tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37609441455429866682024-03-20T20:04:08.696-04:00Film VS Film ShowdownHere you'll find two films of similar concept, or similar genre, going toe-to-toe in a rumble to determine the better picture. We'll view each films stats, discuss their finer points, their weaknesses, to determine a winner. Lots of factors go into these match-ups, including artistic merit, impact on pop culture and influence on film making. Box office, critics and movie-goers, and any academy awards also are taken into consideration. Now, Let's get ready to rumble.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-24625263803671665432011-10-08T17:41:00.000-04:002011-10-08T17:41:43.001-04:00The Shining VS The Shining<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImHhE9ljT15KA2oHchKCeXL62yt1bvvD4AjOovjEskgO-kvG4FJn4OMDH04sNWxzujBHJaeIsiyq9QMZDLg3rB-SnkILv_swmtlAkwWeI3R__SYiE1TdfkCXnws6pg_POuXVWuL6cCiE/s1600/the+Shining+vs+The+Shining+TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImHhE9ljT15KA2oHchKCeXL62yt1bvvD4AjOovjEskgO-kvG4FJn4OMDH04sNWxzujBHJaeIsiyq9QMZDLg3rB-SnkILv_swmtlAkwWeI3R__SYiE1TdfkCXnws6pg_POuXVWuL6cCiE/s400/the+Shining+vs+The+Shining+TV.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Title:</u> The Shining <u>Title:</u> The Shining</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 88% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> n/a</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 8.5 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 6.0</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Starring:</u> Jack Nicholson, Shelly Duvall <u>Starring:</u> Steven Weber, Rebecca De Mornay</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Director:</u> Stanley Kubrick <u>Director:</u> Mick Garris</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $44 million <u>Box Office:</u> n/a</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> n/a</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Year:</u> 1980 <u>Year:</u> 1997</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">A classic film vs a made for tv remake clash in the ring as one of cinema's greatest directors and visionaries puts up a film that is panned by Stephen King purists. The television mini series is more faithful to King's story, but does it pack the same punch. We find out in The Showdown.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In Stanley Kubrick's Shining, audiences are treated to a horror masterpiece. One part ghost story, one part psychological thriller, the Shining becomes a compelling experience that explores the weaknesses of the family structure. In similar films, families come together against a common evil, but here we see the husband and father betray his family as he slowly slips into insanity brought on by the malevolent entity that torments them. Like a master sculpture, Stanley chips away Stephen King's more over-the-top elements such as animal shaped hedges that come to life or imaginary friends from the future, until all that's left is the complete piece. Incredible performances by Jack Nicholson, Scatman Crothers, and young Danny Lloyd propel this film forward at an unrelenting pace. Kubrick's use of music only adds to the overall theme of madness and isolation.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In1997, a made for tv mini-series with a television screenplay from Stephen King himself hit the small screen in an effort to "correct" all that Kubrick left out. Stephen King fans thrilled to the closer to the novel approach that made the Shining such a best seller. Less psychological, this film emphasizes the haunted house aspect of the story.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Sadly, a truth that Stephen King and his fans need to realize, is no novel of his should ever be adapted for television. It is an automatic disqualification. Television has three things that hinder any adaptation. 1) Censorship. Standards and practices will edit for content and incredibly hamstring artistic merit. 2) Commercials. Content aside, it will be edited for time restraints in order to push the latest technology in toothpaste. Plus, commercials just ruing the rhythm and tempo of a film, spoiling the intended experience. 3) Production value. Sorry, but if you're gonna attempt to trump the work of Stanley Kubrick, you have got to do better than pairing off Jack Nicholson against Steven Weber, the guy from "Wings." In fact, it's a wonder why Stephen King chooses to put his classic, and arguably best works, on television. </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The Stand</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> and </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">It</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">, for example, were completely compelling novels that have been ham-stringed by the rigors and regulations of television adaptation. So for fans of King's vision of <i>the Shining</i>, they are reduced to accepting a sub par film in every respect.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">When both fighters enter the ring, it is apparent that the 1997 Shining is way out of its league. With a shattered glass jaw, it goes down in the first round. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>The Winner:</u> Kubrick's The Shining</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNGl4j1S55vsZDwf5uuUPj6lIWCcnhnslYy-d12T9jZ-Vj2eui10J8WtBLUKjgrBhY1gMSMU0WZdH6j5Xn71_a_h8d_f9GBHHO6Y1GNS1xCrPnCO8a3LIKuYbF45YADvp3yn0_E53w5I/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNGl4j1S55vsZDwf5uuUPj6lIWCcnhnslYy-d12T9jZ-Vj2eui10J8WtBLUKjgrBhY1gMSMU0WZdH6j5Xn71_a_h8d_f9GBHHO6Y1GNS1xCrPnCO8a3LIKuYbF45YADvp3yn0_E53w5I/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-22739745061302416432011-10-01T07:03:00.000-04:002011-10-01T07:03:38.684-04:00Batman (1966) VS Batman & Robin<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqzALIW8vXXYQkKt5V2IhyEEW6vK3VXR-l_C2EfkhGJSZVLj9Xc1_mq0nlwRWW7OKSYtwZSB6Efhf6wjCdojwcqsGqOt9uIXKEQSopqNdnIFKwKXQFJ8M9gwiRIjDKjmYUo8crAVVbhk/s1600/Batman66+VS+Batman+%2526+Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqzALIW8vXXYQkKt5V2IhyEEW6vK3VXR-l_C2EfkhGJSZVLj9Xc1_mq0nlwRWW7OKSYtwZSB6Efhf6wjCdojwcqsGqOt9uIXKEQSopqNdnIFKwKXQFJ8M9gwiRIjDKjmYUo8crAVVbhk/s400/Batman66+VS+Batman+%2526+Robin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Title:</u> Batman <u>Title:</u> Batman & Robin</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 83% <u>Tomato Meter:</u>13%</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 6.3 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 3.5</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Starring:</u> Adam West, Burt Ward <u>Starring:</u> George Clooney, Uma Thurman</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Director:</u> Robert Zemeckis <u>Director:</u> Joel Schumacher</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $13 million <u>Box Office:</u> $107 million</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> n/a</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <u>Year:</u> 1966 <u>Year:</u> 1989</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Once More, Batman slugs it out with himself here at Showdown. But before we engage in the epic rematch of Tim Burton vs Chris Nolan's vision of the Caped Crusader, we pair off arguably the two worst films in the Batman film franchises.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">There is so much camp in Batman: The Movie, that one feels a need to build a fire and bring marshmallows. Yet it works. The film is a wonderful adaptation of the popular tv show, and features four of Batman's top villains, the Joker, Penguin, the Riddler, and Catwoman. While a film directed at the kids of the era, today it comes off as a comedy of MST3K proportions. With an aerosol can of Bat-Shark repellent, Batman is able to thwart a great white shark attached to his leg. Batman runs around with a loaded bomb and cannot get rid of it, running into sailors, nuns, ducks, and a marching band. Batman also points out to Robin, referring to the bar patrons, "They may be drinkers, but they're still human beings." Just classic cornball. And there is plenty of Pow, Zap, Ka-Boom action to go around. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">There is so much camp in Batman and Robin, that one feels like fleeing occupied Poland. With the popular villains such as the Joker, Catwoman, Penguin and Riddler already used up in previous films in this series, Joel Schumacher gives us Poison Ivy, sensually played by Uma Thurman, a cornballish Dr. Freeze, and a retarded version of a newcomer to Batman's rogue gallery, Bane. Everything that has made the Tim Burton films successful (atmosphere, pacing, dialogue, costumes) have completely been stripped down and restructured into what audiences can only guess as Joel exercising his passive aggressive disdain towards comic book movies. Either that, or he was clearly there for a paycheck.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">As both fighters enter the ring, Batman & Robin clearly have the money on their side. But don't discount the poor, struggling fighter as they have the eye of the tiger. From the opening bell Batman:the Movie is clearly dominating with its unorthodox style. Batman & Robin, being all flash and no substance, can barely defend itself, let alone go on offense. Winner by KO in round 2, Batman: the Movie.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Batman: the Movie</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuCpe4HeHm33c4rbW78zW-UI-Gd6RJSfVPX1ALth24lSpmufbrUtJLPD6sR1_WQzXkySeVCoIDacw_jYcR0AxfN25uv8zXSjcTJ77vY3NkEi46KB1vTyLrCcdw3Oi6pQ-63Oq6s15kjw/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuCpe4HeHm33c4rbW78zW-UI-Gd6RJSfVPX1ALth24lSpmufbrUtJLPD6sR1_WQzXkySeVCoIDacw_jYcR0AxfN25uv8zXSjcTJ77vY3NkEi46KB1vTyLrCcdw3Oi6pQ-63Oq6s15kjw/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-43038693065827444292011-09-24T05:22:00.000-04:002011-09-24T05:22:36.723-04:00Back To The Future VS Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKs4SvtTNrXYaMYC7f1cVBqp7wByP1XnKjbawd6gbdOflDRAIk-dSE0fmB-tbNqZaJIIo_JMGQ9xO5ShxM3y8wHT0d7Cts0QtL2jKQvhetVWDF-oNsY7N7Yk1c0KikckPOmfua2c8OPk/s1600/back+vs+bill+n+ted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKs4SvtTNrXYaMYC7f1cVBqp7wByP1XnKjbawd6gbdOflDRAIk-dSE0fmB-tbNqZaJIIo_JMGQ9xO5ShxM3y8wHT0d7Cts0QtL2jKQvhetVWDF-oNsY7N7Yk1c0KikckPOmfua2c8OPk/s400/back+vs+bill+n+ted.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Back To The Future <u>Title:</u> Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 97% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 82%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 8.4 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 6.8</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd <u>Starring:</u> Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Robert Zemeckis <u>Director:</u> Stephen Herek</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $210 million <u>Box Office:</u> $40 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 1 win, 3 nominations <u>Academy:</u> n/a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1985 <u>Year:</u> 1989</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Time travelling teenagers from the 80's go head to head. It's the irresistible force of the DeLorean meeting the immovable object of the phone booth.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Back to the Future, set in the then present day of 1985, see's Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) go back to the year 1955 in a time machine built out of a DeLorean by his friend and crack-pot scientist, Dr. Emit Brown (Christopher Lloyd). In 1955 he accidently interferes with a sequence of events that cause his parents to meet and fall in love. As a result, if he doesn't fix this issue, they never get married and he doesn't exist. To make matters worse, he has to get them to fall in love in less than a week or so, or he misses his opportunity to go back to his own era. Stephen Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment go out of their way to truly create a setting with the look and feel of 1955. Everything from props, costumes and dialogue create this illusion. Marty is truly the fish out of water when his 80's sensibilities conflict with 50's reality. He orders a drink "with no sugar" at a malt shop. His fashionable 80's orange vest is routinely mistaken for a life preserver. And the President of the United States is just an actor at this point in time. The writers adopt one of the many more plausible theories regarding time travel, the butterfly effect, and the grandfather paradox, into a cohesive story element that is presented in an easy to understand format for general audiences, as well as a water-cooler discussion piece for sci-fi enthusiasts. 26 years later, it is still regarded as the definitive time travel movie that blends considerable scientific theory regarding the premise, as well as comedic and dramatic moments that seek to entertain us. </span> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Bill & Ted are two underachieving slackers with delusions of becoming rock stars. However their dreams may be crushed under the weight of reality, as they are doomed to fail history class. What's worse, Ted's Father is threatening to send him to an Alaskan Military School if he fails. But don't worry, Rufus, played by George Carlin, arrives from the future with a time machine that looks a lot like a phone booth to help them with their history report. Rather than travel time and learn about history first hand, they decide to kidnap historical figures and bring them back to the 20th Century to help them with their oral book report. Unlike Back To The Future, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure doesn't concern itself with science, and goes straight for laughs. Napoleon becomes a water-slide enthusiast at a water-park coincidentally called Water-Loo. Billy the Kid and Genghis Khan tearing ass through a shopping mall is funny on an epic level. The plot to assist their history report may not seem as grand a plot as Back To The Future's, where Marty is trying to save his own existence. But through the course of the movie, it is Rufus who is trying to save his future society from non-existence. If Bill & Ted break up, the band never gets off their feet, and the future society, based completely off the music of Bill & Ted's Wyld Stallyns band, disappears. Yes, these two idiots become hugely successful. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both films are hugely popular, and retain a high level of re-watchability. The fight is a classic confrontation of two great competitors that split the audience down the middle. Both have spawned sequels and animated television series. But as the fight goes on, it becomes apparent that Back To The Future is outclassing Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. B&T is resilient though, never staying down for long, and hitting with some impressive combo's. In the end, Back To The Future wins with a T.K.O. in round 8.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Back To The Future</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXQWu3VFPRADRuUexRYUqCwrxBI5WjobjPaGAG6bGtsMN7h4UmIfMfhGPm8cxxLVhd9WqNrUE3xyjZ4mTd-SHHT0EEjCqd5L9Us3mq0GtWs7-DPpjklDzpdA0_97y8oUWhCPqcvKUui8/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXQWu3VFPRADRuUexRYUqCwrxBI5WjobjPaGAG6bGtsMN7h4UmIfMfhGPm8cxxLVhd9WqNrUE3xyjZ4mTd-SHHT0EEjCqd5L9Us3mq0GtWs7-DPpjklDzpdA0_97y8oUWhCPqcvKUui8/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-32147275573509619042011-09-21T20:50:00.001-04:002011-09-21T20:51:55.842-04:00Independence Day VS Mars Attacks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22q1zoaaG2FYjVkvBwYO9fSVMiuTODWxIKjBUuD79-s28a2_fwVr0Uzvv2OXpWVDSJuPDfROvLyLzuaFnzKTTsVNyMYzks6V2ihT-B1q4W3dPSEWRXaK7_bdeLSV1kPNZaUIxNgnuvtg/s1600/id4+vs+mars+attacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22q1zoaaG2FYjVkvBwYO9fSVMiuTODWxIKjBUuD79-s28a2_fwVr0Uzvv2OXpWVDSJuPDfROvLyLzuaFnzKTTsVNyMYzks6V2ihT-B1q4W3dPSEWRXaK7_bdeLSV1kPNZaUIxNgnuvtg/s400/id4+vs+mars+attacks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Independence Day <u>Title:</u> Mars Attacks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 60% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 51%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 6.6 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 6.3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Will Smith, Bill Pullman <u>Starring:</u> Jack Nicholson, Pierce Bronson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Roland Emmerich <u>Director:</u> Tim Burton</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $306 million <u>Box Office:</u> $37.7 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 1 win, 1 nomination <u>Academy:</u> n/a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1996 <u>Year:</u> 1996</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">In 1996, the Earth is invaded by beings from outer space, twice. But which alien race was the more memorable? We find out in this edition of Showdown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Camp is the word of the day when it comes to Mars Attacks. Tim Burton directs this sci-fi spoof based on an old trading card collection is absolutely hilarious. Special effects are big budget CGI visuals painstakingly recreated to look like cheap, absurd props. Mars Attacks hosts as many stars as the Milky Way Galaxy itself, including a dual role by Jack Nicholson. Other stars include Glenn Close, Pierce Bronson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Christina Applegate, Natalie Portman, Danny DeVito, Pam Grier, Martin Short, Jack Black and Tom Jones. The martians are as adorable as they are hideous, and seem to have a quirky sense of humor. Their dialogue is essentially "ack, ack, ack-a-ack." This Earth vs The Flying saucers moitff is pure spoof. Critics have come down hard on this film, but they seem to judge it for something it's not. Those familiar with the trading cards will tell you they literally leap from the cards onto the silver screen. And Tim spoofs everything from government, patriotism, sci-fi, and capitalism, to greed, religion and television. In the end, the seemingly indestructable aliens are brought down by the music of Slim Pickens,.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Independence Day offers a more serious look at an alien invasion. It too boasts a large roster of stars, such as Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, Randy Quaid, Vivica A. Fox, Adam Baldwin, and Brent Spiner. Where Mars Attacks goes for laughs, ID4 goes for thrills. Big Budget effects allowed us to see city after city devastated. Audiences took a private sense of joy seeing the White House get blown to splinters. The film does a good job of pulling these various characters from different locations together in one place. There's just enough comedy to break the tension, and plenty of balls to the wall action to keep you riveted. Will Smith makes a transition from straight comedy to action. In the end, the aliens are brought down by a computer virus that compromises their shields. A more modern day version of what brought the aliens down in the classic War of the Worlds.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both films are excellent from start to finish. Both have some quotable lines, and have a high rate of re-watchability. Going into the ring both films come out swinging, looking for the early K.O. ID4 , taking itself too seriously, gets frustrated at Mars Attacks unorthodox style, resulting in ID4 kissing the canvas in the mid rounds. However, the fans are clearly behind ID4 despite Mars' colorful performance, spurring ID4 on, and ID4 scores the KO in round 9.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><u>Winner</u>: Independence Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyff3uXlFNAl5tuzkPCbpvxzKieqzV_JbomIMN9l__ZHdLHL1Uz4rB8oP_LbcjrKZTLReq6wQDrc1cT6dMWcHPqzMDhL7GahVAHAH45cYejEeUL4W67eO92v_CvVBlObJn86UgrhC4BUE/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyff3uXlFNAl5tuzkPCbpvxzKieqzV_JbomIMN9l__ZHdLHL1Uz4rB8oP_LbcjrKZTLReq6wQDrc1cT6dMWcHPqzMDhL7GahVAHAH45cYejEeUL4W67eO92v_CvVBlObJn86UgrhC4BUE/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-84564152258769283362011-09-17T09:05:00.000-04:002011-09-17T09:05:00.802-04:00Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe VS The Wizard of Oz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt_c2lag2AzJxCAaY2UnhFijkPPQBuAL7HXMrVoMigSU1beJ4bxGqTWz78COm0t_pP5T0umw1_NRC1ezF0yrNNfD0iw7YxfyZPEh9VgDhx2rU26BVPbs4i4ltLtyCJyj0yKYPPDjDRmo/s1600/Narnia+vs+Oz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt_c2lag2AzJxCAaY2UnhFijkPPQBuAL7HXMrVoMigSU1beJ4bxGqTWz78COm0t_pP5T0umw1_NRC1ezF0yrNNfD0iw7YxfyZPEh9VgDhx2rU26BVPbs4i4ltLtyCJyj0yKYPPDjDRmo/s400/Narnia+vs+Oz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> The Chronicles Of Narnia <u>Title:</u> The Wizard Of Oz</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 76% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 100%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 6.9 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 8.2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley <u>Starring:</u> Judy Garland, Frank Morgan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Andrew Adamson <u>Director:</u> Victor Fleming</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $745 million <u>Box Office:</u> $17.6 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 1 win <u>Academy:</u> 2 wins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2005 <u>Year:</u> 1939</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Two timeless children's classics leap from the pages onto the silver screen. Both stories center on children being whisked away into a fantasy realm where they are confronted with witches, magic, and the importance of home and family.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is the most popular, but one, in a series of Narnia books. Two others, the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Prince Caspian, also were converted to film. Written by C.S. Lewis, this film is for children of all ages, but should be viewed with parents for the younger crowd. Issues of love, family, betrayal, war, hope, life and death are covered in this tale which sees 4 siblings, two brothers and two sisters, who enter a wardrobe and exit into a fantasy realm called Narnia. A White Witch has casted a spell keeping much of Narnia in perpetual winter. Those in Narnia await for the fulfillment of a prophecy, that two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve will save their realm from the Witch, who calls herself the Queen of Narnia. The siblings are that prophecy, being the only humans in Narnia. Edmond, the younger of the two brothers, betrays his brother and sisters to the Witch as she preys upon his envy and resentment of his older brother, Peter. Lucy, the youngest sibling and the first to discover Narnia, learns of Mr. Tumnas's arrest by the Queen. Mr. Tumnas is a fawn, and the first friend Lucy met in Narnia. Edmund escapes the Queen and reunites with his siblings in the presence of Aslan, a guardian of the realm in the form of a lion. The Queen shows up to claim her right over Edmond, but Aslan enters into a negotiation that leads to Edmond's freedom, at the sacrifice of Aslan himself. With Aslan gone, Narnia turns to the four siblings to lead a battle against the Witch-Queens army and save Narnia.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic about a young girl named Dorothy who runs away from her farm home in Kansas. Her beloved dog and friend Toto, as incurred the ire of a mean neighbor woman who orders the dog to be destroyed. So she runs off with Toto and meets a travelling fortune teller, and convinces her to return home. She arrive home just as a terrible storm shows up, and a tornado whisks her away to the land of Oz. There she must travel the Yellow Brick Road, meeting strange new friends, including a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a cowardly Lion. She is pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West who want's her ruby slippers given to her from Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Along her adventures she learns about the values of friendship and home. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Unlike Narnia, Wizard of Oz is told as a musical, with songs memorable to this day. It is a near flawless film that has endured over 70 years. With a young audience in mind, it still resonates with the kid in all of us. You cannot watch this film without coming away feeling better. Its magic is enduring.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Chronicles of Narnia is also a timeless children's story, but didn't hit the screen till just recently. C.S. Lewis tells a tale that is unflinching in its deeper, and richer, subject matter than Oz ever had. Still accessible to young audience, Narnia will elicit more emotions than other children's stories. With elements of sacrifice, family, and kingship, Lewis's Christian values and sensibilities are obvious, without being preachy or condescending to other faiths.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Wizard of Oz is more universal in its themes, and the talent of the cast is impeccable. It is ranked #131 in the AFI 250 movies of all time. Both films are set in the past, but clearly does not detract as both films contain subject matter that can be relatable to today's audiences.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both competitors enter the ring looking strong. Wizards hits first landing several combos that tell of its enduring experience and longevity. Still, Chronicles stands strong and doesn't go down. By round 6, Chronicles starts flexing its muscle and begins unloading with some impressive combos of its own on the weary Wizard of Oz. Wizards gets knocked down twice, in rounds 8 and 10, but refuses to lay down and gets on its feet. Chronicles proves it has the heart and courage of its opponent, but Wizards still has the advantage of brains, out-thinking Chronicles in the final rounds scoring one knock down at round 13. Still, both films seem they will go the distance until before round 15 when the ref decides Narnia cannot continue and needs emergency medical attention. The fight is stopped. It seems as time goes on, the fans stopped caring for Narnia, and thus Narnia lost its momentum. Without an enduring fan base, the injuries became too much.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">According to the judges, we see that Chronicles of Narnia, with its themes and deep narrative, is the better film. But The Wizard of Oz, with its long endurance, and continued impact on modern culture, with movie metaphors used in our cultural lexicon, proves that Wizards will go on. Narnia will become a fond, but forgotten film in decades to come. It's sequels haven't measured up, nor does it endure in the hearts and minds of society. A tragedy, really, since Narnia, a real contender, is forced into retirement. Could Narnia have beaten Wizards? We'll never know.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Winner: The Wizard of Oz </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg9W4OXM5n4maOiLd0epnX5X16KyRWQ6yxWp34-JT-MQvmm2YyMfBfOl2JJinRZfos35TeUb7a4r1v8lvGwDVpYzjMFvi3owclgy5b3O1s4fxrP97TWrXEsjLpvTCSlXLjthqD5nRVu0/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg9W4OXM5n4maOiLd0epnX5X16KyRWQ6yxWp34-JT-MQvmm2YyMfBfOl2JJinRZfos35TeUb7a4r1v8lvGwDVpYzjMFvi3owclgy5b3O1s4fxrP97TWrXEsjLpvTCSlXLjthqD5nRVu0/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-83678775137296604732011-09-14T13:06:00.000-04:002011-09-14T13:06:00.739-04:00Ghostbusters VS Men In Black<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVO7Gj3feuaHcWewJZP8eEBZZ13G1e8LW_Qzp5TVip20jqwzCY6bCmAPEdemlTy9fVCp8_4MStPQcJIr96NtD7gTSuguqlom8tcu7vujZ1zY5l7NFpfM3Yx5MS-leDeEbLwAsxZqABFnE/s1600/GhostbustersvsMIB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVO7Gj3feuaHcWewJZP8eEBZZ13G1e8LW_Qzp5TVip20jqwzCY6bCmAPEdemlTy9fVCp8_4MStPQcJIr96NtD7gTSuguqlom8tcu7vujZ1zY5l7NFpfM3Yx5MS-leDeEbLwAsxZqABFnE/s400/GhostbustersvsMIB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Ghostbusters <u>Title:</u> Men In Black</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 93% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 91%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 7.8 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 7.0</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd <u>Starring:</u> Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Ivan Reitman <u>Director:</u> Barry Sonnenfeld</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $229 million <u>Box Office:</u> $250 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 2 nominations <u>Academy:</u> 1 win</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1984 <u>Year:</u> 1997</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Out of this world Sci-Fi Comedies seek to annihilate each other with slapstick special effects in this Showdown match-up. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Ghostbusters is a comedic juggernaut. Take a couple SNL alumnus, a fantastic screenplay, and comedy director Ivan Reitman, and you have a winning formula. Three 30-something Science Majors get kicked out of the university, and go into business for themselves. Their business? Catching ghosts. Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis aren't just excellent in this film, but arguably put in the performances of their careers. The screenplay is so well written, not one line seems forced or artificial. The dialogue is organic, and probably improvised in places. Ivan Reitman balances this film between pseudo science and gadgetry that actually makes the plot believable, and farcical whimsy that generates one laugh after another. Special effects are top notch. What the Lightsaber did for </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Star Wars</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">, the Proton Pack does for </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Ghostbusters</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">. The interpersonal relationships are fully fleshed out, including the love triangle between Peter, Louis, and Dana. Egon is totally oblivious to the fact that their secretary Janine has a crush on him. Walter Peck, from the EPA, is looking to shut the Ghostbusters down. And Winston is just a blue collar joe that's hired on, looking for a decent paycheck. Things escalate as an inter-dimensional portal is opened, and a demi-god named Gozar enters our world looking to destroy mankind. Gozar chooses a form for itself to destroy us with that is...well...you just have to see it.</span> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones play Agents J and K respectively. While chasing a thief through the streets of New York, Officer James (Will Smith) corners the thief who displays strange behavior and warns him that the planet is in danger, then leaps off the building. Agent K sees this and is impressed with James, offering him a job with the M.I.B. James soon learns that space aliens indeed walk the Earth and live among us, and the M.I.B. are here to police any and all alien activity. James takes the assignment and becomes agent J. Tommy Lee and Will Smith crank up the buddy cop, veteran/rookie relationship to a new level as J is introduced to dozens of alien races and unique devices like the noisy cricket and the "flashy thing." Like Ghostbusters, high tech gadgets and out of this world bad guys make up the bulk of this situational comedy. From day one, J's on the job training is a trial by fire, as he must do everything from an alien shakedown, to delivering a baby alien in the back of a taxi cab, to stopping a giant mad insect from starting an intergalactic war. Will Smiths obnoxious loud mouth persona first introduced in The Fresh Prince Of Bell Air complements Tommy Lee Jones' deadpan delivery and straight-man style comedy.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both films come out of the gate strong, scoring several knock down blows. MIB pulls ahead during round 6 with its endless amount of aliens and cool gadgets that dazzle the audience. However, with deeper characterization, and a more satisfying ending, Ghostbusters refuse to go down and delivers a powerhouse uppercut scoring the Knock Out by round 13.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Ghostbusters</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-44533694200586737862011-09-10T00:03:00.000-04:002011-09-10T00:03:05.641-04:00The Karate Kid VS The Karate Kid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTu18tWlucmBiLR-K3jh_FFvBbrHU_DaMh8eAYxyhMFOyN1iJecLb7hBoAsUOOOq0JTDHabzdUsDewIVgjWPrNnK2tc0AwpAw4pap3TJrkU-uxWbhU8KzOf8EMdY41AqozjOT4WVxpujc/s1600/KKVSKK2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTu18tWlucmBiLR-K3jh_FFvBbrHU_DaMh8eAYxyhMFOyN1iJecLb7hBoAsUOOOq0JTDHabzdUsDewIVgjWPrNnK2tc0AwpAw4pap3TJrkU-uxWbhU8KzOf8EMdY41AqozjOT4WVxpujc/s400/KKVSKK2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> The Karate Kid <u>Title:</u> The Karate Kid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 67% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 90%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 76.2 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 7.0</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith <u>Starring:</u> Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Zack Snyder <u>Director:</u> Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $176 million <u>Box Office:</u> $90.8 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> 1 nomination</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2010 <u>Year:</u> 1984</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">An inspirational martial arts showdown to determine the best around. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The 1984 version is a true classic, inspiring and heartwarming. It tells the story of friendship, courage, and integrity. Ralph Macchio plays Daniel Larusso, a 15 year old kid from Jersey who moves all the way to California with his Mother, who wants to make a fresh start for the two of them. Daniel, who comes from a family of little means, runs afoul of a group of high school seniors, all privileged kids and black belts. Daniel's only friends are Ali (Elisabeth Shue) and an old Asian maintenance man named Miyagi (Pat Morita). Ali comes from a wealthy family who aren't fond of her seeing Daniel, and it doesn't help that her ex-boyfriend is the head of the pack of bullies. Wanting to defend himself, Daniel goes to the Cobra Kai dojo, only to find out that the bullies train there. This only encourages the bullies to continue assaulting poor Daniel, who tries to hide his miserable existence from his Mother. On one occasion, as they are beating the tar out of him, Mr. Miyagi shows up to save him. The small unassuming Miyagi makes short work of these boys, despite their size and youthful energy. He then makes a deal with the Cobra Kai instructor to have his boys leave Daniel alone, and arranges for just one fight to be held at a tournament in three months. Miyagi then takes Daniel on as a karate student.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">From this point we're treated to a wonderful story where they form a fond friendship. Miyagi's teachings are unconventional, having Daniel perform chores such as waxing cars, painting the house, varnishing the fence and sanding floors, each with specific methods he must adhere to. When Daniel threatens to quit Miyagi has him go through the chores and demonstrates the methods have indeed taught him a variety of karate techniques. He also expands his teachings from karate to life lessons, teaching him the importance of focus and balance. In the end, Daniel overcomes his bullies, and earns their respect. But more so, has earned a sense of self-worth and confidence.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The 2010 version is a bit misleading. The film borrows heavily from the idea of the Karate Kid, including the title. Yet it also distances itself from the original so much, its hard to tell if the filmmakers intended this to be a re-imagining or what. Jaden Smith plays young Dre Parker, a young 12 year old black kid plucked from Detroit and moves with his Mother to China. Like the original, this is about a stranger in a strange place, but amped up as China presents a complete culture shock. The original didn't go that far. Like the original, the boy befriends the maintenance man, named Mr. Han. We see the relationships are the same, but the characters are different. Falling for a classmate, this raises the ire of some bullies. Like the original, the maintenance man prepares him for a tournament to confront his bullies. Only this time, it isn't Karate, but Kung Fu. Which again is confusing since the film is called the Karate Kid. We see further parallels such as Meiying's Father disapproving of his daughters friendship with the Kara....errr Kung Fu Kid. We see Mr. Han put Dre through a single exercise involving hanging his jacket. Not as detailed as wax on, wax off, but noticeable. Characters names are also all altered. There is even a scene involving a fly and chopsticks, only this time using a flyswatter, as suggested in the original 1984 film. Much of the magic is lost in this translation. Jackie Chan beating up a few 14 year olds is not as impressive as a diminutive Pat Morita taking on bigger, athletic young men in the prime of their lives. Dre comes off less sympathetic than Daniel. Not to mention the martial arts demonstrated in the tournament are less believable than the original.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Still, the new Karate Kid isn't without merit. Jackie Chan really shows off his acting chops in this film, being more dramatic than comedic this time around. Jaden Smith puts in a fine performance, clearly demonstrating his bright future in this industry. Some of the scenes involving China's landscape is truly breathtaking. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">With both films in the ring, it is obvious that originality will win out. If the 2010 version had more courage to forgo the title and nod to "The Karate Kid", it would have performed much better. Sadly, it's knocked out by round 3.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><u>Winner:</u> The Karate Kid (1984) </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTk6L2KPRU1C33Agv8WXwgsq3cWDpni_XDYh4HYrvnzNRZAhjC9g81ZQT4DwyPSatt6W6p54rRy2RgX2YaKLQRBz-BNzOm6c7mnIiN3wZOwEnnkbdlPJHxdF_jimVKscwZ9fzBLgGfIU/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTk6L2KPRU1C33Agv8WXwgsq3cWDpni_XDYh4HYrvnzNRZAhjC9g81ZQT4DwyPSatt6W6p54rRy2RgX2YaKLQRBz-BNzOm6c7mnIiN3wZOwEnnkbdlPJHxdF_jimVKscwZ9fzBLgGfIU/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-744306699656909752011-09-06T11:25:00.003-04:002011-09-09T16:52:10.068-04:00300 VS Sin City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5I4cTvsMIqM3heb1KNgXoiSFooaO6EYojQq-enqfgm5z8j38Tlz7UH2Zfho9mmcAYJuB8L0IEr1YVIDj2dZwoOkQ4KJ5ICE4ohHUDAa57pTWkCidJjIbzLI59X15S0CbU6Q4pHnYfWU/s1600/300VSSin+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5I4cTvsMIqM3heb1KNgXoiSFooaO6EYojQq-enqfgm5z8j38Tlz7UH2Zfho9mmcAYJuB8L0IEr1YVIDj2dZwoOkQ4KJ5ICE4ohHUDAa57pTWkCidJjIbzLI59X15S0CbU6Q4pHnYfWU/s400/300VSSin+City.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> 300 <u>Title:</u> Sin City</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 60% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 78%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 7.8 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 8.3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Gerard Butler, Dominic West <u>Starring:</u> Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Zack Snyder <u>Director:</u> Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $210 million <u>Box Office:</u> $74.1 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> n/a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2006 <u>Year:</u> 2005</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Frank Miller's popular graphic novels turned films take each other on in a gritty, no-holds-barred competition in this installment of the Showdown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Sin City as a stylized film based off of Frank Millers graphic novel. It is an anthology, covering three distinct stories loosely tied together. It's told in a narrative form, with a distinct crime noir style. Mickey Rourke's career returns from the dead as he gives a tour de force performance as Marve, the lead character of the second chapter. Bruce Willis plays Hartigan, an aging detective trying to protect a little girl from a child molester/murderer. Clive Owen plays a boyfriend out to punish his girlfriends abusive x-boyfriend in the third story in this anthology. Each story has its own director, Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino, and each craft their stories to perfection. Sin City also boasts a huge cast of stars including Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Britney Murphy, Powers Booth, Binicio Del Toro, Rosario Dawson, Michael Clark Duncan, Rutger Hauer, and Elijah Woods. With crystal clear photography and shot in black & white, the film truly leaps from the pages of the novel that inspired it. In fact, to read the graphic novel, it would seem that you're witnessing the movies storyboard, and that isn't far off. The film was shot with the graphic novel as an inspiration. So much so that each shot filmed in the movie follows the book panel by panel, page by page, establishing each shot as presented in the book. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">300 is another film inspired by the works of Frank Miller. Erroneously criticized as not being "entirely historically accurate", the film never intended to tell the historical story, but rather tell the graphic novel which told a romanticized account of the historical event. Far less star power than Sin City, 300's strength lies in the films narrative. A noble King, Leonidas (Gerard Butler) is restricted by a corrupt bureaucracy, and takes 300 Spartan warriors to confront a Persian army numbered over a million. By the end of the film, women leave the theater short of breath from the ample amount of beef on screen. Men leave the theater filled with high levels of testosterone. I personally left this film naked, wearing only a coat made of bacon. Despite its Macho Madness, it isn't without direction. These are men possessed of duty, courage, and a sense of morality. They will not submit to the Persian army. Better to die on their feet than live on their knees. This pitches a cause for an integrity sorely missed in today's politically correct culture where we try and embrace our enemies. If this film was released September 12th, 2011, I personally believe the entire middle east would be a nuclear wasteland today. It is really that inspiring. Like Sin City, this film adapts the graphic novel in such a way that principle photography is shot as though the novel were the storyboard. The armies of the Persians, man and beast, are given an exaggerated look, reflecting how these stories were told in oral tradition, rather than accuracy. Elephants were mammoth, and the Persians at times more beastly.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both films clearly illustrate the diversity of the "Comic Book" genre. Not all are about superheroes, or are they kid friendly. Both films feature breathtaking scenery, which is in stark contrast to the high levels of violence. The fact that they were overlooked by the Academy is the true tragedy, but they did ground the genre, allowing future films to be taken more seriously. Sin City's wealth of stars and top notch directors clearly outclass 300 as a unique and stylized noir. 300's unrelenting theme is inspirational throughout the whole fight. It doesn't go down till the last man falls, where Sin City has the option to "tag out", deferring to the next chapter in its anthology. By round 14, 300 is on wobbly legs as the ref counts to 10 on Sin City. The long sustained narrative beats the three well told, but short stories.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-89835882049075658022011-09-02T08:07:00.001-04:002011-09-09T06:17:03.807-04:00Spider-Man 2 VS Superman 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsBuwla8k3pZY50H9Bsa8G1Z5Q5uz4nb2lTs-beXo_ezvxU5eCJH0Ye71xLAocx6jA_mwq7O7QJ9e9WHaOYO479wdTncvY1KN-WqVA5COLpRrLCVzzfoydu0aw9Mqhd_LiTgAlTQDpds/s1600/Spider2VSSuper2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsBuwla8k3pZY50H9Bsa8G1Z5Q5uz4nb2lTs-beXo_ezvxU5eCJH0Ye71xLAocx6jA_mwq7O7QJ9e9WHaOYO479wdTncvY1KN-WqVA5COLpRrLCVzzfoydu0aw9Mqhd_LiTgAlTQDpds/s400/Spider2VSSuper2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Spider-Man 2 <u>Title:</u> Superman 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 89% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 88%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 7.6 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 6.7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst <u>Starring:</u> Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Sam Raimi <u>Director:</u> Richard Lester</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $783.7 million <u>Box Office:</u> $108.1 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 2 nominations, 1 win <u>Academy:</u> n/a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2007 <u>Year:</u> 1980</div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> * * * The Rematch * * *</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The two superhero powerhouses step into the ring once again in </span></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Film VS Film Showdown's</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> first rematch. Better than the <i><u>Thrilla in Manila,</u></i> Call it the </span></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>"Top This in Metropolis."</u></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both films show no signs of wear and tear going into their second installment. Indeed it seems the cast and crew have lost no momentum or enthusiasm reprising their roles. Both films also delve deeper into principle characters and more complex themes.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Spider-Man 2 sees our hero swinging through the streets of New York. Spidey has been at it now for two years and is a far more seasoned crime fighter, yet even with his powers, he cannot get a pizza delivered in 29 minutes. To be fair, New York traffic is a formidable foe. Except for J.Jonah Jameson's relentless smear campaign, the general feeling is the citizens of New York love Spider-Man. Yet Peter Parker does not. His personal life spirals out of control. He's fired from his job, his grades are terrible, and the woman he loves is marrying another. Not to mention his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco) makes it perfectly clear he hasn't given up pursuing Spider-Man, blaming him for the death of his Father. While Harry is unaware at this time that Peter and Spidey are one in the same, there is a rift in their friendship as Harry assumes Peter knows Spider-Man from all the exclusive photo's that he gets. Yet. this is how Peter makes his living. If that isn't enough, his beloved Aunt May faces foreclosure on her home. All this escalates to a point where Peter Parker loses his super powers, along with his will to be Spider-Man, and is content to just be himself. It is unclear how he exactly comes to lose his powers, but it is inferred it's due to psychological reasons. Director Sam Raimi makes two critical choices here, deciding on long time arch nemesis Dr. Octopus as the villain, and casting Alfred Molina to play him. Raimi allows for Molina's dramatic sensibilities to fully flesh out the character. He comes off as both relatable and sympathetic. Unlike the arch-typical mad scientist, Otto Octavius is a grounded, likable fellow, and even a bit of a romantic. His wife, also his assistant creates an on screen connection with the audience in the very short time she has on screen. His motivation is altruistic, and shares his outlook with Peter Parker, being a science major, who's a great admirer of his. Unfortunately, an accident in the lab causes the death of his wife, as well as the inhibitor chip that protects him from the artificial intelligence of his mechanical arms. Doc Oc is a tragic villain, but a villain none the less. With this new threat to the city, Peter desperately tries to regain his powers, but it isn't until a threat to Mary Jane's life that he breaks free of the psychological barrier. What follows is perhaps the best superhero action sequences to date. Raimi took what worked in the first film and amped it up to 10. The camera shots were amazing, allowing for more exploring of the three-dimensional world Spider-Man lives in. Yet for all the new techniques in CGI involved, it doesn't get so out of proportion that the audience can't follow the action. The fight sequence on the train is pure movie gold. It displays the latest in CGI, yet offset by classic dramatic moments from two well seasoned actors. In the end, Spider-Man's identity is known to both Mary Jane and Harry Osborn. This sets up for a third film.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Superman 2 sees the original cast return, and Superman faces the greatest challenges both internally and externally. In the opening sequence, Superman flies to Paris after getting word from his editor-in-chief Mr. White, that terrorists have a hydrogen bomb in the Eiffel Tower. Lois Lane, naturally, is up to her neck in trouble as she's underneath the tower's elevator. Superman shows up to save the day by rescuing her, and flinging the elevator, bomb and all, into outer space. In the meantime, Lex Luthor escapes prison and heads north to discover the Fortress of Solitude. Clark Kent and Lois Lane are assigned to go undercover at Niagara Falls, posing as newlyweds. While taking in the sites, a young boy slips off the railing and into the rapids. Again, Superman show up in the nick of time to save the day. This arouses Lois' suspicions that Clark and Superman may be one in the same. Superman does his best to hide this fact, but ends up revealing his identity to her. The two fly off to the Fortress of Solitude, Luthor now long gone, where he fully discloses everything to her, his identity, heritage, and the Fortress itself. After a night of physically expressing their love for each other, Superman uses the crystals to have a conversation with his Mother. She is happy that he has found love, but warns him that to be with a mortal, he must become one, and be stripped of all superpowers, forever. She warns that there is no going back, and once done, it cannot be changed.. Lois catches this moment but says nothing. Superman enters the chamber, effectively abdicating his throne as Earth's protector for love and happiness. The Fortress of Solitude seems to self destruct moments afterwards. As Lois and Clark return home, unbeknownst to them, a terrible menace is conquering the Earth. Seems the hydrogen bomb that exploded in space, freed three Kryptonian criminals from their Phantom Zone prison. General Zod (Terrance Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas), and the mute brute Non (Jack O'Halloran), only seen briefly in the first films opening sequence, are now the main villains in the sequel. Since they are Kryptonian, they too have the abilities that Superman had. If that isn't bad enough, they form a loose alliance with Lex Luthor, who having spent time at the Fortress of Solitude, learns that Superman's Kryptonian identity is Jor-El's son. Jor-El, played by Marlon Brando in the first film, was the one who passed the sentence onto General Zod and crew, where Zod vowed revenge. Learning this from Luthor, Zod is obsessed at making good on his threat. When Lois and Superman return home, they're horrified at the turn of events. Zod has indeed conquered the world, and is calling out Superman from hiding. Luthor leads Zod to Lois, knowing that Superman won't allow her to be in danger. Superman returns to the now ruins of the Fortress of Solitude and repents, calling out to his Father for help. The single green crystal, responsible for the Fortresses creation, begins to glow again. As the three attempt to kidnap Lois from the Daily Planet, Superman returns, in full glory, and an epic battle ensues. This is the first time audiences get to see a super powered hero fight super powered villains. Terrance Stamp puts in an iconic performance as Zod. Cold, ruthless, and bent on world conquest, he embedded the line, "Come to me son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod" into the vernacular of comic book and sci-fi geeks for the next 30 years. Sarah gives Ursa a sexually menacing quality. Hackman, Reeve and Kidder put in equally fine performances on par with their first effort.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both film push their own envelopes. They improve on themes and explore the principle characters more. However, Superman 2 does show some minor flaws. It is unclear exactly how he got his powers back. Why was Ursa impervious to mortar fire, yet felt pain from a snake-bite? Once Superman is dead, how was Lex going to deal with the other three? These tiny cracks in an otherwise superbly crafted film keep it from being flawless. While Spider-Man 2 has far fewer cracks, those that it has are noticeably larger. Drowning a sun is not scientifically sound. A constant renewable source of fusion can't simply be extinguished. Even for its size, Its heat and gravitational pull should have vaporized half the river. The nature of his power loss is not fully fleshed out. Take for example, when he's trying to get his powers back, he leaps off of a building. The fall would have killed any normal person, but he limps away from it, suggesting that his abilities are still there. Yet his eyesight reverts back to needing glasses, suggesting his abilities are completely gone</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both Superman and Spider-Man put in another epic battle as Superman hits hard in the early goings. Spider-Man endures and hits back. Both go to the canvas several times, but neither can score the 10 count. As these two go at it in the later rounds, Superman's flaws begin to show, allowing Spider-Man a TKO in round 13.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0r4TLG35rA7Ptj_SL40wiqpaMrM4msaiMmTfVFatqEVtwutv0H_JkAEez8Rd_nR6Fo2EvL5VrpfoJITregNwkfMe_raJTTx3ZT8LWaSw7IpLRJOtBlO8lLgz8NQNwNAgUtbrNrF4ymLI/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0r4TLG35rA7Ptj_SL40wiqpaMrM4msaiMmTfVFatqEVtwutv0H_JkAEez8Rd_nR6Fo2EvL5VrpfoJITregNwkfMe_raJTTx3ZT8LWaSw7IpLRJOtBlO8lLgz8NQNwNAgUtbrNrF4ymLI/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">. <u>Winner:</u> Spider-Man</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-33466627549414618592011-09-01T00:24:00.002-04:002011-09-09T06:18:55.714-04:00Anvil: The Story Of Anvil VS This Is Spinal Tap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASxLSjFGB4XhCyhmKyCESvJP1nXy-yML1kya3UDEzy8D2nJdDSLb41dzwRoD6sxzPIln-5g6dD5AFZzvg1rKUGwgTT2TnCFXaNGL4ys3rGfzsoxONnBpejFIuLSARDGxLgaCO2qotYro/s1600/Anvil+vs+Spinal+Tap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASxLSjFGB4XhCyhmKyCESvJP1nXy-yML1kya3UDEzy8D2nJdDSLb41dzwRoD6sxzPIln-5g6dD5AFZzvg1rKUGwgTT2TnCFXaNGL4ys3rGfzsoxONnBpejFIuLSARDGxLgaCO2qotYro/s400/Anvil+vs+Spinal+Tap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Anvil: The Story of Anvil <u>Title:</u> This Is Spinal Tap</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 98% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 95%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 8.0 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 8.0</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Robb Reiner, Steve Kudlow <u>Starring:</u> Christopher Guest, Michael McKean</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Sacha Gervasi <u>Director:</u> Rob Reiner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $0.66 million <u>Box Office:</u> $4.9 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> n/a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2007 <u>Year:</u> 1984</div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">OK Heavy Metal fans, its time for two of rocks most lovable failures to go head to head. It's Rockumentary vs Mockumentary as we go metal on metal.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">As a documentary, Anvil is a bittersweet look at an almost forgotten Heavy Metal band that came close to success, but fell short of the brass ring. Director Sacha Gervasi documents the bands early career with highlight reels and interviews with Rock icons like Slash, Scott Ian and Lars Ulrich praising the bands early work. Then we see the band today, playing in clubs in front of 30-40 people. Anvil is about as far down on the totem pole as they come. Lead singer Steve "Lips" Kudlow is one of two original band members left. Deep in debt, and working menial jobs, he keeps the torch of his rock-n-roll fantasy lit by playing anywhere he can get booked. Drummer Robb Reiner seems less enthusiastic about carrying on, but comes off as an appendage to Steve, and has no real identity for himself. We follow the band around as they go on an Eastern European where they are stiffed on their pay, suffer setbacks, and follow other bands around a metal festival hoping someone would remember them. Finally, they grab for straws as they try for one last shot by making their 13th album. Stress and frustration take their toll on their relationship, but it seems in the end it was a success, as they play to a huge crowd in Japan that has rediscovered their music.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Sound familiar? It should. This was done 23 years ago with This Is Spinal Tap. Spinal Tap was an aging British Metal Band trying to go for one last shot of glory. With poor album sales and low attendance numbers, Spinal Tap cuts another album, "Smell The Glove" in hopes it puts them back on the map. Spinal Tap encounters just about everything that can go wrong on tour. They get lost backstage, several shows get cancelled, a miss-communication causes a monumental stage prop of Stonehenge to be crafted at only 18 inches tall. The relationship between Nigel (Christopher Guest) and David (Michael McKean) gets strained as Nigel quits the band. In the end, Spinal Tap does find success in Japan as there is a revival of their music there.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The difference is Spinal Tap doesn't exist. Or more to the point, a fictitious band concocted by three very talented actors/musicians/comedians, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean. The film was intended to be a comedy, but gained such a cult following that Spinal Tap has appeared in concerts, music festivals, Mtv, as well as coming out with albums and cd's. Anvil, on the other hand is a case of life imitating art. There story and Spinal Taps may be similar, but Anvil's is far more tragic as it is about real people, with real issues. By some strange twist of fate, it seems they also share another bond. Did you notice Spinal Tap is directed by Rob Reiner, and the drummer for Anvil is Robb Reiner? Cooky, isn't it?</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Despite Anvil's rags to better rags story, Spinal Tap has enjoyed more success and recognition over the years than Anvil ever could. In fact, Anvil's release of 13 sold 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week. Spinal Taps latest "Back From The Dead" 2009 sold 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Anvil: The Story Of Anvil is, as a film, a brilliant documentary, where Spinal Tap is a well crafted comedy. So both have true artistic merit. But at the end of the day, Spinal Tap will be remembered more for all they never did as opposed to all that Anvil could have been. Anvil puts up a dramatic fight, but goes down in round 5.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCal8s2TAtWEzkuYJ3Q6kNJgkIUVnrwU-G-BWnJ_AIpEV7ag0C0gXPBhvw9iD2CUQD7BhSnWgqjL1CkPTql4w3IJgcfRD0ASMOez6zNnyKjUpXryzS6R8wcZzibPn06LzEAp6hslD0hSo/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCal8s2TAtWEzkuYJ3Q6kNJgkIUVnrwU-G-BWnJ_AIpEV7ag0C0gXPBhvw9iD2CUQD7BhSnWgqjL1CkPTql4w3IJgcfRD0ASMOez6zNnyKjUpXryzS6R8wcZzibPn06LzEAp6hslD0hSo/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> This Is Spinal Tap</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-73015330345388117072011-08-30T13:39:00.002-04:002011-09-09T06:20:54.274-04:00G.I. Joe VS Transformers<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPENQ2DTSQhyphenhyphenwQucWkE6-VXMv3-2ZYhq-dqwDq3GdZUw4_cQoCdq6mbdHhCrowPEaxO7ig3179SCyH6Aldc2JjTVrk7X-hjiLwh656-evjbjEkpHA5BD7I0w5OoZi3nr_sYbKnXPwjoc/s1600/joe+vs+transformers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPENQ2DTSQhyphenhyphenwQucWkE6-VXMv3-2ZYhq-dqwDq3GdZUw4_cQoCdq6mbdHhCrowPEaxO7ig3179SCyH6Aldc2JjTVrk7X-hjiLwh656-evjbjEkpHA5BD7I0w5OoZi3nr_sYbKnXPwjoc/s400/joe+vs+transformers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> G.I. Joe <u>Title:</u> Transformers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 33% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 57%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 5.7 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 7.2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans <u>Starring:</u> Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Stephen Sommers <u>Director:</u> Michael Bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $150.0 million <u>Box Office:</u> $706.4 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> 3 Nominations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2009 <u>Year:</u> 2007</div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">80's Hasbro toys face off as they both get the big budget, silver screen treatment.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Stephen Sommers brings us G.I. Joe, a film that clearly shuffles principle characters, plot hooks, and established continuity to create a setting that is politically correct for today's audience. However, G.I. Joe has lost its relevance for over 12 years, kept marginally alive by a retro fan base and a comic series targeting a mature audience. The result is a confusing hodge-podge of characterization and story. Most of the Joe team have an updated look with a few exceptions. Fan favorite Snake-Eyes' costume is an exact replica of the action figure, giving him a bulky, awkward appearance that seems impractical as a uniform. Played by martial artist turned Hollywood action star Ray Park, it greatly limited his movement, and he seemed uncomfortable throughout the film. Breaker, the teams communication expert, seems at odds using advance gadgets, yet sports the bulky, oversized headset transmitter that hasn't been used since 1984. Destro is sans metallic helmet, and Cobra Commander, named, "the Doctor", has neither the hood or mirror mask, but something all together different. Character relationships are altered too. Sure, the Baroness and Destro still have their romance, but now, Baroness is the Doctor's sister, only she doesn't know it. She also was once dated Duke, who was army pals with Ripcord and the Doctor. Quite the coincidence. Cobra assassin Storm Shadow is misused as a sabatour, much more like the absent character Firefly. Ripcord, a secondary character in established continuity, is the number two guy in this film. Marlon Wayans plays Ripcord as the comedic sidekick to Channing's Duke. If anyone nailed a character, it was Sienna Miller as the Baroness. She was hot, cunning, and ruthless, everything the Baroness was in the 80's minus the Natasha-like accent. Still, G.I. Joe did have a few bright spots, including Destro's transformation, a chase scene through the streets of Paris, and Zartan assuming the identity of the President.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Michael Bay directs this Steven Spielberg produced film in which two factions of a robotic alien race come to Earth looking for the All Spark, an ancient device that brings life to mechanical objects. The Tansformers are robots who can assume an alternate mechanical form, such as a car, plane, radio, etc. The story centers on Sam Witwicky, played by Shia LeBeouf, who's dad is taking him to get his first car. That car just happens to be an alien named Bumblee, a member of the Autobots. They seek out Sam due to an ad he placed on ebay, trying to sell a pair of glasses his famous Great Grandfather, and explorer, once owned. Unbeknownst to all, the glasses have an etching on the lenses that locate the all spark. But the Autobots aren't the only ones on Earth looking for Sam. The Decepticons are here as well, and unlike the Autobots, the Decepticons have no regard for human life. The Decepticons are also hacking into the military data base looking for records on "the iceman", referring to a large robotic man discovered by Capt. Witwicky in the Arctic. This robot has been kept on ice, as well as the All Spark, by the U.S. government under the agency known as Sector 7. The iceman is non other than Megatron, leader of the Decepticons who discovered the All Spark on Earth over 100 years ago.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both films are directed by people known more for big explosions than artistic merit. However, Bays translation of the source material to film is handled far better. Bay also explores the characters more, giving the human characters just as much involvement as the Transformers themselves. G.I. Joe is handicapped from the beginning with its lack of focus and poor treatment of the source material. This match is very one-sided. Except for a few good shots, G.I. Joe is clearly outclassed. Joe throws in the towel at round 4.</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUebKz3PuvUA-MLJhFqN8KJCwgB6kuyHMtVnh9QLhFNSbZyEHUuTpqUm_5mclIdnNY4b7XIIMRHRcfbTiBP39VMgHg8itCjPKxyiOP99vSB2oQL5tIW8BTOVvcQHZagXiQI3oGCTWRBY/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUebKz3PuvUA-MLJhFqN8KJCwgB6kuyHMtVnh9QLhFNSbZyEHUuTpqUm_5mclIdnNY4b7XIIMRHRcfbTiBP39VMgHg8itCjPKxyiOP99vSB2oQL5tIW8BTOVvcQHZagXiQI3oGCTWRBY/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Transformers </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-75884496990056127862011-08-26T20:51:00.005-04:002011-09-09T07:33:26.659-04:00Alien vs Predator VS Freddy vs Jason<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMHV96Mtffu_WVIuNlmfOUMKpOlDGveZUB8jDBAqqnNRnQDpaQACpnnSL00aVez0bGYa-7U3botJqUsky5E_IMnckUyXExi1sNvUC79K7qMh1GWUQzrBP9sI-Uuh2WJBGilzlIqnCaN4/s1600/AvPvFvJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMHV96Mtffu_WVIuNlmfOUMKpOlDGveZUB8jDBAqqnNRnQDpaQACpnnSL00aVez0bGYa-7U3botJqUsky5E_IMnckUyXExi1sNvUC79K7qMh1GWUQzrBP9sI-Uuh2WJBGilzlIqnCaN4/s400/AvPvFvJ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Alien vs Predator <u>Title:</u> Freddy vs Jason</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 22% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 41 %</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 5.4 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 5.7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Alexa Woods, Lance Henriksen <u>Starring:</u> Robert Englund, Monica Keena</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Sam Firstenberg <u>Director:</u> Menahem Golan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $171.1 million <u>Box Office:</u> $113.0 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> n/a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2004 <u>Year:</u> 2003</div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Fanboys delight. Two franchise vs franchise films go at it tooth and nail guaranteed to leave a high body count.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In 1990, a disappointing follow up to Arnold Schwarzenegger's <i>Predator</i> saw the extra-terrestrial hunter looking for game in our urban jungle, Los Angeles. However, when Danny Glover boarded the ship and saw their trophy room, skulls collected from various worlds, sci-fi fans had their imaginations explode to life. The unmistakable skull of a xenomorph, the term used to describe the alien creatures in the <i>Alien</i> franchise, hung on the wall. For the next 14 years, Alien vs Predator came to life in comic books, toys and video games. That is, until 2004 when the sci-fi match up hit the big screen.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Sadly, it was panned by critics, and fans gave it only a luke-warm reception. Human beings were simply cannon fodder, with the heroine easy to spot from minute one. This stood in stark contrast to both <i>Alien</i> and <i>Predator</i> films, which took their time introducing characters, plot and story. Both films exhausted nearly an hour before their unearthly baddies began their thing. The life cycle of the aliens also seemed to be forced as an entire generation was spawned in what seemed only a few hours. The premise of the film was a discovered temple of unknown origin shows up in Antarctica, and Charles Wayland (Lance Henriksen) puts together an expedition. <i>Alien</i> fans will remember Lance Henriksen as Bishop, the android from the <i>Alien</i> sequel <i>Aliens</i>. Wayland, was the name of the corporation that sent Ripley and her crew to LB-422 in the original <i>Alien</i>. Thus, drawing the conclusion that this is how Wayland Enterprise knew about Xenomorphs, and that the Bishop model was based on the companies founder. So they investigate the temple accidentally setting off a device that hatches the alien eggs. It also sends a transmission to the Predators. The inference here is that long ago, the Predators used this location to hatch the aliens and kill them. A sort of controlled basic training for their young to hone their hunting skills. Getting to the meat and potatoes of this match up, the fight sequences do not disappoint. Both Predators and Aliens make full use of their skills and innovations to kill the other. The Aliens are definitely the bad guys, where the Predators become necessary evils. A loose alliance is formed between the last surviving human and Predator to destroy the Queen and exterminate the nest.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In 1993,<i> Friday the 13th, part IX: Jason Goes To Hell</i> is released to little fanfare as the series was fizzling out. Paramount sold the franchise rights to New Line Cinema, and wanting to try something new, conceptualized the idea that Jason is some demonic spirit, and when killed at the beginning of the film, it passes from victim to victim trying to reach his home, the Vorhees Manor. In the movies climax, Jason returns in full hockey masked glory before being defeated by our heroes. Eldridge lights and demonic hands drag Jason down into the dirt for all time (or until <i>Jason X</i>). But in one final scene before the credits role, we see Jason's mask half buried in the dirt, until a familiar arm clad in a red/green sweater and a metallic glove with knives on the fingers, reaches up and snags the mask, and a familiar laugh is heard.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This, of course, lit a fire of excitement in the hearts of horror fans, as there hasn't been an epic movie monster confrontation since Dracula met Frankenstein. Also panned by critics and average movie goers, Freddy vs Jason was well received by its target audience. This film was well crafted in how it blended both mythologies together, as well as building upon them. We get an insight into Jason's psyche as Freddy confronts him initially in Jason's subconscious. Robert Englund returns to play Freddy, and seems to truly relish in returning to his signature role. He seems more passionate in this installment since <i>Nightmare on Elm St. part 3</i>. Freddy still mixes his offbeat humor with terror, but is unmistakably more demonic and sinister than in past films. Jason has been played by several actors over the years, this time by Ken Kirzinger. Die hard fans of the Friday series were upset that Kane Hodder, arguably the best Jason, wasn't asked to reprise his role. This time around, Jason is far more brutal and savage in his killing m.o..</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The premise is that the parents have erased Freddy from the town's history. They never speak his name, and the last surviving teens are sent to a mental institute where they are given experimental drugs to suppress their dreams. Freddy needs to be remembered. Fear is what fuels his power. So, he "searches the bowels of hell" to find someone to help him. He disguises himself as Mrs. Vorhees, Jason's Mother. He tricks him into once again resurrecting and to march from Crystal Lake to Springfield and punish the children. The townspeople interpret the slayings as a sign Freddy has returned. He hasn't, but the fear of Freddy grows and he slowly regains his power. Soon, Freddy is back haunting dreams, until he loses potential victims to Jason. Jason is a dog that will not go back to his leash, and now Freddy must confront Jason or lose his bid over their souls. Both Freddy and Jason are at their most villainous, but Jason does elicit some sympathy. Like <i>Dracula meets Frankenstein</i>, Freddy is clearly the evil mastermind, and Jason is the mindless thug that turns on its master.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Their epic battle wages across the dreamworld and the real world. Both characters are very primal, as illustrated in their origin stories. Freddy first dying by fire, Jason by drowning in water. In classic slasher fare, there is plenty of blood and enough bare breasts to satisfy the requirements. In the end, Jason and Freddy battle to a no score draw, with Jason returning to the lake, and Freddy into the dreamworld.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Clearly AVP has had a longer build up, bigger budget, and enough AVP material to draw on. Yet it failed to satisfy audiences. Freddy vs Jason was clearly enjoyed by cult followers of either franchise, and simply told the better story. This fight was over before it began. AVP is TKO'ed in the 2nd round.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ7RNfP81UG7ZQwkV920G0gn19Ohx5HucL7r8ngmOvPTkgUBZIKiPhTk1Y114ImnF6eNHRTX4gmYjporYNmaYhccYgz5i-oaewCyUxEVHMuIj2DC8ZpMDiPen1qLCt491EpqAxYOtzco/s1600/boxer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ7RNfP81UG7ZQwkV920G0gn19Ohx5HucL7r8ngmOvPTkgUBZIKiPhTk1Y114ImnF6eNHRTX4gmYjporYNmaYhccYgz5i-oaewCyUxEVHMuIj2DC8ZpMDiPen1qLCt491EpqAxYOtzco/s1600/boxer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Freddy vs Jason</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-16438080773623760752011-08-25T17:37:00.002-04:002011-08-26T19:23:03.673-04:00American Ninja VS Enter The Ninja<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JHxRgfE5FwCdJP1Bl75jqb8v5k-oR_1XW3xcEwefb4jAYM7CKFuosQ-9RWgu59Z5_GfDTAHZ69nL0SFNI5xUuR33ah-azS3rRfDj3vtp_idwqEgkiQwu7lLjYYYk1OvsJniwqgHFEYI/s1600/American+vs+Enter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JHxRgfE5FwCdJP1Bl75jqb8v5k-oR_1XW3xcEwefb4jAYM7CKFuosQ-9RWgu59Z5_GfDTAHZ69nL0SFNI5xUuR33ah-azS3rRfDj3vtp_idwqEgkiQwu7lLjYYYk1OvsJniwqgHFEYI/s400/American+vs+Enter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> American Ninja <u>Title:</u> Enter The Ninja</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 0% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> No Score %</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 4.8 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 4.5</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Michael Dudikoff, Steve James <u>Starring:</u> Sho Kosugi, Frank Nero</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Sam Firstenberg <u>Director:</u> Menahem Golan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $10.5 million <u>Box Office:</u> Unknown</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> n/a <u>Academy:</u> n/a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1985 <u>Year:</u> 1981</div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Two 80's ninja films clash as these two forgotten favorites of the ninja craze battle for cinematic mediocrity. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">While making a few appearances in previous films such as James Bond's You Only Live Twice, it wasn't until Enter The Ninja hit theaters that ninja's became part of the pop culture consciousness of the 80's. Starring Frank Nero, he plays Cole, a Vietnam Vet who has spent time in Japan learning the ancient art of Ninjitsu, the martial arts of espionage and assassination. After graduating, much to the chagrin of Hasegawa (Sho Kosugi), a junior ninja master, and descendant from a long line of Koga ninjas. He doesn't believe in teaching the art to westerners. With the Master's blessing, Cole sets off to the Philippines to meet an old war buddy. What he finds is a friend consumed by alcohol, and a ruthless land grabber trying to seize his farm. Using his art to defend the farm, its workers, his friend and his wife, Cole earns the wrath of the wealthy land grabber, one Charles Venarius (Christopher George). He decides to fight fire with fire, and hires a ninja of his own. That ninja, you guessed it, is Hasegawa. Bad acting, a low budget, and sloppy directing keeps this film off the Oscar radar, but Sho Kosugi, who is the real deal turned actor, is an instant sensation. His skill and knowledge of Ninjitsu fanned the flames that made ninjas so "cool." This movie spawned two commercially successful sequels, both starring Sho Kosugi, this time as the hero.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">American Ninja was perhaps the most all image, no substance approach to ninjas. Michael Dudikoff plays Joe Armstrong, an Army private transferred to a base in the Philippines, and working in the motor pool. Joe has amnesia, and knows little of his past. Yet in a Bourne Identity concept (before Bourne Identity came out) he retains amazing martial arts skills and can improvise weapons naturally. On the island is a corrupt smuggler, who uses rebels to hijack various military convoys. The rebels are reinforced with an army of ninjas. During one raid, they abduct the General's Daughter and Joe uses all his instincts to save her from the ninjas and return her to her father. However, Joe is branded a criminal. With the rest of the convoy dead, he is labeled a coward, deserter, a collaborator, or just incompetent. He must earn the trust and respect of the platoon, as well as deal with the ninjas sent to assassinate him, plus learn of his heritage. Full of ninja gadgets and colorful outfits, this film suffers from bad acting and a limited, but slightly better budget than Enter The Ninja. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both films offer plenty of ninja on ninja action. Enter The Ninja is a bit slower in pace while American Ninja has a decent supporting cast and better editing. Still, there's no denying Enter The Ninja has what the other doesn't, the real deal in actor/martial artist, Sho Kosugi. American Ninja goes down in round 2.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Enter The Ninja</span></span></span></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-67054115036285655312011-08-23T22:36:00.003-04:002011-08-25T15:24:49.636-04:00Spider-Man VS Superman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M5dDQaVTBfsa51PsBsSn_T4p8Bj7mIytzUZlBaw8Mxc4FSwrAq47VM1Nw9dg3zPRWMLRuVgN_YJXE2oqMP_Oo1G-jKnQ_ZJv21QR6eL06WVssz99YSzlD69Ki1qX4twfZz4OarWiBM4/s1600/SpidervsSuper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M5dDQaVTBfsa51PsBsSn_T4p8Bj7mIytzUZlBaw8Mxc4FSwrAq47VM1Nw9dg3zPRWMLRuVgN_YJXE2oqMP_Oo1G-jKnQ_ZJv21QR6eL06WVssz99YSzlD69Ki1qX4twfZz4OarWiBM4/s400/SpidervsSuper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">TALE OF THE TAPE</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Spider-Man <u>Title:</u> Superman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 89% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 94%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 7.4 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 7.3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Tobey Mcguire, Willem Dafoe <u>Starring:</u> Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Sam Raimi <u>Director:</u> Richard Donner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $403.7 million <u>Box Office:</u> $134.2 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 2 nominations <u>Academy:</u> 3 nominations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 2002 <u>Year:</u> 1978</div><br />
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Two superhero icons go head to head. One representing Warner Bros. and DC Comics. The other Sony Pictures and Marvel comics. Both are flagship characters in their respected companies, and both have been part of our culture for over 50 years. This should be an epic match-up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Spider-Man and Superman have more in common than you'd think, both as characters, and as movies. Both films are origin stories. Both heroes are raised by fosters, Clark with his adopted parents and Peter with his Aunt and Uncle. Both discover the burden of their power. Both get a job with a newspaper company. Both companies have the word "Daily" in their title. Both fall in love with a girl they cannot be with. Both have costumes that are predominately red and blue. Both have the word "Man" in their superhero names. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Superman is the more light-hearted of the two films. Christopher Reeve, then an unknown actor, captured the essence of the character perfectly. Giving both Superman and Clark Kent noticeable and distinctive personalities, he seamlessly transitions from one aspect of the character to the other. Superman is bold yet gentle, and the very definition of noble. Clark is timid and unassuming. He is the proverbial nice guy who finishes last. Gene Hackman plays a more comical villain, especially since he's a criminal mastermind who seems to surround himself with ditzy bimbo's and blundering idiots. Still, one cannot envision a better Lex Luthor if they tried. Gene and Christopher's chemistry is pure movie gold. Both are so absorbed into their characters they give the impression they've worked with each other for years. Margot Kidder plays Louis Lane, Superman's love interest. Louis comes across as a very believable person. Attractive, but not "Hollywood Hot", tough as nails, but vulnerable, Margot Kidder brings realism to an otherwise fantasy tale. In addition, there are supporting stars adding their talents to this film like Marlon Brando, Terrance Stamp, Jackie Cooper, Ned Beatty, and Glen Ford. Despite a tv show, a few serials, and many cartoons, Superman didn't really come to life until visual effects had evolved allowing us to believe a man can fly. Adding to the ambiance of this film is its musical score, conducted and written by John Williams. John's talents are as ingrained into this film as is his work in other films, such as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Jaws. While this film has set the bar for superhero films yet to come, it isn't a flawless film. Sometimes the film takes itself seriously, other times it cheats itself with campy humor. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Spider-Man has seen his share of cartoons and made for tv movies. But Marvel has held off on production until visual effects had evolved allowing us to believe a man can swing. Tobey Mcquire puts in a powerful performance as both the hapless runt of high school, Peter Parker, and everybody's favorite friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Parker/Spider-Man is a character consumed with guilt, doubt, and vulnerability, and Tobey effortlessly conveys this through his delivery of lines, expressions, and body language. He tries to do the right thing, but understanding what is right is hard when it seems that no matter his choice, someone is getting hurt. Willem Dafoe delivers an over-the-top performance as Norman Osborne/Green Goblin. Frustrated and paranoid, Norman uses the experimental formula on himself to secure the government contract that's worth millions to the company. The serum enhances his abilities, but also his mania. Like Tobey, Willem effortlessly displays a full range of emotions and can turn them on a dime. A supporting cast including a surprise hit comes from J.K. Simmons who plays newspaper editor J.Jonah Jameson. Simmons portrayal of Jameson is spot on in the hearts and minds of Spider-Man fans. No other actor or cartoon has illustrated this character more perfectly than Simmons. Spider-Man's flaws come in the costuming. For all of Tobey and Willem's acting ability, their masks handicap their acting style. Unable to emote feelings and thoughts through facial expressions, they have to rely on body language and voice over work to try and deliver.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Both Sam Raimi and Richard Donner are seasoned directors who craft their films well. Superman is an idealistic character, and Donner serves this character justice giving him a million reasons to love him and nothing to hate him for. Raimi adopts the nature of Spider-Man, and makes him relatable to movie audiences as the comics made him relatable to readers. He is noble, but flawed, tragic yet determined. Both films have set box office records for their times. Christopher is very charming, and Tobey is a very empathetic, drawing audiences into their respective roles. Both movies broke ground in the special effects department.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In the end however, there is an interesting comparison. Spider-Man comes out as the more nobler of the two. In order to protect the woman he loves, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), he must sacrifice his happiness and feelings for her by not pursuing his interest in her. Superman, on the other hand, saves his love interest by cheating death. He does what is forbidden, altering time. He saves the day, but clearly tries to have his cake and eat it too. Although some may argue that this shows that even Superman is flawed, and thus he is somewhat human too.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This is a fight that goes the distance. Spider-Man has an advantage in the early rounds scoring a few knock downs with its brilliant acting and state of the art effects. But Superman endures, and the Man of Steel clobbers Spidey several times with its charm, scope, and universal appeal, scoring Knock Downs of his own. Spider-Man is handicapped behind its masks, while Superman's Kryptonite comes into play with a few hokey mistakes. With both films still on their feet after round 15, we go to the judges. There decision...</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Superman</span></span></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-16401926718984142552011-08-21T22:56:00.001-04:002011-08-25T15:23:55.616-04:00The Godfather Part 2 VS Scarface<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidevm71AaZoefnrDeiAMXm2FsAbRCtH49mLIoIXjL9jx1twfMA621MPUm25fBOWhDLA3fU6FMgTAJEF9VDrabaJ0Cxa_JXzGaqkw2QyXuR6sok1QXwa416XulTdRhaW1KLpetL51p-8mE/s1600/GF2vsScar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidevm71AaZoefnrDeiAMXm2FsAbRCtH49mLIoIXjL9jx1twfMA621MPUm25fBOWhDLA3fU6FMgTAJEF9VDrabaJ0Cxa_JXzGaqkw2QyXuR6sok1QXwa416XulTdRhaW1KLpetL51p-8mE/s400/GF2vsScar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br />
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</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>TALE OF THE TAPE</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> The Godfather II <u>Title:</u> Scarface</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 98% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 88%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 9.0 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 8.2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Al Pacino, Robert De Nero <u>Starring:</u> Al Pacino, Michelle Pheiffer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Francis Ford Coppola <u>Director:</u> Brian De Palma</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $47.5 million <u>Box Office:</u> $44.6 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 11 nominations, 6 wins <u>Academy:</u> N/A</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1974 <u>Year:</u> 1983</div><br />
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Pacino vs Pacino, the Mafia vs the Cartel, this bout will only end in bloodshed.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Godfather 2 is both a sequel and prequel to the 1972 mega-hit, The Godfather. Several years after the events of the first film, we see the Corleone family entrenched in Nevada. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) has a lot on his plate as he must deal with internal vendettas, uncovering a rat within the organization, a federal injunction and congressional hearing, all while finalizing a huge international deal with Hyman Roth. We are also treated to the story of young Corleone patriarch Vito Corleone, wonderfully played by Robert De Niro. Here we see his exodus from Italy, his immigration to America, falling into petty crime, and finally his early rise to power. Both treatments are cut back and forth throughout the film seamlessly, and at over a 3 hour run time, both are given their full due. Godfather 2 sees the return of seasoned actors Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, Diane Keaton and John Cazale, reprising their roles from the first film. Both romantic and violent, Francis Ford Coppola direction loses no momentum, literally recapturing lightning in a bottle as the sequel delivers, some argue even beyond, the original.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">From Italian Godfather, Al Pacino equally is absorbed into the character of a Cuban immigrant who rises in power to drug kingpin. Brian De Palma directs this adaptation from screenwriter Oliver Stone. It centers on a Cuban named Tony Montana (Pacino) and his friends living in a refugee area in Miami, Florida seeking political asylum from Castro. A deal is made to assassinate a political figure earning them a green card. Not content to be a fry cook, Tony and his pal Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) get a job delivering cash to some Colombians in exchange for narcotics. The deal goes down horribly wrong, but Tony and Manny manage to kill the Colombians, retain the buy money, and deliver the cocaine to boss Frank Lopez. So impressed with Tony that Frank takes him under his wing, but Tony grows greedy and strikes a deal with a drug manufacturer that Frank can't handle. Tony kills frank and takes over the business. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">While both films are well paced and explore their characters, Godfather offers more drama than Scarface. But Scarface is a tour de force of on screen violence and brutality. Tony is a mean, treacherous and paranoid individual who is consumed by his own nature. Michael Corleone is a ruthless, but calculating personality who holds family over business, but ironically kills off family in the name of business. He is an interesting and complex character. Montana is a roller coaster of a character that isn't likable, but fun to go along with for the ride. Coppola is strong as a director where De Palma clearly makes a few rookie mistakes in editing and dramatization. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">One on One, Pacino is up against a formidable opponent, himself. Arguably his two most famous roles, this seems like an epic bout. However it isn't. Scarface seems to apply the heavy burden on Pacino's shoulders to carry the film. However Godfather 2 creates a synergy between Pacino, his co-stars, an award winning director and a proven screenplay that work in unison to propell the movie to greatness. Heavy hitting on both sides, and plenty of blood on the canvas, Scarface goes down in round 4.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>Winner:</u> Godfather 2</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-62627893533994761492011-08-20T07:44:00.000-04:002011-08-20T07:44:45.882-04:00The Outsiders VS Boyz N The Hood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtN6qmmZhtol8w__IuiFUv6pelkhIJRv3HjAqpJQpYZ1-katyDaJMxXcnRqXdICHT4W9UHKOlELJdCWjACmUKdxVUoLhG5MpLgd1fEfm0LzREALrHldTFc_M6v3d0Wx6lS9-bB8RtVBY/s1600/OutvsBoyz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtN6qmmZhtol8w__IuiFUv6pelkhIJRv3HjAqpJQpYZ1-katyDaJMxXcnRqXdICHT4W9UHKOlELJdCWjACmUKdxVUoLhG5MpLgd1fEfm0LzREALrHldTFc_M6v3d0Wx6lS9-bB8RtVBY/s400/OutvsBoyz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>TALE OF THE TAPE</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> The Outsiders <u>Title:</u> Boyz N The Hood</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 64% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 96%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 7.0 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 7.8</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio <u>Starring:</u> Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Francis Ford Coppola <u>Director:</u> John Singleton</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $25.7 million <u>Box Office:</u> $57.5 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> N/A <u>Academy:</u> 2 nominations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1983 <u>Year:</u> 1991</div><br />
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Poor young hoodlums growing up, facing life, death, broken homes, sibling rivalry, murder, revenge, hope and despair in their respective environments are the subjects of these two films. One gritty, one picturesque, yet both emotional.<br />
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The Outsiders has a powerful cast who would later dominate the 80's, including Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez and Rob Lowe. Directed by Award winning Francis Ford Coppola, the outsiders is an adaptation from S.E. Hinton's novel of the same name. Francis conveys their struggles and the violence that surrounds them while keeping well within its PG boarders. he puts emphasis on the characters and their emotional developments. Even the violence has a sense of honor, as rival gangs settle their differences in bare knuckled rumbles rather than gunfights. There is gun-play however, and the lack of gunfights throughout the film give more emotional weight to scenes involving them.The Outsiders does finish with a sense of hope.<br />
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Boyz N The Hood takes advantage of their R rating, but doesn't push the envelope. With a strong cast of its own, including Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Lawrence Fishburn and Angela Bassett. Boyz N The Hood tells the real, gritty, and dangerous story of growing up in Compton. The story centers on three neighborhood friends, their outlooks and potential while the weight of peer pressure, their homes, and their environment take their toll on them. Guns are used quite frequently, giving them less emotional impact, but illustrating the violence the characters face daily. Where the Outsiders begins with a pick-up and play beginning, Boyz explores their early childhood before fast forwarding to their later high school years. Boyz N The Hood ends with more of a disparaging feeling than the Outsiders.<br />
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Both films fail in their message of violence is bad, live in peace, as both films in their own way seem to romanticize hoodlum culture. Nor do they explain how to stop the violence when it's all around them. The only way seems to be to simply get out.<br />
<br />
Packed full of stars, emotional, dramatic and engrossing, both films look to be evenly matched. Toe to toe, The Outsiders look to outclass Boyz In The Hood early on. But The Outsiders sense of non-violent violence proves to land all too soft on Boyz N The Hood's battle-hardened hide, causing them to go down in round 6.<br />
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<u>Winner:</u> Boys N The Hood<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-64735305535002716852011-08-20T07:41:00.000-04:002011-08-20T07:41:49.326-04:00American Pie VS Porky's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyxog8N54g435ZlchSakKGqpanv-M970kRuW715pB7i0llozbf3qqdNDeBKp4KizoPdYhaPICc374F-g9YuCkzgYTKgfrjPeTELz6OZRz-fLfdJeVfV1Ao6MOSpfktijLh77h9J-aLGA/s1600/AP+vs+Porkys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyxog8N54g435ZlchSakKGqpanv-M970kRuW715pB7i0llozbf3qqdNDeBKp4KizoPdYhaPICc374F-g9YuCkzgYTKgfrjPeTELz6OZRz-fLfdJeVfV1Ao6MOSpfktijLh77h9J-aLGA/s400/AP+vs+Porkys.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>TALE OF THE TAPE</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> American Pie <u>Title:</u> Porky's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 59% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 32%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 6.9 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 5.9</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Jason Biggs, Chris Klein <u>Starring:</u> Dan Morahan, Mark Herrier</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Paul Weitz <u>Director:</u> Bob Clark</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $102.5 million <u>Box Office:</u> $105.4 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> N/A <u>Academy:</u> N/A</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1999 <u>Year:</u> 1982</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ahh, virginity, That pesky condition we all tried to shake off in high school is the subject of these films. While neither is an Oscar-worthy film, both speak to, and reflect, the lengths that older teenagers will go through to finally experience the holy of hollies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's no denying that Porky's is the father of the teenage-sex comedy, spawning two direct sequels and a host of imitators like <i>Hardbodies, Making the Grade, Revenge of the Nerds, Losin' It,</i> and more. Although released in 1982, the film takes place in the more "innocent" time period of Americana, the early 50's. This of course, shows that despite what our parents say, they were sex nuts too at our age. With a box office of over a $100 million for 1982, this film was a huge success. With critics however, not so much. But than again, Porky's will always be a guilty pleasure, one you may not admit to others in certain circles. Bob Clark directs this film giving the material some meat. Despite the premise and full frontal nudity (both male and female, unheard of at the time) of this picture, there is also some drama, including racism, domestic abuse, and friendship. Porky's would inspire two theatrical sequels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">American Pie was released in 1999, and brought with it a resurgence of the teenage-sex comedy. Again we see teenagers, all seniors, making a vow to lose their virginity by prom. Unlike Porky's, target audiences can relate as the film is set in a modern context. This allows for sexual situations unheard of in 1982, like the internet, web cams, etc. In their tireless quest to shake the big "V", they get into all sorts of situational comedies. More introspective than Porky's, these characters develop along the way as they learn about love, friendship, and about themselves. With a better cast of actors, including Eugene Levy, Jason Biggs, and Sean William Scott, this effort was far more realized. A popular film, and slightly more accepted by critics, American Pie launched two modest sequels and a slew of direct-to-dvd spin-offs.</div><br />
As of now (2011) American Pie is still accessible to current audiences some 12 years later, where as Porky's has that old school feel. While the subject matter and the comedy are universal in both films, American Pie will deceptively seem more edgy. Old timers will tell you that it was Porky's who pushed the envelope further than any other film of its type. With American Pie in it's prime and Porky's coming out of retirement, the early rounds go toward American Pie. But Porky's has endured for over 30 years, and still packs a punch even by today's standards. Pie becomes arm weary in the later rounds, while Porky's hits with several combos getting a TKO in round 8.<br />
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<u>Winner:</u> Porky's<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-36770280341203762962011-08-20T07:36:00.000-04:002011-08-20T07:39:04.196-04:00Armageddon VS Deep Impact<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm4RZ7JxUqcZCBDYWGMWBTELI1RaDtjYtTrGXsINsGEi-if_RWHvG-kNSNb7x6YUNyEsC12jNYnerZ_UfUnHa49SqfRxOZCyNm8LHCSb-3L0kMgsdm4qOXg_T__gyEjIK3D2cUDdiPZ0/s1600/Arm+vs+DI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm4RZ7JxUqcZCBDYWGMWBTELI1RaDtjYtTrGXsINsGEi-if_RWHvG-kNSNb7x6YUNyEsC12jNYnerZ_UfUnHa49SqfRxOZCyNm8LHCSb-3L0kMgsdm4qOXg_T__gyEjIK3D2cUDdiPZ0/s400/Arm+vs+DI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>TALE OF THE TAPE</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Armageddon <u>Title:</u> Deep Impact</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 40% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 47%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 6.2 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 6.0</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck <u>Starring:</u> Tea Leoni, Robert Duvall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Michael Bay <u>Director:</u> Mimi Leder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $201.5 million <u>Box Office:</u> $140.4 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 4 Nominations <u>Academy:</u> N/A</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1998 <u>Year:</u> 1998</div><br />
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It seems the real disaster in these disaster films lies with their reception. Given the cold shoulder from critics and only a luke-warm embrace by movie fans, it's surprising that these movies did so well at the box office, and are regularly showed on cable.<br />
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Both films came out in the same year, and deal with the idea of an asteroid collision with the Earth. Armageddon is a more fast-paced action thriller where Deep Impact offers a more dramatic perspective. Both films have a high running time, and are enjoyable to watch for their own reasons.<br />
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Michael Bay directs Armageddon, boasting an incredible roster including Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Will Patton, Steve Buscemi, William Fitchner, Owan Wilson, Michael Clark Duncan, and Kieth David. With big budget action and effects, Armageddon comes off like a summer popcorn film, but it does have a heart. The idea behind Armageddon seems to be a global disaster, and a crew of everyday-men are sent to stop it. Definitely a character driven film, you're sure to fall in love with one of them. Each character is given due screen time, character flaws, and unique qualities making them admirable, sympathetic, and down right fun to watch. Michael Bay's dramatic effects looks to transport audiences to a more innocent era where space exploration fascinated us. Where Armageddon fails in how it handles its premise. Not since Face/Off has audiences been required to give a herculean effort in suspending disbelief to enjoy the escapism fun offered. We're led to believe 18 days can embody the discovery of a collision asteroid, formulate a plan, recruit deep oil drillers, train them to be astronauts, prepare a launch and confront the asteroid.<br />
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Deep Impact has an impressive line up as well, including Tea Leoni, Robert Duvall, Elijah Woods, Morgan Freeman, Vanessa Redgrave, and James Cromwell. Unlike Armageddon's premise that there will be a collision in 18 days, Deep Impact has less urgency as the comet will arrive in about two years. The film is divided between characters over three sub plots. Elijah Woods is in high school and part of the Astronomy Club. He is credited with co-discovering the comet, and as a result, popularity and fame is thrust upon him. Tea Leoni is a junior reporter for MSNBC, and comes across a phony cover story from the white house. Unsure of what they are covering up, she uses this information to help advance her stagnant career with the help of the President, played by Morgan Freeman. She is also going through personal issues as her Father is marrying a woman close to her own age. Finally, there's Robert Duvall, who plays a retired astronaut, and the last person to walk on the moon, who will go up with a younger crew to intercept and hopefully destroy the comet. The movie spans the two years and shows how the characters, and indeed the rest of the world deals with the event as it draws closer.<br />
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Armageddon clearly takes advantage early and is unrelenting, while Deep Impact really doesn't hit back till about the fourth round. Both continue with Armageddon's street style fighting vs Deep Impact's well trained sweet science approach. However, Deep Impact goes down by round 7, as the less seasoned Armageddon clearly just wanted it more.<br />
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<u>Winner:</u> Armageddon<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-48362449512931372442011-08-20T07:32:00.001-04:002011-08-20T20:00:35.839-04:00Rush Hour VS Lethal Weapon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmetnNZaTuaKJ_8Q32uHIeBRPetbP-C7wjsGt4j6GCUbRa3EO0gpaMrhyphenhyphenbztP-UvufF748e_hMvRH9XtXVffWc-8RVrmPrMWu-xgIMZ9vosKYdnD3UDdvusTZt3m5_y3VKhbb_LNgoyE/s1600/RushvsLethal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmetnNZaTuaKJ_8Q32uHIeBRPetbP-C7wjsGt4j6GCUbRa3EO0gpaMrhyphenhyphenbztP-UvufF748e_hMvRH9XtXVffWc-8RVrmPrMWu-xgIMZ9vosKYdnD3UDdvusTZt3m5_y3VKhbb_LNgoyE/s400/RushvsLethal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>TALE OF THE TAPE</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Rush Hour <u>Title:</u> Lethal Weapon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 62% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 90%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 6.8 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 7.6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker <u>Starring:</u> Danny Glover, Mel Gibson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Brett Ratner <u>Director:</u> Richard Donner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $141.1 million <u>Box Office:</u> $65.2 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> N/A <u>Academy:</u> 1 nomination</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1998 <u>Year:</u> 1987</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It's hard not to love a buddy-cop picture, especially when they follow this simple recipe. Place two dynamically different lead characters, force them to work together, and get them in over their heads. Lethal Weapon and Rush Hour follow this recipe to the letter, and both are able to serve up completely different flavors. With Lethal Weapon we're given an action film with just the right amount of comedy. Rush Hour is a comedy with just the right amount of action.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Lethal Weapon's characters are more grounded than over-the-top. They push the envelope only slightly, resulting in more believable, realistic characters with admirable qualities and flaws. Rodger is the senior detective, more seasoned and by the book. He has a home, a wife, and several kids. Riggs is younger, much more chaotic, and has suicidal tendencies. No children, he still mourns the loss of his wife, and struggles for a reason to go on. With nothing to live for, he takes high risk chances while on the job. These two are complete opposites, like night and day, black and wh..well, you get it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Rush Hour's characters are completely over-the-top. Detective Carter is a loud, street smart detective from L.A.. Detective Lee works for the Chinese Law Enforcement. He's more the "straight man", but his physical actions blend martial arts with comedy. Circumstances force these two to work together. Chris Tucker's brand of verbal comedy meshes well with Jackie Chan's charm and physical comedy making these two a lovable duo.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span">Over the course of the films, both duo's form a friendship, and find respect for each other. Lethal Weapon's character's differences comes from social backgrounds, while Rush Hour's stem from cultural differences. One is meant to add drama, the other to add comedy. In the final analysis, Lethal Weapon saw much more personal growth and development in their characters. They also had issues like family to tend with, where Rush Hour stayed in the shallow end of their character's pools.</span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span">As time went on, future films in the Lethal Weapon series got better, as characters grew, developed, and matured. Rush Hour didn't explore their characters. Rather, they tried to recapture the magic generated by Tucker and Chan without any sense of character growth, resulting in gradually less interesting sequels.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Both movies looked to be in great shape at the start of the bell, but by round 3, Rush Hours legs were completely wobbly and could no longer support itself. A decisive Knock Out.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Winner:</u> Lethal Weapon</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-34705577759994387642011-08-20T07:24:00.000-04:002011-08-20T07:25:26.267-04:00Batman VS Batman Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbvadOPoC-hSthDMbJLfWhXazthD0evYBb3tBa24EpyIGocp-mb_40rf_vp-M2xuAl3pcGwyxvLpVwXcz5eR3pinZWOJ1XS9Agqy7yqpzgz8rOWWuXBVp-bkbw0gd39zfhmrBmYWVGWk/s1600/Batman+vs+Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbvadOPoC-hSthDMbJLfWhXazthD0evYBb3tBa24EpyIGocp-mb_40rf_vp-M2xuAl3pcGwyxvLpVwXcz5eR3pinZWOJ1XS9Agqy7yqpzgz8rOWWuXBVp-bkbw0gd39zfhmrBmYWVGWk/s400/Batman+vs+Batman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>TALE OF THE TAPE</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Batman <u>Title:</u> Batman Begins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 71% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 84%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 7.6 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 8.3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson <u>Starring:</u> Christian Bale, Gary Oldman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Tim Burton <u>Director:</u> Christopher Nolan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $251.1 million <u>Box Office:</u> $205.3 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 1 nomination, 1 win <u>Academy:</u> 1 nomination</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1989 <u>Year:</u> 2005</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This is an epic showdown worthy of its own graphic novel. Batman released in 1989, at a time when superhero films were not churned out 4-5 times a year. Tim Burton gave fans a dark, gothic Batman, which stood in stark contrast to the old cornball Adam West's Batman of the 60's. It also gave notice to Warner Bros. that Superman wasn't their only bankable title. Batman Begins, released in 2005, was to reboot the Batman franchise which fizzled out in the 90's. Nolan's Batman was even darker, making Burton's Batman seem as cornball as West's Batman by comparison. Nolan's treatment of Batman gave fans what they've always wanted; for a beloved superhero to be treated in a serious and dramatic manor.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> <br />
Batman Begins was embraced more by both critics and fans, but Batman snagged an Academy Award, and was more successful at the box office. Batman was also a cultural and merchandise juggernaut. Everywhere you went in 1989-1990 was Batman. T-shirts, toys, bumper stickers, posters adorned the landscape. There was literally a sense of Batman Fever. Batman Begins was similar, on a much smaller scale. Where Batman Begins shines is its impact on future superhero films. Producers and Directors took notice of Nolan's no nonsense approach, and future films such as V for Vendetta, The Watchmen, and others were green-lit.<br />
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Batman vs Batman Begins is also a showdown between Hollywood Stars vs A-List Actors. While Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger certainly have great chemistry on set and have drawing power, Batman Begins boasts a cast of Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine who offer a more subtle approach to the craft of acting, resulting in very real, believable characters.<br />
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This is a fight that goes the distance. After 15 rounds of <b>Zap, Boom, Pow,</b> we have to go to the scorecard on this one. The judges determine the winner to be the film that, including all other factors, is the one that made Batman fans of us all. So good was this fight, these two will have a rematch in the sequels.<br />
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<u>Winner:</u> Batman</span></div><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760944145542986668.post-59859920702272211822011-08-20T07:15:00.000-04:002011-08-20T07:15:20.746-04:00Casino VS Goodfellas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vBH6q5i5hBkK7Xn2ybqYHyt69tDeIaFylJnCu2QLog2QSClh3miWdrOsQSQuCYSaOrihO3Xo2Ld3vXNTxfMDHS4aF7nY51g-nN7oMZ8QN-64dj2_b_jJlKWWGFgPJNAICpLDt2MZkeg/s1600/VS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vBH6q5i5hBkK7Xn2ybqYHyt69tDeIaFylJnCu2QLog2QSClh3miWdrOsQSQuCYSaOrihO3Xo2Ld3vXNTxfMDHS4aF7nY51g-nN7oMZ8QN-64dj2_b_jJlKWWGFgPJNAICpLDt2MZkeg/s400/VS1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>TALE OF THE TAPE</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Title:</u> Casino <u>Title:</u> Goodfellas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 80% <u>Tomato Meter:</u> 97%</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u> IMDB Rating:</u> 8.2 <u>IMDB Rating:</u> 8.8</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Starring:</u> Robert Di Nero, Joe Pesci <u>Starring:</u> Robert Di Nero, Joe Pesci</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Director:</u> Martin Scorsese <u>Director:</u> Martin Scorsese</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Box Office:</u> $42.5 million <u>Box Office:</u> $46.8 million</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Academy:</u> 1 nomination <u>Academy:</u> 6 nominations, 1 win</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u>Year:</u> 1995 <u>Year:</u> 1990</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both films match up well. Both have the same stars giving top notch performances. Director Martin Scorsese crafts both films with loving care. Both films have a high replay value. Great lines and memorable scenes are a plenty. In fact, so similar are these films I believe Casino, being the newer of the two, suffered for it. Still a hit with fans and critics, Casino is a fully original, detailed and compelling film. Unfortunately it has that "seen it" stigma, with the Di Nero/Pesci/Scorsese team up coming together too soon after Goodfellas, making it seem like a less original effort. Goodfellas is based on the true story of gangster Henry Hill, while Casino is based on realistic events of the Las Vegas casino scene of the period. Mob movie fans have plenty to savor in either film. Casino tells the story of Sam Rothstien, a mob bookie who is handed the keys to the kingdom, given full reign of the casino/hotel, the Tangiers. It also educates the viewer with insight into the running of a casino, running it the mob's way that is. Goodfellas is a straight-up story revolved around Henry Hill, his rise within the mob, and ultimately betraying them. Both use characters narrating events and scenes throughout the film. This match-up certainly goes into the late rounds as both have far more to love than hate. Casino's star studded cast, including Sharon Stone, Alan King, and Don Rickles, along with Casino's compelling story and violent mob scenes land some severe blows. But Casino is handicapped with its stigma, and Goodfellas comes out swinging with its true story, insight into mob life, and a stellar cast of its own including Ray Liota's performance and an appearance made by Samuel L. Jackson. This causes Casino to go down late in the 11th round.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Winner:</u> Goodfellas.</div><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3