Transformers Weekly Update...

Let the countdown begin!! There is only 5 days left until we get to experience what is one of the most anticipated blockbusters of the summer or as I am coming to be more concerned with a possible bomb. Just Kidding!! This movie is going to be sick. I mean seriously, even if just the robots are cool then the movie is going to be fun to watch. So all there has to be is just a little bit of half way decent acting.

As I travel across the southwestern part of the US (yep, that’s right Dack is on his way to Texas in July….I am a wild man) I have seen a lot of advertising. I do know that advertising doesn’t mean a good movie but what it does show a person where the focus of a movie might be aiming for. And what I have seen on my journey is a huge push for this film in more conservative areas. What I have seen here makes back in Nor Cal seem like nothing. I am predicting a fun summer movie going back the proportions of Independence Day…actually it might be quite a bit better.

Another fun bit of Transformer news is that I will be seeing this one in IMAX. San Antonio has an IMAX theater and so I have decided Transformers is a IMAX must. Yes, I know that’s not really news about Transformers but I’m The Dack so deal. I sure hope it is actually playing at the San Antonio IMAX since I just shot off about it.

In the coming days leading up to this event I’ll be sure to let you know if I have any new thoughts to share.

TV On DVD Corner......The Shield

First I just want to say that Television on DVD is one of the greatest inventions of all time.

I only just started watching The Shield a couple of months ago but last weekend I finished the 5th Season. It was the second awesome season in a row. A friend of The Dack has been talking up this show almost non-stop for two years now. Well, now I’m officially riding the bandwagon. Michael Chiklis embodies Vic Mackey with such passion you can’t help but root for him to get away with killing, cheating, and stealing while cleaning up the inner city of Los Angeles.

Thanks to TV on DVD I was able to cram 5 seasons in a few short months. However, now I am totally bummed because season 6 just ended on television and I am going to have to wait at least 9 more months until it comes out on DVD.

More it sure to come on this show in the future so far the series gets eightDacks. The best seasons number 4 is truly brilliant and sits at tenDacks.

Could Have Been Better...

I know I shouldn't believe the reviews I read in the paper or online but every once in awhile if they have something good to say about a movie I am looking forward to. I find myself getting excited about the positive things being said.

The latest movie to not to live up to the hype is Room 1408. This is not to say I didn't like it because I kind of did but I also didn't love it. John Cusack is one of my favorite actors and he alone almost saves this film. Samuel L Jackson also shines in a small role. The two share a few really great scenes.

The problem is with the story line that is very good at building the intensity throughout the film but in the end to me it had a great build to nothing. The film is based on a short story by Stephen King. I haven't read it but knowing it is a short story I am sure whoever wrote the screenplay had to add to the plot to make it work as a movie. Whoever it was should have been told that scary movies don’t work if you have flashbacks. Although they are worked into the movie very smoothly it still doesn’t work and keeps pulling you out of the scary situations that are happening. This ultimately ruins any suspense build up.

I don’t have much to good to say about this movie because the more time goes by from when I saw it, I think of more things that could have been done differently to make it a good possibly even great film. That said it is still one of the better Stephen King story adaptations.

A sub par screenplay and bad editing end up wasting a good idea and good performances from Cusack and Jackson. What ends up killing the movie is a completely uninspired ending. This one ends up with fourDacks solely because I like both actors.

Summertime Television...

When I was growing up television shows disappeared during the summer. This seemed like a good choice considering when I was young, summer was for playing outside and going to see movies but as I grow older I am excited about a new trend happening with television shows. HBO and Showtime for the past several years have started offering their new season show lineup during the summer. For the past couple of summers I have been a huge fan of this new trend. Yes, shows on both HBO and Showtime are not your traditional sitcom. They are also not shows for kids but I like the idea of giving adults something to watch during the summer. Most of the new shows have already started this summer, so I am a little late but the great thing is both channels realize your summer is busy so they have a lot of reruns. Here are a few shows I am looking forward to plus some new shows coming out.

Entourage: This show just started season 4 two weeks ago. It has been my guilty pleasure since I first saw it 2 summers ago. It is a comedic drama about an up and coming Hollywood star and his 3 closest friends...his best friend and manager who used to manage a Sbarro, His older brother who is a has been actor, and a slacker hanger on who is along for the ride. Plus their agent Ari Gold played by Jeremy Piven who is one of my favorite actors and totally steals every scene he is in. I have heard this show called Sex In The City for men. While I’m not sure about that it sure is fun! Oh, and if you want to check it out I have all the seasons on DVD. The series as a whole reaches sevenDacks while the best season number three is smashing with nineDacks.

Big Love: This show just started its second season. It is about a owner of a large home improvement store in Idaho and his three wives. Yep that's right he is a polygamist. It's actually a really interesting look on the world of polygamy, as it exists today. This is one of Mrs. Dack’s favorite shows of the summer. Bill Paxon plays the Husband of three. I like watching this show to see all the trouble a guy has to go through when he has three wives. So far I haven’t really been able to get into season two but season one lands sixDacks.

Flight of the Conchords: I have checked out at least three new shows this summer and this is the only one so far worth mentioning. It’s defiantly is the weirdest show I’ve seen it the past couple of years. It is the story (if you can call it that…the plot tends to be a little random) of a Folk Pop Duo from New Zealand. Their songs are interspersed throughout the show. The first time around this show drove me crazy. The second time around I found it addictive. So far only watching two episodes I give it fiveDacks but as long as the songs stay catchy more Dacks are sure to come.

This August two more shows are set to drop (oh yeah I can be gangsta) on Showtime. The first is Weeds, which will be in its third season. A fascinating show about a suburban mom who becomes a dealer of Marijuana to support her family after husband dies from a freak heart attack. Assisted by her dope head accountant and her slacker brother in law. The second show sees the return of David Duchovny to the small screen as a has been writer going through a midlife crisis. It is Californication. More to come on both of these when they come out later this summer.

Looking Forward to this Weekend...6/22/2007

In a new section of the Critically Acclaimed The Dack List I will be giving you my well educated prediction (random guess) on how good the new films coming out each weekend will probably be. That way if you saw it and hated it, well hopefully I would have told you not to see it. However, if I said something was good and it turned out bad... Hey, I can promise anything but the The Dack's hunches are usually right.

Two movies that are coming out look worthy of at least paying matinée for. The first is Room 1408, the trailer looked good and my boy Cusack is in it so I'm expecting good things. The review rating site www.rottentomatoes.com has said this film is relying on the old idea that blood and gore isn't the only thing that can scare you. Thank goodness, I was beginning to think Hollywood forgot. I've already started making plans to see this one Saturday night, with review of course to follow shortly. The second movie up is Evan Almighty which, I'm hoping for good things from. I say hoping because early reviews aren't giving this movie much of a chance to stay afloat. I am still thinking I will go check it out so you might want want to wait for The Dack to chime in before you head out and pay whatever crazy amount the Theater is charging these days.

I will go ahead and mention the release next week of Live Free Die Hard
because this movie is releasing on Wednesday June 27th. Early chatter online for this movie is all about the PG-13 rating that it is getting but I for one am expecting a sweet thrill ride.

I am always a big fan of the trailers before movies start, so here is a really really good one that I just found that will probably be dropping this weekend. If you take the time to watch anything on my site, check this out.

New Trailers...

In my love of film I watch a lot of trailers. I love them. They are a movie wrapped up in under 3 mins. Yes it is true you can have a great trailer and a crappy movie but in the 8 years I have been watching every trailer I can find, I have never seen a bad trailer that is a good movie.

I will share a gem I have found from time to time. Here is one, the movie is August Rush. It might be a bit sappy but I will be ready for that after we get through this summer that has at least 4 more blockbusters full of action coming our way.

August Rush

So Surprised I had to Share…

Recently I have been ranting about Hollywood going crazy with sequels but I just read something so exciting. It seems someone has the right idea. Brad Bird (He wrote and directed the Incredibles) was just interviewed and had this to say about Incredibles 2.

"I love the world. I love the characters, and if I could come with a story that was as good or better than the original, I'd go there in a second. I have pieces of things that I would love to see in a sequel, but I haven't got them all together yet, and I certainly wouldn't want to come out there with something that is less than the original."

Finally, someone that gets its. I want to make this clear... I totally want him to make Incredibles 2 but I also want it to be as sweet as the first. If you haven’t seen Incredibles you are missing the best animated film since Aladdin.

In other exciting news about Pixar they released a teaster trailer for a new film. The title is Wall-E, check it out below.

Sweet Summertime

As summer approaches, (actually, I think it got here awhile ago in Northern California), the best movie about being a kid in the summer came to mind.

Even 14 years after it first came out, The Sandlot still gives me that wonderful feeling that I had growing up and the long hot days and nights summer brought. Although it’s about baseball, you don’t have to even like baseball to love this film. In fact, don’t let the title fool you, this movie is about more than baseball. It’s about growing up, trying to fit in and the joy of being young with few cares in the world besides what you are going to do for fun tomorrow.

I am sure most people have seen this film but if you haven’t, go rent it or borrow it from a friend…I am sure someone you know has it. Even if you have seen it, I’m sure it was a couple of years ago. Watch it one of these hot summer nights when it is hard to sleep and remember how great it was to not have a care in the world.

This one rocks with tenDacks

Die Hard...

When I hear commercials for giant action films with lots of explosions my mind immediately jumps to Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) shoving a desk chair strapped with C-4 explosives down an elevator shaft to blow up some terrorists. Sheer Genius!!!! While Bruce Willis is running around a 40 story building killing every terrorist he sees, Alan Rickman is one of the best villains in a major studio action movie ever. He is smart, sophisticated, and pure evil at the same time.

Unlike a lot of mindless action movies where the acting or story make you question the film…Die Hard lets you just sit back and enjoy the fun, even when John McClane is jumping off the roof of a skyscraper with a fire hose strapped around his waist. Is it Believable? No, but it sure is Awesome!!

This one gets nineDacks and our recommendation for terrorists to just give up if John McClane comes a knocking.

Transformers Weekly Update Number 2...

I have had a lot of conversations about Transformers recently...In fact I should totally be getting paid...

Anyway, as I have shown the trailer to everyone that has visited my house in recent months. I have managed to get majority of the people I know excited about the film. Several people have asked me if I know what Transformers are actually going to be in the movie. Feeling like the local expert on Transformers that I am trying to past myself off as I decided to go to the internet in search of the answer.

Here is what I found at the greatest website around Wikipedia.

Autobots

• Optimus Prime (Peterbilt Model 388): The powerful, wise leader of the Autobots, Prime comes to protect humanity from the evil Decepticons.
• Bumblebee (1974/2008 Chevrolet Camaro): Bumblebee is an honest and friendly soldier who befriends humanity, namely Sam, in his efforts to find the Allspark. He has difficulty speaking after he was attacked by Megatron and communicates with a radio.^[2]
• Jazz (Pontiac Solstice): The smallest and feistiest of the Autobots, Jazz is one of Optimus' best warriors, talented at learning new cultures.^[2]
• Ironhide (GMC Topkick pick-up truck): A tough, weathered soldier, he is always the first in battle. Ironhide is one of Optimus' oldest friends, yet he has a darker outlook on life.^[2]
• Ratchet (Search & Rescue Hummer H2): The medic and scientist, Ratchet has a strong sense of duty to protect life.^[2]

Decepticons

• Megatron (Cybertronian jet): The missing Decepticon leader held hostage by Sector 7, Megatron desires power over the Allspark and hates organic lifeforms.
• Starscream (F-22 Raptor): Megatron's second-in-command, Starscream actually desires to overthrow Megatron and take the Allspark for himself.^[2]
• Barricade (Saleen-modified Ford Mustang police car) : The Decepticon hunter who masquerades in society as a symbol of the law.^[2]
• Frenzy (2-speaker CD player): The smallest of the Decepticons, Frenzy attaches to Barricade. His main purpose is spying on humans, but he is still a ferocious fighter, shooting blades disguised as CDs from his chest.^[2]
• Bonecrusher (Buffalo H Mine-Protected vehicle): A Decepticon warrior who hates all others. He is only subservient to Megatron, whom he fears.^[2]
• Blackout (MH-53 Pave Low): The largest Decepticon, Blackout is fiercely loyal to Megatron and can fire electromagnetic pulses, making Decepticon attacks easier.
• Scorponok (mechanical scorpion): He has a symbiotic relationship with Blackout, hiding within him until he is commanded to go and kill.
• Brawl (Modified M1 Abrams): A moody warrior, armed to the teeth.

I am happy they stuck with the true originals for the autobots. Ironhide pictured at the top of this article is one of my favorites besides of course Optimus Prime. Jazz is also a huge fan favorite. Lets hope the new voices are as good as the ones from the cartoon.

The Second Fantastic Four Movie is Just Good Enough...for me not to hate it.

When I go to see a movie I am always hoping for the best possible experience. However when it came time to see Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer I had to tell my common sense to take a back seat.

For those of you that didn't get a chance to see the first Fantastic Four movie here is what you missed. One of the most disappointing movies I have ever sat through. It had the potential to be good but every time it started to get there it would blow it with horrible acting, ridicules storyline, or truly unbelievable gaps in logic. Yes I know it seems foolish to think that a movie about super heroes should be logical but I think many other comic book films have proved that it is possible.

The second installment of the Fantastic Four had a much better flow, much of which has to do with the fact that the background for all the characters had already been set in the first movie. The acting was much better with each actor seeming more comfortable in character. Still there isn't much here besides special effects which where good. Jessica Alba is still super hot even though personally I preferred her Dark Angel days. Michael Chiklis is awesome as The Thing, I can't imagine anyone else in that role. Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd fit their characters but are a bit stale. Laurence Fishburne gives an amazing amount of life to a completely digital Silver Surfer given he only has 10 lines. I am thankful that unlike some of the handful of sequels coming out this summer this one actually manages to add something new to the story and not rehash something we've already seen. Although I think this movie was supposed to be targeted to comic book lovers like myself it seems more suited to those under 10, which surprisingly enough seemed to be a majority of the audience in the theater.

On a side note, while watching and at times enjoying this movie I began to think about all the comic book film that I have seen and how the second installment always seems to come together better a be a little more fun than the first. I am going to have to do a little more digging on this one, more to come later.

While I have a rating and recommendation for this movie my feeling is that if you are a huge comic book nerd you are probably going to end up seeing this movie at some point no matter what anyone says. And no, not just because Jessica Alba is the hottest chick on the planet (even with her somewhat creepy fake blue eyes) but because like me you hope it's the next X-Men. The real shame of this movie is that if you didn’t see the first movie you are going to be a little lost because this movie jumps right in to the story. However PLEASE DON’T use that as a reason to see the first it is a truly awful movie. This one winds up with threeDacks, I had to drop it by 1 just because it is connected to the first.

Shrek 4......already???

Recent news out of DreamWorks last month has Shrek 4 and 5 scheduled for release in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

That’s right they have decided to set a release date for a movie that has no script. DreamWorks the upstate studio that has painted it self as a different kind of studio has become just like all the other guys. My question is now that they have announced it is on its way can they change there minds if the story for a 4th movie making fun of fairytales doesn’t come together.

At the release of the first Shrek people were talking about DreamWorks giving Pixar competition for being the best animation studio around. Now all talk of that has faded as Pixar continues to bring new fresh fun ideas to movies and DreamWorks has………Shrek?

As this news breaks I am moved to include my review for Shrek 3. I went to see it 3 weeks ago and have been avoiding it.

Shrek 3 was a movie with awesome animation, while watching it there were scenes that looked so lifelike I forgot I was watching a cartoon. As this was another one of the 3rd movies to come out this year…I am forced once again to remind studios that unless you are adding something new to the story of a series please DON’T MAKE THE MOVIE!!!!! Now on with the review….Shrek must come to terms with becoming a father…oh wait I can’t help it here it comes…… Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas and Cameron Diaz I feel compelled to tell all of you, money should not be the only reason to make a movie!!

Shrek somehow gets threeDacks…one for Mike Myers, one for Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas and one for Pinocchio the only truly funny character in this movie. Cameron Diaz would normally be worth oneDack at least for being smoking hot but gets nothing here because she just lends her voice to the role. The only other notable character to the series here is the gingerbread man but only to wonder when Shrek is just going to eat him. I am trying to think of a time in the films were they appear on screen together and can’t. There you go I came up with something that could happen in number 4.

Die Hardest...

Transformers isn't the only movie I am looking forward to this summer… Although it is the one I am looking forward to the most, considering Transformers is the first word in this article about Live Free Die Harder not to mention the first thing I think about when I wake up.

John McClane is a bad ass. Yep I said it and it is true. He is the cop that Vic Mackey wants to be. Vic takes down drug dealers in the inner city of LA. Bruce has killed and stopped terrorists killing people in a high rise in LA, stopped terrorists from taking over Washington D.C. Dulles airport, and stopped lots more terrorists stealing from the Fort Knox of New York City. He’s shown Jack Bauer and thing or 2 too. Who seems to only have super powers in Southern California and Mexico. Chuck Norris might be the only one with a one up on Bruce in Die Hard.

Anyway Bruce is bringing the First American original tough cop John McClane back to rescue America and it is going to be fun!

But the Die Hard the one that started it all back in 1988 is also something to be enjoyed.

In preparation for the Actionism that will be Live Free or Die Hard coming out June 27th I will be posting reviews for all the Die Hard movies in the next week.

Transformer Faux Pa...

In a stroke of utter confusion Transformers makes its first marketing mistake; Releasing a remix of the transformers theme. You can find it here.

Transformers Theme Remix

This is my first weekly update of my looking forward to the awesomeness that I hope Transformers is going to be. Yes continuing to read this article will more than likely turn you into a movie nerd...but you know you want to keep reading anyway.

I have to say taking the best cartoon theme sung by a sweet 80's hair band and getting it remixed by some lame 90's MTV wannabe band was a huge mistake. Side note, if you know who sings this song let me know. I could look it but I am being lazy. Now they have done a cheap 90's rock club party remix to this once great theme. Who knows maybe they are trying to reach a broader audience. The marketing of Transformers has been genius. Starting out with trailers showing nothing but glimpses of the highlight of the film, the robots, then showing more and more of the robots. If you haven't seen a trailer check one of these

Best
Short and sweet
Awesome

I only hope that Steven Spielberg doesn't let Michael Bay screw up what should be the best movie this year.

Check this out.

Knocked Up is a Knock Out....

Finally a good fun summer movie...

Knocked Up was everything I wanted it to be. It was funny, smart, funny, and did I say funny...

The Director Judd Apatow is proving to be the comic genius of the century. If you haven't seen 40 Year Old Virgin because you are afraid it will be all sex jokes...deal with it and put up with a couple of funny sex jokes for a great comedy.... Yes, I was worried just like you but I finally watched it on cable one lazy Saturday afternoon and laughed harder than I have in a couple of years. If you are too afraid to watch it at least check out his tv show Freaks and Geeks. It was only on for a year because tv execs are quite possibly the stupidest people on the planet but that 1 season is the funniest best-written comedy tv show in the last 10 years.
Every character is well rounded and not just a gag...Paul Rudd needs to be given a chance to be a lead in a movie!!! His character (the brother in-law) is the highlight of the film and pushes this movie through even when it starts to lag during the last 45 minuets.

Yes I know the title makes you think this movie is about someone making a bad decision but what makes the movie great is about two people taking responsibility for their mistakes. For now it's getting eightDacks but it might be higher after another watching. Oh yeah, I know the title of this review is lame but it gets tenDacks.

Hot Damn.....

In a sheer stroke of genius the British do the best spoof of the buddy cop movie ever and don't even get me started about this sweet picture.

There are so many funny townsfolk in this movie I can't even count them. Add that with a Grandma getting drop kicked in the face and you have something truly special.

The team behind Shaun of the Dead brings you a fun action, mystery, buddy cop movie that takes place in a...small British countryside town. I don't want to ruin too much but just try to imagine movies like Loaded Weapon being made fun of by British Comedians.... hmmmm..................ok I guess that doesn't really work...but trust me you will like it, unless perhaps you don't like car chases and lots of violence. But seriously if that’s the case what are you doing reading my reviews.

For those of you that didn't get a chance to go see it in the theater I will be buying it as soon as it's available and you can borrow it from me.

A grand nineDacks for this fine piece of filmmaking.

Oceans too many...

I feel like the answer to the question... Are George Clooney and Brad Pitt the coolest guys around has been satisfied.

Yes they are cool, they do look good in suits, and Brad Pitt is awesome but seriously I don't need a rehash of a rehash of a rehash to help me know those facts.

I will admit the movie was fun, the heist grand, the bad rich guy truly evil but I was also tired of all of this before it rolled out before me. Heist movies work when there is some unexpected wrinkle that jumps right off the screen at the end making you feel both excited and dumb for not seeing it earlier. But Oceans 13 didn't have that...the surprise ending didn't shock and awe.... It made me what to smack George and Brad across the face. (Not really...those guys are awesome and Brad Pitt is the coolest guy around {see Fight Club} but figuratively I wanted to ask then why they spent energy doing this when they could have done something great and original) You can only drop 1 or 2 hints about what might happen, not 20.

Seriously guys please no more Oceans...make something awesome and original. I would even take a remake of an older film, just not a remake of a movie you already made 7 years ago.

Recommendation: If you love Brad or George you will like it. If you are expecting a great caper movie rent Oceans 11, Thomas Crown Affair, Confidence, or Heist. I don't to but I'm giving it fourDacks. I still wish I was Brad Pitt.

Being Jack Sparrow

What the heck where the writers of Pirates thinking…..

To say that I enjoyed Pirates even through the time (which was ridiculously long), plot which I am convinced was developed to confuse (it’s a good thing I am smart), sheer amount of characters which could have filled 3 more movies…..I did enjoy it, kinda

The whole part with the many Jack's running around....although it was funny brought me back to Being John Malkovich which was an interesting film but also gave nightmares. That whole section could have been cut and it would have helped the flow of the film.

My main thought during the credits while I waited for the extra ending (I won’t even get in to the fact that if you can’t fit the ending into the first 3 hours of a movie you might realize you need some help) was when are directors going to realize that just because they made the first 2 parts of a trilogy does not allow them to do anything they want in the third. As examples I give you the 3^rd matrix, and spidey 3 (which yes was good but could have been better given proper editing)…even Return of the King which was great but suffered from over load. I am convinced that the only good 3rd movies in a trilogy are Return of the Jedi and The Last Crusade but I am willing to be proven wrong.

Recommendation : If you saw the first 2 and have 3 hours to kill see it.....I'm giving this one sixDacks because Johnny Depp is so awesome.

Welcome

Welcome to The Dack List.
Enjoy my reviews of movies and tv. Most of the reviews will be on current movies out in theaters. But not to worry if I run across tv worth mentioning I will be sure to let you know. I will also share any older films worth watching or rewatching from time to time.