Happy Memorial Day!

I just want to wish everyone, especially our men and women in the armed forces – those who have passed and those who still serve, a very joyous Memorial Day. I thought about posting a picture of a big ass aircraft carrier, because that always makes me feel patriotic, but instead I thought I’d leave you with this lovely image. Happy Monday.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Movie Review (B-)

With the combined might of uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Jake Gyllenhall’s rockin’ abs and respected director Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time hits Memorial Day weekend with a big question mark: will this video-game based movie finally pass over the threshold of wretched to mediocre and inspire a franchise in vein of Pirates of the Caribbean? I’ll always argue a movie’s success should be based on its merits as a film rather than comparison to a video game, but the short answer is this: Prince of Persia is both fun and miles beyond its pixel-inspired brethren. And while it shares the common theme of a heroic orphan thrust into a world of magic and adventure, it does lack a Depp-like meat hook and falls short of Pirates charm– though, surprisingly, not by much.

Steeped in the craggy canyons, expansive deserts and mile-high minarets of a romanticized height-of-power Persian Empire, The Prince of Persia succeeds in taking the Cliff note narrative of 2003′s video game of the same title– invading prince discovers a dagger able to turn back time and eventually helps a princess recover it to thwart the evil plans of a duplicitous court adviser–and beefs it out with enough neutral (though slightly overstuffed) mythology, plucky character and surrounding quest to elevate it beyond the simple cut and paste/flat fan service of previous game to film failures.

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Clash of the Titans Movie Review (C)

Next to the Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones films, there was no other movie I loved more in the 1980s than Clash of the Titans. After watching Perseus turn the Kraken into stone with Medusa’s severed head, I was obsessed with Greek mythology. I gobbled up any book I could find at the school library. I even dressed up as Perseus on Halloween in 1982. I was 100 percent sure the third-grade ladies would be swooning over me just like thousands of women were lusting after the tan and shaggy-haired Harry Hamlin. I brought my plastic sword to school and my mom made me a toga. Nevertheless, my enthusiasm was shattered when I arrived at school and, after going to the bathroom to change, realized the toga was too short. If I bent over, all my classmates would receive an eyeful of Underoos and eight year-old prunehole. This meant I had to sport my jeans beneath my Perseus ensemble, which meant I looked like a complete idiot. I was no Harry Hamlin. The magic was kaput.

I don’t mean to use adolescent tragedy as segue for rating Louis Leterrier’s Clash of the Titans remake, but the connection is inevitable. The director, who I thought resurrected The Hulk from an ignominious Ang Lee death with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, sputters and ultimately fails to bring any sort of pizzazz, depth or enchantment to the age-old tale of the demigod Perseus, the son of Zeus. And that’s unfortunate, because with a little more story and engagement, this bombastic panorama of special effects might have a little more staying power and charm.

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Clash of the Titans Movie Review (Dan’s Take)

First, a warning: Loaded with the stuff eyes love gnoshing, Clash of the Titans should be seen in two dimensions, not three.

Filmed top to bottom for a 2D release, Clash of the Titans composition, lighting, effects and edits were created for the unaided eye. As a result, Clash of the Titans retrofitted 3D presentation is a dim, vision punishing mess of double imaging and off-kilter depth; slipshod artifacts that disrupt viewing to the point of souring it.

Technological grumbling aside, Clash of the Titans the movie fares slightly better than its 3D boondoggle thanks to its world of exotic pizazz and the goofy strength of mythological fantasy. Decidedly darker than the 1981 original, Clash of the Titans earnestly updates its predecessor’s aesthetic with armor for togas, cornrows for mop-tops and earnest crankiness for good humor, but suffers from an equal distribution of emotional vacancy and watch-checking sag when monsters aren’t stomping, roaring and slithering onscreen.

Tired of the Gods’ petty cruelty mankind has taken to relying on their own strength. They’ve stopped praying, stormed Mount Olympus and defied the Gods.

Petulant rebellion doesn’t sit well with Zeus (Liam Neeson), who sends brother Hades (a very brotherly looking Ralph Fiennes) to unleash some God-fearing terror on the city of Argos in the form of a choice: offer up the princess Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) or face the wrath of an angry Kraken in 10 days time.

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New Prince of Persia Trailer Surprisingly Not Turdtastic

I don’t care for the Prince of Persia video game franchise. I’m not a huge fan of Jake Gyllenhaal (although I did like him in Zodiac) and I’m usually hit and miss with everyone’s favorite guy that once played Gandhi, Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island). So, to say the least, I have not been in the Cartwheel Club for Disney’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. From posters to trailers, thus far the movie has failed to hook me. Imagine my surprise when this recently released second trailer for The Sands of Time actually warmed my cold heart just a bit. I still think it’s going to suck, but I’m to the point where I actually want to see it now. That’s a big step for me. Big.

Check out the trailer below and let me know your thoughts. Am I just having a great day, or does this trailer seem better to you, as well?

Release the Kraken! New Clash Trailer Kicks Ass!

Okay, it’s 100 percent official – I can’t wait for March 10, 2010.

This new Clash of the Titans trailer is quite similar to the teaser released a few months ago, but there is enough new bits and pieces that I’ve officially taken the fast train to Nerdtown. I loved the 1981 version starring Harry Hamlin (LA Law), but it was ripe for a remake. From what I can tell – and again, I’m just going off the trailer – this version with Liam Neeson (Taken), Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation), Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) and Ralph Fiennes (The Reader) is going to be quite the spectacle.

Take a peek below and share your thoughts! What do you think of the Kraken?

Clash of the Titans Teaser Trailer is 99.9% Awesome

Remember how cool the 1981 version of Clash of the Titans used to be when you were five years-old and the Ray Harryhausen creatures looked ever-so-real? Remember how lame that movie looks now? Don’t fret, because from the looks of this teaser trailer, director Louis Leterrier has made the tale of Perseus, Andromeda, Medussa and the Krakken all shiny again, with a little bit of kick-ass video game zip to boot. My only problem with this trailer? The tagline at the end: TITANS! WILL! CLASH! Lame. Otherwise, I’m sufficiently juiced for March 2010.

Trailer Tuesday – Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, based on the popular video game franchise, hits theaters in May 2010 and stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Zodiac), Ben Kingsly (Elegy) and Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace). It’s being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Mike Newell. Based on the trailer below, I’m a little underwhelmed. But then I’m a bit biased, because I think the video game is straight up lame. And while Arterton is smokin’ hot, Jake Gyllenhaal might one of the most overrated actors working today. We’ll see if he can pull off the action hero with his long hair and fake accent.

However, I will suspend my doubt on this movie because somehow the Bruckheimer-produced Pirates of the Caribbean series worked and because Newell has an impressive resume, including Enchanted April, the little known Amazing Grace and Chuck, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Love in the Time of Cholera.

How about you? What do you think of the trailer?

New Clash of the Titans Images Make Me Giddy for March 2010

I really haven’t delved too deeply into the release schedule for 2010 yet, but one movie I am absolutely looking forward to is Louis Leterrier’s (The Incredible Hulk) remake of the 1981 classic, The Clash of the Titans. Next to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies, I’m not sure there is another movie from the 1980s that captivated and enthralled me as much as Clash. In fact, I loved the movie so much that in third grade I dressed up as Perseus for Halloween. We got to wear our costumes to school and my mom had made my toga too small, so instead of flashing my classmates my nubile derriere, I wore it with my Toughskins jeans and felt like a dork.

Clash of the Titans hits theaters on March 26, 2010 and boasts quite the cast. First and foremost, the name you will hear the most, is Sam Worthington, the star of the turd-a-rific Terminator Salvation and the upcoming Avatar. And while he looks like a rockin’ Perseus, Worthington has done nothing to prove to me he’s here to stay in Hollywood. No, I’m more excited about the supporting players in Clash of the Titans, namely, Liam Neeson (Taken) as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes (The Reader) as Hades, Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Poseidon and the lovely Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) as Io. Some other faces you’ll recognize are Alexa Davalos (Defiance) as Andromeda, Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) as Draco, Polly Walker (HBO’s Rome) as Cassiopeia and Vincent Regan (300) as Kepheus.

That’s a lot of names to digest, but needless to say, I have high hopes for this movie. Apparently so does Empire Magazine, as their latest issue highlights Clash of the Titans as 2010’s “hottest blockbuster.” Whatever that means. One has to think we should see a trailer soon for the movie, considering its due in theaters in six months. I’m banking on a November or December trailer premiere, so until then, enjoy the pics from Empire below.