42 Trailer

Recently, I was introduced to the trailer for the movie 42. I had completely forgotten that it was in the works. Jackie Robinson was one if the most captivating stories from my childhood. I must have read 5-10 books on Robinson and other famous Negro League players. I literally have retold the anecdote of Cool Papa Bell dozens of times. Bell was so fast, he could turn off the light and be in bed before it was dark. 

Robinson, Bell, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and others were amazing stories of "What could have been?" The lost opportunity for stared history, epic battles, truth in statistics has always struck me as one of the most disappointing missed moments in all of sports. 

I pray this movie is good. The trailer hits the right notes. The "guts" conversation is one I have already had with my son. Perhaps that type of maturity can be useful today as well.  Have the guts not to troll?

Columbiana Official Trailer

Zoe Saldana is quickly becoming my favorite female action star. Plus this has a very clear Taken vibe to it. Hadn't heard of this until just recently but it is now on the calendar. I look forward to it immensely.

Otterbox Defender Case for Iphone 3GS

I have had my Iphone 3GS for over 16 months now and the only reason it has lasted as long as it has is the Otterbox Defender series case. With two children under 6, it has seen its share of drops, kicks, dropkicks and the like. Now I find that there are more color options available through a third part and I'm flat out giddy.

Anyone who doesn't have a high quality protective case for their Iphone is in my mind playing a much more dangerous game than Angry Birds.

Third Party Skins for Otterbox Defender

Otterbox Official Site

Ultimate Spiderman #160 Death has lost its shock

I remember when Superman died. It was a big deal. Then Batman had his back broken. Hal Jordan became evil, We went through a dozen or so Flashes, they even ripped Wolverine's adamantium out at one point. Wildstrom killed off most of Stormwatch, (I clearly was the only one who cared) and they even cloned Spiderman before and tried to pass off a copy. In the Star Wars books, they've killed Luke (again a clone) and Chewbacca. So I'm sorry to say, I'm not impressed.

As an aspiring writer, I get how at some point a writer has nothing else to say about a character. But that's what made comics so great, a writer could take a character through a story arch or several and then move on, adding depth to the character and passing on a wealth of knowledge to the next writer. Any time a writer stays on too long, they end up going for the end game. It's not in the spirit of what an ongoing comic is. It's a publicity stunt and a cop-out. I'm sorry but I've read enough "Death of.." stories. If you want to kill someone, create a character and write the story. More comic writers need to go the Frank Miller route and create, instead of hijack.

@HuffingtonPostHuffington Post 

RIP Spider-Man: http://huff.to/lKvOVW

Metallica + Lou Reed = Feast or Famine

After reading this article from Entertainment Weekly, Metallica and Lou Reed reveal secret collaboration on full-length album, I am both intrigued and apprehensive. Obviously, both Metallica and Lou Reed are legends in music but these types of collaborations can be a landmine for all involved. For every Queen/David Bowie, there are at least three Blue/Steve Wonder's. Here's hoping James, Lou and the boys fall closer to the "Under Pressure" end of the spectrum. 

Cowboys and Aliens Trailer 2

Whenever I am having a bad day, I need to watch this trailer. I'm not sure if I've been this excited for a movie in years. It's to the point that I believe it will be good and will probably love it no matter if it is or not. The trailers have done a great job building my excitement.

Movie Review: Drive Angry (2011) Spoilers

One of the great benefits of insomnia, is that fact that it gives me literally plenty of time to find every points club, coupon site, text club to join etc. Some night, probably at about 3 AM, I joined some Redbox thing that allows me to get random texts with free promo codes. I wish I remember how I did it, because it's one of the few useful clubs I'm in.

Today, I received such a text and decided that it was the perfect opportunity to rent a movie that I just wasn't sure of - Nicolas Cage's Drive Angry. Personally I love the popcorn movie thing that Cage can do. Is it over the top? Yes. Is some of the dialog awful? Putrid. Does stuff go boom? Most certainly. But for what it is, pure popcorn movie suspension of disbelief shoot 'em up fun. Will Drive Angry win any awards? Never. But it is damn fun.

The best thing that the movie does, it know what it is. It's not a plot deep, character driven indie drama. It's an action flick. Flick as in doesn't even claim film or movie as a description. When I saw a previous Cage vehicle, Bangkok Dangerous, I expected an action flick. What I got was a boring, slow, painfully drawn out wanna-be indie critic's darling. Thank you Mr. Cage for giving up that ghost and finding a much more entertaining one.

Cage plays, John Milton (clever wink, think Paradise Lost), a father out for revenge. He's breaks out of hell and drives some spectacularly gorgeous muscle cars while trying to outrun Death (capital D) and save his grand-daughter from a creepy cult leader. Yes it sounds a lot like Ghost Rider with cool cars. That's pretty much it. It's simple, it's clear, it's a linear line that drives through anything it can find. And it works. The script literally spends more time detailing the cars Cage drives than any mythology or dogma. Grandpa escapes Hell to help Granddaughter. Which I honestly have to problem believing.

Along the way he picks up the heroine of the flick, Piper, played capably by Amber Heard. Heard does what Megan Fox was supposed to do in the Transformer movies. Make edgy, tough and beautiful both believable and legendary. She is not given much to work with, 65% (made up %) of her dialog probably comes from her first 10 minutes on screen. However, her inclusion in any future films/flicks will certainly garner my attention. She finds away to come across as something of a mix of Bonnie Parker and Daisy Duke. What's not to love?

Milton and Piper of course carry the film, the cult leader is creepy but ultimately forgettable and William Fichtner plays Death with his usual character actor polish. Understated is always better, I mean, who can surprise Death? All in all it's well cast, well paced an a fun rental. Especially if you manage to get it for free.

Rating: A- (Tried to steal the sex scene-shoot out from Shoot 'em Up)