Okay, here we are with our inaugural edition of Hyped Up!TM And there’s two souped up action super flicks on my mind… (you are invited to join us in the forums afterwards to discuss this article, unregistered users as well)Both of these movies fit Hyped Up!TM In more than one sense… The Transporterevilaxel’s Assessment
The first is THE TRANSPORTER – the new Luc Besson flick, which was previously scheduled for a quiet release more than a month ago… it was shoved ahead to a new slot, this Friday. Why? To give more HYPE!. Apparently the studio bigheads were expecting a pedestrian action film along the lines of old Van Damme flicks like DOUBLE TEAM. Once they saw Besson’s kinetic and highly marketable final cut, and realized the high star potential of new leading man Jason Statham, they decided to put some muscle behind the film.I personally cannot wait. Besson is a personal fave from way back, and I am looking forward to a return to the hardcore action of LA FEMME NIKITA and LEON, THE PROFESSIONAL. Besson’s last few movies have been entertaining, THE FIFTH ELEMENT was cool, but a little too popcorny and way too focused on J.P.Gautier’s costume design. THE MESSENGER kicked some serious historical Ace, and Milla Jovovich gave the performance of a lifetime, but it was long-winded and ponderous in all the wrong places. If Besson is headed back to his 90’s action heyday, you won’t hear any complaints from me. And a better low-profile leading man could not be found. Jason Statham has come so close, so many times since LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS. He is an insanely charismatic dude, and more than a little reminiscent of a cranky DIE HARD prime Bruno Willis.I say bring it on, biozitches!!
Shane’s Assessment
Jason Statham’s been in, what, 5 movies? Now he’s starring in his own action flick. That’s some pretty quick work. The big exec’s at Fox were smart pushing this film back to give it more hype. I spent a little time in chat rooms this week figuring out how people felt about The Transporter. Let’s just say it looks good. As soon as I mentioned it I received a flurry of replies about how excited people were to see this movie. How hot they think Statham is and so on.I do hope that Luc Besson pulled his head out of his butt and directed an awesome flick. From what I’ve seen in the trailers I’m psyched up to see this one.
Knockaround Guysevilaxel’s Assessment
The second flick on my waiting and waiting list, is KNOCKAROUND GUYS. This movie has been lying around since before there was dirt. Originally filmed in the fall of 99′, it was endlessly rescheduled and re-shelved during the steady decline of New Line Cinema from it’s mid-90’s high to the fast drop to desperation and it’s last minute reprieve on the heels of LORD OF THE RINGS. Now that the almighty LOTR has saved the day for the studio, and the young semi-known turks who star in the film are newly minted superstars, they’re ready to release.Written and Directed by Brian Koppelman and his childhood friend David Levien, who co-wrote the tremendous Matt Damon flick ROUNDERS. The pair say that the story is based on the ‘sons of wiseguys’ that they grew up around. Spoiled and irresponsible wannabe tough-guys.The story intrigues me – exactly the kind of high concept cheeky nouveaux noir that I love. 4 sons of NYC mobsters lose a big bag of cash and have to retrieve it from a corrupt small-town Sheriff. Good start. Add a cast of young actors about to burst. Gettin’ there. Throw in a couple of serious heavy hitters. Now ya got me!Back in 99′, nobody knew who the hell Vin Diesel, Barry Pepper or Seth Green where. They were still those guys you might recognize from something or other – hard to place, but for us serious movie-geeks, they were up and comers. Pepper and Diesel were small but interesting bit players in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, and Pepper had seen small action in TITANIC and ENEMY OF THE STATE. Seth Green had been turning in memorable performances since THE HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE when he was 10 years old, but had yet to really hit his stride as a recognizable actor.Flash forward to 2002 – Diesel is the worlds newest moviemega star after proto- tough guy leading roles in PITCH BLACK, FAST AND THE FURIOUS and XXX. Barry Pepper had solidified his spot as a new talent with roles in THE GREEN MILE and WE WERE SOLDIERS as well as a masterful performance in *61 as Roger Maris. Seth Green turned a bit part as Dr.Evil’s rebellious son Scotty Evil in AUSTIN POWERS into a franchise standby as well as showing up in almost every comedy filmed in 2000 and 2001, the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE TV show, voice work on FAMILY GUY and his short-lived sitcom GREG THE BUNNY. All of a sudden, these three guys are everywhere.Just as a novelty with these guys appearing in a movie together, I would be looking forward to it. With the cast being filled out by Dennis Hopper, John Malkovich and Tom Noonan. I am there, no question.
Shane’s Assessment
Could this movie have been put off any longer? I mean I saw trailers for this around a year and half ago then it simply dropped off the radar. Not that I’m upset or anything, but I was looking forward to seeing Diesel in the film way back before The Fast and the Furious or xXx came out. If I’m not mistaken this was suppose to come out shortly after El Diablo, now re-named This Man’s Dominion was scheduled for release, which was also pushed back.That being said. I guess I should be that upset, because as time passed these once unknowns have hit some home runs. At least now when I drop the name Barry Pepper or Seth Green the standard movie go-er know what I’m talking about. And how many people out there aren’t aware of Vin Diesel, one of my fav actors, after his ‘surprise hit’ The Fast and the Furious.As you can probably tell by now I am Hyped Up!TM to see this film. Just the cast alone should make you excited about this film whether you know the storyline or not.
