A to Z Blogger Challenge 2013: Day 6 - F Is For Fantastic Four

If you are following my work here during the A to Z Blogger Challenge than you are beginning to notice a theme about the movies I am choosing. For F I decided to go with Fantastic Four... not because it is a great film (I don't dislike it... I actually think it is pretty good), but because of the scalding hot actress that occupies the lead role. Alba... Jessica Alba. Good lord... when I heard she was cast as the Invisible Woman Sue Richards I immediately began to hate the idea. Not that she wouldn't make a great Sue Richards... just that she would be spending a whole lot of time invisible, which seems a bit counterproductive to me. How are you going to have such a beautiful actress invisible for half the film? In most super hero movies I can't wait for the film to get going so that the heroes can get their powers and get started being heroes. But in this film I wanted the origin story to go on forever!!! Even though we got Alba in the role twice, I am eager to see who Josh Trank casts in the lead... but for now, we will always have the stunning Alba to disappear before our eyes! You can see more participants in the A to Z Blogger Challenge by clicking here, and you can see Alba's pics after the jump...

Get Ready For A Robert Rodriguez Double Dip This Fall...

Robert Rodriguez is one of my favorite film makers working in Hollywood right now. Why you ask? Well, for one his an original thinker who finds very practical ways to make fantastic movies. secondly, he has been making some of the best genre movies of the last 15 years (Desperado, Machete, Grindhouse, Spy Kids, Sin City) all very unique to their own genre, but all very Rodriguez in their delivery. And finally because my man R Rod is returning to two of his original films to give us sequels, and he is doing so in less then 3 weeks apart this Fall...

See more after the jump...

Proof That Their Is A God: The 2013 Golden Globes Edition

So I am finally getting around to viewing the 2013 Golden Globes today (a few days later... I'm busy ya'll!!!), but thanks to my trusty Google Images search I am able to see the bevy of sexy ladies who studded the entrance to the precursor to the Oscars. There were some real hot dresses, some sexy hairstyles, and lots & lots of jewelry... big, big jewelry!!! Who was the hottest of the night? Well, I'll just say that all the following ladies were looking great... but they are in alphabetical order and I am going with the letter Z and saving the best for last!!!! Enjoy the photos after the jump...

Vote Early....Vote Often!

Being that CCD is always on top of all things sweet and delicious. We'd like to have you help us get behind...umm..that is...throw some support behind some sexy gals that have entered into various online modelling competitions.

First up...friend of CCD (and cousin of the infamous CCD Contributor and  artist extraordinaire, Tommy Lombardozzi) Dana Barese is in the running for 'Favorite Model' for February's 'Vitrix Model Team'. Vote for fer by clicking here.

Next up, Jessica is a good friend of our  CCD's Jamaican liassant, Sam James Jr. whom has been entered into, the illustrious, 'Transworld Surf' Miss February competition. Vote for her by clicking here and than clicking "Like" at the top of the page and leaving a comment!

Use the links attached to each beauties names above to head over to the respective voting sites to vote early and often! We're pretty sure neither NEED our help but, we want to ensure some easy wins with the help of y'all...our loyal followers. Do it!

Proof That There Is A God: Jessica Alba Edition

No words... Just Thanks!!!

T.G.I.Friday's Inferno Chicken Tenders, A Triple Dip Movie Trip & How I Learned To Stop Worrying & Love The Green Hornet...

I am getting a bit of a late start today because I went to the movies yesterday. While most people could rebound from a movie the next day pretty earlier (after all you are sitting down, right?), my night was a bit crazier. I didn't see 1 movie... I saw 3. Our trek started around 6pm with a stop at T.G.I. Fridays for a triple play in which I chose Inferno hot chicken tenders... good god they were great, and a perfect way to start the night with Joe Fletch, Tommy L & my man Tonto. Then it was time for the movies. Joe F came up with an awesome flow chart of all the movies playing at the AMC (the kids a genius), and we decided to start the evening with a screening of 'True Grit'.

I absolutely loved it. Bridges & co do a phenomenal job for the Coen Brothers, who once again prove they can not make a bad movie if they tried. And keep an eye on Hailee Steinfeld... that little girl is special. I personally had wanted to see 'Black Swan' in this slot over 'True Grit' simply on the strength of the lesbian/masturbation scenes that seem to be the stuff of legend... but what do I know. I make it a point to take lesbian ballerina's over cowboy's with poor dental hygiene every time... but that's just me!

The chart pointed us to a 10 pm showing of 'Tron: Legacy' in 3-D.  As I have seen this before, I made the concession to see it again because A) The movie was wonderful and B) Olivia Wilde in a light suit. Are you friggin' kidding me? She is Fineeeeeeeeeeee!!!! We needed to kill a few minutes, so we snuck into the empty theater that was playing 'Yogi Bear'. Yup, not 1 person in there... shocker. Yogi actually looked kinda fun for a kids movie. I'm sure I'll have to see it with Mikey sometime.

Anyway, Tron was supposed to start at 10, but it wasn't starting. They cancelled the last show... damn!!! We checked the chart, and the only thing starting was 'Little Fockers'. Oh man... I had no urge to see that movie. But you know what? It was quite funny... and the reason why the movie works is because Stiller finally stands up to DeNiro's overbearing character. Sure, they rehash on some of the older movies running jokes, and that can be tedious. But the story moved well. Oh, and for an ass evaluation of the movie, I offer you two things. 1) Terri Polo looked terrible. Oh how the mighty have fallen... she used to be gorgeous. Not so much anymore. 2) Jessica Alba. In a bra & boy shorts. Boing... That's all... nothing else to say.

The night wined down to a midnight showing of 'The Green Hornet'. I had mixed feelings going in to this one. First off, I am as much of a Seth Rogen fan as anybody. I find the guy hilarious. But a superhero? I don't know man... Michel Gondry is a wonderful director, but could he handle this kind of movie? How was his quirky style going to find a path with a old school pulp superhero? Could Jay Chou possibly fill the Bruce Lee/Kato character's extremely large shoes?  And the supporting cast seemed to be well stocked with Edward James Olmos, Cameron Diaz, CCD favorite Tom Wilkinson & Christoph Waltz... but would they all work well? Lots of questions, but only one answer for all of them: Yes... Yes... YESSSSSS!!!!

Let's start off with Rogen. He plays the dickhead playboy/oaf Britt Reid to a T. Remember that part in 'The Dark Knight' when Bale shows up to the restaurant with the two broads and they start stripping in the fountain to highlight how aloof Bruce Wayne is? Well, think of that time 100... and you start to get a picture of how crazy Rogen's character is. He plays Reid well, and it sells the film. As far as Chou goes... holy shit!!! His action scenes are amazing. He does things with his body that are so impractical and original that even if you do not like the story of the movie you will have to give it props from a fighting point of view. This is where Gondry uses the 3-D to his benefit... and that brings us to him. Gondry can make great movies ('Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', 'Be Kind Rewind')... but a superhero flick? He pulls it off seamlessly. And you know what... he does it because he makes the fictional universe of 'The Green Hornet' very realistic, while at the same time making it so ridiculous you have to shake your head. I know that sounds contradictory, but its not.

Like Waltz's villain. He makes him a hardened killer who runs a tight ship and all the crime in L.A., yet he carries a double barrelled 9 mm pistol that shoots two bullets at once. The way he runs the crime family is very realistic, while his weapon of choice is just bat shit crazy and completely unrealistic... and this is with one character!

The supporting cast really carries this one. Chou is wonderful as Kato & Waltz is a formidable villain, but what about the ladies? Well, Cameron Diaz still gotta a bit of sugar left in the tank and those baby blue eyes still have that sparkle. The younger eye candy comes in the form of  former CCD Obscure Hot Chick's of the day Taylor Cole & Analeigh Tipton. We called these two as up and coming hottie actresses, and both of them sizzle as Rogen's arm candy here. The ladies are well represented in this one. The best supporting character may be the cars. The Black Beauties (they are more then 1) are phenomenal and the gadgets are on par with anything ever dreamed up by Q from James Bond. The car scenes are well shot, and make the movie so enjoyable. The car could have made the movie hoke, but instead Gondry gives us a vehicle that would make Batman jealous.

Honestly, I feel like the movie was close to perfect. Not at all what I was expecting from a January release. Overall, Gondry really uses the 3-D medium well, the fight scenes are absolutely stunning, and the movie was quite funny in a dark, Gondry-like way. Rogen becomes the titular hero, but not in an unbelievable fashion... he gets hurt, is uncoordinated and oafish, and is peril more often then any other hero I can remember. The Green Hornet is a fun and wild ride, and other superhero movies that are coming out in 2011 ('Green Lantern', 'Thor', 'X-Men: First Class') better bring it. If not, this puppy might be the best superhero flick of the year!!!

P.S.- Stay for the credits. Nothing to see except the names, but the sequence is in 3-D and visually stunning. You can see Gondry's genius and attention to detailed highlighted here. Make sure you stay the extra 8 minutes... it will be worth it!

Trailer Trash Talking - Vol#6 by Kristen Grillo

The Killer Inside Me - June 18th 2010
Starring:  Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba

 Originally screened back at Sundance in January and more recently at the Tribeca Film Festival this past April, The Killer Inside Me has been causing quite the stir. The film, based on the 1952 novel by Jim Thompson, is about a small town sheriff who lives an alternate life as a psychopathic serial killer. The film, much like the novel, is graphic and pretty violent with one scene in particular that seems to be raising an eyebrow or two.

You basically don’t get any of this from watching the trailer. As a matter of fact, before the watching the preview I never heard of the book and didn’t have the slightest clue as to what this film was about. The impression that I got while watching the trailer had me thinking it was about a dude with some women problems. Just your old fashioned infidelity story about a guy who can’t stay faithful to his broad and perhaps the pressure makes him snap, sending him on a one time murderous rage. If it wasn’t for a quick google search and a Stanley Kubrick quote that is briefly displayed during the trailer, I honestly would have no idea that this film was about a serial killer. And a psychopathic one at that. To me, that drops a whole different impression. Guys that kill because they can’t handle pressure (like that sissy-mary Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Match Point) and actual serial killing psychos are two different things for me. The trailer unfortunately fails to make the latter a perceptible point to the viewer. Unless you’re someone who is privy to the book, you’ll most likely walk away shrugging your shoulders and forgetting about it instantly as you reach for your good morning breakfast bean burrito. With hot sauce, of course.



What actually is catching my attention is this whole controversy about the film being misogynistic & brutal towards women. The scene that I was referring to earlier is one that takes place between Affleck & Alba, where Affleck’s character goes all Hustle & Flow on Alba and “whoops that trick”, so badly that she is practically unrecognizable. Winterbottom, the film’s director, has apparently taken a lot of heat for having this scene in the film. From what I’ve read around so far though, the book is just as graphic (and more) and the film is pretty true to its original story. I couldn’t help but think about another recent film which took a nosedive with critics and viewers alike because its version was actually “too light” compared to the novel it was based upon. The film I’m referring to is Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones, where a young 14 year old girl is raped and murdered. Around the time of its release, there was some unusual chatter about the film being less powerful due to Jackson’s decision to omit the graphic rape and death scene that takes place in the book. “How odd”, I thought. People actually wanted to see that? (... Whoa.)


So before I leave you, a serious question/thought here: Why do you think it’s tolerable for books to be written with such graphic content but a thick dose of controversy seems to be stirred up whenever a film contains an equal or exact amount of graphic content in it? Which do you think leaves more of an impression and why? And just in case you don’t give a hooter’s twat about this debate…..

KMG’s Anticipation Grade – The Killer Inside Me: C (for catatonic borefest)