First Poster Released for "The Dark Knight Rises"

Christopher Nolan is just amazing. The first poster for "The Dark Knight Rises" has just come out, and it's already too much for me. I can't wait for this movie and the depth and symbolism of the poster are just awesome. Batman as a symbol of hope? Gotham City crumbling? A Knight who must rise from the depths? Who knows. Nolan always keeps things close to the chest, and this time should be no different. A teaser will be attached to the new "Harry Potter" but don't expect to see much footage. Ugh, I already can't fucking wait for this movie.

In Defense of “Transformers 3”

Okay before we start I’ll get one thing out of the way and state: I am totally fucking biased in favor of this franchise. How could I not be? I’ve been a fan of Shia LaBeouf since he was on “Even Stevens,” I love action films, I’ve loved the Transformers toys since I was a kid, and Optimus Prime is the most badass non-human movie character ever. So even with all that said, I totally understand the criticism of “Dark of the Moon” --- the bad dialogue, the ridiculous story-lines, the gratuitous shots of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley ----- I get all that.

But you know what, I don’t care about any of that. Look at it this way. Michael Bay has to make a movie that appeals to the masses of people all over the world, many of whom never played with a Transformer toy in their lives and are only going to the movies and because that’s what they do in the summer. He has to blow up a ridiculous amount of shit to please people, and in that respect he succeeds.

Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment, who went to see this film looking for an Oscar winning script? Probably no one. What we all wanted to see was Optimus Prime being a badass, Shia being funny and heroic, Chicago getting blasted to smitherines, and of course, to see that beautiful model in action. Check, check, check and check. Also, you’d be hard pressed to find a cooler aspect of any action film this summer than the sky diving scene when the NEST team descends on Chicago from above amidst some exploding shit and a possible crash landing. What makes that scene even more amazing is that Bay strapped a camera to a guys head and ACUALLY HAD GUYS BASE JUMP OFF BUILDINGS IN CHICAGO.

Say what you will people, that was fucking dope. So this probably isn’t the best defense of the film that you can find out there, but my point is that I wanted to see some dope Transformer action, have some laughs with my friends, a hot babe and a conclusion to a trilogy that had me pretty skeptical when it was first announced. In that respect, the man delivered.

Go see the movie, the hour and half long climax battle scene is totally worth the price of admission. And if you don’t like it? Take it up with the Autobots, see what they think about it.

What I'm Listening To Today #1

I have to give ESPN's Scott Van Pelt some credit, on a regular basis him and his boy (aka co-host) Ryen Russilo play some quality music on their radio show and more often than not, it's the sweet electric sounds of Passion Pit. This track from their debut studio album "Manners" has the perfect loud banging intro which is perfect for transitions, but it's lead singer Michael Angelakos' vocals that make this track hard to forget. The catchy chorus of "...Let this be our little secret/no one needs to know were feeling/higher and higher and higher..." can stick with you throughout the day, and on a gloomy one like today was, it can be a small wrinkle of pleasure in an otherwise gray abyss of clouds and possible rain. And we all have our little secrets anyway.

And Just Like That...Summer is Upon Us

Big ups for warm days, long nights, the beach, beers and bbq's.
Definitely go see "Super 8" this summer. Imagine a mix of "The Goonies," "Close Encounters," "E.T." and "Stand By Me," filled with great story, suspense, mystery, wonder and fucking dopeness.
Watch a season of a TV show you missed over the year this summer. I recommend this one. Or this one.
Have fun at the movies this summer. Pick one: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (June 29), Horrible Bosses (July 8), Captain America: the First Avenger (July 22), 30 Minutes or Less (August 12).
Watch some good television this summer. It's called "BREAKING BAD."
Also good on TV this summer: "White Collar" (USA), "Falling Skies" (TNT), "Real Time With Bill Maher" (HBO), "Entourage" (HBO), "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (HBO).
Go to a baseball game this summer. Or two. Or three. Or four. Go to one in a city where you're not from. Like this one.
If you've never watched "The Godfather" before in your life, watch it this summer.
....Or do nothing. Fuck it, it's summer right?

New Death Cab for Cutie Album Streaming in Full at NPR!

Check out a streaming, full copy version of Death Cab for Cutie's new album, Codes and Keys on NPR.com! Click HERE for the stream!

Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" Starts Production, First Photo of Bane Appears

Anything Batman related always gets the Internet chatter rolling, but today, there aren't many rumors around, just excitement about Christopher Nolan's (most likely) last Batman film starting production.

As the press release reads:

Filming will take place on three continents, with an all-star cast working under the direction of Christopher Nolan.

BURBANK, CA, May 19, 2011 – Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

In helming “The Dark Knight Rises,” Christopher Nolan is utilizing IMAX® cameras even more extensively than he did on “The Dark Knight,” which had marked the first time ever that a major feature film was partially shot with IMAX® cameras. The results were so spectacular that the director wanted to expand the use of the large-format cameras for this film.



The screenplay for “The Dark Knight Rises” is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is being produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. “The Dark Knight” is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.

Behind the scenes, “The Dark Knight Rises” reunites the director with several of his longtime collaborators, all of whom worked together on the “The Dark Knight.” The creative team includes director of photography Wally Pfister, who recently won an Oscar® for his work on Nolan’s “Inception”; production designer Nathan Crowley; editor Lee Smith; and Oscar®-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”). In addition, Paul Franklin and Chris Corbould, who both won Oscars® for the effects in “Inception,” will supervise the visual and special effects, respectively. The music will be composed by Oscar® winner Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King”).

The locations for “The Dark Knight Rises” span three continents and include the American cities of Pittsburgh, New York and Los Angeles, as well as sites in India, England and Scotland.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Slated for release on July 20, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

On top of that, it seems as if the first "real" photo from the film has been released, showing off Tom Hardy, aka the man, as the villain Bane. Hardy (above) looks even more dark and sinister that I thought he would, and it only makes me more excited for what's ahead.

The cast is utterly brilliant, Nolan is a genius. I cannot wait for this movie. I know you can't either.

Star Wars Prequels...The LEGO Version

As a big "Star Wars" fan, like many other people, I was disappointed with the prequel films, but I never totally dismissed them. The first one was awful, (I partially blame the casting of that kid from "Jingle All the Way", talk about a whiny fucking kid), but the second one was a bit better, and I actually think the third one is a dope ass movie, although still could have been way better. But at the very least, the sequels spawned this super-entertaining two minute video of all three in LEGO form. Can't say I'm not impressed.

Awesome Steve Carell Film Adds Some More

Steve Carell's awesomely titled project "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" has just added a few new cast members. According to Variety the post-apocalyptic romantic comedy, which reportedly stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, has picked up additional members such as Adam Brody, Rob Corddry and William Peterson.

From Variety:

William Petersen, who's been extremely selective in choosing feature roles since leaving "CSI," is in negotiations along with "Scream 4" star Adam Brody and Rob Corddry to join Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Mandate Pictures' "Seeking a Friend at the End of the World."

In addition to writing the script, Lorene Scafaria is making her directorial debut on the project, which finds an incoming asteroid threatening to end life on Earth.

Carell stars as a man whose wife leaves him amidst the ensuing panic, prompting him to seek out his high school sweetheart, who yearns to be with him when doomsday arrives. Knightley plays the female lead, a neighbor of Carell's character who accompanies him on a romantic road trip to find her.

Brody just signed on to star in the indie "Hemlock Drive" with Susan Sarandon. He next stars opposite Greta Gerwig in Whit Stillman's "Damsels in Distress," and has also wrapped Julian Farino's indie dramedy "The Oranges."

The film is still in the early stages but having Steve Carell, Keira Knightley and Adam Brody in the same film is just dopetacular.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" Will Be Amazing

Look, I love Tobey Maguire. I love Sam Raimi. But lets all be honest for a moment. Those "Spider-Man" films really weren't that great. Too much CGI, too much metallic costumes (Green Goblin anyone?) and I really never could get over how egregious of a change Peter Parker's web shooters were in those films.

But they were still pretty decent, some of the first "big" super-hero movies we see today. But now, now we have a Peter Parker we can really believe in.

Andrew Garfield is far and away one of Hollywood's best young actors. He was robbed of an Oscar nomination for "The Social Network" and his work in "Boy A" as well as Mark Romanek's "Never Let Me Go" was just stunning and amazing. And now, to Peter.

This is the Peter we've always wanted. A teenager, a kid with some angst and inexperience. I look at these pictures and I just feel like this is right. Marc Webb is the man for the job, I mean just look at that name! This film is going to be "Amazing" and apart from "The Dark Knight Rises," this is the film I am dying for.

SWAGGGGGGGGG

walk like a g, you deserve it...thank you. pat tillman, my thoughts are with you. thanks obama. this is what happens when an intelligent man receives some intelligence.