The Flip Side

Brendan Fraser and Jet Li

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Release Date: August 1st, 2008
Director: Rob Cohen (Fast and the Furious, xXx, Stealth)
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Luke Ford
Synopsis: In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick and Alex O’Connell unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin - a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago.
The Hype: Despite the hack of a filmmaker Rob Cohen is directing, the photos released of Jet Li and Brendan Fraser have built up some excitement for the return to The Mummy franchise.

Ron Perlman as Hellboy

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Release Date: July 11th, 2008
Director: Guillermo del Toro (Blade II, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth)
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Luke Goss, Thomas Kretschmann
Synopsis: The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.
The Hype: Guillermo, Perlman, Blair, and Jones are all much more experienced as we return to the Hellboy universe again since the first film in 2004. And del Toro, now a more well known director, is putting more energy, effort, and excellence into this sequel.

I’ve got to admit, I loved the books, I liked the first movie and am anxious to see this next installment.  Again these synopses are from Firstshowing.net.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Release Date: May 16th, 2008
Director: Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Starring: Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, Warwick Davis
Synopsis: The Pevensie siblings return to Narnia, where they are enlisted to once again help ward off an evil king and restore the rightful heir to the land’s throne, Prince Caspian.
The Hype: Although I’m not a huge fan of the first Chronicles of Narnia from 2004, the trailer for this sequel makes it look a lot darker, grungier, and intense and it’s certainly captured my attention.

Looks like Rowan Atkinson has traded up.  He has recently purchased a $220,000 Morgan Aerostar which (I am told) is one of the fastest cars in the world.

Vin Diesel

Now I’m not generall a Vin Diesel fan (O.K.  I lie a little, I do like him in comedy) but for some reason, the sci-fi movies he’s been in have been right up my alley.  I know they were panned, but I really liked “Pitch Black” and “The Riddick Chronicles”.  Vin’s got a new sci-fi coming out in August.  Here’s the synopsis:

Babylon A.D.

Release Date: August 29th, 2008
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothika)
Starring: Vin Diesel, Gérard Depardieu, Michelle Yeoh
Synopsis: Veteran-turned-mercenary Thoorop (Diesel) takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman from Russia to China. Little does he know that she is host to an organism that a cult wants to harvest in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah.
The Hype: It looks like Vin Diesel is returning to his Pitch Black sci-fi roots and delivering a grungy, action-packed sci-fi film with some French finesse.

Daeg Faerch (Young Michael Meyers)

So this year was the most disfunctional family Christmas I have ever had the misfortune to experience.  As a result, on Christmas Eve, I watched my early gift to myself:  Rob Zombie’s “Halloween”.  I have to admit that I have never really been a fan of the original, but I am a fan of Rob Zombie movies.  I figured, “What the hell, my Christmas Eve already sucks.  If this movie sucks it’ll be par for the course.”  But, I was pleasantly surprised.  I shouldn’t have been.  It’s Rob Zombie.  I loved the way the movie was done.  There was lots of back story to explain what was up with Michael Meyers.  There was also a bonus of seeing some of my favorite actors.  Let’s see, there was Sheri Moon Zombie (of course) who did a stellar job as Michael’s mom.  There was Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Richard Lynch, Udo Kier, Clint Howard, Danny Trejo, Bill Mosley, Leslie Easterbrook, and Tyler Mane (you remember them from Rob’s other very scary film “The Devil’s Rejects), and last but certainly not least Daeg Faerch playing young Michael Meyers.  This kid did an excellent job of creeping me out.  That’s hard to do considering the sheer volume of scary movies I watch.  I’ve got to hand it to Rob Zombie and the cast, they have resurrected “Halloween” for me.  Didn’t like it before, love it now.

Jared Leto

Yes, I know I’m a few days early.  But all 30STM fans and Jared Leto fans will forgive me for wishing him Happy Birthday (December 26th) on Christmas Eve.  He’ll be 36 and we all wish him many more years of success.

Ryan Reynolds

Since I’m extremely busy with all the Christmas guests this year, I thought I would look up some movies that are coming up and give you a little synopsis to tide you over.  These come from Firstshowing.net.  First up: 

Adventureland

Release Date: 2008
Director: Greg Mottola (Superbad)
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr
Synopsis: A comedy set in the summer of 1987 and centered around a recent college grad (Eisenberg) who takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to find it’s the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world.
The Hype: The director of Superbad, the late-summer sleeper hit comedy of 2007, is back again with a film he wrote that has a plot that sounds like it could rival Knocked Up or Superbad.

Sophie Okonedo

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her when I first saw her in “Ace Ventura:  When Nature Calls”.  She was wonderful in the sci-fi film “Aeon Flux” and of course, “Hotel Rwanda”.  Now, I discover she is currently working on “The Secret Life of Bees” with Dakota Phanning, Jennifer Hudson, and Queen Latifah.  Can’t wait to see this one.

30 Seconds to Mars

Tidings of great joy for 30STM fans.  They’ve just won FUSE’s Best of 2007.  FUSE fans were asked to vote for their favorite bands in a series of elimination rounds and the last band standing is my personal fave….30 Seconds to Mars.  Congrats to the guys and to the die hard Echelon members who all voted until their fingers bled.