Geek For E!

Geek For E!

Creators of the TwitView! Reviews in 140 characters or less.

Movie Review: Kon-Tiki

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There are stories I’ve never gotten my greedy little hands on simply because I figured they were “Dude books”.  Call of the Wild.  Treasure Island.  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.  Anything by Ernest Hemingway (okay, that’s because I’m not a fan of his writing style.  And also, dudebook.)  Kon-Tiki was in there too, because I couldn’t see how a voyage across the ocean in a little raft could possibly appeal to me.  But if the book is as exciting as the movie Kon-Tiki, I owe that book a huge apology.  Huge.  This dramatic retelling of the story of one man’s quest to prove his theories makes me want to not only read the book, but see the original (Academy Award winning ) 1951 documentary.  Yeah, Kon-Tiki is that good.

 It’s just after World War II.  Naturalist, anthropologist and all-around adventure guy Thor Heyerdahl (Pål Sverre Hagen, in all his retro/40s-era matinee idol glory) is in Polynesia studying life, the universe and everything.  The natives tell Thor that they arrived in Polynesia from the West.  But all the great Western minds had decided these natives arrived from the East.  I mean really; who could sail across that wide expanse of sea in only a lashed-together log raft?  Thor sees that as a gauntlet thrown, and decides to do just that.  With a small group of friends, he takes off from Peru to try to reach Polynesia as Tiki, the native god that islanders believe populated their islands, did.

But will he make it?  Considering this movie is based on the book written by Heyerdahl after his expedition, and that I’ve already referenced his documentary of said expedition?  You can pretty much guess that answer.  Still, as other great docudramas have done before (like Titanic, All The President’s Men, Schindler’s List, and Argo), Kon-Tiki keeps viewers invested in the characters/individuals by weaving together expert storytelling and stunning visuals.

kon-tiki

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Movie Review: Star Trek Into Darkness

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Star Trek meets Sherlock.  At least that’s what it’s seeming like on all the fannish boards along the Interwebs.  With Benedict Cumberbatch’s character shrouded in mystery — a mystery revealed for all who check this movie’s updated IMDb page — fans of the actor have been going crazy waiting to see him, and Trekkers (or Trekkies, as you prefer) have been going crazy trying to outguess director J.J. Abrams.  And while Star Trek Into Darkness is definitely a Trek-nucopia of canon fodder, what it isn’t is particularly welcoming to those folks who wouldn’t know a Vulcan Salute from a peace sign.  Still, Star Trek Into Darkness delivers the Id, Ego and Superego comedic clashes, the Kobayashi Maru-like impossible challenges, and the same good-vs-evil that we’ve come to know and love from this long lived franchise.  Abrams, along with fellow Lost alum Damon Lindelof, crafted a Trek universe that is familiar but slightly tilted.  It’s great to see how the young characters slowly grow into their original series counterparts…and if you’re not really in the know?  Go see it with your friends who are, and get caught up in the fun.

Captain James T. Kirk has just been taken to task for his last hair-brained seat-of-his-pants mission; he’s been stripped of his command and his First Officer Spock has been reassigned to another ship.  But meanwhile at what looks alot like the medical wing of Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, a stranger named Harrison has plans that will shake Starfleet to it’s core, bringing the Federation into uncharted waters and bloodshed.  It’s up to Kirk to get his commanding officers to believe in him again, and for him to understand exactly what it takes to sit in The Chair.

star trek onesheet

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Movie Review: At Any Price

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Don’cha just hate when a movie looks like it’s going to be really amazing and show a side of life that you’ve never seen before, only to whip a 180 and bore you to tears?  Well, if that’s you then At Any Price doesn’t have much to recommend it; it’s a film that starts off with all sorts of promise only to get mired in so many “important messages” that it loses itself and it’s audience.

Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) is a corn farmer in Iowa.  He’s also a salesman for GMO (genetically modified organisms) corn seed, and is making a pretty darn good living at it.  Son Dean Whipple (Zac Efron) is the obligatory kid who wants to get out of the sticks, and he’s got a good chance of that thanks to his skill at auto racing.  When the Whipples aren’t busy squeezing Charmin with the farm, they’re doing the usual things that folks in Corn Country seem to do in movies; party out in the middle of nowhere, cheat on their wife with the secretary/former prom queen, drive to the nearest town (two hours away) to steal stuff, and try to cheat the system.  But for Henry and Dean things start to fall apart, and when they do you know it’s going to affect everyone around them.

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Free Screening: Star Trek Into Darkness

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*ba-buuuuuum!*

Sorry.  I always feel like there should be Important Music at the end of that title.  It has a heavy sense of impending danger, and possibly of impending awesome.  How’d you like to find out if there’s danger and awesome in Star Trek Into Darkness? (*ba-buuuuuum!*  Okay, I’ll stop.)  Sure, the film hits theaters May 17th (the official release dates are May 15th for IMAX, May 16th for other theaters, which means midnight showings y’all.)  You can also check out the trailer: StarTrekMovie.com.  But how about catching it before everyone else hits the multiplex?

Well, that’s easy.  We’re giving away passes to the Baltimore screening of Star Trek Into Darkness.

Here’s the synopsis, straight from the studio:

In the wake of a shocking act of terror from within their own organization, the crew of The Enterprise is called back home to Earth. In defiance of regulations and with a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads his crew on a manhunt to capture an unstoppable force of destruction and bring those responsible to justice.

As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

So, are you in?  Of course you are.  Read on for how to get yourself in on this action….

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Wanna win a Blu-Ray copy of A Haunted House?

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As y’all know, I love horror movies.  I also love movies that make fun of horror movies.  Y’know, as long as they’re funny.

For example, A Haunted House, which just hit Blu-Ray late last month.  It’s a spoof that brings together a few of my favorite funny folks (like Marlon Wayans, Nick Swardson, Cedric the Entertainer, David Koechner and J.B. Smoove) and puts ’em in, you guessed it, a haunted house.

From IMDb:

Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm – determined to keep his sex life on track – turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help.

Now there’s a man who has his priorities straight!  And I’m sure that there will be plenty of laughs along the way.

But sometimes there’s a movie that is downright hilarious…but wasn’t supposed to be.  That horror movie that has more people howling with laughter than in fright.  I’m sure you guys know what I’m talking about.  Why am I so sure?  Because that’s the key to this giveaway…. *cue evil laughter*

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Baltimore Screening: Peeples, Tuesday May 7th

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I’m a Scandal addict.  I’ve seen Hot Tub Time Machine many, many times (many.)  I love Tyler Perry.  So I’m betting that Perry’s new film Peeples will be a hit with me.  And we’ve got passes for the Baltimore screening of Peeples to give away.  What’s it about, you ask?  Here’s the synopsis:

Sparks fly when Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) crashes the preppy Peeples annual reunion in the Hamptons to ask for their precious daughter Grace’s (Kerry Washington) hand in marriage. Wade might be a fish-out-of-water among this seemingly perfect East Coast clan, but he’s not about to let himself flounder. Instead, in a wild weekend of fun, dysfunction and hilarious surprises, Wade is about to discover there’s room for all kinds of Peeples in this family, no matter their differences. Writer and first-time director Tina Gordon Chism (writer of DRUMLINE) joins forces with Tyler Perry to present a laugh-out-loud look at the family ties that freak us out . . . but bind us together with love.

Let’s face it; Craig Robinson is hilarious.  So teaming him up with the likes of  David Alan Grier, S. Epatha Merkerson, Kerry Washington, Dihann Carroll and Melvin Van Peebles should be an absolute hoot.

Read on for info on how to score yourself passes!

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Baltimore screening: After Earth, on Wednesday May 29th

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Hi all!

Okay, it looks like an apocalyptic summer.  First off, Oblivion and It’s A Disaster spelled out gloom and doom (though Disaster did it with a mimosa and laughs).  Soon This Is The End will be coming around to show us how stars handle the end of the world, and let’s not forget the zooma-zoom-zoom of the zombies in World War Z.

But today we’ll be focusing on After Earth, an M. Night Shyamalan joint starring father/son team Will and Jaden Smith.  The synopsis:

A crash landing leaves teenager Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his legendary father Cypher (Will Smith) stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher critically injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help, facing uncharted terrain, evolved animal species that now rule the planet, and an unstoppable alien creature that escaped during the crash. Father and son must learn to work together and trust one another if they want any chance of returning home.

Unstoppable alien creature?  Up to no good, started makin’ trouble in the neighborhood?  Ooh, count me in y’all.

You too?  Then read on for info on how to grab passes to the May 29th screening!

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Wanna ask Wolverine a question? You can….

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*SNIKT*

If that sound means anything to you, then read on folks.  Oh, and if  you think that Hugh Jackman is awesome (and really, who doesn’t?), you should keep reading too.

Because why?  Because I’ma tell you how you can ask The Wolverine/Hugh Jackman a question about his upcoming movie.  It’s called The Wolverine, and if you haven’t seen the trailer yet, you need to.  It looks like a great new direction for this character in the movieverse, so much so that even my “I’m sick of comic book movies” friends are headed to see it.

From IMDb:

Wolverine makes a voyage to modern-day Japan, where he encounters an enemy from his past that will impact on his future.

Hmmm.  Cue ominous music, I’m sure.  If you wanna know more, just get on Twitter May 2nd.  If you’ve got a question you want to ask immediately?  Go ahead: just use hashtags #TheWolverine #AskHugh or comment on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheWolverineMovie.

Get all the deets from the press release after the jump!

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Disney’s Planes screening at EAA Aviation Center

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The EAA Aviation Center is a Very Big Deal for folks who love to fly.  And now it’s gonna have the same effect on Disney film fans.  Because Disney’s Planes will be screening there in the fly-in theater.  OMG, they have a fly-in theater.  Seriously.  That is beyond awesome.

From IMDb, a little bit about Disney’s Planes:

Dusty is a cropdusting plane who dreams of competing in a famous aerial race. The problem? He is hopelessly afraid of heights. With the support of his mentor Skipper and a host of new friends, Dusty sets off to make his dreams come true.

Sadly, we don’t have giveaway tix for this one.  But for folks who can’t wait for the movie, check out the trailer!  And am I the only one who thinks Disney had some pretty big cojones to use White Zombie’s “More Human Than Human” as the trailer soundtrack?  Man I love that song.

Disney’s Planes opens August 9th, 2013 in regular-ol’ theaters.  Read on for the full press release!

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Where’s Denise? — Iron Man 3 screening passes giveaway

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Okay y’all, you are awesome.  Just in case you didn’t know, I’m telling you right now.  The response to my Geek for e Facebook page question of “where should I go?” got some seriously great answers.

* A Pub — always a favorite.

* Stark Industries — great idea, but if I told you the super-secret location, I’d have to kill you.  Nobody wants that.

* A Starbucks — hooray for coffee and coffee cake!

* A Mall — mmm, shopping.

* A Museum — now THAT is something that strikes a chord in my DC-area-born heart!

* The Inner Harbor/Harbor East — as I live in SoBo, that’s very tempting.  Very.

* A comic book store — Marvel loves you guys right now.

So, what won?  Drumroll please….

ARUNDEL MILLS MALL!  Yaaaaaay!

Here’s the when/where:

Me.

Arundel Mills Mall

Monday, April 22, 2013 — from 5-7pm, or until the passes run out.  (I’ll also have cute Iron Man 3 temporary tattoos; thanks Marvel!)

At the Starbucks (see how I tied in a few groovy ideas right there?)

As always, I’m the nerdy chick with brown hair and glasses.  It’s how I roll y’all.  Hope to see you guys!

REMEMBER: Passes do not guarantee admittance; entrance is first-come, first served.  So if you see me and snag a pass or two, make sure you get to the screening early to grab a seat!