REAL STEEL trailer review

Continuing this week's trailer trend of having big bloody robots punching each other, here's the trailer for Hugh Jackman's Real Steel.

So, it's Robot Wars, except instead of Craig Charles, we've got Anthony Mackie from Hurt Locker. I guess that makes Hugh Jackman that nerdy kid who's never going to get a girlfriend, constantly adding new features to his robot to stave off the desire to kill himself. Look! It can flip itself the right way up again! Cool!


The Transformers comparisons are obvious, but the robots here look a lot crappier, like they're straight from the junkyard. They look nicely customised (my money's on the dude with the yellow mohawk), but perhaps wisely haven't been given creepy metallic faces like the Transformers. They're still painfully obvious CGI creations, but that's to be expected.


I'm not quite sure how this is going to compare to the new Transformers film, but something tells me it'll look tame in comparison. It may be boiling down those films to the basic action scenes, but the constant robot on robot fighting was what really spoilt the second film for me. Well, that among other things.


Here's hoping Hugh Jackman's character has got a compelling story to back up all the fighting, and that Anthony Mackie does more than just shout a lot. Real Steel's not out until October next year, clearly wanting to avoid a literal (not literal) robot smackdown with the Transformers franchise, but it shows some promise within its limited setting.


Due October 2011
Anticipation Level

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON teaser trailer review

The teaser trailer for the third Transformers film has just been released on the web. If you thought the second film was terrible (like me), prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Well, who'd have thought it. After seemingly ruining the franchise with the second installment, this teaser trailer for the third outing actually looks quite promising. I quite like the idea of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin being super spies, sent to the Moon on a secret mission. Government conspiracies have always played a part in the Transformers films, but this appears to be the biggest one yet.


Of course, what this trailer doesn't show us is any of the present day shenanigans with Shia LaBeouf and Josh Duhamel, and that's where the bulk of the story is going to lie. Little is known about the plot for this one, only that Megan Fox won't be returning and Patrick Dempsey's been added to the cast. Not as a replacement for Fox, obviously. 


I don't know who that robot on the Moon was, but I'm sure he'll turn up at some point to stir things up, hopefully without any cringeworthy racial profiling. Michael Bay took some horrendous missteps on the second film, and I only hope that Steven Spielberg has been able to set him on the right path this time. As for it being in 3D, I'm slightly looking forward to it. The robot on robot fights will be as predictable as ever, but if they use some real outer space photography as backdrops, it'll at least look nice.


I still think this third film has an awful title, but then so did the second film and that turned out to be... oh, wait. It was terrible, wasn't it.


Mr Bay, this is your last chance.


Due July 2011
Anticipation Level

Obscurity Files #32 - Dreamscape

With Inception arriving on DVD and Blu-Ray this week, I thought I'd take a look at another film that travels into people's minds. Today it's the 1984 Dennis Quaid starring Dreamscape...

TRON: LEGACY - The Soundtrack

We may have to wait just over a week to see how Tron: Legacy has turned out (I got to see the 20 minutes of preview footage and was very impressed with the visuals), but we can experience the soundtrack in all its glory now.


The music for the film was created by Daft Punk, who are themselves life long fans of the original Tron and have sneaked a cameo in this sequel. This soundtrack is pretty awesome stuff that meshes well with the electronic world created by Jeff Bridges Kevin Flynn. Here's the video for 'Derezzed' as a taster. See if you can spot Daft Punk.

If you fancy catching yourself a bargain, you can currently download the whole album for just £3.99 from Amazon's MP3 store. It's a limited time offer that runs out this Sunday (12/12/10), so don't hang about on this one folks.

THE BEAVER trailer review

Tut, tut. Mel Gibson's been a naughty boy recently if the tabloids are to be believed. He's certainly in need of a serious hit if he wants to continue his acting career and deflect some attention away from his recent 'outburts'. Perhaps this bizarre story can offer him sort of cinematic redemption?

Firstly, let me make it clear that I do not in any way condone or endorse the things Mel Gibson's been caught saying to his wife/girlfriend/arresting officer. They may be impressively vulgar statements, but they're the words of an arrogant fool. However, I do think that star's private lives should have some separation from their big screen work, otherwise we're going to end up watching 'faux-reality docu-soap re-enactments of things that might not have really happened, but we'll say they did for dramatic effect' in the cinema soon.


Now, onto this film. As you'd imagine, this tale of a broken man going through a mid-life crisis and saying some stupid things has been mentioned a fair bit over the last year, as it sounded like a ridiculous concept for a film, showing Mel had gone a bit mad by signing on for it. The script for The Beaver was actually on 2008's black list (a list of the year's best unproduced screenplays), so obviously showed some promise. But then, that year's list also included the script for Kevin Smith's stinker Cop Out, so it's not always a guaranteed winner.


Tired of his regular life, Walter finds a raggedy old hand puppet in a dumpster, and decides to use it as the mouthpiece for his internal frustrations. The Beaver (complete with a peculiar Ray Winstone-y accent delivered by Mel), starts to take over all aspects of Walter's life, and may help him to reconnect with his estranged wife (played by the director, Jodie Foster). His angsty son (Anton Yelchin) is far from pleased with his dad's new friend, and just wants him out of his life.


Far from the screwball comedy some were expecting, the film The Beaver seems to have the most in common with is Mrs Doubtfire. Okay, so there's no cross dressing to 'Dude Looks Like a Lady', but both films show a desperate man using a mediator to reconnect with their own family. He gets back into the family home and is able to spend time with his kids again; all the things he should have been doing this whole time.


I for one hope this film does see the light of day (there have been rumours of a permanent delay), as there's more talent on show than just Mel. Anton Yelchin and Jodie Foster appear to have put some good performances in, and I'm keen to see Jennifer Lawrence in another role after impressing so much in this year's Winter's Bone.


The Beaver appears to show a laid back, melancholic and bittersweet look at life. Perhaps Mel needs to see this film himself.


Due February 2011
Anticipation Level

Hooray!! It's Nearly Mac and Me Monday!!!!!

Yippee! There's just one week to go until the 80's "classic" that is Mac and Me arrives on DVD in the UK for the first time! Rejoice!


What's that you say? You don't know what Mac and Me is? Well, you've been missing out. Essentially it's the same story as E.T., but told from the perspective of a small wheelchair bound boy, enhanced by the use of constant product placement by McDonald's and other well known brands!


It might sound like an blatant attempt to cash in on an existing property using the powers of SYNERGY, but there's more to it than that. I think. Here you go, I know someone who might be able to explain it better...

Actually, on second thoughts I don't want to watch the film that's promoted by the scary ass clown. Makes you wonder how the little boy ended up in the wheelchair. Maybe he bad mouthed the burgers. 


Just to be safe, I'm off fast food for life.

THE WALKING DEAD episode five

This week saw the penultimate episode of the zombie epic's first season. More after the jump...

Obscurity Files #31 - Repossessed

To commemorate the life of Leslie Nielsen who sadly died this week at the age of 84, we thought we'd look at one of his lesser remembered films. Today it's the turn of Repossessed.

FRED: The Movie

Now that it's December, it's time to start rounding up the contenders for worst film of the year. Well, I'm pretty sure I've found it, and it's not even been released in cinemas yet.

Happy Birthday Woody Allen

In honour of the great comedy director and actor's 75th birthday today, here's his opening monologue from Annie Hall, followed by the ultimate scene of eavesdropping wish fulfillment. Enjoy.

I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to do that.

Happy Birthday Woody.