I’m back to do another post! Apparently claiming I would do more writing at the end of my last post counts as a written contract in my state, yada-yada; several calls to Goldberg law offices (800-600-6014!) later, it turns out I actually do have to fill more space with letters. Fortunately, I like doing this!

Movies

• Time Bandits - Directed by Terry Gilliam, this “children’s movie” challenges beliefs in ways that most adults probably could never handle. On the outside, it’s a quirky romp through time with a band of little people determined to rob history itself blind; within this are serious questions about morality, friendship, and the nature of good and evil.
• Equilibrium - Every few years, when I haven’t seen this for a while, I somehow convince myself that it’s overrated. Then I find a friend who hasn’t seen it, and while showing it to them think “Man, I was way off.” Christian Bale stars in this 1984/ Farenheit 451 blend of action movie and political piece. Think V for Vendetta, but with Batman instead of Agent Smith at the center.
• Date Night - Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. Together. Plus James Franco and Mila Kunis in a cameo. Plus Mark Wahlberg, minus shirt. I expected good, but by-the-numbers comedy from this; what I got was sharp, poignant satire mixed with a healthy dose of genuine chemistry, and one really awesome car chase.

Television

• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - When the original run of FMA happened, the manga hadn’t been completed yet; thus, the admittedly bad, sometimes awful second half of the series was more or less filler. Thankfully, with the full run of story now completed by the creator, the animation studio saw fit to completely reboot the franchise. The first two volumes (26 episodes) have commercial releases, and the blu-rays look flawless. And if you don’t mind reading subtitles, the whole 64-episode run is on Hulu, though I don’t know for how long.
• Rubicon - New from AMC – Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and the upcoming Walking Dead – give us their spin on the “espionage drama.” Except it’s way better than anything else that has ever tried this. Based around a fictional private-sector intel-gathering, code-breaking, foreign-policy-altering think-tank, the only thing more interesting than the conspiracy within the conspiracies are the characters themselves.
• The Venture Bros. - Now into the “second part” of its fourth season on Adult Swim, this show is just too damn funny. I really don’t know how else to describe it. Part Johnny Quest spoof, part pop-culture riffing, and all genius, my best suggestion is to have your pop build a box to teach you how awesome it is. Just remember that it sometimes gets very hot, in the box, that pop built.

Comics

• Batman & Robin by Grant Morrison – I’m aware that Morrison’s current work isn’t something everyone is a fan of. But this series – with Dick Grayson as the caped crusader, trying to wrangle an out-of-control Damian Wayne as the boy wonder – has consistently delivered for my money. Removed from this time-travel craziness, it finds it focus in examining just what these personas represent to Gotham, to the people behind the masks, and even to costumed heroes the world over. 
• Chew by John Layman – In a world where certain food has become illegal, a young detective makes his way by using his ability to psychically connect with anything he eats. Whatever ideas might spring to your mind from that statement, they’ve probably been incorporated. With elements of (and jabs at) crime dramas, prohibition-era mob fiction, and noir flicks, this is a great read for someone looking for some new indy love.
• The Marvels Project by Ed Brubaker – The man who helped resurrect Daredevil and has turned Captain America into something amazing again asks us an interesting question: What if Marvel superheroes, from first to last, weren’t just happy accidents, but part of something very carefully orchestrated? Highly reminiscent of the groundbreaking Marvels from a decade ago, this is the universe we all know so well, but through fresh eyes and without the prejudices and pre-conceptions we also know so well.

That’s all for this time.

Click Here for the A-Team trailer

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
On Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – the marquee attraction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – guests will journey through iconic locations straight from the films, such as the Room of Requirement. This amazingly detailed scene is where guests board the groundbreaking ride and are drawn into the excitement and chaos of Harry’s life. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – the only place in the world where the stories of Harry Potter will come to life – grand opening on June 18.

It seems like Universal can’t keep anything a secret anymore.  Even if the announcement is only a day away.  First the “tent pole” ride for the Harry Potter area had most of the information for it uncovered through patents filings, Kuka robotics contracts, or just actors talking about filming their 3D scenes for the ride.  Then a few days before the Super Bowl, their commercial somehow leaked to the internet a few days early.  Maybe this is Universal’s new advertising style?  Make a big deal about the announcement, and then leak the information early so everyone gets excited?  hmmm  That is the “grand opening date”, I’ m sure we can expect to see a soft opening start to happen in early June.

The official announcement will be made on Thursday, March 25th at 12:00pm eastern time.  Expect to see the original leaked page back online at www.UniversalOrlando.com/HarryPotter

Halo: Legends is an Animatrix style exploration of the background and origins of the Halo story itself, and a few of the characters. Its set up in multiple parts, each one, of course, having its own focus for its plot. There is, however,  one  key difference between the Animatrix and Halo: Legends. I actually liked the Animatrix.

Being a die hard fan of the series, and an actual Helljumper, I was very excited for this release. After seeing it, ive completely changed my mind. The stories in the Animatrix all  had more to do with the Matrix series. It exposed you to great info about the series that actually connected with the main plot of the trilogy. Halo: Legends seems like it was more of a money maker than a story expansion. The target demographic for this was the younger anime crowd, instead of just Halo fans in general. Each of the segments except for one were done in the tribute anime style, huge eyes, speed lines, sushi and all. One even recreates the Elite homeworld and makes it out to be just like Japan. The Elites are even in kimonos. No thank you.

The stories themselves aren’t too bad, but elements inside each segment completely ruined the plots for me. I dont want to see any Gundam style mechs, or crazy covenant heroes and whatnot that have never once been introduced in to the massive story. Ill never understand why people continue to stick in elements of their own design or creation in to stories that have entire universes already laid out for them. There are 5 or so books out, and 5 games out, none of them mentioning the various weapons, gadgets or characters that were key to these plots. The action is actually some quality killing, but the ratio of action to plot development is tipped way more to the plot side, so you have to fight thru the story to see someone get stuck.

All in all, i think a younger audience will completely enjoy this. Bigger fans of the series might want to stay away from it since it doesnt deliver anything you dont already have or know, unless youre a huge anime fan, then, again, its right up your alley. I, on the other hand, was so displeased by this that i cancelled my reservation for it at MovieStop and used that money towards a different reservation. Being outside the target demographic sucks.

Halo: Legends (BluRay) : 4/10

Best Picture

“Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ’Push’ by Sapphire,” “A Serious Man,” “Up,” “Up in the Air.”

Actor

Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”; George Clooney, “Up in the Air”; Colin Firth, “A Single Man”; Morgan Freeman, “Invictus”; Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker.”

Actress

Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”; Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”; Carey Mulligan, “An Education”; Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”; Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia.”

Supporting Actor

Matt Damon, “Invictus”; Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”; Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station”; Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones”; Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds.”

Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz, “Nine”; Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”; Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Crazy Heart”; Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”; Mo’Nique, “Precious: Based on the Novel ’Push’ by Sapphire.”

Directing

James Cameron, “Avatar”; Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”; Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”; Lee Daniels, “Precious: Based on the Novel ’Push’ by Sapphire”; Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air.”

Foreign Language Film

“Ajami,” Israel; “El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” Argentina; “The Milk of Sorrow,” Peru; “Un Prophete,” France; “The White Ribbon,” Germany.

Adapted Screenplay

Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, “District 9”; Nick Hornby, “An Education”; Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, “In the Loop”; Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious: Based on the Novel ’Push’ by Sapphire”; Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, “Up in the Air.”

Original Screenplay

Mark Boal, “The Hurt Locker”; Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”; Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, “The Messenger”; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”; Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Tom McCarthy, “Up.”

For a full list and to view the nominations by category and by film, head over to oscar.go.com/nominations/nominees

So just to recap, Avatar and Hurt Locker lead the pack with 9 nominations each, coming in next is Inglourious Bastards with 8.  Rounding out the top is Up in the Air and Precious with 6, and Pixar’s Up with 5.

Tune into ABC, Sunday March 7th at 8pm eastern, 5 pacific to find out who wins.

(C) indicates Criterion

(B) indicates Blu Ray

(C) Seven Samurai, Directed by Akira (Stray Dog) Kurosawa,

and starring Toshirô Mifune

Samurai 7 (the Anime)

(C) Charade, Starring Cary (Walk Don’t Run) Grant,

and Audrey (My Fair Lady) Hepburn

Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels

Directed by Guy (Sherlock Holmes) Ritchie,

and starring Jason (The Transporter) Stathem

Luther

Starring, Alfred (Spider-Man 2) Molina,

and Sir Peter (We’re No Angels) Ustinov

(B) Star Trek

Directed by J.J. (“Lost”) Abrams

and starring Chris (Smokin’ Aces) Pine.

What with Black Friday coming up and Barnes and Noble having their first ever black Friday sale many more will be added and soon.

J.S. Wolfwood

I will not go to great links to try to convince you about the goodness of Battlestar Galactica.

Either you like it or you do not.  So for those of you still reading know two things

1. this is a BSG movie by definition it is good

2. this particular film was directed by Mr. Edward James Olmos, and Eddie likes the nudity.

(if you Liked Caprica Prepare to be in love)

On a sad note the special effects are not always great, but that is really my only complaint.

so to the board

9/10 for the story

9/10 for the Tits

5/10 for the graphics

10/10 for  #1

Until later J.S.W

note below here is a spoiler

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This is Wolfwood and you are in the Pantry

on Blu Ray this week

Monsters, Inc. Starring John (Speed Racer) Goodman, and Billy (City Slickers) Crystal.

Up.  Starring Ed (Elf) Asner, and Christopher (Twelve Monkeys) Plummer

And on DVD

Undercover Brother. Starring Eddie (John Q) Griffin and

Chi (“Pushing Daisies”) McBride.

Next week Star Trek and who knows what else will become part of the pantry.

P.S. for those of you who care the Blu Ray releases of Snatch, and Léon

are coming this year.

Until later J.S.Wolfwood

This week brought great happiness with the acquisitions of

Forgetting Sarah Marshell, starring Jason (“How I Met Your Mother”) Segal and Kristen ( Couples Retreat) Bell.

School of Rock starring Jack (Be Kind Rewind) Black and Miranda (“iCarly”) Cosgrove

North By Northwest, Directed by Alfred (Jamaica Inn) Hitchcock and starring Cary (Charade) Grant.

note My copy of the aforementioned film came in a Blu-Ray book this is the first of these I had hitherto seen and so greatly enjoyed the special features the book had to offer.

And Waitress starring Keri (Wonder Woman) Russell and

Nathan (“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”) Fillion

somewhere amongst this weeks DVDs I broke 100 movies so congratulations to me!!

Welcome to Wolfwood’s pantry this is simply an update on my ever growing DVD and Blu-Ray collection so here goes.

This week my Library increased significantly with the DVD acquisitions of

Hot Rod starring Andy (On A Boat) Samberg and Ian (Deadwood) Mcshane.

I Love You Man, starring Jason (How I met your Mother) Segel and Paul (Role Models) Rudd.

the Blu-Ray acquisitions of

Kung Fu Hustle Starring Stephen (awesomeness) Chow.

The Italian Job Staring Mark  (Marky Mark) Wahlberg and Jason (The Expendables) Statham.

Tango And Cash starring Kurt ( The Thing) Russell and Sylvester (Rocky) Stallone.

And for TV

The complete Monty Python Flying circus on DVD.

How I Met Your Mother season 4 starring Jason (I love you Man) Segal and Neil (Doogie Howser M.D.) Patrick (Undercover Brother) Harris

So these are my newest DVD’s with more to come in the future I will write more when I own more.

J.S. Wolfwood