Trailer Time!!! THE WORLD'S END!!!!

I.CANNOT.WAIT. Seriously. I want this movie to be out right now. When I went to see 'Shaun of the Dead' when I was in university I practically had to drag people to come see it with me. I knew the movie was going to be amazing, but for some reason my half finished film studies degree wasn't enough to trust me on this yet. I WAS NOT WRONG! And after everyone else got on the 'Shaun' train it took far less convincing to get people to see 'Hot Fuzz' with me. When Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost get together the end result will be gold. I guarantee this. The zombie movie? Check! The buddy cop movie? Check! ALIEN APOCALYPSE?! CHECKITY CHECK! So with all my fangirling over, behold: the trailer for the finale of the 'Coronetto Trilogy' 'The World's End.

EEEeeeeeee!!!!! So excited!!!!!

Paul

Wow. I think this is longest for me to ever get a post up. I apologise, but I will give you two very legitimate reasons for this. 1) My Xbox360 is evil. It's taken over my life this week with it's, and 'Assassin's Creed:Brotherhood's complete and utter awesomeness. I've never had time fly past me like this before, I'm sure it's some kind of evil Xbox/Microsoft/Ubisoft plot. And 2) as anyone who's read my blog with a modicum of regularity in the past two months will attest, I've been pretty psyched to see 'Paul'. Well, that might be a bit of an understatment. Anyways, now that I've seen it I wanted to let it soak in, writing various versions of the review in my head, trying to make it come off as non-nerdy as possible, however, I think I've come to the conclusion that that's just not going to be possible, so here we go!

Let me start by asking, do you like aliens? And no, not the stupid aliens that are always attacking the States for no good reason, but more benevolent aliens that pop-up in pop culture, like J'onn J'onzz, E.T. or Marvin the Martian. [I told you this was going to be nerdy!] Do you think a road trip to the alien hotspots across the US would be a fun way to spend your summer AFTER attending the San Diego Comic Con? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you'd probably like this movie. Actually, even if you said no to the latter, you'd probably still like it.

If you hadn't guessed, that's the basic premise of 'Paul'. Two British geeks, Graeme [Pegg] and Clive [Frost] fly to San Diego to attend the annual Comic Convention there, and then set out to visit sites such as Roswell, Area 51, and the Black Mailbox, only to have their road trip derailed when they pick up an intergalactic hitchhiker. I have to admit watching them do all kinds of fun things at SDCC made me even more excited for my trip there this summer [like that's possible!] with my awesome friend Craig. If we have even an eighth of the fun they have it will RULE!

Moving on, the most fun part of this movie for me was Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. They are pretty much the perfect on-screen duo, they've done TV and movies together across the pond since 1998 and have a remarkable chemistry. I would compare them to Laurel and Hardy, but I'm really not that familiar with their work...Their movies 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' are in my top 10...well, at the very least top 25. [actually, that's a list I should maybe actually make sometime; note to self]. And while they are both amazing, Pegg's always been a little bit more the star, however, in 'Paul' Nick Frost gets to take a bit more of the screen, well, at least sharing it equally with Pegg. I don't know exactly what it is about the pair of them that just works, even when they're killing zombies, or stopping rogue townies they seem like the type of guys you could go down to pub and have a beer with and discuss the merits of original 'Star Trek' versus 'The Next Generation.' Mmmm...I think I might have just figured out why I like them so much. However, I think it quite possibly is an accurate guess since they wrote the movie. While it's not from 'actual' events, but there is a lot of love for the nerds that love them, and the nerds they obviously are themselves. One other thing in regards to the script, I was impressed at how few English references were put in, however, seeing as it's the first [of many, I hope!] movie they've made in the Hollywood studio system I guess I shouldn't be that surprised.

While I renewed my geeky love for Pegg and Frost, I do have to admit that they were slightly over-shadowed by Seth Rogen's awesomeness as the title character, Paul. Paul's been on Earth for years, sharing his knowledge and advising the government. Since being stuck here he's developed a penchant for government grade marijuana and practical jokes. Rogen couldn't have been more perfect for the voice of Paul. His comic timing and caustic delivery are absolutely perfect, and hilarious. He brings Paul to life in a way that kind of makes you wish you could have an alien for a friend, even if that friend is pretty rude and takes his pants off in public way more often than you care for.

The supporting cast in this movie were also all wonderful, most notably, Kristen Wiig, who is finally shedding her 'of SNL'-ness. I wouldn't be surprised if she left the show to pursue big screen stuff soon. She is one funny lady. She starts of as the worst kind of American: [in my eyes at least] the religious fundamentalist. But after a life altering encounter, or, well, literally a smack on the head, from Paul, her eyes are opened to all kinds of new things. The funniest part of her transformation is her attempts at cursing, it's all wrong, and because of that, all kinds of right for the flick. Also, the always amazing Jane Lynch makes a quick cameo, as you may have guessed, she was indeed hilarious.

A couple other little fun things that were great in the movie. Steven Spielberg makes an audio cameo as himself, getting advice on an alien movie from Paul, I wonder which movie that could be...? An alien that needs to get back to his home planet, sounds vaguely familar...Also, Agent Mulder from the 'X-Files' was his idea too. Apparently this was all a plot from the government who have been leaking images of Paul for years, so that when the aliens finally do come to meet the humans, we'll be desensitized and not freak out. Although if Graeme and Clive's reactions are any indication, it isn't working. Also, for the nerds in the audience this movie is also an ongoing showcase of awesome geek chic, in the form of Graeme's fantastic t-shirts. My favourite is his 'Empire Strikes Back' tee.

The best part of the movie is that it doesn't try to be anything more than a buddy comedy, which is actually perfectly summed up by Paul near the end of the movie. As he's saying his goodbyes to his new friends he says "Well, it's safe to say we've all learned something from this, be yourself, speak from your heart, some sh*t like that, I don't know." Aaah, I love a movie that doesn't try too hard! Needless to say all my anticipation was rewarded, I wholeheartedly enjoyed 'Paul' and now I guess I just have to wait for when Pegg and Frost reunite with their 'Hot Fuzz'/'Shaun of the Dead' director for when they finally do their take on apocalypse movies. But with the upswing in popularity for these guys in the US that might be a lot longer than I want to wait...sigh.

That's all for this week, sorry it took so long, again, I blame Microsoft and Ubisoft! I promise I won't be so late for this coming Monday's post, now if I only knew what I was going to see...

February Trailer Round Up

Yes, I'm aware that we are sixteen days into the month of March, so the round up of the February trailers is super overdue, but here they are now!!

Now, technically I saw '127 Hours' in January. But its' trailers didn't get included in the last round up and since February is a short month we're going to go ahead and tack them on to this post. First we have Disney's new Earth Day, feel good documentary 'African Cats.' I didn't go and see their other ones, but I kinda love big cats, so there is a possibilty I might see this one...but probably at home. It feels like a renter. Then came the first of the 'Paul' trailers I saw this month. I honestly CAN NOT WAIT for this movie to come out already. I know I mentioned it before, but I love Simon Pegg and NIck Frost, so be prepared when that review comes, I'm pretty sure I'm going to love the movie even if it's awful, which I sincerely doubt it will be. Then we had a trailer for a festival-y movie that I've never heard of 'Today's Special'. And I'm sure any other Canadian that grew up in the 80s will immediately think of that show with the mannequin in the department store, but sadly this is not a big screen adaptation of that one. This is instead the story of an Indian man who is a sous-chef in a fancy restaurant who has to take over the [failing] family restaurant when his dad gets sick. It looks like one of those sweet rediscover-your-roots kind of movies...thaaaat I'll probably rent. Last and most certainly least was 'Sanctum.' I don't think I can over emphasize enough how much I am done with James Cameron. It's not that I think he makes bad movies, although this one looks pretty stinky, it's just that I can't stand him. And unlike Quentin Tarantino and the Coen Brothers, who's movies I never miss in theatres, Cameron's starting to make me want to miss all his movies so that he might not ever talk in public again. Also, he's a big 3D pusher, and I think we all know how I feel about 3D...no? It's the worst.

Next up was 'The Illusionist'. Despite being a total not for kids animated movie the trailers for this were both for animated kids flicks, 'Gnomeo and Juliet' and 'Rango'. Obviously, I've already seen 'Rango'. Thought it was great, think you should see it too. I think 'Gnomeo and Juliet' looks adorable, but I think it's yet another renter from this round of trailers.

If you remember, my mum accompanied me to 'Barney's Version' The first trailer was a second 'African Cats' for me, but it was the first one for her. But, she adamantly told me she wouldn't see it, and I quote, "because one of them will die." This is her reasoning for not seeing a LOT of movies, but she may be right. Then came 'The Butcher, The Chef and the Swordsman' which is this cool looking Chinese action flick. The movie's foreign, filled with stylized violence and humour. Check, check and check! If it comes to a theatre here in VanCity, I will most definitely go to see it. The last trailer was a Sundance flick, the Jodie Foster directed 'The Beaver'. It stars Mel Gibson, and I think we all know what kind of 2010 that guy had...that being said, this movie about a man who finds a stuffed beaver and starts to use it to relate to his world looks interesting and something that I might like...despite the leading man being bonkers in real life as well.

My last flick of February, and this trailer round-up was 'Cedar Rapids'. Four trailers and four yes' from this girl! First up was 'Paul'...again. I know, you would think that after seeing the trailer so many times my excitement would diminish, but NO! I still want to see it just as much as the first time I saw it! Next was the trailer for SNL's Kristen Wiig's first leading lady role in 'Bridesmaids'. This lady is hilarious. And this movie looks like it probably will be as well. Look for scene stealer, Melissa McCarthy, also hilarious.

Then came the new X-Men flick, 'X-Men: First Class'. I have to share, I'm a GIANT comic's nerd, and I love the X-Men. And while the last couple of X-Men movies were pretty disappointing, I think this one looks like it has promise...and James MacAvoy[!!!] But I'll reserve judgement until I see it. Until then, enjoy the pretty awesome trailer.

The last trailer for February was for 'Water for Elephants'. Let me say first and foremost, READ THIS BOOK! It's amazing and beautiful. That being said, this looks like a pretty good movie in and of itself. Christoph Waltz and Reese Witherspoon are both amazing actors and I'm still on the fence about 'Twilight' pretty boy Robert Pattinson. He's not fantastic, but that could be because he's in a franchise that's written to appease millions of rabid fans [I mean the dialogue's a tad wooden] Other than 'Harry Potter' where he was pretty good I haven't seen anything else with him in it. I feel if he does well it will give me new respect for him but if he ruins one of my new favourite books, SO HELP ME ROBERT! I WILL TRACK YOU DOWN AT COMIC-CON AND GIVE YOU WHAT FOR!!!

That's all for this month's [very late] trailer wrap up! I know what I'm going to see, what about you?