Rocky 7

The Province paper (Vancouver, Canada) recently asked readers to submit script ideas (both plausible and non) for a possible Rocky part 7 as part of the promotion for the opening of Rocky Balboa. My idea was one of the selected few that were printed in the paper.

The pitch was:

Rocky finally settles into a retirement home, but with the help of Adrian’s ghost he discovers that the home is actually a cover for an underground senior citizens cage fighting ring and finds himself putting on his gloves again for yet one more “last fight”.

*Brendan answers the pay phone

Emily: [over the phone] I screwed up real bad, you know.

Brendan Frye: Screwed up how?

Emily: Look, I did what she said with the brick. I didn't know it was bad, but The Pin's on it now for poor Frisco, and they're playing it all on me.

Brendan Frye: Slow down, now. What?

Emily: You gotta help me Brendan, please. I think Tug...
[car drives past Brendan]

Emily: oh no!
[she hangs up]



Brick
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetner
Written and Directed by Rian Johnson


THE CASE: After his ex-girlfriend turns up dead, a teenage loner confronts and mixes it up with a notorious high school crime ring, uncovering a web of secrets and lies.


THE GOOD: Brick is a wonderful first effort on the part of writer/director Rian Johnson. It is film noir at its best and happens to take place in high school. The characters are ones you would recognize from say The Maltese Falcon -- but they are a lot younger and a lot fresher. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From the Sun) gives a career defining performance and mixes it up with some familiar faces like Nora Zehetner (you probably will recognize her from NBC’s Heroes), Emilie de Ravin (Lost), and Lukas Haas. They all create a very believable world, but it is not hard when they are working with such great material. The best thing about Brick is the dialogue. The dialogue for this film pops with originality and is basically a new language of its own. Words and phrases that you have never heard before are used, but yet they make sense. From the film noir homages to the original dialogue and the wonderful cast -- Brick screams cool.


THE BAD: Pay attention. Brick is so layered with colloquialisms and plot twists that I swear if you lose concentration for just a second, you will lose your place in the story. The dialogue is so unique that some people may have a hard time keeping up. But like I said, just pay attention and you should be okay.


THE LAW: You have to see Brick. It isn’t often that a film this original and fun comes along, so I beg you to please check it out. Brick will inspire you with its creativity and will remind you that you don’t need millions of dollars to make a good film.

FADE IN:

INT. T&T SUPERMARKET - EVENING

Law and his brother, CW, stand by the seafood section, facing the live crab tank.

LAW: Hey, the guy is taking out all the crabs.

CW: Yeah, it looks like he is going to clean the tank.

They watch the guy take out the live crabs one-by-one.

CW: Ooh, that one almost pinched him.

LAW: Yeah, that would have been funny.

They watch the guy pick up the crabs one-by-one until he finally clears the tank. The two brothers are enchanted.

LAW: Wow.

CW: That was strangely relaxing...

LAW: Yeah. I suddenly feel one with the world.

They continue to watch as the guy washes out the now empty tank.

FADE OUT.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Starring Jason David Frank, Amy Jo Johnson, Paul Freeman
Written by John Kamps & Arne Olsen
Directed by Bryan Spicer


I remember way back in the early 90s when my friend, SJ and I used to come home from school, cook up some instant noodles and watch some good old fashioned Power Rangers. Ah, those were the days indeed. And here I am today, some thirteen odd years later, watching the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie for the first time. If you were such a big fan, why haven’t you seen the Power Rangers movie until now, you say? Well, yes, it did come out in 1995 and yes, it does seem like an odd time in my life to be watching this movie -- but the answer is simple: girls. Between 1993 (the height of the Power Rangers fame) and 1995, I kind of got distracted by the opposite sex and the days of having instant noodles and watching TV after school were replaced with having instant noodles and watching girls at the mall.

Well, thirteen years later, I am happy to say the Power Rangers still strike a cord with me (hey, if Johnny Depp’s kids still watch Power Rangers, that’s pretty cool I say). The story of six teenagers with enhanced powers provided by the great Zordon (kind of like Yoda and the Wizard of Oz mixed in one) protecting the city of Angel Grove still manages to entertain me today. Yes, the effects are a little cheap and the dialogue is extremely cornball and cheesy, but really, who can resist those shiny and colorful suits. The martial arts sequences are still full of energy and the extreme sports lifestyle of those extraordinary teenagers is still kid friendly. The only thing I would say that parents have to watch out for is that the main villain in this film (Ivan Ooze) may come off a little frightening if they happen to have really sensitive children. Ivan Ooze kind of looks too much like Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street series for me and that is sure to frighten somebody out there (especially if you grew up in the 80s). Other than that, it is pretty much good guys versus bad guys and I don’t have to tell you who wins.

So, if you happen to have kids or if you happen to want to feel like one for about an hour and a half, go rent Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. Oh, and also the females in the film are kind of cute too, so really, you can’t lose with this movie.


THE RUNDOWN:

The Good: Positive family friendly fun.

The Bad: Villain may be a little frightening to some children.

The Law: Lots of action and flashy colors to keep you or your kids entertained.

The Polar Express
Starring Tom Hanks, Nona Gaye, Eddie Deezen
Written and Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Seeing as how I watched Halloween themed films around Halloween, it only makes sense that I watch Christmas themed films around Christmas. I started with The Polar Express.

Honestly speaking, I thought I was going to dislike this film. Not hate, but dislike. Dislike because of the fact that it was going to be another one of those animated films (please stop trying to replace humans) and it was going to be filled with sappy sentimentality. Well, it was another one of those animated films and it was filled with sappy sentimentality -- but I liked it.

Yes, the animation is a little creepy at times based on how real and fake it looks (they motion captured the hell out of Tom Hanks for this one), but the film contained a surprising amount of action for a kid’s film. I found myself really getting into some of the chase scenes and rollercoasteresque sequences (this film is in Imax 3D after all). If you really think about it -- this story (adapted from the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg) was just an excuse to execute some new animation techniques and create a new thrill ride experience for Imax under the disguise that it is a family holiday treat. It also let Tom Hanks act out at least six characters, hopefully not getting paid for each since they all sound pretty much the same (no more voice overs for you this year).

The Polar Express tells the story of a boy who is on the verge of losing his belief in Santa Claus and gets picked up by The Polar Express for a first class train ride to see him in person. Along the way he gains new friends and shows that he is worthy to see the big guy in red. If you ask me, I think it is kind of creepy that a train comes on Christmas Eve and picks up little kids, but hey, then again the idea of an old guy invading your house is kind of creepy too, so what do I know. That statement shows that I do not believe in Santa Claus, which this film would have a problem with. The Polar Express tells us that all we have to do is believe and that Christmas is in our hearts and, and... somehow I really enjoyed it. I guess some things, like Santa Claus, you just can’t explain.


THE RUNDOWN:

The Good: Fun action sequences, good fun for the family.

The Bad: Animation is kind of creepy at times due to how real/fake it looks.

The Law: Check it out in Imax 3D or rent it on Christmas Eve for the kids.