Richard Chamberlain as Jason Bourne? Yeah, that’s a little head-scratching I’ll admit. However this version of the Ludlum novel does stay closer to the character and themes of the orginal, and includes the book’s villain Carlos the Jackal.
Staying true to the novel by Robert Ludlum Jason Bourne (Chamberlain) awakes after being shot and left for for dead in the ocean knowing nothing of himself or his surroundings.
Leaving the small sleepy southern French village where he washed up our protagonist heads out to discover who he is, but he his search only leads to more questions. He is haunted by flashbacks of a women and a child and images of violence and death.
His one clue leads him to a Swiss bank account where he learns his name as his life is put in danger. Taking a woman, Marie St. Jacques (Jaclyn Smith), as a hostage Bourne escapes.
Here’s the short announcement teaser for the new The Bourne Conspiracy console game by High Moon and Sierra for the Playstaton 3 and the Xbox 360. Now you can be Bourne and take out all your amnesiac aggression with ruthless efficiency on anybody who gets in your way! Larger version available in the Full Diagnosis.
300: Prepare to dine on home video as arguably the biggest film of the year comes out on DVD! With the Spider-Man and Harry Potter sequels being disappointments, I feel like 300 is the only big action film of the year that was really worth the hype it received. It might not have been absolutely perfect, but it was damn stunning and Zach Snyder made the perfect film for the millions of young men in the country who just wanted to see a movie with stylized bloodletting. Every shot in this flick is so well colored and balanced that they could be framed and hung on a wall, and the action is just hardcore. Alan shared some of my enthusiasm, though not all of it. There’s a single disc edition with just the film and a commentary track, and there’s a two-disc version with several features that you can read about here.
Hot Fuzz: I’ll be honest, I think that Shaun of the Dead is a bit overrated. I still adore the film, but after watching it a few times, it just comes off as a flick that doesn’t know what it wants to be. It’s often times hilarious, but there are stretches of tens of minutes without much humor; and the dramatic aspect of the film, though well done, feels out of place. So I am extraordinarily happy with Hot Fuzz, a film that doesn’t try to be anything other than a full-on embrace of the ridiculousness that action movies have taken on. This second film from the British trio that gave us Shaun, it’s a romp of humor and action that appeals to the red-meated man in everyone, with pretty decent action and the best laughs in a movie so far this year, but carries extra fun for the film geeks out there with its countless film references (my favorite? “Forget it Nick, it’s Sandford.”) Do yourself and call up every friend you have and watch the movie, I promise you’ll laugh your arse off. Alan’s with me on this one.
But there’s more, like Firehouse Dog! Don’t get me wrong, I think the movie looks like a total dingleberry; but I can’t help but love this movie for its awesomely banal title. It sounds like a temporary name they slapped onto the script until they could think of a better title, and then they could never think of a better title. Then there’s Kung Fu Hustle: Axe-Kickin’ Edition, the Stephan Chow gut-buster that gets the special edition treatment today, though not that great of one. Find out about the limited special features by reading this review of the DVD, and you can also read Aaron’s way-old review of the film itself. Pathfinder is a cinematic brawl between Native Americans and Vikings that a part of me really wants to see, but a part of me feels like I should know better. Alan’s review shares this split decision. And finally, another season of the 90s TGIF staple Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Season Two is here to give me a much-needed Martin Mull fix.
Anne Hathaway stars as a young and yet unknown Jane Austen in this biopic which centers around an early love affair with a struggling Irish lawyer (James McAvoy). James Cromwell, Maggie Smith, Julie Waters, Joe Anderson, and Ian Richardson also star. Check out the official site. We’ve seen it and we’ll give you the scoop on Friday when the film opens in limited release in select theaters before going wide next week. Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.
A nerd and self-proclaimed stuntman (Andy Samberg) attempts an amazing jump to earn money for his abusive step-father’s life-saving operation. Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Isla Fisher, and Will Arnett also star. Check out the official site and the MySpace page. Ian’s been anxiously awaiting this one for weeks so come back Friday to find out what he thinks. Me, I’m just wondering how long it takes for Ian McShane to call one of the nerds a cocksucker. Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.
Mr. and Mrs. Jennifer Lopez star in this biopic of Hector Lavoe (Marc Anthony), one of the biggest Spanish salsa singers in the US in the late 60’s and 70’s before drugs and disease destroyed his life. Check out the official site. The film sings itself into theaters everywhere on Friday. Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.
The animated gals, originally based off fashion dolls, get their own live-action movie. It’s official, Hollywood is out of ideas. The beautiful voice stars of the animated adventures (Lacey Chabert, Soleil Moon Frye, Olivia Hack) are dumped in favor of relative unknowns Nathalia Ramos, Janel Parrish, Logan Browning and Skyler Shaye. Wait, Paula Abdul has a part too! Check out the official site. The film saunters and giggles itself into theaters everywhere on Friday. Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.
No other film (with the possible exception of Transformers) has left me with a sense of trepidation and dread as this Air Bud-looking live-action remake of the beloved cartoon. No rhyme nor Shoeshine Boy here, though I must applaud the casting of Peter Dinklage as Simon Barsinister. Jim Belushi, Alex Neuberger, Brad Garrett, Amy Adams, and Jason Lee as the voice of Underdog also star. Check out the official site. We will find out if there is a need to fear when Underdog crash lands in theaters on Friday. Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.
Richard Chamberlain as Jason Bourne? Yeah, that’s a little head-scratching I’ll admit. However this version of the Ludlum novel does stay closer to the character and themes of the orginal, and includes the book’s villain Carlos the Jackal.
