Monday, August 31, 2009
RAMBO 5 greenlit!?! Rambo vs. human traffickers and drug lords?!?
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. It's a helluva morning for action film fans. Two Jerry Bruckheimer movies announced, including (potentially) Bad Boys 3 and now we get news of Sylvester Stallone's fifth Rambo flick getting greenlighted by NuImage/Millenium courtesy of Dave McNary at Variety.
Not only is that great news out there, but we also get a rundown of the plot, which has Rambo rescuing a young girl snatched at the US/Mexico border. That rescue operation pits him against drug lords and human traffickers.
My only question... Does Rambo bring his sniper buddy along? I gotta say, I loved RAMBO and I especially loved Rambo being the close-combat behemoth and his sniper buddy blowing off heads and arms with his giant ass sniper rifle long distance.
The more Stallone, the more Rambo, the more I'm a merrier me. You?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Sworded Past
Posted Aug 26th 2009 12:20PM by TMZ Staff
In case anyone happens to forget the man he used to be, Arnold Schwarzenegger has put his massive, legendary Conan sword on display in the Governor's Office.
The Governator -- and star of the 1982 film -- posted a pic of the weapon on his Twitter page yesterday, with the message "I do still have the Conan sword ... and I keep it in my office."
The Governator -- and star of the 1982 film -- posted a pic of the weapon on his Twitter page yesterday, with the message "I do still have the Conan sword ... and I keep it in my office."
A&E Orders Steven Seagal Reality Show
Steven Seagal: Lawman' follows Steven Seagal's career as... a lawman.
We know he's been under siege, on deadly ground and marked for death, but who knew that Steven Seagal is also a commissioned officer of the law?
A&E announced Monday (Nov. 24) that it has gone into production on "Steven Seagal: Lawman," a self-explanatory reality series that looks beyond the action hero's movie star status.
"I've been working as an officer in Jefferson Parish for two decades under most people's radar," Seagal says in a statement. "I've decided to work with A&E on this series now because I believe it's important to show the nation all the positive work being accomplished here in Louisiana -- to see the passion and commitment that comes from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in this post-Katrina environment."
As the man says, Seagal has been working for almost 20 years as a fully-commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana. It also turns out that Seagal's movies have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide, which seems equally unlikely.
Apparently, in addition to his 7th-degree black belt in aikido, Seagal is an expert marksman and has been going on patrols and training fellow officers in firearms and hand-to-hand combat.
"Steven is a hero both on and off camera and helps fight crime because he cares about the community," said Robert Sharenow, A&E's unscripted programming guru. "It's such an amazing revelation that this larger-than-life star has been doing real police work for nearly 20 years."
Sheriff Newell Normand adds, "Steven has a very close relationship with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office and I'm proud to have him as part of our team. I cannot tell you how honored I am to not only be affiliated with Steven, but with A&E and all their support in highlighting the efforts, the trials and the tribulations of the men and woman of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office."
"Seven Seagal: Lawman" joins an A&E unscripted stable that already includes "Intervention," "Dog the Bounty Hunter," "Paranormal State" and, occasionally, "The Coreys."
Monday, August 24, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wanderlei Silva Undergoes Surgery...What the Fuck?
Wanderlei Silva Undergoes Surgery to Become Freaky Space Alien, Can’t Fight Bisping at UFC 105
(Either Wanderlei had surgery or else he's getting a head start on his James Carville costume for this year's Zuffa Halloween party. Photo thanks to Fightlinker.)
It looks like the rumored Michael Bisping-Wanderlei Silva bout won’t be happening at UFC 105 in Manchester, England, and as usual when something bad happens, a plastic surgeon is to blame. Bisping wrote in a blog post earlier this week that Silva had undergone facial surgery and would be out for the rest of the year. Judging from the picture above that appears to be the case, and now at least we know what his manager was talking about when he said Silva would be taking some time off to heal his body and mind.
Not that we can’t understand why a guy like Silva would opt to do something about the several pounds worth of scar tissue in his face, but it does seem like unusual timing. Not only does this put him on the sidelines for a while, it also seems like money that’s bound to go to waste. Unless Silva is considering retiring soon or drastically changing his fighting style, he’s probably got more scar tissue coming his way in the near future.
But now that we know for sure it won’t be “The Axe Murderer” who takes on Bisping at UFC 105, we ask yet again, now what?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Randy Couture is Expendable
Randy Couture is Expendable
by Barrett Hooper
I’m way more excited for Sylvester Stallone’s new men-on-a-mission movie The Expendables, co-starring an ass-kicking rogues gallery of action stars – Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Eric Roberts, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Randy Couture – than I am Couture’s UFC 102 fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
I think Nogueira, 13 years younger than the 46-year-old Couture and with a lot more to prove coming off a knockout loss to Frank Mir at UFC 92, is going to send Couture back into retirement.
Not sure Stallone feels the same way. Here he is on the set of The Expendables with Couture as well as chatting with Nogueira. When does the movie come out again?
ALSO....
ack in June, Moviehole published a rumor that Bruce Willis had joined the already packed action star-heavy cast of Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables.
At the time it was unknown if Willis would find the time to shoot the scene, as he was knee deep in the Kevin Smith buddy cop comedy A Couple of Dicks. Sly’s publicist responded to the speculation, noting that some people “have it right” but that she “can’t release the name until the deal is absolutely finalized. I’m not trying to tease you, but you won’t be disappointed..at least most of you won’t.” And now we finally have a confirmation, from the man himself.
Willis tells MTV that he hasn’t filmed the scene yet, and that he’s still “waiting for a call from Sly about when we’re going to try and make that happen.” And while he has yet to read any script pages, Willis was able to confirm that the cameo appearance involves sharing the screen with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stallone.
Bruce will play Mr Church, the man who hires the Expendables, a highly-trained team of deadly combat mercenaries, to go on a mission to South America to overthrow and execute a villainous dictator. Interestingly enough, the role of Church was originally offered to Schwarzenegger, who declined in favor of a smaller cameo part due to political concerns. Schwarzenegger will now play a retired Lieutenant General of the Expendables.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
'Avatar Friday'
'Avatar Friday': fans will be shown preview of James Cameron's 3-D film
Fans will get a sneak preview to 3-D film Avatar on Friday, the latest offering from Oscar-winning director James Cameron that has been billed as the movie which could change film-making forever.
Published: 9:23AM BST 18 Aug 2009
Visitors wear 3D glasses as they watch a preview of the upcoming movie Avatar during the 40th annual Comic Con Convention in San Diego Photo: REUTERS
So sought after were free tickets to the 15 minute clip, the Avatar website crashed for several hours under the volume of traffic on Monday.
The studio behind the film, 20th Century Fox, will unveil the trailer in hundreds of 3-D IMAX cinemas around the world on August 21 – dubbed "Avatar Friday". It will also be shown online.
James Cameron originally wrote Avatar as a way to challenge the special-effects firm Digital Domain, where he served as chief executive.
But it took technology 14 years to catch up with his vision of a faraway planet populated by otherwordly plants and animals where humans embody avatars just to brave the landscape.
"In the same way that I wrote 'Terminator' just to get a directing gig, I decided to write a story that was full of creatures and characters that would push the art of CG for that company," he said.
But after artists there said it couldn't be done, Cameron shelved the idea.
Ten years later, when he realised technology had caught up with his cinematic visions, he dusted off the concept and helped develop technology to make it work.
At the end of July he presented world-premiere footage of his progress to more than 6,000 fans at Comic Con in San Diego, the largest comic book convention in the world.
Avatar introduces viewers to the planet of Pandora, where the lithe, blue, indigenous Navi people inhabit a lush and wondrous place dense with green forests, fluorescent pink flowers, bizarre hammerhead dinosaurs and flying dragons.
Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, a soldier on duty there, and Zoe Saldana plays Neytiri, the Navi princess who befriends him.
Saldana learned the fictional Navi language and studied with a dialect coach to perfect a Navi accent on her English.
"I'm from Queens," the actress said.
Sigourney Weaver, who plays botanist Grace Augustine, studied the fictional flora and fauna of Pandora to prepare for her role.
"Every single plant and creature has come out of this crazy person's head," she said, pointing to Cameron.
A longtime sci-fi fan who likens himself to the average Comic Con conventioneer, Cameron said Avatar is more than just a fantastic tale 14 years in the making.
"The technology could be made (for it) to happen, but also (it) was just wanting to do something, I don't want to say important," he told fans.
"But something that has this spoonful of sugar of all the action and the adventure and all that, which thrills me anyway as a fan, but also wanting to do something that has a conscience, that maybe in the enjoying of it makes you think a little bit about the way you interact with nature and your fellow man."
It may seem like a simple story about "nasty" humans fighting with "those beautifully, spiritually evolved Navi," he said. "But it's really not, because we make science fiction as human beings for human consumption."
"It means the Navi represent something that is our higher selves, or our aspirational selves, what we would like to think we are or maybe what we realise we're losing," he said. "And the humans in the film, even though there are some good ones salted in, represent what we know to be the parts of ourselves that are trashing our world and maybe condemning ourselves to a grim future."
The film is set to open on December 18
Another Badass Added To THE EXPENDABLES??
For a while now we've been hearing scuttlebutt (what the hell kind of word is that, anyway?) that Bruce Willis would make some kind of appearance in Stallone's THE EXPENDABLES. The film's cast already includes Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Eric Roberts, and Terry Crews.
Although rumors of his involvement were persistent, the below quote represents the first officialish comment on the matter...coming from Bruce himself.
The “Die Hard” star confirmed to MTV News that he is leaving time open on his schedule to shoot a cameo for “The Expendables,” the ultra-violent, star-studded action flick written/directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. Sly is currently putting the finishing touches on the movie, which also stars Jason Statham, Jet Li and Mickey Rourke as mercenaries overthrowing a South American dictator. Willis said that the he will soon join Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger to shoot a very special scene for the flick.
“Not yet, I haven’t united with them,” said Willis. “I’m waiting for a call from Sly about when we’re going to try and make that happen.”
...Willis told MTV's Movie Blog HERE.
With this cast, and the promise of breathtaking carnage, is Sly making the ultimate man movie here? I get that feeling...
For a while now we've been hearing scuttlebutt (what the hell kind of word is that, anyway?) that Bruce Willis would make some kind of appearance in Stallone's THE EXPENDABLES. The film's cast already includes Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Eric Roberts, and Terry Crews.
Although rumors of his involvement were persistent, the below quote represents the first officialish comment on the matter...coming from Bruce himself.
The “Die Hard” star confirmed to MTV News that he is leaving time open on his schedule to shoot a cameo for “The Expendables,” the ultra-violent, star-studded action flick written/directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. Sly is currently putting the finishing touches on the movie, which also stars Jason Statham, Jet Li and Mickey Rourke as mercenaries overthrowing a South American dictator. Willis said that the he will soon join Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger to shoot a very special scene for the flick.
“Not yet, I haven’t united with them,” said Willis. “I’m waiting for a call from Sly about when we’re going to try and make that happen.”
...Willis told MTV's Movie Blog HERE.
With this cast, and the promise of breathtaking carnage, is Sly making the ultimate man movie here? I get that feeling...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
GIJOE REVIEW
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Review
So is it "Yo, Joe!" or "Oh, no! "?
by Christopher Monfette
August 3, 2009 - If any film this year has suffered the one-two punch of bad buzz and worse marketing, it's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Those who've spent even a small amount of time reading online sites and movie mags have likely caught wind of problems in the editing room, problems with the script, problems with the director, Stephen Sommers, and, most importantly, problems with the movie itself – rumors which were hardly dispelled by the film's downright unimpressive trailers. That, coupled with the hesitancy of the die-hard Joe fans to support any adaptation – as well as the fact that today's kids simply weren't raised on the classic toys and cartoons – virtually paved the way for a film that appeared as if it'd make Transformers 2 look like Twelfth Night in comparison.
Count us surprised then that G.I. Joe doesn't disappoint. In fact, taken in the proper spirit, it delivers a relatively action-packed and – dare we say – fun bit of mindless entertainment in a fashion that's been missing from movie screens this summer. In these days of more serious-minded (and wildly successful) adaptations, it is unexpectedly refreshing for a film to be so wildly "popcorn" without falling into the realm of the unengaging and inane. Let's make no mistake here, however. This is a B-level action movie with relatively well-drawn characters, a few minor subplots and smartly staged, near-constant action. Shakespeare, it ain't. For better or worse, it feels very much like Sommers' The Mummy, chock-a-block with massive set pieces and broad, dramatic beats without ever taking itself too seriously.
When weapons manufacturer McCullen – soon to be known as Destro – tries to frame NATO forces for the theft of his own metal-eating nano-bot rockets, an even more elite Special Forces group enters the picture: G.I. Joe. Soon, a military caravan led by officers Duke and Ripcord is hijacked by the Baroness and her men, thwarted only by the sudden appearance of Scarlett, Snake-Eyes and Heavy Duty, blasting away in true Joe fashion. Eventually, the pair is allowed to tag along with the group on a mission to retrieve the missles before Destro, Baroness, Storm Shadow and the soon-to-be Cobras can use them against strategic, well-populated targets in an effort to… what else?… take over the world!
As Duke and Ripcord prove themselves to be true Joe material, past events for many of the character (particularly Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Duke and the Baroness) play a major factor in the emergence of a figure who may very well become the Cobra Commander of legend. And it is in these minor flashbacks and subtle relationships that actual characters being to take shape – with motivations and emotions that, while not constituting great drama, go far to invest the audience enough to follow along.
The action shifts from dense forests, to subterranean facilities, to the streets of France, to underwater bases, to high-altitude jet fights and a number of places in-between. The major sequences are both intense and sufficiently humorous, laden with eye-rolling, though faintly charming, one-liners and a speaker-shattering, non-stop barrage of explosions, chases, shoot-outs and sword fights. The action is well paced and the effects – much like the cinematography itself – blend the tangibly real and the colorfully cartoonish in a way that captures the spirit of G.I. Joe. There's no attempt to explain why or how these massive bases might feasibly have been constructed; no effort made to convince the audience that jamming electrodes into a dead person's skull shouldn't allow you to replay their last memories; and no real explanation as to why taking over the world is all that appealing to begin with.
It all just is…
You may have heard it stated that this is the perfect movie for eight year olds… or, at the very least, the eight year old that you once were. And while the former is true, the latter is somewhat misleading. G.I. Joe doesn't require that you awaken your inner-child and dismiss any sense of your adulthood to enjoy it. You just have to take it in the spirit in which it is intended. In fact, there is something rather admirable in Sommers' attempt to neither pander to his audience nor unnecessarily class-up the source material. The good guys are good guys; the bad guys are bad. The schemes are ridiculous and the characters are broad. But nothing here is ever too much of anything. This is an adult's interpretation of a childhood phenomenon, and if you're willing to give it a shot and not expect a work of cinematic art, one suspects that you'll find yourself entertained enough to give your best, "Yo, Joe!"
7 OUTTA 10
