Movies – Page 228 – StuffWeLike

The Hoax (Region 2) DVD Review

Marking a serious return to form The Hoax has Richard Gere playing Clifford Irving in this true story about a writer who faked an authorised autobiography on Howard Hughes the airplane billionaire.

The movie is a seriously funny comedy but not in a slapstick way. Its situational comedy as its incredible what lengths he and his writing partner Dick Suskind (Alfred Molina) go to for handwriting samples and other ways to fake conversations to bluff the publishers. It is a movie that does feel like time well spent when watching and is worth a purchase.

As far as DVD extras are concerned there is only a trailer that on such a great movie is a horrible disappointment.

Verdict: +

Death Sentence (Region 2) DVD Review

As a plain revenge trip Death Sentence does very well at keeping you entertained. After seeing his son murdered at a gas station average Joe Kevin Bacon goes hunting. While he just starts out by killing the gang member who killed his son things soon turn more serious as the rest of the gang retaliate against him. While Death Sentence is not a high profile movie it is a high quality one with some really good chase scenes and a long shootout at the end. In short it’s the Punisher done right. The only criticism is that the movie would have had a better ending if it ended about 13 seconds earlier. When you see it you will understand.

As far as DVD extras are concerned there is a ‘Making of Death Sentence’ featurette and that’s all in this case.

Verdict: +

Justice League movie stalled!

Justice League, from the Animated Series

Superhero movie fans mourn, because the highly-awaited Justice League movie from Warner Bros. has hit a rock, stumbled and fallen down an inescapable ravine with no Lassie to help. The movie, which was slated for a 2009 release, with production to start Spring has been put on hold. Production will now most likely start in late summer or fall (if at all)!

Why, you ask? The studio wants tax breaks for shooting in Australia, and got no response to their proposal. They also weren’t fully satisfied with the script, and wanted some more help with it, but the current writers’ strike leaves their options to drooling Justice League fanfic writers, which is not a good idea. Plus, the film is in a sorry state with the writer’s strike already, but their SAG deal expires in June, and the movie needs to be completed by then!

As far as the cast goes, most of the cast should still be available for the planned late summer-fall production. The cast itself, for those not in the know, will feature Arnie Hammer as Batman, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Adam Brody as The Flash, and (rumors follow) Scott Porter as Superman, Common as Green Lantern and Teresa Palmer as Talia al Ghul.

The repercussions here are that we are in a shortage of superhero flicks. The Dark Knight, the show-stealer is coming out this very year, while a Superman sequel’s fate is currently unknown. The inevitable Spider-Man 4 will take a while. That leaves us with the new upcoming Hulk movie and the planned Captain America movie. Okay, maybe not even that less, but hell.

Apple TV $229 AND with MORE Features

At Macworld Apple announced several new features to the Apple TV and a new price ($229 for 40gb, $329 for 160gb), all making for a package that’s actually appealing.

Users can now rent over movies straight from iTunes. Over 1,000 titles will be offered by the end of February. Of that 100 titles will be offered in high definition with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Costs will be $3.99 for new releases, $2.99 for library titles, and $4.99 for high definition titles. Costumers will have 30 days to activate the title and 24 hours after that to watch it.

Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer for enjoyment on their computer, all
current generation iPods or iPhone.

“With the new Apple TV and iTunes Movie Rentals, movie lovers can rent DVD-quality or stunning HD movies from their couch with just a click of a button,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “No more driving to the video store or waiting for DVDs to arrive in the mail.”

Other new features include viewing photos from their computers, Flickr and .Mac Web Galleries on their widescreen TV as slideshows or screen savers, and anytime photos are updated on Flickr or .Mac, they are automatically updated on Apple TV.

Smurfs: The Movie; We’re Serious

Smurfs. Invented in 1958, these creatures have been one of pop culture’s more popular franchises. With their blue skin and classic song, they have conquered the world. And now, in Anno 2008, they will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their existence! One of the biggest highlights of this events is a movie deal that will cause Hollywood to topple over. We’re talking a computer-animated 3D movie here. The horror!Also expect an invasion of female characters (not literally, of course – this isn’t Xena). Hendrik Coysman justifies this in that The Smurfs have always adapted to the current era and theme, and since the 80s, you’ve had women in more positions of power and freedom. The Smurfs will now reflect that!

Other stuff you should expect during these demonic 50th anniversary celebrations: new comic adventures, statuettes, an exhibition at Brussels’ cartoon museum and a set of commemorative stamps.

Oh Gawd.