Regardless of how you feel about the First Blood series, you have to hand it to Rambo III for pulling off one of the most inventive title switcheroos in Hollywood history. How's that? The movies go from First Blood to Rambo: First Blood Part II, to Rambo III. Shouldn't this be Rambo II? It's enough to make a Vietnam vet's head spin!
In this final entry into the incredibly profitable, gory, and mumbletastic Rambo series, Sylvester Stallone has traded writing partner James Cameron for Sheldon Lettich (of such films as Bloodsport), and his hair is so long he can barely see through his bangs. Good thing he's got that headband to keep it out of his face.
In Rambo III, John (Stallone) finds himself called into duty once again, this time to save his old boss, Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna), being held hostage in Soviet-controlled Afghanistan. Of course, 15 years later, Rambo's venture into this hostile territory seems almost educational, and in fact, the DVD includes a short film contrasting Rambo III's history lesson with the current-day reality of the area.
Of course, little of this changes the fact that Rambo III is a movie with little more than a body count on its mind. Nice production values and a tendency toward hand-to-hand combat instead of dull gun battles elevate it over its immediate predecessor, but mindless action is still mindless action.
Rambo enthusiasts will want to run -- don't walk -- to pick up the new four-disc DVD set of the three Rambo movies (plus a disc full of extras). Admittedly, this isn't The Godfather collection, but each film has been carefully restored and enhanced with Dolby Digital and DTS audio, as well as a commentary track. Various documentaries pepper the movie discs and of course the extras disc, offering close to a full 24 hours of entertainment. And in pure Rambo style, it's all wrapped up in an impressive book-like package and bound in a metal case. As John Rambo himself might say: "Auuugggggrrhh!"
See Also
Thursday 29 May 2008
Rambo III - 5/27/2008
Monday 26 May 2008
Color By Numbers
Artist: Color By Numbers
Genre(s):
Industrial
Discography:
The Transitions
Year: 2004
Tracks: 9
will.i.am joins the Wolverine film
Mika is eager to win a Brit Award
Pop singer Mika has said that he would love to win a Brit Award at tonight's ceremony.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Quite frankly I'd love to win one. I'd like to get British Male but the competition is fierce."
The singer, who faces competition from Take That in the categories of Best Album and Best Single, said: "Take That are a British institution now."
Mika also said that he would love to see his friends in Muse picking up an award.
"I really hope that they win because they really deserve it," he said.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Quite frankly I'd love to win one. I'd like to get British Male but the competition is fierce."
The singer, who faces competition from Take That in the categories of Best Album and Best Single, said: "Take That are a British institution now."
Mika also said that he would love to see his friends in Muse picking up an award.
"I really hope that they win because they really deserve it," he said.
The Raconteurs make 'Lonely' tour longer
The Raconteurs [ tickets ] have added new US dates to their current headlining tour behind the band's new studio album, "Consolers of the Lonely."The indie-rock supergroup--which features Jack White of The White Stripes and singer/songwriter Brendan Benson--is due to make its next appearance May 17 in Irvine, CA, as part of a radio station festival event. New dates on the trek, which now looks to hit 15 North American cities through early August, include second shows added in a number of cities, New York and Detroit among them. Details are below.Following the US run, the group will head to Europe for a number of shows and summer festivals. Check the band's website for international dates.The band did no advance promotion for "Consolers of the Lonely," which was recorded in early March and rushed into production in both vinyl and CD form. The group announced the existence of the 14-track set only days before its release."With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important 'first week sales,'" read a press announcement posted at the band's website. "We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by its first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it."The band released the set in late March through a wide array of distribution channels, including online and traditional retail stores, partially, the group explained, in an effort to defeat attempts to leak the new record onto the Internet. The set, which follows the band's 2006 debut, "Broken Boy Soldiers," entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 7, selling about 42,000 copies its first week.
Britney Spears Ordered To Pay Lawyers Nearly $400,000: Report
When Britney Spears lost control of her finances and estate in February, she didn't just lose the right to make her own medical and legal decisions — she lost the right to a whole lot of money too. A Los Angeles court ruled Thursday (April 17) that Spears must foot the bill for nearly $400,000 in legal fees accrued throughout the past few months, according to The Associated Press.
Among those getting paid are Geraldine Wyle, who represented Brit's father, Jamie, in his bid for conservatorship ($175,000); trust attorney Clark Byam, a lawyer representing Britney's brother, Bryan Spears ($22,500); and Stacy Phillips, Britney's divorce lawyer ($75,000).
All of those fees are for bills accrued through March 31, AP reports.
Also receiving payment as part of the order are Andrew Wallet, a co-conservator of Spears' finances, who will receive $100,000, and Samuel Ingham, Spears' court-appointed attorney. He will receive $10,000 a week through the end of July.
Wallet and Jamie Spears gained conservatorship of the pop singer's estate in late February after escalating crises, including a drawn-out custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline that brought Spears to the brink of collapse and twice landed her in the hospital. Their control over Spears' estate will last until at least July 31.
A conservatorship is a court-appointed legal guardianship, which gives a person or persons total legal control over another individual. That individual, sometimes called a ward, loses control over his or her own affairs when a court declares them unfit to care for their own interests, most often because of age but sometimes due to incapacity or disease.
Among those getting paid are Geraldine Wyle, who represented Brit's father, Jamie, in his bid for conservatorship ($175,000); trust attorney Clark Byam, a lawyer representing Britney's brother, Bryan Spears ($22,500); and Stacy Phillips, Britney's divorce lawyer ($75,000).
All of those fees are for bills accrued through March 31, AP reports.
Also receiving payment as part of the order are Andrew Wallet, a co-conservator of Spears' finances, who will receive $100,000, and Samuel Ingham, Spears' court-appointed attorney. He will receive $10,000 a week through the end of July.
Wallet and Jamie Spears gained conservatorship of the pop singer's estate in late February after escalating crises, including a drawn-out custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline that brought Spears to the brink of collapse and twice landed her in the hospital. Their control over Spears' estate will last until at least July 31.
A conservatorship is a court-appointed legal guardianship, which gives a person or persons total legal control over another individual. That individual, sometimes called a ward, loses control over his or her own affairs when a court declares them unfit to care for their own interests, most often because of age but sometimes due to incapacity or disease.
Jagger unhappy with Scorsese close-ups
Mick Jagger was far from pleased with Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese's close-ups in the new Rolling Stones' concert movie 'Shine a Light'.
According to Contactmusic.com the rocker is largely pleased with the new movie but found it "boring" watching himself on the big screen.
Speaking about the close-up scenes he said: "It was a little bit too much, I felt. But directors always like to use slow numbers [song] to have these lingering shots."
He added: "I didn't care for it too much. Boring. It didn't look very good."
'Shine a Light' opens in Irish cinemas this Friday.
According to Contactmusic.com the rocker is largely pleased with the new movie but found it "boring" watching himself on the big screen.
Speaking about the close-up scenes he said: "It was a little bit too much, I felt. But directors always like to use slow numbers [song] to have these lingering shots."
He added: "I didn't care for it too much. Boring. It didn't look very good."
'Shine a Light' opens in Irish cinemas this Friday.
Actress Samantha Morton tells of secret stroke
British actress Samantha Morton has revealed she suffered a debilitating stroke that kept her out of the limelight for 18 months.
The 'Minority Report' and 'In America' star said she managed to keep her illness a secret with the help of friends and family.
Morton, who had to learn to walk again after the stroke, made a full recovery and gave birth to her second daughter, Edie, in January.
The Nottingham-born star told the Observer that a few days after suffering head injuries when part of the ceiling in her home fell down on her she suffered a stroke.
At the time, in 2006, the world was told Morton had pulled out of a film called 'Transsiberian' because of the ceiling accident, the Observer reported. But the stroke, and her subsequent battle to recover, happened in private.
Morton said she was helped back to health by Spiritualized singer Jason Pierce - who had just got over pneumonia - and his girlfriend Juliette Larche.
Morton told the Observer: "Their friendship knows no bounds. He was the only person I knew who understood what that was like, being near to death."
Morton has since appeared on cinema screens in 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' and as the wife of singer Ian Curtis in 'Control'.
The 'Minority Report' and 'In America' star said she managed to keep her illness a secret with the help of friends and family.
Morton, who had to learn to walk again after the stroke, made a full recovery and gave birth to her second daughter, Edie, in January.
The Nottingham-born star told the Observer that a few days after suffering head injuries when part of the ceiling in her home fell down on her she suffered a stroke.
At the time, in 2006, the world was told Morton had pulled out of a film called 'Transsiberian' because of the ceiling accident, the Observer reported. But the stroke, and her subsequent battle to recover, happened in private.
Morton said she was helped back to health by Spiritualized singer Jason Pierce - who had just got over pneumonia - and his girlfriend Juliette Larche.
Morton told the Observer: "Their friendship knows no bounds. He was the only person I knew who understood what that was like, being near to death."
Morton has since appeared on cinema screens in 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' and as the wife of singer Ian Curtis in 'Control'.
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