SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS

Here's the promised trailer from a few days ago for Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes sequel. If Hollywood does one thing right, it's that it doesn't mess with a good thing. The jokes, slo-mo shots, and detonations are almost carbon copies form the first (hell, even the font they use is an exact replica); but when you make 500 million the first go around, you don't wanna stir the pot too much.



Robert Downey Jr. (Holmes) and Jude Law (Dr. Watson) have obviously returned--seemingly to illustrate how they can't live without one another, regardless of how much peril they encounter while together. The back-and-forth nature of these two men's dialogue was one of the first film's high points. I believe I (and others) will be able to handle another few hours of inane banter.

Professor Moriarty (Holmes' intellectual equal, who was merely hinted at in the original) comes to the forefront, portrayed by Jared Harris; while Swedish import Noomi Rapace (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy) plays a mysterious (aren't they all?) gypsy named Sim--presumably taking over the vacated archetype that Rachel McAdams filled the last time.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows premieres December 16, 2011.

BLU-RAY RELEASE OF THE WEEK

A lot of slop this week. But when life gives you lemons, you watch Dinocroc vs. Supergator. After a scientist gets bored mutating fruit, he turns to reptiles and...well, he creates a dinocrocodile and a supergator. Then they get loose and start filling their voracious appetites with tourists, mercenaries, and yes, supermodels.

This is the third chapter after 2004's Dinocroc and 2007's Supergator. It's obvious that one genetically freakish beast isn't good enough. Can't wait for the next one: Dinocroc, Supergator and a Baby. 

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS

Here are the first one-sheets for Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Homes sequel. Pretty bland if you ask me. Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his trusted aide Dr. Watson (Jude Law) are in the forefront, while newcomers Jared Harris and Noomi Rapace as Moriarty and Sim respectively, idle in the background. (Click to enlarge.)

Rumour is that a trailer will precede Harry Potter 7 Part II, so we'll hope for better things once the pictures start moving.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows hits theatres December 16, 2011.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

If you need another reason to head to the theatre this week, The Dark Knight Rises--Christopher Nolan's closing chapter of his Batman vision--will debut its teaser trailer in front of screenings of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. 

Easily one of the most anticipated films of 2012, Rises first look will apparently be 1:33 in length; plenty long enough to put the masses in a frenzy. 

The Dark Knight Rises arrives in theatres July 20, 2012.

BOND 23

Thankfully, with MGM's bankrupcy now alleviated, we can put focus back on the actual films being made; most notably, the new Bond flick. Daniel Craig is back and he's brought some friends. Javier Bardem (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Ralph Fiennes (In Bruges) have signed on to antagonize double oh seven, while Naomie Harris (28 Days Later) also is in talks to join the cast as fan favourite Moneypenny.

Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) will start shooting later this year, in time for a November 9, 2012 release date. 

THE UNDEFEATED

Although, it's still up in the air whether or not she'll insert her name in the race for the 2012 Republican party, at least we get not one, but two documentaries about the former Alaskan governor and current farce, Sarah Palin. Curiously titled, The Undefeated (2008 wasn't that long ago, was it?), the film pegs Palin as someone who never backed down from a challenge, and stood up to the machine. Kinda like Michael Biehn from Terminator.

This is a pretty sad first look, regardless of whether your views sway more to donkey or elephant. If you're so inclined, you can see people telling you how great the woman is on July 15. I think Matt Damon said it best, when he described Palin in office as a bad Disney movie.


The Undefeated Teaser Trailer from Dain Valverde on Vimeo.

JULY FILMS TO SEE

The end of a ten-year saga about a boy wizard and his battle against an oddly pigmented, bald, magical Hitler? Check. Crazy, sexy twenty-somethings that must escape from a ghost, whilst being trapped inside a mental institution? Check. English teens and American buckaroos that encounter extraterrestrials on their home turf? Check. An underwear clad Jennifer Aniston, scarfing down bananas and hotdogs? Check. All that and more below.

July 8
Horrible Bosses
This falls under the "optimistic" category. Jason Sudeikis (quickly becoming the go-to guy for comedies, for better or for worse), Charlie Day and Jason Bateman play a trio of down-in-the-dumps employees who hate their bosses because they a) trick them into drinking (not so bad), b) want to have sex (umm...), and c) have a thing against the obese and crippled (alright, that's pretty mean).

Colin Farrell makes me laugh; here's hoping that all the funny lines aren't solely in the trailer.



See the rest after the break.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- GHOST PROTOCOL

Regardless of what you think of Tom Cruise (the Oprah couch jumping, his love for scientology, glib battles versus Matt Lauer, etc.), the dude can sell an action flick. The newest chapter of the Impossible Mission Force (you can tell it's an even number film because Cruise has long hair) sees Cruise's Ethan Hunt and his team being disavowed (once more) after being framed for blowing up the the Kremlin. Predictably, he kicks some ass, scales some buildings, explodes some stuff, shoots some guns. The usual.

Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg are back, along with the additions of Josh Holloway (tv's LOST), Jeremy Renner, and Paula Patton (zing!). They must use their considerable talents against the villainy of Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire) and Michael Nyqvist (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy).

Expect special effects, ninja moves and perhaps some double crosses. Directing is Brad Bird (The Incredibles), in his live-action debut.



Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol arrives in theatres December 16, 2011.

ATTACK THE BLOCK

Having never been to London, what I know of it comes from television and film: fish and chips, strawberries and cream; a love for tennis and football. They have funny accents and use weird words like 'bobby' instead of 'policeman', 'boot' for 'trunk', and 'shag' for 'sex'. And now, after watching Attack the Block, I know not to fuck with the inner city youth--especially if you're from another planet.

It's a typical day at work for Moses and his crew. As night falls, they hide in the shadows like an intrusion of cockroaches, wrecking havoc on unsuspecting passerbys in the hopes of snatching a watch, or some loose change. Sam (Jodie Whitaker) is the unlucky victim; she is held-up by knifepoint, released of her belongings. In the middle of the assault, a meteorite pierces the calm sky, slamming into a nearby parked car.

Amid the chaos, Sam escapes, leaving the thugs to deal with the fallen debris. Moses searches the car for money. Intead he greeted by a creature, and a scratch across the face. In retaliation, he and his friends track down the beast and kill it, later, proudly showing it off to a group of girls. (Because nothing says love like an alien carcass.) Soon after, they travel back to their public housing (the block), to show their prize to Ron (Nick Frost), due to his love of "National Geographic," and a heavy supply of weed.

Their information session is soon interrupted as more alien-ites rain down upon fair London, and the boys--feeling particularly tough after dispatching of the first one--head out to bag some more. Baseball bats, samurai swords (awesome) and fireworks (odd) are grabbed for added support. Problems arise when this batch of baddies are bigger, blacker and with fluorescent glowing mouths. In a nutshell: the gang hightails it, Moses is pinched by the cops, the cops get killed by the extraterrestrials, everyone escapes back to the block to regroup.

The film's climax is a thrilling battle between teen and monster. The confines of the apartments are prison-like. The lack of space emphasizes an amount of claustrophia, only ampliphied by the presence of the hulking razor-toothed beasts. Ample amounts of blood is let (this is a horror film after all); losses happen on both fronts. Block was directed by Joe Cornish--a comedian associated with the Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) troupe. This is his debut, and an adept one at that. Audiences at the SXSW festival in early March caught the premiere and it has since caught fire. It opens in limited markets in late July. You should run to the theatres as quickly as these kids run from the bestial foreigners.

Most enjoyable is the fact that Block is equal parts eerie and humourous. Invasion meets situational comedy. I look forward to future viewings to (possibly with the subtitles on) catch more of the native dialect. Moses epitomizes the role of anti-hero. What begins as a means to preserve his own skin, soon morphs into a last stand to protect his turf and friends (and the world?). When trouble arises, I'd love to have him on my side, as long as I left my wristwatch at home. If that fails, there's always Ron's weed room.