Monday, December 31, 2012

12 Best of 2012





#1 Looper 

Looper is picked as Silver Screen 77's #1 Movie of 2012. 
Writer and Director Rian Johnson does an incredible job in what I claim to be the best Sci-fi film since Blade Runner. 



#2 Zero Dark Thirty 

Kathrine Bigelow does it again. The Hurt Locker director creates an intense drama surrounding the osama bin laden manhunt.



#3 Silver Linings Playbook

Bradley Cooper is my pick for Best Actor this year. Silver Linings Playbook is a Romantic Dramedy that keeps you entertained with some laughs and possibly tears. 



#4 SKYFALL 

I'm a huge Bond fan and this was absolutely brilliant. Sam Mendes outdoes himself. I still have Casino Royale as my favorite bond film, but Skyfall is a very close second. It would be great to see it get some Academy recognition. 



#5 The Impossible 

Naomi Watts is my pick for Best Actress...(long overdue for her first) . The Impossible is based on a true story of a family that is on winter vacation in Thailand when a Tsunami hits. Epic and heroic tale beautiful acted by Watts and McGregor.  




#6 Wreck it Ralph

Wreck it Ralph is the most original animated movie since Toy Story. I loved it, my kids loved it, my wife loved it. I wish this was on other critics Top 2012 list. 



#7 ARGO 

Ben Affleck is my pick for Best Director. The most suspenseful
film of 2012. Alan Arkin and John Goodman are remarkable and show why they are two of my favorites. 


#8 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 

It was good to be back on middle earth. Some critics complained about the length and it dragged, I for one didn't feel this way. Loving the LOTR extended films, I have a great appreciation for Peter Jacksons attention to detail. I can't wait for the 2nd installment. 



#9 The Cabin in the Woods 

I was not expecting what I got from this film. Just great originality for a horror film. Joss Whedon really outdid himself this year. This is one of those movies you can't describe or put in words,  you just have to see it. 




#10 The Avengers 

So much fun. Joss Whedon earns the #9 and #10 spots for his effort in producing and directing this year. He really pulled off a great comic book movie. It's nice to see this on everyones top of 2012 lists. 



#11 PROMETHEUS 

The Love it or Hate it movie of 2012. I for one loved it. Critics nitpick so many things in films. I think this was just anticipated so much that some people were not going to be happy no matter what Ridley put on screen. The scale of this movie is just grand. 
I am proud to honor this film as one the best of 2012




#12 The Lorax 

My under the radar film of 2012 that isn't on many critics list as the best. I love it, and if it were not for Wreck it Ralph, this would be the Best Animated Film of the year. It's great to see a movie tackle our environment and teach kids. 

Well there you have it folks. The 12 Best of 2012. 

I hope you all have a Happy New Year. 
May 2013 be the best. 

-Jason Traylor 


Sources: Fox Studios, Disney, Lionsgate, Newline, Warner Bros. , MGM, Sony Pictures





Jay Z to Score The Great Gatsby




It's been confirmed that Jay Z will Score The Great Gatsby. 

It's been rumored and talked about, but now confirmed. 

A lot of people were surprised by the trailer opening up with Jay Z and Kanye Wests "No Church in the Wild". Surprised because this is a period piece.. but Baz Luhrmann has never been one for ordinary. 



Empire Magazines 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Covers




Empire Magazine has released it's new covers for the February issue. 
Gotta love it. 

Headline the new covers. 

The question is....dun dun dun....

Is Cumberbatch KHAN????

Sources: Empire Magazine


I am Legend Bluray Steelbook UK


Bought this for my son for Christmas. He's a huge Will Smith fan. 












Sources: Warner Bros. 

Skyfall Tops 1 Billion Worldwide



Worth the wait!!! The 23rd installment of Bond is the biggest and best. I still have a slight edge to my favorite being Casino Royale.. but that's another story.

289.6 Million Domestic
710.6 Million International

WOW

People are still going in numbers here in the U.S. to see it. It's time to get Sam Mendes to sign on the dotted line for two more installments... a'la Christopher Nolan. If Sony and MGM are smart they will get a deal done. 

Not accounting for inflation Bond is Sony Pictures highest grossing movie EVER!! 

I can't wait to add this Bluray to my 50th Anniversary set!!

sources: Sony Pictures & MGM

January's 5 Most Wanted Film/Bluray






Gangster Squad Jan. 11th, 2013
Broken City Jan. 18th, 2013
Hansel & Gretel Jan. 25th, 2013
John Dies At The End Jan. 25th, 2013 Limited
Movie 43 Jan. 25th, 2013


Cosmopolis Jan. 1st, 2013
Looper Jan. 1st, 2013 Silver Screen 77 Top 10 Movie 2012
Frankenweenie Jan. 8th, 2013 
The Man Who Knew Too Much Jan. 15th, 2013
End of Watch Jan. 22nd, 2013 

Sunday, December 30, 2012

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Trailer




The cast is perfect!! Steve Carell as Burt Wonderstone 
a magician who is down and out looking to get some guidance from boyhood hero magician played by Alan Arkin. 
Guerilla street magician/performer Jim Carrey looks to steal the show in this hilarious trailer. I also have an enormous crush on the hot Olivia Wilde who plays Jane. 

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone drops in theaters 
March 15, 2013.



OPPO Remote App 1.0.2







I love my new OPPO app. Control your Bluray Player from
any iOS device. This is the first version of the OPPO remote app for OPPO Bluray players. It works with the new OPPO BDP-93, BDP-95 and later models. The iOS device must be hooked up to the same network with the Bluray player on. Some are frustrated by this... but if it's not on, it's not connected to the internet. I always turn mine on when I put in a Bluray... Unfortunately no app exists for that yet. :)
You can turn the power off from the app. 




I Love this app!!! Now I need a network receiver and Plasma. I use the Apple TV remote app as well. 

The controls for the OPPO app are roomy and simple to use. I love the netflix button. 

You can't go wrong with a high end Bluray player from OPPO. 

  

Roman Holiday Reflection





Roman Holiday is one of my favorite films of all time. A princess (Audrey Hepburn) escapes the burdens of royal life one evening, and falls in love with and American (Gregory Peck) in Rome. 
This is what true cinema is about, and it's why it has endured as one of the greatest films. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards and Winner of 3 including Best Actress for new comer Hepburn. 

Princess Ann: "I hate this nightgown. I hate all my nightgowns, and I hate all my underwear too.
Countess: "My dear you have lovely things."
Princess Ann: "But I'm not two hundred years old. Why can't I sleep in pajamas?"

This is how we start our film out, and this is why it won a Best Writing Academy Award as well. 

Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn were born to play opposite each other in this dazzling spectacle of silver screen glory. 


Gregory Peck told the producers that Audrey was certainly going to win the Oscar for best actress, even though it was her first role. He insisted they put her name above the title. The producers did, and Audrey won just as predicted. Audrey won the role of Princess Ann thanks to a legendary screen test. Audrey had performed one of the scenes from the film and they kept rolling after the director said "Cut". Several more minutes of spontaneous acting was caught of her which won her the role. 

Frank Capra originally was set out to direct this film with stars Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor. 
Now don't get me wrong, I love Cary Grant and Liz.... but this film would not have had the same impact on cinema. William Wyler did a fantastic job orchestrating this film that was the first to be shot entirely in Italy. 


The mouth of truth scene is my favorite scene. William Wyler who is known for his reputation of doing a lot of takes, shot this scene in one take. Audrey did not know that Peck was to hide his hand in his sleeve as he pulls it out. Her reaction is so genuine and wonderful that Wyler couldn't help but make this his only take. 

Paramount Studios also gave Hepburn the entire wardrobe from the film, shoes, handbags, jewelry, hats. 

Princess Ann: " At midnight, I'll turn into a pumpkin and drive away in my glass slipper. " 
Joe Bradley: " And that will be the end of the fairy tale. "

What a fairy tale this movie is. If it were a cartoon, Princess Ann would be my favorite Disney Princess of all. I am eagerly anticipating Roman Holiday being restored and released on Bluray


We really lack this kind of honest and good type of film making in Hollywood these days. Roman Holiday is billed as a Romantic Comedy, can you remember the last romantic comedy to be nominated for 10 Academy awards? Shakespeare in Love is as close as it gets I think. There is such a pure subtlety 
in this film that resonates with how much our society has changed these days. I for one, miss the past of classic movies such as Roman Holiday and wish that studios would try to go back to what made Hollywood .... Hollywood. 

The final scene in Roman Holiday when Joe Bradley is walking out of the Palace is warm but gut wrenching also. You want for Princess Ann to come running out to him, alas she does not. Brings me to tears a little every time I watch. Hopefully we all get to experience a day whatever it may be with adventure, passion, fun, and romance like that which is in Roman Holiday. 






Jack Reacher Review



Grade: B
Jack Reacher was refreshing. Refreshingly new that is. Cruise plays the character of Jack Reacher in a fantastic reserved way. A lot of fun and almost a throwback to old murder mystery classics. I kept thinking of Anatomy of a murder while watching this for some reason. I also enjoyed seeing Cruise and Duvall together again... as I'm probably one of the few who enjoyed Days of Thunder. 

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Total Recall Bluray Steelbook

Walmart Exclusive Steelbook

I have an obsession with Bluray Steelbooks and this one is pretty nice. 








Dead Man Down Trailer







Dead Man Down  stars Collin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper, and Terrence Howard. 

Director Niels Arden Oplev, who directed the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, looks to rekindle the on screen spark he generated with Noomi Rapace. 

From the trailer this looks great. I like Collin Farrell in this role. Noomi Rapace is just brilliant in anything. 

Dead Man Down Drops March 8th, 2013 



It's a Wonderful Life Trivia




James Stewart was nervous about the phone scene kiss because it was his first screen kiss since his return to Hollywood after the war. Under Frank Capra's watchful eye, Stewart filmed the scene in only one unrehearsed take, and it worked so well that part of the embrace was cut because it was too passionate to pass the censors.

Geez, how our censors have changed. 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Jack Reacher Bluray Preorder






Jack Reacher barely touched down in theaters, but Amazon
has the preorder already up. 
No date for this title as yet, probably a late March release.


Dark Skies Official Trailer #2





Dark Skies Official Trailer #2

This movie looks creepy. 
From the producers of Paranormal Activity this Supernatural Thriller starring Kerri Russell is dropping on Feb. 22, 2013



12 Most Anticipated Films of 2013






2013 is just around the corner, and that means so are the most anticipated films.

We have picked out just a handful of the most exciting films we cant wait to chomp popcorn in front of. 

Here we go.....


#1 Pacific Rim


When I saw the trailer for this... my jaw dropped!!



#2 Man of Steel 


Superman Begins!!! Christopher Nolan running things can't be a bad thing for this franchise in need of a huge facelift.



#3 Oblivion 


Sci-fi has been kind to Tom Cruise. An original story with visuals and theme reminiscent of I am Legend, this is going to be huge. 



#4 Oz The Great and Powerful 


Hollywood has been trying to duplicate greatness for years.
Let's hope Sam Raimi delivers. 



#5 After Earth


Will Smith+M. Night Shyamalan=Success 



#6 Iron Man 3


I think everyone can agree that Iron Man 2 was probably 
the weakest of the new Marvel films. Iron Man 3 looks to dazzle in 
2013.



#7 The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug


I was so excited to be back on Middle Earth this past month.
Some said the movie was slow.. but if you enjoy the extended cuts of The Lord of the Rings, than you can appreciate the detail that Peter Jackson gives each film. 

#8 Catching Fire


The only film I saw twice this year in theaters. 
I'm excited about the addition of Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

#9 World War Z


Pitt vs Zombies..... Yes Please



#10 The Lone Ranger


I have to say I am not a big Armie Hammer fan. I am anticipating this to flounder.  



#11 Monsters University


Monsters Inc. is probably my favorite Pixar film. Let's hope this goes the route of Toy Story 2 and not Cars 2.



#12 Elysium


This could be a sleeper hit of 2013. 
Anxiously awaiting a trailer.

I know I didn't get them all. Star Trek, Riddick, The Wolverine, Thor 2, Hangover 3, Fast and Furious 6, The Great Gatsby, Gangster Squad, Warm Bodies... Etc.

All I know is... I need another job to be able to see all these and then buy the Bluray's later.