For many of us, The Phantom Menace holds a lot of fond memories and this week’s 3D release of the film is a welcome one.

I, for one, am grateful for the chance to show the entire saga to my kids on the big screen. They were only barely old enough to catch Revenge of the Sith on the big screen (at about the same age I was when I saw Return of the Jedi the first time) and this will give me opportunity to let them experience Star Wars as it’s meant to be: on the big screen. I’m sure I’ll catch as many 2D screenings as 3D during this release.

My City Weekly column this week delves into more detail about Phantom Menace and my continued love for it.

For those of you who are in the Salt Lake area, we’re are, in part, hosting a kick off event for Thursday night’s midnight screening that you won’t want to miss.

Starting at 10pm on Thursday, February 9th, we will be packing the theatre for the midnight showing of The Phantom Menace at Jordan Commons. (9400 South State Street, Sandy, UT)

The local 501st and the Mandalorian Mercs will be on hand to take pictures with the crowd. There will be a costume contest hosted by Jeff and Jimmy from The Big Movie Mouth-Off and then I will be hosting a trivia contest afterward. Dr. Volt’s Comic Connection and Megaplex will be giving away prizes.

This is the place to be for the midnight showing in Utah, packed with those who love these movies the most. I would recommend getting tickets now.

If you’re not in Utah, what are you doing for the midnight event?

I know every one is saying that The Avengers is the big breakout trailer from the Super Bowl, and it probably is. Maybe it’s just because John Carter is closer to release that I’m that much more excited for it.

This movie looks incredible.

Seriously, you all have Kindle apps, read the first few books. These stories are amazing and I’m so glad to see them getting the big screen treatment they deserve.

This was amazing. I’m going to watch it again now.

I think this tells us quite a lot, though. The threat the Avengers are facing seems to be extra terrestrial. Skrulls? We can only hope.

Big Shiny Girlcast’s February 3rd, 2012 episode is now live via iTunes! The latest episode of the podcast, “Issue #3: Shazam!,” discusses Game of Thrones, Terra Nova, Being Human, Walking Dead, Green Arrow, Captain Marvel, Princess Bride wine, X Men First Class sequel, Hunger Games and more! This week’s “Ask the Geek Girls” segment talks about the first thing we ever really loved as geeks.

On this week’s podcast: Jessie – Miss Mecha from Big Shiny Robot!, Carly – Wonderbot from Big Shiny Robot!, Kelly – Scarlett Robotica from Big Shiny Robot! and Darcy from geekgirlsftw.blogspot.com

You can find it here on the site or download it over on our Big Shiny Robot iTunes feed.

To comment on this week’s episode, send us a question, or answer on of our burning questions, just leave a comment here at the bottom of the post or email the podcast at jessie@bigshinyrobot.com.

I believe that the ability to suspend disbelief is a big factor to the enjoyment of a movie. Of course, sometimes the degree of suspension can vary from person to person. I also believe that movie trailers help us decide our degree in a big way. I can vouch for this with my own enjoyment of the movie Sucker Punch. From the very first trailer I knew that all I would be getting out of this experience was pure eye candy. And that’s what I got. So walking into Chronicle this evening I had good expectations as to where my levels were. If you have ever read the occasional comic book or seen one of the many blockbuster superhero movies that seem to come out multiple times a year, I think most people should be ready for this one.

Chronicle begins with Andrew, a high school loner with some serious family issues. His mother is terminally ill and his father is an abusive alcoholic. It all begins in 1st person because Andrew has decided to start filming everything with a camera because… well, he’s not all right in the head (See above screwed-up family life). The first five minutes of this film seemed a bit strange to me and I was wondering if this is how the whole movie would feel. Not too impressed so far. But it really built up well and the direction the film’s leads was quite enjoyable. I won’t get into a detailed review of this movie because I think you should all go check it out for yourself, but I will give a brief synopsis.

Andrew, his cousin Matt and Matt’s friend Steve find a mysterious hole in the earth. They investigate and come across something that grants them ‘super powers’. The trio’s powers don’t manifest immediately but they learn to build upon them over time. Their slow ‘flexing’ of power was executed wonderfully and it made me reflect back on my childhood. I defy anyone to tell me they didn’t wish for some kind of extraordinary super power when they were growing up. What child didn’t run around their house pretending to be Superman? The scenes in which the three boys are slowly learning and expanding on their ever growing, new found abilities are the ones that stick with me the most. Eventually, Andrew’s powers grow to the point that he can make the camera follow him where ever he goes. So instead of seeing the movie through the eyes of Andrew, we slowly switch over from 1st person POV to 3rd person. From here on out the movie focuses on the descent into darkness that Andrew, the one in the group that has grown the strongest, experiences.

The movie most definitely had a low budget feeling to it (a measly $15 million dollars was allocated), but I also knew that going in. I was amazed at what they accomplished in 83 minutes and 15 million dollars. Were there bad moments in this movie? Of course! See above budget. Was the acting great? The three actors (Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan) were new to me, as was Director Josh Trank, but it was cast well and edited nicely for a movie such as this.

It has been 13 years since The Blair Witch Project came out, and Hollywood has done very well financially with the endless clones of “found footage” movies. The creators of this film seem to have found a way to put a fresh face on this tiring genre. But the biggest thing I walked away with after seeing this movie was how much more excited I am or this year’s upcoming superhero movies like The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. Chronicle really wet my appetite!

Chronicle hits theaters today!

We’ve been seeing a lot of The Hunger Games, but unfortunately it has mostly been from stills and posters – not a lot in the way of footage. That has change now though with the release of the latest trailer! This trailer will be hitting theaters soon and will be shown during the pre-game show before the Super Bowl, but you can check it out right now!

I quite like this latest trailer for a few reasons. First, it seems to explain the story a bit more for those unfamiliar with the source material; Second, we get a better look at some more of the main characters like Games interviewer, Caeser Flickerman; and finally, for those familiar with the book by Suzanne Collins, there are some quick shots of some very key scenes that seem to hold true to the details very well.

I’m incredibly excited for this film, even though I have some of the same concerns as Dagobot about this film being “hyped” a little too much. I really hope this movie adaptation hits a home-run and captures all there is to love about this series!

Do you like movies…like I like movies?

Seriously, I will pull up boxofficemojo.com two times a month to plan my upcoming theatre travels and see what films have been added to release schedule. My Virgo characteristics only match my levels of fandom.

Pump up the volume and take a second to list your three most anticipated movies of 2012. Mine are: Prometheus, The Dark Knight Rises and The Hunger Games.

Crazy right? The first two are gimmes but The Hunger Games? Over assured blockbusters and future classics such as The Avengers, The Hobbit & Brave?

When I first caught wind of the young adult novel ‘The Hunger Games’ written by Suzanne Collins back in 2008, a friend had suggested that I check it out since I dig sci fi-dystopian-mythic-fantasy type stories. From word of mouth to ear to book blog to tweet to IM text…once I had finished the book, with wide-eyed wonder, I told EVERYONE I knew about it.

Just this past week, a thought provoking piece written by Linda Holmes was posted on the net:

http://m.npr.org/news/Arts+%26+Life/145638615

She posed a question if The Hunger Games was building too much ‘Buzz’ for it’s own good. It got me thinking.

With all due respect, Instead of using the word ‘Buzz’ in the headline I think the more appropriate choice would have be to use the ‘Hype’. While on the surface both of these powerful words might sound similar, they are not one in the same.

In this case, the paid for ‘Hype’ machine is driven by money making executives with dollar bill signs where their eyes used to be. Riding on the coattails of vampires and wizardry, trying to scoop up the next big thing in young adult literature.

Who can blame them? They are in business to turn a profit. Maybe the reason that Lionsgate could be pushing a little harder is that they’re a little nervous that the fan base really isn’t there. This series is honestly not as big as Twilight and Harry Potter were when their movies hit screens. Is the March release date a ploy to beat the box office in the first quarter then to wait and go up against the Summer Goliaths in May, June or July? For all of us, that means two more months of ads at ad nauseum.

As a fan, I feel like I NEED another trailer to get me really excited for the film, and I never say that. All these stills and promo websites don’t do much for me. They haven’t shown anything from the actual games, after all. I can tell you that many people are only just discovering HG and many more have yet to learn anything about them. I think anyone who isn’t a fan has just been teased.

Books such as The Hunger Games trilogy deserve better hype.

BETTER BUZZ!

When you read a novel that doesn’t come along too often. The kind of experience that resonates within your soul, the ones that you remember long after you place it back on your bookshelf….pass it along.

I absolutely love seeing film adaptations of movies. They don’t need to be amazing works of cinema, as long as the key elements are brought to life in a thoughtful, spectacular way AND the filmmakers stay faithful to the essence of the storyline. We’ve all heard the poopooed sentiments that ‘Well, the movie is never as good as the book’. Not only do I disagree with that but some works translate better in other mediums, and can be improved upon.

All of the ‘Hype’ and the ‘Buzz’ aside…I’m just hoping that it turns out to be good as could be.

-Dagobot

Despite a few people who had gripes I simply didn’t understand, X-Men: First Class has been hailed as a classic of superhero cinema. The script was tight like a the inner-workings of a Swiss watch, the acting (with one exception) was masterful, particularly the interplay between Michael Fassbender and James Macavoy, and the story was perfect for the themes, the era, and the characters.

I had previously thought FOX was flushing X-Men down the toilet (especially after that abysmal Wolverine movie), but then they hired Matthew Vaughn and Bryan Singer to reinvigorate the franchise after Brett Ratner’s abortion of an X-film.

Well, for those of us who enjoyed this film and the team behind it, Deadline is reporting that they are back!

Fox has just closed a deal with Matthew Vaughn to come back and direct the sequel to X-Men: First Class, with Simon Kinberg writing the script and Bryan Singer back as producer.

There’s some other Marvel related news in that story, too:

The studio is so delighted with the job that Josh Trank did on the upcoming under-$20 million thriller Chronicle that he is being eyed for a big assignment, possibly the reboot of Fantastic Four.

Which I’m neither here nor there about.

In any case, intelligent bots of the world: Rejoice about a First Class sequel!

Good Morning, Vietnam is one of those movies I vividly remember being taken by my parents to go see as a kid, but my only memory of it is laughing and Robin Williams’ trademark scream, “Gooooooood Morning, Vietnam!”

I love war films and this is one I’ve been meaning to revisit it for a long time. With the release of the Blu-ray, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to come back to it and decide its worth.

There are a lot of films set during the Vietnam war and the 80s was their heyday. There are classics like Platoon and more forgettable fare. Somewhere in between, in my mind, was this comedy/drama mix. Directed by Barry Levinson, this film, though based on a true story, seems to be a massive audition reel for Robin Williams, highlighting his stand up routines, his dramatic abilities, and his over the top ad-libbing.

For the most part, it was an entertaining film, though the war aspects of it were completely by the numbers. I think the real star of the film is Bruno Kirby who you’ll remember from The Godfather Part II and City Slickers. He played the uptight officer who doesn’t think Williams’ brand of humour is funny at all and his performance in the film is easily the best.

As I watched, I grew more and more shocked that my parents took me to see it at seven years old. There’s quite a bit of swearing and plenty of inferred sexual talk and situations. It doesn’t bother me, I was just shocked that my parents seemed to think it was appropriate for a kid of seven.

The message of the film is certainly one that’s still applicable, about questioning the point of the Vietnam war and questioning the purposes behind censorship. It certainly put a human face on the Viet Cong, both for the American GI’s in the film and the audience.

For those who like war movies and/or Robin Williams, I’d recommend picking up this Blu-ray for your collection. It’s a solid, though by the numbers, war film.

It’s less than $15 on Amazon.

At the Tokyo Press Conference, Sony released their official synopsis for The Amazing Spider-Man:

One of the world’s most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

This raises a few questions and makes me wonder about the overall story arc for this movie. The biggest question, of course, is what is in that damn suitcase? From the trailer we know Peter gets his powers from the lab that Gwen and Connors work. Maybe it’s the technology for the web shooters? Although that would be some coincidence, him getting spider powers and finding a spider like gadget.

I like the idea that Peter is trying to find himself while discovering more about his family’s past. Being that this is the origin story, and most super heroes don’t hit their stride until the second movie, I think it would be great for the entire movie to be Peter figuring out what to do with his powers. Should he use them for power, wealth, etc… Having the film’s climax be Uncle Ben’s death. This could seal his decision to use his powers for good, and hit the ground running in the second film.

Well, that’s this humble nerd’s thoughts. What are yours?

Source: AICN