Because if someone has to take a bullet for mankind, might as well be me.

• 30Aug 08

  Just a quick update from the road.

  How's it hangin', people.

  I'm still on the mainland, (iowa, to be exact) with my fiancee, visiting with my family. We just got back from seeing Tropic Thunder with my brother, and it is without a doubt one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. If you haven't seen it yet, do so. If you already seen it, go again. What else is there to see this weekend, College? Babylon A.D.? Disaster Movie?

  Anyway, I managed to get some older DVD reviews started on this trip, so I'll have some ready when I get back to Honolulu later this week. Hope you guys are doing well, and I'll talk about the trip and some of the events that happened when I get back.

  Later, players....

  • Posted Aug 30, 2008 8:39 pm GMT
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• 19Aug 08

  The Hallenbeck77 Show Will Be Pre-Empted For 2 Weeks For A Vacation

  This will be my last post for the next two weeks, being that my flight to the mainland will leaves tomorrow night. I'm in the final steps of packing, I got some movies and music loaded upon my Zune, and my camera ready to go. I'll probably write a review or two on the flight, and hopefully they'll be ready by the time I get back. Until then, to everyone here, take care, behave yourseves, and here are some patring words of wisdom:

  If you love someone set them free...if they come back, set them on fire.

  Waitaminit....I don't think that's how the saying goes. But, you know what...screw it, that's all I got.

  • Posted Aug 19, 2008 6:25 pm GMT
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• 15Aug 08

  Punisher War Zone: Possibly The Worst Comic Based Film Ever?

  2008 so far has been an pretty good year for films, especially for comic book movies in particular. With the critical and financial sucess of The Dark Knight (obviously), Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, it goes to show that comic book movies can be made for a variety of audiences and be entertaining, provided that you have a good script, talented actors, and directors with a vision.

  Come this December, all that goodwill is going out the window.

  

  Lionsgate Films will be releasing Punisher War Zone, a sequel to a film that really didin't warrant a follow-up to begin with. The first film wasn't that good, but the reason that the sequel is greenlit was because of decent DVD sales, and Thomas Jane's performance as Frank Castle. But ever since the project was announced there has been nothing but bad buzz from the start. For example:

  Thomas Jane has quit the film, due to an underwheming script. He was quoted,

  "Punisher fans are already fighting an uphill battle as it is. And I've always felt a responsibility to fight that fight for them and with them so that Frank Castle gets the treatment he deserves. What I won't do is spend months of my life sweating over a movie that I just don't believe in."

  When your main star quits the film, shouldn't that raise some alarms? He was replaced by Ray stevensen, an actor whose main claim to fame was that he starred in HBO's Rome, as well as some direct-to-DVD movies. Not very reassuring. Strike one.

  Then, the movie's writer, Kurt Sutter (a writer whose credits include the TV show The Shield), asked to have his name removed from the movie, saying that his initial script is so far removed from his first draft. Nothing new, rewrites happen in Hollywood all the time. but to ask to take your name off the finished product can't be a good sign, either. Strile two.

  Just a few weeks ago at Comic-Con, the director, Lexi Alexander, was scheduled to appear, but was a no-show. The studio said that she went on a honeymoon, but rumors was swirling around that she was in fact, fired from the project. And on her blog, any mention of the movie up to that point was removed. Strike Three.

  And just yesterday, there has been reports that what was initially been an R-rated film complete with gratitous violence, will be neutered to recieve a PG-13 rating.

  What the hell?

  According to the article, the thinking behind the rumor is that since The Dark Knight made more money in a month than most films make in their entire theatrical run, the same suscess will rub off on them. Lets take a look at this idea for a second...

  The reason that The Dark Knight was a hit was because they had a very popular property, A-list cast, a great script, and an established director. The Punisher isn't too well known outside of it core fan base, your main actor quits and was replaced by an unknown, a horrible script, and a director that was alledgely canned. The only thing the film had going in its favor was over-the-top violence, and now the studio wants a PG-13 film, which means all the action will look as exciting as an episode of The A-Team.

  Which goes to prove two things...one, Lionsgate has no frigging clue on how to make movies, at least financialy suscessful ones that aren't related to the Saw franchise. And two, this will go down to replace Catwoman as the worst comic book movie to be released.

  Let's face it...this was never destined to be a hit no matter how you look at it. But like that really tragic car accident where some poor bastard winds up with his head through the windshield and his engine sitting on his lap, I just can't turn away.

  I bet Marvel is kicking themselves in the ass for selling the rights for this right about now.

  • Posted Aug 15, 2008 2:57 pm GMT
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