Category: Based on a Book

Review Of Director Damien Chazelle’s First Trailer For Apollo 11 FIRST MAN Starring Ryan Gosling And Claire Foy

“Houston. Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed…”

On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, LA LA LAND, Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ FIRST MAN, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969.

A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost-on Armstrong and on the nation-of one of the most dangerous missions in history.

The film stars Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Patrick Fugit, Ciaran Hinds, Ethan Embry,  Shea Whigham, Corey Stoll, Pablo Schreiber.

2019 will witness the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing.

From October 2018 through December 2022, NASA will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Program that landed a dozen Americans on the moon between July 1969 and December 1972. Recently NASA unveiled an official logo to observe these milestone anniversaries at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

The Apollo program and the Saturn V rocket – it is still mankind’s finest achievement and we’ll never create anything as magnificent as that ever again.

The Saturn V was developed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. It was one of three types of Saturn rockets NASA built. Two smaller rockets, the Saturn I (1) and IB (1b), were used to launch humans into Earth orbit. The Saturn V sent them beyond Earth orbit to the moon. Five F-1 engines were used in the 138-foot-tall S-IC, or first stage, of each Saturn V, which depended on the five-engine cluster for the 7.5 million pounds of thrust needed to lift it from the launch pad. The mighty F-1 remains the most powerful American liquid-fuel rocket engine ever developed. The F-1 still holds the record as the largest single-chamber, single-nozzle liquid fuel engine ever flown.

Yes, there will be other missions to the Moon and eventually to Mars (Orion rockets), but the ships that take people there won’t be as glorious as the mighty Saturn V rockets.

Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin into an initial Earth-orbit of 114 by 116 miles.

While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the Lunar Module “Eagle” to explore the Sea of Tranquility region of the moon, astronaut Collins remained with the Command and Service Modules “Columbia” in lunar orbit.

An estimated 530 million people watched Armstrong’s televised image and heard his voice describe the event as he took “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” on July 20, 1969.

It’s time for another motion picture to remind audiences of the massive feats people once ventured to and accomplished. The Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions were the days of brave heroes.

The exciting and thrilling trailer for FIRST MAN makes the upcoming movie a must-see in IMAX.

To director Damien Chazelle, in order to honor these explorers I respectfully recommend:

1. In the opening sequence, the trailer shows a Saturn V taking off. Those rockets took off very slowly, and the exhaust flame was very narrow and long. What they have done with the trailer is edit in the exhaust of a space shuttle with a much faster take-off, and the exhaust is fanning out wide with lots of smoke. That’s what was fun about watching an Apollo launch – the dramatic slow take off and then it really started picking up speed as it broke through the atmosphere into outer space.

2. As for how this trailer is cut, it shows a lot of scenes about Armstrong’s Gemini flight (which is true). At about the 1:46 mark of this trailer, they start a 6 second countdown, with all the scenery revolving around a Gemini capsule (those scenes looked good), then they say ‘liftoff’, and you see the 5 rocket engines of the 1st stage of the Saturn V roaring, not the two engines of the Titan rocket that launched all of the Gemini’s. If they meant for all of that to be coherent, it wasn’t. If they just want to show random scenes, they could get away with it since it is a trailer, but it will not fly with NASA/Apollo enthusiasts.

3. This first look at the film shows Armstrong flying the X-15. (The pen floating next to him.) The Gemini 8 mission is the flight he took with Dave Scott (who commanded Apollo 15), and the two of them very realistically could have died when some steering thrusters on the capsule did not turn off, and the spacecraft started spinning dangerously fast, to the point where they could have passed out. Neil stayed cool and got things quickly under control, but the mission had to abort immediately after that. The Gemini scenes looked good. The spacesuits looked authentic, so kudos to getting this right.

There are going to be plenty of potential scenes where the music will really add to the experience: around the X-15, the Gemini launch/crisis/splashdown, and of course Apollo 11 launch, lunar landing, liftoff from the moon, splashdown. I’m really looking forward to what Oscar winning composer Justin Hurwitz has in store with his score.

The first trailer for Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR was masterfully and thoughtfully cut.

“These moments when we dared to aim higher. To break barriers. To reach for the stars.”

At the time I wrote:

Filled with footage of Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1, the Mercury and Gemini space capsule missions, the Saturn V rocket liftoff to the Moon with the Apollo missions, and the Space Shuttle Atlantis, this superb first trailer really brings home the fact that at one time America’s Space Program was envied and unrivaled. It’s chilling to think that we may never again see the likes of when we made frequent trips to the Moon. There was a time when we had the determination, ability and huge national pride of travelling to our nearest celestial neighbor.

Matthew McConaughey speaks the truth in his voice over – “We lost all that. Perhaps we’ve just forgotten. That we are still Pioneers – we’ve barely begun and that our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us. Our destiny lies above us”

An additional note: Ron Howard went to great lengths to get things right on APOLLO 13. See the movie launch and the real launch below.

I hope FIRST MAN does the same thing, and just doesn’t edit in stock footage or re-creations of just random footage. Just a few suggestions for a film that has an awards season, October 12, release date.

FIRST MAN is based on the biography First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong.

Armstong passed away at age 82 on August 25, 2012 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.

Photos courtesy of NASA

Perspective Look At The 12 STRONG Movie – Chris Hemsworth And Michael Shannon Star

By Marc Butterfield (Analyst, freelance writer, veteran)

Until 1979, most of the modern world had never heard of Afghanistan as little more than a spot on a globe in the library. In that year, the Soviet Union sent special forces commandos in to raid the royal residence and kill the occupants, installing a puppet government. From that point forward, as a people and a place, they have rarely been OUT of the news. To the British empire, Afghanistan was well known, but as Americans, we were ignorant of it. In fact, almost any country that has every tried to tame the Afghan territory has failed, and almost always after long, expensive, bloody campaigns. The lesson of futility was learned time and again.

Then, because of the Taliban, a product of soviet invasion and American intervention, acting as hosts of Al Qaeda, Afghanistan once again was put on the radar of the American people. The attacks perpetrated upon the American people by Saudi terrorists, planned and launched from Afghan camps, on September 11, 2001, changed the world as we know it. The blow dealt to America, on it’s very shores, in it’s shining city, New York, were devastating. The cost in blood and security is still being paid to this day.

This is where the story of 12 STRONG begins. American Special Forces, our elite fighters, had to go where few Americans had been, and forge alliances with the Afghans who would aid with the ouster of Al Qaeda and the Taliban. For them, culture shock would be an obstacle no less formidable than the terrain or armed enemies. These men had come armed with a more open mind than the Soviets had, and this would prove to be the difference.

Chris Hemsworth (“Thor,” “The Avengers” films) and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road,” “Nocturnal Animals”) star in 12 STRONG, a powerful new war drama from Alcon Entertainment, Black Label Media and Jerry Bruckheimer Films that tells the declassified true story of the Horse Soldiers.

Based on the best-selling book Horse Soldiers, it is story of heroism based on true events that unfolded a world away in the aftermath of 9/11.

12 STRONG is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. There, in the rugged mountains, they must convince Northern Alliance General Dostum (Navid Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary: the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies. In addition to overcoming mutual distrust and a vast cultural divide, the Americans—accustomed to state-of-the-art warfare—must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghan horse soldiers. But despite their uneasy bond, the new allies face overwhelming odds: outnumbered and outgunned by a ruthless enemy that does not take prisoners.

Playing the 12 STRONG U.S. Special Forces team are Hemsworth, Shannon, Michael Peña (“The Martian, “Ant-Man”), Trevante Rhodes (“Moonlight”), Geoff Stults (“Only the Brave”), Thad Luckinbill (“Only the Brave”), Austin Stowell (“Bridge of Spies”), Ben O’Toole (“Hacksaw Ridge”), Austin Hebert (“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back”), Kenneth Miller (“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”), Kenny Sheard (“13 Hours”) and Jack Kesy (TV’s “The Strain). The ensemble cast also includes Navid Negahban (“American Sniper,” TV’s “Homeland”), Laith Nakli (“24: Legacy”), Fahim Fazli (“American Sniper”), Numan Acar (“Homeland”), Elsa Pataky (the “Fast & Furious” films), William Fichtner (“Black Hawk Down,” “Armageddon”) and Rob Riggle (“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “The Hangover”).

Award-winning director Nicolai Fuglsig directed the film, which is produced by legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer (the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “Black Hawk Down”), together with Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill (“La La Land,” “Sicario”) under their Black Label Media banner. Oscar winner Ted Tally (“The Silence of the Lambs”) and Peter Craig (“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Parts 1 & 2”) wrote the screenplay, based on the acclaimed book by best-selling author Doug Stanton.

The behind-the-scenes team included director of photography Rasmus Videbaek (“A Royal Affair”), production designer Christopher Glass (“The Jungle Book”), editor Lisa Lassek (“The Avengers,” “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”), costume designer Daniel J. Lester (assistant costume designer on “Zero Dark Thirty,” “The Hurt Locker”) and Academy Award-winning stunt coordinator/second unit director Mic Rodgers (“Hacksaw Ridge,” “Braveheart”).

Slated for release on January 19, 2018, 12 STRONG will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures and has been rated R by the MPAA for war violence and language throughout.

Visit the official site: 12strongmovie.com

Lasse Hallstrom Helming Walden Media And DreamWorks Studios’ A DOG’S PURPOSE – Stars Dennis Quaid And Britt Robertson

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Walden Media, producer of such hit films as “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, “Bridge to Terabithia,” “Charlotte’s Web,” and the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” series, will co-finance and co-produce DreamWorks Studios’ upcoming film A DOG’S PURPOSE.

Based on the best-selling novel, “A Dog’s Purpose” is an inspirational story of one devoted dog finding his purpose in the lives of the humans he loves.

Dennis Quaid (“Far From Heaven,” “The Rookie”), Britt Robertson (“Tomorrowland,” “Delivery Man”), K.J. Apa (“Shortland Street”), Juliet Rylance (“The Knick,” “Frances Ha”) and Peggy Lipton (“Mod Squad,” “Twin Peaks”) join the film, which is being directed by Academy Award nominated director Lasse Hallstrom (“The Hundred-Foot Journey,” “Chocolat”).

Based on the beloved book by W. Bruce Cameron, the screenplay was written by Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Audrey Wells. Gavin Polone is producing with Alan Blomquist and Mark Sourian serving as executive producers. Production on the canine tale begins this month in Winnipeg, Canada, where its variety of locations afford the filmmakers the opportunity to tell this multi-generational story.

“This heartwarming and humorous tale is a great addition to our quality storytelling brand,” said Michael Wright, CEO of DreamWorks Studios. “Together with our partners at Walden, we believe that with Lasse Hallstrom directing, ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ will find its way into the hearts of families everywhere.”

“We are proud to once again partner with the great team at DreamWorks on ‘A Dog’s Purpose,’ a heartfelt and uplifting story that is in great hands with Lasse Hallstrom directing,” said Frank Smith, President and CEO of Walden Media. “This film is a perfect addition as we continue to build and diversify our slate and bring audiences movies that inspire and entertain.”

“Walden Media is the perfect partner for this very special story, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have them on board,” said Jeff Small, President and COO of DreamWorks Studios.

Published by Forge Books, “A Dog’s Purpose” spent 52 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list. It has been translated into 20 languages and is published in 29 different countries worldwide.

A DOG’S PURPOSE joins Walden Media’s growing slate, which includes a diverse range of films that every member of a family can enjoy. Other upcoming projects include Universal Pictures’ dramatic adventure/thriller EVEREST starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, Keira Knightley, John Hawkes, Sam Worthington, Emily Watson and Robin Wright (September 18, 2015) and THE BFG directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel (July 1, 2016).

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15 Young Adult Novels Turned Into Movies

THE MAZE RUNNER

THE MAZE RUNNER will finally hit theaters this Friday, September 19th.

Published in October 2009 and based upon the first book in a bestselling series by James Dashner, the novel became a New York Times Best Seller and captured the imaginations of readers around the world. Fans have described it as a combination of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and the legendary television series Lost.

Books to film – especially young adult adaptations – are big bucks at the box office. Lionsgate’s THE HUNGER GAMES and THE TWILIGHT SAGA franchises have collectively grossed more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office, and THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE is the 10th highest-grossing film of all time.

Over the weekend, Variety reported:

The 20th Century Fox release racked up a strong $8.3 million across five markets last weekend, with debuts that compared favorably to another young adult hit, “Divergent.” “The Maze Runner” is expected to make $30 million when it touches down stateside on Sept. 19.

While some missed the mark and others were successful in their crossover from page to screen, here’s a look at 15 Young Adult Novels that were turned into films.

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THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

(June 6, 2014)

Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them — and us — on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Review

Trailer

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THE GIVER

(August 15, 2014)

The haunting story of THE GIVER centers on Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. The film is based on Lois Lowry’s beloved young adult novel of the same name, which was the winner the 1994 Newbery Medal and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

Review

Trailer

THE HUNGER GAMES Series

(March 23, 2012; November 22, 2013)

In the film versions of Suzanne Collins’ best selling futuristic young adult novel THE HUNGER GAMES, a dystopic Capitol requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl who are forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. When Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home.

The success of THE HUNGER GAMES and THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE marked the first time the first two installments of a franchise have each topped $400 million at the domestic box office, and both films now rank among the top 15 domestic film releases in history. CATCHING FIRE also grossed $428.8 million internationally for a worldwide box office total of $838.2 million in its first seven weeks of release compared to $691 million worldwide box office generated during the entire run of the first Hunger Games film.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 will be released worldwide on November 21, 2014 and THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2 opens November 20, 2015.

THE HUNGER GAMES Review

CATCHING FIRE Review

Trailers

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THE PRINCESS DIARIES

(August 3, 2001)

Starring Oscar winners Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, and Hector Elizondo, THE PRINCESS DIARIES is a cool, comical Cinderella story that will touch your heart. For teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), just surviving each school day is an adventure. Then the shocking news arrives that she’s a real-life princess! So begins a comical transformation towards poise and princess-ness, including a media storm, jealous schoolmates, and a plot to take over her country. Based on Meg Cabot’s 2000 novel.

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DIVERGENT

DIVERGENT

(March 21, 2014)

The thrilling action-adventure film is set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late. 

The first film in the DIVERGENT franchise grossed $117 million at the domestic box office in its first three weeks of release, and it continues its international rollout this weekend with openings in France, Germany, Russia, Australia, Scandinavia and other major territories. Book sales of the best-selling Divergent series continue to skyrocket with total sales nearing 20 million worldwide.

Lionsgate will release a total of four DIVERGENT films on its Summit Entertainment label, with the next film, INSURGENT, which begins production next month, slated for release on March 20, 2015 and ALLEGIANT — Parts 1 & 2 scheduled for release on March 18, 2016, and March 24, 2017, respectively.

Trailer

Review

HARRY POTTER

(Eight films: 2001 – 2011)

“Dark and Difficult Times Lie Ahead“

It all begins when Harry Potter learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned first son of two powerful wizards and possesses magical powers of his own. At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Fans watched as Harry’s, Hermione’s and Ron’s lives were filled with the Triwizard Tournament, dragons, the high-flying sport Quidditch, a thrilling game with living chess pieces, platform nine and three quarters, Ollivanders Wand Shop in Diagon Alley, Death Eaters and Horcruxes – all the while facing the threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Based on the seven novels by J.K. Rowling, it all ended with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ – the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalated into an all-out war. 

A Look at the Films

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ERAGON

(December 15, 2006)

In a mythical time, a teenage boy becomes a dragon rider with the help of a wise old man, and with his newly-hatched dragon, avenges the murder of his uncle, rescues a beautiful warrior, and battles a tyrannical king. The film starred Ed Speelers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Djimon Hounsou, Garrett Hedlund, Joss Stone, Rachel Weisz and John Malkovich. Directed by Stefen Fangmeier, the film is based on the novel of the same name by author Christopher Paolini from his Inheritance Cycle series.

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NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST

(October 3, 2008)

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living, and, live, loud music. Nick (Michael Cera) frequents New York’s indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah (Kat Dennings) is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band’s secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives.

Screenplay by Lorene Scafaria, based on Rachel Cohn and David Levithan‘s book.

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TWILIGHT Series

(2008 – 2012)

THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner and tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. The action-packed, modern day vampire love story Twilight, the first film in the series, was released in theatres on November 21, 2008 to a blockbuster reception. The second installment of the film franchise, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, was released November 20, 2009, followed by the third installment The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on June 30, 2010. The final two installments, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2, were released on November 18, 2011 and November 16, 2012 respectively.  All films, which together grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office, were written by Melissa Rosenberg based on the novels in author Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series.

Watch how it all began HERE.

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PERCY JACKSON Series

(OLYMPIANS: February 12, 2010 and SEA MONSTERS: August 7, 2013)

In PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF, a trouble-prone teen Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of school — but that’s the least of his problems. The gods of Mount Olympus and assorted monsters seem to have walked out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology texts and into his life — and they’re not happy. Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, Percy and his friends must return Zeus’ stolen property and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Based on the publishing phenomenon, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS continues the young demigod’s epic journey to fulfill his destiny. To save their world, Percy and his friends must find the fabled and powerfully magic Golden Fleece. Embarking on a treacherous odyssey into the uncharted waters of the Sea of Monsters (known to humans as the Bermuda Triangle), they battle terrifying creatures, an army of zombies, and the ultimate Evil. Based on the series by Rick Riordan.

OLYMPIANS Review

SEA MONSTERS Review

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VAMPIRE ACADEMY

VAMPIRE ACADEMY

(February 7, 2014)

Based on author Richelle Mead’s worldwide bestselling series, VAMPIRE ACADEMY tells the legend of Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and Lissa Dragomir (Lucy Fry), two 17-year-old girls who attend a hidden boarding school for Moroi (mortal, peaceful Vampires) and Dhampirs (half-vampire/half-human guardians).

Rose, a rebellious Guardian-in-training and her best friend, Lissa – a royal vampire Princess – have been on the run when they are captured and returned to St.Vladamirs Academy, the very place where they believe their lives may be in most jeopardy. Thrust back into the perils of Moroi Society and high school, Lissa struggles to reclaim her status while Rose trains with her mentor and love-interest, Dimitri (Danila Kozlovsky), to guarantee her place as Lissa’s guardian.

Rose will sacrifice everything to protect Lissa from those who intend to exploit her from within the Academy walls and the Strigoi (immortal, evil vampires) who hunt her kind from outside its sanctuary.

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I AM NUMBER FOUR

(February 18, 2011)

Three are dead. Who is Number Four? From director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia), producer Michael Bay (Transformers) and the writers of TV’s Smallville, comes this gripping, action-packed thriller. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary teen masking his true identity to elude a deadly enemy sent to destroy him. Living with his guardian (Timothy Olyphant) in the small town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events — his first love (Dianna Agron, TV’s Glee), powerful new abilities and a secret connection to the others who share his incredible destiny. Based on the novel I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.

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THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES

(August 21, 2013)

Clary’s life is turned upside down when her mother is kidnapped and it’s revealed that she and her mother are actually shadowhunters – billed with protecting the world from downworlders such as vampires, werewolves and demons. Clary must discover her talents and save her mother. Based on the Best-Selling YA series by Cassandra Clare.

Review

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BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

(February 14, 2013)

A strange recurring dream haunts Ethan Wate in his sleep, but he prefers anything to his waking life. Trapped in a small, conservative Southern town with his withdrawn father, Ethan desperately wants to escape. Then the beautiful Lena Duchannes arrives at his school, and mysterious events begin to occur. Lena has a secret: She is a Caster with powers beyond her control. Worse, when she reaches her 16th birthday, she will be claimed by either the Light or the Dark…and there is no escaping her fate in this supernatural love story. Based on the young adult novel written by authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and the first book in the Caster Chronicles series.

Review

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THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS

(June 1, 2005)

Coming of Age Adventure based on Ann Brashares’ best-selling novel about a special 16th summer in the lives of four lifelong friends who are separated for the first time. On a shopping trip, the girls find a pair of thrift-shop jeans that fits each of them perfectly and they decide to use these “magic” pants as a way of keeping in touch over the months ahead, each girl wearing the jeans for a week to see what luck they bring her before sending them on to the next. Though miles apart, the four friends still experience life, love and loss together in a summer they’ll never forget.

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JACK REACHER – The Review

Looks like Tom Cruise has begun another big screen franchise. After starring as Ethan Hunt in four hit films based on the classic 1960’s TV show “Mission: Impossible”, he’s turned to the literary world for the first film based on the long-running (17 books and counting) hero created by author Lee Childs, JACK REACHER. For this adaptation of “One Shot”, Cruise (also the film’s producer) has brought a long a frequent script collaborator Christopher McQuarrie (VALKYRIE, but perhaps best known for THE USUAL SUSPECTS) to direct also (his first feature since 2000’s THE DAY OF THE GUN). Robert Downey,Jr bounces back and forth between Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes, so why can’t Cruise be a part of a super spy team and a loner ex-military cop? It all depends on whether this initial outing is worthy of a follow-up.

This first screen thriller/mystery begins with a lone sniper expertly killing five people in a peaceful Pittsburgh park. After collecting the evidence, police detective Emerson (David Oyelowo) arrests a war vet/ army sniper named Barr. Emerson and public defender Rodin (Richard Jenkins) interrogate Barr and pass him a legal pad to write out his confession. Instead, he writes, “Get Jack Reacher”. But how to find him? Reacher, an ex Army police investigator, has no permanent address, no car (he travels by bus), no cell phone, and no charge cards (he pays cash for everything, including new clothes from Goodwill, via wire transfer from his military pension). After Barr is beaten into a coma during a botched prisoner transfer, Reacher arrives at Barr’s hospital. Seems that Reacher had helped convict Barr of a shooting incident overseas (the conviction later kicked out). Before he can leave, Reacher is hired by Barr’s pro-bono defense attorney Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike), the PD’s daughter, to exonerate Barr. Reacher’s investigation unearths an intricate vast conspiracy and puts him and Helen on a collision course with a shadowy mastermind, The Zec (Werner Herzog).

Cruise brings his usual intensity to this combination of Sherlock Holmes (the guy really observes) and the Punisher (do not lean on him). Reacher has that “steel trap” brain and needs no notepads. His stoic confidence provides this often grim thriller with some very funny moments. He can also be kind as when he offers some much-needed advice to a young girl on the wrong path. Reacher’s boss/partner Helen is usually regulated to the “damsel-in-distress” particularly in the finale. Pike seems to spend most of the time indignant, angry, or wide-eyed with fear. At about the midway point the costumers (or more likely the producers) decided she should dress more like a cocktail waitress than lawyer, so that she’s nearly bouncing out of her top while escaping the bad guys. Pike’s a talented actress, but this choice distracts from her character. Jenkins and Oyelowo are a great team as they try to deal with Reacher’s quirks and talents (with Oyelowo a determined pursuer of him later). Cruise’s old DAYS OF THUNDER co-star Robert Duvall shows up late in the film to steal scenes as the helpful owner of a gun range. The two are a terrific team in the film’s big showdown. The most inspired casting may be acclaimed director Herzog as the shadowy, sinister mastermind . His cool, calming German accent brings an extra bit of creepy menace to the proceedings.

McQuarrie keeps things moving at a brisk pace that makes the 130 minutes almost breeze by. He puts a new spin on the downtown car chase that concludes with perhaps the film’s funniest moment. There’s also a couple of great sequences that show off Reacher’s considerable hand-to-hand combat skills. You can almost feel every bit of punishment he dishes out the pain to these unlucky thugs (there goes another fracture-crunch! snap!). There’s expert use of the Pittsburgh locations too (and I just knew it as the home of George A Romero’s zombie epics). JACK REACHER is a gritty, brutal thriller that’s a great alternative to December’s family fare and high drama Oscar-bait. Let’s hope Cruise and company are able to revisit this new movie action hero/sleuth in the near future.

4 Out of 5 Stars

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY – The Review

They say you can’t go home again. But what if the home in question is that fabled land called Middle Earth. That’s the speculation surrounding celebrated film maker Peter Jackson. His LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy broke box offices records around the globe while collecting a chest full of awards (including the Best Picture Oscar for the final entry RETURN OF THE KING). Much like Bond fans, Rings devotees have had to wait several years for all the legal and financial battles to be settled. For a time it looked like Guillermo del Toro (PAN’S LABYRINTH) would be directing this Rings prequel, but as the negotiations dragged, del Toro had to move on. When the dust cleared, Jackson decided that he would not only produce but also direct this new Tolkein screen adaptation. Is the magic back? Film goers will finally find out with the release of THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.

This tale beings with a history of Lonely Mountain, the realm of the dwarves. After surviving a brutal attack from the gruesome orcs, their treasure is seized by the dragon Smaug. The kingdom is in ruin and the dwarves are scattered through the lands. But all is peaceful in the Shire, especially at the home of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins (played by Ian Holm in the Rings trilogy here his sixty years younger version is Martin Freeman). That tranquility is shattered with the arrival of Gandalf the Gray (Ian McKellen). The wizard wants Bilbo to join him and thirteen dwarves on a journey back to reclaim their home and treasure. Bilbo will have none of this adventure nonsense. That night his quiet home is invaded by those warrior dwarves led by the fearless Thorin (Richard Armitage). When Bilbo awakes the next morning, the rowdy dwarves and the wizard are gone. But the hobbit has a change of heart and catches up with them. On the long journey they encounter elves, orcs, trolls, rock giants, and a cave-dwelling, ring-loving, raspy voiced creature as they near closer to the land ruled by a brutal fire-breather.

Although this is set sixty years prior to the Rings trilogy, many familiar faces do pop up (including one very welcome surprise). But it’s McKellen as Gandalf that’s the most dominant. He’s slips into this character like he’s easing into a pair of comfy old slippers. He’s funny, wise, and a forbidding conjurer. And Sir Ian plays very well against this film’s most inspired addition of TV star Freeman (“The Office” “Sherlock”) as the timid title character. Their initial meeting is a delightful bit of whimsical wordplay and banter. For most of the initial scenes Bilbo goes from exasperated to worried panic. Once he commits to the quest he truly comes alive even as he flails about with his new sword, Stinger. There’s not enough time for each of the dwarves to stake out much in the way of personality, but Armitage makes a quite impressive small-sized swashbuckler.

But what really impresses here are the breathtaking visuals. As in the previous trilogy, the main characters trudge through all manner of majestic scenery. I’m sure this film will give New Zealand another nice tourism bump. The sets are epic and grand particularly a visit to the Elf kingdom. And the special effects are state of the art, especially in an encounter with three ravenous trolls (frightening and funny). But the most spectacular sequence doesn’t involve multiple beasties and battles, but a quiet quiz between Bilbo and the glorious Gollum, who continues to be one of filmdom’s most amazing creations. He’s more expressive than ever thanks to advanced CGI technology and the wonderful acting of Andy Serkis, the maestro of motion-capture. Speaking of tech, a lot has been written about the use of HFR (High Frame Rate in select theatres). Supposedly the projection of 48 frames per second instead of the standard 24 has caused some queasiness in audiences. My eyes adjusted fairly quickly, but I noticed that any movement (by the camera or actors) zipped by very fast. As a friend pointed out, you get no blurs at 48 so your brain has less to fill in (all the details are there). It is a sharper image, but nothing like live TV as was earlier reported (oh, and the 3D’s nice, but not essential as with LIFE OF PI). Much has also been made about the decision to make three films out of this single Tolkein story. Nothing seems padded here to warrant those accusing the producers of a “money grab”. After the frenetic slapstick of the dwarves trashing Bilbo’s home, the film almost resembles an old Saturday morning serial with one unsurvivable cliff-hanger after another. Sometimes the spectacle is overwhelming with endless nasties popping up to be sliced and speared, but Jackson really makes everything work. It’ll be fun to have that holiday tradition from nearly ten years ago once again. If you enjoyed the Rings then you’ll look forward to spending the next couple of Christmases with this unlikely furry-footed hero.

4.5 Out of 5

KILLING THEM SOFTLY – The Review

The life of the gangster isn’t as glamorous in the movies as it once was. Sure the title characters of THE PUBLIC ENEMY, LITTLE CAESAR, and SCARFACE all met horrific deaths before the final fade-outs, but their lives of excess must have looked pretty great for depression audiences. And then the Hayes Office, the studios’ censorship board, cracked down. In James Cagney’s last great crime epic WHITE HEAT, his Cody Jarrett is a vicious psychopath. And later with the classic GOODFELLAS and TV’s “The Sopranos”, mob life was shown as dangerous, dirty work. The easy cash is never really easy. And so it is with KILLING THEM SOFTLY which re-teams star Brad Pitt with his THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES director Andrew Dominik. Few films have been as gritty as this “simple” score that goes bad in a big, big way.

The tale begins on the very mean streets of New Orleans in 2008. Frankie (Snoot McNairy) is fresh out of prison and ready for some fast cash (job placement is just not working for him). Low level mobster Johnny Amato (Vincent Curalta) wants to hire him as part of a robbery crew. He explains this “can’t miss” plan. Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta) hosts illegal, secret big money card games attended by many local gangsters. A few years ago he gets the idea to hire a couple of thugs to rob his own game. Instead of getting a cut of the night, he (and his cohorts) take all the cash. After a brutal questioning from mob enforcer/hitman Dillon (Sam Shepard), Markie is believed innocent of involvement with the robbery. A couple of years later, after a night of high spirits, Markie laughingly admits to some pals that, yes, he did rob his own game. But he’s bringing in a lot of dough, so he’s given a pass. Amato believes that if the game is robbed again, all fingers will point to Markie. Much to Amoto’s chagrin Frankie brings in his pal Russell (Ben Mendelsohn), a dog-stealing wannabe drug dealer, to be join him in the stick-up. After the deal goes down, the local mob’s representative (Richard Jenkins) hires Dillon’s associate Jackie Cogan (Pitt) to get to the bottom of this fleeced card game. Jackie, aided by jaded East Coast pal Mickey (James Gandolfini), tries to track down and dispatch those responsible.

Of course the big alpha dog in this bunch of mutts is Mr.Pitt. With his slick pompadour and neatly trimmed goatee he’s the Mr. Cool of hit men. He’s also a hard-edged cynical guy who delivers a blistering monologue summing up his jaundiced view of the world in the film’s final scene. When he arrives at the thirty minute mark, Pitt’s assured, smooth performance carries the rest of the film. Before he enters, the film belongs to two guys that barely register on the cool meter. McNairy’s Frankie is a sleazy, motor-mouthed weasel that’s just looking to score and avoid heading back to “the joint”. He’s always going to be a mob foot soldier (or cannon fodder) and never a general. Hard to believe he’s the same actor who was so good as the most nervous “guest of Canada” in ARGO. Mendelson as Russell AKA “squirrel” is much more laid back, not doubt due to constant self-medication. You can almost smell the stench of flop sweat from the guy in addition to the constant canine aroma. The actor’s convinces us the he may be the absolute lowest of the lowlifes. The Mickey character may be too similar to Gandolfini’s signature role of Tony Soprano. He whines and complains in his big scenes with Pitt (he’s boozing too). There’s a real beaten-down Willy Loman vibe with Mickey that wears thin fairly quickly despite Gandolfini’s best efforts. His Sopranos co-star Curatola is very funny as the little man crafting big plans at the back of his dry cleaning shop. Jenkins also scores big laughs in his scenes relaying mob directives to Pitt. This guy sounds more like a mild-mannered accountant or mid-level manager. The always entertaining Liotta does a great comic riff on his GOODFELLAS persona. You just wish this easy-going guy wasn’t mixed up with these thugs (he’s perhaps the film’s most sympathetic character).

The film’s marketing team are selling this as a zany, crime comedy full of loveable screw-ups. Sure, there are some funny bits, but Dominik is aiming for something darker. With the opening image of McCain and Obama posters side by side, he’s striving to blend mob life with (still) current politics. Talk radio blares out of cars. TVs are constantly tuned to a news network or C-Span with then Senator Obama or President George W Bush (usually speaking on the financial lending collapse). The blaring media Greek chorus is sometimes heavy-handed, and most often distracting. Dominik does establish a dark mood with the constant grey skies and pounding rain (it’s coming down so hard we almost feel sorry for the two goons beating down a poor chump on the street). That ultra-violent smack-down is almost tame compared to the brutal gunplay (a slow-motion hit is almost balletic) There’s also a sequence of the two stick-up men trying to converse after “riding the H train” that goes from clever to tiresome quickly. KILLING THEM SOFTLY doesn’t achieve Coppola or Scorsese greatness, but features a few good performance that help prove what the old short subjects and 1950’s comic books tried to hammer home: crime does not pay.

3.5 Out of 5

RISE OF THE GUARDIANS – The Review

It’s such a great idea you wonder why someone didn’t think of it sooner! Well children’s’ book creator did think of it (sparked by a question posed by his young daughter) and put out a book last year, “The Guardians of Childhood”. The great idea was teaming up all the magical entities that surround kids. It would seem a natural movie since there have been team-ups of monsters (from FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN through DESTROY ALL MONSTERS with Godzilla and his destructive buddies) and, most recently, super-heroes with MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS. So, combining that book series with an animated short “The Man in the Moon”, Dreamworks has produced the full-length CGI 3D animated fantasy adventure RISE OF THE GUARDIANS. So in adapting these works for the big screen, have the film makers retained all the magic and wonder of these iconic kid idols?

The film begins with the first few moments of the origin of Jack Frost (Chris Pine), several hundred years ago. He learns how to use his powers and acquires a magic ice-producing staff. Jump to today in the Arctic. The Guardians-Sandman, The Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), and the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) meet at the workshop home of North AKA Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin). It seems that Pitch AKA The Boogeyman (Jude Law) is threatening to darken the lives of the world’s kids. Via North’s special telescope The Man in the Moon tells them to enlist Jack Frost. Frost is reluctant to join the group at first, but after Pitch attacks and loots the Tooth Fairy’s castle, he joins them to prevent Pitch from destroying the children’s innocent belief in the existence of the Guardians.

The film makers have brought together a great group of actors who bring some inspired vocal interpretations of these classic characters. The most fun may be Baldwin’s spirited work as Santa (or North). This is not the cuddly, warm grandpa’ St. Nick harkening to Edmund Gwen in the original MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. This Kringle is a gregarious Russian bear of a man ready to wield his twin swords when needed. Baldwin hits the correct deep bass tones and the accent sounds perfect (you can imagine that his breath smells of borscht). This Santa might enjoy his hot chocolate spiked with a bit of vodka. Speaking of accents, Jackman’s Australian expressions make that egg-delivering bunny a terrific action star (at times we can even hear a bit of a favorite mutant). Fisher’s fairy is a delightful flitty, flirty sprite as she admires everyone’s oral hygiene. Pine’s Frost has some of the cockiness of an extreme sports champ or a surfer dude. His bravado hides his desire to be appreciated by the world’s kids (“Hey, I make snow days!’). As Pitch, Law is a sneering gentleman villain similar to George Sanders, Basil Rathbone, or Vincent Price. He’s an educated eloquent fellow who delights in his wickedness. It’s quite an impressive talented roster.

The talents away from the microphones also impress. The character designs are wondrous. North’s look matches his booming voice. He’s a broad shouldered, bushy-eyebrowed hulk whose red coat always exposes his massive tattooed (one says ‘naught’, the other “nice’) forearms. The bunny’s large feet support his muscled torso. Tooth Fairy is hummingbird-like with bright, nearly fluorescent color (the same is true for her fleet of tiny helpers). Sandman is a sweet, bouncy elf with a constant golden glow. Jack, Pitch, and the human kids (led by Jamie, the last believer) have the right touch of exaggerated features. My only complaint is with Santa’s elves. The tiny triangles bumble, stumble, and try to emulate the much-funnier Minions of DESPICABLE ME. More inspired are the furry, gruff Yetis. They’re Santa’s back-up muscle and really make the toys (“Don’t tell the elves!”). The homes of the Guardians are spectacular (especially the Tooth Fairy’s banks). Some of the action scenes zip across the screen so quickly you may have some difficulty in taking everything in. This hinders the generally excellent 3D work somewhat (I think this film would work just as well flat). RISE is paced closer to the classic Disney fairy tales. It doesn’t have the manic zaniness of recent animated fare like WRECK-IT RALPH or the last MADAGASCAR. This is a soothing bedtime story that should entrance the little ones while the art and voice work should charm the adults. Sweet dreams, or as three of the Guardians say as they dash away, “Merry Christmas! Happy Easter! Don’t forget to floss!”.

4 Out of 5

ANNA KARENINA (2012) – The Review

How do you breathe new life into a 100 plus year old story that’s known by mullions worldwide? First you cast one of the most popular young actresses in the title role. And so Keira Knightley stars as Leo Tolstoy’s ANNA KARENINA. But that’s not quite enough for director Joe Wright (ATONEMENT) working from Tom Stoppard’s (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE) screen adaptation. Wright doesn’t change the time period (the 1880’s) or the setting (Russia), but he uses several modern technology film tricks to make a version that is like no other. But will all these bells and whistles really enhance this new telling of romance and scandal?

The plot primarily centers on Anna (Knightley), the wife of older statesman Count Alexei Karenin (Jude Law) and mother to their 8 or 9 year-old son Sergei. She travels to visit her brother Stepan (Matthew Macfadyen) in order to mend the rift when his wife Dolly (Kelly Macdonald) learns of his affair with their children’s nanny. On the train Anna meets the dashing young cavalry officer Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a suitor of Dolly’s younger sister Kitty (Alicia Vikander). Vronsky is immediately smitten with the older Anna, and at a party for Kitty he lavishes all his attention on Anna. Kitty then turns to another suitor, Levin (Domhall Gleeson). In a subplot the two marry and return to his expansive country estate and farm. Meanwhile the affair between Anna and Vronsky causes a scandal in Moscow society circles. When Anna tries to leave her husband, Karenin threatens to cut her off from their son. Soon Anna is shunned by the aristocracy. Will she follow her passion with Vronsky or return to her former dull life?

For this new version we must believe in the passionate romance at the story’s center. Unfortunately Ms. Knightley and Mr. Taylor-Johnson just never seem to really click on screen. I’ve enjoyed much of her work (particularly in A DANGEROUS METHOD) and he was very strong in NOWHERE BOY and KICK-ASS, but there’s no real screen sparks here. She seems much too young to be the mother of a nine year-old (and too close to Vronsky’s age) and doesn’t possess the worldliness the character demands. Her infatuation with the young officer is too manic and her final desperate act reeks of selfishness. That same selfishness emanates from Vronsky also. With his impeccable fashions and preening (no hair is ever out of place) he comes across as a 19th teen pin-up. His immediate fixation on the married Anna remains a mystery. Her husband Count Karenin isn’t a cruel monster who would drive his wife into the arms of another. The film makes try to de-glamorize him, but Law’s handsome features are only slightly dulled by a poor haircut, spectacles, and scratchy beard. Sure the guy’s a bit of a cold fish, but he’s got more patience for his wife’s histrionics that most men would have. A great supporting cast can’t make up for the film’s problems with the central love triangle.

The staging (emphasis on stage) also hinders our emotional involvement in this tale of doomed, forbidden love. Wright has set the proceedings in an elaborate, fantasy theatre. The action spills from the stage onto the orchestra pit, then goes backstage with flats and scenery tucked into corners. Characters even climb stairs and have dialogue in the theatre’s rafters next to cable and sandbags. These intricate camera tricks just distract us from the plot and make everything seem distant and artificial. Wright does a bit of cheating when dealing with Levin’s country home (we’re trudging through endless fields of snow with him), a horse race, and a fireworks display (the theatre’s roof opens up to allow the rockets to explode in the night sky). I’m reminded of the elaborate Busby Berkley numbers from his thirties musicals. The sequences would end with unintended laughter when the final shot revealed the appreciative theatre audience split screened with the waterfalls and dancing multitudes. The actors are also saddled with outrageously intricate hand gesturing at a formal dance and the rhythmic filing and stamping by the minions at Stepan’s massive office. It’s clever, but they ultimately get in the story’s way. The costumes and hair styles are lovely, but they can’t overcome the film’s forced theatricality. Either make a movie or produce a play for goodness sake!  The decision to do both does no service to Tolstoy’s immortal heroine.

2.5 Out of 5 Stars

THE ASTONISHING X-MEN – The Blu Review

Heads up merry Marvel mutant maniacs! The fine folks at the Shout Factory in conjunction with Marvel Knights Animation have just released The Astonishing X-Men Collection Motion Comic on Blu-Ray. This two disc set includes the Eisner award-winning four story arcs from writer Joss Whedon (MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS) and artist John Cassaday (who has drawn up some great new cover box art for this set). All just in time for Black Friday shopping, or to include on your very own list to Santa.

So, what’s a motion comic (you may ask)? Well, this is unlike the many straight to home video, comics-inspired animated features that have been produced. It’s not something loosely based on the comics story with teams of artists and animators reworking the characters and action. A motion comic takes the original artwork and makes the images move using state of the art computer technology. And everything on screen comes from the art of the talented Mr.Cassaday. Speaking of talent, a group of expert veteran animation voice artists perform the dialogue exactly as written by Mr. Whedon in the original comics series. An original music score along with expect sound effects make for an incredible audio experience. Perhaps this taste of the pulse-pounding action will better illustrate…

So, that’s motion comics! The primary X team consists of Beast, Emma Frost, Shadowcat, Wolverine led by Cyclops. Here’s a run down on the four stories. Each runs roughly an hour ( Unstoppable’s close to 90 minutes) and divided into six to seven chapters…

GIFTED

Seems that a scientist has come up with a serum that will make mutants into normal citizens. These news has divided everyone at the gifted school. But behind this wonder drug is an alien warrior named Ord from Breakworld. SHIELD director Nick Fury guests stars as does SWORD agent Abigal Brand. Joining them is an X teammate thought to be deceased. This story is co-directed by legendary Batman artist Neal Adams (“Green Lantern/Green Arrow”,”Deadman”, and a reamarkable 1960’s run on “The Uncanny X-Men”).

DANGEROUS

The mutant students along with the X-Men are attacked by a synthetic being inside the school. In order to stop it, the team will have to travel to the decimated island country of Genosha and find Professor Xavier! This story opens with a guest appearance from the Fantastic Four nearly recreating their iconic first issue cover along with the X team!

TORN

Emma Frost is tempted to return to her evil ways when the school is invaded by her old pals, Sebastian Shaw and the Hellfire Club (as seen in last year’s hit feature film X-MEN: FIRST CLASS)!

UNSTOPPABLE

Here’s the extra length conclusion to Whedon and Cassaday’s epic run! The X-Men and the agents of SWORD battle on far-off Breakworld. Its inhabitants believe that one of the mutants will cause the destruction of the planet. One X-man must make the ultimate sacrifice to stop a weapon directed at Earth. Back in NYC a quartet of four classic X-Men members team up with several Marvel heroes (including a friendly neighborhood wall-crawler) to defend our home world.

And, of course, there are…

EXTRAS

There’s a trailer for The Astonishing X-Men: Gifted along with the music video “Rise Up”. We get a behind the scenes “making of” featurette that includes interviews with Marvel Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada and comics legend Neal Adams. Another featurette gives a more indepth look (along with a tour) at Marvel Kights animation as they produce motion comics based on the X-Men and Spider-Woman. There’s also trailers and sneak peeks of future motion comics featuring the Black Panther, Thor, Iron Man, and, as mentioned, Spider-Woman.

QUALITY

The stories are presented in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Sound and picture quality are top-notch (the colors really pop!). Speaking of colors, the blood is vivid red (Logan’s healing powers are frequently put to the test), so heads up parents. These stories were produced and published under the Marvel Knights, which used a more adult approach than the Comics Code-approved all-ages tales. It’s definately PG-13 material. There’s no nudity, but a couple of X-teammates do hook up (and Emma’s outfits are low, looow cut). Oh, and all the extreme profantiy is bleeped (in a comic, the word balloon would say,”#%**#!”).

All in all, this is an excellant set that should thrill comics and film fans of these misunderstood mutant heroes. To paraphrase creator Stan”the Man”Lee, “Who says this this isn’t the Marvel age of magnificent Motion Comics?”

4 Out of 5 Stars