SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW (Part 1): MAY

After getting off to a slow movie going start for this year...no movies seen during the first three months, but I have since seen three over the span of 2 weeks: Olympus Has Fallen, G.I. Joe 2 and Evil Dead. And seeing those three films I got bombarded with loads of previews for upcoming films this summer. I thought I would do a series of posts on the films I am most looking forward to. There are tons of them coming and I will start with May which yields four potential blockbusters. These four films are following in the footsteps of their predecessors which all made over $200 million in America alone. Let's get started shall we:

IRON MAN 3 (May 3) - Shellhead returns for his third solo outing following last summer's mega-hit The Avengers. Robert Downey, Jr. once again plays Iron Man. And faces off against two villains this time in the form of The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). Returning to aid our armored avenger is Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau). This is reported to be Downey's last go as the super-hero..well last solo gig. He will probably return for The Avengers 2. Here's hoping this wants makes up for the last Iron Man film, which was ok, but kind of under-whelming. In the hands of director Shane Black, I think it should be. 
Monty Meter: 9 out of 10 (where it ranks on my can't wait to see list)

THE GREAT GATSBY (May 10) - I'm a big Leonardo DiCaprio fan in almost everything the man does. Despite the fact he dies in nearly all of his films. But once again I am excited about this glitzy adaption of Gatsby by Baz Luhrmann and co-starring some great actors. Such as Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Isla Fisher, and Adelaide Clemens.
Monty Meter: 6 out of 10

STAR TREK-INTO DARKNESS (May 17) - To boldy go one more time is the intrepid crew of the starship Enterprise, once again guided by JJ Abrams. His first Trek movie back in 2009 blew the doors off everyone's expectations and this sequel looks just as good. If not even better.  
Monty Meter: 8 out of 10

FAST AND FURIOUS 6 (May 24) - Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson return for another in your face adrenaline filled action caper that looks to outdo Fast Five in every way by going with even bigger and crazier stunts. I love these films and this looks just as good as the last film. Should be another crowd-pleaser.
Monty Meter: 9 out of 10

THE HANGOVER PART 3 (May 24) - Here we go with the Wolf Pack returning for another go round..this time going back to Vegas. I hope this one makes up for Part 2 as that one was kind of weak. Opens the same day as Fast and Furious so that weekend should be huge. Hell the whole month of May should be huge and record setting.
Monty Meter: 7 out of 10

I'll be back shortly with a preview of June's releases.

Sister Blog To All Good Things

 While my main blog deals solely with classic films and actors, I needed another blog where I could talk about my love of sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comic books and stuff of that nature. The title is called Hero Worship. And my love of all things sci-fi and fantasy, especially Star Trek, makes that an appropriate title. Well, I had to call my blog something and I didn't want to go with some generic title like The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Page. Anyway. I hope to run into several fans and like minded people on that blog. Will cover everything from Trek, Star Wars, Buffy, Firefly, Supernatural, X-Men, sci-fi films and tv shows and comic books and more. The link to the blog is down below.


http://heroworship1.blogspot.com/

Buckle up for high speed fun and adventure in STAR TREK

Saw it opening night on IMAX and it was freakin' AWESOME! Suffice to say Star Trek is the best movie I have seen in awhile. And the audience I saw it was cheering and screaming and laughing the entire movie.

Just saw it for a second time and it was even better hence the higher rating. Trek is one of my top 5 favorites now.

Just recently bought the new DVD and Trek still rocks.......

Alright here is my review of this new classic: Star Trek is the most fun I've had at the movies in a long time. This reboot of the classic series is a wonder to behold and it does not disappoint. And what's cool about this film is that is very accessible to non-Trek fans but at the same time will please Trekkies everywhere. This is the perfect summertime movie that delivers everything the previews promised and then some. Detailing the beginning journey for the intrepid crew of the starship Enterprise, this film explains a lot of history about the characters we have come to know and love for over 40 years, but with a few welcome tweaks. How James Kirk was born on his father's ship amid a raging space battle. And his rebellious upbringing against authority before enlisting in Starfleet. And Spock's childhood is explored as he is constantly harassed by fellow classmates for being half human. Flash forward a few years the duo will meet aboard the Enterprise, which is led by Captain Pike. Along the way we are introduced to the stunning Uhura (played by Zoe Zaldana), Sulu (John Cho) who uses a frigggin' collapsible samurai sword in a battle with some bad guys, Chekov, and the irascible Leonard McCoy (played by Karl Urban). We learned how McCoy gets the nickname Bones and how he despises his ex-wife. Urban kills the part. We don't meet Scotty (Simon Pegg) until halfway into the movie but when he comes aboard it is a very funny scene. As for the two leads Chris Pine is very good as Kirk, and he doesn't play him as William Shatner did. He makes Kirk cocky and horny but also very smart. Of course he is quick to fight too. And Pine just makes Kirk so likable that you can't help but root for the guy to win. But its Zachary Quinto who delivers the most as Spock. He brings a new level of intensity to the part that makes Spock seem dare I say it bad ass. As for the villian which I must regrettably say is the weak link in the movie. As the Romulan Nero, Eric Bana is somewhat wasted. Still this new update rocks with eye popping SFX, cool battle scenes, humor, drama, sexual innuendo, conflict, and a strong return by the original Spock, Mr. Nimoy thanks to a nifty time travel plot. There may be some die hard Treks fans that will take offense to some of the liberties taken by director J.J. Abrams, but I am not one of them. I think he did a helluva job and hope he comes back for the sequel. Trust me Star Trek is solid entertainment. I would not steer anybody wrong about this one. One of my favorite films now. And I don't think any other film coming out this summer or the year for that matter is gonna touch it. Oh, one more thing, when the Enterprise goes to warp speed..........it's sent shivers down my spine...like OH YEAH!!

Thursday Thirteen - My 13 Favorite Movies

For this week's Thursday Thirteen, I decided to make a list of my 13 favorite movies.

1. HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) Without a doubt my favorite movie of all time, starring my favorite actor Cary Grant. I actually just wrote a review of this film last week, so you can check that out whenever you get time.

2.Bringing Up Baby (1938) Another Grant film and another comedy classic. Co-starring the always great Katherine Hepburn and a leopard named Baby.

3. Star Trek (2009) The new updated Trek film is awesome. And it makes the list effortlessly. Can't wait for the second one.

4. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) My favorite of all the Star Wars films. I thought this was wonderfully done that had one hell of a cliff hanger.

5. The Thin Man (1934) Nick & Nora Charles first film and it's a doozy. Superbly acted by William Powell and Myrna Loy, this is the start of a wonderful series.

6. Aliens (1986) Superior sequel to the first Alien film, which is a classic in its own right. Sigourney Weaver owns this movie from the very start.

7. The Lady Vanishes (1938) My favorite Alfred Hitchcock film of all time. That statement alone speaks volumes about this entertaining little mystery/comedy.

8. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958) Elizabeth Taylor just melts the screen in this riveting drama.

9. Arsenic & Old Lace (1944) The third Cary Grant film to make the list..are you sensing a pattern here? Wickedly fun black comedy.

10. The Big Sleep (1946) Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall work their magic in this excellent murder mystery.

11. Remember The Titans (2000) I love this movie. It's inspiring and entertaining as all get out. Terrific performance by Denzel Washington.

12. A Few Good Men (1992) The scene where Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson go at it is worth the price of admission alone.

13. Dead Again (1991) Great homage to the Hitchcock films of old, expertly directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring him, Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia, and a caustic Robin Williams.