Iron Man

Iron Man, originally uploaded by mav.16.

Iron Man's Audi R8

Iron Man's Audi R8, originally uploaded by mav.16.

The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk & me, originally uploaded by mav.16.

Spiderman 3 is here!

Spiderman 3 is here!, originally uploaded by Tommy.Chang.

HUGE Spiderman Billboard

Enormous Spiderman billboard at The Grove in LA.

HUGE Spiderman Billboard, originally uploaded by Tommy.Chang.

Spider-Man Toys

So we passed by our friendly neighborhood Target store over the weekend and brought a few Spider-Man 3 action figures. The kids around must have thought a 30-something year old man buying toys has issues... Oh well.

OK it wasn't quite a few, it was a lot but whose counting?

From left to right... Symbiote Spider-Man, Sandman, Spider-Man, Dr. Octopus, Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. In the foreground are the New Goblin, Venom and our hero, Spider-Man.

Spider-Man Toys, originally uploaded by Tommy.Chang.

Spidey Billboard

Spidey Billboard, originally uploaded by Tommy.Chang.

Spider-Bus

Spider-Bus, originally uploaded by Tommy.Chang.

Spiderman 3 Unofficial Music Video

Fan-made music video. Music with Crawling by Linkin Park. Looks damn good to me.

Spidey-Mania begins

Spidey-Mania begins, originally uploaded by Tommy.Chang.

7 Minutes of Spiderman 3 Goodness

Megatron is Less Than Meets the Eye

I was disappointed when I learned Bumblebee will be a Camaro, I was shocked when the flaming pinocchio Optimus Prime photo was leaked but now, now this is becoming offensive.

This is Bay's version of Megatron...






WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS PILE OF SHIT?!?!

While I understand the need to modernize and even support that need, this is too much. As a kid, this is the Megatron I grew up with...



I knew Megatron. I played with Megatron. This is not Megatron. This is the bastard son of the Predator and Guyver. Sure it looks evil, bad ass and scary maybe too scary for little kids but it isn't Megatron. It has zero resemblance to Megs, it doesn't even transform into a pistol but an alien jet and it is missing the trademark cannon on the right arm!

Bay is slowly destroying the Transformers and it is still months away from July 4, 2007. Michael Bay, you fucking suck.

RIP Megatron.

 Technorati Tags: Transformers, Megatron

Transformers Robots Confirmed and More Leaked Photos

Yahoo! hosted a live webcast with Transformers writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and they announced the official names and descriptions of the robots.

Autobots:
Optimus Prime
Bumblebee
Jazz
Ratchet
Ironhide

Decepticons:
Megatron
Starscream
Brawl
Bonecrusher
Barricade
Skorponok
Frenzy
Blackout

Here are some more leaked photos...

Bumblebee -



Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Megatron concept art -



Close-ups of Optimus Prime -





I still hate the flames but Optimus in robot mode isn't too bad.

 Technorati Tags: Transformers, Yahoo Webcast

World Trade Center Review

My wife and I went to see World Trade Center last night. Going in, I had mixed feelings about the movie. On one hand, I thought that it is too soon and inappropriate for a movie about 9/11 too be released just only 5 years after. I also wasn't sure if Stone would attempt to inject politics and his views into the movie or not. On the other hand, the reviews have been good and I read that what was portrayed in the movie was very true to real life events, down to the detail.

I wasn't disappointed. Stone never injected politics into the movie. Bin Laden, al Queda, Muslim extremists were never mentioned. It was more of a documentary with good acting. It was sad and uplifting at the same time. You're happy that Jimeno and McLoughlin survived but sad over the devastation of that day. In the end, I'm glad I saw it.

 Technorati Tags: World Trade Center, 9/11

Miami Vice Review

This remake of Miami Vice from the old school TV series in the 1980's to the movie theater version in 2006, has been highly anticipated since the beginning of this year. As a kid, I loved the TV show and Miami Vice was party responsible for the rebirth of Miami and South Beach. Fast forward to 2006, much has changed in Miami. Miami is modern, luxurious and culturally rich. It has a Casablanca allure that attracts celebrities, such as Will Smith and Anna Kournikova, to call Miami home and people around the world who dream of visiting one day. Like how Miami has modernized itself over the past two decades, so has the show that made Miami famous. Out is the Ferrari Testarossa, brick cell phones, and pastel-colored clothes. In is the Ferrari F430, Nokia cell phones, Hugo Boss wardrobe, Sama sunglasses and IWC watches.

On the surface Miami Vice 06 has little in common with Miami Vice 80's, with the exception of being filmed in Miami, the names of the characters and Sonny still drives a bad ass exotic car. Replacing Don Johnson as Sonny Crockett is Colin Farrell and sliding into Philip Michael Thomas' character of Ricardo Tubbs is Jamie Foxx. At the director's chair is Michael Mann, famous for Heat and Collateral, two of my favorite movies of all time. Despite the departure from the original, the new Miami Vice carries the spirit of the original through its style and coolness and in the end, it works perfectly.

The movie starts off a little slow in the first hour, setting up the back story for later and in my opinion, spent a little too much time of the Sonny/Isabella love story. However once the second hour hits, Michael Mann takes you on a thrill ride and never lets you take a breathe until the credits roll. The storyline, acting and action sequences are very real and believable, thanks to Mann's obsession with realism. I've read that Mann hired actual Miami-Dade Country Police Officers to train Farrell and Foxx and be consultants during the filming.

I was disappointed that some scenes from the previous trailers are missing from the movie, such as the powerboat race and the Ferrari F430 driving down Biscayne Blvd. Hopefully these missing scenes will be included in the DVD version. With the running time at almost two and a half hours, its understandable why some scenes had to be cut.

Overall, Miami Vice is one of the better movies that I've seen so far in 2006.

 Technorati Tags: Miami Vice

Optimus Prime from Transformers Movie leaked

Well the good news is that he isn't a fire truck as first rumored. The bad news is Optimus grew a flaming long nose and looks nothing like the big red truck we all liked as we were kids growing up in the 1980's.



Sigh. Its official... the Transformers movie will bomb and Optimus Prime isn't Optimus Prime unless he looks like Optimus Prime. Its like Superman without the cape, Batman without the gadgets and Spider-Man without his spider sense. Maybe there would be some salvaging of hope if this hacked version vaguely resembled the real Optimus but it doesn't and doesn't even make an attempt at trying.

 Technorati Tags: Transformer Movie, Optimus Prime

Spider-Man 3 News - Comic Con Trailer, Venom, Blog

San Diego Comic-Con revealed a new teaser, captured by someone with a cell phone.



Excuse the blurriness, it was captured on a cell phone. In this teaser trailer, you can see the presence of Venom! Heres a screen capture...



You can sort of make out his eyes, mouth and tougue resembling Todd McFarlane's original comic book Venom.



On the official Spider-Man 3 website, a wallpaper was just released showing Tropher Grace as Eddie Brock in the midst of transforming into Venom! Venom is confirmed.



I had doubts about casting Tropher Grace as Eddie Brock / Venom but after seeing this new video and wallpaper, I can't think of anyone better to play Spider-Man's arch enemy.

Finally, the Spider-Man 3 Official Movie Blog is live. You know I'll be reading that daily. =)

Link: Spider-Man 3 Official Movie Blog

Alternate Video Link: Comic Con Teaser

 Technorati Tags: Spider-Man 3, Spiderman, Comic Con Teaser, Venom, Blog

Miami Vice Website

The Miami Vice website is very impressive. The simplistic design, produced in Flash, is bold and in your face. The site is also very rich in content, even featuring a Google Earth tour of Miami.

Link: miamivice.com

 Technorati Tags: Miami Vice, web design

You, Me and Dupree Review

In one word - Hilarious!

 Technorati Tags: You, Me and Dupree

Superman Returns Review

With all the hype surrounding Superman Returns, I thought that it might be setting itself up for huge disappointment. I was wrong. Superman Returns lived up to the hype and more, much more.

The storyline continues where Superman 2 left off, with Superman returning to Earth after spending the past 5 years in space searching for the remains of his planet Krypton. Lex Luthor is out of prison and has devised a plan to take over Earth (what else?). Lois Lane is now a mommy to a very "special" little boy (think about what occurred in Superman 2) and Pulitzer Prize Winner for her editorial entitled, "Why the World doesn't need Superman."

The special effects are excellent. The way that Superman flies around from slow speed to faster than a speeding bullet is realistic as can be.

The acting is almost perfect. Routh is a good Clark Kent and an awesome Superman. I won't compare Routh to Christopher Reeve, but I think Reeve would have been proud to have Routh take the Superman torch. The similarities of how the two actors played Clark Kent/Superman are uncanny. Kate Bosworth is a great Lois Lane. And Kevin Spacey is a evil and funny Lex Luthor.

In my opinion, Superman Returns is super.

 Technorati Tags: Superman Returns, Superman

Transformers Announcement Teaser

Nothing much to really rave about. Kind of disappointing. I hope Michael Bay doesn't fuck up the Transformers like Ang Lee screwed up the Hulk. So far with Bumblebee being a Camaro and rumors of Optimus Prime being a firetruck, it isn't looking good.

Link: Transformers Announcement Teaser

 Technorati Tags: Transformers, Teaser, Trailer

Spider-Man 3 Teaser!

1:36 minutes of divine Spiderman 3 glory! If this teaser is any indication, Spidey will be the movie to beat in 2007. And my favorite scene...



Link: Spider-Man 3 Teaser

 Technorati Tags: Spider-Man 3, Spiderman, Teaser, Trailer

The Fast and The Furious 3 Tokyo Drift Review

I went into the movie theater with very low expectations. Lucas Black and Bow Wow? A redneck in Japan doing a F&F movie about drifting? Gimme a friggin break.

Well I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was as good as can be expected, but the selection of cars this time was awesome, on par or even better than the original. I loved the Veilside RX-7 Fortune, 1967 Mustang with Skyline GT-R powertrain, Evolution and the 350Z's. There were no lame NOS and exhaust shooting out fire effects.

The Fast and The Furious 3 Tokyo Drift is slightly better than the original and far better than the 2 Fast, 2 Furious. Plus Vin Diesel makes a cameo towards the end. Perhaps as a hint of what is to come in The Fast and The Furious 4?

 Technorati Tags: The Fast and The Furious 3 Tokyo Drift

The Break-Up Review

Vince Vaughn is utterly hilarious in this romantic comedy that showcases how fast a relationship can snowball if there is a lack of communication.

 Technorati Tags: The Break-Up

Transformers Movie Website

The website for the Transformers movie is now live at www.transformersmovie.com. Currently its just a splash page, with a countdown to July 4, 2006, the release of the first teaser trailer and either Optimus Prime or Megatron on the cover.

Despite the recent rumors of Bumblebee being a Camaro and Optimus Prime being a firetruck, I still have high hopes in this movie, being the 80's Transformers fanboy that I am. Hopefully Michael Bay won't fuck it up.

 Technorati Tags: Transformers

Bumblebee will be a... GASP... Camaro?

The new Transformers live action movie is due out more than a year from now but there is already rumors circulating the world wide web of Bumblebee being a Camaro, Starscream bieng a F-22 Raptor, Megatron being a tank and Optimus Prime being a firetruck. What the fuck? Optimus a firetruck?!?! While I understand that there may be licensing agreements involved, as in Bumblebee's case and VW not allowing using its Beetle in this type of movie, and the need to modernize a 1980's cartoon, I see no reason why Optimus can't be a freightliner. Of course these are all rumors and there are conflicting reports on other websites that Optimus will be, in fact, an 18 wheeler freightliner semi-truck.

So enough of my bitching, on to the photos...

Supposely Bumblebee will start life as a 1970's Camaro...



Then he will be destroyed and reborn as a the new 2009 Camaro Concept (cool looking car, by the way)...



Also here's a Decepticon Mustang police car...



Source: Left Lane News

 Technorati Tags: Transformers, Bumblebee, Camaro, Optimus Prime

X-Men 3 Review

Decent movie to end the trilogy but somewhat disappointing as well. Here are the bad points...

- Cyclops and Professor X died too early.
- Too much action and special effects.
- Zero character development.
- Colossus didn't fight Juggernaut.
- No emotion or heart.

I enjoyed the Bryan Singer's first two X-Men movies more. Brett Ratner's version, while decent, doesn't live up to Singer's versions. Well at least, its not as bad as the Hulk or Joel Schumacher's Batman movies.

Rating: 6/10

 Technorati Tags: X-Men 3

DaVinci Code and Catholics

So I'm Catholic and I plan on seeing the DaVinci Code movie and therefore according to some people I'm a blasphemous sinner that will be going to hell. Some random thoughts...

Yeah I understand that Dan Brown's book and its movie version puts into dispute the very core of Christianity, however its a work of fiction and I take it for its entertainment value. Sure some people may take it as truth but then again some people also think we never landed on the moon or that Bush and his Administration ordered 9/11. The DaVinci Code book and its movie version are simply products of entertainment, nothing more, nothing less. It doesn't advertise itself as the Holy Bible or God's Word. Anyone that believes otherwise is just guillable and ignorant.

I know some local Catholics in Miami who are actually planning to protest/boycott at movie theaters this Friday and throughout the weekend. Don't these people know that by protesting, the opposite effect will be achieved? Any attention is good attention, even negative. And of course, the news media will portray all Catholics as extreme fanatics in the coming days by showing protests after protests, as if Cindy Sheehan and her anti-Bush/anti-war freak show aren't enough.

And it seems like the Archdiocese of Miami wants all local Catholics to boycot and/or protest the DaVinci Code yet refuses to hear more important issues concerning education and an extremely unfair decision regarding enrollment restrictions against my alma mater, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. I wonder if I will go to hell if I call Archbishop Favalora, Father Dennison of Little Flower and Father Greer of Good Shepherd hypocrites?

 Technorati Tags: DaVinci Code, Catholic

Mission Impossible 3 Review

MI:3 is an adrenaline filled thrill ride with constant action from start to finish. When Ethan Hunt wasn't shooting at the bad guys, he was jumping off buildings, blowing up stuff or running around. I liked MI:3 better than its previous two installments.

 Technorati Tags: Mission Impossible 3, MI:3

V for Vendetta Review

Remember, remember, the fifth of November, The gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

V for Vendetta is a movie that will never be forgot and shall always be remembered. This movie is perfect in the most perfect sense possible.

The story about a futuristic totalitarian Britain and V, a terrorist or freedom fighter depending on how you view him, is one of brilliance. The acting by Hugo Weaving as V and Natalie Portman as Evey is superb. Although we never see V's face during the entire movie, Hugo Weaving delivers an outstanding performance. And Natalie Portman is simply amazing. I would be shocked if she isn't nominated for an Oscar for her performance in V.

Most movies fall under two categories - action drama and romantic comedy. There are very few and not enough movies that make you stop and think. V for Vendetta is one of those rare movies, like Vanilla Sky, Crash, and The Wachowski Brothers' Matrix Trilogy, which they also wrote the screenplay for V. The references and parallels to current events around the world, politics and the true idea of freedom are powerful. Liberals and critics of the Bush Administration will love V. Hardcore conservatives and Republicans of the old guard will say that V is yet another attempt by Hollywood to criticize the Bush Adminisration. Keep in mind however that any such references to the Bush Administration is merely coincidence as V was written even before the original Matrix during the Clinton Era.

Go see V for Vendetta. You will love it, I promise.

My favorite quote...

This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-a-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.

 Technorati Tags: V for Vendetta

Interesting read about Guy Fawkes on V site

There is an interesting article about Guy Fawkes and his failed attempt to blow up the British Houses of Parliament in the early 1600's.

Guy Fawkes (also known as Guido Fawkes), only son of Edward Fawkes and Edith Blake, was born a Protestant on April 13th, 1570 in Stonegate, Yorkshire, in the north of England. In his preliminary interrogation at the end of 1605, Guy Fawkes claimed to have converted to Catholicism at the age of 16. It is thought he left England for Flanders in 1593 or 1594, where he enlisted in the Spanish army as a gunpowder packer working with explosives. He left the Spanish armed forces on February 16th, 1603, to make a trip to Spain to muster Spanish support for an invasion of England on Queen Elizabeth's death, which never transpired.

King James I (a Protestant and the first sovereign to reign England, Ireland and Scotland simultaneously) took over the throne of religiously intolerant England on March 24 1603, and it was soon felt he was not at all sympathetic to bettering the Catholic's status in England - there were severe penal laws against the practice of the Catholic religion in England at the time. Disappointment with his new King is one of the possible reasons Guy Fawkes felt the need to take action against him. Sources disagree as to whether the plot was to actually destroy the Houses of Parliament and influence a Catholic uprising, or to kill King James (who had not kept his promise to stop the persecution of Catholics) and in the ensuing chaos place a more Catholic friendly royal on the throne.

For Easter 1604 Guy Fawkes was back in England, when he met up with Thomas Wintour, whom Guy Fawkes would eventually confess to having conceived of the Gunpowder Plot. However, it is felt that Robert Catesby was more likely the leader of the gunpowder plot due to his Catholic connections. Initially there were only five conspirators, all from the nobility but for Guy Fawkes: Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, John (aka Jack) Wright, Thomas Wintour and Guy Fawkes. They met at an inn called the Duck and Drake on the Strand in London in May 1604 where they made an oath together in regards to the gunpowder plot, which was sanctified with a mass and administration of the sacraments by a Priest. It was at that point that Guy Fawkes assumed the identity of John Johnson and said he was a servant of Thomas Percy.

Plans for the plot began around Michaelmas 1604 with Thomas Percy renting a tenement building from which the conspirators were to tunnel to the cellars underneath the Houses of Parliament. Eight more conspirators were sworn into the plot in order to help with necessary preparations, making a total of thirteen: Robert Keyes, Robert Wintour, John Grant, Kit Wright, Thomas Bates, Ambrose Rookwood, Francis Tresham and Sir Everard Digby. However the tunnel idea was eventually abandoned, due to the work being so difficult and water from the Thames continually flooding the space, or possibly because a cellar became available. Sometime in March 1605, Thomas Percy used his connections to rent a cellar beneath the Houses of Parliament, and Guy Fawkes was assigned the task of filling the room with 36 barrels of gunpowder that he hid under iron bars and faggots. Guy Fawkes also made a trip to Flanders to replace some of the gunpowder that had begun to spoil.

One of the problems with the explosion was that it would potentially kill Catholics in the Houses of Parliament at the time, so on October 18th, 1605, Guy Fawkes met with Robert Catesby, Thomas Wintour and Francis Tresham to discuss how certain Catholic peers could be warned and thus removed from the explosion. A warning letter was delivered to Lord Monteagle, a former Catholic supporter, on October 26th that stated he should not attend the opening of Parliament, currently set for November 5th, 1605. (It is thought that Francis Tresham sent this letter.) Lord Monteagle passed the letter on to the king's chief advisor, Robert Cecil, and although the conspirators found out about the letter, they did not cancel their plans, convinced that the government knew nothing. (Some believe the Gunpowder Plot was the efforts of Robert Cecil to persuade the more Catholic-tolerant King James that the Catholics could not be trusted and that he should not repeal any laws against them.)

It seems that Guy Fawkes was completely ignorant of the existence of the Monteagle letter. On Wednesday October 30th he inspected the cellar again to ensure that the gunpowder was still hidden and ready for the explosion. As late as November 3rd, 1605, the conspirators met and were sure the authorities were not cognizant of their plans. All, but for Guy Fawkes, made plans to leave London. It was Guy Fawkes's task to watch the cellar and fire the gunpowder the moment Parliament opened. He was to leave for Flanders the instance he had done this.

The Lord Chamberlain, Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, accompanied by Lord Monteagle and John Whynniard made an inspection of the cellars under the Houses of Parliament on the afternoon of Monday November 4th. They found "John Johnson" watching over a large pile of faggots that he said belonged to his employer Thomas Percy. The men felt that Guy Fawkes seemed to be rather shifty in appearance and described him as "a very bad and desperate fellow." This information was reported to King James and the cellars were again inspected around midnight the same night led by Sir Thomas Knyvett, a Westminster magistrate and Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. The pile of faggots was searched and the gunpowder was revealed, and Guy Fawkes, who was found to be carrying a watch, slow matches and touchwood, was arrested.

The Privy Council met in King James's bedchamber early on the morning of November 5th, where Guy Fawkes was also brought in. The only information he gave was that his name was John Johnson and he was a servant of Thomas Percy. In a letter dated November 6th, 1605, King James ordered gentle torture of Guy Fawkes… proceeding to the worst. Guy Fawkes succumbed to the torture (most likely the manacles and the rack) on November 7th, giving his real name and that the plotters were merely five men. On November 8th he gave the details of the plot and on November 9th he named his fellow conspirators upon hearing that some had already been arrested.

The conspirators' trial began on Monday January 27th, 1606. Essentially it was a trial in name only, where the plotters plead not guilty, although a guilty verdict had already been handed down. Execution of the conspirators began on January 30th, 1606, with Sir Everard Digby, Robert Wintour, John Grant and Thomas Bates, who were all executed at the west end of St. Paul's Church. On Friday January 31st, 1606, the hanging, drawing and quartering of Guy Fawkes, Thomas Wintour, Ambrose Rookwood and Robert Keyes took place in the Old Palace Yard at Westminster "in the very place which they had planned to demolish in order to hammer home the message of their wickedness." Thomas Wintour was first, then Ambrose Rookwood and Robert Keyes, and finally Guy Fawkes.

It has been calculated that Guy Fawkes' 36 barrels (2500 kg, 5511 lbs) of gunpowder could have devastated over a 490 meter (1608 feet) radius. The explosion Guy Fawkes planned would have been powerful enough to destroy not only the Houses of Parliament, but also Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey, with even Whitehall suffering damage. That would mean that Guy Fawkes had more than 25 times the amount of gunpowder than he really needed, and we have to assume he knew what he was doing, having spent so many years in the army. Other sources believe that the gunpowder had spoiled and would not have made an explosion at all.

The ultimate result of the Gunpowder Plot was to provoke hostility against all English Catholics, leading to even harsher laws against them (a semblance of religious equality did not come until 200 years later). To this day it is law in Britain that a Roman Catholic cannot hold the office of monarch, and the Queen is still Supreme Head of the Church of England. Also to this day, the Yeoman of the Guard searches the cellars beneath the Houses of Parliament before the session begins each November. However the actual cellar Guy Fawkes used for gunpowder storage was damaged by fire in 1834, then totally destroyed during the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in the 1800s.

The night the Gunpowder Plot was foiled it is believed that bonfires were lit across London in celebration. There are no accurate records of when "guys" (lifesize dolls made from found materials) first became a bonfire feature but is believed to be while James I was on the English throne (from March 24th, 1603 to his death on March 27, 1625). Then after the reign of Charles II (1685) children began making human effigies from straw and wood called "guys" and took them through the streets chanting "Penny for the guy" to get money with which to buy fireworks. It is thought the "guy" wasn't thrown into the fire until sometime in the 1700s and was not only representative of Guy Fawkes, but also of the Pope and the Devil. The "guy" usually has an evil looking face, sometimes wearing a brightly colored mask.

Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot is now the inspiration driving the new movoe - V for Vendetta.



Source: V for Vendetta

 Technorati Tags: Guy Fawkes, Gunpowder Plot, V for Vendetta

Crash - Best Picture of the Year

Crash is one of the most thought provoking movies to come out in a very long time, probably since Vanilla Sky. What makes it even better is that Crash deals with a subject that is very revelent to current times. Agree or disagree, racism is alive and well in our society. Some is blantant while other forms of racism are more subtle. Winning the Oscar for Best Picture is a well deserved award. My only regret is that I didn't see this film at the theaters but I own the DVD. Its a must see!

 Technorati Tags: Crash, Oscar award, movie

Spider-Man 3 First Official Teaser Photo

Spiderman dons the black Symbiote suit!!! :o This pretty much confirms the current/future character of Eddie Brock/Venom, who I think will play him - Tropher Grace and the future storyline of the rest of the series.

This teaser gives us some hints as to the story in Spider-Man 3. From the photo, Spiderman looks to be like a man beaten down. Tried, sad, upset but knowing that "with great power comes great responsibility." Spider-Man 3 may take a dark, dark turn.

May 4, 2007 cannot come any sooner!

Source: Spider-Man

 Technorati Tags: Spiderman, Spider-Man 3, black suit, Symbiote, Venom

Miami Vice is back!

Teaser Trailer Link: http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/miamivice/

The TV show that brought fame onto Miami is back as a modernized film version and from this teaser trailer, it looks to be very bad. However I mean bad as in good, very good.

Superman Returns teaser trailer

Link: http://supermanreturns.warnerbros.com/trailer.html

Its hard to imagine someone else other than Chris Reeve playing as Superman but my doubts have been all but erased after viewing this trailer. Wow! This looks very promising and hopefully it will be as good as the recent Spiderman and Batman films.

The Island

We've heard much about cloning in recent years/months/weeks/days. It only a matter of time when a human will be successfully cloned amidst heated moral and ethical debates. Does a clone have a soul? Is it morally and ethically right to clone a human person? What will be a human clone's purpose? Some have suggested to improve and expand the life of the original person, in other words, the clone will act as a spare parts toolbox for the original. Arm severed in an accident? No problem, chop off an arm from the clone and reattach it on you. Need a new liver from drinking too much? No problem, take the good liver from the clone and put it in you. Diagnosed with leukemia and need a bone marrow transplant? No problem, the clone has plenty of bone marrow. This spare parts toolbox concept is what The Island tackles.

Its 2019, and the Earth has been contaminated. The survivors live in this seemingly utopian but carefully controlled society. All the residents dress the same, are given what to eat, work boring jobs, exercise, sleep, leading their otherwise mediocre life in a contained facility. They all dream of one thing. Being picked in a lottery system to go to The Island, the last uncontaminated place in the planet. In reality there is no contamination, the survivors are clones used as a spare parts toolbox for their original counterparts in the real world at a cost of $5 million, the utopian facility is a prison and going to The Island means that your original human couterpart needs a kidney or two.

Ewan McGregor's character, Lincoln Six-Echo soon discovers the truth through his need to ask questions - human curiosity. Jordan Two-Delta, played by Scarlett Johansson, is picked to go to The Island but in reality her original is a supermodel who is involved in a serious car accident and needs multiple organ transplants. Lincoln makes it his mission to save Jordan from The Island and both escape into the real world.

In classic Michael Bay style, the action gets intense from here. Lincoln and Jordan are hunted and chased down. Car chases, hovering motorcycle chase, they fell from a highrise building, they are chased on foot, bullets flying, bombs exploding, good stuff.

The cast is expecially strong, highlighted by Steve Buscemi's weird funniness and Michael Clarke Duncan's brief but vitally important role.

The Island is a great movie dealing with a very relevant topic supported by a strong cast, explosive action and a good plot. I give it a 8/10.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Like all Tim Burton/Johnny Depp creations, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is different, a departure from the action movie ad nauseum of the summer season. Its a visual feast for the eyes, rich in color. The plot stays true to the original, sometimes too true, and has many moments that just makes you go, "Awwwwwww." Johnny Depp plays a eccentric weirdo with shocking Michael Jacksonsque similarities. It teaches a rare lesson about the evils of soceity, namely gluttony, pride, sloth and greed, and about the importance of family.

I give Charlie a 7 out of 10.

The Not So Fantastic Four

Jessica Alba defines hotness. The special effects were cool, although cartoonish at times. But can her hotness and special effects save Fantastic Four from being not so fantastic? Maybe. The plot is predictable and filled with some many holes that the Human Torch can fly through them. Good guys beat up bad guys, good guys win, the end. There are a plethora of cheesy one-liners that riddled the already weak dialogue. The final climatic battle between good and evil was as interesting as watching two ants do battle in my driveway.

Overall it was decent, definitely not at the level of other recent comics-turned-movies, such as Spiderman, Batman Begins and X-Men. I give it a 6 out of 10.

War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds is a pretty good movie, following the HG Wells classic closely, except for England, its New York City. The CGI effects are exceptional, something only Spielberg could have dreamed up. The performances by Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning are good as usual. Most of the movie was a seat of your pants thrill ride, as Ray Ferrier, the loser uncaring father is caught in the middle of the huge moment in human history, trying to save his kids and redeeming himself in the end.

Now that I mention the end, this is where my complaints start. The movie suddenly ends. Ray and Rachel make it to Boston, the aliens suddenly gets sick and die without much explanantion, Robbie lives, the mom, step-father and ex-mother-in-law live too, everyone hugs and cries, the end. We were left wondering how the hell did the aliens die? The birds? Bacteria in the water supply?

I guess its because we witness these events through Ray's eyes, we are left with these gapping plot holes.

The movie would have been far better if Robbie died, how and why the aliens died was explained a bit more and the ending wasn't so cheesy happy. I give it 7/10.

Movie Review: Batman Begins

The last attempt in bringing the Dark Knight to the big screen flopped terribly. Joel Schumacher's homoerotic nippled batsuit version of Batman was a pathetic detour from the franchise's dark comic book beginnings. Now eight years later, Batman is back with a new beginning, a fresh start.

Under new direction from Chris Nolan and a new Batman/Bruce Wayne played by Christian Bale, Batman Begins stays true to its origins. The movie is dark, the darkest of all the Batman movies. Bob Kane would have been proud. The plot itself is excellent, touching upon the deaths of Wayne's parents, his time spent traveling the world in search and studying evil, how Bruce Wayne became Batman and even how the Batsuit and Batmobile came about. The acting is great, Christian Bale plays a very convincing and realistic Bruce Wayne/Batman. Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as a young Detective-to-later-become Commissioner Gordan and Morgan Freeman round out a strong cast. My only compaint is the action sequences. It was too fast paced and blurry, however I can see that this was Nolan's intention. Batman strikes down his opponents with transparent speed. Most of his opponents are defeated before they realize what's going on. Fear what you cannot see. In an interesting techique, Nolan chooses to flash the title "Batman Begins" at the very end. It serves as a great lead in to a sequel.

I enjoyed Batman Begins more than Star Wars Episode III. I give it 9/10.

Sidenote - Being an automobile enthusiast, I first caught a glimpse of the new Batmobile last year. At first I thought, damn it looks hideous, more like the bastard child of a Hummer and Tank than the Batmobile. Now after seeing it in action, I'm thinking where do I sign up for one of those bad bo