The CCD Podcast: Episode #66 - Amazing Summer Vacation Movies or "Vacation.... All We Ever WANTED!!!"

As the summer winds down and the kiddies head back to school, we here at the CCD Podcast thought this was the perfect time to look back at some of the greatest summer vacation movies of all time. These are the movies that remind us of things we did when we were kids, and also the things we WISH we did when we were kids! This weeks crew includes filmmaker Leland James (The Fix), Brooklyn One's very own Anthony Marino, and our lovable host Jedi Rob and these guys will have you reminiscing about the June's, July's and August's of your youth!

The Hangover 3: Could This Be The Death of The Sequel As We Know It ??? - A Rant By Mike CCD

Last night was setting up to be one of the best nights I had planned in a while. It started out with L & B pizza for dinner. Any night that includes L & B is a great night... but it was set up to get even better. Tara and I had tickets to go see The Hangover 3... and we couldn't be more excited! I was a huge fan of the first film in the series and is one of Tara & I's earliest movie memories. We laughed so hard in that film that I almost choked to death... literally. So when the second movie came out last year,  we were there opening night... and were promptly disappointed. We both really didn't like the second film. It was a complete re-hash of the first film in every which way: They got drugged again? The baby replaced by the monkey? Chow in the freezer instead of the trunk? Teddy missing instead of Doug? Paul Giamatti giving the gang deadlines instead of Chow? It was a complete re-do, and not nearly done as well. Now I will say that upon further viewings of  The Hangover II I have come to appreciate it. It is still unoriginal and kinda dumb... but it does have some funny parts. I can watch it and smile. Not nearly as good as the original, but a decent comedy. But The Hangover 3? Pure shit. I have never seen a more unfunny film in my life... especially one that was poised to be so great. So is this the death of the sequel craze as we know it???

Please read more after the jump... *** No real spoilers for the Hangover 3, I promise****

Thor... Now Thats How You Get A Comic Book Movie Right!!!

Asgard... stunning!

I went to a midnight screening of Thor on Thursday night with my CCD partners in crime Tommy Lombardozzi and Jeff Bond (and my man Jon as well... whatup Jon!!!) and I couldn't be happier. This is what being a geek is all about, no? Late night movies before anyone can ruin it for you by telling you what happens or posting on Facebook about key plot points... if you see it before everyone then you got the advantage. At least that's what I keep telling myself after all these years... but I digress.

Your welcome ladies...

The movie was pretty awesome, and I am not one to say something like that lightly. I can honestly say that I can like something without being totally enamored by it. I am definitely not somebody who has to ABSOLUTELY love something in order to give it some credit. Thankfully, Thor was not one of those movies that I had to worry about. I loved it... all 'round loved it! Here are a few reasons why:

• They got the little details right. The Rainbow Bridge leading out of Asgard was stunning. I envisioned them getting this wrong and seeing a huge gaybird bridge... that would have been devastating. The smaller details in a wide sweeping movie like this are what really drive home the point.
• The characters all looked the part. Chris Hemsworth is Thor... shit, I can't see him playing ANYTHING else beside Thor. Portman was believable as a scientist. 'The Warriors Three' looked amazing, very comic book accurate. Future OHC (later this week... your welcome!) Jaime Alexander was stunning as Sif. Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins were perfect as elder gods. And that brings me to my next point...
• The Frost Giants!!!!!! Amazing... just amazing. They looked creepy as hell, their world was unreal, and that creature that they had chasing Thor & the crew was a CGI masterpiece. Very well done.
• The fight scenes were plentiful and were quite satisfying. Good action... thats what I want from these movies.
• It was funny... these are COMIC books after all. There needs to be some humor in these movies, and Thor finds a way to incorporate humor into the plot without being overlay cheesy. I love the fish-out-of-water portions of the story. Very funny stuff.
• Kat Dennings can still get it, despite the fact they made her look like an early 90's grunge reject... boobies don't lie son!!!
• The helmets rocked... super accurate yet not ridiculous. I always liked Loki's helmet, and they did it just right.
• I loved the 'after the movie' scene... seems to allude to the Capt America movie... looking forward to how it all fits together. 'Cosmic Cube'... yes please!!!

This was an wonderful movie that I couldn't recommend enough. If you are an old fan of Thor or new to the character, this movie is sure to make for some viewing pleasure at the movies. Summer movie season is upon us... comic nerds rejoice!!!

Lets finish with some Thor hotties....