Mindless Mumbling Musings: College Film Class

Calvin College Media Production.

Well. The year is winding down, and I have neglected this blog hardcore...

It is not without reason, mind you! I have been working hard, well, okay, hard-ish on my college courses. Exams are this week, but after... freedom. And a tour to Asia with the Calvin College Capella Choir. Needless to say, I am looking forward to said tour.

But what exactly have I been doing in school, you wonder (you probably don't, but I'll tell ya anyway!)? What have I been doing?

Making movies.

Like this. But... not really.

Bold (Early) Oscar Rankings

They are coming.

When predicting what film and what actors/actresses/directors will be nominated, a sensible person would wait until all of the contending films are released to the general public. Well, I am not in said category of “sensible people.” Therefore, I give my rankings of Oscar worthy films in the six major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

Now, I realize that these rankings will most likely drastically change, and there will most likely be a film or two that come out of nowhere to garner some Oscar buzz. So, the following rankings are a complete crapshoot. Change is inevitable! That being said, it is incredibly fun…

Be sure to check out my featured Oscar Contenders for 2012, and Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV. As you will see, many of the films listed there are left off the following rankings.

Find out which ones made the early cut…

2012 Oscar Predictions, Pt. IV

While this won't be the last Oscar prediction post here, this fourth installment concludes my list of 12 contending films for the 2012 Oscars. I am quite pleased that most of these films are legitimately Oscar-worthy films. From the unlikely Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. II to the hands-down favorite, Moneyball, many of the films prove and project to be heavy hitters come the Award season.

This fourth post features a dark horse (literally!) full of new Hollywood's rising stars, a soppy, sentimental favorite led by seasoned Oscar veterans, and the necessary indie flick of heavy-hearted source material. While Moneyball is STILL my favorite at this point, these films have a chance to knock Bennett Miller's movie off its perch.

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The Avengers Trailer!!!

In case you haven't heard, the next Marvel project, The Avengers, has released its first official trailer!

More will come on this later, but for now, ENJOY!!!

The (Somewhat) Amazing Spider-Man: DARK AND GRITTY!!!

Swinging into theaters in 2012.

For the updated version of this preview (due to the different feelings the author now has for this movie) click here.
Don't get sold out! Buy advance tickets to The Amazing Spider-Man.

Okay, to be perfectly honest, I am not too keen of creating a whole new Spider-Man franchise so soon after Sam Raimi stepped down from making more Spidey films. However, the more news I get on Marc Webb’s (ironic name...) new, gritty Spider-Man world, the more excited I get. Raimi’s universe was fun, over-the-top, and in the end, disappointing. Props to that Spidey Trilogy for creating the whole superhero movies craze, but in the end, I am glad Raimi didn’t sign on to make a fourth installment in a franchise that peaked at the second film. 

If I was him, I would be sad too, after Spidey 3.

When Raimi stepped down, Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and others pretty much disappeared from casting rumors for any future Spider-Man films. 

The mildly-pathetically titled, The Amazing Spider-Man, will swing into theaters July 3 of 2012, putting it in the thick of what should be a dynamic summer of superhero blockbusters. Hopes are high for the summer of 2012, and Spidey 4 is no exception, regardless if the origin was seen in the last ten-ish years.

But, how will Webb’s Spidey franchise differentiate itself from Raimi’s series? How “gritty” is “gritty?” And who exactly is playing who, in the new saga? 

Post- Daniel Craig James Bond

Who will follow Daniel Craig and be Bond...?

Forget "Being Bond", who will BE Bond...?

While the currently titled Bond 23 hasn’t even been in post-production yet, it’s never too early to wonder about the prospects about Bond 24. Specifically, who will play the seventh incarnation of the iconic British MI6 agent?

Back in 2006, Daniel Craig took over after the reign of Pierce Brosnan. While the choice of a “blonde” Bond caused quite a stir (or… shake, perhaps…), Craig quickly showed why he was chosen to the play the suave secret agent for the beautifully created Casino Royale. Then… Quantum of Solace… Let’s just say… well… It was bad. It had its moments, but it was pretty stupid. Solace pretty much threw Craig’s future as Bond into jeopardy. When studio MGM filed for bankruptcy, the whole Bond franchise was thrown into disarray. Production for Bond 23 stalled, and the whole project was pretty much scrapped. Intending to continue the Quantum story arc, Bond 23 was speculated to follow Sebastian Faulk’s 2008 Bond book, Devil May Care (which, personally, I enjoyed). However, the entire production switched gears, post-MGM bankruptcy, and Craig’s third Bond role is on its way to hit theaters sometime next year.

Yeeeeaaaahhhh... They had to sell the Lion... 

 Now, Craig originally signed up for three Bonds, with an option for a fourth. With Craig’s star burning bright in Hollywood, it is rather doubtful he will commit to a fourth go-around with the Bond franchise. If Bond 23 tanks Craig will definitely jump ship. While I enjoy having Craig play James Bond, I really wouldn’t mind a change in actors, as Craig needs to move on to bigger and better things.

However, who will take over for Craig and be the seventh Bond in the franchise? While many actors will undoubtedly clamor for the job, only a few should be actually seriously considered. Not just anyone can fill the role that has been passed on by the likes of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, (Connery again…), Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.

Bond. James Bond.

2012 Oscar Predictions, Pt. III

This next installment in the 12 for '12 Oscar Watch series, the article features three period pieces that are sure to garner a lot of Oscar attention. All three could be considered as biopics of various figures from history; however, two of the three do not look as strong as the other.

The second post in the series featured two heavy-hitters in the Oscar race, Moneyball and The Ides of March. The other film in the post, The Rum Diary, could be considered a dark horse in the race, as well. 

Well... add one more to the Oscar race, and two more dark horses.

Should Brad Pitt and Moneyball be concerned
with the following...?

Update for The Dark Knight Rises: Grand Budget for a Grand Finale

Gotham is crumbling... Will Batman be able to save it?
Duh. He always does.

Where to begin…? Since the last update of The Dark Knight Rises, so much has happened that it would be nigh impossible to cover it all. Which is why I am not. All the casting rumors and certainties will be gathered up in a later post.

First officially released image of Bane. 

As the last article covered, TDKR cast both Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway as Bane and Catwoman(Selina Kyle) respectively. While I loved the choice of actors, I was none too thrilled by the idea of having either villain set in the Nolan Universe he crafted for the Batman, to say the least. Not to mention my boy, David Tennant, is nowhere to be found on the cast list, even though I pleaded that he be included… I’m an astounded that a giant studio or an incredibly busy filmmaker doesn’t read an incredibly small-time movie blogger, like myself. If the oozing sarcasm from that did not soak you to the bone, just to clarify, THAT WAS SARCASTIC.

The genius.

Once again, Christian Bale returns as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman reprise their respective roles. The Nolan brothers team up to write the script, and David S. Goyer takes part in the story, as they did for the previous two Batman films. The producers and co-producers largely remain the same as the prior two films, as well. If it ain’t broke, don’t YOU DARE FIX IT!

Anyway, there has been so much more news than just Bane and Catwoman. The Internetz are all a-buzz about the latest news on The Dark Knight Rises…

New Segment! And it's EDUCATIONAL!!!

Subliminal college recruiting...

You may have noticed that there is a new tab up above (probably not...), and if you were curious enough to click on it, you saw that there was a "Stay Tuned."

Now, some of you might be wary about a tab called "Educational," but don't worry, it's cool. Trust me.

Here at YAMB, we could be seen as "critics." As one of my professors have told me, "Critics are the eunuchs of the world. They can talk about it, but can't do it." Hmmmmm... While being a critic is fun, I mean, we just pretty much talk for a living, making what is being criticized on is even more exciting.

Being Bond: Life After Bond

"The Name's Bond. James Bond."

Originally created from the mind of Ian Fleming back in 1953, the iconic and all-around dashing British spy James Bond has captured the imagination of young and old alike. From Bond’s witty one-liners to his suave escapes, managing all the while to keep his well-greased hair and pristine suits in perfect condition, the MI6 agent immediately won over audiences everywhere.

In the Bond film franchise, a franchise that has made as much as $5 billion US dollars, six actors have slipped into the role of the sophisticated Brit. From the original Sean Connery to the brief appearance of George Lazenby to the seemingly-never-ending tenure of Roger Moore to Timothy Dalton to Pierce Brosnan to the current Bond, Daniel Craig, all six men gave their own take on the charming spy. However, was “being Bond” a good thing for these actors? Or did it create an unwanted typecasting for them?

2012 Oscar Contenders, Pt. II

Two strong contenders... Only one prize... 

In the next installment of the 12 for ’12 Oscar Watch series, two serious Oscar contenders and a dark horse are covered. This post features two legitimate contenders and a potential contender, unlike the first post... 

To put a brief background on this series, in July, I presented a list of 12 films that I considered being legitimate Oscar contenders. I will be covering all 12 films in four posts (do the math, and that’s three films a post. Hurray math!).

Now… Keep reading to see the next films that could be big winners at the 84^th Academy Awards.

How Did the 2011 Summer of Superheroes Fare…?

Yeah. These guys. Well, only like three or four...

Going into the summer of 2011, I could only groan when I looked at the lineup. Sequels, remakes, reboots, and of course, the ever increasing number of superhero movies. Sick of the supers? Sorry folks, 2012 features another lineup packed full of comic book adaptions. And, well, as they continue to make money, expect this superhero trend to continue.

But enough about the future of these films, how did this summer of crime-fighters fare? To be perfectly honest, it was quite a lackluster performance in both the box office and critical acclaim. There are no Chris Nolan Batman-type movies, or box-office smashes like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. Sigh. Instead, we were forced to watch the hard-to-look-at Green Lantern film, a laughable Thor, yet another Avengers set-up in Captain America: The First Avenger, and a few others of unimportance. Oh yeah, also IN 3D!!! THREE DIMENSIONS GUYS!!! /facepalm.

Let’s take a look at how some of these super-ly un-super films did…

O Hai Dere.

CRAYONS!!! 

Well. School is back in session.

Hurray...?

As you may know, this blog has been slowing down to a near standstill since... well, pretty much since our second month of bursting onto the blogging scene (ha). All of us here at YAMB sincerely apologize for the lack of content. Really. But... Y'know, life happens.

College, lack of content, lack of motivation, and other stuff just kind of got in the way. Mainly college. And now it's back.

That being said...

Wait for it... wait for it...

2012 Oscar Contenders, Pt. I

Well, it's about that time again... Time to delve deeper into the films that could be the next big winner for the 84th Academy Award show.

Back in July, I listed 12 films I believed to be have a legitimate chance to be strong contenders during the 2012 Award season. Now, I explain those choice in further detail.

Four posts featuring three films each will be in this series of 12 for '12.

The first installment features a polarizing film, a long shot, and a dark horse for the 2012 award shows. 

Keep reading on for the three films featured in this post...

2012 Oscar Predictions: 12 for ‘12

They're kinda creepy, if you think about it...

Getting sick of the summer lineup already? Well, I sure am. I can only take so many explosions, superstunts, robots, pathetic CGI, and that pesky 3D. Think it’s too early to think about Oscar films and the Academy Awards season? Phsh. No and no.

I plan to break the following list of films into four segments of three, assuming I actually get around to it…….. Those segments will go into more detail as to why I think they will be among the select few at the 84^th Academy Award in 2012.

Anyway, here is the never-too-early list of Oscar Contenders for 2012:  

Yes, We Are Still Alive, just barely...

Hello faithful viewers... if you're still out there...

Anyway, as you probably noticed there has been zero new posts here at Yet Another Movie Blog since the beginning of February. Zip. Zilch. Nada. None.

A few explanations for the inactivity could crop up, such as an overwhelming college workload and lack of motivation..., but we prefer to think that we were too busy slaying fire-breathing dragons in some distant land. And they were big dragons. And we slay'd them. All of them.

But seriously, we are shutting 'er down for a wee bit. Unfortunately this blog is a bit of a side-hobby-project thing that takes a backseat over other priorities, like doing well in college, while getting sleep, and actually interacting with people. Weird.

It's a real pity too because there are so many awesome (and not so awesome) movies coming up! Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Pirates 4: Same Johnny Depp Schtick as the other 3, amongst others. Not to mention all the crazy Dark Knight Rising rumors that are swirling around Chris Nolan's latest brainchild, and Zack "THINGS GO WHEEEEEE BECAUSE I SAY SO" Snyder's next mash-up of things that go ka-boom, the next Superman movie, Superman: Man of Steel.


But alas, it cannot be. We are just too busy.

We want to thank all of you who are actually viewing this site, and/or actually taking the time to read this far...

We may be back in action come summertime...

Stay Tuned, folks.

~YAMB Staff

Gettin' Linky after the jump...

Movie Review: No Strings Attached

. . . not this.

Well, it’s official. I’m a girl. There are some movies that make me think, some that entertain me, and some that make me laugh. No Strings Attached, well, I guess you could call it laughing. Don’t get me wrong, I thought No Strings Attached was a horribly clichéd movie with no original thoughts whatsoever and a plotline that perpetuates all the typical myths about love you always hear (especially today on Valentine’s Day). But, oh man, this movie was so funny I didn’t even care.

A Brief Update on our Big Break

Yeah . . . about that.

First of all, I would like to do some explaining about our interview with KWQC News. Unfortunately, due to Skype difficulties we were unable to actually have our little interview, but we are working on rescheduling the interview for a later date. We'll keep you posted on our slow but sure march to international fame. Apologies to everyone who stayed up until six in the morning to watch us (some of you did . . . right? It wasn’t just us?) and didn’t see us. Never fear, our beautiful faces will one day grace the silver screen of Iowa local news. Further apologies for the lack of posts recently, we’ve sort of been in limbo (BAAAAUUUWWW) after the news thing (plus I personally stayed awake for 41 straight hours that day and following), plus we haven’t seen many new movies recently (and/or are lazy slobs). Good grief that was an excessive amount of parentheses.

In the Interest of Shameless Self-Promotion

Exactly like this.

Step one: Start a fun blog to talk about movies.


Step two: Get on TV.


Step three: Interwebz domination.


With step one complete, and with some help from our friends over at KWQC TV in Iowa on completing step two, domination is near.


That's right, five of our very own will appear on TV for an interview tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at a glorious 4:45 AM CST. Peter, Joseph, Ben, Nate, and J Bernard will be interviewed live via Skype for our thoughts on the Oscar nominations and how we think various films will hold up.


If at all possible, tune in to hear our witty remarks, watch our beautiful faces, and laugh at our crippling sleep deprivation. It's sure to be a party for all involved. Seeing as how we'll be talking about the Oscar nominations, it's probably a decent idea to let y'all know about them too. Keep reading to find out, courtesy of ScreenRant.

Oscar Predictions!!! (Pre-Nominations. . .)

On January 25 at 8:30 A.M., the Academy Awards will announce the nominees for every and all categories for the 83rd Oscars. However, I will gaze into my crystal ball, and attempt to foresee not only the nominees, but also the winners. It's early, yes, as the nominees aren't even official, but it's still fun to try to guess! 

Sure, I could be way off, but hey, who knows? 

Who will win big? What way will the Academy lean?

Keep reading. . .

Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth (The Dark Knight Rises Update)

Bats, the Third. aka The Dark Knight Rises.

Deep breaths, me, DEEP BREATHS. 

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat process. 

Okay, now I'm sitting down. 

Sigh. 

Why so upset? 

The Princess and that guy from Inception.

Well, as some of you may have heard (and you probably have because the Interwebz are all abuzz with the latest movie nugget.), Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy will be playing Bane and Catwoman. Let me switch that... Catwoman and Bane; although, it doesn't really matter to me because either way two talented actors are getting two ridiculously pathetic characters to play.

Okay, more deep breaths needed. 

Sigh.

Well. . .

As fellow blogger, Ben, posted on my Mark "Not a Douche, but Maybe a Little Bit Douchey" Zuckerberg created Facebook wall, linking me to the news, he said, "This is just silly."  

Agreed.

Why, you ask? Well, friends, keep reading.

That One Award Show Before the Oscars, also known as The Golden Globes

Yep. Still irrelevant.

The votes have been tallied and the results are in!

And the big winner at the 68th Golden Globe Awards was...

Drumroll, please. . .

Well, unsurprisingly, The Social Network. 

Next stop, world domination.

Even though David Fincher’s film did not receive the most nominations (that accolade goes to Tom Hooper’s movie, The King’s Speech), The Social Network came away with the largest quantity of little globed, golden trophies (four to be exact).

It took the Best Director (Fincher), Best Original Score (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross), Best Screenplay (Andy Sorkin), and the biggest prize, Best Picture. While Golden Globes are fun to amass, the real questions asked after this award show have to be: What does this do for a film’s chances at the Oscars?

Upcoming Film: Sucker Punch

Actually, this does a better summary than the actual article.

A women’s mental hospital in which everyone is unfairly attractive, skanky clothing, samurai, huge samurai, an even bigger mecha-samurai with a chain gun, more guns, explosions, giant robots, dragons, WWI-style trenches, the Hindenburg, fighter planes, and probably lots of Nazis, all rolled into one glorious Zack Snyder film. Calm down, calm down. Rest assured that the sheer awesomeness of everything mentioned will be more than offset by bad acting, a worse script, and enough bad reception to stuff a cow. Like, a really big cow.

Happy (belated) New Year!

It's great to back to the ol' blog!

And... Happy New Year to all you YAMBers out there!

We hope this year brings as much fun and excitement as the first year of blogging brought us.

Also, if you were a past follower of our blog, you may have noticed that we changed the site around a bit. Nothing major, just a background shake-up. We thought a fresh new outlook would be fitting for the upcoming new year.

Treat this post as an Open Thread, and share your comments on this site, or your holiday memories, or perhaps your super busy/stressful/awesome interim classes from college. . .