The end of the year is upon us. And while we make the most of it in those last few hours of 2010, let’s reminisce on the movies with the most unforgettable New Year’s Eve scenes. Here are my picks: Read More
Posts tagged ‘2010’
2010 Summer Movie Preview Part 2: July/August
Picking up from last week, here are the other summer movies I’m excited to see. Read More
SXSW Film 2010 Preview
The SXSW Film Festival starts tomorrow in sunny Austin, Texas. And while I’ll be in Austin for SXSW Music next week, I will sadly not be making the film fest this year. I’ve been keeping up with the festival news, though. If I were going, here are some of the films I’d want to see. If you’re headed to the festival, try checking some of them out.
Barry Munday
This is the story of a womanizer who, umm, loses his ability to womanize, I guess is the polite way to say it. It sounds like a unique comedy, but I’ll be honest with you — what really interests me is that Billy Dee Williams is in the movie at some point.
Erasing David
A documentary in which filmmaker David Bond decides to drop off the grid and see how difficult it is to hide in the modern world, with all the personal information available to governments, private investigators, etc. Sounds like he encounters some real Big Brother-type stuff in the process.
Leaves of Grass
This is one of the films from the festival I’m most interested in seeing when it’s in wider release. Edward Norton plays twin brothers — one a classics professor at an Ivy League school, the other a small-time drug dealer in Oklahoma. Apparently, Richard Dreyfuss plays some sort of drug kingpin, which should be interesting.
*Big-Time News*: Ed Norton will be stopping by Blockbuster World Headquarters for a meet & greet nest week on his way to Austin, and we’ll be interviewing him for a post on the blog!
MacGruber
I really just want to see how they are turning this SNL sketch into a feature-length film.
Predators
I wrote about this in my 2010 Movies Preview, and now Robert Rodriguez is bringing some footage from the unfinished movie to SXSW. So I guess this is kind of a preview of a preview.
Red, White and Blue
I don’t know much about it, except that it sounds like it might not exactly be a feel-good film, and that it was shot and set in Austin.
Saturday Night
James Franco offers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making an episode of Saturday Night Live. I’ve been a big SNL fan forever, so this is pretty interesting to me.
Suck
I, too, am suffering from vampire burnout, but this is a comedy about a group of vampire musicians. Or something like that. Anyway, it features Alice Cooper, who you may remember from such other excellent movies as Wayne’s World.
World’s Largest
A documentary about a 14-state road trip to find out the stories behind some of America’s roadside attractions. I love goofy stuff like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, so this is right up my alley.
If you’re headed down to SXSW this weekend, have fun and be safe.
Let’s Break Our Resolutions Together
Well, we’re only two weeks into 2010, and I don’t want to sound like a whiner or anything, but keeping resolutions is haaaaarrrd. Unless you set the bar pretty low, like “I will continue to breathe this year” or “I will age one year this year,” you may already be hitting the wall on your 2010 resolutions. I know I am.
So what are we to do? Give in to the vices we resolved against? I say yes. But, so as not to totally ruin the year that has just begun, let’s do it through the magic of motion pictures! Join me, won’t you, as I detail some of my favorite vice-filled movies. By living vicariously through these sordid pits of vice, you can hopefully keep your clean livin’ going through the end of the year. Or at least until February.
The Hangover
Is your resolution to stop losing your best friend while engaging in a drunken spree of depravity? Or perhaps you’ve resolved to become a one-man wolf pack. Even if you have the more common resolution of partying and drinking less, The Hangover will let you join in the excitement of over-imbibing, gambling, committing misdemeanors AND felonies, and trashing a hotel room. All from the relative safety of your couch.
Smoke
Trying to give up smoking this year? This excellent indie film set inside a Brooklyn cigar shop can take you to flavor country without covering your lungs in unsightly black gunk.
Kicking and Screaming
If your resolution is to get started with your life and make something of yourself, then you might enjoy Kicking and Screaming, one of my favorite movies. It follows a group of recent college graduates as they (kind of) adjust to life in the real world. Revel in the entropy.
Julie & Julia
If you’ve chosen to stop overindulging in rich foods in the new year, Julie & Julia will allow you to enjoy the delicious cooking of everyone’s favorite TV chef without packing on the pounds or entering a shame spiral that ends in you eating raw cookie dough from the tube in your pajamas at 8pm on a Saturday.
Wedding Crashers
Determined to settle down this year? Enjoy the philandering exploits of Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn to alleviate the stress of wedding planning.
Most Anticipated 2010 Games
Last week I shared with you lovely people the list of movies I’m most looking forward to in the coming year. Well, because I’m an equal opportunity kind of dude, this week I’m looking at 2010 game releases. Here are the ones I’m most excited about.
Dark Void (PS3, Xbox 360)
Available 1/19
I remember seeing screenshots from this game many moons ago, and I’m glad it’s finally coming out. Why? Mainly because you get to fly around the Bermuda Triangle on a jetpack icing aliens. There’s also a “vertical cover system” that looks pretty cool.
Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360)
Available 1/26
I recently wrote about Mass Effect 2 in my 2009 Holiday Games post, so I’m just going to mail this one in with a little cut-and-paste action: “I think Mass Effect was one of the best games of the last few years. I played it through twice, once with Commander Mookie Shepard, and once with Commander Evil Mookie Shepard. I think it’s very cool that your decisions from the first game will be reflected in the sequel, including whether key characters are alive or dead. I like my sci-fi realistic like that.”
Bioshock 2 (PS3, Xbox 360)
Available 2/9
The game that managed to make creepy little girls even creepier is back. The first Bioshock was top-notch, and this one promises to be at least as good. This time, you play as a Big Daddy prototype who reawakens in Rapture 10 years after the original story. It’s an interesting twist that should make the sequel feel fresh but familiar at the same time.
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, Xbox 360)
Available 3/9
I grew up playing Final Fantasy games, but it’s been a while since I’ve played one. I’m going to start up again with XIII. The graphics look amazing, and the gameplay seems to be a good combination of old and new.
God of War III (PS3)
Available some time in March, supposedly
I am now the proud owner of a bouncing baby PS3, so I’ll finally be able to get into this series properly, rather than just playing it at someone’s house. I’m planning on getting the God of War Collection before the new one comes out. Because I hate having free time.
Heavy Rain (PS3)
Available first quarter of 2010
The promises on this game are big, and I hope it lives up to them. It’s supposed to have an innovative control scheme, immersive plot, unique gameplay, extremely realistic facial expressions, and moral choices that truly affect the outcome. That’s obviously a pretty tall order, but it could be very cool.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Available some time in 2010
If you stop a minute and really think about the Mario games, you’ll realize just how truly ridiculous they are. These games don’t make any sense whatsoever — they center around plumbers fighting dinosaurs-things, mushroom people, and turtles while collecting bits of stars and gold coins. And yet, they are so thoroughly enjoyable that nobody cares. I feel like Nintendo has tricked us all, somehow. But I’m really looking forward to this game.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (PS3, Xbox 360)
Available some time in 2010
From the screenshots I’ve seen, it looks like this will be an action title similar to God of War. That’s nice, but what I’m really hoping they do is make it similar to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the Best Castlevania Game Ever (not up for debate).
2010 Movies
There are a ton of cool-looking movies coming out in 2010. So you can bypass the chaff and go right to the sweet, delicious wheat, here are the films I’m most looking forward to this year:
Youth In Revolt
In theaters: 1/8
Let’s see — this movie features Michael Cera, Michael Cera’s stellar mustache, an alter ego named Francois, Zach Galifianakis, and Steve Buscemi. It’s like they made it especially for me. Throw in a few zombies and Magnum, PI, and I would see this 100 times in the theater.
The Book of Eli
In theaters: 1/15
This looks like a movie version of the game Fallout 3, one of my favorites from last year. Plus it stars Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, two fantastic actors.
Cop Out
In theaters: 2/26
I love Kevin Smith, and I’m interested to see what he does with a buddy cop story he didn’t write. I predict awesomeness, especially since Tracy Morgan and John “Yipee-Kay-Ay, Mister Falcon” McClane are the leads.
Alice in Wonderland
In theaters: 3/5
Tim Burton is one of the most imaginative/weirdest dudes in filmmaking. And now he’s taking on the work of Lewis Carroll, one of the most imaginative/weirdest dudes in literature. I can’t wait. Next, I hope Burton does a reimagining of Jabberwocky. That will truly be a frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
Hot Tub Time Machine
In theaters: 3/19
Not only is this a great name, but it’s a very descriptive one: a time machine that acts as a hot tub is exactly what this movie is about. So you know what you’re getting right away, which I like. I also like the cast: Chevy Chase, John Cusack, Rob Corddry, and Craig Robinson.
Cemetery Junction
In theaters: 4/7
The hilarious Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, creators of The Office (the original, British version) team up again to write and direct this comedy that Gervais describes as “The Office meets Mad Men.” Sold.
Iron Man 2
In Theaters 4/30
While I thought it was weird that Mikey from Swingers was directing the first Iron Man movie, I can’t argue with the results. This one might be even better.
Robin Hood
In theaters: 5/14
I enjoyed the Kevin Costner version of Robin Hood, but I’m hoping Russell Crowe can manage at least a halfway decent British accent since he’s Australian (and everyone knows they’re just criminal Brits, anyway). If he can just maintain the same accent throughout, though, that will be an improvement over Costner.
Predators
In theaters: 7/9
This is billed as a sequel to Predator, produced by Robert Rodriguez and starring Danny Trejo, among others. Instead of a group of soldiers, it’s a group of criminals that has to fight the predator alien hunter things. Everything I just wrote is awesome, so I’m pretty sure this will be sweet.
Tron Legacy
In theaters: 12/17
Tron with better graphics in IMAX 3D? Yes, please.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Release date currently shrouded in mystery
I’ve never read the comic book, but everything I’ve heard about the movie leads me to believe it will be a good one, including that it’s directed by Edgar Wright, of Spaced/Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz fame. The US release date hasn’t been announced yet, but the all-knowing internet tells me it should be some time in August.
Paul
Release date currently shrouded in mystery
Speaking of Spaced/Shaun of the Dead, the other creators of those fine works (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) are starring in Paul, a geeky sci-fi buddy road trip movie directed by Greg Mottola. Glad to see the Spaced gang is doing well — they’re all extremely talented.
We’ve Been Lied to About the Future
Today, on the eve of 2010, I’m here to share a startling truth with you — movies and television shows have been lying to us about the future for years.
There have been many movies and shows set in “the future,” but that future is here, and it’s incredibly disappointing. We’re living in 2010, people! We should have flying cars, jetpacks, cities in the clouds, ray guns, machine sentience, etc.
But what do we have? The internet. Which is great, but basically just a repository for pictures of peoples’ cats. Here are the most egregious offenders:
Mad Max
This is supposed to take place “a few years from now.” Of course, “now” was 1979, and while a world economic collapse due to oil shortages doesn’t sound horribly far-fetched at this point, I have not realized my dream of becoming a post apocalyptic warlord and building cool automotive death machines. But if anyone wants to hang out in the desert with a bunch of half-naked yahoos, there’s always Burning Man.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Well, 2001 was nine years ago, and yet we still have no manned space travel beyond our own moon, let alone to “beyond the infinite.” Also no murderous robot ships. Lame.
Back to the Future
This is the one that angers me the most. You’re on notice, Hollywood: if you don’t get me a working hoverboard in the next five years, I will complain about it on the internet incessantly. Don’t think I won’t!
Blade Runner
You’re telling me that in nine years we’ll have sexy cyborg ladies, flying cars, and off-world colonies? I’m not buying it.
The Terminator
So 1997 has come and gone without any global defense systems becoming self aware. I can’t help but think that isn’t a good sign for time travel by the year 2029.
The Jetsons
Generations of kids grew up expecting flying cars, robot maids, and giant apartment complexes in the sky. The good news is that we still have a little time on this one. While the show never mentioned exactly when it was set, it’s supposed to be one hundred years in the future. Since it originally aired in 1962, we still have 52 years. Sure, I’ll be in my early 80s, but I’ll be an 80-year-old rocking a sweet flying car.
For more movies that have let us all down regarding the future, check out this list.
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