Jupiter Ascending - Just What Kind Of Batshit Crazy Space Epic Do The Wachowski's Have Coming Out?

There are not many more polarizing figures in the Hollywood landscape than the Wachowskis. The brothers (or former brothers, now that one is living as a woman...) have been making waves from their very first movie Bound. No one wanted to finance the Matrix films, and when they finally did find someone to greenlite those we got one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time... and a couple of ill conceived sequels as well. But there is no denying that the Matrix franchise proved that original properties could be made into tentpole movies that might even spawn franchises... and that is a good thing no matter how you feel about Neo & the leather clad gangs further adventures. These dudes are extra ambitious when it comes to their projects. Need proof? Check out Speed Racer, V for Vendetta, and Cloud Atlas for proof. All of those films were met with mixed reception from fans, but all of them showed just how committed to their vision for their projects they can be. They do not bend, they do not compromise... nope, they make THEIR films THEIR ways whether the public & the studios likes it or not. Check out their latest project, Jupiter Ascending. Channing Tatum as a intergalactic bad-ass bounty hunter. Mila Kunis as his target and also the potential future leader of the universe. Time travel, gods ruling over the universe, alien bounty hunters... yup, this sounds exactly like a Wachowski film to me. Then there is the casting of Tatum as the lead. This also seems like a very Wachowski thing to do, very similar to Keanu Reeves casting in the Matrix. From the trailer I get the unique look and feel of the Wachowskis, and I am very intrigued by the concept. Cloud Atlas helped sell me on anything future these guys did, because that film looked to be a mess going in and was executed incredibly. I don't know if this puppy will live up to their past accomplishments or be any good, but I will certainly be giving it a shot. Oh, and Eddard Stark himself (Sean Bean) will be along for the ride as well. That is just another reason to get on board. The film release July 18th, 2014. Check out the trailer & posters after the jump....

The A To Z Blogger Challenge: Day 22 - V Is For V for Vendetta

V... V can only be for one thing... V is for Vendetta!!!!! Remember, Remember, The 5th of November.... Alan Moore & David Lloyd's classic graphic novel got a pretty great film version courtesy of the Wachowski  Brothers, and I can't possibly have enjoyed it any more. So well done, so perfect. Hugo Weaving, Stephen Fry and Stephen Rea bring us the British angle of the story, and I think the star of the movie has to be Natalie Portman as Evey. She is amazingly vulnerable, and eventually comes back stronger than ever due to the help that the main mystery man V gives her. I had the opportunity to meet David Lloyd last year and asked him what he thought of the film version of his comic that he drew, and he said he loved it as well. We all know that Alan Moore hates every type of adaption of his literary work... but if it gets a co-sign from one of it's creators (and its not the crazy one!!!) than it is good enough for me. I have always loved Natalie Portman, and after this movie I will always have a soft spot for her. So she is the obvious choice for the Letter V... because she is V. You can see more of the people participating in the A to Z blogger challenge by clicking here, and check out Natalie's pics after the jump...

A CCD Rant - Cloud Atlas: What Did Mike D Think?

Last night Jeff Bond and I decided that we needed to make a trip to the local cinema and catch Cloud Atlas on the big screen before it leaves theaters. The film has been in theaters since October 26th and is much debated on the merit of its three hour runtime. This is a full on fucking movie, one that does not take any shorts from what the filmmakers (the Wachowski Brothers & Tom Tykwer) wanted to get up on the screen. It is adapted from a very famous British book of the same name by David Mitchell and has been pretty much a nightmare to get an actual release. It features a star studded cast with the likes of Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarandon, Keith David, Hugo Weaving and Jim Sturgess... all who appear in various roles throughout the films six segments. The film has been praised by some critics like Roger Ebert as visionary and extremely fun, and panned by reputable publications like Time Magazine as one of the worst movies of the year. It can't possibly be both, right? So here is my little rant on what I think of Cloud Atlas. Here is a bit of a hint: I tend to think Ebert is right in this one...

Click after the jump for more...

'Cloud Atlas': Now That Is A Movie Trailer!!!

Wow... wow! There has rarely been a time when i watched a movie trailer and was completely blown away and immediately drawn to a film in the way I am to Cloud Atlas, the new film from producer The Wachowski  Brothers & Tom Twyker. I have been hearing about this epic undertaking of a story for quite a few years, and I have been a bit intrigued. But after seeing the 1st trailer, I am all in. Why you ask? Well, it could be the cast. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Hugh Grant, Susan Saradon... yeah, that is a pretty good start. Tom Twyker (director of the fantastic Run Lola, Run) and the Watchowski Brothers (creators & directors of The Matrix) are a great start as well. But that is not it... it is the 6 MINUTE FUCKING TRAILER!!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!! I have never, ever, ever seen a 6 minute trailer. A 3 minute trailer is usually referred to as extended.... what is a 6 minute trailer? It is epic!!!! Now I don't know exactly if this complex, time jumping storyline is going to end up awesome or end up being crapped on... but I know that this trailer has at least got my interest  up. I have often heard that the original book would be one of the hardest books to convert to film, but that didn't stop Twyker and the W brothers from giving it a college try. Check out the trailer (mini movie is more like it), poster, and a cool storyline breakdown (there are 6 storylines apparently, intertwining!) from /Film after the jump....