Star Trek: Into Darkness Teaser #2: Or: On Funding More Dream Therapy For J.J. Abrams…

 

Hmmmm… Does J.J. Abrams have the same scary dream about falling every night? Seriously. I haven’t seen so many people jumping off high places into certain doom in a trailer in a while. OK, well… that silly trailer to the last Die Hard flick was lousy with stupidly impossible to survive jumps, but I’ll catch the full film once it hits cable and see if that’s just one sequence split into a few parts for the trailer edit. Still, I just laugh away merrily now when I see one of J.J.’s flicks because I’m EXPECTING someone to do a running jump off of something tall and into an action sequence. Of course, if there’s a big gust of air that carries the jumping human bean UP and onto something else for a one point safe landing as a cool twist, I’ll be even more thrilled. Well, as thrilled as one could be from seeing the same sequence repeated in a few different films. Anyway, nice teaser here, right? I say go pay to see this just so the director can eventually pay his way through therapy and find out what this falling fetish is all about.

Iron Man 3 (Trailer 2): Just In Case You Were Wondering If It Was Going to be Good…

Hmm… It seems Marvel Productions is going to be pushing this one much harder than they need to, but that’s fine by me. The multiple TV spots should be fun to watch as they follow the “serious/action/catchy joke finale” thing most of these comic book flicks (and heck, most other movies) get when truncated down to 15 to 30 second spots. I don’t think I’ll run them all or I’d need to change the name of the site to “IRON MAN 3 Trailers!” or something corny like that.

Overkill was never my style (nor was coming up with good alternate site names, as you’ve probably guessed)…

Iron Man 3 Trailer: The Stark Knight Rises? We Shall See…

 

Well, that was pretty cool after all. Darker and adding elements from some of the older comics while tossing in plenty of surprises (and army of Iron Men AND a Hulkbuster at the end? Nice). Of course, under all that sturm und drang it’ll be interesting to see if this third installment can feel as fresh as the first while making sure there’s humor in the right spots AND all that actually fine looking mix of CG and practical effects can get and keep asses dropping into seats for long enough that Marvel is happy-dancing around the room on day one. If that happens, they’ll be bouncing around on Hopptity Hop money sacks within a month’s time, as will anyone who signed up for a percentage of the gross (if that’s even done anymore). I actually like that they took one of the all-time corniest but cool villains (The Mandarin) and actually made him a big menace. Well, the great Gene Colan’s version was always creepy-looking, but that’s the late master at work, I say. Well, May 3 is zipping up soon, so my prediction is a no-brainer that this one will be a big pre-summer smash with legs to keep going worldwide.

Star Trek: The Video Game – Making The Game (Part 1): “Deflectors Full Intensity!”

 

Here’s the first of a few video peeks at  the making of Digital Extremes’ upcoming Star Trek game, which is looking pretty cool. Three years of hard work just might pay off for action gamers as well as Star Trek fans who don’t mind a lot more action than sitting around discussing plot points while a star field zips by in the background. Of course, if this does well, it would e nice to see a deeper more RPG-like experience in the Mass Effect vein. Then again, Bioware’s hit series was in part inspired by the Trek franchise, so it would be a case of taking the crown and passing it around the galaxy for a bit, I say…

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters: When Hollywood Says “You Kids Need Better Books!”

Am I the only one whose eyeballs roll way back in his head when these ads or trailers run for these films that mangle the hell out of the classics? Sometimes I wonder who keeps forcing all this stuff upon those gullible types who snap up opening day tickets as if they’re going to see something as memorable as the source material. Bleh.

Of course, I’ll be a totally contradictory nutcase here and say I’d make a “Brothers Grimm: Screenplay Slashers” film with the ghosts of the Bros. stalking and getting rid of studio pests using methods from their many stories. Hmmm.. then again, that’s too close to the Dr. Phibes remakes I’ve been HOPING Tim Burton would get around to doing already. Eh, whatever – I’ll probably catch this flick on cable a few months after it tanks in theaters. If I’m lucky, it’ll be back to back with that Abe Lincoln: Vampire Killer film so I can kill two birds with one stone (and wish for that time back afterwards)…

Star Trek: Into Darkness Trailer #2: A Few Pros & Khans

Checklist time! OK, let see now: handsome guys glowering into the camera? Check. More jumping off high places than in the first film? Check. Literally splashy CG effects all over the place? Check. Possible plot spoilers in the trailer just to get butts into seats to confirm it all (even though the obligatory script leak is coming soon?) CHECK.

OK, I’m sold, but I still have a few pesky problems. Why the Uhura smooch? What’s up with that too damn bright Enterprise Bridge? Damn thing looks like a new fast food restaurant. Can’t anyone keep the ship from getting knocked out of the sky (if that IS the Enterprise hitting the water in that impressive shot)? Is everyone running all the time because the teleporters aren’t working (again)? Did the swooning Benedict Cumberbatch fans (who seem to primarily be 15 year old girls who write some really saucy fan fiction) actually go see him in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (OK, not a Trek-related question, but I’m curious about their viewing habits). Actually, none of these are important questions at all – I’m just killing time until the next trailer comes out. I need to go re-watch the first film J.J. directed anyway, as I’ve only seen it once and I think I missed a few things…

New G.I. Joe Retaliation Trailer: What, Still No Bulletman?

 

GI_JOE_RetaliationAnd hey, where’s the Intruder? Anyway, after some reworking and a rather long delay (wasn’t this supposed to come out this year?), that G.I. Joe sequel is getting an official release date. It’s definitely much better looking than the first film and as you can see, they’re serious about the star-power on display. Hmmm, I wonder what the paychecks for the principals were? Bruce Willis has another Die Hard flick hitting theaters as well, so I’m guessing he’s saving up for a new boat or something. Or two boats. or a year’s supply of Headblades. I’m so glad he’s not an expensive toupee and Botox-using action guy like some others who will remain unnamed in this post. The man looks better as he is, I say…

OK, OK, I’m not really planning to see this in a theater, but it looks like it would be a heck of a lot of fun to catch on cable on a rainy Saturday or something. Some of these action flicks based on toys and comics are instant classics, but I’m not sure all the writing in the world or Willis and The Rock can save the fact that we’re looking at a film based on toys, er action figures that became a comic and an animated show, all of which were geared to kids who’d probably not be allowed to see it if it were released back when the toys first came out. Yeah, sometimes I think WAY too much about this stuff, but I just can’t take the Joes as seriously as some people who toss them up on a pedestal as some sort of ideal hero figure. Eh, whatever – pass the popcorn. I may as well enjoy the ride when I do get to see it.

Star Trek: Into Darkness Teaser Trailers: Oh My!

Hmmm. Nice teaser for the upcoming J.J. Abrams Star trek sequel – as usual, the Japanese trailer gets a few extra seconds of cool stuff. It looks like the delays and secrecy are going to pay off significantly for Trek fans, so let’s hope the film is not only better than the last one, it’s got more going for it than explosions and stars in assorted states of looking up at stuff. All kidding aside, I have to say I’m impressed but wary as almost every film I’ve seen this year has disappointed me in tiny to significant ways. Anyway, I’ll shut up and wait for a plot synopsis and scenes I can pore over for more detail. Of course, if there’s a Shatner cameo, I’ll lose a bet and have to listen to that Transformed Man LP for 24 hours straight. Eeek. Then again, I’m still not sure what’s more brain-warping to listen to – that or Leonard Nimoy’s equally oddball “Highly Illogical”. If you haven’t heard either, go look them up… but don’t say i didn’t warn you…

Star Trek Update: Hey, We May Not Be Here In 2013. Beam Me Up, Already!

Yeah, yeah – some Trek fans want less action and more of the same “nautical” ship combat from other Trek titles or something slower and more procedural like the old show instead of a more action-oriented game that this has been from the start. i say wait and see what a playable build brings as I hope this one gets around to NYC so I can get some hands-on time and let you all know the real deal. I have my fingers crossed Bad Robot does a game any Trek fan can be pleased with, but hey, you can’t win everyone over even with the best of intentions…

Namco Bandai & Paramount Team Up To Publish Star Trek In 2013

And of course, the first thing I thought of when I read this news was “OK, when do we see Kirk and Spock show up in Soulcalibur VI in an “Amok Time” themed stage?” Yes, I’m THAT old (but it would be pretty funny, especially if it had that combat theme that played during the Kirk/Spock battle). Anyway, Digital Extremes  (Bioshock 2, Unreal Tournament, Dark Sector, The Darkness II) is no stranger to making some pretty solid shooter and action games, so I’m sure they’ll have more than enough time to make this co-op focused game even more spectacular than it looks in these two not so new screenshots. Granted, we’ll need a LOT more images and some actual hands-on time in order to see how the game is turning out, so let’s keep those fingers crossed that the game warps into NYC on a press tour at some point. More to come as soon as we get new info and images…