Sorry the posting is a bit slow at the moment. What with holidays and other stuff, it’s been hard to find time to update the site! D however has been out watching this Summer’s blockbusters, and has sent in this review roundup of the 2010 summer film releases! – Dave

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Predators

Predators

If it wasn’t for the cinema release and certain cast members this could easily be a B-Movie rip-off  the classic sci-fi movie! Lines are actually taken from other movies, the musical score is the same as the original too.

I’m a massive Predator fan, got a signed oil painting of one hanging on my wall and a replica Classic and Wolf Predator helmet on display, so when another movie was announced I was clearly excited. But, sat in the cinema I watched as poorly written and bland cinematography destroyed my excitement.

The premise of the movie is a rogue cast of the predator species abduct the most dangerous creatures from planets, dump them on a jungle planet and proceeds to hunt them. Though there is actually very little hunting done in the movie!

The characters are unlikeable and as the movie progresses you find yourself not caring if they will die, but more wishing that they will sooner rather than later.

Apart from one fight between a Predator dubbed “Falconer” and a sword using prey the whole film was a bitter disappointment.

4/10

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid

It seems the current fad in Hollywood is to remake classic movies, so there is little shock when one of the most popular movies of the 80s was being re-filmed.  Though, this is really not a remake, in fact its international title was “Kung-Fu Kid” as there is no Karate in this movie at all, and the story is not similar to the original in as many ways as you would expect.

The film focuses around 12 year old Dre (Jaden Smith), who was been torn from this home in Detroit and relocated to China with his Mother.  Unable to fit in and repeatedly bullied by local children (which at times he deserves) he befriends the Janitor for this apartment building, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan).  After a small fight and a disagreement with a Kung Fu School teacher Mr. Han agrees to train Dre to compete in a tournament to earn respect.  Basically that is how much this movie draws from the original, as its far more grounded in cinematic visuals of China as he trains and what I consider poor acting by Dre.

The tournament at the end that the whole movie is driven towards ends with what I can only describe as a stupid piece of wire-work and really lowers the tone of the movie to ridiculous levels.

This is really a brain-off and popcorn stuffed in face movie, you don’t need your brain for this one, and if did attempt to analysis it, well then you’d regret spending almost two and a half hours watching it..

4/10

The A-Team

The A-Team

Like many, I grew up with the over the top, no-one dies A-Team on television, and was really looking forward to seeing the big budget Hollywood take on the 80s classic.  The casting is rather well done, with one exception of B.A., but I really don’t know how they could replace Mr. T anyway!

Story-wise I was a little disappointed, the movie briefly touches on how the team was originally formed and then proceeds to show them fighting against everything and everyone around them really.  Action scenes are ridiculous even for movie terms, but amusing at same time.  I found myself actually drawings comparisons to the recently released “The Losers”, which actually has a very similar story, but in fact more entertaining to watch.

This movie had a few saving graces, Sharlto Copley of “District 9” fame (which by the way is in my Top 5 movies of all time) is incredible and really is an upcoming star to watch.  Also Jessica Biel is stunning in the movie and it’s hard to notice anything else happening on the screen when she is there!

Not a terrible film, but certainly does not live up to its name-sake.

6/10

Shrek Forever After 3D

Shrek Forever After 3D

The big green ogre is back, along with Donkey and Puss.  This the fourth and final instalment of the franchise is presented in both 3D and 2D, but apart for a little depth on the screen there is no major difference.

This movies story revolves around an alternate universe, one were Shrek never saved Fiona and the repercussions of that.  A clever idea but ultimately pointless and adds nothing to the Shrek universe in the end.

The animation is great, characters funny and interesting as always and the whole movie is an enjoyable watch.  This instalment does not beat the second movie, but it certainly competes with the first and is better than the third which is an achievement as sequels go.

6/10

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3

After more than a decade since the last one, Toy Story 3 hits our screens again, and this time joins the band wagon that is 3D.  The movie is in fact set 10 years after the last, and Andy is all grown-up and getting ready to move to college, but what does that mean for Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang, well what is left of the gang…

Pixar never fails when it comes to how beautiful their animations are, and this is no exception, its stunning.  The 3D though adds depth to the visuals really isn’t necessary and won’t really be missed once the movie comes out to watch at home.

The story is very well written, and I honestly believe this movie is not intended for children, but more so for the children who grew up with the first 2 movies and are now teenagers and young adults respectively.

Rumour is this is the last Toy Story movie and even though that is a sad prospect the movie really does complete the story with a wonderful ending, even if a little sad.

This is a movie for all ages, but do take the time to see the first 2 movies before this one if you haven’t yet already.

9/10

Inception

Inception

I must admit, I went to see this movie with a little anticipation.  The adverts were intriguing without actually explaining what the hell the movie was even about.  From the first five minutes you are hooked, and fully immersed in an amazing world.

The basic idea is it is possible to invade someone’s dreams, and as such influence them and steal their secrets.  Obviously the movie takes several fantastic plot twists along the way and keeps the audience in awe.

This is the MUST SEE movie of the cinema in my opinion up to now, incredible writing, acting, directing and stunning visuals make it a true masterpiece.

I won’t reveal any plot twists, but I’m sure you will like everyone else who has seen this movie will gasp at the last few seconds and want more.

10/10

To celebrate the release of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz’s KNIGHT AND DAY on Wednesday August 6th, 2010 the nice folk at Twentieth Century Fox have given us 5 Knight & Day goodie bags to give away! As usual, all you have to do is answer the question, or re-tweet the tweet at the end of this post!

The goodie bag contains a water gun set, duffle bag, cap, bb case, t-shirt, notebook & uv invisible ink pen!

Knight & Day Synopsis

Knight & Day

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz star in the action-comedy KNIGHT AND DAY. During their glamorous, globetrotting and sometimes deadly adventure, nothing and no one – even the now fugitive couple – are what they seem. Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the world with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth vs. trust.

Directed by James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line, Girl, Interrupted), KNIGHT AND DAY

stars Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible franchise, Tropic Thunder, Jerry Maguire) and Cameron Diaz (Charlie’s Angels franchise, There’s Something About Mary,), alongside Peter Sarsgaard (An Education, Orphan), Maggie Grace (TV series ‘Lost’, Taken), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine), Marc Blucas (Meet Dave, First Daughter), Viola Davis (Law Abiding Citizen, State of Play) and Jordi Mollà (Che Part 2, Bad Boys 2).

KNIGHT AND DAY was shot in various locations, including Massachusetts, Spain, Austria, and Jamaica.

2 Ways to Enter and Win a Knight & Day goodie bag!

1. Win on Twitter

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

In the UK? Win a Knight & Day goodie bag by following @geektown and RTing this tweet! More at http://bit.ly/knightdaycomp

2. Win on this site

Just answer the following question:
Marc Blucas was a star of which Joss Whedon tv show?

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED – Answer ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.

Yes, you can enter both, and DOUBLE your chances of winning!

The competition closes on 31st July 2010 and is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. There will be 5 winners picked from entries on Twitter and geektown.co.uk. By entering this competition, you are agreeing to the rules of this competition. Full rules can be read here.

Whilst Marvel are out creating awesome Joss Whedon helmed movies, DC are also using Whedon alumni, with James Marsters voicing Lex Luthor for this (frankly awesome!) trailer for their new DC Universe MMO.

It’s been rumoured for a while, but Marvel finally announced the full official cast and director of “The Avengers”. Obviously we already know Samuel L Jackson is Nick Fury, Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Robert Downey Jr is Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson is Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Chris Evans as Captain America.

The 2 additions officially announced were Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo whos taking over the role of Bruce Banner. Really it’s one thing to read about it, it’s another to actually see them all on stage together. The one thing that really gave me geeky goosebumps though, was hearing Robert Downey Jr say “…our director, Joss Whedon!”

DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book

As you know, we at GeekTown are huge comic book fans, so when DC’s publicity people offered to send me an early release of their DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book for review I jumped at it!

The book is around A3 in size, and contains 100 ‘ready to frame’ posters of DC Comic covers throughout the years – From the front cover of ‘New Fun’ in 1935, through to one Alex Ross’s stunning cover’s for 2008′s ‘Batman R.I.P.’ run.

Each cover comes with a commentary on the artwork by Robert Schnakenberg , explaining the background of how it came about, and why it’s included in the book as an important DC issue. Every page edge is perforated, so (if your so inclined) you can easily remove the pages and hang them on your wall. Personally, i rather like them in book form though.

If your a fan of DC Comics, the DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book really is a ‘must have’ addition to your collection.

DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book is due on sale in the UK in October 2010, for £24.99 RRP.

Gallery of artwork samples from the DC Comics 75th Anniversary Poster Book

The WORLD PREMIERE of INCEPTION took place in London’s Leicester Square last night, with stars Christopher Nolan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Sir Michael Caine and Marion Cotillard in attendance, and we have a bunch of photos and video from the event for you!

INCEPTION is the new movie from The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan,  and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a skilled thief… But he’s not stealing fine art from the walls of the Louvre… He’s extracting valuable secrets from deep within the victim’s subconscious during their dream state.

As you can imagine, Cobb’s rare ability might make him the darling of the underworld, but it also puts him on every government/authority hit list. So when Cobb is offered one last job could give him his life back, he jumps at it. There’s only one little drawback… Cobb and his team of specialists have not been asked to extract a thought, but to do the near impossible opposite. Not to steal an idea, but plant one – aka Inception…

INCEPTION is releases around the UK on 16th July 2010