Disney Releases New "Guardians of the Galaxy" Trailer, Removes Rocket Raccoon "Re-Adjusting Himself"

While I can't prove this to any of you, Disney has released a new trailer for "Guardians of the Galaxy" that is set to debut on "Maleficent" and any other title currently running trailer #2.

This new trailer, #3, is almost identical to #2, except thy have removed Rocket Raccoon "re-adjusting" himself.  I had an itching suspicion this would happen Friday when I got the recommended playlist for "Maleficent" that included a #3.

Well today I was reluctant to be excited about it, but I went ahead and let me guard down.  The trailer started with the same shot from the first two, so there was still hope, but after a few seconds I knew not much would change.

This happened recently (and numerously) with "A Million Ways to Die in the West".  There's a trailer that features Sarah Silverman showing someone her vagina, and he says, "I better shut the Bible now."  The next trailer for the film was identical, but without the Bible joke.  Instead he just stares at her.  A girl showing somebody her vagina is okay, but saying he should close the Bible needs removed.

Anyway, as you will all possibly find out soon enough, the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trailer on "Maleficent" is apparently new, but in reality is just the same as the second trailer, minus Rocket moving his genitals around.

March Film Schedule

Historically, there are a few fairly solid titles released in March, though it is still a slow month.  This year, it seems we are getting a taste of summer blockbusters, but most likely ones that wouldn't compete with this years schedule, so we are getting them early.

March 7th

300: Rise of an Empire

Sequel to the 2007 film 300, this films appears to consist of the battle that we get a glimpse of at the end of 300.  The Persian are closing in on Greece, and the Greeks rise to battle.  The movie looks entertaining, most likely fairly mindless, but that's okay for something like this.  The first movie did a whopping $210 million, while this won't come close to that, I'm sure it will do pretty well for itself.

Mr. Peabody and Sherman

Dreamworks new animated movie features characters from a Rocky and Bullwinkle segment from the 1960s.  Mr. Peabody and Sherman is about a dog and his boy who travel through time to fix a few...inconsistencies they may have accidentally created.  Without seeing the trailer, I didn't have a tremendous amount of hope for this film, but the preview was very funny, and it looks like a decent kids movie.  It's done $22 million in Europe so far, so it looks like this movie should knock Lego off the top of the charts in a few weeks.

March 14th

Need for Speed

Need for Speed stars Aaron Paul, of Breaking Bad fame, and is based on the popular video game franchise.  This movie seems pretty awful.  The previews aren't getting great publicity, and the film looks to be ridiculous, but not in a good way like Fast and Furious of GI Joe.  That being said, they are definitely appealing to fans who are ready for another Fast and Furious movie, so I think the film will be reasonably well considering the negativity towards it already.

Tyler Perry's: The Single Moms Club

The Single Moms Club is the next movie by Tyler Perry.  It's been just over three months since the last one, so it's about time!  Honestly though, I've never seen a Tyler Perry movie, and I honestly probably never will.  All the film do reasonably well, some much better than others, but none of them are flops.

March 21st

Actors Appearing in Multiple Superhero Films as Different Characters

Whether you like the announcement that Ben Affleck will be appearing as Batman in the upcoming film or not, surely you remember a previous superhero film starring Ben Affleck.

Say what you want about the film, I personally enjoyed it, but I get why most don't.  Regardless, I feel Ben Affleck did a good job as Matt Murdock despite the rest of the movie kind of being a horrendous piece of shit.

All day I've been trying to think of other actors who have appeared in multiple superhero movies as different characters.  Some were very obvious, others I didn't even realize had played more than one.  I'm positive it isn't complete, so if you know one I missed, let me know please!

Chris Evans

The most obvious one to me is Chris Evans.  He first appeared in the Fantastic Four as the Human Torch is 2005, then reprises the same role in 2007 for the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.  Neither one of those were fantastic, and will most likely be (or already have been) forgotten due to his next superhero appearance.  In 2010, Chris Evans played the title character in Captain America.  He appears as the same character in in the Avengers two years later, and will play Captain America again in 2014 for Captain America: Winter Soldier.  In addition to this traditional superhero roles, he also played a villain in Scott Pilgrim VS the World and played a fugitive trying to clear his name in the Losers, both released in 2010.

Ryan Reynolds

The most obvious role Ryan Reynolds has played in the Green Lantern.  In 2004, Ryan Reynolds played Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity.  Hannibal is a member of the Nightstalkers, a vampire hunting organization.  He then went on the play Deadpool in 2009 in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  Finally, he played Green Lantern in 2011.  Additionally he played an undead policeman with Jeff Bridges in RIPD in 2013.

Sam Elliot

While he hasn't played the main role in a comic book movie, Sam Elliot has played two fairly important roles in Marvel movies.  He portrayed General Thunderbolt Ross in the 2003 Hulk film.  His character is in charge of a task force to apprehend the Hulk.  In the comics, he goes on the become Red Hulk.  Sam Elliot also portrays the Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2007).  In the film, he is a former "ghost rider" who helps the current one use his powers for good.

My Top Car Movies and Where to Watch Them Online

With Fast and Furious Six coming out on Friday, I decided to rewatch the first one.  It's been 12 years.  I can't believe it has been that long.  While I watch it, I've decided to list a few of my favorite car movies and where to watch them.  These aren't necessarily in any order.

Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

This was the first real car movie I remember seeing.  I didn't really get the story as a kid, or maybe I didn't care.  The film revolved around an insurance salesmen and his crew.  This man steals cars, remodels them, and turns quite a profit.  In the movie some big-shot offers him huge money to steal 48 specific cars.  He accepts the offer and begins collecting the list of cars.  Honestly, the first hour of the movie is extremely uneventful.  After seeing it a few times, I began starting the movie at the final car chase, which is where the action really begins.  93 cars are destroyed in the final, forty-minute long, car chase.  The film was written, directed, and produced by HB Halicki.  He is also the main character in the film.  Halicki began the make a sequel, and died while doing his own stunt for the film.  It was never finished.

I actually can't seem to find this film streaming anywhere, but I know for a fact it is extremely cheap on DVD.

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

A remake on the 1974 film, Gone in 60 Seconds stars the one and only Nicolas Cage.  It also has Angelina Jolie and Timothy Oliphant, but who cares compared to the Cage.  The film's plot is similar, Cage portrays an ex-car thief.  His brother is somehow in debt to some crazy British guy and owes him big.  This British guy tells Cage that he must steal 50 specific cars in a few days to keep his brother alive.  Production-wise, this film is much better.  I'm not entirely sure the story is, but it holds my attention more.  Obviously the acting is literally the best ever because Cage.

Gone in 60 Seconds on Amazon Streaming

Vanishing Point (1971)

This film is heavily, heavily referenced in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, which I'll get to eventually.  In this film, a car delivery man has to deliver a brand new, stock, 1970 Dodge Challenger.  He makes a bet with somebody he can go from Denver to San Francisco in something like 15 hours.  He runs into all sorts of shenanigans in the process, and it becomes a very scenic drive across the mid-west.  There is even a wonderful blind black man who DJs while listening to police radio, helping the main character keep the police off his tail.  It has one hell of an ending too.  Another film I can't seem to find streaming, my apologies.

Death Race 2000 (1975)

This film is also on my list of best post-apocalyptic movies.  The plot is very simple.  There is a giant race across the United States, and drivers get points for each person they hit.  The plot gets a little more complicated, but I don't want to give it away.  The film stars David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone pre-Rocky.  It's strange seeing Stallone as a bad guy, especially in a role like this.  I think the newer Death Race movie is similar to this, but it never looked good enough to actually watch.  Maybe I should!  Let me know.

Death Race 2000 on Netflix

Death Race 2000 on Amazon

Star Trek Streaming Options with Viewing Order

I've always been a Star Wars fan personally.  I saw the 2009 Star Trek film, and while I was entertained, I wasn't necessarily blown away.  I wasn't compelled to seek out more.  After viewing Star Trek: Into Darkness, I have to say I want to be a fan.  With a little research, very little research, I found a nice viewing order here.  I'm just simply providing a list with some pictures and link to where you can find it right now.  For a more simplified list, please use to one linked above.  Thanks!

If you have Netflix and Amazon Prime you are able to watch literally all of Star Trek with no cost to you other than the subscriptions you have already.  If you only have Hulu for whatever reason, you can watch all the shows but not the movies (who does that anyway?).

Also, keep in mind I'm only listing streaming options that are covered by monthly fees already.  For example Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is available on Amazon streaming for $2.99, but I'm not going to list it because it costs extra.

Star Trek Seasons 1-3 (1966)

This is the most obvious place to start.  I've seen a few episodes here and there over the years, but never really enough to understand any of it in a grand scale.  From what I remember, it is quite campy, but it was the sixties, what was I expecting?  I am going to try to start here, but I honestly don't expect it to hold my attention enough.  Hopefully it will!

Star Trek: The Original Series on Netflix
Star Trek: The Original Series on Amazon Streaming
Star Trek: The Original Series on Hulu

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973)

Apparently due to fan demand, the crew from the original show re-appeared in animated form in 1973.  This seems to be a continuation of the original series.  I have read that this was canon at some point, then it was decided it would be longer be canon.  I'm going to try to watch it all, but I'm not really sure I'll be able to handle this.  I find trouble trying to watch any animated made prior to the late '80s.  It just doesn't hold my attention unforunately.  I'll certainly try though!

Star Trek: The Animated Series on Netflix

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

This is where I was told to start watching Star Trek.  Apparently the quality really begins to improve and it is much less cheesy.  So, if I can't get through the first series, I'll just move to this.  Please be aware there is apparently a director's cut, which is probably better, and I don't believe it is streaming anywhere.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture of Amazon Streaming

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

I have personally been informed that this is the best Star Trek anything ever.  I'm definitely looking forward to watching it, Star Trek: Into Darkness spoilers here...After watching the new one featuring Khan, I'm very interested in the character.  I'm also told Into Darkness and this have many similarities, I'm excited to find out what.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Netflix

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Amazon Streaming

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

Without reading the synopsis, I'm going to assume Wrath of Khan ends like Into Darkness did but Spock dies?  Then they go somewhere to revive him?  Apparently Leonard Nimoy, who plays Spock, directed this film and the next one.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock on Netflix

Are movie run times increasing?

I've worked in a movie theatre for years and been a fan of movies for much longer.  I have never really paid attention to movie run times in the past, they didn't really effect me.  If a movie was abnormally long, I would take note, but I didn't really care otherwise.  Once I started being a projectionist, I soon began to care.  The longer the movie, the longer I had to stay at night after later shows.  This works both ways though, the longer I have to stay, the more I get paid.

Anyway, I began thinking about this more and more.  I honestly feel like movies have gotten much longer in the last five years.  Maybe it is just that the more memorable movies are getting longer.  Maybe action scenes in movie are just getting longer and more frequent.  Is there a pattern here?  I've decided to look into it further.

First, I'm just going to list the top box office films for a few years and their run times.  By the way, I do want to add I'm not going to be looking into any article similar to this, I want to discover all the information on my own!

1999

1. Star Wars: Episode 1 - 133 minutes
2. The Sixth Sense - 107
3. Toy Story 2 - 92
4. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me - 95
5. The Matrix - 136

1999 Average: 1 hour 52 minutes

2000

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - 104 minutes
2. Cast Away - 143
3. Mission Imposisble II - 123
4. Gladiator - 155
5. What Women Want - 127

2000 Average: 2 hours 10 minutes

2001

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 153 minutes
2. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - 178
3. Shrek - 90
4. Monsters Inc. - 90
5. Rush Hour 2 - 90

2001 Average: 2 hours 0 minutes

2002

Recommended Iron Man Reading, Watching, and Playing!

Clearly everyone who is an Iron Man fan knows about the movie coming out in a few weeks, but what if you can't wait?  What if you need more Iron Man right now?!  This is a list to hopefully keep you busy until May.

Comics

I know plenty of Iron Man fans who have never read a comic before in their lives, as a comic fan, I try not to be smug about it.  I give recommendations and usually get laughed at, but for those of you who haven't, read one!  Give it a try.  This recommendations list is found comic books subreddit's suggested reading.  I can't agree with it more, so why bother creating a new one?

Invincible Iron Man Volume 1: The Five Nightmares

This compiles the first six issues of the most recent Iron Man (not counting Marvel NOW) and it a wonderful read.  Obadiah Stone, the bad guy from the first movie, has a son named Ezekiel, and he wants revenge!  Ezekiel is described as Tony Stark's equal and opposite, younger, faster, smarter.  Besides all these things, he has the Iron Man tech!

Iron Man: Extremis

This book is actually had a re-release to go with the movie, as the movie takes some of its storyline from here.  This book compiles the first six issues of the 2005 Iron Man series.  A new technology is released and threatens all of man kind.  While I haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend reading this before you go watch it.

Iron Man: Armor Wars

This is a little less modern, but still good.  It collects Iron Man 225-232, and follows some deadly villains who get hold of the Iron Man technology and begin making their own. This is a very intense Iron Man story that is always remembered as one of the greats.

Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle

This is the classic Iron Man story.  It collects Iron Man 120-128, this one is about Justin Hammer, from Iron Man 2, arranging an entire army of super-villains to take Iron Man down.  Really should have been read years ago, but if you haven't, read it now!

Film

Do I need to discuss the Iron Man live-action films?  I'm not going to, I'm assuming the only reason people will be looking for more Iron Man is because they saw those films.  Let's cover some lesser known ones.

The Invincible Iron Man

This was a direct to DVD movie in the same style as Planet Hulk.  While probably the worst Marvel Animated movie, I think it does have some redeeming qualities.  This film involves Tony Stark in China working on some kind of underground resource thing, a dragon attacks that is preventing the return of the Mandarin.  Being as the Mandarin is the villain in the new movies, I would recommend giving this a watch before hand, but don't expect a whole lot.  Watch it while it is still on Netflix!

The Invincible Iron Man Streaming Options

Iron Man: Rise of the Technovore

This is the second Iron Man animated movie by Marvel Animation.  While I haven't seen it yet, it is apparently like the Iron Man Anime in style and story telling.  Norman Reedus of Boondock Saints and Walking Dead fame is voicing Tony Stark.  Weird.  Apparently it is about Ezekiel Stone developing a new bio-technology for Iron Man to take care of.

Iron Man: Rise of the Technovore Streaming Options

Television

Iron Man has been showing up on the TV for decades, I'm just going to cover what I have personally enjoyed honestly...

Iron Man

To fit in with the popularity of X-Men and Spider-Man, Fox began airing numerous Marvel cartoons in the 1990s.  One of these was Iron Man.  The shows follows Iron Man and his friends, which are pretty much the West Coast Avengers.  These include War Machine, Century, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman, and Hawkeye.  The first season is pretty atrocious  but the second reason really started to get great before it was cancelled.  The show had a few crossovers with other shows like Spider-Man and the Hulk.  Worth watching if you are a huge 1990s Marvel fan.  Currently available on Netflix!

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

Don't let the fact that this is a modern cartoon fool you, I've enjoyed this more than the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far.  While not solely an Iron Man show, Iron Man is obviously a prominent character.  The show is great for so many reasons, it might need it's own post.  Just watch the first few episodes and tell me I'm wrong.  Both seasons are currently on Netflix.

Iron Man Anime

I've never been an anime fan, I've tried so many times and never really found something I thoroughly enjoy.  I did, however, like most of the Marvel Anime available.  Iron Man is in Japan to build an arc reactor when the evil organization Zodiac intervenes he has to stop them.  I sat down and watch this entire series from start to finish.  It's not perfect, but certainly better than any other standalone Iron Man series.  It was streaming for free on Crackle recently, but appears to be off of that now.  I'm sure it will be back.

Video Games

There really haven't been too many Iron Man video games, especially ones that don't suck.  While he has made very notable appearances, he is rarely the main character.  He is a playable character in X-Men Legends II, both Ultimate Alliance games, and has been playable in all Marvel VS Capcom games to date.

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects

This game kind of sucks, but Iron Man is a prominent character.  The game is about some aliens that come crashing down to Earth, and begin infecting everyone.  The game is a fighting game with level in between that involve fighting footsoldiers.  It's not great, but there are not many Iron Man games, so I'm listing it.

Iron Man 2

Sega has released two Iron Man games that coincided with the release of the films.  The first one was horrible, and the second one isn't much better, but still better.  I really felt like Iron Man during this game.  The game takes place after the events of Iron Man 2 and stars Iron Man and War Machine as playable characters.  The game takes place in the air for the most part, and has a huge selection of weapons to choose from.  It is far from perfect, but at this point it is the best Iron Man game we can get.

Is Your Local Movie Theatre Going to Have a Good May?

Working in a movie theatre, I have to check the upcoming releases before I can ask a weekend day off.  There's just no way I'm going to get a Saturday or Sunday off during the weekend of a blockbuster opening! So I pulled out the old "upcoming releases clipboard".  I have no idea when I'm going to be able to have a Saturday off after April!  It's constant huge movies for months.  Ha, Hollywood says they are being effected by the recession...

So to answer the heading, theatre owners and corporations are going to have a wonderful summer, theatre employees are going to be wishing for winter.  Keep in mind, even if a movie turns out to be crap, if the hype is enough, it will have a strong opening weekend.

Here's the biggest titles coming out next month!

May 3

• Iron Man 3
• The third installment in the Iron Man series if you count The Avengers as a spin-off.  Most theatres are going to have this release at 9 PM on May 2nd, and for those of you interested, AMC is doing an Iron Man Marathon starting that afternoon.  This film stars Robert Downey Junior and is a guaranteed financial success.
• There is a small collection of limited releases also coming out that day, but nothing that is going to compete with Iron Man or that my theatre is going to get.

May 10

• The Great Gatsby
• Originally supposed to come out on Christmas day, this film was pushed back until May.  I assume it was so it wouldn't compete with Django Unchained.  This film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan among others.  Based on the classic book, and another guaranteed success.
• A few other films, including a Tyler Perry movie, are also released on the 10th, but my theatre will not be getting any of those.

May 17

• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Sequel to the 2009 film.  The first movie grossed over $250 million domestically, and if history repeats itself, sequels make more.  This movie going to be yet another guaranteed success.

May 24

• Epic
• With a huge, very famous, cast and extremely nice visuals, one might think this is a guaranteed success, but I'm not so sure.  Dreamworks has certainly had major flops in the past...
• Fast and the Furious 6
• Being the sixth film in the series, this seems about the point where things start to die off, but think this is going to huge.  The last one grossed over $200 million domestically.  Living in a small, rural town, our biggest movies have cars of horses.  Even if it isn't a huge success nationwide, it will be here.
• Hangover Part III
• This is the third film in the beloved Hangover series.  This series is one of the few modern comedies I actually enjoy.  The first two have been huge financial successes, especially considering their budgets.  This one will be too.

May 31

• Now You See Me
• I wasn't excited about this at first.  After seeing the trailer and poster, I'm already hooked.  The film is about a group of magicians outwitting the FBI.  It stars Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, and Michael Caine.  Just for the cast alone, it's going to an opening weekend success.
• The Purge
• This movie won't have any staying power, much like Evil Dead, but it will have a solid Friday and Saturday.  In some kind of horrible future, the government sanctions a 12-hour period where all crime is legal.  One family is trying to protect their home from whoever is trying to come inside.  Sounds okay, won't last.

So my entire May is held up, and it doesn't get better after that.  June and July certainly aren't looking any better at all.  Wolverine, Superman, new Pixar movie, it never ends!  Good news for movie fans though!

Catalog of the Cage: Raising Arizona

Once a week, I'm going to watch a Nicolas Cage movie.  Here I'm going to list my thoughts and why you are everyone you know should watch it immediately.  This weeks offering to the great and all mighty Cage is Raising Arizona.

From the cover, I could tell this movie was going to be gold.  I'm not too far into the movie at this point, but so far it is about a man who falls in love with  police officer in charge of taking the mugshots and fingerprints. Cage is arrested on a regular basis so he knows her quite well.  They become married and can't have children, and due to numerous arrests, they aren't able to adopt.

They happily married couple finds out there was a couple that had quintuplets.  They are upset that someone could get so much when they have so little.  The couple decides they are going to kidnap one of the children and take it for their own.

Cage has this wonderful accent the entire movie.  I truly felt blessed while listening.

It also takes about two minutes and forty seconds for the Cage to "lose his shit".  It's not very extreme, but it's a start.

The film is directed, written, and produced by the Coen Brothers.  It stars Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, and John Goodman.  I personally thought this actually a very well done movie, in all aspects.  Cage was over the top, but that is expected and worked well here.  They storyline is a little crazy, but it works well.  I would highly recommend watching it.

Raising Arizona Streaming Options

Directory of the Dead 2: Nights of Terror

For my second installment of Directory of the Dead, I chose a fairly unpopular, even sometimes considered bad movie.  This movie is pretty insane, the dialogue is atrocious, the special effects are laughable, there's hardly a story, and a forty-something dwarf plays a young boy.  It's that bad.  Now, here is why you should watch it!

Today's film is the 1981 train-wreck, Nights of Terror.

What its title?

The films original Italian title translates to Nights of Terror.  This seems odd as the terror only takes place in one night, but more on that later.  The official US DVD title is Burial Ground: Nights of Terror.  The film has also been released in English speaking countries as The Zombie Horror, The Zombie Dead, and Zombi 3 (there it is again).

Why is Nights of Terror important?

The short answer is this film isn't important.  Obviously, for the most part, this blog is opinions, and I won't tell you it is anything else.  The films is a textbook example of an exploitation movie.  Ridiculous violence, sex, and anything considered taboo.  Exploitation films have a major part of the history of film, if only just to prevent of from repeating the past.  This film literally has two sex scenes within the first nine minutes, and a third beginning, although interrupted, at the sixteen minute mark.  They aren't holding back here.

The zombie carnage begins in the opening scene really, but the main characters of the film encounter zombies about sixteen minutes in as well.  This movie doesn't mess around with story.  Obviously, this is a flaw, but are you really watching old Italian zombie movies for their in depth storylines?  In addition to the sex and violence, there is a literally a dwarf playing a small child who has a slight incest fetish for his mother.  He wants to breast feed, and I think he is round twelve maybe?  I'm not sure, he looks forty!

What is it about?

As I have stated before, there isn't a whole lot of story here, and the little story that there is might be hard to follow.  I'll do my best to give a spoiler free synopsis.

Some scientist is studying a crypt in under or around some mansion.  He accidentally releases some stone of some kind, and awakens the dead.  Prior to these events, this scientist apparently invited three couples, one with a child, to this mansion for a weekend vacation of sorts.

The next morning, after a sex filled evening, the couples eat breakfast together and begin their day.  Two of the couples end up in the grounds of this beautiful mansion as zombies attack.  The power to the building is somehow cut, and eventually the survivors of the attack retreat into the mansion for safety.  The survivors try to hold out in the house until morning...

What are the zombies like?

New James Bond on Netflix, One Month Only!

If my count it right, it appears twelve James Bond titles were added to Netflix last Monday the 1st and appear to be expiring on May 1st.

Dr. No (1962)

Dr. No is the first official James Bond film and introduced so many iconic Bond things, notably the gun barrel sequence.  The film itself should be watched by any Bond fan, as it is the original.  Critically, the movie didn't do that well, but general audiences loved it.  Definitely worth watching.  Expires on May 1st.

Dr. No on Netflix

Goldfinger (1964)

Goldfinger is the third James Bond film, making it Sean Connery's third film as well.  This film introduced signature gadgets.  Oddjob also in this movie, the famous hat throwing henchman parodied in Austin Powers as Randomtask.  Also stars Pussy Galore!  Critically acclaimed, won an Academy Award, and was a massive financial success!  Expires on May 1st.

Goldfinger on Netflix

You Only Live Twice (1967)

You Only Live Twice is the fifth Bond film, so also the fifth Sean Connery film.  Loosely based on the novel of the same name, and it was the first Bond film to be released over the summer.  Austin Power's main nemesis, Dr. Evil, gets his inspiration from this film.  Expires on May 1st.

You Only Live Twice on Netflix

Directory of the Dead 1: Zombi 2

Now that The Walking Dead is done for another season, what are all you zombie lovers going to watch?  It just happens that flesh-eating zombie movies have been around for almost fifty years, so we are far from a shortage of zombie carnage to enjoy.

Today movie is the spotlight is the 1979 Italian movie, Zombi 2.

What about Zombi 1?

Zombi 2 is known as about 47 different things around the world.  There are  multiple reasons for this, but one reason in particular is fairly interesting.  Dawn of the Dead was released in 1978 and boosted the zombie genre to fame.  Night of the Living Dead started it, but there wasn't a major movie until Dawn came out, then it boomed!  At the same time George A. Romero was making Dawn of the Dead, Italian director Lucio Fulci was creating his own zombie film set on a island.  Dawn of the Dead was released as Zombi in Italy and much of Europe.  After the huge success of Zombi, the title of this film was changed to Zombi 2, to give the impression it was a sequel.

In the United States, there never was a film called Zombi, as it was Dawn of the Dead, so in the United States, Zombi 2 was released as Zombi.

Why is Zombi 2 important?

Zombi 2 was the first one many, and I mean many, Italian zombie films.  While not solely responsible for the boom in zombie films, Italian film makers kept the genre populated for years.  This movie spawned a sequel, Zombi 3, and two other films stealing the title Zombi that are not actually related.  Also, this movie has a zombie fight a shark.  For real.

What's it about?

The plot is fairly simple.  A boat drift into the New York Harbor, a couple harbor patrolmen board, and they find a zombie in it.  The zombie kills one officer, then falls off the boat into the harbor.  A woman is brought into the station because her father owned the boat.  At the same time, a reporter is assigned to investigate this boat.  The reporter and daughter meet on the boat and find a note saying her father is on an island with a horrible disease.  They go to find him, and I bet you can guess the disease!  Dead Island kind of has a Zombi 2 feel.  I wouldn't say they are the same, but there are some similarities.

What are the zombies like?

The zombie in Zombi 2 are similar to classic Romero zombies.  They crave flesh, are dead, walk slowly, and their bites are fatal.  The main difference here is apparently anyone on this island is infected.  At one point, some Spanish Conquistadors from a LONG TIME ago raise through their burial and do same damage.  Don't let that turn you off, this movie is great.

What to look forward to in this movie?

Well, there is a zombie that fights a shark!  Besides that, there is a great scene where somebody face is pulled into some splintered wood, and the person gets a good size piece to the eye.  There is also a scene with some people holding out in a church, it's very cool and very dramatic, but count the number of rafters that fall from the ceiling in this scene.  It is so much more than the building could possible have, and it would have to collapse after the first few fell anyway!  All the special effects in this movie are gory and great.  It was part of the UKs Video Nasties.

Zombie Kill of the Week?

Zombi 2 Streaming Options

Is AMC Theatres Having an Iron Man Marathon?

Last May, AMC Theatres hosted an "Ultimate Marvel Movie Marathon".  It consisted of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America, and finished off with the midnight release of The Avengers.  Each film had a special introduction from Phil Coulson himself.  The marathon started at eleven in the morning, and didn't rap up until about two-thirty the next morning.  It was so much fun.  I've never been to a comic convention or anything like that, so it was nice to see people in cosplay.  The sold out audience was filled with Thors, Iron Mans, Tony Starks, and even a few Hawkeyes!

AMC did this again for The Dark Knight trilogy when The Dark Knight Rises came out.  So what about Iron Man?  Sure, I had scene all the Marvel Universe movies plenty of times, but to watch them all on the big screen again, all of them just building up to a finale like the Avengers, it was a great experience.  I would love to do it again with Iron Man.  But, being as the movie comes out in about a month, I would assume they are not doing one...

In fact, I have been told they are!  I don't have sources, but I have definitely been assured they will be doing a marathon.  I would love to see Tony Stark's journey from a playboy to hero all in a row.  Why not just watch at home?  I like being in a theatre, even if it is super overpriced.  I like giving something my full attention.  At home, I'm texting, cleaning, reading, or doing a long list of things while watching a movie.  Rarely does television or movies get my full attention at home.  I would also love to see the evolution of the Iron Man armor throughout the series!

Next question, should it include Avengers?  While a major part of the movie, it clearly wasn't solely about Iron Man.  If anything, it felt more like Thor 2 than an Iron Man movie, not that that is a bad thing.  I think Pepper Pott's brief scenes in Avengers develop her relationship with Tony more than both the first two Iron Man movies do, combined.  In my opinion, I would say Avengers would be an integral part of an Iron Man marathon, even if just for his armor upgrades and the fact that he literally goes on what he thinks is a suicide run to save New York.  I have been assured that Avengers will be a part of the trilogy.

Anyone, stay tuned to the internet for information once they go public...I hope I haven't been lied to!