit for reppin’ this flick. I sympathize with a lot with people that were put off by the crazy structure of the movie. It isn’t easy to figure out that the Mayan and space stories are not real and only the modern day story is actually happening. Aronofsky could have saved this movie’s popularity by just adding Jackman’s character scribbling that “space” section in his wife’s book after she dies…but he just HAD to make it confusing lol.
Anyway, Mansell is the composer of the decade. His music almost transcends its art and becomes a visceral element of the visuals. Listening to his music without Aronofsky’s images almost sells the tracks short. They compliment themselves to a degree that seems almost impossible. Check out the track above, all the way to the end, it won’t disappoint.
Big rumor: Zac Efron might play Kaneda in Akira
Moreover, what I think is most important is who will be cast as Tetsuo. I’m literally shitting myself wondering. I read in the same article that Joseph Gordon-Levitt might play the part, which would be tits, but I’m still holding my breath. After I saw X-men origins: Wolverine and The Last Airbender I literally can take no more poor adaptations. If the Hughes brothers butt fuck the best manga ever, I’ll be devastated.
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