Tag Archives: Liam Neeson

Clash of the Titans 3D (Theaters)

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To be honest with everyone, I was quite against this remake since they day I found out it was in production. Yet is was the lure of the original that brought me into the theaters today. As a child, Desmond Davis’s Clash of the Titans was nothing short of magical for me. Regardless of how cheesy it may have been, it brought to life a universe of Greek mythology which previously could only be retold though books and oral tradition. Over the last couple decades, I will proudly admit to watching the original at least fifty times over, and prior to this screening, I did spend a lazy afternoon reliving the 1981 cult classic on my living room sofa in all its glory.

I think the biggest disappointment I had with Clash of the Titans was the huge alterations to the storyline. When you remake a movie such as this one, it needs to stay true to its roots. Remakes are created to enhance the experience and retell a story using updated technology and special effects. Not ruin it by changing the very fabric of the story itself. Okay, so the basic plot of the story remained the same, (Perseus defeating the Kraken) but the storytelling and development were so foreign to me. They changed so much in the screenplay, that with a few adjustments here and there, it could have possibly been made into another film altogether.

Putting Bias and nostalgia aside, this film was still quite horrible. Besides the updated CGI monsters and action sequences, this film lacked any kind of substance whatsoever. The storyline in the original was definitely not academy award winning, but at least it had one. This film seemed to jump from idea to idea with little to no explanation. There was hardly any background info on any of the characters or development for that matter and the dialogue between the actors was just grotesque. It was really hard for me to appreciate anything in this film.

Yet despite all its flaws, I believe there will be some out there who will come out of the theaters with some sort of satisfaction. After all, the sound was great, the monsters were pretty cool, and the film maintained a nice pace. Enough to keep the average moviegoer entertained.

My suggestion? If you enjoyed the original, I’d wait till this one is released on Blu-Ray and DVD. Everything that made the original a magical experience is gone. Save yourself the time and money and rent it. If you’ve never seen Clash of the Titans, pay for the 2D version of the film. The movie was shot with 2D in mind and during its post production some genius thought it was a good idea to make it 3D. The 3D glasses didn’t enhance the story or effects one bit.

Taken (Theaters)

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Ever since I saw the trailers for this movie, I knew I had to watch it.   There is just something about the intensity associated with the tension and desperation of trying to recover an abducted loved one that really appeals to me.  Add in the fact that Liam Neeson is the star and the movie was written by Luc Besson, who has written and directed some of the coolest action flicks of my generation,  (Fifth Element, The Transporter series, Kiss of the Dragon, The Messenger, etc.) and a kickass film is all but guaranteed.

Taken is the story of  retired government agent named Bryan (can’t quite remember a last name but does it really matter? He’s played by Neeson!) who, since retiring, has tried to rebuild his relationship with his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace).  While his daughter adores him, he is up against some stiff competition in the form of her bitter mother (Famke Jannsen) and her billionaire step dad (Xander Berkley) who gives her everything she wants. When Kim asks Bryan if she can travel to Europe with a friend, he reluctantly agrees, although his instincts caution him against the whole idea.  Upon arrival in Europe, Kim and her friend are abducted into the Armenian sex trade, but not before she is able to call Bryan on her cell phone and screaming for his help. Immediately after, one of the abductors picks up the phone and Bryan promises to find him and kill him if his daughter is not released. The rest of the movie follows Bryan and his quest to fulfill said promise.

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Entertainment Wrap #2

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New in theaters this week are three pretty high profile releases: Taken, New in Town, and The Uninvited.  Taken is a thriller starring the always great Liam Neeson as a former spy whose daughter is abducted.  He then goes on a bloody rampage trying to get her back. At least judging from what the previews have led me to believe, that is what I am hoping goes down.   The movie looks like it has the same type of raw intensity as another abduction film, 2004′s Man on Fire starring Denzel Washington.  So far the movie has received mixed reviews but I’m still looking forward to checking it out.

New in Town is a romantic comedy starring Renee Zellwegger. Judging from the previews, she moves to a small town from the city. She doesn’t fit in with the townspeople. She meets a guy she’s attracted to. Hilarity may or may not ensue (my money is on “not”). The two of them wind up together in the end. I’m not really a fan of cookie cutter romantic comedies in general but there are a few that manage to bring elements that are new or hilarious that I have enjoyed quite a bit. Sadly, this does not look like one of them. Hopefully I wind up being forced to watch this movie and it surprises me by being far better than expected. Until that time, it’s not worth risking the $8.50.

The Uninvited is a remake of a Korean horror film about two sisters who must cope with not only a new stepmother but supernatural occurrences that are suddenly plaguing the family. This remake has big shoes to fill as the original is the highest grossing Korean horror film to date. Luckily this means that unless Hollywood has seriously screwed up the plot, the story should be quite good as millions of Korean moviegoers can’t be wrong.  Supposedly the film remains faithful to the original with a few minor tweaks. While I am interested in seeing this movie, the hit or miss rate for Hollywood asian horror remakes has been low lately so I will wait for video or a dead box office week to check this one out.

VIDEOS

New DVDs coming out this week are: Lakeview Terrace, Pride and Glory, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Rock and Rollah.  For more info on Lakeview Terrace or Pride and Glory, check the site as I have posted reviews for both films.  Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a Woody Allen romantic comedy about two women vacationing in Spain who fall for the same man, a local artist. Things become even more complicated when the man’s ex wife reenters the picture.  The film has a great cast with Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson playing the vacationing young women. the ex-wife is played by the stunning Penelope Cruz. Finally, the role of the artist is played by Javier Bardem of “No Country for Old Men” fame. I for one am interested to see whether he uses his infamous coin flip as a method of getting women to go out with him. All jokes aside, the movie has gotten great reviews and I’m interested in checking it out.

Of all the DVD releases this week, perhaps the one with the most potential IMHO is the Guy Ritchie directed RockNRollah.  I am a huge fan of Guy Ritchie’s work. Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch are two of my favorite movies.  He seemed to fall off a bit with Swept Away and Revolver, but buzz about this film is that is a true return to form for Ritchie, which is great news. RockNRollah is a tale of a scam gone wrong, leaving millions up for grabs, attracting every criminal and scumbag in London’s underworld attempting to get the prize. Perhaps Ritchie’s greatest strength is that he brilliantly captures the voice and feel of the London underworld like no other.  As evident in Revolver, despite the movie’s confusing and convoluted plot, you couldn’t help but admire the style and presentation in which the story was told.  Another major plus for RockNRolla is that it stars Gerard Butler, Leonidas from 300, in the title role.  While Butler’s post 300 work has been mainly limited to chick flicks and kiddie movies, it will be nice to see him get back to true ass kicking form.  Look for a review of this film as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.

GAMING

There is nothing coming out for a few weeks for any platform right now.  Worth noting for Xbox360 owners is the long awaited release of the demo of Resident Evil 5.  Having spent a bit of time with the demo, I can honestly say the game looks amazing. The graphics showcase some of the most detailed zombie models ever. The gameplay is farily fast paced for a resident Evil title and the controls are quite smooth once you get used to them.  The game also features a co-op mode which is a blast to pick up and play with a friend. The demo is definitely worth checking out as it is free and if you don’t like it, simply delete it.  Not much else going on gaming wise, but I expect it to start ramping up in the next few weeks with some high profile releases on the horizon for February and March.

Mixed Martial Arts

This weekend is the much anticipated rematch between UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre and UFC Lightweight champ BJ “The Prodigy” Penn. You’d be hard pressed to find an MMA fan that isn’t looking forward to this rematch.  St. Pierre won a controversial split decision in their first meeting and now both fighters are looking to win decisively this time to clear up any previous doubts.  This has the potential to be one of, if not the, greatest MMA showdowns ever. For those of you who aren’t ordering this one from pay per view, I suggest you get to your nearest computer on fight night and find someone uploading a feed of the fight. You won’t be disappointed.

SPORTS

There is also another minor sporting event this weekend that may have slipped under everyone’s radar. A little game called the Superbowl. For fans of football AND MMA this is truly a great weekend. The Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet at Superbowl XLIII on Sunday to determine who will be this year’s championship team.  Steelers are the favorites to win based on their bone crushing defense and well balanced offense.  However don’t count out the Cards who are red hot behind the amazing play of receiver Larry Fitzgerald and veteran quarterback Kurt Warner. Personally, I think the Steelers will win but I would like for the Cardinals to take this. Like most people, my team was already eliminated in the playoffs (Ravens, R.I.P.) and I am more excited to see a close and exciting game than to see a particular team win.  Regardless, the Superbowl is always a good time no matter who is playing and I can’t wait for kickoff.  No matter what your plans are for the big game, have fun and stay safe out there.

There’s the week in entertainment so until next week- that’s a wrap!