Rango

This movie is something else. It's a whole other animal. It's an animated movie made all the wrong ways...which makes it very right. It breaks the mold of most animated movies today, and it does so gloriously. It's the perfect vessel for Johnny Depp's quirkiness, and while its story is not revolutionary it is well executed, and fun.
Rango is a lizard who is, rather formaically, thrust from his aquarium existence into a world completely outside of his expertise: a town stuck in the old west full of rough, eccentric characters that are wary of outsiders. The lizard takes this as an opportunity to reinvent himself, and in so doing sets off events that are seemingly way beyond his control...and fun, and hilarity ensues.

I left the theater happy after this one. That being said I must inform that this animated film isn't standard kids fare. There are some more or less evil characters that do get killed, and a decent amount of gunfire. It is a PG film, but is outside the norm and is geared a little more for adults than the kiddies.

Grade: A-

True Grit

For anyone that is sitting on the fence about seeing this, or if you have only just heard of it then I have some sound advice for ya: See It! It is a well-acted, well-paced, and, heaven-forbid, fun Oscar contending movie. Jeff Bridges seems to do no wrong lately, and this film continues his hitting streak. Matt Damon also stars. This time around Damon plays a Texas Ranger that you want to laugh at because it seems like such a stretch for him, but also give him a pat on the back because you end up totally buying into his performance, as well as laughing along with the character's quirkiness. The "new-comer" Hailee Steinfeld is also great, and her performance is receiving a lot of early Oscar buzz. I was a little taken aback by how strong of a performance she turned in at such a relatively young age.

I saw the film with multiple people over the holidays, and everyone walked away with a positive impression of the film. There were also a lot of comments on how humorous the movie was, and how unexpected they found that. That really sums up the whole film: a positive experience with little twists of the unexpected. I'd recommend it to most anyone.

Memorable amusing quote: "Them men wanted a decent burial, they should have got themselves killed in summer." --Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges)

Grade: A-

Thank you for keeping the Hobbit in New Zealand

A great video clip of the support to keep 'The Hobbit' in NZ. I'm sharing this for two reasons:
1. It's GREAT news!
2. I'm in the video. I'm quoted during the voice-over part when they are flying over the snowy mountain saying something like, "Because of the love, and care that the New Zealand people put into the original trilogy..." Plus I'm seen towards the end of the video as well. It's exciting to be a part of this cool vid, and it's wonderful news that Middle Earth is staying where it belongs!

It's Official: The Hobbit gets the Greenlight!

Yes! It's official! The Hobbit has been Green-lit, and will start filming this upcoming February! I'm speechless a little bit, but very happy. I've been checking The Hobbit status almost daily since December 2009, and am all the more elated because of it. There have been endless hurdles for this movie over the past 3 years, but it's come out of the litigious nightmare to become a reality. I was initially excited to have Del Toro direct, but he pulled out as there were so many Hobbit hurdles to overcome just this last May, and he had other projects he wanted to work on too. Now we have Sir Peter Jackson at the directing reigns, and it couldn't be in better hands!

For those of you (including myself) that are still a little sad about Guillermo's departure fear not: There are going to be many creature designs, and animatics in The Hobbit that were personally overseen by him in the development process. So, Guillermo's vision (at least part of it) will be seen on film as well as PJ's. Guillermo has also been a co-head writer throughout the whole scripting process (along with Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh--all of which were the head writers on the Lord of the Rings Trilogy). So good news still abounds, and I for one am a very happy hobbit.

We can expect the first film to hit theaters December 2012, and the second installment to hit one year later in December 2013.

The following links are to further hobbit greenlight news, and possible new cast member info as well! "For the Shire!"

Hobbit is Green-lit: http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/

Second story on The Hobbit's Greenlight: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/10/15/39138-press-release-from-new-linewarner-bros-oscar-winner-peter-jackson-to-direct-%E2%80%9Cthe-hobbit%E2%80%9D-in-two-installments/

Casting and futher film information: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/

Sesame Street: Smell Like A Monster

Look at yourself. Now back to me!
I am on a horse. Moo!