Man of Steel Proves Itself Worthy of It's Name

"You can save them. You can save all of them."
                                                                                          --Jor-El

As of tonight, the estimated total for Man of Steel is $116 million, taking into consideration the midnight screenings, we get to $128 million. The last time a Superman film bowed at the box office was 2006's Superman Returns. Guess how much that one did in it's first weekend? $54 million. In three days. In 2006. Not 1978, 2006! That's number 2 for best opening for a non-sequel in the history of everything and anything and even your mom. #1 of course being, The Hunger Games. 

"They finally got the Superman formula right," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "Superhero movies really are the bread and butter of the summer box office. The fact that 'Iron Man 3' has the biggest opening of the year so far and 'Man of Steel' has the second biggest opening of the year just proves that."

 Right-o. Maybe, this, is not what people wanted. They evidently wanted this instead. I'd also like to add at this time, that I'm one of the few champions of Superman Returns. Me and one brother of mine are some of the select few that are totally A-Okay with the film. It is Bryan Singer after, right? Okay, just checking.

Here here! To David Goyer, Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. for furthering and revitalizing the Superman series on film. I was 100% satisfied with the film, and am looking forward to the future of the newly established DC/WB universe.

Munki out.

A Review: Man of Steel

"One day you're gonna have to make a choice: 
    Whether to stand proud in front of the human race--or not."
                                                                                                    --Jonathan Kent

You can't think through this one you have to feel it. . . 

Those are a summation of my precise feelings on the film itself. And the reward in doing that is sweet enough to drink deep with satisfying results.

Life Imitates Art: Robberies At Cannes Film Festival

Purportedly $1.4 million dollars (that's this many -- $1,400,000) in Chopard jewels was stolen last night out of a hotel room at the Novotel Hotel in Cannes, France during the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Coincidentally, the film opening the Un Certain Regard (A certain glance) category at Cannes Film Festival hours before the robbery: Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring, a film about ritzy robberies in celebrities homes.

How did the thief/thieves extract these jewels?

A Review: Pain & Gain

"I've watched a lot of movies Paul. I know what I'm doing."
                                                                                                          --Daniel Lugo

There are exactly two ways one could view this film:

A Review: 42

"Gentleman. . . I have a plan."
                                   --Branch Rickey


Sports is not my strong suit, so I unfortunately cannot wager how well the film worked, in the context of the times, the flow of the game's content in relation to era and so on and so forth. But, I will also argue in a moment how that actually strengthens my view of the film, side-stepping a critic's point-of-view as a Baseball fan and clouding their judgement of the film. 

From what I understand, as usual, there are elements and story points in this that quite simply did not happen, and some, skewed and manipulated to suit the director's vision. So, as a man of film, and not a Baseball enthusiast, did I notice anything I found unsound, or clunky enough to throw the film off as the credits began to roll?

No. It's a very sound, very satisfying, very tightly rolled film about Baseball, the men who played it, the ones in charge, and the public embracing the first black player to rise from the ranks of negro-league player, to minor league player, to major league rookie of the year.

Scenes That Are Dope: The Gameshow

Late last night, in a tipsy-buzzed-drunkish little bout of curiosity, euphoria and nostalgia, this little Munki went a-browsin' through his digital folders and stumbled across an oldie (not a goodie). The oldie beheld for him a simply fantastic scene, in an out of context the thing is badass.

So I cut this thing up and now we get to explore it together! Munki and human alike!

Enjoy (asssholes)!

Only God Forgives: A Preview

"I thought it would be interesting to make a western in Asia. . ."
                                                                                 --Nicolas Winding Refn

With so many fair out week after week, keeping the dull, stupid and boring (redundant?) around as applicable adjectives for American film, Nicolas Winding Refn is the champion on the horizon, part of a budding new breed of film makers on the rise who are here to inject us with the old loving feeling: intriguing excitement.

Described as a "Western Set in Thailand" we have Nicholas Winding Refn's upcoming Only God forgives begging to course it's way through the cinematic veins of the world and show some light on our souls in just that special way Refn knows how.

Elysium Trailer Drops

At long last, after a Comic Con footage display, a poster and a special screening yesterday, we finally have the first look at Neil Blomkamp's Elysium. I can't help feeling like I'm part of the population living on earth, drowning in wait and agony while the film-affiliated live above on Elysium get the spoils and specials of this earlier than us.

If you read my stuff, climb this tree, or just know me in general, you'll know how much I championed his District 9. So you can only imagine as a fan of this burgeoning filmmaker how excited I'm finding myself about this one. With Damon staring as Max, a lowly earth-dweller who finds himself in dire need of medical treatment that can only be found on the sky-parked station, Elysium.

My Friend, Roger Ebert

This one is difficult--I've never had to write an obituary before. 

(Takes deep breath) Okay. . .

When Your Britches Are Too Big For You: Will Smith

Let's take this from the top, shall we? 

When I was a young boy, I was an avid fan of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Easily attracted to the star power, comedic timing, and (no pun intended) fresh and interesting approach television was taking in letting Will Smith just be himself on a television show. Unfettered and full of comedic life, hip-hip soul and television energy that proved itself to me. 

That quickly brought him staring roles in films that helped shape my interest and mold some of my earliest instincts as an actor. Independence Day, Men In Black, Bad Boys; all great movies of the 90's, really stand-out productions that cast a shadow over others, letting people in Tinseltown know just where things were heading. And with that shadow cast, a light was also forged in those movies as they began to shed light on the possibilities of what was possible with the actors. 

The material was evolving, taking shape and reflected in the emerging culture of the 90's and the champions of that era. (I could write a whole piece about the former sentence and it's contained sentiment on just Bad Boys alone--believe me.)