From Russia with Love

The year after Dr. No, the second James Bond adventure was released. It was 1963 and From Russia with Love set the elements in place for all future 007 films. There was the pre-title sequence, the gadgets, the tough henchman and more importantly, the action.

From Russia with Love is Sean Connery's favorite Bond film and i have to agree, it is probably Connery's best. The story revolves around Spectre, a super organization that Dr No worked for. Spectre uses a beautiful girl and the promises of a Lector decoder machine to capture James Bond. This is the first of two times in the entire series that acted as a sequel to a previous Bond film.

James Bond and M immediately realize that this beautiful woman and her promises of a Lector decoder is a trap, but think that any danger that 007 may be in would be worth getting their hands on the decoding machine.

This film has a much different look than the glossy Dr. No. The main difference in the film is the score by John Barry, who would go on to compose the scores to eleven of the twenty-two 007 films! There are some great action moments in the film such as the fight on the orient express between James Bond and Red Grant, played brilliantly by Robert Shaw. There is the shootout in the Gypsy Camp and the Helicopter chase, which ends with bond shooting the co-pilot, who drops a grenade in the cockpit. But the moment that sealed the deal for me becoming a Bond fan was the climactic boat chase, in which James Bond tosses barrels full of fuel overboard then launches a flair at the barrels, destroying the bad guys in a huge ball of fire!

Daniela Bianchi's character of Tatiana Romanova and Raobert Shaw's Red Grant are definitely highlights of the film, but the main man of the movie is Desmond Llewelyn playing "Major Boothroyd" also known as "Q". In this film Q gives 007 a briefcase full of gadgets which include a folding sniper rifle and gas canister that goes off unless you know how to open the case properly.

This movie has it all and really set the entire franchise into motion!!

★ ★ ★ ★ ½

CRANK 2: Electric Boogaloo - Review

In 2006, my favorite film was Casino Royale! It took me from being a 007 fan, into becoming a HUGE 007 fan. That movie took everything i loved about James Bond and threw all the bad parts out the window. Five months ago, Eon Productions released the followup to Casino Royale and i really enjoyed it! I thought that it took what was established in Royale and took the next logical step. It was a great follow up.

Back in 2006, just a few months before Casino Royale was released, Lionsgate unleashed my second favorite film of that year. CRANK! After being totally disappointed with the recently released Snakes on a Plane, Crank came along and showed me, that with a lame enough premise, any movie could be made. Crank was a HUGE surprise to me. I knew being a transporter fan, that i would go into this movie and have a good time. I did not know that it would turn into one of my favorite films ever. It was fast, brutal, hilarious and unapologetic. They set up the rules and did not let up once. Crank was what it was and didn't care what anyone thought.

After seeing the sequel to my favorite film of 2006 just 5 months ago i got to see the sequel to my second favorite film of 2006 today. CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE. I have to be honest, i was a little disappointed in it. But just a little bit. All of the ingredients of the film seemed to be set in place. All of our main characters were there, Chev, Eve, Orlando, Dr. Miles, Don Kim and even Ricky Varona (more on that later). The premise of the film was set up in the first few minutes, just like the previous film. In the last one, the Bejing Cocktail was injected into Chev and he was off and running. In this film, they tie up any loose ends, literally tell you to deal with anything illogical and go along for another ride. After all, it is a video game. So after we get a news update on the events that happened in Crank, we see a very alive Chev Chelios laying in a hospital getting his new Electronic Heart! BAM, the "story" is set up, now we are ready to do this!

My main problem with Crank: High Voltage is that we do not follow Chev throughout the entire movie as we did in Crank. The fun of Crank was that we got to follow a man who would stop at nothing in order to survive the day. He was on a bender and needed to fulfill his bucket list within' the hour timeframe he was given. Crank: High Voltage does not have that same sense of urgency, Especially when the "story" strays away from Chev and goes and shows you what other characters are doing. That sense of danger is not there. It does not keep your heart racing as much as the first one did. I never really felt like the Electric Charge to the heart was that important. I never felt like he really needed to get to that next electric source. I think a lot of what made the first film so good was that, even though we can tell Chev is a superhuman, he still had to protect Eve. There was a sense of danger. This film did not have any stakes. Chev was out for revenge and there was nothing stopping him from going on his rampage. He had nothing to protect, so he was not vulnerable. I guess he just left Eve to fend for himself because he didn't have a heart, which is an interesting take, but i feel that it made him too cold. I know that this is a Crank movie, but every movie needs that sense of drama.

I understand that these event seem far fetched (Kalo's twin brother Venus) but for the most part, these movies play out in a real world. When Eve says that she saw a man on youtube fall from 40,000 feet without a parachute and survive, that shows you that this story may just work in real life, but when you see the return of Ricky Verona, it just throws all of the rules out the window and i don't think that i like it. I know that these movies are supposed to be over the top, and i like that they took it way too far, but i didn't feel that the absurdity of Ricky Verona's return was eased into at all. I felt that the rules established in the first film were still pretty much followed until we saw him. It turned very Sci-Fi, very very quickly. Maybe that sort of thing does exist, but god damned if it was not set up in a way that let me to believe it could actually happen. As funny as it was, it did take me out of the movie for a while and the unfortunate thing about it is, it happened way to close to the end. Before i could wrap my head around what the fuck just happened, the movie was over.

All in all, i was satisfied with the movie. I wish it just stayed with Chev the whole time instead of showing scenes without him and i definitely could have liked more time getting used to Ricky Verona's return. I think what made the first one successful for me was that Chev always had time to reflect on his life and what he was doing. In this one, he just does things because he is Chev Chelios, the superhuman. I hope that they make a Crank: Part Three, just so they can do a balls out action epic, but i am not sure that will happen. If they do a part three i hope that they give Chev that ability of Flight as Ben once suggested of Statham's Frank Martin character in the Transporter films.

I am all for giving Chev Chelios another quarter for a third life!

★ ★ ½

Dr. No

In 1962 Sean Connery wore nothing but a white bikini, a knife on his hip and stepped out of the ocean and into cinema history.

I wasn't born until 15 years later, but I had eventually become a fan of the film adaptations of Ian Fleming's character James Bond. I like all 22 007 outings in one way or another and intend on giving a review of each and every last one. In this installment i will be giving you my thoughts on the first 007 film, Dr. No! I am not going to go into detail about the plot, i just want to give some commentary on what i thought. Sit back and enjoy and be sure to leave some comments on the the film and my reviews.

Back in 1995 i found out that Pierce Brosnan was going to be the next James Bond. My only exposure to 007 at that time was the two Dalton films that showed on cable when i was around 10 and 13 years old. I remember liking those two films a lot and decided to go ahead and rent every James Bond film before i went to go see Goldeneye.

At the time i watched Dr No, i had already had an idea of what James Bond should be and i was a little disappointed at the lack of action. I think the thing that sold me was the characters that surrounded James Bond. One of my favorite characters in the entire franchise is 007's is the fast talking Jamaican boatman known as Quarrel. Quarrel is the first in a long line of lovable James Bond sidekicks who meets an untimely demise.

You can't talk about James Bond without talking about the women that inhabit 007's world. Ursula Andres' Honey Ryder is the quintessential "Bond Girl". She is beautiful, strong, smart and can fend for herself. She is the Bond Girl that all others strive to be. My only problem is that towards the end her character becomes a little too dependent on 007. But i guess any girl wouldnt mind being rescued by James Bond.

Which brings me to Sean Connery. Many say that Sean Connery is the best James Bond (i will get to that in a future review). You cannot deny that Sean Connery is Bond. He set a standard in what James Bond should be for generations to come. It is just too bad that he does not get too many action scenes to show is strength.

All in all , Dr. No is a good start to a series that has been going for almost 50 years! It planted a few seeds that are still in effect today. From the opening Gun Barrel sequence all the way to the end credits which state "James Bond will Return..." Dr. No's greatest achievement was kick starting a franchise that has swept the imaginations of movie goers of all ages.

also, Monty Norman's score is not good.

★ ★ ★ ½

Blue Lantern Corps

"In fearful day, in raging night, with strong hearts full, our souls ignite! When all seems lost in the War of Light, look to the stars, for hope burns bright!"

After being banished from OA following the Sinestro Corps War, the Guardians known as Ganthet and Sayd traveled to the world of Odym and forged blue lantern rings out of their hope for the future.

When the Red Lanterns attacked the convoy that was taking Sinestro to his home planet of Korugar to be executed, the Blue Lanterns used their Blue Power Ring to overpower the red ring that was placed on Hal Jordan's finger. Hal Jordan was able to strip the Red away, but the Blue remained on his left hand. The Blue Lanterns work in conjunction with the Green Lantern power rings. They actually keep a constant charge going so that the power ring does not need to be recharged every 24 hours. Back on Odym, the Blue Lanterns explain that they want to convert Hal Jordan completely over to the Blue Lanterns and act as their leader.

Hal Jordan does not want this duty and explains that he has taken the oath of the Green Lanterns and will not join them. But the Blue Lantern ring will not come off so easily.

Red Lantern Corps

"With blood and rage of crimson red, ripped from a corpse so freshly dead. Together with our hellish hate, we'll burn you all...THAT IS YOUR FATE!"

The Red Power Ring was created out of anger, blood and pure RAGE! The Red Lantern Corps was started by Atrocitus, a being that was once captured by the Green Lantern known as Sinestro. Once Atrocitus broke free of Sinestro's grasp, he vowed to destroy Sinestro.

Following the events of The Sinestro Corp War, the Green Lantern corps were transporting Sinestro to OA to be executed. Atrocitus and his Red Lantern corps intercepted the convoy and captured Sinestro. During the fight Sinestro killed a member of the Red Lanterns named Laira (who had a past with Hal Jordan). Once Laira was killed Hal Jordan went into a rage fueled fight with Sinestro. As he started to pummel Sinestro, Laira's ring found it's way onto Hal's finger, which turned him into a Red Lantern!!

You Can't Triple Stamp a Double Stamp!

For the last couple of days i have been tonguing my front teeth. They have been driving me up the wall and i couldn't figure out why. My front right tooth felt sharp and they felt like the enamel has worn down. I was a little concerned, but i just went to Dr Crentist the week before last and they didn't say anything.

My teeth didn't hurt, but i kept on tonguing them. It was driving me nuts, so i looked in the mirror to check out my teeth and low and behold, i have chipped my right front tooth. Granted, it's not as bad as Lloyd Christmas' chip, but it is just enough for me to tongue the shit out of it. I cannot stop tonguing it. It is strange that i can feel my tooth without the protection of the enamel. I fear for my tooth every time i drink any kind of soda. I hope it does not fall out. I do not want to end up like this guy...