Mark Wooden's Blog, page 40
August 18, 2014
Real life "Purge" just as fake as movie
In early August of 2014, word spread over the social media webs that a real life Purge, based on the movies "The Purge" and "The Purge: Anarchy" were going down in various cities including Jacksonville, Florida and Louisville, Kentucky.
In Louisville, schools were closed and the populance started pestering the police.
Turns out it was all started by some punk ass kid who thought it'd be a cool prank to post that a Purge was coming. He's under investigation now.
For more on this debunking, check out Snopes.com.
Follow the link for my review of "The Purge: Anarchy."
Dreamcasting the "Expendabelles" movie
With “Expendables 3” in theaters and Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford looking older than ever (Mel Gibson still looks good), now’s the time to look at another iteration of the franchise.
There’s been talk of an “Expendabelles,” a female version of the team. Following the “Expendables” tradition of casting old school action heroes, let’s daydream about who should make the cut and what their role would be.
August 14, 2014
Wesley Snipes free at last in "The Expendables 3"
Wesley Snipes is out of jail and back in action -- literally -- in the third installment of the 80s action hero franchise, "The Expendables." The UK paper "The Telegraph" catches up with him.
Snipes dishes on the "Blade" vampire hunter movies, how if he'd known how big comic book movies would get he'd have played his hand differently with the Marvel Comics movie.
He also mentions how his friend Robert Downey Jr called him up for advice on "Iron Man."
It's an interesting read. "The Expendables 3" is actually fun, too. Check it out this weekend.
"Blade" image courtesy of Marvel Studios
August 13, 2014
Robin Williams genie/ Aladdin meme sends wrong message
Comedian Robin Williams committed suicide this week, shattering the childhood dreams of many throughout the world.
His passing earned two days of front page news on USA Today.
In the spirit of this grief, a meme began circulating with Aladdin hugging the genie, played by Williams in the Disney film. A caption reads, “Now you are free.”
I get the sentiment intended, but in light of how Williams died, the meme has a deadly second meaning.
July 27, 2014
Get urban fantasy ebook "By Virtue Fall" for 50% off!
In honor of the Tampa Bay Comic Con, I'm putting the urban fantasy ebook "By Virtue Fall" on sale for 50% off.
Here's the deal:
* Go to smashwords.com
* select either a mobi file for your Kindle or an epub file for your Nook
* Use coupon code "DC99H" at checkout
* Final cost will be $2.50
If you like the book, head on over to Amazon.com or Goodreads.com and leave a review.
Tell your friends so they too can begin the saga of a vampire assassin's quest to save her sister from the manipulations of the supernatural creatures in control of the Shadowdance.
TBCC 2014 features plenty of celebrity guests from pop culutre including some from "Game of Thrones," "Mighty Morphin/ Power Rangers" and even "X-Men: Days of Future Past"'s Quicksilver.
There will also be plenty of comic book talent, including guest of honor Jim Steranko, Mike Grell ("Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters") and Greg Land.
For those in Tampa, maybe I'll see ya at the con. Look for the guy in the "Shadowdance" logo shirt.
NOTE: Coupon expires on August 4th, 2014.
July 26, 2014
Zack Snyder reveals Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman
With San Diego's Comic Con in full rage mode, Hollywood is in full on "sell to the geeks!" mode.
The latest release: Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman for Zack Snyder's "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice."
My two cents: it looks fine for a skinny Wonder Woman Amazonian. I miss the colors, but hey; who am I?
Goyer can still fuck it all up with a bad script, so I'm not holding my breath.
At all.
But at least Wonder Woman's coming to the big screeen. That's LOOOOONNNGGG overdue.
Don't fuck it up, guys.
What's your opinion (because I know you have one)? Chime in on Facebook below.
July 24, 2014
See "Lucy" so we get more female action heroes
"Lucy" with Scarlett Johansson hits theaters this weekend.
That's an event, because Hollywood isn’t in the habit of making action movies with female protagonists.
Hell. Wonder Woman, the premiere female superhero, can’t even get a solo movie. She has to be introduced in a male-dominated movie as if she hasn’t had her own comic book and TV show before.
Film historians still talk about Ellen Ripley from “Aliens,” a movie that came out in 1985, as if there aren’t any new action heroines.
So what can we, the movie-going public, do to get more women front and center in action movies?
Glad you asked.
July 23, 2014
A non-threatening look at "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"
"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is one of the the first movies to take motion capture technology out of the safety of the studio and onto location (despite the word "set" in the pic).
Here's a picture from 20th Century Fox showing the actors at work and the finished scene from the movie.
Seriously, AMPAS.
You have to create a new category for motion capture and voice actors, because these people, Andy Serkis and Scarlett Johansson among them, deserve recognition for their work. Get on that.
July 21, 2014
"Apes" movie lends itself to discussion of race, extremism
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” took the number one slot away from “The Purge: Anarchy” last weekend, and rightfully so; it’s a bolder, better movie sporting spectacular performances by its motion capture cast.
(Note to the Academy – make a category for mo-cap and voiceover actors stat!)
As good as it is, though, I do have one major beef with “Dawn” (or I wouldn’t be writing this).
What could I possibly have issue with?
Glad you asked. But a warning: if you’re too afraid to discuss racism or extremism, click away now.
July 17, 2014
"The Purge: Anarchy" delivers the horror fans wanted
Last year’s “The Purge” by writer/ director James DeMonaco brought us a unique premise. The original film focused on a sliver of that premise’s potential.
With this year’s sequel, “The Purge: Anarchy,” DeMonaco crafts a story worthy of the series’ intriguing premise.
Though a limited budget (only $9 million) prevents all out anarchy in the streets, DeMonaco doesn’t fail to disappoint.
He presents both the anarchic feel of the Purge and the socio-political elements that are inextricably linked.
And yes, it’s still a horror movie.
