The Reel Nerds RSVP to The Five-Year Engagement.
The Reel Nerds indulge their nerdiness by attending StarFest 2012, Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope, and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan!
Features: Comic-Con: Episode 4 A Fan’s Hope, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Box Office: Hunger Games vs Stooges vs Cabin
DVD Releases: Contraband, The Innkeepers
News Bits: Saw Cruise, Rich Ross leaves Disney, New Disney Blu_ray releases, The General, Rockford Files Movie with Vince Vaughn
Ryan watched: Goon, Thankskilling
James watched: Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23, Lockout, The Verdict
Brad watched: Goon, Robocop 3, The Rocketeer
Mailbag: Letter from fawnafox
Comics Corner: James recommends Locke & Key
Bonus: StarFest recap
Reel Nerds @ StarFest 2012 Pt. 4
Reel Nerds @ StarFest 2012 Pt. 3
Reel Nerds @ StarFest 2012 Pt. 2
Reel Nerds @ StarFest 2012 Pt. 1
I have grown to have an unhealthy obsession with Robert Downey Jr. I think he is the best actor we have right now and he has become my favorite actor. He can play serious and silly. And he has an undeniable charm. I still love Bruce Campbell but when it comes to diversity, RDJ rules them all.
26. 
In Dreams: This movie is not good. Annette Benning plays a mother who’s daughter is murdered, and she shares dreams with the murderer Robert Downey Jr. Kinda like a lame A Nightmare on Elm Street movie Annette Benning plays it like she is going crazy, which she is, but she is terrible in this film. RDJ shows up about 1hr into the movie and does what he can with terrible dialogue. It’s the only movie of RDJ’s that I will never watch again. Bummer.
25.
Gothika: Another genre film that is not that good. Halle Berry plays a doctor at a mental institution who finds herself a prisoner there after she is accused of murdering her husband. Downey plays a fellow doctor who has a crush on her and may be her only friend. Lame ghost story ensues and RDJ disappears for like an hour. He is very good in his 10mins on screen.
24. 
Only You: Marisa Tomei plays a woman named Faith and believes that she is destined to fall in love with a man named Damon Bradley, so says a Ouija Board when she is younger. So when she is about to get married and her fiances friend, Damon Bradley calls she drops everything and heads to Italy. It takes almost an hour of lame women making asses of themselves before Robert Downey shows up claiming to be the one and only Damon Bradley. The stars have great chemistry but the script really lets them down.
23.
Restoration: This movie is ok. Robert Downey Jr plays a brilliant physician named Robert Merival, who gains the favor of King Charles after saving his beloved dog. He is given power and wealth and he of course abuses it. After being stripped of his wealth, Robert Merival returns to a friend and rediscovers his love for medicine. The movie is pretty good, but it drags a little. And you have to deal with Meg Ryan doing an Irish accent.
22. 
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus: A fake story about a real life photographer Diane Arbus. Robert Downey Jr plays Lionel Sweeney a man who suffers from hypertrichosis or werewolf syndrome. What Lionel does is unlocks Diane’s ability to photograph the bizarre. The leads are amazing in the movie but the only thing that holds it back is it is just plan weird. I do think people should watch it though.
21. 
Game 6: Michael Keaton plays Nick Rogan a playwright whose opening day happens to fall on the most infamous baseball game ever, Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. RDJ plays the most ruthless critic in New York. Keaton and Downey are amazing in this movie, I believe that this is the best part Keaton has ever played. Too bad the lame old woman and her grandson watch the game with him and spout lame life advice during that feels forced. If it wasn’t for that this might be higher on my list.
20. 
Chances Are: When Louie dies crossing the street on his first anniversary, he leaves behind a pregnant wife. While in heaven Louie escapes and is reincarnated as Alex Finch. Twenty years later Alex happens to bump into Louie’s daughter Miranda. Sparks fly but when he is introduced to Miranda’s mother, Louie takes over Alex’s body and tries to get with his wife again. Yes it’s convoluted but the cast makes it work. And extra points for a Rod Stewart song in a Robert Downey Jr movie.
19. 
Wonder Boys: A fun ensemble pic. Michael Douglas plays an english professor who’s wife has left him and his editor has been waiting for his new novel for 7 years. Fun script, fun cast, fun movie.
18. 
Charlie Bartlett: Anton Yelchin plays a very smart and very ADD high schooler, who after going to a psychiatrist learns he can get any drug he wants by saying key words. He soon becomes his classmates psychiatrist and prescribes the drugs they need. This soon catches the attention of Susan the beautiful daughter of the schools principal. Oh and the principal is an overprotective alcoholic, played amazingly by Robert Downey Jr. RDJ is so good at playing damaged characters and he stills this movie.
17. 
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints: Robert Downey Jr plays a writer who returns to his tough childhood home after learning his father is dying. The story is told through flashbacks with Shia Labeouf playing a young RDJ. Both him and Channing Tatum are great and this movie surprised me with how good it was. The only complaint is the directors weird editing choices.
16. 
Air America: Mel Gibson co stars in this true story about couriers who deliver goods to a war torn Vietnam. Of course there are all kinds of illegal stuff going on and soon him and RDJ get in over their heads. The movie is fun and Mel and RDJ are fantastic. Only a lame sub plot with Nancy Travis keeps it from flying high.
15. 
The Soloist: Another true story. Downey plays Steve Lopez a writer for the LA Times, who while sitting in a park hears a Stevie Wonder song coming from a violin. The violin is being played by a schizophrenic named Nathaniel Ayers. What Lopez learns is that Ayers is a genius who once was enrolled at Juilliard and he writes his story. The movie is anchored by great performances and it is really inspiring learning about this true story of redemption.
14. 
Heart and Souls: Four people with unfinished business die in a bus crash are tied to a baby who is born at the same exact time. When Thomas Reilly is grown up he is a jerk. And it’s up to the ghosts to make him a better man while at the same time get into heaven. The movie is a little hokey but man it is fun. Downey Jr owns this movie and he is great playing the other characters when they inhabit him.
13. 
The Singing Detective: This movie is really weird, but I loved it. Downey Jr. plays a pulp writer who finds himself in a hospital with a horrific skin disease. The pain makes him hallucinate that he is in his stories. Sprinkled with witty dialogue and an all star cast, this one truly slipped under the radar. And it also has a great sound track and a fun performance by none other then Mel Gibson.
12. 
Due Date: This movie is so funny. RDJ and Zach Galifianakis are great as two men that are for better or worse are forced to drive across the country so RDJ won’t miss the birth of his child. Favorite moment: When Galifianakis’ character Ethan Trembley makes a stop to buy pot for his glaucoma, Downey’s character Peter is asked by the dealer to watch her children. After being tormented by them for a few minutes, Peter asks them to stop. When the boy doesn’t he punches the kid in the stomach. Oh and this is the second RDJ movie with a Rod Stewart song.
11. 
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows: For some reason I was worried about this film. All my fears were washed away the moment Downey Jr came on screen. He is awesome as the super sleuth and in this movie he goes head to head with his greatest enemy, Professor Moriarty. The film is also fantastically shot by Guy Ritchie. I love the Sherlock Holmes movies and hope there will be more.
10. 
Iron Man 2: Robert Downey Jr reprises his most famous role as Tony Stark aka Iron Man. While it is not quite as good the first, you can’t help but not think that this is the character that he was born to play. Cocky, funny and cool not only describes Tony Stark but also Robert Downey Jr. Also Sam Rockwell is great too as rival billionaire Justin Hammer, who isn’t quite as charming as Tony Stark.
9. 
Richard III: A Shakespeare play that is made into a enjoyable movie stars Ian McKellen as Richard III. Even though RDJ is killed early in this movie it is still good. McKellen steals this picture and is truly amazing in the leading role. Too bad Annette Benning is also in this movie, because she is not good. But just ignore her and enjoy Ian McKellen.
8. 
Back To School: You might not remember that RDJ is not in this movie, that’s ok he plays the friend of Rodney Dangerfield’s son. But this movie is still really funny. I love Rodney and he’s at his looney best. Also Sam Kinison kills as a teacher. Classic 80’s comedy.
7. 
Chaplin: If there was a movie that showcased how brilliant Robert Downey Jr is, it would be Chaplin. He owns this role which he was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award. He is so good there are times you swore you were watching Charlie Chaplin. If you are a fan of RDJ you must watch this movie.
6. 
A Scanner Darkly: A super cool movie that was filmed and then painstakingly animated over. Taking place in the future Keanu Reeves is an undercover cop who is involved in a case of a dangerous new drug that he becomes addicted to. All the actors are great and there are times when you forget you are watching an animated film. Of course Downey Jr, steals the movie with his great line delivery and his performance. I didn’t see this for awhile because I was worried it would be too weird. I was wrong and this movie is great.
5. 
Sherlock Holmes: After Iron Man Robert Downey Jr took on another classic character and made it his own. This movie is really cool and it is super fun. I truly love this movie and RDJ can do an English accent like it is his native tongue.
4. 
Tropic Thunder: Only Robert Downey Jr can play an Australian actor who in his new movie dyes his skin so he can play an African American. To watch RDJ switch between these two characters is nothing short of astounding. The movie is very funny and Downey scored another Oscar nod.
3. 
Iron Man: The movie that made Robert Downey Jr a superstar and for good reason. This movie rocks. Taking a somewhat of a second tier comic hero and making it one of the best superhero movies ever is nothing short of amazing. The action scenes are cool and RDJ is dynamite as Tony Stark. And who doesn’t love the scene where he revels to the world that he is Iron Man? Not many heroes have those balls.
2. 
The Last Party: What a surprise this movie was. It’s a documentary that RDJ shot and stars in during the election of 1992. He tackles some pressing social issues and does it with an open mind. He asks questions you wish every news pundit would. It’s also touching at some points. When he has a one on one with a boy who was making fun of him earlier and he uncovers why the boy is mean is touching. Also to see how far he has come since his drug days is a great testament to him as a person. I wish I could own this movie, come on Criterion this movie is perfect for you!
1. 
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: My favorite RDJ movie is as cool as they come. Written and Directed by Simon Black(who’s doing Iron Man 3, sweet!) this follows Harry Lockhart, a criminal who stumbles into a movie audition and gets the part. He teams up with a gay cop played by Val Kilmer(who’s character name is Gay Perry) to learn how to play a cop for his movie. This movie is awesome and if you haven’t seen it, stop reading this and see it now.
So there you go…dammit! I forgot Zodiac! That movie is great too and it is somewhere in the top 10…
Can the Reel Nerds survive The Cabin in the Woods!?
The Reel Nerds attend the pie guys’ 13 year reunion.
Brad’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Commentary
As an avid TMNT fan, I’ve been wanting to record a series of TMNT commentary tracks for the movies for a while but haven’t been able to get a quiet space to do it in. So instead, I decided I could write down my comments to read while following the movie. Hopefully I have some interesting or insightful comments to make, but I’ll let the reader decide. I still plan to do the audio version, but for now this will do. If you plan to follow along, know that I’m watching the Blu-ray version with subtitles on. Now press play!
00.00.00: Right away, the tone of this film is different from the first. Where as the former began with an ominous news report about the state of crime in the city from April, every one here is eating a pizza, presumably because without the Shredder, things are safer in New York. Safe enough to eat a pizza anywhere.
00.01.06: Michael Pressman is the director, replacing Steve Barron who’s also famous for Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” video. I imagine the studio wanted a movie that reflected the light-heartedness of the cartoon rather than the gritty tone of the original comics that Barron faithfully captured.
00.01.24: Thanks to HD, I can read what street Roy’s Pizza is on. I just want to note that for my next visit to NYC to see what’s really there. Avenue of the Americas and 6th.
00.01.49: For the longest time I couldn’t understand the first part of Keno’s line. Thanks to subtitles, I now know it’s: “Are you kidding me? Again?”
00.02.09: Damn Keno, that was a bit harsh. Sure, it was a bitchy way for her to turn you down… but come on, she’s not fat at all.
00.02.12: Spring St is the location of April’s new apartment. Supposedly across the street from a subterranean mini-mall?
00.03.01: Why wear the stocking masks if you’re just gonna reveal your identities to people?
00.03.11: Did you see how carefully that thug set aside those pizzas? Like he’s going to enjoy them later or something…
00.03.41: I’m glad they retained this logo for the sequel, but as stealthy ninjas, aren’t the Turtles supposed to bust out the lights in the room before attacking?
00.03.57: Right away you’ll notice Leonardo’s eyes are larger. All the turtles have this in order to reflect the cartoon style. You could barely see Raphael’s in the original. In any character design, larger eyes more easily draw you into the character. I’m sure there was still some debate as to whether or not mutant turtles could be sold to kids even after the first made so much money at the box-office. “Make the eyes bigger and even more kids will like it!”
00.04.11: The “make a funny comment after each guy you beat up” thing isn’t an aspect of the movies I like. I know it’s there to offset the violence for the younger audience, but c’mon, dial it back. One pun per scene please.
00.04.38: Glad they got John Du Prez back to do the music in this one. I think his scores for the two films are perfectly tailored to these films.
00.04.42: Donatello says “Rawhide. Robocop.”?
00.05.03: Is that a Triceraton behind Michelangelo!? No. No. Just a plush Triceratops.
00.05.24: There’s Domino Rally! I used to have Domino Rally!
00.06.07: The script is credited solely to Todd W. Langen on this film. I wonder why Bobby Herbeck wasn’t a part of this one?
00.08.23: I forget where, but I read something about Paige Turco replacing Judith Hoag in this movie because the studio wanted someone prettier. I hope that’s not true. I like to think they wanted an actress who looked more like the cartoon April. Judith Hoag looked great as the comics April though.
00.08.31: The other woman in this scene is comedian Susie Essman. I wonder if she includes this movie on her resume?
00.08.32: The man is Michelan Sisti, who also performs as Michelangelo. He also played the pizza delivery guy in the first movie. You could actually think of him as being the same character in both movies.
00.09.40: A lot of people know this already but I mention it anyway; Corey Feldman didn’t voice Donatello for this movie because he was in rehab. But, did you know Raphael’s voice was also replaced in the sequel. Josh Pais was replaced by Laurie Faso, which I presume was because he was doing more and more work in front of the camera judging from his prolific IMDB page.
00.10.22: I find it hard to believe, that in the context of their lives, that’s the first time Donatello has had to hear Mikey make that joke about “Ninja Pizza” and needs to him to clarify the comment.
00.11.29: The movie is reminding us how Shredder was defeated, for those who didn’t see the first movie. Remember this for later.
00.11.32: I think Splinter’s face looks more like a cat in this movie. Why couldn’t they get the same costumes from the first one? He’s puppet-ed by Kevin Clash, who’s made millions of children happy being Elmo on Sesame Street.
00.11.43: (as Splinter) Which begs the question: So why the fuck are the windows behind me wide open!?
00.11.59: Some visual subtext: There’s a painting of a pizza on the wall behind April.
00.12.37: I almost always reference that napkins gag while eating in public.
00.13.42: HD also makes the painted backdrop of the landfill more obvious. It’s probably the same one used in the climax.
00.13.50: How long has Shredder been buried in this landfill??? Was he in a coma? Because enough time has passed where April was able to rent/buy a new condo, move into it, AND acquire new possessions to fill it with to replace all the stuff she lost in the fire. The trading cards mentioned it was a year later, but that may have been in reference to the film’s release itself.
00.14.28: I find the hand reaching out a bit corny. If you were buried in anything, would you first poke your hand out and grasp at nothing?
00.14.54: Tatsu and The Shredder’s voices are also dubbed. By returning actors David McCharen and Michael McConnohie.
00.15.18: Is that Ryan Reynolds in the middle? No. Probably not.
00.15.49: The Shredder’s saw blade helmet design was pretty cool. I always wished they’d made an action figure version of it.
00.16.09: David Warner doesn’t get enough nerd cred. He’s been in Tron, Star Trek 5 & 6, and this movie. He’s so British you’d think this would be beneath him. I used to complain that Gordon Perry should have been Baxter Stockman but after reading the original comics, going this way makes more sense if you’re not going to include mousers or a mutant fly in your movie. I suppose they couldn’t have a mutant fly because of “The Fly”.
00.16.15: TGRI? Why not TCRI like in the comics? My guess is that the C stood for Cosmic and since the filmmakers were keeping the series more grounded in reality, they changed it to Global… as if the kids would make that connection.
00.16.53: Nice throw Leonardo! Without even looking!
00.21.46: There’s that backdrop again. As you’ll see, most of this movie is filmed on a soundstage, which explains how it was quickly released just a year after the first.
00.23.04: The ooze dispenser with the iron pyrite chunk in the middle looks like something out of Power Rangers.
00.23.15: So, even though this movie is about the secret of the ooze, Perry never does explain what they engineered the ooze for in the first place. All we find out is that his lab made it and lost a canister. Info the Turtles already knew.
00.23.51: The TGRI rooftop may be doubling for April’s rooftop.
00.25.52: Why did the Foot stick around for the Turtles to show up? Wouldn’t you run that canister back to Shredder as soon as possible instead of giving the turtles a chance to take it back?
00.26.01: Tatsu’s grip was pretty light on that canister. Also, his reaction time is pretty slow. Must be because of the blow to the head Casey Jones gave him.
00.26.59: The Huddle. Logically, this is the part where you either overwhelm your opponent with all your guys at once, or, now that you have the canister back in your possesion, you get the hell out of there. Instead we’ll give them some time to beat us.
00.27.38: Tatsu finally figures out his plan after standing around doing nothing this whole time.
00.29.27: Keno’s reference to apartment 313 suggests April lives on the third floor of that building on Spring St.
00.37.07: The news manager, Phil, here is played by the director, Michael Pressman. I guess Charles doesn’t work there anymore.
00.37.38: The guy taking the call for April is played by Mark Caso, who performs as Leonardo under the costume.
00.40.08: Tokka and Rahzar are voiced by voice-over legend Frank Welker. You’ve probably heard him any cartoon featuring an animal.
00.42.33: The Foot Clan meets with recruits on John Street, under the bridge just across the river from Manhattan.
00.44.10: The subtitle just referred to the ninja uniform as a “doggy”.
00.46.48: Great shot of the World Trade Center.
00.46.53: Shouldn’t the there be a loading dock across the street from April’s apartment as Keno runs by?
00.48.14: A little too Raph! My friends and I also still make that joke when anything’s a little too anything.
00.49.17: I’m imagining the scene we didn’t see where Shredder explains to everybody: (as Shredder) Okay, we’re going to lay a net out in front of the turtle we captured. When the other walk into it, it snatches them up and then we’ll drop them onto a bed of spikes! Mwhaha! (as Thug) Why not just shoot them with a gun while they’re hanging in the net? Do we even need the spires? (as Shredder) I WANT THE SPIKES!!! It’s cooler and more menacing! A gun would be too easy! (as Thug) But won’t their shells protect them?
00.49.38: Hey kids! Do you know who Ralph Nader is?
00.50.09: Nice to Splinter in on the action for once.
00.51.32: The subtitle just displayed Mikey as saying “Gross” as Tokka and Rahzar are revealed. Never caught that before. Hahaha.
00.56.03: Okay, I was wrong. They do explain that the ooze came from some discarded chemicals that were explosed to radiation.
00.58.00: This is where Splinter reinforces the idea that there is more to the ooze story.
01.00.07: I think this is a Hollywood backlot and not a real New York neighborhood.
01.03.47: LOL! Still cracks me up.
01.05.22: Simply donuts! Nothing else at all… just donuts guys.
01.08.09: Great idea with the cubes Donny!
01.09.06: And there it is. Everyone’s favorite memory from this movie. The appearance of Vanilla Ice.
01.10.09: (as Vanilla Ice) Ooo… I feel a hit single coming on.
01.10.39: How does Vanilla Ice get “ninja” from anyone in the room right now?
01.31.18: That’s because you may have suffocated them by spraying CO2 into their lungs Mikey. They might actually be dead.
01.13.45: The choreography in this scene is pretty cool.
01.14.02: The subtitles just informed me this move is called the Wishbone Crunch. I always wondered what he was saying.
01.14.10: Poor Tatsu. He goes out like a bitch again.
01.15.11: I don’t like the staging of this scene now. It’s lazy as it plays out like you’re watching a high school play.
01.15.46: And now Keno does his part as a plot device to get the ooze back into Perry’s hands.
01.15.47: (as Shredder) Okay… Give him plenty of time to run up here and surprise me even though I’m a master martial artist.
01.16.20: And the Shredder gets thrown off his game again by Keno’s bumbling around.
01.16.37: I wonder how the actor playing Shredder feels about not getting to show off his martial arts skills as he did in the last one?
01.16.40: The damsel in distress is spastically changing her attention in this scene.
01.16.51: By the way club people, there’s still a blood thirsty wolf running around in here.
01.17.27: Oh! The hand from the landfill was foreshadowing this shot!
01.17.32: Even though the Super Shredder costume doesn’t make any sense, it’s still BADASS.
01.17.33: Okay, so if the metal in Shredder’s armor can mutate with him, why doesn’t the metal in the canisters mutate too?
01.17.44: Super Shredder is played by wrestling star Kevin Nash, who I discovered via IMDb, shares my birthday plus 23 years.
01.18.23: Your clothes can mutate to give you painted on muscles too.
01.21.02: That newspaper was printed awfully fast! And when did they pose for that photo?
01.21.19: And that does it for Ninja Turtles 2. I know it probably doesn’t sound like it, but I do have fun watching this movie. Watching it takes me back to the best parts of my youth. I hope reading this was at least informative, if not funny. Thanks for watching with me! See you at the next one! And GO NINJA! GO NINJA! GO!!!