Fox calls leak a total 'Misrepresentation'

So I'm sure most people should be well aware by now the upcoming Fox summer blockbuster X-Men Origins: Wolverine, was prematurely (some might say maliciously) leaked online exactly 1 month prior to the scheduled release date in May. The heads over at Fox have been fuming over this threat to their investment... apparently not just on account of the leak itself, but the fact that the version leaked out was what they see as a 'misrepresentation' of the movie (as they put it). Essentially an old copy missing key music, numerous CGI scenes and even 10 minutes in length..

Not good... not good at all . You gotta imagine someone somewhere right at this very moment is perhaps (how should I put it politely)... crapping their pants? The FBI's gotten involved and it's pretty much a given the perpetrator/s will eventually be discovered. But the damage has already been done.

Generally I prefer to watch my summer blockbusters without the green screens and visible wires (tends to take you out of the movie don't you think?)... so I'm steering clear of that floating workprint version... but yeah... I think it's time for Fox to re-examine some of its security policies. You can read up more of Fox's reaction to the leak over at Entertainment Weekly.

Bruno comes out swinging...

And by swinging I mean sashaying left and right straight into the heart of middle America ... to the effect of perhaps eclipsing Sasha Baron Cohen's previous box office smash. (note: Video contains minor spoilers)

South by southwest recently screened a 20 minute sneak preview of the film about a week or so ago. From what I've gathered so far it's kinda looking like 2009's 'hit comedy of the year' may turn out having an Austrian flavor to it ... or at least that's the impression you might get from reading some of the positive early reviews trickling around the net.

If this classic Bruno clip is any indication of what we're in for, I think perhaps Sasha may once again be on the verge of striking comedic gold. After all it's not everyday a summer comedy manages to almost incite a real life riot while filming ...

Newcastle scenes

'You're only young once forever'

... or so goes the tagline for the coming of age Australian drama Newcastle . I got a chance to finally watch this film in its entirety after having had my interest piqued a week or so ago and I have to say I really liked the movie. Some of the sequences kind of felt 'surreal' at times... as in they felt somewhat like a dream sequence (one example is in the clip provided)... but overall it was pretty entertaining .

And of course I can't ignore the overabundance of eyecandy in this film. From supporting cast Aussie surfers to the main lead actor Lachlan Buchanan himself, it was pretty much a droolfest from start to finish (not that I was literally drooling, but you can see what I'm getting at )... Newcastle was written and directed by Australian director Dan Castle and you can check out the film in its entirety on DVD.

Prayers for Bobby Tribute

My latest music video *finally* gave me an excuse to use one of my favorite songs (Switchfoot's Meant to Live) and combine it with a montage of one of the most powerful movies I've seen in a long time... the film adaptation of the novel Prayers for Bobby. I figured considering the serious subject matter permeating throughout this movie this song made for quite an appropriate fit.

Prayers for Bobby of course is based on a true story, which makes it all the more tragic. I can totally identify with what Bobby Griffith went through though (in more ways than one)... so to use the cliche, it hits home. You can check out the previous Prayers for Bobby clips I posted here... and for the time being, Prayers for Bobby is available on in its entirety on Itunes.

There's science behind Watchmen?

The world will look up and shout "save us"... and I will look down and whisper "no... first you must understand the science behind how I came to be! "

Ok so yeah, maybe it isn't really possible at this point for physics to adaquetly explain a man's molecular structure separating and eventually recombining giving him unimaginable powers... But apparently that didn't stop Watchmen producers from at the very least, attempting to get the film grounded in somewhat scientific feasibility... enter University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios...

I guess at the end of the day you can't delve into science fiction, without first delving into a little actual 'science' ... I still have yet to see this movie, but I'm really excited about seeing it tomorrow. From what I've heard from friends so far, it's supposedly pretty good so my expectations have been raised... then again at three hours running, it really better be worth the price of admission ...

Sam Rockwell diving...

Here's a clip is from a movie that I posted about months and months ago (It's since been erased so I'm re-posting)... This clip originates from a 1997 movie titled Lawn Dogs and features actor Sam Rockwell in the role of a landscaper named Trent. This particular scene takes place at the very beginning of the movie as Trent takes a small pit-stop while passing over a tiny bridge.

From the looks of things, perhaps Trent should be looking into olympic diving? Anyhow Lawn Dogs is currently available on DVD, Netflix and Torrents. I mistakenly deleted this movie before getting a chance to watch it in its entirety (don't ask me what I was thinking)... but judging from its IMDb rating, perhaps I should find the time to rent it one weekend.

A Prayer for Bobby

There are decent dramas which make you think, and then there are great dramas which make you feel... I think this particular movie is more of the latter. I honestly can't recall the last time I've seen a movie like Prayers for Bobby. Perhaps one of the saddest stories I've really ever seen portrayed. Mostly on account of the fact that there was in fact a time when I could've totally related to Bobby...

Prayers for Bobby chronicles the tragically short life of Bobby Griffith as he struggles with his sexuality and his attempts to gain acceptance from his ultra-conservative mother. The movie stars Sigourney Weaver as Bobby's mother, and a young 22-year old actor named Ryan Kelly (who btw does an absolutely amazing job as Bobby).

Prayers for Bobby is based off a book (of the same title) written by author Leroy F. Aarons. The movie is currently available on Itunes... but unfortunately not on DVD yet. One comment I have to make about this movie though... I'm not exactly the biggest softy on emotions and I don't think I've really shed a tear since I was 13. This movie had my eyes watered up by the end . Very tragic...

Fantastic BBC mini-series: Cambridge Spies

Who would've ever thought Great Britain's most devious/traitorous spies could also turn out to be so compassionate... and ultimately incredibly endearing. This is of course a dramatized retelling of historical events so I suppose factual liberties are to be expected (for the sake of entertainment ).

And what great entertainment it is... Espionage, lies, love, tragedy (gorgeous lead actors)... Cambridge Spies seems to have it all... along with a great storyline and plot to tie it all together.

The four part BBC mini-series Cambridge Spies retells the story of Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, Donald Maclean, and Kim Philby. For names synonymous with double-agent espionage. The series follows their lives through their Cambridge pre-WWII days onward into the onset of the Cold War as the four leave a trail of untold harm to the security of their own nation, and the West as a whole.

These two clips are both taken from the first episode, and deal with the 'bright burning flame' (as they put it) of Patrick Kennedy's character Julian bell (not exactly a member of the Cambridge spies, but one of my favorites in the series).

If you're interested in wasting a couple hours with a fantastic drama I highly recommend checking this one out (it comes of course with a great IMDb rating if that accounts for anything). Cambridge Spies is currently available on Netflix and DVD.

My Childhood Returns

Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Cobra Commander, Sergeant Slaughter, Serpentor... Any of these names ring a bell? Well, if you happen to be an 80s baby like yours truly perhaps you might've just gotten a mental image of one of the most iconic animated series of the time...

Apparently what's old is new again. So it's been with countless Hollywood remakes recently, and so it'll soon be with one of my most fond childhood memories ... If you by any chance happened to have been watching the Superbowl yesterday (which I'm assuming you were of course ) odds are you got a first look at an awesome trailer for what's sure to be one of this year's Hollywood blockbusters... The new G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra (set of course to release this summer in August)...

Keep in mind, I did say this G.I. Joe was a 'fond childhood memory'... so let's not screw this up guys. Already I'm getting a little nervous seeing that "from the creators of the Mummy" tag flashing by ... That said, the trailer looks awesome so I have my fingers crossed.

Oh, and I should also mention, congrats to Pittsburgh... one of the greatest superbowl games I've ever witnessed for sure ...

The Line of Beauty

Luxury, wealth, beautiful men, and untimely tragedy... The line of Beauty is one of those rare gems that gets you by surprise and leaves you wanting for more.

Originally airing on the BBC as a three part mini-series back in 2006, The Line of Beauty presents a view of 80s British upper-class opulence during the Thatcher era... through the eyes, of course, of an outsider struggling with his sexuality and general lack of direction in life.

Drugs, sickness, betrayal, and ultimately the downfall of a prestigious political family all make for setting The Line of Beauty up as one of the more compelling films I've watched in a while. Gorgeous Actor Dan Stevens brilliantly plays the role of protagonist Nicholas Guest, as he spends a four-year time stint as a lodger in the home of fellow Oxford graduate/secret crush Toby Fedden (played by Oliver Coleman).

The Kat is definitely 'volatile' (in every sense of the word ) Actress Hayley Atwell almost single-handedly steals the show in this movie (almost)... That said, I highly recommend this film for anyone looking to spend a couple hours lost in a great drama. It ends somewhat on a downer, but I still overall enjoyed it. There are no full torrents available (as of yet), but you can rent the three part set on Netflix, or purchase the DVD online. Also the entire series is available in clips on youtube.

Sexy 2009 Star Trek? I can't wait...

Zachary Quinto from Heroes along with Smokin' Aces' Chris Pine and up-and-coming hottie Anton Yelchin... all in the same future 2009 sci-fi blockbuster? Is this a dream or has director J.J. Abrams been perusing through my fantasies and presented me with an early Christmas present ...

Sci-fi + Chris Pine in an underwear scene?... Ok, J.J. that's enough, you can come out of my head now ...

So anyway, all kidding aside, you may have noticed I am a big sci-fi fan, but I wouldn't exactly describe myself as a 'Trekkie' per say... as a matter of fact, I've never been one for the stale look at the future that the ultimately dated Star Trek universe has been pushing now for almost five decades now. If anything, I'm more of the Battlestar Galactica/Firefly in-your-face action type... But I'm willing to give Star Trek another chance after having caught this a few days ago...

Now I'm not going to raise my expectations too high, so as to avoid dissapointment should this movie fail to live up to the hype... but yeah, from the current looks of things, this movie is turning out to be a veritable geek's wet dream. And judging from how everything geeky is cool nowadays, expect this to be next summer's biggest hit...

And expect these two to be next summer's biggest stars ...

Electrifying

2009's already looking like it's set to electrify theaters all across the world...

I got a chance to catch the newest Watchmen trailer yesterday. This clip aired on on the Spike TV 2008 Scream Awards and all I can say is wow. The movie's currently still in the post-production phase, but if the outcome of 2006's '300' is anything to go by, I'd say we can expect 2 hours+ of gorgeous cinematic eyecandy from this film when it comes out next year... I'm really looking forward to it.

Oh, and for those of your already familiar with the graphic novel version of the Watchmen, make note that they're apparently trying to stay true to the comic with regards to Dr. Manhattan. Should be something to look forward to as well .

Donald Strachey Mysteries

If ever there were a candidate for a film series that could likely translate to a fantastic television show, the Donald Strachey Mystery movies on Here would most certainly have to be it. I finally got a chance last week to catch up on the second movie in the series (Shock to the System), and I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised...

The cast, the acting, the story-development and plot twists, all far and above what I expected... I almost want to compare it to Torchwood in that yeah, there's a little bit of guy/guy making out here and there, but that's not the primary focus of the storylines (which I find refreshing). Lol, and also to be honest, I don't think this trailer really does the movie justice... or even the series in general ... but I digress...

For those of you not entirely familiar with the Donald Strachey Mystery movies, it's basically a film series based off the long-running Richard Stevenson crime-thriller novels. Chad Allen plays the lead recurring role as one of Albany's most unlikely detectives, along with a talented/well-rounded cast of regulars and guest stars (including Morgan Fairchild in Shock the System).

I loved the second movie and the whole series in general, and highly recommend it. I've still yet to catch the fourth and latest one (Ice Blues), but I heard from a friend of a friend that it was great as well, so I'll take his word on it... overall if you're interested in getting into a great well-rounded series, check out the Strachey Mystery series on currently available on DVD, Here and Netflix.

Battle... uh, what?

Ok, Battle Strip?... gotta love how some of these movies throw in the most random excuses for uh, shirt/pant removal. Gratuitous yes, although I'll be the last one to complain ...

This clip orignates from a movie titled 'Kiss the Bride' (note: not to be confused with 2002's Kiss the Bride)... Matt (played by Philipp Karner) reminisces about a highschool encounter with his best friend Ryan (James O'Shea), as the two prepare for Ryan's approaching wedding date with his fiancé Alex (Tori Spelling).

Do they pass for Highschool kids? Had I not seen the movie I would've assumed college at the least... maybe grad school ... Decent movie nonetheless, and as usual, you can check it out on DVD, Netflix, and Torrents.