Posts Tagged ‘Karl Urban’

REVIEW: Priest

Friday, May 13th, 2011

PriestPriest is the prequel to something that hasn’t been made yet and based on a totally different story from a graphic novel. The whole movie is just a set up and therefore pretty damn disappointing. Right as the movie was building up and getting somewhat exciting, it ended. It looked pretty but Priest was dull and missing a lot of everything. It had a couple cool action scenes but not enough to even be called an action movie. Most of the movie was riddled with really crappy dialogue trying explain what was going on as the main characters go on a journey to unravel a mystery that was pretty obvious from the beginning. I just used the word pretty 3 times already and that’s all Priest was.


In an apocalyptic setting, the Church has protected the people of the land behind walled cities while training a select few extraordinary people to become Priests. These Priests don’t give sermons every Sunday morning, they’re vampire hunters and become the new savior of humankind. Eventually, the Priests conquer the remaining vampires and the Church no longer needs their services so they are disbanded into society as regular folk. Rumors rumble about vampire attacks in the outskirts but the Monsignors don’t believe it. One of these attacks involve our main Priest’s brother, wife and daughter. Priest must disobey his vow to go protect his family and in doing so falls right into the hands of a friend turned enemy. There was potential there…right?

Priest

Why did I agree to make another one of these?


The backdrops were amazing and the visuals were top notch. I thought the 3D could have been better (this was post converted so not filmed with actual 3D equipment). The futuristic aspects of the film were really cool from the costumes to the vehicles and automated confession machines. The monsters and creatures looked really well done too and the way they split and splattered would make any horror fan rejoice. I really enjoyed all of the scenes that were set in the large dusty desert which looked like it went on for miles. But all those elements together couldn’t save this waste of film. The script was just garbage and the plot in general had little substance. I think the movie would’ve been better if it was muted or just a really long music video.
Priest

Maggie Q wears the pants in this Priesthood


I’m a huge fan of Paul Bettanny but I hate the whispery bad ass character type (a la Batman). While he is bad ass in the movie, I just wish they would’ve took Priest in a more interesting direction rather than the loner superhero angle. However, the characters that did shine through were Priestess played by the exceptional Maggie Q and Lucy Pace (Lily Collins aka The Screamer). The girls of the movie really blew away the men in terms of acting and presence. The guys were the stereotypical macho men trying to act too cool for school. Karl Urban played Black Hat who in one scene reminded me of character from Kung Fu Hustle. I would’ve loved if he played with that concept the entire film but he was bogged down by the terrible script. Cam Gigandet played Hicks, Lucy Pace’s boyfriend. He kind of becomes Priest’s apprentice throughout the journey but not in the way of Priesthood but rather just how to stay alive against vampires.
Priest

Paul Bettany as Priest saving Lily Collins as the damsel in this dress...it's a hot outfit


How would you categorize this movie? This is a horror film at heart with a lot of in your face scares that will make you jump out your seat. It’s another epic journey road trip that doesn’t take you anywhere except a possible sequel if people actually pay for this in theaters. It’s kind of sci-fi but only in the sense that it’s set in the future with innovative set designs, vehicles and weapons. Priest’s weapons are really cool…and sacrilegious to boot! But again, there’s not enough action to call this an action movie. I was really disappointed and honestly falling asleep in the beginning and middle but once the ending came together, I was awoken only to realize that this was it and I would have to wait for the possible sequel for the actual good movie. Remember, to go against the Church is to go against God. Go against this movie.

REVIEW: RED

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

REDWith a cast consisting of Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman, Karl Urban, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, and Richard Dreyfuss, you’d think this would be an amazing blockbuster. Instead, it’s just another graphic novel inspired bust. RED stands for Retired and Extremely Dangerous. Most of these actors are reaching their age limits for action films and you get a feeling like the Expendables where these old timers are doing things they shouldn’t be doing but they still got it on screen! I really wanted to like this film but it just fell short for me…it could’ve been so much more.


What happens to secret agents when their time is up? Well, just like everyone else, they retire. But can they really shake off that skill set they have? And what happens when their past comes back to haunt them? Well that’s what RED is all about. Inspired by a graphic novel of the same name, the film follows a group of highly skilled and dangerous retired agents who for some reason have been targeted for execution. The film begins with an attempt to kill Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) but it obviously fails or we wouldn’t have much a movie to watch. Instead of running away and hiding, he starts getting his old team together to get to the bottom of whatever is going on.

RED

Bruce Willis and Mary-Louise Parker


At the same time, he links up with a phone operator that he has a crush on and has been chatting to for months (Remember, he’s retired and extremely bored). This is also where our love subplot enters. A lot of the comedy is sourced from this fish out of water aspect of the film. The phone operator, played by Mary-Louise Parker, is mixed in with all these violent gun fights and chases. I love Mary-Louise Parker from Weeds, but I didn’t enjoy her in this film at all. Her character was just too awkward for me. She has a lot of girl-time moments with Helen Mirren which are misplaced in an action film but add to the quirkiness of this movie. Jonh Malkovich’s character, however, was so over the top and extremely awkward…I loved it. I would probably watch this movie again just to see his scenes. That and Mogran Freeman in his blue suit.
RED

Check out those threads!


While watching RED, I actually gave up on the plot…I just didn’t care. The movie shows you the juxtaposition of boring real life to exciting spy life but we’ve seen many movies do that before. You learn why our retired agents are being targeted, realized it’s not someone you’d expect, and watch them try to get revenge and fix the problems. Really? I don’t think I could think of a more straightforward action movie. You can expect the typical action scenes and story lines to unfold. There are no surprises or anything special that separates this movie from any other. I doubt you’ll remember it in a couple months.
RED

Big guns make Helen Mirren and John Malkovich smile


I compare this film very closely with The Losers which is another comic book action movie that fell short for me. While The Losers was funnier and more sexy than RED, RED had better action scenes and acting. However, they both were just enough to maybe warrant a rental. They would probably be more enjoyed if you stream them online or see them on cable. I just can’t understand how the movie could be “just ok” with such a stellar cast.



There are still plenty of advance screenings for RED and you can find them here.

Summit’s RED and Lionsgate’s The Expendables

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

RED – Comes out October 15th


REDLionsgate presented their newest adaptation of a graphic novel called RED. RED stands for Retired Extremely Dangerous and it looks hilarious. It’s a group of great actors who look like they’re just having a fun time on camera. It stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, and Richard Dreyfuss. Isn’t that an amazing cast? Bruce Willis commented that, “I think 75 movie stars are in RED” so look out for a bunch of cameos. Warren Ellis, who wrote the original graphic novel story, said that the studio bought the rights to do an adaptation, not a translation so he told them to go have fun with it. His role was to stay out of the way and collect his check. Cully Hamner, who did the graphic novel’s illustrations, said that the movie was made broader for the audiences which makes sense for a movie. However, when he visited the set, he saw a bunch of the RED books laying around so for him that showed high respect.


One of the scenes from the new trailer shows Bruce Willis walking out of a speeding car straight up and shooting…it looked awesome! Totally unbelievable, but awesome! The tone of this film is just a fun time…they want you to laugh from beginning to end. Bruce Willis kept saying that it was like recess…just going out and playing with your friends. From the footage I’ve seen so far though, it looks like John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman steal the show. John Malkovich’s mannerisms and Morgan Freeman’s blue suit look laugh out loud funny (that’s lol in internet lingo). Along with the comedy comes a lot of action, it’s more modern mixed martial arts so it’s faster and looks cooler. You can check out this feature trailer for RED which came out today!






The Expendables – Comes out August 13th (advance screening list)


The ExpendablesThe Expendables is Sylvester Stallone’s idea of going out with a bang. He admitted that he messed up with Rocky V so he made Rocky Balboa to end it right. That worked, so he thought he’d end off Rambo too…and that worked. So now he’s just greedy and going for the big finale with The Expendables…and when I say big, I mean big! This movie stars almost all of the top action heroes you can think of: Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Terry Crews, Mikey Rourke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Sylvester Stallone himself. As you can see, this is a man’s man movie full of manly men. Testosterone to the max…no estrogen allowed…at least for the panel at Comic-Con. Terry Crews said that it’s the “Manliest movie ever made.”


This is a classic action film the way it used to be done with very little special effects and cgi. These actors are really going at it with each other! During the film, they made a crude documentary for Sylvester Stallone to show how it was writing, directing, and acting in an action movie like this. You start seeing the constant visits that the stars took to the hospitals because of all the real stunts they were doing themselves. Many of the cast thanked Sly for inviting them to work on this project like Terry, Dolph, and Bruce. When Steve Austin heard about the movie while he was in Texas, he heard that all of the expendables were already cast. However, Steve and Sly had a meeting in LA and Stallone offered him the role of the bad guy in the film and Steve took it on the spot.


The Expendables was shot in Brazil and from the sounds of it, they got a lot with many things that they couldn’t do in the US. As Stallone put it, you can injure people and even kill them and the people of Brazil are like hey, take a monkey…lol. They had around 70 bodyguards for the cast and crew, 1/2 of them were heavy duty cops because it was pretty dangerous in Brazil. You would see carjackings and murders on the way to the set. But, they could also blow up huge amounts of real estate and the people there loved it!


Other actors were also thought about and talked to by Stallone like Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris but because of availability conflicts and other problems, they couldn’t be in it but I still think the cast that they assembled is quite amazing. Sly said that he loves directing more than acting and that he’s going to leave the action roles to the young bloods so this very well might be his finale…and it looks like it’s going to be a great one. Here’s a featurette for The Expendables which focuses on the stars:


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Comic Con 2010 Preview!

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

advancescreenings.com is heading to San Diego for the 2010 Comic-Con! The movie schedule this year looks intense so we should have tons of stories and previews for you in the next couple of weeks. You can find the full Comic-Con schedule here. Let us know if there’s something you want us to cover in particular on Facebook or comment below! Here’s a list of panels we plan on attending:




Thursday
11:15-12:45 Walt Disney Pictures: TRON: Legacy— Returning for an unprecedented third year to the fans and convention that started it all, Walt Disney Pictures is pleased to present a special insider look at the upcoming TRON: Legacy. Panelists include filmmakers and talent from the film: director Joe Kosinski, producers Sean Bailey and Steven Lisberger, and cast members Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, and Bruce Boxleitner. The discussion, moderated by Patton Oswalt, is set to include exclusive glimpses of the film, as well as a Q&A involving all panel participants, along with special surprise guests.


1:00-2:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: Battle: Los Angeles and Salt— Two great new films from Sony Pictures Entertainment are showcased in this Hall H presentation!

Battle: Los Angeles — When unknown forces suddenly and mercilessly attack the City of Angels out of nowhere, it’s up to a local Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and a new platoon of unseasoned soldiers to meet the threat. As the invasion hits the streets of LA, these Marines become our first and last line of defense in an intense battle against an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before. Appearing in person are Michelle Rodriguez, Aaron Eckhart, Neal Moritz, and director Jonathan Liebesman.


SaltSalt — Opening in theaters everywhere tomorrow, Columbia Pictures brings an exclusive and surprising look at Salt to Comic-Con today, featuring some very special guests. As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, but her efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?”



2:15-3:15 Summit Entertainment: RED— Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of exclusive footage from RED. They used to be the CIA’s top agents — but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren star in RED, an explosive action-comedy based on the cult DC Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis. Join him, director Robert Schwentke, and the film’s stars as they share footage from the film and debut the final trailer before it’s ever in theaters.


The Expendables4:45-5:45 Lionsgate: The Expendables— Prepare to have your ass kicked by The Expendables, the biggest action movie this summer! Lionsgate presents exclusive scenes and the inside scoop on every punch, kick, and bloodied lip from the most iconic cast of heroes and villains ever assembled, including the director, writer, and star Sylvester Stallone (Rambo), along with Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Steve Austin (The Condemned), Randy Couture (Scorpion King: Rise of the Warrior), and Terry Crews (Gamer).


Scott Pilgrim vs. the World6:00-7:00 Universal: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World— Genre-bending filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), graphic novel author Bryan Lee O’Malley, and the cast of Universal Pictures’ Scott Pilgrim vs. the World provide a sneak peek of summer 2010′s epic of epic epicness. Joining Wright will be our hero, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera of Superbad); Scott’s two current girlfriends, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead of The Thing) and Knives Chau (Ellen Wong of Unnatural History); his band, SEX BOB-OMB: Kim Pine (Alison Pill of Milk) and Stephen Stills (Mark Webber of Broken Flowers); SEX BOB-OMB super-fan Young Neil (Johnny Simmons of Jennifer’s Body); Scott’s awesome roommate, Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin of Igby Goes Down); and four of Ramona’s seven evil exes: Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha of Fair Game), Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh of Superman Returns), Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman of Funny People) and Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman of Parenthood); plus Scott’s younger sister, Stacey Pilgrim (Anna Kendrick of Up in the Air), and the obnoxious Julie Powers (Aubrey Plaza of Parks and Recreation). Q&A to follow.




Friday
11:15-11:45 Summit Entertainment: Drive Angry 3D— A vengeful father hunts down the people who brutally killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby in the newest film shot in 3D from the writer and director of My Bloody Valentine 3D, starring Nicolas Cage, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, and Amber Heard. Join the cast and filmmakers as they showcase never-before-seen footage of this high-octane, blood-spattered road trip through hell!


12:00-1:00 Skyline— Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, and Rogue Pictures present an exclusive look at the sci-fi thriller Skyline, directed and produced by the Brothers Strause (Alien vs. Predator: Requiem), whose company Hydraulx has provided visual effects for Avatar, Iron Man 2, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and 300. In Skyline, strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame, where an extraterrestrial force proceeds to swallow the entire human population off the face of the earth. Colin and Greg Strause unveil an exclusive Comic-Con trailer and scenes from Skyline, along with stars Donald Faison (Scrubs), Eric Balfour (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 24), David Zayas (The Expendables, Dexter), Scottie Thompson (Star Trek), and Brittany Daniel (Club Dread). HitFix’s Drew McWeeny moderates.


1:00-2:00 Super— Writer/director James Gunn (Slither), stars Rainn Wilson (The Office), Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), and Michael Rooker (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), and producers Ted Hope (Adventureland) and Miranda Bailey (The Squid and the Whale) reveal footage from their latest feature production Super, including the first peek at Rainn and Ellen Page’s costume design. Super is a hyper-real and shockingly funny look at the extremely violent antics of a down-on-his-luck man as he attempts to win his wife back from a glamorous drug dealer by teaming up with a psychopathic teen to become costumed crimefighters.


2:15-3:45 Miramax Films: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark— Producer/co-writer Guillermo del Toro and director Troy Nixey present a first look at their new film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a hair-raising, spine-chilling tale of horror about a little girl (Bailee Madison) who is sent to live with her father (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend (Katie Holmes) in the old mansion they are renovating, only to unwittingly unleash malevolent creatures bent on destroying all of them.


4:00-6:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: The Other Guys, The Green Hornet, and Priest— Two more sneak peeks at upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment!

The Other GuysThe Other Guys–NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes — they’re “the Other Guys.” But every cop has his day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff? Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, and co-writer/director Adam McKay will be appearing in person.


The Green Hornet–Director Michel Gondry, who makes movies with a special, personal signature, is taking on The Green Hornet — and he’s doing it in 3D. Comic-Con audiences, prepare yourselves. In The Green Hornet, Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of L.A.’s most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene — until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father’s more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. To get close to the criminals, they come up with the perfect cover: they’ll pose as criminals themselves. Protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets. Confirmed to appear in person to unveil this early look at The Green Hornet in 3D are the Hornet himself, Seth Rogen, director Michel Gondry, writer Evan Goldberg, producer Neal Moritz, and actor Christoph Waltz.


Priest (3D) — A western-infused post-apocalyptic thriller, set in an alternate world — one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities. When his niece (Lily Collins) is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) who possesses otherworldly fighting skills. Stars Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Cam Gigandet, Stephen Moyer, and director Scott Stewart will be onstage to unveil the first 3D look at Priest.





Saturday
11:45-1:15 Warner Bros.: Green Lantern, Sucker Punch, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows— Warner Bros. showcases three eagerly awaited upcoming new films in this Hall H presentation!

Green Lantern– Get a first look at the upcoming sci-fi action adventure Green Lantern, directed by Martin Campbell. Green Lantern is an epic adventure that crosses galaxies to bring to life the legendary Silver Age superhero Hal Jordan, who is chosen by the ring itself to become the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps and take on the vast and powerful Parallax as it threatens to destroy the world. The film stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as Dr. Hector Hammond, and Mark Strong as Sinestro.


Sucker Punch — Fasten your seatbelt for a sneak peek at the dark action fantasy Sucker Punch, from director Zack Snyder, who previewed his films 300 and Watchmen at past Comic-Cons. A group of young girls escape the dark reality of their lives through their vivid imagination, which takes them to various fantasy locations in different realms. The ensemble cast features Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung, and Jon Hamm.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Every saga has a final chapter. Kick off the year of Harry Potter with a first look at the coming screen adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with a program created just for Comic-Con fans. One way. One hero. One destiny. Don’t miss it!



1:30-2:30 Overture: Let Me In— The cast and filmmakers of Let Me In, a haunting and provocative thriller written and directed by filmmaker Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), give the Hall H audience a sneak peek at this highly anticipated film. Let Me In is an astonishing coming-of-age story involving a young girl (Kick Ass’s Chloe Moretz) and an alienated boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Road) unlike any you have seen. Based on the bestselling Swedish novel Lat den Ratte Komma (Let The Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist and the highly acclaimed film of the same name, Let Me In takes audiences straight to the troubled heart of adolescent longing and loneliness. Academy Award-nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) also stars in this exhilarating reboot of the beloved original.


4:00-4:45 Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Afterlife— In a world ravaged by a virus infection that turns its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap. The fourth installment of the hugely successful Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife is again based on the wildly popular video game series and this time will be shot in 3D using the same state-of-the-art cameras created for Avatar. Writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson, along with the film’s stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, and Wentworth Miller, will be on hand to show you some stunning 3D sequences and answer your questions.


4:45-5:45 Universal: Paul and Cowboys & Aliens— Universal presents two upcoming films in this exclusive Hall H presentation.

Paul — Scheduled to appear for Universal Pictures’ sci-fi comedy-adventure Paul are a who’s who of film comedy. Director Greg Mottola (Superbad) will be joined by cast members Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Kristen Wiig (Date Night), Bill Hader (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jeffrey Tambor (The Hangover), Joe Lo Truglio (Role Models), Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet), and Sigourney Weaver (Baby Mama) as they discuss the movie about two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage to Comic-Con ultimately takes them to America’s UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who takes them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Q&A session to follow.


Cowboys & Aliens — Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man series) discusses what’s happening behind the scenes of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks’ action-thriller Cowboys & Aliens, based on Platinum Studios’ graphic novel. Currently shooting in New Mexico, Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford and takes audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. Q&A session to follow.



6:00-7:00 Marvel Studios: Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger— Producer Kevin Feige and special guests give you an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.




As you can see, that’s a lot of panels! I’m sure there will be tons of exclusive news and announcements so make sure to visit advancescreenings.com throughout next weekend and you can also follow me on twitter for real-time updates!