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Geek News is a new feature on CharlotteRPG.com.  Here we spread news and gossip about comics, movies, dvd's, video games, wrestling, rpg's, and all sorts of things that cross-class our genre.
















YEAR IN MOVIES
 
2007 is shaping up to be a tremendous year for movies.  Three comic book movies: Spider-Man 3, Fantastic Four 2, and Ghost Rider.  Not to mention a live-action Transformers Movie.  If that wasn't enough, Pirates of the Carribean 3, a remake/prequel of Halloween, 300, and so much more.  Since I am somewhat of a movie buff (especially horror, sci-fi, and action) I'll be reviewing movies here all year long.  This week, we look at Three Movies . . .
 
Knocked-Up
 
 

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     From the people who brought you 40 Year Old Virgin comes their newest hit, Knocked-Up. A romantic comedy where a one-night stand leads to a pregnancy, and the pregnancy leads to a mis-matched relationship, that despite all the wrong reasons, actually works.
 
Katherine Heigl plays Alison Scott, an up and comming employee for the E! Network. Called into the office, they tell her she finally lands an on air role. To celebrate, she and her sister go out for an evening of drinks, dancing, and fun.  There she meets Ben Stone, played by Seth Rogen. Ben is an unemployed pot head who's ambition is to start a website with his friends that lets viewers know which female celebrities did nude scenes and in which movie. Apparently, the website has been under construction for awhile but never actually put into play, as the gang continue "research."
 
Intoxicated, they slip back to her place, which is actually her sisters. her sister Debbie and husband Pete own the home, and she rents a room. The next morning Alison regrets what happened and after breakfast they say goodbye never expecting to see each other again.  That is till about 5 weeks later when she discovers she's pregnant. She decides to keep the baby despite being single, and possibly losing her job at E! So she calls up Ben who wants to help her thru the pregnancy and try and maintain a relationship with the beatuiful Alison.
 
With all the typical situations you would expect about irresponsible couples having a baby, this movie goes a few steps further. The movie really is about modern relationships and thru sensitivity and comedy, illustrate both the guy and girl perspectives of love, family and commitment. In this age of stunted maturity and thirty-somethings still behaving like they did back in college, Knocked-Up really speaks to "this generation" if you will. The characters are totally believable and relatable. This movie will have you laughing thoughout, and you may even shed a tear or two at the end.
 
I give it
 
4 & 1/2 Stars out of 5.
 
 
 
 
Fantastic Four 2: RotSS

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     While Fantastic Four didn't charge out of the gate with fans of the comics, FF2 has certainly caught its second wind and takes the lead in this years slew of Marvel movies. FF2 had a huge weight on its shoulders, not only to improve on the lack of enthusiasm the original suffered, but to make up for the disappointment of Spider-Man 3 and the relative blandness of Ghost Rider. Suffice to say, FF2 had beaten the odds and was a, well, fantastic sequel.
 
     This installment sees our heroes a couple years later, dealing with the pro's and con's that fame and fortune have brought them.  While Reed Richards and Susan Storm try to, again, get married, they have to deal with papparazzi trying to intrude on their personal lives. Meanwhile, Ben Grimm still pursues his relationship with Alicia Masters. Johnny Storm, of course, embraces the media attention so much it would make Paris Hilton jealous. He even designs a FF suit to accomodate various sponsors. While their still a team, it is clear that they each have their own agenda's and are going in different directions.  now, Enter the Silver Surfer.
 
     The herald of Galactus arrives on Earth and in his wake, reality bends to his will.  The power cosmic has residual effects like causing snow to fall in Egypt, and great caverns to materialize at specific spots on the Earth.  Johnny Storm's (aka Human Torch) encounter with the Silver Surfer has altered the cosmic affects that made him the Human Torch in the first place. Now, when he comes into physical contact with another team member, they switch powers. This lead to a few well placed comedic scenes.
 
     The military enlists the help of the Fantastic Four to deal with the threat of the Surfer, only to discover that the FF themselves have some in-fighting.  Ben and Johnny fear that Reed and Sue's marriage and future plans mean the end of the FF.  While they try to save London from the Silver Surfer, their lack of teamwork puts the citizens in jeapordy.  As a result, the military also hires Victor Von Doom to aid in their quest to stop the Surfer.  Victor was resurrected as a direct result of the Power Cosmic when Silver Surfer flew over Latveria.  He was also the only one to make contact with the Surfer who warned Doom that all he knew is at an end.
 
     It isn't until later that the FF, especially Sue Storm learn that the Surfer isn't the threat, he is just an enslaved herald of a being called Galactus, who sends him throughout the universe looking for planets rich in life to devour. Now, Galactus is on his way. Also, the source of his power, the surfboard, is now in the hands of Dr. Doom.  This of course, all leads to a huge climatic battle with the fate of the world at hand.
 
     All in all, much better than the original and certainly breathing life into a possible FF franchise.
 
My Rating:
4 & 1/4 Stars out of 5.
 
 
Transformers

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     The 80's cartoon and toyline get a 21st century live-action makeover.  While some critics frown on Michael Bay being attached to this project as director, I can tell you from personal experience with this movie that while it may not be the next Citizen Kane, Transformers will send your inner 12 year-old into overdrive.
 
     The movie avoids the pitfalls of jumping in with both feet and blowing their wad early like other movies such as Aliens VS Preditor.  Comming in over 2 hours and 20 minutes, Transformers takes a much slower approach, introducing the robot character slowly rather than hitting the audience all at once.
 
     Surprisingly, although a movie about giant robots, this is very much a human-focused movie. The movie starts off with Steve Witwicky, played by Shia LeBeouf, who struggles with attaining the grades and money he needs to meet his fathers demands of 3 A's and $2000 so he can get his first car. Of course he gets his first car, a beat-up old Camero, which just happens to be Bumblebee, one of the Autobots.  Now that he has his car, phase two of his plan is to use the car and his new status as a "kid with a car" to hopefully win over a certain girl, Mikaela Banes, played by Megan Fox. To his surprise, the car seems to have a mind of its own, and even helps him win her attention.  Think of Christine, but less scary, more funny, and you'll get the idea.
 
     Bumblebee eventually takes off in the middle of the night.  Thinking his car is being stolen, Steve chases it on his bike, only to witness it change into a 15 foot robot that is apparently sending some kind of signal into the night sky.  In truth, he is summoning the other Autobots as he may have discovered the location of the Allspark.  A cube of immense life giving power that seemed to have spawned the transformer race. 
 
     Of course, the Autobots aren't the only ones looking for it.  The Decepticons are also on Earth.  They attempt to hack into military and government mainframes looking for references to Captain Witwicky (steves grandfather) who was an explorer who discovered Megatron frozen in the artic circle. Megatron imprinted the location of the Allspark onto Captain Witwicky's glasses.  The same glasses that Steve was selling on E-Bay to help finance his car.
 
     Now the Autobots seek to protect Steve while he gets the glasses and thus the location of the Allspark before the Decepticons do.  Of course, the Decepticons are hunting him as well.  What's worse, is that a secret agency of the government already have both the Allspark and Megatron. 
 
     The end result is a movie that is packed with comedy and action.  A tour de force of sight and sound.  If the movie has any flaws, it probably lies in the writers reliance of moviegoers prior experience with Transformers.  If you never watched the cartoons or played with the toys, characters like Megatron, Jazz, Starscream and Rachet will seem very empty. They really don't have a lot of screen time, let alone a chance to introduce and develope their personalities.  Fans of the series however, won't be short-changed.  Everything they remember of the characters are there, including the love/hate (mostly hate) relationship between Starscream and Megatron.  The only robots you become emotionally invested in are Bumblebee and Optimus Prime.  But again, this movie deals with the human characters.  Where as in the cartoon, the Autobots had to help the helpless humans, here humans have an active role in their own fate as well as the fate of the Autobots. 
 
     Also, the movie does more than a mere facelift of classic characters.  For instance, Megatron doesn't transform into a handgun, but some type of space fighter.  And Bumblebee is a Camero, instead of the old yellow VW bug. 
 
     In the end, it is what it is.  Transformers come to life.  With good pacing, lots of action, and killer special effects, this movie is the very definition of a Summer Popcorn Movie.
 
 
My Rating:
5 out of 5 stars