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Tommy Lee Jones does MacArthur in “Emperor”

Chris — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:16:09 +0000

Well, I'm open to new ideas. Not sure this is much of a "war movie", but might be an interesting look at the post-surrender period. Emperor is slated for sometime in late 2012. Also see "The Sun" for a similarly themed film, albeit from (sort of) the opposite perspective.

Emperor picks up with Japan's surrender, when MacArthur tapped Gen. Bonner Fellers (played by Matthew Fox) to decide whether Emperor Hirohito should be charged with war crimes.

"It's a look at a time when America not only had military strength but also a keenness of intellect and perception for what was a very difficult situation," Webber says.

Most scenes of war-torn Japan were shot in Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand. But the crew was able to shoot a key scene on the grounds of Tokyo's Imperial Palace.

Link: http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-05-15/first-look-emperor-tommy-lee-jones/54964042/1

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Another Rambo? But, no!…

Chris — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:49:07 +0000

Its been quiet around here lately, I know. Have had to take a break from war movies for a while. Time constraints have necessitated it, just how it has to be. Hopefully I can creep back into it soon. Also, after so many you just have to step back for a bit and regain perspective....

ANYWAY.

Here's a bit of news during the downtime that I find extremenly disheartening. From:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/2012/05/01/sylvester-stallone-reveals-he-s-working-on-final-rambo-film-86908-23843419/

SYLVESTER Stallone has revealed he is planning to play action hero Rambo one last time.

The 65-year-old actor said he is working on a script that will see the former Vietnam veteran fighting his final battle.

In an interview with MTV, Stallone hinted that the ageing mercenary’s last showdown could take place in Mexico, where he’d take on drug cartels.

He said Rambo’s “destiny” was “to go out in a blaze of glory”.

Stallone first played Rambo in 1982 and made three sequels – the last of which was released in 2008.

Why do I think this just sucks? Because John Rambo FINALLY WENT HOME in 2008's "Rambo." The place he was going in 1982's "First Blood" but was so terribly sidetracked. His story is done. There is nothing left to tell. At least nothing that isn't a blatant squeeze on the Hollywood money tit. Mexico? Drug Cartels? Seriously Sly? SERIOUSLY?! I don't even....

But there it is. Discuss. Disagree.

Red Tails (2012)

Chris — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:53:14 +0000

I recall first seeing the trailer for Red Tails back in August or July. Saw Terrence or Cuba up on the screen in uniform and was like "oh, Tuskegee Airmen is going to be on again?" Then it was like "waaaiiiit a minute. This isn't that. And then it hit me. George is *finally* making Red Tails!"

Then we all saw the trailers, and we all cringed, reared back a bit and made that "oooh, I dunno" face. Well let me tell you, those initial reactions weren't warranted.

Red Tails is definitely not anywhere near as bad as I expected it to be. Not the epic oscar-nominee as I had hoped, but its definitely a good movie. All those scenes we cringed at in the trailers, they needed context. Out of context they looked, well, dumb. (out of the blue physically impossible stall/dive) Put back in the context of the whole film they make more sense ("we fight!")...

The story is, of course, about the Tuskegee Airmen. A group of black fighter pilots created during the war as an "experiment" and "curiosity" but who proved everyone wrong by being one of the best squadrons out there. This movie is an excellent tribute to these guys. Is it "Saving Private Ryan?" No. But I don't think it aims to be, either. If it were, it wouldn't be nearly as "approachable". You could (and probably should) show this film in the classroom.

But we are talking about Lucasfilm, so you can't escape the inevitable review of the effects. All in all, I was suitably impressed. From a pure-realism point of view, there are numerous issues with the physics of flight involved in this film. Most obviously that "hit the brakes and they'll fly right by" move in the trailer. There are a lot of "Pearl Harbor" style moments as well. Problem is *real* flight isn't nearly as exciting or fun to watch as all this near-video-game style eye-candy. So there it is. And it *is* a lot of fun to watch.

There are some aspects of the movie that I don't think should have been included, or either explored more and refined. As they stand, they don't do a whole lot for the film. One is the romance between "Lightning" (David Oyelowo) and the Italian Sophia (NCIS LA's Daniela Ruah)... It started out as a nice diversion, and an all-too familiar story for most war movies, but I'm not entirely sure of the relevance of it here. Except to make a point about inter-racial romance. Nothing wrong with that, but it started to feel forced.

The other was "Ray Gun/Junior" (Tristan Wilds) getting shot down and captured, only to wind up in "The Great Escape"... comically in a shot-for-shot rehash of the "into-the-woods" scene from that film. It makes sense I guess at the end, so that the picture doesn't end on a down note (whoops did I spoil it?) but again, felt forced.

Other bits and pieces fall together nicely. The cocky pilot putting himself and others in danger, the alcoholic, although this time getting blamed erroneously for things that weren't the bottle's fault.... It's not just about aircraft.

The message of the film is also unavoidable. That this sort of segregation was just plain wrong. It's always good to have those 20/20 hindsight goggles, but yeah, these guys were just as good, if not better than anyone else in the cockpit. And I only wish I had watched "The Tuskegee Airmen" not so long ago. It's been far too long for me to even remember any of it, so I can't make a good comparison to that. There should be one.

I would like to compare this to another war movie which dealt with the segregation issue, "Miracle at St. Anna." I've caught a lot of flack for that review, and maybe its warranted, maybe not. But in Red Tails, the issue is dealt with *without* that feeling of being preached at and whined to, and having it rammed down your throat. *This* is how it should be shown to everyone, that yes it happened, yeah it was wrong, but you know what? It doesn't really matter *now*, does it? These guys were damn good pilots and soldiers, not to mention fine men, and here's our tribute to them.

What you've got here in a nutshell is a pretty good air combat action picture first and foremost, with an important historical context and worthy message on the side. So I'm going with a 7/10. Not quite as surprisingly good as "War Horse", but a whole lot better than I was expecting. Sure the dialog is a bit, uh, corny at times. Sure the effects are the same way at times. But roll with it, have fun, don't take things quite so seriously, and think about the underlying message while you're at it!

Here's a longer clip I found which might help illustrate what I'm talking about.

Enjoy!

“Act of Valor” set for 2012

Good Morning, Vietnam! Blu Ray on 1/17, Win Yours HERE!

Chris — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:20:24 +0000

Tired of listening to the same Tennessee Ernie Ford records? Well you're in luck, the 25th Anniversary edition (has it been that long?!) of Good Morning, Vietnam! is releasing next week (1/17)....

WMB is going to be giving away two copies of this modern classic. All you need to do is A) live in the US (or have a US shipping address) and B) leave a (non-spammy) comment to this entry! Yeah, that's it. Oh, and do it before the clock turns zero-hundred on 1/27 CST.

I'll pick two entries from the list at random and that'll be that. Don't post your address in the comments, if you win I'll contact you. SO BE SURE to use a valid e-mail address!!

Here are some details on the release!

For the first time in stunning Blu-ray High Definition, Academy Award winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, Good Will Hunting, 1997) delivers a tour-de-force performance in the 25th Anniversary Edition of the hit comedy Good Morning, Vietnam!

Enjoy the unsurpassed digital sound quality of Blu-ray High Definition as Army deejay Adrian Cronauer (Williams) spins a red-hot soundtrack of ‘60s hits. His sidesplitting comedy and rapid fire wit make him a hero to the troops, but quickly get him in hot water with his by-the-book superiors. Featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Williams’ hilarious radio monologues, Good Morning, Vietnam remains the quintessential Robin Williams comedy.

Bonus Features:

Production Diary (5 features) - How The Movie Came To Be, Actor Improv; Music Of The Movie, Origin Of The Good Morning, Vietnam Sign-On, Shooting In Thailand & Overview Of The Film A Year Later

Raw Monologues

Original Theatrical Trailer

Original Theatrical Teaser Trailer

"Raw Monologues"... Ooooh brother, wonder if that means all the stuff that Williams did they *didn't* put in the film... I can only imagine the out-takes from this one. And its in DTS-HD Master 5.1....

I know I haven't seen this film in years, and look forward to seeing it on BD. I also can't believe I haven't reviewed this film for the site yet!

(and not to worry folks, I have a bunch of reviews coming up...)

Good Morning, Vietnam (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
List Price: ~~$20.00~~
Sale Price: $9.98
You save: $10.02 (50%)
Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Description

In stunning Blu-ray high definition, Academy Award winner Robin Williams (best supporting actor, Good Will Hunting, 1997) delivers a tour-de-force performance in the 25th anniversary edition of the hit comedy Good Morning, Vietnam! Enjoy the unsurpassed digital sound quality of Blu-ray high definition as Army deejay Adrian Cronauer (Williams) spins a red-hot soundtrack of '60s hits. His sidesplitting comedy and rapid fire wit make him a hero to the troops, but quickly get him in hot water with his by-the-book superiors. Featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Williams' hilarious radio monologues, Good Morning, Vietnam remains the quintessential Robin Williams comedy.

DVD Information

Binding: Blu-ray
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Brand:
Manufacturer: Touchstone / Disney
Original Release Date:
Actors:

Robin Williams

Reviews

Director Anthony Hemingway on Red Tails

Chris — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:04:54 +0000

youtube video after the jump!

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Red Tails Trailer #4….

Chris — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:54:18 +0000

Looking good! A couple of physically impossible moments (check out that stall!) and it looks like Lucas' affinity for establishing/wide CG shots shines through.... but I'm looking forward to it.

Veterans Day 2011 War Movies on TV

Chris — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:33:04 +0000

That time again! Time to thank those who served our country and remember those who didn't make it back. This year 11/11 falls on a Friday, so there should be some good marathons going on.

The Fox Movie Channel steps up with an entire page outlining their contribution! Titles include: Stars and Stripes Forever, The Desert Fox, Destination Gobi, House of Bamboo, A Farewell to Arms, and Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison....

AMC looks to have theirs already going, with Defiance already underway, Spy Game, U-571... followed the rest of the weekend by: Tora! Tora! Tora!, We Were Soldiers, and Apocalypse Now Redux on Friday. Keep in mind AMC edits for content and screen, and has commercials.

TNT will once again not be doing the Saving Private Ryan thing. Shame. One night a year, is that really too much to ask? Sure its 13 years old already, but throw that uninterrupted unedited tribute out there once and a while!

The History Channel gets its act together, and has the yet-to-be released on disc Vietnam in HD. For once I actually wish I still had satellite!!

And of course, Turner Classic turns it out again this year, but only on Friday. Too many to list them all, but here's a few highlights: A Walk in the Sun, Never So Few, God is my Co-Pilot, the Fighting 69th.

...and HBO looks to be running The Pacific on HBO2 and Signature....

If I missed anything, please be sure to leave corrections and additions in the comments!

What war movies will you be watching this weekend?

Thunder Run… A New Kind of War Movie?

Chris — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:35:10 +0000

First I've heard of this project, but it sounds like a cross between those Beowulf/Final Fantasy CG type of movies, with a healthy dose of Avatar and a whole lot of "yeeeeah, I dunno guys" sprinkled on top.... An interesting premise, but if it doesn't translate well back into 2-D (as in home video), you're looking at recouping ALL of your costs up front in the box office.... a risky proposition if you ask me.

....EW has confirmed that Gerard Butler, Matthew McConaughey, and Sam Worthington have all signed on to star in an entirely CG, 3-D adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner David Zucchino’s novel Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad. Robert Port and Black Hawk Down scribe Ken Nolan co-wrote the script, with Simon West attached to direct.

“The idea is that we’re trying to create an event movie,” producer Brian Presley of Freedom Films tells EW. “We wanted to do something that was new, that was fresh, so we’re shooting it in a CG world where we do motion capture and facial capture. The reason we wanted to do it this way — just a pure, straight action film — is to also appeal to that Call of Duty: Black Ops world. It’s not going to have a video game look, it will have a photorealistic look, but the style in which we’re doing it with the 3-D RPGs flying over your head, and tanks coming out across the audience, and explosions… it’s going to be incredible.”

The film will recreate the three-day capture of Baghdad by American forces that jump-started the Iraq War in 2003. This has been an ongoing passion project for West and Presley, who have been working on the concept for five years. ”One thing we’re really focused on is making sure we keep all of the authenticity of the military aspect; really being true to the story and to what actually happened, and representing the military in the right way,” Presley said.

link: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/10/27/thunder-run-gerard-butler-matthew-mcconaughey-sam-worthington/

Rome Sweet Rome?

Chris — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:25:58 +0000

An interesting premise, and one that the Japanese already played out a while ago in "GI Samurai," and in such classics as "The Final Countdown".... Could a (more) modern army of smaller size with superior weapons defeat a historically superior force?

Rome Sweet Rome is apparently an internet "snowball" that looks at what could happen in a battle between a modern Marine battalion and the entire Roman Empire.... and it looks as if WB might actually pick this up for production!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118044449

Here's one way to make it as a screenwriter: apply online.

Warner Bros. has preemptively purchased the high-concept pitch "Rome, Sweet Rome" from first-time scribe James Erwin, an author and two-time "Jeopardy!" champion from Des Moines, Iowa.

Erwin's pitch sale came about as a result of several postings on the website Reddit.com, an online community and social news aggregator where users vote to determine which posts land on the site's home page.

Erwin set out to answer the question: "What if a unit of current U.S. Marines are suddenly transported back to ancient Rome and forced to do battle with the Roman legions?" Pic will follow the Marines as they're flung into the past where they encounter one of the world's most legendary villains and disrupt history. To return home, they have to set history back on the track they altered.

Madhouse Entertainment's Adam Kolbrenner spotted Erwin's "Rome, Sweet Rome" posts once they reached the top of Reddit and moved quickly to contact the writer and begin working with him to develop the concept. When it came time to find a home for the project, Kolbrenner brought it to WB's Chris Gary, a young exec who encouraged the studio to move aggressively to acquire it.

Kolbrenner will produce with Gianni Nunnari ("Immortals") of Hollywood Gang, where John Ridley will oversee the project for the company. Madhouse's Robyn Meisinger will exec produce and Gary will shepherd the project for Warners.

Erwin's next book, due in 2012, chronicles the history of U.S. military actions. He's repped by Madhouse Entertainment and attorney Bruce Gellman.

We'll see.... here's a "fan mockup" trailer for your viewing pleasure, I suppose....

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First Look at “Act of Valor”

Chris — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:56:11 +0000

Hm. A film based on the "Call of Duty" video games, starring real Navy SEALS.... Can't seem to find a story line at the moment, other than a "covert operation" (like you didn't see that coming.) But I'm not sure it matters.

official website: http://actofvalor.com/