DVD and Blu Ray Releases for November 6th

Here are the Blu Ray and DVD releases for November 6th:

Arthur Christmas, Your Sister's Sister, 360, Fire Fire, Entourage The Complete Series, Rashomon, Sunset Boulevard*, Patton*, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles*, They Live*, The Muppet Christmas Carol*, Beaches*, The Client*, The Bonfire of the Vanities*, Von Ryan's Express*, Guys and Dolls*

*Indicates Blu Ray only

Paul Thomas Anderson looks to make raunchy stoner-esque comedy

     If you've never seen a Paul Thomas Anderson film you are really missing out.  Each film from Boogie Nights to There Will Be Blood is its own unique viewing experience.  In an age where "same old crap" seems to be the status quo for most movies, Paul Thomas Anderson films are distinctly unique.  That's why the latest news about his possible next film doesn't surprise me at all.
     According to the director himself, Anderson's next film may be a comedy.  And not the dark, quirky humor of Punch Drunk Love, but a Cheech and Chong/Airplane/Ted type of film.  When asked about the possibility of making a full blown comedy in a recent interview with "Moviehole," Anderson stated, "Soon hopefully.  I have to write it.  It sounds daunting.  I'd like to make a film like Airplane."
     Although all of Anderson's film have comedic moments in them, even the savagely malevolent There Will Be Blood, his films at their core are dramatic.  It's nice to see someone who wants to go out of their comfort zone and try a comedy.  I'm all for it.  And after all he is married to former SNL star Maya Rudolph who does know a little bit about comedy. 
     Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film The Master is in theaters now.

"Hey Optimus say hi to your motha for me!"--Mark Wahlberg may join Transformers 4

                                         This poster was just too epic to not post.




     Well this is....interesting? Strange? Unexpected?  On par with Michael Bay's insanity?
      Although director Michael Bay discounted the rumors last week that Academy Award nominated actor Mark Wahlberg was joining the fourth edition to the Transformers franchise, never doubt the power of the Internet.  From his official website, Bay now says that "Internet chatter gave me some ideas" and that he loved working with Wahlberg on the upcoming film Pain and Gain.  Even though the fourth Transformers movie is in its early stages, the aforementioned "ideas" are "gaining traction with me and my writer" according to Bay.
     If Wahlberg does in fact join the film I think it immediately gives the franchise a needed boost of star power and a strong male lead.  Love him or hate him, Mark Wahlberg is a bonafide movie star that draws box office money hand over fist.  Not that this movie would need it considering the storyline is basically about giant outer space robots blowing shit up.  Then again Bay's films have always been more about spectacle than story, and I'm sure they could cast Justin Bieber as the lead and the pic would still make money.
     Pain and Gain releases April 26 of next year while Transformers: I'm Tired of these Motherfuckin' Decepticons on this Motherfuckin' Planet! debuts June 27th 2014.

Don't talk to me Goose--Top Gun 2 blown out of the air

     Although the sequel to the 1986 classic Top Gun looked to hit super sonic only a few months ago, the recent and tragic death of director Tony Scott has apparently ejected Top Gun 2 from the big screen.  According to the New York Times "the sequel has fallen apart."  So it looks like we won't be seeing Iceman and Maverick as wingmen after all, despite the fact that Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie were really enthusiastic about the project.
     I have to say I'm happy to see this project crash and burn.  Top Gun was a favorite of mine growing up, even with the homo-erotic beach volleyball scene.  There didn't seem to be any particular need for a sequel.  No offense but who cares about Maverick at the end of his career?  And lets be honest, Kelly McGuiness isn't exactly screen beautiful anymore.  Furthermore, Val Kilmer looks more like Ice Cream Man now that IceMan.  All in all I think it's best that Top Gun 2 remains in the hanger. 

Casting Crazinness!!! Christof Waltz to be in the new "Muppets" movie? Harrision Ford and Zac Efron to star in a psychological thriller?

     Well hello bizarre casting news.
     Although I didn't care for last year's The Muppet Movie it did receive mostly positive reviews and made a killing at the box office.  A sequel has been in the works for awhile now and we've finally got some casting news.  Ex-Jew hunter (Inglorious Basterds) Christof Waltz will be joining Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest of the gang for next year's follow-up.  According to "Variety," Waltz will be playing an Interpol agent which raises suspicions about the possible plot.  The Muppets go international?  Hmmm.  Interesting premise.
     In other news an acting duo that you might not expect may be teaming up soon.  "The Wrap" reports that Harrison Ford and Zac Efron are both looking to snag parts in the upcoming film You Belong to Me, a psychological thriller in which Ford will play a psychiatrist dealing with the suicide of a patient.  He bonds with the patient's brother (Efron) only to have him seduce the psychiatrist's wife and daughter.  Adding further intrigue is that Rob Reiner is set to direct.  The man who brought you The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally hasn't gone this route since 1990's Misery.  A fascinating trifecta all around.
     Waltz can next be seen in Django Unchained on Christmas Day while Ford will play Branch Rickey in next year's 42 as well as Colonel Graff in the long awaited adaptation of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game.

Disney buys Lucasfilm; promises new "Star Wars" films starting in 2015!!! Could Indy 5 be far behind???

     I'm rarely surprised by the actions of Hollywood.  In a town that continues to make Adam Sandler pictures despite the fact that he stopped being funny ten years ago, why would anything take me aback.  I mean we are talking about a town that just decided to make Hungry Hungry Hippos into a film after all. 
     But I have to say this floored me.
     In an unprecedented and unexpected move, Disney this past week purchased Lucasfilm Ltd for $4.05 billion.  They will have 100% control of Lucasfilm and all associate properties, such as LucasArts, Skywalker Sound, and Industrial Light and Magic.  I am dumbfounded that a man like George Lucas who clings to the creative control of Star Wars like Gollum clings to the One Ring would willingly give up Lucasfilm, no matter how much money was involved.  According to "The Hollywood Reporter" Lucas will stay on as a "creative consultant" but Kanye West was once considered as a creative consultant for the impending Jetsons movie so take that for what it's worth.
     But we're not done kids.  Not only has Disney acquired Lucasfilm they've already promised new Star Wars films starting in 2015.  New movies will follow every few years.  Allow a moment for that factoid to sink in.  That's right episode 7 will be gracing theaters in less than three years.
     But who better to give a response to this avalanche a change than the man himself:

“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next, It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products.”

       I am in awe of what this could actually mean for the Star Wars franchise.  Finally we are going to get creative minds other than George Lucas to bring their considerable talents to his world.  The possibilities are endless.  It sounds like George expects Star Wars to exist long after he's dead and buried.  Quite honestly I could see Star Wars films becoming somewhat of a James Bond like situation, where movies, television, etc are constantly passed on to a new generation.  A theme park?  Are you kidding me?  I would be all over that!  (Well if my wife lets me go.  Just kidding babe.)  And believe me with the multitude of novels, short stories, and comic books that have emerged in the last two decades there is virtually no end to source material.
     Which brings up an interesting point when it comes to the proposed movies.  Will these films follow the Star Wars novels that have emerged overtime, novels that George Lucas himself had to approve.  Disney execs who go in a different direction are bound to incur the ire of Star Wars fans.  Moreover, what would be the time frame for these movies?  Most of the actors involved in the original trilogy are too old to be a part of anything less than two decades after the fact.  And what if they don't want to be part of it?  Will new actors be cast for these iconic roles.  So many questions to consider.
     Also what of the proposed fifth Indiana Jones film.  Will this now move in a different direction?  Again I'm sure there are plenty of creative talents chomping at the bit to bring a new Indy adventure to the screen.  This action by Disney gives them the power to cast any director they want without George Lucas's approval.  Would Harrison Ford still want to be a part of it?  Who should direct the film?  For that matter who should direct the next Star Wars?  Again more questions than answers.
     Oh and in case you are wondering 20th Century Fox will not be producing any of these movies.  Also if you are scoring at home, Disney now owns Lucasfilm Ltd AND Marvel.  At this point I think if Disney Ceo Bog Iger ran for President he's win in a landslide next Tuesday.  
     Personally, I think this news is fantastic and I am so stoked to see what direction Disney will go.  Unlike Han Solo I don't "have a bad feeling about this." 

Review: Taken 2

Plot:  It's several months after the events of Taken and operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) and his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) are finding it difficult to assimilate back into normal life.  Bryan drowns himself in work with an obsessive like demeanor, while Kim is so haunted by the events in Paris that she finds it difficult to even drive.  In an effort to clear away the wreckage and inject some joy into their lives, Bryan invites Kim and his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) to join him in exotic Istanbul.  Unfortunately, the relatives of the Albanians Bryan killed in the first film have different plans.  Led by Albanian Mafia chief Murad (Rade Serbedzija), the vengeful group will stop at nothing to destroy everything and everyone Bryan loves.

Review:  Uninspired and derivative, Taken 2 is a tawdry and pale shadow of its innovative predecessor.  Reminiscent of such terrible action sequels as Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Taken 2 fails to inspire any real attachment to its characters, electing to go with spectacle rather than substance.
     Luc Beeson and and Robert Mark Kamen's weak and choppy script starts out with a plausible premise:  the family members of the people Bryan killed in the first film seeking revenge.  After that the plot becomes surprisingly far fetched.  I mean come on?!  You're really going to invite your daughter and ex-wife to Istanbul, which no offense to Istanbul, isn't in the best part of the world geographically.  With everything that happened in Paris, why would you put your daughter in harm's way in a city that is exponentially more dangerous?  Couple this with Kim's suddenly NASCAR like driving skills in a car chase scene halfway through the movie, and you'll begin to understand how quickly the plot points lose the thread of credibility.
     Director Oliver Megaton (yes that's his real name) is no stranger to action films having done Columbiana and The Transporter 3, and like both of those films Megaton relies almost solely on explosions, fights, chase scenes, and blood to do his talking.  Gone are the intense dialogue scenes from the first film that counterbalanced the remarkable action sequences.  Instead action predominates with little room for character development.  To his credit the action and fight sequences are excellent.  The car chase scenes in particular are riveting.  Unfortunately this can't make up for Megaton's choppy and inconsistent direction.
     Neeson has become adept over the years at playing the gruff, brooding, and intense tour de force they we've grown to love.  Taken 2 is no exception.  Neeson once again brings a hard-boiled edge to Mills, however it's more of the same with no real development or growth from the first film.  Maggie Grace's character Kim does exhibit a strength and perseverance not found in the original, although at times her character became exasperating to watch.  As for Famke Jansen, well she was just kind of there for the ride.
     If all your interests lie in a mindless two hours of action and escape, Taken 2 will hold some appeal.  For those out there who loved the nuanced and layered thriller of  Taken you will probably be extremely disappointed.  I suggest you just leave it.

My rating:  4/10