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!

Appreciating Actors: Tom Wilkinson

Wilkinson in Rock n Rolla

I am an avid movie watcher and I truly admire anybody who gets up in front of a camera for the entertainment of others. It takes a lot. While lots of celebs get tons of recognition for the roles they play, often its the supporting actors who make a movie come together and propel it to greatness. After the unfortunate death of Pete Postlewaithe the other day, I felt I should do my part in recognizing some of these Supporting Actors & Actresses that make the movies I love what they are...

Batman Begins

Today I am focusing on the amazing British actor Tom Wilkinson. He is a 30 year vet of show business on both sides of the pond, and has played some memorable roles throughout. I just saw him in Roman Polanksi's "The Ghost Writer" and he is really great in all his scenes. Pure genius. You may know him from playing Benjamin Franklin in the HBO mini series John Adams, or as uber-gangster Lenny Cole in Rock-n-Rolla (one of my favorite movies... ever). Comic book geeks know him as crime boss Carmine Falcone in Chris Nolan's Batman Begins. He has also been in a slew of great films such as Michael Clayton, 44 Inch Chest, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Patriot, and even starred with the aforementioned Pete Postelwaite in 1993's In The Name Of The Father. Wonderful... just wonderful.

The Patriot

Wilkinson has got two upcoming films that are sure to garner my attention, John Landis's Burke & Hare and Michael Gondry's The Green Hornet. Both are due in 2011 and I have no doubt that Wilkinson will strengthen the films just by being on set. I commend you Mr. Wilkinson. Thank you, and keep up the great work!!!

OHC of the Day: Analeigh Tipton

You may recognize CCD's latest Obscure Hot Chick of the Day from America's Next Top Model but, since she placed third that season she was probably easily forgotten (because honestly, first place winner is usually easily forgotten.) Is this show even STILL on? All I ever see is syndicated repeats of season 3!  I digress, She's been modeling ever since Tyra gave her her big break and also has been showing up in small TV roles. If your a regular follower of CCD, you're probably either a geek or a nerd, much like us, and may have caught her on an episode of 'Big Bang Theory' but, sensual beauty, Analeigh Tipton, is about to explode onto the scene in Seth Rogen's new stylized 'The Green Hornet' and than she'll be sharing the screen with the likes of Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling in 'Crazy, Stupid Love'. Thanks to '...Next Top Model' , however, we were able to secure a shit-ton of photographs of her from recent shoots. So without further ado...we give you Ms. Analeigh Tipton!

*****Please click Read more below to see more Analeigh pics*****

Trailer Trash Talking - Vol#7 by Kristen Grillo

The Green Hornet - Directed by Michel Gondry. Starring: Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz, Jay Chou. Release Date: January 2011

Well lookie here...It’s The Green Hornet trailer! Oh no! Who’s that playing The Green Hornet? Seth Rogen, you say?!? Yea, I didn’t really know what to make of that news when I first heard it either. And watching the trailer now, I still have little doubt that Rogen could successfully pull this off as convincingly as say, Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark (yea so what, I'm shooting high). Although, there is an interesting supporting line up here. That could possibly make The Green Hornet worth a viewing.




I do like Rogen. I even don’t mind all his distracting little baby teeth that he’s got poppin’ outta his front window. It gives him character. But having Rogen play a crime fighter? I really just can’t make that adjustment. I will be honest. I know very little about the history of the Green Hornet. And usually I don’t like to critique something that I don’t know much about. But then I said to myself, it is my job here to critique and if I were to look at this as if it were just your regular, average movie trailer, I still can’t help but get the douche chills when watching him sitting in The Black Beauty, blasting away at the street cameras taking pictures of them running red lights. Shooting himself in the face with a gas gun. Watching him limp-kick away at bad guys. If the trailer is making me this gassy, I can’t imagine what 90 minutes of this will do to me. And it ain’t Rogen’s fault. That’s just what happens when you have a shitty casting director. And Hollywood needs to cut it out with these superhero movies already. They’re just getting terrible. Dark Knight & Iron Man proved that you can still make a great comic book/ superhero movie that appeals to both adults and children without being over the top ridiculous or a flat, cheesy cornfest. Judging by its trailer, The Green Hornet just doesn’t look like it’s going to be one of them.

KMG’s Anticipation Grade – The Green Hornet: D