Cowboys & Aliens is this year’s Independence Day or Iron Man; it’s a slam-bang ride that puts summer movies back on the map. Well, at least for this year. Jon Favreau (who directed Iron Man, aptly enough) knows how to craft an adrenaline rush without making it overkill. There’s just enough information about characters to make them more than redshirts waiting to die, or meaningless background noise. Viewers will care about the good guys, boo the bad guys…because Cowboys & Aliens pulls at the same strings the old-fashioned Westerns used to do. This is a well crafted popcorn fest of the highest order, with everyone from cinematographer to special effects tech to Extra Number Three giving it their all.

As to the story, it’s simple enough. Aliens have landed on planet Earth, and taken up residence in a remote part of Arizona in 1873. Meanwhile, back in town, Jake Lonergan, a man with no memory of his past, crosses paths with a powerful rancher’s son who has spent all his free time making trouble for the poor townspeople. As the two clash, the aliens show themselves, and it’s time to lay down their differences or get wiped off the planet. Implausible? No more so than The Three Stooges as cowboys, or Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter. Cowboys & Aliens plays it straight, and it’s a testament to the screenwriter — and to Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley, the writers of the original graphic novel — that the story comes across so successfully.

The success of this genre melding is also thanks to the starpower involved. Favreau had the good sense to cast big stars whose talent lies in their ability to take larger than life characters and make them believable. Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace, Defiance) plays Jake, the cowboy with a memory problem that can still sling lead with the best of them. As with his Bond films, this hard-edged character has a hidden humanity that comes to the surface when the chips are down. Harrison Ford (seriously, if you need me to mention his movies, you’ve lived under a rock the past several decades) plays badass rancher Woodrow Dolarhyde, one of those Wild West bigwigs that just as soon shoot you as come up with a way around you. How Jake and Woodrow come together to battle the outer-space bad guys plays out well, with plenty of understandable bumps along the road.  Other standouts include Olivia Wilde (Tron: Legacy) as the mysterious Ella, a woman who has experience with these aliens, and Adam Beach (Smoke Signals, Law & Order: SVU) as Dolarhyde’s hired hand Nat.

Cowboys & Aliens makes the most of the Western genre by casting several well-known character actors that give a familiar feel to the proceedings. Buck Taylor (Gunsmoke), Clancy Brown (Highlander), Chris Browning (3:10 To Yuma), Sam Rockwell (Galaxy Quest), and Keith Carradine (Deadwood, Southern Comfort) all have parts to play, and their genre cred, along with the ease in which they’re able to inhabit their characters, gives Cowboys & Aliens a touch of genre class.

The most astonishing thing about this film is how it blends the Western and Science Fiction genres together so well. The scenes in the small western town feel like a straight-up western, and when you see the aliens, it feels like a sci-fi joint. And when the two combine? Well, I can’t put a name to it, but all I know is that I was too busy enjoying the story and the gorgeous location shots to try to piece out if I found the tale credible or not. Any movie that keeps me so enraptured has done their job well.

Cowboys, indians, aliens…it’s like a Saturday morning matinee lover’s wet dream. Add some popular actors to the mix, and it’s a sure-fire way to spend an enjoyable few hours at the local multiplex. Like you want to stay outside in the 100 degree heat? Better to sit inside and watch the hotness from a safe distance.

Today at Comic-Con saw less news, but much more high-profile announcements. Most of the action took place in Hall H, which was bogged down with some serious line management problems, but we’ve got it all summed up right here for you.

The first big presentation of the day was from Warner Bros. First, the first footage from Green Lantern was screened. Although nothing spectacular, the fans enjoyed it overall, but were disappointed with the lack of Reynolds in the suit. This only confirms the fact that the suit is a work-in-progress. Still, I am looking forward to this film and hope that it can be a simple, fun superhero origin story, which we haven’t seen a lot of recently. Also, I’m looking forward to the more fantastical elements of the hero. Producer Donald DeLine said that many other Green Lanterns are featured and that the movie is part space opera, which is a good sign that they’re not ignoring that area of the Green Lantern mythos. And although the Green Lantern announcements are cool, DC has really not stepped up their game to challenge Marvel’s cinematic dominance. Geoff Johns is now in charge of their creative decisions moving forward, which is a great move, but the company has not centralized their film properties as Marvel has to such enormous success. Also, there was no word on Batman, which was a huge missed opportunity. Still, I’m hoping that after Green Lantern DC gets their act together and makes something great, maybe a Justice League movie? (Although I’m torn on whether or not Chris Nolan’s Batman should be a part of anything like that.) After a short Harry Potter trailer and panel, Zack Snyder came onstage for Sucker Punch. This new movie is based on his idea and stars an ensemble cast of women who are breaking out of a mental institution and includes Carla Gugino, Jamie Chung, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone and Emily Browning. I’m not sure what to think about this movie, but the footage got a fantastic reception and it sounds truly unique. Hopefully the trailer gets released online soon so we all can see it.

Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In, has had an enormous 360 when it comes to the public’s view. After a period of resenting the fact that such a movie was being remade, it seems like every detractor has been shut up by footage from the upcoming movie. I know I wasn’t too excited for this, but now its definitely on my radar. Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), from what I can tell, is doing a fantastic job helming the movie. He talked about how Steven Spielberg gave him tips for interacting with young actors, and that is what has me most excited for this film. Both Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Grace Moretz ((500) Days of Summer, Kick-Ass) have a lot of potential to give amazing performances and I hope they both pull it off. Check out this trailer for the film:

At this point, Hall H screeched to a halt after a fight broke out. It’s still unclear what actually happened, but the prevailing rumor is that someone asked another guy to move and when he didn’t, he stabbed him in the face with a pen. That’s speculation, but the scene was pretty grisly with blood everywhere and the victim being taken out on a stretcher, all with 8 or 9 cops in the vicinity.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost then introduced their new film, Paul. In the movie, the duo travel to Comic-Con and then embark on a road trip to Roswell, New Mexico. On the way they meet an alien named Paul, who is voiced by Seth Rogen. Paul is directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad) and the supporting cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Jason Bateman, and Jeffrey Tambor. I am really looking forward to this movie as Pegg and Frost are consistently hilarious and the story is pretty original. Paul is not your typical alien – he basically thinks of himself as an everyday Joe. Road trips are always pretty fun so having one with this trio of comedians and an alien should be awesome.

Once again Jon Favreau showed his skill at captivating the geek demographic by creating huge anticipation for Cowboys & Aliens, his new movie starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, and Sam Rockwell. Although the idea is great, it takes skill to blend such two very different genres, but Favreau is going for a very Western feel. After explaining that he is trying to emulate the Sergio Leone/John Ford films of the 40s and 50s, while using practical effects from the 80s as well as CGI for the aliens, he decided to just screen some early footage. Although the crew has only been shooting for three weeks, attendees were very impressed by the scene. In a surprise appearance, Harrison Ford was brought on stage in handcuffs by two security guards. It was his first appearance at the convention and the crowd went nuts. This a natural reaction, of course, to the man who played Han Solo and Indiana Jones, as well as many other awesome characters. I hope Favreau can really nail the Western feel and deliver a really fun, interesting film due out next summer, July 29th.

Now the presentation you’ve all been waiting for: Marvel. What Marvel is doing with their properties on film is incredible. By going independent and forming Marvel Studios where writers can collaborate and come up with great, interlocking stories for all of their superheroes, the company shows that it knows what its doing. Hopefully the result will be incredible, but there are a lot of moving parts, and all of them must come together perfectly. Captain America was first, as a short teaser showed Chris Evans in full costume throwing the iconic shield at the camera. After some discussion, the filmmakers actually had some footage to show which involved Hugo Weaving as Red Skull searching for an artifact that has something to do with Odin. I really like the Indiana Jones/World War II period piece vibe I’m getting for this movie. I hope Joe Johnston can create a very good atmosphere and seeing Cap killing Nazis is going to be sweet. Next up was Thor, which is much farther into production. A lot of footage was shown, and I can’t wait to see the trailer. Apparently the costumes are not nearly as cheesy as they looked in the first images we were shown. Reactions were very positive, which is a relief. Finally, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige brought on The Avengers. After years of rumors, this movie is finally actually happening. The final lineup was announced: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman/Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Donald Blake/Thor, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk (see the full cast in the photo from the event). It’s going to be insane seeing so many heroes on screen at the same time. I hope Joss Whedon can bring together all of this madness and deliver an amazing film.

Behold the cast of "The Avengers"

Well that was a very big day at Comic-Con, and while we knew most of this going in, it was still awesome to see all of these projects materializing before our eyes. Its going to hard, but we can’t fuel the hype too much. I’m looking forward to all of these films as much as anyone, but I’m not going to let the anticipation ruin my enjoyment of the movies as movies.

A few days ago, Latino Review’s El Mayimbe suspected that Harrison Ford would be joining Cowboys & Aliens. That rumor has now been confirmed.

Cowboys & Aliens is Iron Man director Jon Favreau’s next project. The movie is based on a graphic novel series in which aliens attempt to conquer the Wild West. Cowboys and Apache Indians must put aside their differences in order to defend earth. You can read the first issue here.

The movie is moving forward based on a script by Star Trek scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and Lost co-creator Damon Lindelhof. The current cast includes Daniel Craig in the lead, Zeke Jackson, and Olivia Wilde as Ella.

Earlier today, Favreau confirmed the rumor, saying:

Please stop asking if Harrison Ford is in Cowboys & Aliens. Okay? He is. Please don’t tell anybody.

Harrison Ford is my all-time favorite actor. Han Solo and Indiana Jones are among the greatest characters in all of movies. That being said, his recent roles haven’t had the same effect. Hopefully, C&A can give Ford another gritty hero to play and, although the actor is quickly approaching his 70th birthday, I think he still has a lot more in him.

Get ready, because like it or not, everyone’s favorite archaeologist is headed back to the big screen. Indy 5 is moving forward, albeit slowly.

Forget the fact that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull faced almost immediate fan backlash, or that Lucas and Spielberg haven’t exactly been wowing the masses with their recent attempts at blockbuster adventure. None of it seems to matter, because it looks like all three of the names needed to get this thing off the ground are approaching agreement.

 Harrison Ford was talking to the BBC recently and he confirmed what Shia LeBeouf was muttering over the summer; the trio have an basic story idea for the fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise. From Ford’s mouth, this is what they have got: “Steven [Spielberg] and George [Lucas] and I are sort of agreed on a germ of an idea and we’re seeing what comes of it.”  There’s no scriptwriter in place as of yet, and literally nothing formal has transpired. From Harrison’s elaboration it looks like the ball is in George’s court for now:
 

“The process works like this… We come to some basic agreement and then George goes away for a long time and works on it. Then Steven and I get it in some form, some embryonic form. Then if we like it we start working with George on it and at some point down the line it’s ready and we do it.”

Considering how long it took to get Indy 4 moving, this news hardly means we will see another Indy anytime soon. Then again, there’s definitely a sell-by date for this franchise and its leading man–a date many think has long since passed– and Lucas can’t sit on this one all that long unless he’s gonna make Shia the star. At which point, the fans may actually stage a rebel assault on Skywalker Ranch.

Funny, though. What exactly is the creative process for Lucas pulling together a story? I get the feeling he writes the whole thing down breathlessly in crayon while he’s on the can, finishes it in twenty minutes, and then drops it in a desk drawer until Ford and Steven are desperate enough to settle for anything.

I’m not a hater of the fourth Indy movie, but to this day I have trouble remembering exactly what happened in it. There were a few good scenes, some worthwhile moments, but ultimately it felt out-of-practice and lazy and most of that blame goes to Spielberg and Lucas, who never seemed to defer to anybody else in regards to their over-the-top insane ideas, including Indy’s survival of a nuclear explosion by hiding in a refrigerator.

What do you fine people think about this? Would a fifth Indiana Jones be worth any-body’s time? After making box office bank with the last entry, what’s Lucas’ incentive for making a stronger product?

Probably doesn’t matter, because it’s far too early to suppose much. I will make this forecast: I bet we get an update announcing the film will be in 3-D long before we get an announcement regarding a screenwriter.

Valentine’s Day has come and gone but you’re still feeling romantic so here’s my top 15 favorite romantic movies or movie romances… I don’t know, I like them and I hope they like me just as much! First up: a classic romantic comedy and its remake, that’s right, Sabrina (1954) and Sabrina (1995). The original was written and directed by Billy Wilder whose filmography we should all know by heart. Wilder’s Sabrina starred Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden, and you’re thinking why would anyone want to remake this all-star classic? Don’t ask why, just watch the Sydney Pollack remake starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and Greg Kinnear. It’ll be worth your time. No, the remake is not better than the original but it is good and I do hope you’ve seen both or are planning on watching them soon!

Next up on the list is the Meg Ryan section a.k.a. Nora Ephron section which also has a Tom Hanks subdivision. When Harry Met Sally… is the movie I reference most when friends can’t figure out why they can’t be friends with people of the opposite sex. I’ll let you in on a little secret- the sex gets in the way. This modern classic romantic comedy was written by Nora Ephron, directed by Rob Reiner and starred Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. Probably Carrie Fisher’s second best movie, behind The ‘Burbs, this rom-com was just what we needed to leave the 1980s behind us and kick start the 1990s. The 1990s was the decade of love for Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (not sure what either of their spouses thought of this) as they started in Joe Dante’s Joe Versus the Volcano before meeting up again in two films written for the screen and directed by Nora Ephron 1993′s Sleepless in Seattle and again in 1998′s You’ve Got Mail. Sleepless in Seattle, or An Affair to Remember without the ocean, was the second Meg Ryan movie to feature Harry Connick Jr.’s golden tones (When Harry Met Sally… was the first) on the soundtrack. You’ve Got Mail, or The Shop Around the Corner remake, came to us at a time when we needed to know how to have an online relationship and basically bridged the gap between the 1990s and 2000s. What will the decade of the 2010s be without Meg’s guidance?

Now we’ve reached the Hugh Grant part of our romantic journey, beginning with 1994′s Four Weddings and a Funeral written by Richard Curtis (we’ll see him again) and directed by Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco). Richard Curtis also scripted 1999′s Notting Hill and starred Julia Roberts alongside Hugh. 2002′s About a Boy was adapted for the screen by the Weitz brothers from Nick Hornby’s novel and taught us that no man is an island. Richard Curtis wrote and directed Hugh in 2003′s Love Actually a wonderful rom-com and holiday film starring Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thomson, Martin Freeman, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney and Alan Rickman. Love Actually in my opinion is the only star-studded cast to successfully pull off the rom-com.

Since we’ve been in merry old England with Hugh Grant what better time to reveal two recent romantic films with foreign appeal- Paris, je t’aime (2006) and Amelie (2001). Paris, je t’aime has your love story in it — it has to, with 18 different stories being told in all! Based on the subject of love in Paris the film is actually a collection of short films by sometimes famous directors such as Gus Van Sant, the Coen brothers and Alexander Payne, starring Steve Buscemi, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Nick Nolte, Bob Hoskins, Elijah Wood, Emily Mortimer, Rufus Sewell, Natalie Portman, Gerard Depardieu and Ben Gazzara. Paris, je t’aime is definitely a film in a league of its own. Amelie, I really don’t know where to begin other than saying Amelie has more style in minute 2 than most directors have in a lifetime and if you don’t fall in love with Audrey Tautuo then you’ve truly got a heart of stone. Please don’t have a heart of stone.

Rounding out our list is Woody Allen’s Annie Hall (don’t be a dead shark) and Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind which I would never delete from my memory. Finally there’s Ewan McGregor starring in the homage to 1950s romantic comedies Down With Love and also starring in the only musical I like- Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! see I didn’t have to include Pretty Woman to have a hooker with a heart of gold on this list! romance! film! loveliness! am I right? am I wrong? would my favorites ever breach your top ten? leave me a note in the comments section! LYMI

This is yet another Tuesday Top 10 List from Atomic Popcorn and today I have brought to you all what I think are the Top 10 Fight Scenes of recent memory. Below are the movie’s along with their videos of said fight.

PLEASE leave your comments with better video or even better yet, better fight scenes. I would love to see what you all have to say as what the Top 10 should be.

Without further interruptions I bring you the Atomic Popcorn Top 10 Fight Scenes.

10. The Way of the Dragon:
Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee – come on folks you CANNOT forget this fight scene!

9. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children:
Cloud and Sephiroth – this is an great fight scene along with awesome animation.

8. Raiders of the Lost Ark:
Indiana Jones doing what he does best – do a google search and read why this scene actually came about!

7. Lethal Weapon:
Mel Gibson against the ever crazy Gary Busey – great stuff all around.

6. Rocky IV:
Rocky kicking some Russian ass – this movie can make me cry in a matter of minutes. Great all around movie and a great great fight scene. Gloves and all!

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon:
Gorgeous ass kicking at it’s finest. What more can you want from a fight scene? Oh yeah Bamboo walking/flying!

4. The Karate Kid:
Crane Kick anyone? Enough said…

3. Snatch:
Mickey O’Neil vs. Gorgeous George – this just looks like it hurts.

2. Fight Club:
Come on you cannot leave out a movie with the word “fight” in it. And besides this is a classic scene in many ways.

1. The Matrix:
One bad actor versus many different agents? And kicking some serious agent ass..The Matrix is number 1 on my list!

I’m one of the very few vocal supporters of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull that I know. While not a great film or a very good film, I feel it’s redeemed by a wonderful return by Harrison Ford’s screen presence, and it captures the original spirit of the series quite well for much of its running time.

That said, even after acknowledging that Indiana Jones is my favorite screen character of all time, I can’t see much of a point in continuing the series after the conclusion that was reached in Crystal Skull. According to Ford, however, I should start getting excited:

“The story for the new ‘Indiana Jones’ is in the process of taking form,” Ford explained. “Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and myself are agreed on what the fifth adventure will concern, and George is actively at work. If the script is good, I’ll be very happy to put the costume on again.”

While this hardly means anything in the grand scheme of things (the development of the fourth film was a debacle), the last entry gained close to a billion dollars in revenue. It’s hard not to see the studio logic behind this one.

Well lets cut to the chase shall we? We all know who Indiana Jones is and if you have been living under a rock for the last 20+ years and have no idea, please continue to let us be and enjoy your rock!

Indiana Jones is back and he is the same old Indy we have come to love! The newest creation from Spielberg and Lucas has brought us an updated but true look at Henry Jone’s latest adventure in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The storyline is a little off for my liking and a bit over the top, but and I do mean but, the film is a must see film. The overall feel brings us back to the last movies in the series and gives us the witty laughs we have come to expect from the wise-ass characters in the Indy films. I almost had to say something to the guy behind me he was so loud, and this was at a private screening!

On to the movie! Have I said it was great film? ITS A GREAT FILM!!!

We first meet up with Dr Jone’s and his crew at Area 51 after he is pulled out of a car trunk. Classic Indy style, always getting captured by the KGB with horrible accents from across the pond. This is where we meet Agent Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), a soviet doctor who was once Stalin’s right hand woman. She is known for her work on “mind” altering research. Her over the top accent may of ruined her entire performance in my eyes. Not to be swayed by this, her character is easily hated and allows for the film to continue on.

While staying with the era of the 50′s and 60′s, we do see a bit of awkwardness, at least in my mind, with the introduction of aliens. Yes I said aliens! The cars, the clothing, the stores, and even the school rooms fit the bill. The set and everything about the film brought me back in time. And did a great job of it!

All throughout the film we see action. And I mean action. I don’t think it slows down for more than 2 minutes at a time. This film delivers classic Indiana Jone’s. Ancient Mayan temples, tribesmen, KGB agents, Atomic Bombs, car chases, fire ants, and much much more in this great film. Spielberg and Lucas did a great job. From car chases, to extraterrestrial beings, Indiana sees it all, along with his latest side kick, Mutt.

Mutt is played by new comer Shia LeBeouf of Transformers and Disturbia fame. While at the start of the film I was not into him, I began to enjoy his qualities more and more throughout the film. He does a solid job portraying a greaser and the story is inter woven to allow for his lack of style to come through.

The film touches on almost every character we have come to love and know in the past movies. From Indiana’s father to his confidant Dr Marcus Brody; we see a storyline of the past intertwined with the latest creation of Indiana. Some twist and turns and some surprises await you.

This is a MUST see film and really adds to the Indy collection. Make sure you see it in the theaters. Its that good! While I would love to recommend this to all of you, I would shy away from kids 13 and under. It does have the rating for a reason!

I am glad to see Indiana is back, and yes I am sure Indiana Jones 5 will be here before we know it.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆