GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ I Smell Sheep: June 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Twilight Saga Eclipse


The Twilight Saga Eclipse directed by David Slade hit theaters across the nation last night at midnight, many dedicated fans lined up to see the latest film. Of course yours truly took part in the action, arriving at 6pm at my local theater I was the FIRST in line! HAHAHA we beat the teenage girls and claimed our old fogey power supreme! Suck it kids, we (being 20 somethings) rocked it. :P
Shout-out to my brother who also took place in this late night event up in Portland OR! :)
And now on to my review.....
Eclipse, staring Taylor Lautner as sexy teenage werewolf Jacob Black, Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan and Robert "the sex god" Pattinson as Edward "the delicious" Cullen round out the main cast in this film.

Synopsis:
Bella Swan is reunited with the love of her life (and vampire), Edward Cullen. Her life is back to the way it was before the Cullens left, except for one major thing. Before Edward left, Bella had not considered Jacob Black (werewolf) her best friend, and she is in vain trying to make Edward and Jacob make peace and be friends. She is torn between the love she feels for Edward and the strong friendship between her and Jacob. Can she make them see reason, and can they be good to each other to keep from hurting Bella? And there are new dangers lurking around the corners; Seattle is stalked by mass murderers beyond humanity. Who's behind this, and what connection does it have with Bella?

I have a few minor issues with some sequences in this movie, I do understand the need to make the movie "audience friendly" but still the issues remain.
First, why was it this movie had the most sunlight on Edward and very little sparkle action going on? Sunlight = Sparkle but not so much in this one, did the director think we would all just forget about that? I didn't.
Second, Bella does not just ride off on the back of Jacobs bike in front of him. Edward would have lost his mind had she done this to him in the book. Third, Renee (Bella's Mom) does not ever give her a blanket made out of shirts! The woman cant cook, acts like a child, why on earth would we believe she could sew? Come on Summit its just more crap you want to push out for us "fans" to buy! Tacky and I hated that part.
The 2 parts that bugged me the most are Bella being at the newborn bonfire with the Cullens when Jacob gets hurt, and the end scene when she talks to Edward about feeling like the Vampire world is where she has always belonged. Um no! Thats not until the next book people! Come on. That was just wrong to add in and you know it!
Hated the new Victoria, ugh she was awful. Gross and gross.
Ok, there were a ton of good points I really want to touch on, Jaspers back story loved it. Rose and how she became a vamp, the Quileute legends were amazing, the tent scene and newborn fight sequence were out of this world good.
I the actor who plays Charlie (Bella's dad) is so good, he fits the part perfect.
Overall the movie was good, I set high expectations on the films because of my love for the books. During the movie its always hard hearing anything due to all the screaming girls, too many hormones and no idea what to do with them. :P
So I will be seeing this again in a quiet early morning showing, this I will recommend to all of you. But no matter how you see it just make sure you do. :)
Team Edward
KD



Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Sheep of the Dead


This is my homage to Shaun of the Dead. Basically the Don Quixote of Zombie movies. Though, meant to be a satire of the genre, it ended up being the best.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Covet, WARNING: this is NOT a vampire book


Covet, the first book in J.R. Wards The Fallen Angels series is about....you guessed it angels. I picked this book up after reading her amazing Black Dagger Brotherhood books (review on those coming soon). A very talented author who quickly rose to the top of my reading list, that is until I read this book....

Not only are angels lame compared to vampires (its true and you know it), the powers they posses are pitiful. And wings. What wings? These angels ride Harley's, and thats kind of cool but I would rather fly then drive thank you very much! Come on no wings? Thats like being into vampires that sparkle and don't burn in the sun! (oh wait....I like those so forget that last part)

I had issues with the plot in this story, first word that pops to mind would be "lame". The book moved along at a snail's pace, it took forever to get to an end and when it came I was left wondering why she even wrote this book.

The good side for me was that she did mention some previous people and places from her other series. She mixed in some old with all the new, maybe to help the reader cope or maybe she is like me and just likes to continue stories with past characters. Either way that was cool, but if thats the only thing that saved this book it was far too little.

I could get into men with wings, given its done by the right author. Feathers? Yeah I would love to find them in my hair. (take me to the blue room!) ;)
Bring it on, don't make a half a** attempt and expect me to dig it. Cause I wont.

Giving this book away to anyone who wants it...until then it will remain as my door stop. :)
KD

Knight and Day, summer popcorn flick


Knight and Day directed by James Mangold, staring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz hit theaters this week. Low box office numbers so far but those should pick up as the weekend is now underway.


I would like to state for the record that I came up with "Knight and Day" long before it was used for a movie title! Sure my name was for an imaginary cleaning company I would never own, but still my point is they totally copied the name and I should be getting royalties! I'll let my lawyers handle all the little details...


I, personally, like Tom Cruise (even if he is a tad wacky) its nice to watch him let lose and not take himself so seriously in roles now and then. Les Grossman is to date the best comedy character I have ever seen Tom play. "Take a big step back and literally F@#K your own face!" Classic. :)

Plot Summary:
June Havens (Diaz) finds her everyday life tangled with that of a secret agent (Cruise) who has realized he isn't supposed to survive his latest mission. As their campaign to stay alive stretches across the globe, they soon learn that all they can count on is each other.

Cameron gives a fun performance, not her best but defiantly not the worst I have seen from her. Overall the movie is your typical fun summer movie, nothing spectacular about it just what you would expect based on the trailers. Its right in the middle. :)
KD

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Winter's Bone, dark powerful drama.


Winter's Bone directed by Debra Granik staring Jennifer Lawrence as Ree Dolly. An unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacking through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact. John Hawkes plays Teardrop, her drug dealing scary as all hell Uncle.
Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) sets out to track down her father, who put their house up for his bail bond and then disappeared. If she fails, Ree and her family will be turned out into the Ozark woods. Challenging her outlaw kin's code of silence and risking her life, Ree hacks through the lies, evasions and threats offered up by her relatives and begins to piece together the truth.
Based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell.
This movie won Best Picture at the Sundance Film Festival to boot!
I knew this movie was going to be a dark drama going into it but I think nothing can prepare you for what you watch. It was heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Squirrels anyone?Awesome performances from the main characters made the movie feel all the more authentic.
Makes you appreciate what you have in life and feel moved to reach out to others in need. Great film with a powerful message if you can stomach the grit of the story.
Playing in select cites. Please lets hope your city was selected! :)
KD

Awaken Me Darkly, yawn...going back to sleep.


Awaken Me Darkly by author Gena Showalter is book 1 in her Alien Huntress series. This book came highly recommend but fell awfully short for me.
Frist, let me just say that after watching Disney's Bolt movie about 100 times I cant hear the word "Alien" without thinking of those hysterical hollywood pigeons. lol I JUST CANT!
So going into this I tried my best to wipe that from my mind and take these "Aliens" serious, it was, needless to say very hard for me.
And now my review:
Mia Snow plays an "Alien" hunter in a kind of alternate reality, this book asks the reader to believe that "Aliens" came to earth 70 years ago to live amongst us. Please, like our government would hide such things from us. They always tell us everything, never leave anything out, open and honest is their policy. I mean, duh!
Mia is a hard nose, take no crap kind of girl and I did like her I just had issues with how the writer described the action. It felt like stick figure fighting to me. Example:
He. Strikes. I. Jumped. On. His. Face.
Blasted. My. Pyre-Gun.
Dead. He. Is. So. Dead.
Blah. Blah.
BORING! It was just really really boring for me, no flow to the action. I want details when I read a book, I love to feel what the characters are feeling especially during action pages. Let down. I was completely let down.
Now the "Alien" men were so so, but they weren't even close to my vamp men. Thats not to say vamps are my only love, but please try and be at least up to par with those guys!
Overall the book was a let down, but not the worst I have read. And after all this I may read the second one just to see if things get better....will I be let down again? I hope not. :)
Dont hate me Pepsi!
KD



Eclipse Soundtrack


The highly anticipated Twilight Saga Eclipse soundtrack is available now, if you enjoy indie/rock music you will LOVE this mix of artists.

Soundtrack Full Song List

  1. Metric- "Eclipse (All Yours)"
  2. MUSE- "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)"
  3. The Bravery- "Ours
  4. Florence + The Machine- "Heavy In Your Arms"
  5. Sia- "My Love"
  6. Fanfarlo- "Atlas"
  7. The Black Keys- "Chop And Change"
  8. The Dead Weather- "Rolling In On A Burning Tire"
  9. Beck and Bat For Lashes- "Let's Get Lost"
  10. Vampire Weekend- "Jonathan Low"
  11. UNKLE- "With You In My Head (Feat. The Black Angels)"
  12. Eastern Conference Champions- "A Million Miles An Hour"
  13. Band of Horses- "Life On Earth"
  14. Cee Lo Green- "What Part of Forever"
  15. Howard Shore- "Jacob's Theme"

My favorite songs are The Bravery and Florence and the Machine. :) This album can be played from beginning to end without having to hit the pass button. Always a good thing.
Download it or buy the CD if your "old school" like me but don't pass it up!
Eclipse hits theaters June 30th, where will you be?
KD

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The Karate Kid, wax on wax off


The Karate Kid directed by Harald Zwart was fantastic from beginning to end! Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan deliver stellar performances on screen that will leave you laughing, crying and cheering them on.
12-year-old Dre Parker could've been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying - and the feeling is mutual - but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts "the karate kid" on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han, who is secretly a master of kung fu. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.
Its been awhile since I've seen Jackie in a decent movie, maybe Rush Hour was the last one in my opinion. Sooooo refreshing to watch him get back to basics with his acting, we all know he is kick ass in the martial arts department but over time he lost that core acting ability which drew me in. But its back and better then ever for this one. You rocked it!

I cant look at Jaden and not see his dad pouring through in that DNA, a bright future ahead for that lil man. Aside from his adorable looks Jaden can act his tush off! A few scenes this young man did had me tearing up, he got me with the whole moving to different schools and not fitting in. And his Mom trying to do her best and raise her son, man this movie pulls all the right heart strings. (I will not cry I will not cry)

Some old school touches with a new school twist balance out this film, broken leg.....meh no problem. Run time for this film comes in at 2 hr. 20 min, never got slow or dull for me though. I loved it, I will own it and watch this one again and again. :)

Now stop wasting time and go see it! lol
KD

Monday, June 14, 2010

I'm gonna kill you, fool! A-Team


Yes, yes I know....I went to see A-Team but wait for the review before you judge me!

A-Team directed by Joe Carnahan and staring Liam Neeson (Hannibal), Bradley Cooper (Face), Rampage Jackson (B.A.), Sharlto Copley (Murdock) and Jessica Biel (sexy military lady) hit theaters this weekend hoping to top the box office. Well... it feel a little short grossing $25
million coming in at 2nd behind the remake of Karate Kid. So not wanting to stand in weekend lines for the kid (and guys the lines we LONG), I choose the A-Team......

My expectations were at an all time low going into this movie, and to be frank (and u can be Ann) maybe that helped because I actually kind of enjoyed this film. Was I on something you ask? Yeah I had a cocktail but lets put that aside shall we, this movie was a decent popcorn flick.

Actions scenes were of course over the top, no-way-in-Hades-did-that-happen, I'll just catch the 9am flight to the moon and be back in 2 shakes of a lamb tail! :) The movie trailers pretty much let the audience know what is going to be in store for them. Wait? Tanks fly?

Some really funny comedy in this film from the main characters and secondary actors as well. Classic lines from the original series are thrown in too please fans, don't bite the hand that feeds ya boys.

Two things I worried about in this film, Murdock and B.A. could they deliver? I am pleased to say that yes they did! Rampage shocked me the most, I was hating not having Mr. T fill his role but after seeing the film I'm ok with how it worked out. Nice job my man. Murdock you had me bustin up numerous times, and no I have yet to see the blue man group.

And yes Rose, your man Bradley Cooper looked great without his shirt on. Bring your drool towels and paper bags ladies. :)

Overall its your average action popcorn flick, sit back relax and enjoy it for what it is.
KD


Monday, June 7, 2010

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner


Stephenie Meyer author of the Twilight saga books and the Host, released the highly anticipated Eclipse novella about the life of Bree Tanner on Saturday.
Bree was introduced toward the end of the Eclipse book, a newborn vampire who surrenders to the Cullens during a fight against them. Unfortunately she was killed by Volturi vampire Jane. Meyer takes the reader into the back story of her time with Riley and the newborn vampires that become her coven.
How these people were sought out, why were they chosen? It all becomes clear after reading the novella.
The lies that are told to them and the friendships Bree makes along the way give the reader a better picture as to what was going on. It is a bit hard to read because you do know what will ultimately happen to Bree. Once you have a better understanding of her you do feel that pain of her death, but knowing this side of the story was well worth it.
And now the door is open for a possible spin off if Meyer choses to take that route, but that part I will not spoil. Get the book. :)
Twilight Saga Eclipse hits theaters June 30th!
KD

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Get Him to the Greek, lol funny!


Get Him to the Greek directed by Nicholas Stoller is a raunchy (Rated R for a reason) comedy staring Russell Brand, Jonah Hill and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
Plot as follows:
Aaron Greenberg (Hill) gets things done. The ambitious 23-year-old has exaggerated his way into a dream job just in time for a career-making assignment. His mission: Fly to London and escort a rock god to L.A.s Greek Theatre for the first-stop on a $100-million tour. His warning: Turn your back on him at your own peril. British rocker Aldous Snow (Brand) is both a brilliant musician and walking sex. Weary of yes men and piles of money, the former front man is searching for the meaning of life. But that doesnt mean he cant have a few orgies while he finds it. When he learns his true love is in California, Aldous makes it his quest to win her backright before kick-starting his world domination.

As the countdown to the concert begins, one intern must navigate a minefield of London drug smuggles, New York City brawls and Vegas lap dances to deliver his charge safe and, sort of, sound. He may have to coax, lie to, enable and party with Aldous, but Aaron will get him to the Greek.

Quite a few good laughs throughout this movie and tons of adolescence humor that is becoming a "norm" in todays current comedies. But its all in good fun, and keep that in mind before you go. Cause it gets a lil dirty dirty baby!
Some guest appearances/cameos of rock and entertainment stars of today added to the mix give a feel of authenticates. Lars?! gimme fuel gimme fire!
P. Diddy did a decent job in this film, playing a record company executive is not a far stretch from his normal life but he does some humorous jokes that are well delivered. I was actually pleasantly surprised. :)
Now the down sides I have to point out about this film are: some scenes that are pointless and led nowhere, a little bit of dragging here and there, some choppy editing and yeah I get it the guy is an idiot rock star but did we need all those songs? It became a little too much, maybe the actor wanted some more dream fulfillment? Don't know.
Overall not bad, if you want a laugh and have a good since of humor check it out. But leave your Jeffery's at home.
KD