Batman Begins @ Midnight, June 15

Sunday, June 12, 2005

While driving to pick up AK47 in Irvine to go to my cousin’s place in Anaheim Hills last night, I was listening to The Film Freak with Leo Quinones, on 97.1: The FM Talk Station. The topic this evening was Batman Begins. Leo was giving away tickets to a midnight screening of Batman Begins at Universal Citywalk.

With high hopes of acquiring tickets, I called the station, but hadn’t really thought about what I would talk about. After about 10 busy signals, I got through. The screener asked my name. “Dino” I respond. “What do you want to talk to Leo about?” I say, “Uh, I’m calling for tickets to the screening.” He says, “But what do you want to talk to Leo about?” “Well, I want to talk to him a little bit about the movie.” “What do you have to contribute to the show? Do you have a specific question?” Shit. “I want to know what he thought about Batman Begins, and how it compares to the older films.”

At this point, I could tell that he could tell that I wasn’t going to make for a very interesting caller, because I was trying to BS my way through the call.  I knew my hopes of getting on the air were very slim, but he nevertheless put me on hold. Rather than waste my time any further, I hung up, and began formulating another strategy.

By now, AK47 had arrived. She would make the perfect caller, being female, and I told her to dial. But, we first had to brain storm and think of a relevant and important question to ask. After a few minutes, I realized that not much was said of the Batmobile. That was it, that was the question. “What do you think of the Batmobile, and how does it compare to the Batmobile of older films?” Brilliant. A great geek question.

Call is made, phone rings...and rings...and rings...and finally they pick up. “Name?” “Amanda” “Where are you calling from?” “Irvine.” “What do you want to talk to Leo about?” “I want to ask him what he thought about the Batmobile, and how it compares to the older films.”. We’re put on hold, but now he’s at commercial. The one thing we had going for us was that he had a chick calling the show. No females had called up to this point.

Commercial break ends, Leo comes on, and BAM! he goes right to AK. She asks the question, but I had the volume turned down, so I couldn’t hear what he was saying while she was on the air. :( Feedback you know. Apparently he really liked chatting with her, and hooked her up with a t-shirt and hat. She then gets put on the list for the midnight screening. Awesome.

The screening will be filled with Batman geeks, and should be an eventful event, with free swag being given away. I will surely have to brush up on my Batman knowledgery because they will most likely ask trivia questions which only Batman geeks would know the answers to. What better way to enjoy a film then in the company of fellow geeks?

I hope Christian Bale makes a guest appearance at the screening.

Report and review forthcoming.

Batman Begins Not Soon Enough

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

I have refrained from reading any early reviews, but browsing through various headlines, all indications suggest that Batman Begins is a most decent film.

Can’t wait. This movie will definitely be Arclight worthy.

Finding Neverland

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Good movie, highly recommended. Johnny Depp gives a great performance, as does Freddie Highmore, who plays Peter, the inspiration for J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan character. I almost shed a tear at the end of the movie.

Depp and Highmore team up again for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, opening July 15th. Can’t wait to see it...looks decent from all the previews I’ve seen so far.

4.5 out of 5 Dinostars.

Not Feeling the Force

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

I have decided that I will not join the legions of Star Wars Geeks tonight at the midnight showing of Episode 3. George Lucas will not be getting my $10 just yet. Perhaps in a day or so..perhaps next week. I know he’s desperate for the money, and I will do my best to see that he suffers.

The same way I suffered through Episodes 1 and 2. Damn you, George! DAMN YOU!

The Da Vinci Code

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

I love this book. Good conspiracy-ish type story, good pace, good characters. Its been #1 on the best-seller list for like 5,000 weeks. Isn’t that a record?

So it was bound to happen. The book is now a movie, coming out next summer, starring Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen, and Alfred Molina (Doc Ock!), among others, and directed by Ron Howard.

When the cast was announced, Hanks seemed like a surprising choice. He didn’t really fit the character. But after thinking about it, and the type of character that Robert Langdon is, I think its a good call. And Molina as Silas? I pictured someone really big and built. Maybe they’ll get Molina a trainer and get him buffed up.

The other main cast members seem like logical choices, especially Jean Reno and Audrey Tautou, both French. Ian McKellen should be pretty cool as Teabing.

I really hope they have a good script, and I can’t wait to see the movie adaption. Check out the teaser trailer here. It doesn’t show any footage from the film” but its worth checking out anyway, if only to get the hype started.

Dude, I can’t wait.

$626,880,000

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

According to the New York Post, “Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith” will cost employers $626,880,000 in the first two days of its run.

Sweet. I think i’ll be part of that statistic. I will cost myself $130.60 in lost wages.

Batman Begins

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Holy bat-trailers Batman!

The latest Batman Begins trailer is out and it kicks some bat-ass. I really hope this movie is good. I’m a huge fan of Batman and used to collect the comics back in the day.

Michael Keaton did good as Batman, and Tim Burton, I felt, came really close to capturing the essence and mood of the world of Batman in the first two films. However, I didn’t think the second was as good as the first, and the last 2 sucked major bat-ass. What the hell was Schumacher thinking when he butchered the last movie?! Terrible.

I’ve heard many good things about this latest effort by Christopher Nolan (of Memento fame), and Christian Bale, well, what needs to be said about him. He is a bad-ass. While some things worry me, like the Batmobile, i’ve got high hopes for this film, and will be there opening day to check it out. It’s been too long since a Batman film, and its about time we see the return of a DC comics character to the big screen. Marvel has a huge lead with all its superhero properties, and they’re doing really well.

Make me proud, Batman!