MY SON IS A PROPHET...

My son, Jonah, has always loved super heroes. He's never been a "train kid" or "sports kid." Ever since he was old enough to know the difference, he's been fascinated with the supernatural. Heroes, Star Wars, aliens, robots...the kid digs.

When he was really small, he got a lot of hero stuff for Christmas. In fact, Marvel used to make these kid-friendly hero action figures...little squatty versions of Captain America and Hulk and Wolverine...all smiles and age appropriate. He dug the Spider-Man movies because the commercials played constantly. Pretty normal hero fan stuff. Until we rented an animated Avenger's movie.

The movie was filled with heroes we had never heard of. Jonah enjoyed the movie, but he was most fascinated with a hero called IRON MAN. Suddenly, our four-year old could think of nothing else but Tony Stark's titanium alloy hero creation. The problem was that no one else seemed to know who Iron Man was. You couldn't find toys or movies or pajamas or anything with this little red man on it. But strangely, as Jonah turned five, we began to see more Iron Man toys. Why? Because Marvel knew something that we didn't.

When Jonah heard that there was an actual Iron Man movie being made, he lost his mind. It was a dream come true, and trust me, now we have the Iron Man pajamas. (They even light up.)

I found a strange pride in it...like my son had some sort of unique sense of what was cool long before the other kids did. (I'm kinda' messed up.) But we didn't dwell on it.

Chapter 2....

When we moved to Tyler, Jonah discovered a video game at a friend's house. The game was Marvel Ultimate Alliance. It had all the guys Jonah liked. But he didn't come home talking about Hulk or Iron Man. Suddenly, he was all about Deadpool. I'd never heard of Deadpool. I researched it a little, found out that Deadpool was one of the more creative, if lesser known, Marvel characters, and didn't think much of it.

And then, I see this...



Did you see the guy with the two swords? Red shirt? Flying around like a crazy man? Yep, you guessed it.

DEADPOOL.

Somehow, Jonah has picked another winner. And now, I'm reading rumors of a Deadpool movie in the works. Can it be? Does my son have some sort of sixth sense for marketable hero blockbusters?

Man, I hope so. Somebody get me Jerry Bruckheimer.

(picture day)

That's it.
I've made a decision.

If a movie's got this kid in it,
I am going to love it.

At my house, we watch The Polar Express.
A LOT.

That's fine, because it has become my favorite all-time Christmas movie.

But every time I watch it, I come up with the same questions and I'm sure some of you smarties have an idea...

IS THE CONDUCTOR ALL KNOWING?

In short, is anything that happens on that train ride a surprise?
Or does he know everything...even when he's away from "The Boy."
I've been asking some of my friends about this and I've already heard some interesting theories.
Here's a sampling.

1. The conductor is all-knowing and the train ride happens every year to a child who doesn't believe.
2. The train is a time-machine...in fact, this theory supposes that "the boy" is actually the conductor as a child and now the adult version of that child is coming back to save himself, to remind him to believe.
3. The conductor isn't all-knowing, but he IS actually Santa Claus, so whatever happens is all good.

You got a theory? Is the conductor wise to everything that's going on? How do you know? What does the conductor do to make us think he's completely aware of every detail of that ride?

It's All About The Previews...

Of course, one of the great things about going to the movies is TRAILERS!

There were a few that seemed really interesting.

Of course, the big Star Trek trailer was unveiled, but you can find that almost anywhere now. But these others were pretty new to me...



I read about this remake a month or so ago but had no idea it was coming so quick. This trailer will probably cause me to temporarily suspend my "SAY NO TO KEANU" policy. But how can he mess us up a movie about a giant black alien cloud eating up everything in sight?



Will Smith is box office gold these days. And this one looks really interesting. I love it when a trailer leaves me curious. (Too many of them give too much away.)



Yes, I do believe that Mr. Cruise has gotten a bit weird, lately. But this one does look good...a giant political conspiracy coordinated down to the very last second with a whole host of players/experts in their field? That's almost as good as a heist film, in my book.

On the flip side, if you'd like to watch a movie that further shows us how far the great Samuel L. Jackson has fallen, take a look at this...



And the fall film most destined to be used in church analogies....

007

Review: Quantum of Solace from Todd Wright on Vimeo.

SURPRISE

I remember being interested in "The Lookout" awhile back when I caught the trailer. You all know how I feel about heist films, right?

'Cause heist films are awesome.

I was able to catch "The Lookout" last week on TV and I have to say that it really surprised me.

This movie was so much more than I expected - it had more heart and a better story than I imagined.

So, it got me thinking.

What's a movie that pleasantly surprised you?

Still A Tough Guy...

This looks really good!

Why This Movie Is Awesome...

I have a strange history with Superman Returns.

Early on, when I found out the film was in the works, I got really excited about it.

I was born in 1976. That places me squarely in the "child-of-the-80's" crowd. Which means Superman was the baddest cat I had ever seen.

There are lots of us out there - kids who grew up watching Christopher Reeve as the Man Of Steel.

When this new version came out, I didn't get to the theater in time, which was frustrating. However, once it came out on DVD, I couldn't wait to rent it.

And then I didn't watch it.

I'm not sure what happened - I think Kristen and I started watching it and then I had to a meeting at church or something (story of my life.) Unable to really dig into the Bryan Singer's new addition to the Superman mythology, I wasn't able to really decide how I felt about it.

Thankfully, it showed up on HBO or something last week and I recorded that dude! And I think I can safely say that I love this film. It's not perfect by any means, but here's why I think it's great.
1. BRANDON ROUTH
This kid pulled off Clark Kent flawlessly. I guess it could be said that Reeve did it flawlessly and this kid just copied that, but I'm still impressed. I think he mastered both characters masterfully. From vocals to the physicality to the smallest of facial expressions, Routh did a great job in this movie.
2. COMIC CONSISTENCY
I think the recent Batman franchise has done two things for hero movies...first off, it dialed down the silliness of comic book films, adding a more realistic texture to the films. For movies like Batman, that's a great thing. It's added a whole new dimension to that character. But, unfortunately, it's made us suspect of films that stay true to their comic book beginnings. "Superman Returns" does stay true. Every one of the original Superman films was silly - Lex Luthor wore silly clothes; Clark Kent looked exactly like Superman; the one-liners weren't all that funny. But we loved it. And Singer's film stayed true to those qualities. I just hate that so many cynics couldn't see or respect that.
3. SOUNDTRACK
I think one of the smartest things about this movie is its soundtrack. I love that the original scores were recorded with orchestra, and not modernized, looped up and made trendy. (I'm looking at you, Michael Bay...) I mean, come on...is there any cooler music than Superman? And don't say Star Wars. 'Cause it's the same song.

4. SKILLFUL ENDING
The old Superman movies had great endings. They were great because even though you could theorize that a sequel would come, but you were never sure. Superman Returns did that, too. They left lots of room for additional films, but didn't write themselves into a corner, thereby forcing themselves to make one.

TYPECAST...

Is it just me or does this guy play the exact same character in every film?

Who are some other actors who suffer from typecasting?

(Don't get me wrong...I enjoy a good Jason Statham heist/fight/redemptive criminal/police/fast-living, high-moral film as much as the next guy. Plus, he could probably kill me with his bare hands. Who am I kidding? This guy could kill me with just one of his hands.)

REDBELT

I love David Mamet. In fact, The Spanish Prisoner and Heist are two of my favorite movies in the world!

His writing style takes some getting used to, but I think his movies are so engaging and memorable. His other notable works include The Untouchables, Glengary Glen Ross, Wag The Dog, The Unit (TV series,) and tons of other great stuff.

This summer, I realized that I had missed REDBELT...it opened the day after Iron Man, which probably wasn't the most fortunate release date. I caught the trailer online and immediately added it to my Netflix "queue."

I finally watched it Tuesday night and it was riveting.

I'm telling you - this movie is fantastic. It's got all the Mamet trademarks: choppy, realistic dialogue, conspiracy, great pacing and direction of actors. But this film's also got a ton of heart. It's a film about integrity and character in a world infested with greed and self-preservation.

Who would think this cerebral, often borderline neurotic writer/director could take a film about mixed martial arts and turn into an epic statement about sacrifice.

I also thought the fight scenes were so brilliant in this thing...really well thought-out and very realistic.

This may sound silly, but I think REDBELT accomplishes what so many fight films have failed to pull off. If all of that sounds like something you'd dig, I encourage you to check it out.

Okay, Guys...Time To Get Honest

Okay, men.

None of us are exempt. This is a time for honesty. For courage. For authenticity.

In the comment section below, I want you to share with us ONE romantic movie that you enjoyed.

Don't be afraid. Share with us one chick flick that got to you.

You will not be mocked for your participation. In fact, be sure and tell your significant other about your entry on this post and I'm sure you will receive their respect and admiration.

Now, share...

Man Up Movie Night...a night to remember

The Story, The Idea, The Movement
Last week, I posted something called "Best of the Best." The post was a survey of sorts looking for my readers' favorite movie in three genres (spy, heist, military.)

What happened was amazing. Men from all over the world (Okay, okay, all over the region) rose up and spoke, their thundering voices a clarion call in honor of all things male - Ingenuity, planning, firepower.

On August 29th, 2008, I am calling out the male readers of Todd Blog. I am challenging them...nay...daring them to devote one Friday night to a celebration of Man Movies.

On Man Up Movie Night, each man is being asked to pick one film from the list below. The list is compiled from all suggestions in the aforementioned survey post.

Each man will choose a movie from the list and watch it on the 29th. Some men will also eat very unhealthy food as they watch it. Some will invite other men to join them.

The only requirement is this...

After watching your movie on Friday, you must blog a film review over the weekend. That gives you Saturday and Sunday to post something.

WHO'S IN?

THE LIST
True Lies
The Italian Job
Saving Private Ryan
No Way Out
Mr. Roberts
Patriot Games
Tears Of The Sun
Bourne Identity
National Treasure
Braveheart
Goldfinger
Ocean's 11
Gods and Generals
We Were Soldiers
Bourne Supremacy
The Patriot
Band Of Brothers
Generation Kill
Spy Game
Spies Like Us
Hudson Hawk
Full Metal Jacket
Thomas Crown Affair
The Last Castle
Three Days Of The Condor
Ocean's Thirteen
A Midnight Clear

Sorry, gals...you can't play along on this one. Don't worry, though...there is a female version of the movie survey in the works. (Although yours won't have a cool movie poster. Sorry.)

Tropic...Laughter?

I had no idea this film was stirring up controversy. To be honest, I hadn't even heard of the film until about two days ago. But after watching this...




It looks funny.

It's Coming...

Stay tuned for more info...

Best Of The Best...

Okay...

I'm asking three questions.

Three answers.

No explanation.

Just three answers.

Ready?

1. FAVORITE SPY MOVIE?

2. FAVORITE HEIST MOVIE?

3. FAVORITE MILITARY MOVIE?

Wanna' Make A Memory?

David Crowder Band's much anticipated live CD/DVD "drops" on Tuesday, August 19th...but...

The live DVD portion is being showcased on 100 theaters across the country on Monday night, August 18th.

And one of those theaters is the Carmike 14 in Tyler, Texas.

I'm not above a road trip.

Sure, it's a late night, but come on.

It'll be better than Batman.

Who's in?

...check it

News From Comic-Con...

Two exciting things from Comic Con, thanks to Risky Biz Blog.

#1.
The first full day of Comic-con featured the usual: screaming fans, studio pushes and...Tron?

Pretty much right after Disney unveiled its "Escape to Witch Mountain" sequel, the studio slipped in some footage of a potential reboot of the 80's fx title (only this time it's called Tr2n).

After the Witch footage, the Disney castle logo came up and soon enough, a race on those light cycles was under way.

Essentially, it was a redone version of a well-known sequence from the 1982 pic. The scene, from director Joseph Kosinski, is actually test footage to see how feasible a remake. The topper was the reveal of one of the drivers: none other than Jeff Bridges, who could be to be reprising his role from the original.

The footage blew many away. "That was a sweet surprise, said one industry exec. "It's not very often that you get to see something that you don't know about."

#2.
Comic-Con had its first taste of pandemonium...when Hugh Jackman showed up at the tail end of Fox's presentation.

While there were whispers that some kind of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" aspect would make an appearance, to the majority of the 6,500-person hall it was still a surprise, and they went berserk.

"I know what you're thinking," Jackman said. "This guy is way too tall to play Wolverine." a reference to fan reaction almost a decade ago when it was announced he would be playing the diminutive X-Men character.

Jackman said he wanted to be here "because without you guys I wouldn't have a career." and then he did something actors, and Hollywood types in general, don't do very often: He thanked a comic creator.

Jackman singled out "Wolverine" co-creator Len Wein, who stood up to cheers, and then waded into the crowd to shake the writer's hands. "From that hand came the character that gave me my career," he said.

Then he showed a made-for-Comic-Con trailer that killed. The crowd went wild when characters like Gambit and Deadpool were seen for a split second.

Jackman's appearance was brief but had Fox's desired effect: to win over skeptics and satiate fans.

"I am no longer suspect or angry about the movie," said one girl.

_____________________

The Tron thing doesn't do much for me, but I've been excited about an "Origins" film for Wolverine ever since the comic book series started making waves.

Anybody else interested in this besides Ross King and me?

Source: Jeffrey Overstreet

On Seeing Batman...

A few thoughts running through my head after seeing The Dark Knight.

#1. Heath Ledger is captivating in this. Folks around me were laughing at all the Joker's antics, but I couldn't. It was dark and brilliant and completely scene-stealing.

#2. Most punk kids don't really know who Gary Oldman is. They do now. I agree with those out there saying it's sad that Oldman's getting overshadowed by Heath. They're definitely on two totally different levels, but I had forgotten how good that dude really is.

#3. Folks who text all the way through a movie baffle me.

#4. The movie did feel a bit long. I kept thinking we were at the end...but no! More fighting! More explosions!

#5. I knew Harvey Dent was a component, but had no idea how big a role he was gonna' play. Pretty cool addition to the storyline.

#6. Great plot twist at the end...smart sequel planning.

#7. Let's just face it...the best previews are always the ones that run before superhero movies. It's like GUY-MOVIE-TRAILER-SEQUENCE. The Watchmen...Eagle Eye...Terminator...Twilight...Righteous Kill. Any of you see any others?

Take a "stab" at the poll over on the right!

Thank God!

Finally... a sequel!
The wait is over, gang. Who's with me?

di·lem·ma

I want to see this:



But Jonah would like me to take him to see this: