Tag: animation

Dec82011 by Chris Holmes1 Comment
Trailer Trash — Sherlock Holmes 2, Alvin and the Chipmunks 3, and Underworld 4

Trailer Trash — Sherlock Holmes 2, Alvin and the Chipmunks 3, and Underworld 4

Movies
I don’t have time to go to the movies much any more. So instead I’m going to just review some new and upcoming films based solely on their trailers. Because let’s face it, most movies only have about two or three minutes’ worth of good material anyway. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows I quite enjoyed the first Sherlock Holmes, even if it retained very little of the pure cerebral charm of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels and short stories. I get that it's the 21st century, so big explosions are par for the course. What carried the first movie for me was pacing, good dialogue, and of course Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law. A Game of Shadows looks like it'll retain those key ingredients, which alone means it will be entertaining. What may take this one to the next level is
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Sep132011 by Chris Holmes1 Comment
Pop Culture Capsule — Superman through the Years

Pop Culture Capsule — Superman through the Years

Capsules, Featured Posts, History
Since his debut in 1938, Superman has become an American icon and has appeared in countless media adaptations. Well not countless, but a lot. More than I count. To show the evolution of Superman, here's a photo/image gallery representing how the Last Son of Krypton has appeared over the decades. Action Comics #1, June 1938 (art by Joe Shuster) Superman Fleischer Studios animated films (1941 - 1943) Superman, serial film starring Kirk Alyn (1948) Adventures of Superman, TV series starring George Reeves (1952 - 1958) Superman (Vol. 1) #99, August 1955 (art by Al Plastino) It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, Broadway musical starring Bob Holiday (1966) Super Friends, animated TV series (1973) Superman, film starring Christopher Reeve (1978) Lois &a...
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Sep92011 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Trailer Trash — Straw Dogs, Real Steel, and Happy Feet Two

Trailer Trash — Straw Dogs, Real Steel, and Happy Feet Two

Movies
I don’t have time to go to the movies much any more. So instead I’m going to just review some new and upcoming films based solely on their trailers. Because let’s face it, most movies only have about two or three minutes’ worth of good material anyway. Straw Dogs Well now doesn't this look perfectly life-affirming? Kids, the moral of the story here is that no good can ever come from having a hot wife (Kate Bosworth in this case) and then moving into a secluded house in a hick town with said wife. You'd think James Marsden would know better, since this is almost the same thing that happened in the original 1971 film starring Dustin Hoffman. (more…)
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Jun142011 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Trailer Trash — Bad Teacher, Winnie the Pooh, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Trailer Trash — Bad Teacher, Winnie the Pooh, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Movies
I don’t have time to go to the movies much any more. So instead I’m going to just review some new and upcoming films based solely on their trailers. Because let’s face it, most movies only have about two or three minutes’ worth of good material anyway. Bad Teacher Ah I see, so it's like Bad Santa but instead it's called Bad Teacher. And Cameron Diaz gets to play the vulgar, ne'er do well lead role that Billy Bob Thornton had. She could pull it off, as she's always exuded this weird vibe of being physically attractive but kind of gross and skanky at the same time. I guess A-Rod is into that sort of thing. If nothing else the supporting cast is solid. Phyllis from The Office is an interesting pick for a co-star, but I'm guessing that Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother)
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Nov292010 by Chris Holmes2 Comments
Venture Bros. Wrapup: “Operation: P.R.O.M.”

Venture Bros. Wrapup: “Operation: P.R.O.M.”

TV & Radio
I know from reading Jackson Publick's LiveJournal that producing The Venture Bros. this season has been an arduous task.  He, Doc Hammer, and the rest of the AstroBase crew have been working on season 4 since at least summer 2008, and even at that there was a lengthy break in the middle and a shorter break before the season finale.  While I give the guys all the credit in the world for busting their ass to produce one of my favorite shows, I can't help but wonder when burnout will start to set in.  There's already talk in fan circles that "Operation: P.R.O.M." could just as easily be a series finale as a season finale. But speculation over the fate of the show can wait for another day.  Let's first take a look back at the first-ever one-hour Venture Bros. episode and try to figure out w
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Oct272010 by Chris Holmes2 Comments
Venture Bros. wrapup: “The Silent Partners”

Venture Bros. wrapup: “The Silent Partners”

TV & Radio
I'll get the unpleasantness out of the way right now - the Billy Quizboy/Pete White-centric Venture Bros. episodes need to stop for awhile.  Billy and Pete are not nearly as interesting as Jackson and Doc seem to think they are, and diving deeper into their pasts, their relationship, or their neuroses doesn't really make for compelling television. Oh yeah, and I didn't see a Monstroso-heavy plot coming.  Not sure they really know what to do with the character, outside of the deep voice and jokes about his size.  Isn't he really just a more normal version of Baron Ünderbheit, a character they ditched for a few seasons? (more…)
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Oct182010 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Venture Bros. wrapup: “Assisted Suicide”

Venture Bros. wrapup: “Assisted Suicide”

TV & Radio
For those who follow these episode recaps, apologies for missing last week's of "Bright Lights, Dean's City".  Real life got in the way for the first few days and by the time it got to Wednesday it seemed a bit pointless to write a recap.  But real quickly - it was probably a B-, if for no other reason than it felt like the lesser companion to "Everybody Comes to Hank's".  It was goofy but I think I'm done with the whole Phantom Limb/Prof. Incredible duo for a bit. So on to "Assisted Suicide", in which Dr. Orpheus returns and the show hits a high mark.  As self-contained episodes go, this was one of the best over the past few years.  The dialogue was crisp and funny, and there was just enough emotional depth to make it more than fluff.  And did I mention Dr. Orpheus?  Because he never g
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