What's up, 'Combies? The boys are back with a solid rundown of some
of the major events of the summer. We cover the big film releases, their
aftermath and what the "folks in charge" should really be paying
attention to as result, as well as major video game releases still to
come that we're excited about. On the more serious tip, we cover a
number of the tragedies that have taken place in the past few weeks, as
well as some of the possible sociological factors that contribute to
these events. That's right, we're deep and funny here in the 'Hideout!
Also, enjoy the special behind-the-scenes snippit at the beginning. Yep,
y'all are going to get a taste of how we at Imaginos really tend to interact, which
really isn't that different than how we do on the show, but Nik didn't
realize we were recording at first so that adds to the awesome! So come on down
and join in the fun!
*SPOILER WARNING: We go into significant
detail about the overall plot and resolution of "The Dark Knight Rises"
during the show, so if you haven't seen it yet and would rather still be
surprised and whatnot when you see it, hold off on listening to it
until after you've seen it. If not, venture forth and enjoy!
The
days are getting longer. Memorial Day has come and gone, beaches are open and
school will be out soon for the summer months. Although summer doesn’t
technically begin until June 20, it is already summer in many peoples’ minds.
For the movie industry this means it’s time to release the biggest movies of
the year. The Avengers has already gotten the ball
rolling with a record-setting spring release, and there are some huge films on
the horizon that studios (and theaters) are hoping will get people off the beach
and into the cinema.
You
will hear plenty of talk about Ridley Scott’s sci-fi epic Prometheus which appears to be a spiritual successor (prequel?) to
the Alien series. Then there’s
Pixar’s Brave, which features a
roguish red-headed heroine (a first for Pixar) that people will see no matter
what the trailer looks like because, well, it’s Pixar. And of course
Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy will come to a conclusion in what is
undoubtedly the summer’s most highly anticipated film – The Dark Knight Rises.
But
what about the rest of the lineup? I could give you a list of my most
anticipated summer films but my guess is that you don’t need me to convince you
to go see The Dark Knight Rises. So
instead I’ve put together a list of a few promising movies that are getting far
fewer headlines than the big dogs. This doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily
small movies (although a couple are) but my guess is that you’ve heard far less
about them than the sequels and superhero movies. Here are my Top 5 under the
radar films of the summer season.
Editor's note: If the full screen option is not working for the trailer videos and you would like to enlarge them, I would recommend clicking on the title of the video above it in white letters. It will open the video in a new tab on the YouTube website.
The Pact Release Date: June 8
One of
the few horror releases this summer, The
Pact is director Nicholas McCarthy’s feature length debut. The movie itself
is based on his short film of the same name that debuted at Sundance in 2011. It
is about a woman (Caity Lotz) who stays at her childhood home after attending
her mother’s funeral, only to sense a mysterious presence in the house. The
short was well received at the film festival, and early reviews of the full length
version are positive, praising its eerie atmosphere and suspenseful pacing. So
much of horror films’ success lies in execution; here’s hoping that The Pact is able to deliver.
Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap Release Date: June 15
Legendary
rap icon Ice-T is the director and interviewer in this ambitious documentary
that debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film explores the
prodigious rap game: the music, the inspiration, the history and the characters
of a music that is much more than just a genre. It features a ridiculous list
of artists and interviewees including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Afrika Mambaataa,
Grandmaster Caz, Mos Def, Ice Cube, Chuck D., Common, Kanye West, Q-Tip and
Rakim (to name just a few). Based on the trailer it’s hard to discern exactly
what the mission of the documentary is but at the very least it looks to be a
fascinating and funny journey into the history and ambitions of a type of “folk
music” that has evolved into a movement.
To Rome With Love Release Date: June 22
After
Woody Allen’s Oscar-nominated Midnight in
Paris last year, Allen turns his unique cinematic eye to Rome in a movie
that appears to be comfortably in the auteur’s wheelhouse. A large eclectic
cast, snappy dialogue and luxurious shots of Rome’s sun-warmed streets will
perhaps do for Italy what Midnight in
Paris did for France, although there are no implications of magical twists
of fate this time around. Allen himself returns as a character among a cast
that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Ellen Paige and
Roberto Benigni. If Allen can keep ahead of his formidable (and sometimes
misdirected) intellect this film should be a pleasant alternative to the
summer’s heavier hits.
Savages Release Date: July 6
Director
Oliver Stone’s latest movie looks more like Natural
Born Killers than anything he’s released in over a decade. It eschews the
political trappings of much of his filmography in exchange for Mexican drug
cartels and high octane violence. There is a love triangle that includes Blake
Lively, a federal agent played by John Travolta and some drug-dealing baddies in
Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro. It’s nothing too intellectual, but if Stone
can make us care about these characters then the guns, drugs and explosions
should do the rest.
360 Release Date: August 3
This
globetrotting drama is directed by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles who
directed City of God (that alone is
enough for me to watch it) and written by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Last King of
Scotland). It weaves together the storylines of various characters across
several continents while examining the dynamics of social and sexual
relationships and how they shape our lives. It debuted at the Toronto Film
Festival to mixed reviews, with some complaints that the connections between
its characters were too tenuous but drawing praise for the breathtaking cinematography
that has become director Meirelles’ trademark. It stars Rachel Weisz, Jude Law,
Ben Foster and Anthony Hopkins. For some reason I wasn’t able to find an
American trailer online so I’ve put up a Thai version. Sorry about the poor
quality.
