The Filmdogs Podcast is back with an “Action” packed episode as we discuss that genre in detail in our Featured Topic of the week. We also chat about James Cameron’s battle against bad 3D in the News. We defend actor Keanu Reeves for In Defense of and dicuss a one-liner from Point Break to wrap it up. This episode is so action packed it makes The Expendables look like Cocoon.

Email us with you podcast feedback or segment suggestions at filmdogspodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe to the podcast here, or listen in you browser. Also, you may download an enhanced AAC feed with chapter markers and artwork from iTunes on your computer or straight to your iPhone/iPod touches now! If you like what you hear be sure to write a quick review on iTunes as well. It helps us out. Thanks!

 

 Episode 22 - Cruise Control: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (16)

The latest George Clooney movie The American is not a kick-ass Bourne style action flick as the trailer would have you believe. It is however a kick-ass modern western made with superior skill and filled with great performances. It’s a film that uses the clichés of the hitman genre with refreshing restraint while making them seem new again.

The movie was made by Ductchman Anton Corbijn, the same director of the best music biopic you never saw, 2007’s Control. A sleek black and white piece about Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, that makes Walk the Line look like an episode of American Idol. Corbijn uses more of his minimalist stylings and deliberately slow pacing present in that film here. While the general audience may dismiss this as boring, the rest of us will be entertained as the film slowly builds to it’s conclusion. (more…)

geek
Slang.
1. A person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest.

2. a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp. one who is perceived to be overly intellectual.

3. A carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.

Red Letter Media’s angry, sexually offensive, and Sci-fi obsessed character Mr. Plinkett is back with another epic film review for J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. Unlike his extremely negative and now famous reviews of the first two Star Wars prequel’s it’s mainly positive. His enjoyment of the movie doesn’t make the review any less entertaining though.
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Yawn...

When in the hands of a great director a comic book franchise can transcend it’s genre. Look no further than Christopher Nolan’s classic The Dark Knight for proof of such. Unfortunately, most of the time these properties don’t turn out the way fans hoped they would. The later X-Men films are good example of rushed productions, bad scripts, and studio interference. While Brett Ratner’s X-Men 3 was bad, the schlockiness really came to a head with the laughable X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The movie may be regarded as completely terrible by most sentient beings, but general love of the character Wolverine was enough to put butts in the seats. The film made $373,062,864 million worldwide, a sequel was greenlit, and the search for director to helm it has begun.
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When thinking of movies from my childhood Disney pictures are usually the first thing to pop into my mind. That early 90s run of flicks like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and my personal favorite The Lion King were all fantastic. A huge part of these movies successes of course was their music, mainly the original songs written by people like Alan Menken. Yet, the the original scores for these movies are also top notch. I personally have The Lion King to thank for giving me my first exposure to one of my favorite composers, Hans Zimmer.
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When it comes to a movie like Avatar I’m a firm believer that it is a film that should only be seen in theaters. After seeing the re-release of the movie in IMAX 3D earlier today, I have only become more opinionated in this matter. This was the first time I have revisited the film since it’s original theatrical run and it was truly worth the wait. While the jury is still out whether or not Avatar is the Star Wars of it’s generation, the pure cinema of it is still just as impressive as it was the first time around.

One of the big selling points of this re-release was the nine or so minutes of extra footage added back into the picture. Do the scenes help or hurt the film? Why not just wait for the recently announced DVD of the film which will have even more footage? Well, the truth of the matter is that unlike Cameron’s other extended cuts of his films such as Aliens and Terminator 2, which added many controversial scenes (among fans) this is more of an enhancement to some minor plot threads. With some extra Pandora goodness thrown in the mix. Below are the highlights of the added bits, with commentary. (more…)

Canada 1941. A Nazi U-Boat in Hudson Bay sends out a seven man team to capture a nearby depot and bring back fuel and supplies. Shortly after going ashore the team’s U-boat is destroyed by Canadian fighters. The Nazi’s must then make their way, by any means necessary to the 49th Parallel (the U.S. Canadian border) for safe passage in the still neutral United States.

If the plot described above doesn’t sound exciting to you, I suggest you check your pulse, because the film is a fascinating look into the minds of a people in the midst of a terrifying war. (more…)

This week on The Filmdogs Podcast we decided to hang loose and take it easy “In the Lounge with W, J, and J.” We discuss several news items such as Christoper Nolan’s newly professed love of Michael Bay films, the new post 911 film from Stephen Daldry starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, and casting rumors surrounding the Fantastic Four reboot. Then in the lounge we talk about films we’ve been watching recently and some of our viewing habits may surprise you. So take a load off and listen in.

Email us with you podcast feedback or segment suggestions at filmdogspodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe to the podcast here, or listen in you browser. Also, you may download an enhanced AAC feed with chapter markers and artwork from iTunes on your computer or straight to your iPhone/iPod touches now! If you like what you hear be sure to write a quick review on iTunes as well. It helps us out. Thanks!

 

 In the Lounge with W, J, and J: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (31)

I caught the film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on TCM a few years back, and enjoyed it as much as casual musical fan would. The picture is one of those rock solid entries into it’s genre that is seemingly flawless, but falls just short of being remembered as one of the best. Although it’s amazing it doesn’t get more credit, especially considering the man who directed it, Stanley Donen. If the name doesn’t sound familiar to you it should, considering he helmed films like: Audrey Hepburn’s Funny Face, Gene Kelly’s On the Town, and Cary Grant’s thriller Charade. However, he will always be remembered for directing one of the greatest musicals of all time Singin’ in the Rain.
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Apple just released the trailer for Danny Boyle’s new film 127 Hours which tells the true story of Aron Ralston, who had to amputate his own arm after a hiking accident. The movie is another re-teaming of Boyle and his screenwriter Simon Beaufoy. Both having recently won Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire.
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