THE ATHLETIC NERD

CARS, TRUCKS, TANKS, PLANES, CHASES, FIGHTS, EXPLOSIONS & MORE!

I love action movies. Actually I love movies in every genre… But holy crap do I love action movies! 

Fast Five was an entirely new direction for this explosive franchise but it was Rock solid.  They way this franchise has evolved over 6 films is truly remarkable.  But…  I have to tell you…  If they keep raising the bar like they did with Fast & Furious 6, I don’t know if my brain can handle  Fast & Furious 7,8,9, 10 and beyond!

Much like the series itself, this movie begins with a focus on the importance of family.  Before you know it, you’re right in the middle of a tank battle on the streets of Spain.  The action sequences just kept getting bigger and crazier and the film progressed.  It’s pure fun on the big screen.

Now, I’ve praised the film’s action a lot already but Fast 6 is not without it’s flaws.  This franchise has a reputation for giant plot holes and…  ahem…  convenient character moments.  Not too mention cheesy dialogue and awkward humor.  They are all back in the sixth installment…  But this movie recovers from these moments better than any other film in the franchise.

[Spoiler Alert]

For example, the way they handled Letty was a bit of a let down at first.  Memory loss is an awfully convenient story device to get her back on track.  It’s worth an eye roll or two but the filmmakers don’t let her off the hook so easily.

So many movies feature memory loss and all it takes is a good shot to the head and all is well.  I sat back waiting for Letty to fly out of a car, hit her head and remember everything.  That never happened.

Handling her story this way only strengthened the family theme woven throughout this adrenaline filled tale.  You never turn your back on family.

[End of Spoiler]

Sometimes, it’s okay to switch of and hit the gas!

Luke Evans is my favorite villain of the franchise.  He’s a ruthless and calculating foe who is miles ahead of Dominic and his team at all times.  You can’t raise the bar in terms of action without having a villain worthy of such chaos.  Shaw was everything he needed to be.

The team is all back including The Rock (in his 3rd summer movie of 2013) who is truly a part of this family now.  Dominic, Brian, Roman, Tej and the rest of the gang are all in fine form as well.  But these films are all about fast action and this movie delivers more than you can imagine.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen G.I Joe Retaliation, Oblivion, Pain & Gain, Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness.  Each of these films delivers good action (maybe not G.I Joe) but none of them compare to this if you’re an action junkie.

Fast & Furious 6 is relentless.  The final act is non stop big screen mayhem.  Sometimes, you don’t need a deep story.  Sometimes, it’s okay to switch of and hit the gas!

I’ve always loved BIG action movies.  I’m honestly considering seeing the film second time just to experience that epic final act on the big screen again.  Fast & Furious 6 may not be my favorite film of 2013 thus far but it’s definitely the most fun.  If you love this franchise you don’t need convincing.  If Fast Five didn’t win you back after 2 Fast 2 Furious and Tokyo Drift, I’m willing to bet the sixth installment will.

Fast 6 knows exactly what it should be.  An action movie and it’s a damn good action movie.

Click here for more Reviews.

Excited about this summer’s movies?  Check out this preview of 2014′s biggest blockbusters.

PS: The way they set up Fast 7 in the credits literally made a woman in my theater yell: “Holy Sh*t!”  I knew the reveal was coming and I was still surprised.  This franchise is poised to get even bigger!?  Nice!

AN EPIC NEW TRAILER HAS ARRIVED…  BUT I CAN’T ALLOW MYSELF TO PRESS PLAY

The marketing team behind Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel has done a remarkable job selling the film to audiences.  They sold me after the teaser trailer was released.  Actually, I was probably on board the moment they announced the keys to the franchise were handed to Christopher Nolan.

Little by little, they released epic posters, astonishing images and incredible trailers.  Indeed, Superman is in good hands and I can’t wait for his return to the big screen.

THE BEST SUPERMAN MOVIE EVER?

Time will tell if the latest and easily the most ambitious Superman movie will take it’s place alongside the best superhero movies of all time.  I’m willing to bet it will but something funny happened when they released the latest and presumably final trailer.

I couldn’t bring myself to watch it! I’ve analyzed nearly every Man of Steel trailer they’ve released thus far yet I couldn’t press play.

XTRA | Top 5 Moments: Man of Steel Trailer #2

XTRA | Top 5 Moments: Man of Steel Trailer #3

Honestly, I’m already excited enough for this movie and this new trailer is apparently action packed…

I DON’T NEED TO SEE ANYTHING MORE..  BRING ON THE MOVIE

A while back, I wrote about how major movie villains are revealed in the social media age.  How much information is too much?  Star Trek Into Darkness did a wonderful job disguising a major twist involving the villain.  It was nice to see some information held back.

In regards to Man of Steel, the first 3 trailers did a phenomenal job of showing off the film without giving too much away.  (Including the villainous General Zod) I think that’s why I’m avoiding the fourth trailer.  This is my chance to step back from the marketing and simply wait for the film to come out.  Still, it’s very difficult to avoid this new trailer especially when my favorite sites raved about it:

“We all thought there was no way a trailer could top the last one director Zack Snyder provided us for Man of Steel. At three minutes, even its length was epic. And the action it showed was pure, ass-kicking Superman.  The latest trailer (number four, if you count the teasers as one) is shorter than the previous one but, somehow jam-packed with even more spectacle.” (/FILM)

“While previous trailers focused on the coming-of-age tale of a Kryptonian stranded on Earth and the love between a son and his father, this new cut is chock full of dread, evidenced by Superman drowning in a mountain of skulls.” (Collider)

“Zod narrates this newest trailer, full of never before seen footage. One feeling I get from watching it is that Zod is a very real threat, which is great because Superman is going to kick his ass.” (Geek Tyrant)

“If anything, this trailer puts to rest any doubts that Man of Steel will be anything other than epic. Unlike some previous Superman movies, it looks as if the world’s greatest superhero will be taking on a threat that’s on a scale commensurate with his powers.” (Screen Rant)

I wake up ever morning, read movie news and watch the latest trailers.  Not pressing play is hard but we’re less than a month away from what looks like an unforgettable blockbuster event.  A Superman movie unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.  Man of Steel!

XTRA | 20 Movie Sites You’ll Love

Excited about this summer’s big blockbusters?  Check out 10 of the biggest movies coming out in 2014 here.

TOO MASSIVE FOR YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN!

I still can’t get over it…  This movie exists!?

A movie about giant robots fighting giant monsters created by one of the most imaginative directors of our time; Guillermo Del Toro.

XTRA | Top 5 Moments: Pacific Rim Trailer #1

A new trailer has arrived that’s full of action but also a few intriguing character moments I can’t wait to learn more about.  Could this be a giant robot movie with heart?  If you’ve seen Del Toro’s masterful Pan’s Labyrinth then you already know he brings equal amounts of emotion to go along with his monstrous creations.

The marketing campaign didn’t have to release a trailer this awesome.  They had me at Del Toro…   According to a recent article on /Film, Del Toro had this to say when asked about money shots in his trailers:

“If I showed you all the money shots [in Pacific Rim], you’d have a 70 minute orgasm.”

5. GIMME A HUG

I highly doubt this is in fact intended to be part of an ending where we make peace with the monsters.  These battles look relentless and I’m most definitely okay with that.

4. ELECTRIC MONSTERS, FLYING MONSTERS AND MORE

Kitchen.  Sink…  No other words are necessary.

3. FACE OFF: MAN VS MONSTER

No way in hell am I getting out of a giant robot to face a massive monster on my own…  But this guy does…  Courage? Stupidity? We’ll find out in July

2. GIANT ROBOTS IN SPACE?

These battles take place in the ocean, on the shore, in the snow, in cities AND in space!?

1. IN THE FACE!!!  WITH A BOAT!?

The robot smashes a BOAT into a monsters face.  How will this movie suck?  Give me one good reason why this won’t be FUN to watch on the big screen.  I can’t think of any.

Click here for more Movie Countdowns.

XTRA | Movies That Changed Everything: A 12 Part Series

10 FLICKS | Awesome Looking Movie Villains

HUNDREDS OF SCREENWRITING WEBSITES AWAIT!

As part of The Screenwriting Spark launch, I’ll be showcasing some of the big features the new screenwriting site has to offer thus far.  First up:

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SCREENWRITING WEBSITES

This page is home to hundreds of screenwriting websites, blogs and resources from around the world.  I had a lot of fun researching all of these wonderful sites.  Every entry is given a category so you can find the type of site you’re looking for quickly and easily.

The page itself is separated in alphabetical order but you can also view these sites by category here.

What I love the most about The Ultimate Guide is that it will continue to evolve.  Passionate screenwriters are launching new blogs everyday.  Be sure to submit your site if it’s not part of the guide.

Check out more great features on The Screenwriting Spark here.  Don’t forget to subscribe for email updates on all the latest sparks.

THE HYPE IS BUILDING…

Every summer, as the big movies approach, I always feel like the following summer won’t stack up. In 2012, we got the ultimate superhero team up as Marvel unleashed The Avengers. Christopher Nolan completed his legendary Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises. Spider-Man returned to the big screen with a completely new look. How would 2013 top that?

How about Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Man of Steel, Pacific Rim & The Wolverine?

COUNTDOWN | Top 10 Summer Movies 2013

Now that Marvel’s Cinematic Universe has kicked off with Iron Man 3, I think it’s time to look ahead and see what’s coming. Here are 10 big 2014 summer movies to look forward to:

10. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL

Tom Cruise returns to science fiction after saving the world in 2012′s Oblivion.  All You Need Is Kill is based on a novel of the same name by Hiroshi Sakurazaka with illustrations by Yoshitoshi ABe.  Here is a brief plot description from Amazon.com:

“There’s one thing worse than dying. It’s coming back to do it again and again… When the alien Gitai invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many raw recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to find himself reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On the 158th iteration though, he sees something different, something out of place: the female soldier known as the Bitch of War. Is the Bitch the key to Keiji’s escape, or to his final death?”

Sounds wonderfully strange.

REVIEW | Oblivion, Prometheus, Moon & Independence Day

9. GODZILLA

I loved Gareth Edwards ‘Monster’.  Now he gets to make the mother of all monster movies (with respect to Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim.)  Godzilla is THE monster.  Hopefully they can erase the memory of Roland Emmerich’s 1998 adaptation starring…  Mathew Broderick.

REVIEW | A Monster amount of character

8. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Speaking of erasing bad memories… Rise of the Planet of the Apes was one of my favorite surprises of 2011.  It was a brilliant reboot that made me forget all about Tim Burton’s attempt.  This was Ceasar’s story and I loved his story.  Andy Serkis gave us one of the best motion capture performances of all time.  I can’t wait to see what the apes have planned for us in 2014.

REVIEW | Rise of the Planet of the Apes

7. FAST & FURIOUS 7

Rumor has it, Jason Statham will join the cast for the seventh installment as a villain.  This time, Saw alum James Wan takes over for director Justin Lin.  This series has seen unprecedented longevity and now boasts a cast that may rival The Expendables by Fast 9.  Will see if a new director can keep things fresh for Dom and his team.

XTRA | Fast Five is Rock Solid

6. TRANSFORMERS 4

I loved the first Transformers but I really hated the sequel Revenge of the Fallen.  The third installment was a return to form but now all bets are off.  Michael Bay is currently redesigning Autobots and Decepticons.  He’s bringing in an entirely new cast including Pain & Gain‘s Mark Walberg.

XTRA | Big Blockbuster Blogging: My first Transformers 4

REVIEW | Transformers Dark of the Moon?  Apology accepted Michael Bay

5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDER

Marvel’s Cinematic Universe will certainly get a big boost when Captain America returns to the big screen.  I say that because the film will feature many prominent members of S.H.E.I.L.D.  The organization was one of the main ways Marvel connected their films from Phase One.  S.H.I.E.L.D was absent from Iron Man 3 and more than likely won’t be a major part of Thor: The Dark World either.  This may be the film that updates us on the universe as a whole as well as Captain America’s adjustment to the modern world.

Note: This isn’t technically a summer movie with an April release date but lets face it…  It is.

COUNTDOWN | Top 10 Moments: Marvel’s The Avengers

4. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

I enjoyed The Amazing Spider-Man.  The reboot managed to retell Peter Parker’s origin story without feeling like a shot for shot remake.  Andrew Garfield IS Spider-Man now.  His next challenge?  How about Jamie Foxx as Electro and Paul Giamatti as Rhino?  Not too mention the first appearances of Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn and his famous father Norman.

This has all the makings of a fantastic summer movie.

XTRA | Larger Than Life Movie Villains Revealed!

3. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

When Brett Ratner created X-Men: The Last Stand…  He literally destroyed the series.  Major characters were killed off and the whole thing felt like a rushed mess.  When you do that, it’s pretty difficult to create a sequel.  What did they do?  They brought in Matthew Vaughn to create a prequel.  The result was X-Men: First Class.  A fantastic movie that reminded us that the X-Men franchise has a lot left to give.

I don’t think anyone saw Bryan Singer returning for the follow up.  Regardless, the man who brought the X-Men to life before Ratner killed them all is back!  Now we get to see mutants from the past and present in one giant movie.  It may not be as big as The Avengers but this movie will definitely flex it’s Superhero muscle.

2. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

I still can’t believe this movie is happening.  I grew up with Ninja Turtles.  I had the action figures, the bed sheets, the Halloween costumes…  You name it.  I absolutely love the movies as well. (The first two at least.)  The thought of seeing the Turtles in a new live action movie with TODAY’S technology is thrilling to say the least.  The child in me is smiling.  I’ll be there on opening day.

XTRA | Hey! Jonathan Liebesman!  How about some Ninja Turtles Concept Art!

XTRA | Why the new Ninja Turtles movie is off to a great start

XTRA | Awesome Ninja Turtles Fan Art

1. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Who are The Guardians of the Galaxy?  I struggled putting this above Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but it’s the unknown that intrigues me.  What does Marvel have up it’s sleeve?  No doubt this film will set the stage for The Avengers 2 and the villain Thanos.  Big superhero movies are normally reserved for well known franchises.  This is definitely a risk but I’m on board.  I love the idea of a Marvel movie set in space with characters I know nothing about.

XTRA | I’m glad I don’t know anything about Guardians of the Galaxy

COUNTDOWN | Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Two: 10 Things I’m looking forward to.

XTRA | Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Two Round Up

Which Summer movie are you excited for?