Musings of the Easily Amused

2006-11-05T18:13:00.000-05:00

Let me paint you a picture. It's Monday, I'm at the office, pondering whether or not I'm going to head out on a brisk October evening to be one of the first to get my hands on Square-Enix's "Final Fantasy XII." I know I'm going to buy the game, I've waited for what feels like (and was) years to play it, and it's just within my grasp. But is waiting on a line at a video game store to pick up a role-playing game (an RPG, for the uninitiated) too nerdy even for me? Ha. No way. I was so there.

I called ahead, making sure that the game would be available when I arrived. It would be, and no, I didn't need a reservation. So patiently I waited, the hours ticking by ever...so...slowly. I was like a kid on Christmas Eve. I finally buckled and left the house at 11:30 to solidify my place in line. Here comes the depressing part.

I get to EB Games at around 11:40...and there's no one there. No fat kids debating which summon monster would look the best in a thong, not even one dude in a wizard costume. I was embarassed. Should I go in, forever solidifying myself as "that guy who couldn't wait?"Screw it, man, I was weeping like a baby way back when Aeris got run through after the first disc of "Final Fantasy VII" (spoiler alert)...I NEEDED this.

So I walk up to the door sheepishly, giving a little wave to the two people who got stuck there at the store that evening. They knew why I was there...I knew why I was there...The cardboard cutout of Mario rolled his eyes at me as I walked in. But what does he know? He hasn't even figured out that the princess has been doing Luigi since '87. Chicks dig green overalls.

Unfortunately, I couldn't purchase the game until 12:01. Apparently, store employees would be executed if the game was sold early. God HELP the poor souls who sell it at 11:58.

So I waited, and honestly the people at EB Games were really cool. We talked about the game, the new systems coming out...heck, I even got a bag full of demos for my trouble. The sly dogs even convinced me to pick up the strategy guide for the game, which I NEVER get. EVER. I'm glad I did though, since I would have been completely lost without it.

So I take the game home, rip open the wrapper and pop it into the aging PS2 for what both me and the system both knew to be our last hurrah together before the bigger and better systems down the line make it obsolete.

Right now, I'm about 5 hours into the game and...wow. It's good. It's got a revamped combat system (think "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" or "World of Warcraft") and a pretty kickass story as well. While Square still seemingly requires that all of its male protagonists be completely androgynous, the characters are a huge improvement over the bland gang from "Final Fantasy X." Honestly, if you're a fan of the series and haven't picked up this game, just get it. Don't think about it, just do it.

2006-10-28T21:44:00.000-04:00

Lex Luthor, the greatest criminal mastermind that ever lived.

Happy Halloweekend everyone!

2006-10-22T16:20:00.000-04:00

The bombastic bald blogger is back! It's been way too long Wortmaniacs...I've just been swamped with work, freelance writing assignments, tiring commutes and the like, but don't think I forgot about you. Does absence make the heart grow fonder? You tell me!

Anyways, I've been tuned in to a lot more television shows than normal. Oddly enough, I think that after coming in from NYC I honestly only have enough energy for one hour of tv before I hit the sack, which means that my usual nightly rituals of video games and caffeine just don't work anymore. Network TV it is.

It's not going to surprise anyone that I'm into "Heroes" already. After all, it's basically a TV version of "X-Men" with a whole bunch of different characters with different powers who are all connected in some way. The awesome thing about the show is that each episode is structured narratively like a comic book. Makes sense. They're both forms of serialized visual media. Also, some of the ladies on the show are pretty damned hot. Ahem. Check it out on Mondays on NBC.

"Heroes" is followed by "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," which wins the award for the most needlessly long title of the year. I tried, oh Lord did I try to enjoy this. It's basically a drama about the behind-the-scenes workings of a show that's kind-of-but-not-really "Saturday Night Live." The show presents itself as "high-brow," but it never comes off as anything less than pretentious. It's got a decent enough cast, but the dialogue...Oh, the dialogue! You can literally hear the sounds of keyboards whenever the characters open their mouths! People don't talk like that. And I'm not sure if anyone saw last week's episode (and if the continuously dipping ratings are any indication, even less of you will tune in next week), but the reporter character on the show really made me want to pull an Oedipus Rex and stab my own eyes out (too literary? My bad). What an awful way to squeeze out exposition. I'm gonna pass on this one from now on. Ya lost me guys.

"South Park" has been pretty damn good this season, with the season premiere standing out above the most recent two. In it, the boys are terrorized while playing "World of Warcraft" by a really nerdy high-level character, and end up training for weeks in order to finally beat him and save the world.....of Warcraft. It reminded me of season 8's "Fun with Weapons." I've also noticed that this season has a LOT of poop jokes. I was surprised, but then I realized that their most popular character during the first season was a turd with a Christmas hat on. Good show, Matt and Trey. Good show.

2006-10-08T22:41:00.000-04:00

I'm beginning to realize that I'm a huge fan of October. Yeah, the weather starts getting colder and the Yankees occasionally disappoint their fans to a ridiculous extent. However October to me has always meant the countdown to Halloween. In a sense, October 1st marks the beginning of what I like to call "the Halloween season." It gives us all an excuse to eat massive amounts of candy, peruse the party stores for Halloween costumes, decorate our houses with rubber spiders and snakes (m*therfuckin' snakes at that) and, most importantly, watch horror movies.

Whether it's because of the adverts for the prequel (which I heard kinda blows)or just my affinity for power tools, I have really wanted to watch the original 1974 "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" for the last few weeks. Sure, I'd seen the glossy Michael Bay version from 3 years ago, but the general consensus is that the Tobe Hooper version is the real deal in terms of horror. The other day I, of course, picked up the new two-dics "ultimate edition." I'm so glad I did.

TCM is not a gory movie. Far from it. One would think that the unique combination of chainsaws and massacres would mean guts galore, but this thing is pretty tame in terms of all that. Instead, it's downright terrifying in its tone. As soon as the main characters pick up the creepy hitchhiker at the beginning of the movie, you get this feeling in the pit of your stomach that this is gonna be a rough ride. I'm not gonna spoil anything here, even though the film is over 30 years old. Anything I say will just ruin the experience. From Leatherface's first appearance to the imfamous dinner scene, you'll be on the edge of your seat.

What's scary about this film is that it focuses on a realistic group of psychopaths that could exist somewhere in backwoods America. These aren't supernatural stalkers like Jason or Freddy, these are seriously deranged people that happen to enjoy the taste of human flesh. Oh, did I mention the cannibalism thing? Well, there's that too.

2006-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

The third (and allegedly final) "X-Men" film has made its way to DVD and, naturally, I picked it up today on my lunch break. Having just finished watching it I've gotta say I liked it a whole hell of a lot better the second time around. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing "The Last Stand" in theaters back in May (I was one of those sad souls that cheered aloud when Juggernaut exclaimed "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch," but I wasn't the only one I'm sure). I think that this time, I was just able to enjoy it without pondering the baggage of the first two films in the series.

Don't get me wrong, I loved "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United." Coupled with the "Spider-Man" movies, Bryan Singer's first two X-films helped make superheroes cool again on the big-screen. However, with Bryan Singer leaving the franchise for a superhero of a more...Kryptonian variety, fans became doubtful that the end of the "X-Men" should be helmed by Brett Ratner. This outcry from basements all over the country could be heard far and wide, as fans held up the original two "X-Men" films as works of art. The truth is, they're good...but they're not THAT good.

Allow me to elaborate. The reason why people loved the original "X-Men" in that glorious summer of 2000 (which consisted of me listening to "Californication" and "The Marshall Mathers LP" more times than humanly possible) was that it was able to take a seemingly unfilmable concept and place it firmly within the realm of reality. Colorful costumes were replaced by "badass" black leather outfits, the team was streamlined to feature less elaborate (IE expensive) mutants, and the plot wasn't as cheesy as one would expect from the genre. The sequel followed suit, upping the ante in terms of tone and characterization. Many compared it to "The Empire Strikes Back" of the "Star Wars" trilogy: A satisfying middle act that darkened the story and set things up for a thrilling conclusion. Many may also compare the "X-Men" trilogy to "Star Wars" in terms of its third film. Like "Return of the Jedi" before it, "The Last Stand" is lighter in tone and sometimes tries to cram just a little too much into the story in order to tie up all the loose ends. Here's what may shock people: "The Last Stand" is much more fun than the first two, and Ratner actually did some aspects of X-Men lore better than Singer, namely the action.

Calling Singer's X-films action movies is quite the stretch. It's negligible in the first one, and by "X2" it became obvious that he was trying. But I mean...come on. You've got people with claws, people that shoot lasers from their eyes, people that control the weather, people that write long blog entries...oops, nevermind the last one. My point is, Ratner actually lets these guys go at it, with some creative results. Wolverine is slicing up goons left and right, and Iceman finally gets the action scene that his character demands. You've got Beast (a blue and furry Kelsey Grammer) pouncing on bad guys left and right and...heck...even Kitty Pryde has a showdown with Juggernaut. The original basically just had Sabertooth making pissy faces at Wolverine in between some weak wire-fighting between Wolvie and Mystique....and something about toads and lightning, I don't think I got that part...

Speaking of Mystique..did I mention that Rebecca Romijn is naked sans-blue makeup at one point in this movie? See? "The Last Stand" keeps on giving.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that "The Last Stand," while lacking in the characterization and dialogue of the first two movies in the series, is still a whole lot of fun. I honestly can't wait to dive into the special features on this disc, and I don't dive into anything since that incident with the lobsters and the blindfold...and the...anyway...cheers gang!

2006-09-24T22:27:00.000-04:00

"Jackass: Number Two" is everything you'd expect it to be, and isn't for the weak of stomach. No not because of the gross-out humor (of which there is a LOT), but because this film is painfully funny. You WILL bust a gut.

There were some notable skits in this film that absolutely top anything you saw in the first movie or the series. "Puppet Show" sets the tone, while the guys attempting "man fishing" will have you squirming later on. Can you milk a horse? Yes, yes you can. And you'll learn how, whether you want to or not.

A "Jackass 3?" Bring it on.

2006-09-17T06:07:00.000-04:00

I just thought I'd add that, with this being an interactive addition to the blogosphere, I'd like to see more comments from you guys if only to let me know who's visiting. Feedback is always important.

-James

2006-09-17T05:49:00.000-04:00

Good morning, Internets! It's the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, and inexplicably I'm already awake and updating my iTunes...figured I'd lay some knowledge on you guys.

I picked up a new video game this past week that I shouldn't have really enjoyed, but I ended up loving the hell out of it. The game? "Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy." Those of you who know me know that I'm all over just about every game with "Star Wars" stamped on the front...usually. They have a spotty track record, but I have to say that Lucasarts has been pretty solid lately, particularly when it comes to expanding the "Star Wars" brand. "Knights of the Old Republic" anyone? It's easily the best single-player role playing game in the past 5 years (it's sequel just wasn't as good). Then there's the "Battlefront" series that's chock-full of pick-up-and-play goodness. In short, Lucasarts is pwning.

"Lego Star Wars" came out last May under my radar at least, and charmed the Chewbacca-themed Underoos off just about every other "Star Wars" fan out there. I didn't rent the game until "Revenge of the Sith" came out on DVD, and I was honestly pretty impressed. It had some interesting gameplay for a "kid's" game. It was worth a rental, but it didn't do it for me in the long run. Sure, Lego acquiring the "Star Wars" license was a great marketing move 7 years ago and continues to be one. But a video game? Ridiculous.

Then the sequel comes out, and I realized something: I can't resist a game based on the classic trilogy, especially at a discounted price. So yeah, I picked it up, and I'm not ashamed to say that it's hilarious.

The game allows the player to go through all through original films, where all of the characters and locations are rendered in Lego bricks. It's got the typical platforming game mechanics, requiring the player to use different characters' abilities to make it through each stage. It's unique, it's funny, and despite a lack of difficulty it's a blast to play. While there's no real challenge for the experienced gamer (as I mentioned, it's clearly aimed at the younger set), there's plenty of hidden features that should have fans coming back for more.

2006-09-14T23:54:00.000-04:00

What should have been a unifying force (pun absolutely intended) in the "Star Wars" fan community has become the biggest controversy since Greedo shot first back in 1997. As many of you know, George Lucas, despite claiming that he would never do so, has released the "unaltered" versions of the original "Star Wars Trilogy" this week. Now, this is both a curse and a Yodasend (think about it, I swear that's a funny play on words).

These are essentially the versions we all grew up with (or at least I did). They come complete with the dated special effects that fans have come to love despite Lucas' endless revamping. While they are unaltered, they are also devoid of any sound or picture enhancement, which may disappoint those with an HD set (myself included). A lot of us wanted to have our cake and eat it too, which is understandable: As Jay-Z has recently put it, what's the sense of having cake if I can't eat it?

What we wanted was a cleaned up version of the original films...what we got was a 1993 laserdisc rip. Me, I can deal with it. Lucas is hardly going to say "Ok, now I know some of you don't like the changes I've made to the trilogy, so I'm going to take all the changes out but still give you 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound and a cleaned up print." He's happy with his "Special Edition" treatment, and he's made his stance as an artist. "Star Wars" is his creation after all.

"But James, are these versions worth buying?" I can hear you asking from the back of the class. To be blunt: it's a novelty purchase. I've watched the unaltered original film and "The Empire Strikes Back," and the more I watched them the more I realized that I actually LIKE a lot of the stuff Lucas has added over the years...except Greedo shooting first....what were they thinking!? I LIKE the animated dewback lizards the stormtroopers ride, and I really dig the improved Death Star sequence. But I also like the charm of the unaltered films.
It;s the difference between a vintage vinyl and its remastered CD counterpart. You can appreciate both versions.

If you're a fanatic like me, you've probably already bought all three of these 2-disc sets (which include the 2004 DVDs and the original theatrical version of the respective movie.) For the rest of you out there you might be better off waiting. Lucas undoubtedly has a 12-disc boxed set of the entire saga on deck for the 30th anniversary.

2006-09-09T18:54:00.000-04:00

Happy Saturday, Wortmaniacs! I mentioned briefly in my last entry that WB Animation was redoing "Thundercats" and here's the link to prove it.

I honestly feel bad for kids today. They keep on getting half-arsed retreads of 80's cartoons, and this was really the last stone left unturned. They've already "re-imagined" "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe," "G.I. Joe," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Transformers," and this latest announcement just upsets my inner three-year-old.

Now, I usually rag on the fanboys that get all uppity when someone touches one of their childhood icons. There are some particularly interesting talkbacks over at aintitcoolnews.com featuring grown men in a fervent crusade against Optimus Prime's design in the upcoming "Transformers" movie, and I think that's just stupid. The target audience is the kids, not nostalgic geeks. However, much of what I know about the movie keeps the same basic mythos intact: There's good transforming robots that fight bad transforming robots. Oh, and it's still based on a line of toys.

What really grinds my gears is when studios take something that would be perfectly suited for today's kids and screw it up. They're taking a great idea, stripping it of what made it unique, and presenting it in a way that no one (children included) could possibly enjoy. It's just like "The Phantom Menace."

Speaking of "Star Wars," I'm gonna be picking up the "unaltered" original trilogy this week, so I'll probably have a little something to say about that on Tuesday. Now all Lucas needs to do is break out the "good" versions of Episodes 1 and 2 that he must have stashed away on the ranch and we'll call it a day.

2006-09-07T17:28:00.000-04:00

I'm gonna break character a bit, and use this blog as a forum to rant. Before anyone labels me emo or whatever, lemme preface this by saying it's a rare instance of me opening up my soul to the Internets. It will be a long time before I do so again.

Now, things have begun to look up for me. I got my first post-college news story published last week, and the promising job interviews were beginning to roll in. Last Friday, I was sitting on top of the world. Saturday afternoon, on my long journey to my alma mater, I get a flat tire. No big deal, I know the routine. What made matters worse was that I was smack-dab in the middle of a tropical storm....Ernesto I believe it was? So I'm out in the middle of this thing trying to remove these rusted lugnuts from my shanked tire, cutting up my hands in the process. One would think that human blood was a natural lubricant. Alas, 'twas not.

Lemme just digress a bit. What's the deal with hurricanes having such awful names? Ernesto? I would hate to blame the loss of my house and all of my earthly belongings on "Ernesto." Why can't they name these after Japanese monsters? It'd make for such better stories. "Hey man, I had a rough weekend. Gamera swept through here and took out all the power lines." Isn't that more fun?

Anyway, I put that all behind me on Tuesday for what should have been a great job interview, and for a while I thought it was one. It was for a brokerage firm (which will remain nameless here, I'll just call it Douchebag United). So I had an interview with a guy I'll call "head douche." First thing he does is fling a business card across the table and talk about Storrs. Yes, everyone knows it's "basketball country" but then he proceeded to talk about what sports I play for like five minutes. Don't let the broad shoulders decieve you: I'm not much of an athlete. So after the first few minutes of the interview I learned that "head douche" was also a "jock douche." He looked over my resume, said it looked good, and basically asked no questions before giving me the job. "Awesome" I thought. The position was "office assistant," which to me sounded like typical entry level stuff, which is fine and dandy. I need a source of income while I intern in my field (publishing) so I figured this would work out well. Boy, was I misinformed.

I woke up the next day at 5:30 in the morning...yes, there's a 5:30 in the morning now. Groggy but enthusiastic, I hopped on the 6:49 train to New York (I don't think I really hopped) and got to the office just in time. Then it hit me: this job would suck.

First off, the atmosphere of the place was terrible. It was chock full of high-intensity douchey-looking guys that cursed a lot. I get in there, and am greeted by 300 pages of paperwork. Wait, isn't this just for an office assistant position? After making my way through an entire grove of dead trees, the guy who hired me shows up and tells me where to sit. This is where things get ugly.

I sit down in front of a list of phone numbers (warning lights going off in my head), next to two of the brokers who wouldn't so much as talk to me. I was told that I was to pick up the phone and call the numbers on the list, saying "Hi, this is so and so from Douchebag United. How are you today?" before handing the phone off to one of the unoccupied brokers.....that was the whole...job....ten words, repeated ad-nauseum, because the douchbags couldn't be bothered with answering machines and busy signals. I angrily picked up my bag and approached the "head douche," asking him if what I was doing was the entire job....he says "yes, is that a problem?" The way he said those words nearly threw me into a frenzy. I wasn't aware that "some" phone work meant saying a few words over and over again. I looked him in the eye, bluntly saying "this isn't what I signed up for, and it's not worth the commute" before getting the hell out of there, never to return. I'd been there for less than an hour, and even that was too long.

But it's all a lesson in life in the grand scheme of things. I know now that if something comes too easily, it's probably for a good reason. So yes, to everyone that learned about my new job the other day, know this: it was crap. I'll leave it at that. Hey, that almost rhymed!

Oh, and I just learned that "Thundercats" is being remade by WB Animation....but don't get too excited. It's gonna be done in that crappy Americanized anime style (kinda like Cartoon Network's God-awful "Teen Titans"). Oh, and did I mention that the Thundercats will be teenagers living in modern-day Los Angeles? Or that they will be in a rock band? This is "Thundercats" how? I'm not complaining, the show's for kids. But by all means, call it something else!

2006-08-31T22:37:00.000-04:00

Y'know, I was flipping through the channels earlier, and I caught bits and pieces of the VMAs on Mtv and I realized something. Hospitals could save thousands of dollars on ipecac by screening this schlock for patients. To put it bluntly, it's enough to induce vomiting.

I've been quoted in saying that hip hop has been on life support for the past two years or so, but I'm just about ready to declare popular music in general dead in 2006. There's a lack of talent on all fronts, and this so-called "award show" is an excellent showcase of this. It's actually just the industry patting itself on the back, like any award show at this point, and it somehow manages to give itself a reach-around as well.

Of course, like anything there are some exceptions to the rule. While I don't listen to her music, Christina Aguilera has made one of the best decisions I've seen recently in revamping herself as a jazzy, retro pinup girl, and I guess RHCP can still be considered popular music ("Stadium Arcadium" is one of my favorite albums of theirs.).

But I digress. These awards are TERRIBLE. Now that I think of it, the VMAs make no sense. The artists are taking credit for videos that they didn't write or direct. Shouldn't the directors of the videos be accepting the awards instead?

And is it me, or do half of these so-called "artists" either appear half drunk or half illiterate when they're presenting an award? If the network spends half the year promoting it, they could at least spend some money on production values and making sure these people don't look like assclowns. Oh, and if you've got Jack Black as host: USE HIM! Although I did appreciate the Tenacious D performance.

Speaking of assclowns (my favorite word tonight), did you catch the Britney and "K-Fed" skit? Maaaaaan. I was embarassed for them. Britney must really be kicking herself for marrying that talent vortex and letting him slip a few pass the old goalie. Wasn't she the hottest thing on the planet three years ago after frenching Madonna? Ah well, her husband's music career is sure to boom any day now (snicker).

Since Mtv seems so focused on NOT being a music network for most of the year, why do they bother? They're congratulating people for videos that they don't even show anymore and NO TRL doesn't count.

VMA shouldn't even stand for Video Music Awards anymore, cuz that's just misleading. They should just use those three letters as a warning: "Very Much Abhorrent." But then again, their target audience probably doesn't know what that last word means.

Wortman, out.

2006-08-31T15:48:00.000-04:00

Word on the street is that resident hip hopper and crybaby Kanye West is complaining to the media that his video for "Touch the Sky" wasn't nominated for any Mtv Video Music Awards.

Does anyone have any respect for this guy anymore? He whines whenever he isn't nominated for an award, uses hurricane relief telethons to spout nonsensical gibberish, and he even told Rolling Stone a few months back that if the Bible were written today he would be one of the main characters.

Has he done anything to make himself remotely likeable in the past few months? He's basically the equivalent of the kid who acts too cool to hang out with anyone in his college dorm but bitches on his blog about having no friends on Myspace.

Kanye, a few words of advice: shut your mouth. The more you talk, the less records you will ultimately sell. As is, you're living proof that it's possible to commit career suicide more than once...wait a minute....that means his career is a....ZOMBIE!!! Board up the windows and head for the cellar!

2006-08-29T17:50:00.000-04:00

I've had the new Madden for a week now, and when I was playing it today I completely forgot that it was a new title. Don't get me wrong, EA Sports has a good thing going with their Madden series (I use the term "series" lightly, it's basically the same game), but this year I can't help but feel a little cheated. Aside from the visually stunning 360 version, "Madden '07" for the current generation of consoles just feels like a retread with a few gimmicky new additions.

The marketing team has been pushing the concept of being able to control your lead blocker, which is an innovative idea that I think is gonna lead to some awesome new gameplay....in a few years after they've perfected it. As is, it's little more than a ploy. Either I really suck at the game (which is quite possible), or the blocker controls almost always lead to a loss of yardage as my runner is nailed in the backfield before I can switch control over to him.

As I choose not to use this feature, the game is more or less the same one I'm used to playing. I like the way they changed the kicking game, and how it utilizes the R-stick instead of the Xbox's A button. It's a subtle change, but it's appreciated.

As of right now, I'm 4-0-0 in the preseason and about to take the Giants to the Superbowl. Let's hope life imitates art when the season actually starts. Are video games art? I'll let you folks decide.

So I guess "Madden '07" will ultimately satisfy the EA Sports zombies out there, but for everyone else it's more of the same. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but a 50 dollar price tag is a little steep for a glorified roster update and some new bells and whistles.

2006-08-28T22:47:00.000-04:00

Ya know, it's funny. I always sit around whining about how I have nothing I really want to write about, then I'm inundated with new content last week and what do I do? I sit on it. I'll blame it on work, job interviews, snakes, planes, and those blasted graduation parties. Sucks to be popular, charming, and productive I guess.

Anyhoo, I caught "Little Miss Sunshine," one of those rare films that's actually worth the seventh "oh you have to see it" since its release. It's been out for a while, so chances are you've listened to your friends and have seen it, and have written in your blog about how your handful of loyal readers should also see it.

Steve Carell is brilliant in this film, as is the rest of the cast. It's basically a whacked-out road trip movie, as the entire family embarks in a journey across the country so that young Olive may compete in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. It's subversive and awkward, with the type of "cringe humor" that fans of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" are sure to love. It's also quite touching, and deals with certain familial issues quite well.

Go see it. I guarantee you'll be surprised.

2006-08-28T22:11:00.000-04:00

Snakes.On.A.Plane....four simple words that set the Internet on fire just a few months ago. The mere announcement of its self-explanatory title and Samuel L. Jackson's attachment to the project led to a slew of fan-made websites and t-shirts. When the official marketing machine began, with snakesonaplane.com and the ability for fans to send personalized Sam Jackson messages to their friends, one thing became clear: people were excited about "Snakes on a Plane." Those not in the know merely dismissed this film when they learned of it, thinking of it as a dumb B-movie; a joke that was being played on the American public. They were half-right, but unfortunately the joke is on them.

Yes, I saw "Snakes on a Plane" this weekend, and I'm not ashamed to say it was some of the most fun I've had in theaters this summer. Before anyone jumps down my throat and insults my integrity as a moviegoer, let me get this straight. "Snakes on a Plane" is a bad movie. We know it and, fortunately, so do the filmmakers. It's designed to take a hilarious premise and roll with it, resulting in ridiculous situations that all but wink at the audience.

The premise, such as it is, is that Samuel L. Jackson's character Neville Flynn is escorting the witness to a murder on a flight from Hawaii to California. Unfortunately, the bad guys have an ace up their sleeve: a time-released crate of pissed off venomous snakes. I can see you raising your hand at the back of the class, so I'll elaborate. Since the flight is coming from Hawaii, all of the passengers were leid (tee hee) before getting on the plane. The baddies doused the flowers with snake pheremones so that they'd be ultra-aggressive (as Flynn puts it, they're basically "snakes on crack"). The snakes get out of the crate, chaos ensues.

The snake attacks are over-the-top, and hilarious in all the right ways. Various body parts are bitten, with the film taking full advantage of its R-rating in the gore department. The film is constantly leapfrogging (no, there are no frogs in the movie, but the door's always open in the sequel) between brutality and comedy, constantly reminding the audience that the whole thing is ridiculous and that we should just enjoy it. Sam Jackson MAKES the movie, spouting out lines such as "Everybody listen up! We have to put a barrier between us and the snakes!" and, of course, "I have had it with these motherf*cking snakes on this motherf*cking plane!" I cheered when he said this, and I may have yelled some of it out loud....but so did half the theater.

"Snakes on a Plane" works as a bad film that's trying its hardest to be a bad film which actually makes it a good film. In essence, it's a spoof of itself that would hardly be possible if not for its hit-you-over-the-head title and bizarre viral marketing. It's not necessarily a comedy, but it's probably one of the funniest films you'll see all year. Bring on the sequel. Personally, I'm hoping for "Gerbils on a Hovercraft" or "Crabs on a Unicycle."

2006-08-26T15:57:00.000-04:00

I know it's been a while since my last update, but I've got a lot of good stuff on the way, including reviews of "Little Miss Sunshine," "Madden '07" and "Snakes on a Plane." So fear not, faithful readers (all two of you). There's much more on the way!

-James

2006-08-17T18:07:00.000-04:00

Picked up Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere" today, after debating for about 2 weeks as to whether or not I should buy it. Having done so, I'm glad I did. I was skeptical, since the single "Crazy" is getting way too much airplay on the radio and I'm way too hip to buy into that...aw, who am I kidding? I thought these guys were cool as soon as I saw them dressed up like "Star Wars" characters for no apparent reason on the MTV movie awards a few months ago. Thankfully, that "wtf" factor translates to the whole album. It's a buy, especially if you're into music that's on the psychadelic side of things.

2006-08-17T01:42:00.000-04:00

Tonight's a night for multiple musings! They're reporting over at Ain't It Cool News that a sequel to "Hostel" is in the works, which is mind boggling to say the least. Those of you who remember my work at The Daily Campus (crickets, crickets) know that I absolutely hated the first film. Here's a link to my review. Eli Roth, who grossed us all out a few years ago with "Cabin Fever" did a similar job with "Hostel" in crafting a film that is both overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. His films are light on characterization and plot, yet are chock full of gross-out scenes that push the envelope a little too far to achieve that camp level of shock that he is clearly trying to achieve. I'd place this in the same category as other "squirm" movies such as the "Saw" films. They aren't at all scary, but try to make up for it by turning your stomach.

Quint over at AICN seems absolutely giddy (a word that he and Harry Knowles use far too much in their reviews...well, that and the giggling) at the prospect of three hot girls playing the leads in this sequel. Really though? Is this the stuff that's supposed to get movie geeks excited? Watching hot girls getting tortured in these crappy semi-horror flicks? Why don't they just get it over with and market these movies as snuff films.

Maybe I'm just jaded, but where are the good horror movies these days? Did the self-referential "Scream" movies kill the genre? I can't think of one scary movie in the last decade that has truly been worthwhile. Any thoughts?

2006-08-16T14:46:00.000-04:00

Anyone been to the official "Snakes on a Plane" website? This is probably one of the best examples of movie marketing I've seen in a while. It has links to various "SoaP" fansites, in addition to a feature that allows users to customize and send a message to their friends that is voiced by Samuel L. Jackson himself! The site even has Sam exclaiming "You've got snakes on your Internet!" That's just classic.

I have to say, that even if the movie ends up being a total suckfest, it still has a built in cult following (thanks to the Internet). This thing's gonna make some money no matter what. If it's bad, no one expected much from it to begin with. If it's good, then it's a late-summer surprise. The only way this film could disappoint is if it falls in the middle of the road and is merely "meh." For me, as long as it has snakes, a plane, and Sam Jackson, I'm sold.

2006-08-14T20:07:00.000-04:00

James here, continuing to turn the blogosphere on its ear. People have been asking me if I've seen "World Trade Center," and to tell you the truth I don't think I want to. I mean, sure. I was as curious as anyone when they announced that Oliver Stone would be directing, and I'm not gonna lie and tell you that I didn't get a chill when I saw the film's poster. I just don't think this is what the world needs right now. We're coming up fast on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, yet I have not met one person who doesn't remember exactly where they were when the first plane hit, and I certainly haven't met anyone who wants to revisit the events of the day.

Before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm aware that the film highlights the way in which people came together immediately following the attack. However, one cannot help but find it a bit crass that Hollywood has already turned to one of the most horrific events in American history for source material. Perhaps I'll change my mind once I see it (eventually).

On a much lighter note, "Snakes on a Plane" opens on Friday. Look for more updates on this guaranteed-to-be cult favorite as we near its release.

2006-08-13T00:13:00.000-04:00

It's a sad state of affairs when a lifelong gamer stares at an overflowing rack of video games and finds not one worth playing. This has been the case for the past few months. There's more demand for video games during the summer, yet there's nothing really coming out. What else is the demographic gonna do? Go outside? Listen to Al Gore...Global warming people! It seems like game publishers hold off their best games until the pre-holiday rush. For three months, the only big titles are the lame-as-hell licensed games based on summer blockbusters, most of which are unplayable. Seriously folks, a game based on "The DaVinci Code?" Tom Hanks' hairstyle in that movie still looks horrible, even on a next-gen game console. Like clockwork, the monotony is broken every August when EA Sports releases their next installment in the Madden franchise...Aww, who am I kidding? It's the same game you've played for nearly two decades with enough gameplay tweaks and updated player rosters that try to convince loyal fans to come out in droves on the day of its release. But hey, if it ain't broke right? I'll be picking it up later this month and reviewing it here, cuz I got sucked into Madden just two years ago. Don't get me wrong, I'm terrible at the game compared to most of the seasoned vets, but any game that lets me create a team called the Westchester Wortmaniacs is worth a purchase from me.

This gaming draught may also be due to the impending release of the new Nintendo and Sony consoles, causing the current generation to essentially dry up. The good news here is that a lot of the games with lofty 50 dollar price tags will most likely drop to a mere 19.99 this fall (gotta pave the way for the future). I've got my eye on you, "Godfather:The Game!" 20 bucks is an offer I just can't refuse...ugh....even I felt dirty with that joke.

2006-08-11T14:53:00.000-04:00

Sup with it, Interweb? You know, there are a lot of great web sites out there that help break the monotony of everyday life and truly provide something unique. One such site has been a favorite of mine for many years, with its focus on 80's and 90's nostalgia and, basically, randomness.

X-Entertainment was way ahead of VH-1 in its lampooning and rememberance of the past. In fact, I'm surprised the network hasn't contacted site owner and operator Matt Caracappa to be a part of their "I Love the" shows.

I was introduced to the site via Matt's article about one of the most ridiculous movie tie-ins ever: Hulk Hands. Essentially, they were giant foam hands that kids could wear. They also made all kinds of Hulk noises when they punched things. They were a hit with their target demographic (and I'm sure a few adults picked them up as well), and are remembered even if the film they were based on was a big green turd.

X-Entertainment's the perfect time killer, as it has articles ranging from old toys (and if you were a child of the 80's, he's written about everything we played with), bad movies (usually so terrible they're awesome), and even his trips to Atlantic City and Disney World. The site also has a fairly large library of vintage 80's commercials, with the old "Masters of the Universe" toy adverts holding a special place in my heart. Man, were they cheesy.

So let us raise our glasses to X-Entertainment, or, in my case, my signature large toasted almond iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. The site's one of the best there is at what it does. Check it out!

2006-08-07T09:59:00.000-04:00

Caught Will Ferrell's new movie "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" last night and I honestly wanted to love it. Really I did. I'm a huge "Anchorman" fan, so when I learned that the same team of people were putting Ferrell in a spoof of NASCAR, I was excited. How could it fail? One word: Inconsistency.

The movie starts off with a barrage of gags, ranging from a dinnertime argument about Ricky's tendency to pray only to baby Jesus to, of course, the oft-advertised scene of Ricky running around in his underwear while he thinks he's on fire. Those who haven't tired of Ferrell's "man-child" persona will definitely get a kick out of the first half of the movie. I did.

The latter half of the film, particularly the last half hour or so, just stops trying. The jokes become few and far between, and the thing just feels a bit longer than it needed to be. It also takes the jab at NASCAR product placement a little too far, because it's...actual....product placement. The climax of the film is actually interrupted by an Applebee's commercial. No kidding. And gee, earlier in the film, Ricky and his family are shown eating at that very establishment, talking about how delicious the food is. Guys, we get the joke, but it's also kind of insulting that these are real advertisements.

While Ferrell is obviously the star of the film, the supporting cast comes out with some of the film's best material. Michael Clarke Duncan, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, and even the two boys playing Ricky's sons Walker and Texas Ranger are very funny in their respective roles. John C. Reilly was a huge surprise as Ricky's best friend and teammate, Cal Naughton Jr., and I look forward to seeing him in similar roles in the future.

No, "Talladega Nights" isn't a bad film by any means, and has plenty of great scenes that fans of "Anchorman" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" are sure to love. However, as a whole, the film falls flat in the third act which makes it hard to recommend.

2006-08-05T02:34:00.000-04:00

Apparently I've had a spurt of inspiration (and I'll clean it up later, I swear), but there's some more news lurking about on the interweb that I thought I should share.

Tenacious D is one of the most polarizing acts out there. It's strictly a "love 'em or hate 'em" thing when dealing with the musical comic stylings of members Jack Black and Kyle Gass, and there are a lot of people out there that don't get the humor and have no idea why so many people think songs like "F*ck Her Gently" and "Explosivo" are so hilarious.

Perhaps it takes a certain level of dementia to really like these guys, but after seeing the trailer here I feel like I could kill a yak from 200 yards away....with MIND BULLETS!!!!

This was not the greatest post in the world...it was just a tribute.

2006-08-05T01:37:00.000-04:00

Hey there, Wortmaniacs! See how excited I am to see you? Once again, I've waited over an entire week to update the blog leading most people to assume that I've fallen off the face of the earth...far from it. I'm just lazy this month. I'll blame the heatwave. Everyone else does.

Anyhoo, the big DVD these days is "V for Vendetta." I picked it up on Tuesday (of course I did, I'm a dork for movies based on comic books...err, excuse me, graphic novels.)

So I watched it earlier this week, and turned out liking it a whole hell of a lot more than I did in theatres. Don't get me wrong, I loved it when it first came out. After all, why else would I buy it (I can picture at least three of you out there naming off crappy movies that I own on DVD for whatever reason). "V for Vendetta" almost makes me forgive those Wachowski brothers for those last two "Matrix" movies...and yes, I own them both...for some reason. Maybe I thought that the movies would get a lot better on repeat viewings. As it turns out, half-baked philosophy lectures dolled up with bullet-time effects are still half-baked philosophy lectures dolled up with bullet-time effects the 3rd time.

But "Vendetta" just rocks. It hits the right political notes, which is shocking since the source material was written in 1989. It's also got some crazy fight scenes and Natalie Portman with a shaved head (as you can see from the above picture, I can appreciate that). And you know what? She could pull it off if she really wanted to in real life. She's just that beautiful.

I also saw the new Woody Allen movie, "Scoop," this past weekend. It was good and all, but there was one thing I noticed in the theater that shocks me to this day. I saw more than five middle-aged women with sweaters tied around their shoulders. You know, the prototypical rich snob accessorizing, which, just for today, I'll call snobberizing. It made me like the movie less for some reason. I hate when trips to the movie theater make me feel like I have a social disease.

Really looking forward to "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." As far as I'm concerned, that one should have everything going for it.

2006-07-27T11:25:00.000-04:00

"Ain't it Cool News" has some early clips from "The Simpsons Movie," which will be due out next summer. The clips seemed to have gone over well when they were screened at Comic-Con, but what do you guys think? Personally, I hope this film is a return to form for the series that will help us forget about what an unfunny mess the show has become in recent years.

2006-07-26T02:27:00.000-04:00

It's been a really slow blogging week, as you can already tell. I've just been bombarded with other obligations and an essentially nocturnal sleep cycle.

Comic-Con '06 was this weekend, reminding the geek community what it is they have to look forward to in genre films this coming year. For the nostalgia nuts out there, there's gonna be a live-action "Transformers" movie out next summer along with a CGI "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film. The turtles I'm pretty square with. Kids seem to really dig the new show, so it was only natural. But "Transformers?" With Bay at the helm? Meh. Personally I think the fan outcry is pretty laughable, and far exceeds any actual hype that the studio has pumped out. Ya see, people are up in arms that Bay is making certain changes to the characters, etc. Guys, "Transformers" was a 30-minute toy commercial. "TMNT" was too. So was "Masters of the Universe," "G.I. Joe" and any of the other trends we all grew up with. Don't get all pissy that these directors are ruining your childhood, just sit back and see what they do with these properties on the silver screen and you'll enjoy yourself a hell of a lot more.

The big news at Comic-Con was, of course, the confirmation that Venom (pictured above) will indeed be one of the villains in the forthcoming "Spider-Man 3." This is good news, particularly since I loved what Todd McFarlane did with this character in the early 90's and am interested to see what Sam Raimi does with him. This seems to be a bit of fan-catering, since Raimi has admitted to hating this character in several interviews throughout the years. Ah, well.

As far as stuff that's in theaters now, I caught "Clerks 2" the other night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was offensive, crude, and irreverent (I say that in the most complimentary way possible), yet it had so much heart at the center of it that I came out of it feeling like I'd learned something. Oddly enough, while seeing Dante, Randal, Jay, and Silent Bob in action once again was great, Elias was my favorite character in this movie. He plays a sheltered, innocent, moron that complements the rest of the cast completely...and his "pillowpants" scene still has me cracking up. Kudos to you, Mr. Smith. We forgive you for "Jersey Girl."

It might seem like I like everything I've seen this summer, but what can I say? It's more fun to be open to these things, particularly in the realm of entertainment. I've given my fair share of bad reviews when I was over at The Daily Campus (UConn's newspaper), and they've only been for films that deserved bashing. I've come across a fair amount of film snobs since then (not naming names here) that continue to turn up their noses at mainstream cinema (particularly summer movies) and if that's their bag then fine. But just remember: there's a difference between being intelligent and being a pretentious prick. Figure it out.

2006-07-15T16:21:00.000-04:00

Well, I picked up Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke's first solo album "The Eraser." For an album such as this, which is even arguably even more electronic and abstract than "Kid A" or "Amnesiac," it's difficult to articulate an opinion after the first listen. I've been driving around with this thing in my car (the '99 Subaru Legacy, you know you love it), and I can honestly say I like it. The electronic beats are glitchy, making the album a surreal experience from beginning to end as Yorke's haunting vocals ground the whole thing in some sort of reality (even if it isn't this one). Favorite track? Easily "Harrowdown Hill."

While all of this experimental electronic stuff (done entirely on Yorke's laptop) is pretty cool, I'm hoping that the next Radiohead album features more guitars and less weird synth drum beats. But what do I know? I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.

2006-07-12T01:32:00.000-04:00

There's a nasty rumor going around that Sony is going to prevent people from buying or selling used games for the Playstation 3 due out later this year in an attempt to wipe out the secondary market. This banning technology, which Sony patented way back in 2000, would also prevent PS3 owners from borrowing games from their friends. Essentially, the only way to play games for the system would be to buy them yourself.

This rumor was brought to light on G4's "Attack of the Show," and, if true, could be the final nail in the coffin for gamers. Coupled with the jaw-dropping $600 price tag and some underwhelming launch titles, wary gamers may steer clear of this system and pick up a Nintendo Wii (still hate the name) which comes out around the same time for a fraction of the price. I'm sorry Sony, but as much as I would love to be playing "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots" this Christmas, I'd rather sit around and play with my Wii.

2006-07-12T00:52:00.000-04:00

Well, America has spoken. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" has been raking in the dough (or should I say booty?) since its release last Friday and deservedly so. The film is an excellent continuation of the original with enough twists and turns to ensure that we'll all be coming back when the final film hits next summer.

No one truly expected "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" to be anything but passable entertainment when it was released in the summer of 2003. However, it was the standout performance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow that made the film shine.

Much has changed in three years. While the original seemed to creep up on audiences and surprise them, the new installment in the series approached with all the subtlety of a blind elephant parade. Depp's image has been plastered on everything from M&M bags to breakfast cereals, while merchandise for the film such as action figures, t-shirts, and backpacks has been flooding the stores for months now. Everyone knows about it, and everyone will see it (or has seen it already) but the big question is this: Is it worth the hype?

Oh it is. While the first act is a bit too heavy on the inside jokes (every character has an introduction with an accompanied reference to the first film, including the dog with the keys and the still skeletal monkey), it picks up steam and never lets up. Long story short, all of the main characters are out to find the chest of the villainous Davy Jones for various reasons. Allegiances switch back and forth, with every character revealing their alterior motives for finding it. Even Elizabeth (the beautiful Keira Knightley) reveals her dark side later on in the movie. You see, the chest contains Jones' still-beating heart. Whoever possesses the heart essentially controls the ocean. Of course, the Luke Skywalker-esque Will (Orlando Bloom) wants to destroy the heart in order to free his father from his servitude aboard The Flying Dutchman. If this all sounds confusing, don't worry. It all makes sense in the movie...eventually.

Speaking of The Flying Dutchman, its monstrous crew is amazingly animated, Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) in particular. Each of them is composed of different nautical elements as a result of their servitude. For example, one character resembles a hammerhead shark while another looks like he is made out of coral. Bootstrap Bill, Will's father, is the most human of the bunch and even he has a starfish permanently attached to the side of his face. Jones is one of the most memorable movie villains in a while, with his constantly squirming beard of tentacles and his giant lobster claw for a hand. It also doesn't hurt that he has a giant ship-swallowing squid as a pet either.

"Dead Man's Chest" is a thrill ride of the movie, which is appropriate since the series is based on one. Sure, it's action-heavy and convoluted at times, but it's also a rousing second act in a three-act story. In fact, I'd even say it's the best middle act since "The Empire Strikes Back." And this is coming from a hardcore "Star Wars" fan (well, of the classic trilogy but that's for another post).

Go see it, and have some fun. After all, it's not an art film, it's an "arr" film....Sorry, couldn't resist.

2006-07-04T13:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Fourth of July everyone! It's a time-honored American tradition, allowing everyone across the nation to drink all afternoon and blow stuff up all night. But most of all, it's the day where we celebrate Will Smith's victory over the aliens that blew up The White House thanks to Jeff Goldblum's computer virus.

Go grill something. Now.

2006-06-28T22:46:00.000-04:00

Just got back from seeing "Superman Returns," and....wow. Not only is it the best movie of the summer so far (and honestly, what competition has there been?), but it's also the best representation of the Man of Steel ever put on film.

Yes, it's a loose sequel to "Superman II." However, the film is accessible even to those who have never seen the originals. While the film is a comic book adaptation, "Superman Returns" places a strong focus on the characters and their relationships with one another rather than its set pieces.

That isn't to say the film is completely devoid of action. Superman's rescue of both a space shuttle and an airliner is worth the price of admission on its own, and should probably be seen in IMAX if it's available in your area.

The film's casting raised a lot of questions when the film was still in preproduction. Some speculated that Kate Bosworth looked too young to play cutthroat journalist Lois Lane while many others balked at Brandon Routh being cast as the last son of Krypton. Routh, who could have easily collapsed under the pressure in assuming the role that Christopher Reeve made famous, emerges here as a Superman for a new generation. At times, Routh seems to be channeling the late actor, particularly in his portrayal as the bumbling (mild-mannered) Clark Kent. Bosworth also shines, as a Lois Lane who would rather forget about a man that had abandoned both her and the rest of the world for five years before making his sudden reappearance.

Kevin Spacey, as the diabolical Lex Luthor, chews so much scenery you'd expect him to be spitting plaster by the film's finale. He plays a harder-edged version of Gene Hackman's Luthor, complete with a ludicrous real estate plot to create an entire continent out of kryptonite (you know, the green stuff that can kill Superman). Sure, he lets the jokes fly, but he also presents a major threat toward the end of the film.

Overall, the film is an excellent reintroduction to the character, paving the way for future sequels. Hopefully, director Bryan Singer will give Superman a superpowered adversary (such as Brainiac, Metallo, Parasite, Darkseid, or even Doomsday) to face off with in the next film as opposed to Luthor. Don't get me wrong, Luthor's a great villain, but there are plenty of other interesting characters that would be explosive on-screen.

For those disappointed at the cineplex for the past few months, "Superman Returns" will restore your faith in summer blockbusters.

2006-06-27T20:42:00.000-04:00

This is the first of a series of articles that I'm gonna call Viewsday...that's a play on words there, so instead of Tuesday, it's Vie....ya know I might just stop myself right there. Ha. Anyway, it'll be a way for me to rant and rave about stuff I've seen, listened to, read, or played in the hopes that my opinions and recommendations actually hold some weight on the blogosphere.

DVD
Syriana - This film recieves a strong recommendation from me, knocking the ball clear out of the park in terms of narrative and characterization. You'll want to watch it more than once.

Books
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks - Now this is one heck of an offbeat title. Not only is it a detailed guidebook on what one should do in the event of a zombie attack, but it takes the topic completely seriously. If you like your humor deadpan (pun intended, of course), then pick this one up on your next trip to Borders.

Music
I've been really digging two albums for the past few weeks, and anyone that's been in my car knows exactly what I'm gonna say. Pearl Jam's self-titled album has re-introduced me to the former grunge rockers while the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium" has proven to me that those guys are far from finished putting out quality albums.

Gaming
This is always a tough one, particularly in the summer months when the quality games are few and far between. I picked up "Tomb Raider Legend" a few weeks back, and I was surprised at how hard it was to put down. Let's be honest with ourselves, the series has sucked polygons for the better part of a decade, so expectations weren't exactly high for this installment. However, this game totally reinvents the formulaic series with some stunning graphics and inventive puzzles that are fun to figure out rather than frustrating. I've also picked up an oldie-but-goodie, "Super Mario Sunshine" on the Gamecube. Yeah, I know some may label it as a "kiddie" game, but name one Mario title that isn't, and then try to argue that they aren't a blast to pick up and play.

2006-06-27T17:13:00.000-04:00

Chin up, true believers! Not only is Superman making his way to the big screen for the first time in nearly 20 years (and in some cases, glorious IMAX 3D), but the official teaser trailer for "Spider-man 3" has hit the internet and hit it hard. After viewing thew trailer (more than once, I confess) it looks like director Sam Raimi is catering to the fanboys and fangirls out there clamoring for more action in their Spidey films. Mind you, I loved the first two films, despite part 2's abundance of melodrama and the embarassing rubber Green Goblin costume in part 1. However, there were times when I just wanted Peter Parker to quit moping around like some emo kid on Myspace. This time, with the introduction of the black symbiote costume (comic book fans will know what I'm talking about) and up to four villains (including Harry as Green Goblin 2, The Sandman, an as-yet-unconfirmed Venom and a possible Shocker), this film is shaping up to be quite the spectacle. But is Raimi trying to do too much here? We've all seen what happens when filmmakers cram way too many villains into their superhero films (I'm looking at YOU, Joel Schumacher). We'll all find out just what Raimi and company have up their collective sleeves when the film is released next summer. For now, check out the trailer here.

2006-06-26T17:13:00.000-04:00

As of this writing, the June 28th opening of "Superman Returns" is a short two days away, surrounded by an aura of anticipation that has the geek world frothing at the mouth. Using the original Richard Donner film and its sequel as a "vague history," the film acts as a continuation of the only Christopher Reeve Superman films people actually want to remember. Heck, even the four-year-old me knew that "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" was purely a sequel cash-in affair. The new film, starring Brandon Routh as Superman/Clark Kent, Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor and Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane (geez, those guys as DC Comics sure love their alliteration), the film has been garnering some impressive early reviews. Look for mine later this week.