The second compilation – the three-disc “1992-2012 Anthology” – radically updates the band’s previous singles compilation by complimenting 16 full-length Underworld classics with nine rare/previously unreleased tracks. From pre-”dubnobasswithmyheadman” outtakes through to newly mixed live recordings, 1992-2012 Anthology’s third disc is an essential purchase for any Underworld fan.

Both compilations are available now.

In December 2011, Underworld were announced as Music Directors for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The appointment sees Rick and Karl reunited with the ceremony’s Artistic Director Danny Boyle as they continue their 15-year relationship. The band have previously worked with Boyle on the films Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach and Sunshine and, most recently, the hugely acclaimed British theatrical production of Frankenstein.

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As if the Mission: Impossible theme song could get ANY better. Of course it can… when Tiësto gets his hands on it. I haven’t seen the movie, and while I am not typically into movies like this, I will more than likely go see it. I really want to see it because part of this is filmed in Dubai. I haven’t been there either, but soon. Tiger has won there… so it’s like a calling. Anyway, Tiësto has taken the popular theme song and turned it into a masterpiece. It was already a great track to begin with, but now this. I just can’t get enough of this track. The video is pretty slick too. Obviously it takes a few scenes from the movie, but matched with the high beats per minute… it’s just a great tune. The song was written by Lalo Schifrin, but Tiësto makes this track the bomb.

Have you seen the movie? What did you think of the film?

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Going in, I hadn’t seen the trailer, had no idea what it was about (I assumed the FBI) and didn’t even know who was in it. I was in for a surprise.

The film was directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Dustin Lance Black, and starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, and Naomi Watts. The cast was stellar, but I am not a huge fan of what Eastwood pumps out. I really hate it when he directs and stars in the same film. But I didn’t even know he was associated with this picture until it was over.

J. Edgar didn’t really have a plot. It would be best described as a documentary. It was pretty much the story of J. Edgar Hoover. The one thing I did like was how they told the story. It was told as Edgar (that’s what his friends called him in the movie) was dictating his manuscript. The story went back and forth in time, and I liked how they made the actors look young and old depending on where they were in his story. It’s a unique take on it, and had the movie not been so long, I could see that being more effective.

ACTION! Oh wait…

The movie didn’t have much action. There was a scene in the beginning of the film where a bomb went off… that made me jump a little. But that was about it. It was a lot of banter with the characters, and a lot of detail on who J. Edgar was as a person. They did focus on some of the things that he was famous for. For instance, I had no idea he was the one who came up with the Dewey Decimal System. (Wikipedia gives the credit to someone else, but the movie makes it seem as if he was the one who invented that system.)

Hoover is also responsible for fingerprinting… it was actually pretty funny, as when they were going over this in the movie people were mocking him, making fun of this concept. That concept is used today, and has managed to put justice to endless crimes. Not such a bad idea after all! It was just neat to see all of these things that he was responsible for. That… and the Federal Bureau of Investigation! That’s a pretty big deal, if I do say so myself!

Oh so BORING!

The movie was really long, and VERY boring. I am pretty sure my favorite cousin Chris fell asleep during the movie. It was too long, there was not enough action, and it just seemed like the movie dragged on and on. Every time that I thought it would be over, and the story came to a potential closing point it just started back up again. It did that four or five times. I kept waiting, when all of a sudden it was over. I knew it was getting close when Edgar died.

It wasn’t a bad movie. The acting was great, and the makeup was incredible. But it was just too long. I wanted more… more of a story, and more development. There are some things Hoover is known for (that I learned after seeing the movie) like his potential homosexuality and his cross-dressing habits. That was touched on in the movie, but never focused on. Those are the things I now want to learn more about.

If you are a history buff, go see the movie. You will like it… especially if you are into the FBI and the likes of J. Edgar Hoover. Leo did a GREAT job with this, and I am sure he will win an award or two for his work here. It’s not his best work, but after Titanic his career has just gone downhill! (No, really… I loved that movie. Did you know they are bringing that movie back in 3D? Yeah… I know. Dumb!)

Since I rate this movie in terms of popcorn kernels, I have to give this a 2/5. The acting is good, like I said, but there isn’t enough there to keep me entertained for more than a few minutes. If you want to see this, I would suggest saving your money and waiting until it’s on DVD. It’s not a blockbuster like Immortals or Twilight. (For the record, I have not seen the new Twilight. I have no plans on seeing it, either.)

Did you see J. Edgar? What did you think?

This is where Conan The Barbarian begins. Conan is literally born into the battlefield and fighting seems to be all he cares about, except for his father played by Ron Perlman. Perlman is only on screen for a short amount of time but he appears to be bored teaching his son how to become the ultimate warrior. His village, and his father, are destroyed by a deadly warrior by the name of Khalar Zim, who just wants the missing piece of a mask so he can resurrect his late wife and become all powerful.

Fast forward years later and Conan is now an adult, seeking revenge for his father’s death. As Conan, Jason Momoa has the body but his acting is atrocious. All of his dialogue seems forced and the chemistry he has with Tamara, played by Rachel Nichols, is nonexistent. There is one scene they have… it’s just awkward and badly choreographed.

In all reality, the only one who seems to be having any fun while also knowing how terrible the movie is, is Rose McGowan. As Marique, the daughter of Khalar Zim, she is over the top and looks like she belongs in the Star Wars universe.

In conclusion, Conan The Barbarian feels like it should be a cheesy mini-series for the sci-fi channel rather than a two-hour movie. The acting is bad, the dialogue is worse (you look like a harlot) and the editing is choppy. Save your money and if you must see it, wait until it’s on cable.

*This blog post was written by Kyle Brooks.

Before we get started, where did you guys come up with the name? Is there an actual red wire that I should know about?

The name was just a name thought up by AJ after he watched a movie in which a character was disarming a bomb.  Ergo, “Don’t Cut The Red Wire.”

Do you guys even like the color red?

(AJ) It’s my favorite color.

(Banta) Same for me due to my IU ties.

(Jones) I actually prefer the colors orange and blue.

(Stemle) I am a fan of blue and almost anything but red in most things other than The Red Wire.

Where are you guys originally from?

Alex, AJ, and Banta are from Franklin, Indiana.

(Stemle) Jasper, Indiana is home to me, but that was after I was adopted at two months old from Brazil, South America.

How did you guys all meet?

We all knew each other from high school, except for Stemle, who we found via a craigslist post while looking for a singer!

You guys are about to release a new CD. Tell me about that project. What was it like producing that and what are your goals with the new release?

It is very exciting releasing our first CD.  We are hoping it goes over very well.  AJ recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced it. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun. Our goals are to get our music out to as many people as we can and have them enjoy it.  We want people to listen to some rock and roll in its simple blues progressed form.

You guys recently played a show with Glass Halo. Those guys performed on the last rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks. Are you guys excited with the turnout at the last six for six?

Definitely! We actually have a friend in Eyes on Fire and were are excited to play with everyone. The crowd was another thing we were looking forward to. SO MANY PEOPLE!!! It was a great opportunity to play in front of a lot of new people and in front of many sponsors.

Speaking of six for six, that was also your CD release party.

We gave everyone a free CD that bought a ticket from us. It’s really more of a thank you for supporting local music and The Red Wire. We appreciate our fans so why not give back to them?

(AJ) We are pretty proud of the work we will have put into this CD release and we want to share our excitement with everyone else.

Who writes all of the lyrics?

The majority of the lyrics are written by AJ and Chris. The basic rule of thumb for us is that if you write the song (instrumentally) you better have some lyrics for it. However, everyone contributes to the song writing process giving feedback and helping with changes, so in a way we all do.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

Led Zeppelin, White Stripes, Wolfmother, Rage Against The Machine, Beatles, Son House, Parlor Mob, The Black Keys, AC/DC… anyone who actually rocks. Stemle’s biggest influence is DMB which gives us a different look at our music which is good.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music? Is so, what do you do for a living?

(AJ) I work at NGS. The last job I had was Desktop Analyst for Greenwood Community School Corporation.

(Banta) I’m a tutor at Broad Ripple High School.

(Jones) I am a GM at Ritter’s Frozen Custard.

(Stemle) Working for a company called Smartravel. Anyone need a vacation?

You guys pretty much have the social networks covered… in your opinion, how has the Internet changed the way people absorb music?

It’s pretty much the only way people absorb music anymore. Vinyl is making a bit of a comeback, but for the most part it is all electronically purchased, sold, or stolen.

(AJ) I personally think it’s one of the greatest things ever. If you just listened to a song that you have no idea who it is from, or what it is called, you can easily find it online. It’s so easy…

(Banta) I love how easy the Internet has made accessing music. However, there is nothing like holding that tangible peace of music in your hands. You can’t beat it.

Do you guys ever play outside of the Circle City?

We have played all over Indiana! We love Indiana! We have also played in Ketucky as well. We are always looking for somewhere new to play though!

You have some pretty sweet graphics out there… I really like The Red Wire EP cover. Who designed that? Do you have the same graphic designer for all your concert posters?

We (the band) did the EP cover in a just a short amount of time. When we produced the EP it was more of a test run for this CD that is coming out. The cases were just pieces of cardboard bent in half and had the logo RW spray painted on them; we reused CD sleeves from software that had been used. It was about as DIY as you could be.

(Banta) I generally make all of our show posters out of a joy to make things that hopefully look professional and catch the eye. With the Internet being the main source of promotion for any band, it’s important that your product doesn’t look like trash. That’s why we I made an EP digital design even though it didn’t make its way to print.

Our CD that is coming out looks a million times better and was designed by Chris Lantz.  It looks extraordinary and we are really pleased with the work he has done for us. Thanks Chris Lantz!

Where do you guys practice?

At the moment we are practicing at the Noblitt residence garage.

Describe your genre in one word.

Rock.

Tell me a little bit more about your relationship with Spotlight Entertainment.

We played in a Spotlight Entertainment show.

So whom have you been listening to lately? What’s on your iPod?

(Jones) Kesha, Incubus, Chris Brown, KINGS OF LEON, AWOLNATION, Cage the Elephant.

(Stemle) Dave Matthews, David Grey, Mumford and Sons and Michael Franti.

(AJ) I’ve been listening to this CD we are releasing for about the past three months trying to get it ready. Other than that, I’ve really been listening to The Heavy. They are awesome.

(Banta) I tend to stick to a lot of rock n roll and blues rock. A steady dose of The White Stripes, Nobunny, The Black Keys, and Band of Skulls have been delicious.

I bet it gets hot up there on stage… what are you drinking while you perform?

Water mostly… nothing is better for the stage.

What’s the last movie you saw?

(Banta) Captain America.

(AJ, Jones, Stemle) Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 2.

Was it any good?

(Banta) Captain America was very tasteful. I’m kind of a Captain America nerd so I was impressed by how well the movie was put together.

(AJ) I thought it was good. Had a lot of parts that were needlessly changed from the book. Other than that I gave it a B+.

(Jones) HARRY POTTER WAS REALLY GOOD!

(Stemle) Phenomenal!

There are a TON of great concerts coming to Indy this year. What shows are you looking forward to this season?

(AJ) Muse was incredible.

(Stemle) Elton John, no doubt!

(Jones) I’m really looking forward to Incubus. I WAS looking forward to Ke$ha and Kings of Leon.

(Banta) I was looking forward to Flatfoot 56, and then we were informed we get to open for them so now I’m even more stoked!

So two guys in the band have the same name… does that ever get confusing?

I suppose it could to anyone who doesn’t know who we are, but to us it isn’t at all. Everyone in the band goes by their last name except AJ. To us, it’s Jones, Stemle, Banta, and AJ. Don’t know why it worked out this way, it just did.

Do you guys play any cover songs, or is it all original stuff?

We try to keep it all original, but the crowd does love a cover. We stick to songs that are in what we deem our genre to be. White Stripes, Tracy Chapman, etc…  blues rock..

Let’s go back to concerts here for a second… what’s the best concert you have ever been to?

(Banta) Nobunny at the Bishop or The Black Keys at Bogarts in Cincinnati. Nobunny shows simply embody how a rock n roll show is supposed to be.

(Stemle) Dave Matthews Band Caravan this year in Chicago, three days of nonstop music of all genres, absolutely epic!

(Jones) CAGE THE ELEPHANT. Those guys know how to rock and the front man is very entertaining. THEY SOUND GREAT LIVE!

(AJ) My favorite concerts have to be a tie between the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Verizon Wireless Music Center or Tool at Verizon. Possibly one of the many times I’ve seen the Counting Crows.

What’s a typical Friday night look like for The Red Wire?

If we aren’t playing, it’s typically spent partying, being lazy, or playing Halo.

Have you guys heard of Spotify yet? Did you get an invite?

No, I don’t believe so.

How do you guys stay motivated from one day to the next? What keeps you coming back to the stage night after night?

In general, we all love to play music. Having a good time is essential and we push that hard in our live shows. As far as a career goes, it would be the first choice for all of us. There isn’t motivation.  It’s a drive.

Where is The Red Wire in five years?

Selling out venues and pavilions playing to thousands.

(Jones) ALSO, PROBABLY PLAYING OVERSEAS. THINK BIG!

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

We are nice guys who want to have fun, play music, and enjoy life. If we can get one person to get something out of our music/lyrics, all of us will consider ourselves a success.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

We are a rock and roll band. We are that and that only.

(Jones) IT’S JUST BEEN REVOKED!

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This movie brought out a lot of raw emotion in me that I had buried since going through cancer. For one, everyone wants you to stay positive all of the time. The chemo can give you such depressive thoughts and you have to face the fact that you might not survive. I didn’t call it depression, I called it facing reality. I chose to get everything in line in case I didn’t survive. The movie shows Adam’s journey through all the emotions of cancer/chemo and facing a possible death sentence. He goes through the highs of medicinal marijuana to the lows of puking from the chemo.

Focusing on the Details

My only complaints about the movie are small details. For one, why didn’t Adam lose or at least get his eyebrows thinned out while on chemo? Do you ever see cancer patients that are bald from treatment but have bushy eyebrows? No, chemo attacks all the fast growing cells in the body including all hair follicles and nails. Second, this would have been a GREAT opportunity for any of the number of foundations that help young adults facing cancer to be mentioned. I personally, am a fan of i2y.com (aka I’m too young for this aka stupidcancer.com). This is a site started by a man who faced brain cancer as a young adult and couldn’t find any resources dedicated helping young adults with cancer. This site is actually the first place I heard about the movie 50/50 several months ago. Also, livestrong.com is a huge organization and has a section dedicated just to young adults. Lance Armstrong was mentioned in the movie but not his foundation.

I found this movie was entertaining, emotional and endearing. The audience clapped when the movie ended and I will admit I was one of them. With having Seth Rogan in the movie and as producer, of course there is a lot of language and drug references. So it is not for the ultra-conservative. I left feeling good about the movie and it’s stayed on my mind for the past several days as I remember my illness and the feelings that I went through and still go through from battling cancer. I would give it a 5/5!

This was a guest blog post written by Kristie Williams.

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I have to know… what’s with the A in your name. That’s not like any other A I have ever seen.

The Δ is technically the Greek Delta symbol, 4^th letter of the Greek alphabet, which also serves a multitude of mathematical, alchemical and magical properties.  I started using in lieu of the traditional ‘A’ as more of a graphic treatment for my name – it presents a little bit of a problem when people search for me though, not many folks are familiar with the shortcut to the delta symbol.

Really digging the new single Terrible Heart. I really like the lyrics, too. Did you write those? Do you write all of your own lyrics?

Glad you like it! Terrible Heart actually started off as a poem (strictly) before we set it to music. Most of my songs start as sketches for poems or free thought. I write all the lyrics to my songs.

Tell me a little bit more about Hands Down EP.

Hands Down is the first single off my record Narcissus Drowned – it was one of the first songs I recorded for this project, so it felt right to release it as the single leading the charge. I feel like the remixes also lend different insight into the song – each mix feels like a different incarnation.

You are from San Diego… where the weather is pretty much always perfect. Now you are in New York. Why the move from one coast to the other?

I always knew that I would end up in NYC. I have a fairly nostalgic view of life here; my family is originally from New York, so in some ways I guess I came back to my ancestral roots. I also bought into the mythology of NYC when I was a kid… It’s probably why I live in the East Village now, it’s still gritty and raw everyone here looks like they stepped out of a Maripol Polaroid. I love it. San Diego is beautiful, and I will always consider it “home”; I do miss the easy lifestyle (and the beach) but my pulse is set to the speed of this City.

Tell me about your relationship with AZTEC Records Ltd.

The relationship with AZTEC happened very organically. They had been on my radar for quite some time – and oddly enough a friend approached me about them before we had even asked for an introduction. I respect the fact that both Ariel and Laura are brilliant musicians themselves, it’s important to work with other creatives who understand both the logistics of the business and the artistic process. They are committed to assembling a solid roster of talent and I wanted to be a part of that community.

You have a new album coming out here pretty soon. Tell me a little bit more about producing Narcissus Drowned.

Narcissus Drowned is a biopic, like pages out of some kind of an aural journal – it chronicles thoughts and memories. Producing this record was a bit of a feat – the bulk of the record was recorded in Nashville, with production support coming in from all over the world. Terrible Heart was written in a matter of hours at my friend Scott’s place in San Francisco, Narcissus Drowned was produced in Barcelona… I am lucky that I have a band of patient and amazingly talented producers and musicians who contributed to the project, it couldn’t have happened in just one time zone.

Who are some of your biggest influences, in both life and in music

I am influenced by so many artists musically it’s hard to narrow it down to a select few; the genius will always Michael Jackson, but musically I could list Nina Simone,  fado singer and powerhouse vocalist Mariza, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Madonna, Jeff Buckley, Jaques Brel… Kylie… It’s a very eclectic mix. In life, I’d say some of my biggest influences have been family and friends. My great aunt Mae (who I reference in Sinner & The Saint) probably had the biggest impact on me… My older brother, my sister, teachers… Dan Savage.

Is that your hand on the cover of Hands Down EP?

Yes, that is my hand. I had to pose for that piece. The image is actually an oil painting, part of a triptych that I had commissioned for the album by artist Stephen Workman.

Do you have a job outside of music?

I do. I own and operate a small consulting business specializing in advertising production and brand imaging. It affords me the opportunity to stay involved in various parts of the industry while funding my music career. In this business you’d be remiss not to have several irons in the fire.

Do you tour very often? What can someone expect from a live show?

The bulk of the last two years has been spent recording, so a tour would be great – but there is some leg work that needs to be done in order to pull that off. Previous shows have been more vocal/down tempo… with me; you can always expect to be entertained. I love being on stage, and I love singing. There’s no lip-syncing going on at an Angelo show – this stuff is live.

Who are you listening to these days? What’s on your iPod?

I’ve got Lady Gaga’s Born This Way album on regular rotation (there are some real gems there), but I’m also listening to a lot of Iron and Wine, Bach and older Janet Jackson. Sometimes when I’m in a writing phase I can get distracted by current music, so I need to peel it back a bit. I’m currently in a bit of a writing phase so I’m actively avoiding the radio.

What’s It Gets Better, and how are you affiliated with that project?

The It Gets Better Campaign is a virtual YouTube phenomenon – started by columnist/writer Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller in reaction to the rash of suicides among LGBTQ students. The videos (or testimonials) have been submitted from people from all walks of life, encouraging viewers to re-think or reassess their circumstance if they were contemplating suicide or endangering themselves. It’s become a virtual outlet of resources for people who may not have had access or knowledge of them before. I felt a responsibility to put my own message out there in the hopes it would find its way onto someone’s computer screen. Later, when Dan’s team reached out to ask if they could include an essay of mine to be published in the book chronicling the messages of support from the campaign – I felt extremely honored.  I had the chance to meet Dan and Terry in NYC at the book release event, Dan is definitely a personal hero of mine and he proves that just one person with an idea can make a huge impact, something that we all need to be reminded of.

You seem to have all the social networks covered. Who runs all of those accounts? Do you have a favorite social site?

I always think that I have room for improvement when it comes to social media, but most everything is run and managed by me. I have a few friends and a couple people that I bring on board for support, but I am essentially a one-man show.  Right now I’m seriously addicted to Twitter.

How many tattoos do you have?

Much to the chagrin of someone who shall remain nameless, I have 15 different tattoos.

I just LOVE that graphic for Terrible Heart. Who designed that?

Eric Scot shot the image, and I did the layout and the design for the cover.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

I’d be in the shower. Or at the gym.

I love the beach… what was the purpose of the Malibu photo shoot?

That was the first shoot that Eric Scot and I did together. It was originally meant to be an update to my portfolio/book – as someone in the arts it’s important to keep images of yourself updated every time you make a change (even a haircut) – I went through about seven months of training to gain about twenty pounds of mass – so I needed to update my book.  It wasn’t my intention to have pin-up-boy pictures floating around the Internet, but a few sites picked up the shots and the rest is history. I recently saw myself on a flyer for a club night in Brazil… I’ve never been to Brazil, so let that be a lesson to you.

Speaking of that photo shoot… you must work out a LOT! How do you keep that figure? (That’s coming from a guy who hasn’t seen the inside of a gym in years!)

I’m actually quite lean and because of my body type if I don’t workout I drop weight very quickly. On average I workout at least five days a week, it’s something I actively have to build into my schedule.

What’s the last movie you saw? Looking forward to any blockbusters this summer?

I cannot remember the last movie I saw in a theater.  I saw Gnomeo & Juliet on the plane from LA recently. I quite enjoyed that. I’m excited to see the last Harry Potter… I think that’s about it.

You have been able to get pretty much instant international exposure. How cool is that having your tunes heard all over the planet?

It’s fairly surreal to know that even a few people outside of my network of friends know about me or my music. I have received really amazing messages on Facebook and Twitter from people who are really enjoying the music. That means everything to me. I am hoping I can reach an even broader audience.

In your opinion, how has the Internet changed the way people absorb music?

Well, everything can be accessed instantly, so in some ways it takes some of the anticipatory build or pageantry out of the business, which was part of the fun part… the digital world has forever lifted the veil. Then again, I think it’s forcing people to move with the technology to supply music in ways that could have never been thought of before. I don’t think can even guess how the Internet will really change the business of music yet… we’re still figuring it out.

From the looks of it, you have traveled all over the globe. How many stamps do you have on your passport?

Well I lived in Europe for a bit, so I did a lot of country hopping then, but I’ve been able to sneak away to several places recently and I’m hoping that will continue… the goal would be to travel AND perform… I’m SO ready for that.

Is that Michael Jackson I hear?

I am sure it is… the song is called ΔNGELO VS MICHAEL. I wrote a song about Michael Jackson called Time Bomb and after his death I approached Buffetlibre to do a mashup with Billie Jean – you can download it for free on my SoundCloud account… it’s pretty kick-ass.

Speaking of the King of Pop, how did you react to the news of his passing? Will anyone even challenge what he has done for music?

I was on a photo shoot in LA when I heard. The entire studio froze it was if no one believed it… in true Angelo fashion I had been playing MJ tunes all day that day, so it was eerily too close to home. That night my friend Chris picked me up and we went to Hollywood Blvd. to see the makeshift memorial that people had spontaneously put up on his star on the Walk of Fame. I was totally numbed by the whole experience.

Let’s move forward in time a little bit here… where do you see yourself in five years?

I see a lot of things in my five year plan… but if I tell you all of it, what fun would that be for you?

When this is all said and done, what do you want to be remembered for? What’s the ΔNGELO legacy?

I want to contribute to a healthier, more socially conscious, self-actualizing world. Artistically I would like my music, words etc. to reach people – provide them with even one pure moment of connection –and in terms of my life’s goals, I want to make a positive effect on others… be a good brother, spouse, dad, friend, patron, goofball.

In all of the interviews that I do, I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Rutabaga!

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Taking a Step Back

Before I get too far into this one, let’s take a moment to talk about the first two. The first Transformers movie was incredible, pushing the limit with big fight scenes, cars that transformed into the Autobots (hence the name of both the movie and the machines) and just the sheer “in your face” factor. The second one, however, felt rushed, had some pretty weak acting, and a storyline that felt unfinished. Now we move to a third, and hopefully final, chapter.

Ehren Kruger, who has also worked on films such as The Ring, Arlington Road, and Scream 3, wrote the script. (Not sure why he wrote Scream 3, having not touched the first two.) Unless you have been living under a rock, you are aware that Michael Bay was the one who directed this film. He has worked on some pretty epic films, including the first two Transformers, Pearl Harbor, and Armageddon. Pretty much every film he touches turns to gold.

How did we get here?

I don’t mean that in the literal sense… but for this film in particular. At the start of this movie, you are pretty much told exactly what happened… you hear (and see) part of the back-story, are shown the actual crash on the moon, and even are walked through the moon landing that supposedly happened in 1969. (I still don’t think we have been to the moon… but this isn’t the time or the place for that discussion.)

Then you are back with Sam, in his carefree unemployed ways. Of course, he is dating a hottie, played by English starlet Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. She replaced Megan Fox as the lead female role. (Rosie used to be a Victoria’s Secret model.) Megan Fox has moved on to “bigger and better things” including some movies we have never heard of and a TV show that I have never seen.)

The Acting, in General

The acting is no better than before, and that’s okay. You don’t need great acting when the Autobots are doing more of the on-screen time anyway. I do love the voice of some of these robots. A couple of them have that priceless “million dollar voice” that some actors dream for. Especially Peter Cullen, who pays the voice of Optimus Prime. (He also did the voice for Ironhide in the first Transformers.)

Leonard Nimoy makes an appearance as well. How can you not LOVE that man’s voice?

The humans are just mediocre. Shia is a pretty solid actor, and he doesn’t disappoint. You can always expect a pretty good performance from Patrick as well. But nothing in the film really got me on the edge of my seat. Not that I expected it to… I didn’t come expecting great acting. I came for the Autobots… and the 3D. (Yes, the movie is in 3D. Of course it is in 3D.)

The Machines Are Taking Over

I was impressed with the special effects relating to the Autobots. The first two have actually impressed me as well, and while this one wasn’t all that different, the machines looked more polished, the transformations seemed more streamlined, and the characters just seemed to mold together better. I do feel like they had WAY too much action in this film, though. There are too many scenes that feature the same repetitive fighting that we are used to.

They do introduce us to some new characters, but again nothing worth talking about. The focus is on the good guys here, and their battle for normalcy.

There are a couple of scenes that stood out. There are several fight scenes, but the one scene that sticks out in my mind is the final fight scene. There are several Autobots in this fight, but toward the end one of the robots begins to bleed… I didn’t know transformers could bleed. (Also, speaking of that… when a car turns into a robot the size of a building, where did the extra material come from? The cars are not that big. Not even the semi trailer.)

You’re Kidding… It’s in 3D?

Of course it’s in 3D. Nearly every movie that comes out anymore is in 3D. The new Smurfs movie is in 3D for goodness sake. But I will admit, if I liked anything about this movie, it was that… the 3D effects. I have yet to be impressed with 3D, but they did it right in this film. It’s not overdone, never obnoxious, and simply fits the film in every sense of the way 3D could. You are never overcome by it, and the times where it appears they are going overboard, you are quickly brought back down to reality.

You won’t catch me saying that very often. The last movie that was even decent regarding 3D visual effects was Avatar. But I will admit, Transformers: Dark of the Moon pulled it off.

Sweet Home Chicago

Part of this film was shot in Washington, DC. I actually learned, just today, that my good friend Steve Hill was an extra in one of the scenes shot in DC. Unless his name is in the credits, I am not sure I can believe him… but how cool is that? I wonder if he got paid…

The other half of the movie was shot in Chicago. I actually got the chance to see them film some of this. We were in Chicago during their last day of shooting, actually. Toward the end of the movie they were literally destroying the streets of Chicago, and I kept saying to myself, “I have been there… I know where that is… I have eaten there!” It was cool to relate to the film having been in the same city while they filmed part of it.

I could spend all day talking about the movie, but let’s wrap this up… the movie is decent at best. I loved the first one. I liked the second one. And I wouldn’t pay to see this one… (I got the ticket at The Beer Sellar as a pint promotion they were running last Monday night. If you bought a pint of beer – $3 on Monday nights – you got a free ticket to see the movie.)

If you have seen the first two, go see it. But if you are just looking for something to do this weekend, skip it. There are plenty of other good movies on the big screen that you will enjoy more than this. Plus, the movie is 2.5 hours long. Honestly, they could have made it 1.5 hours and told the same story just as well. Our time is precious, and I would rather read or write than watch another Autobot fight scene.

Again, I have to give a shout out to my good friend Brad Rockwood for giving me this new rating system… Transformers: Dark of the Moon gets 2/5 kernels. I’ll see you at the box office soon!

Have you seen the first two? Did you see the new one? What did you think?

What Went Wrong

Since I am notorious for giving movies bad reviews, I am going to try something different. I have been paying close attention to Mark Dubec over the last couple years, and that guy knows how to give movies a fair review. So rather than ripping on the film, I will tell you what I liked, what I didn’t like (and why) as well as whether I think you should see it in the theaters, wait until it comes out on DVD, or if you should see it in the first place.

(I am actually going to try a new rating system. I am still going to rate it on a scale of 1 to 5, but my good buddy Brad Rockwood asked me today, “How many “kernels” did it get?” He was kidding, of course, and meant it in terms of popcorn kernels. I laughed out loud, and thought… that’s not a bad idea! So below, you will see my rating in Ricky Kernels!)

Over the last few years, special effects are what drive people to seats. Whether it’s in 3D or not, movies are always trying to outdo the last blockbuster. This movie, on the other hand, goes backward… offering up some HORRIBLE special effects. There are times where it is obvious they are filming on a green screen. There are times, several times actually, that it is so bad it’s almost laughable. The acting is also terrible. I mean, come on. Ryan Reynolds as a superhero? From what I hear, Hal Jordan is actually a jerk in real life. (Well, real life in the story of Green Lantern.) Reynolds isn’t the nicest guy on the planet, so maybe that is why they picked him. But in the movie, he plays a whiny adolescent that is just trying to find his way. He’s a decent actor, but not in a movie like this.

The movie also feels extremely rushed. The movie starts out with a little bit of history, then you are right into the action. You go through several scenes and then all of a sudden, it’s almost over. You can tell when it’s almost over too. Not that I wanted the film to go on for any longer than it did, but the entire film felt rushed. Match that with horrible special effects; you can see why I didn’t like it.

What Went Well

Like I said, I am going to try and give these movies some credit, no matter what I think of the film overall. I’m trying to be fair here… just let it happen!

The script is great. I loved the story. Imagine being a normal guy, just making your way through life… when all of a sudden, you are chosen by a ring (yeah, I know) to be a protector of planet earth. There are several parts that put the world into perspective of the “what if”. What if there is life on other planets. Life that is so much smarter than us, so much beyond us. I typically don’t like movies like this, as I prefer things that are real and could really happen. But the film did make me ponder the what if.

The film will do well, if nothing more than the shock value that another superhero action movie brings. There are a LOT of people that will line up to see this film this weekend and for weeks from release. Before the screening, they had several people line up that were wearing Green Lantern gear. From the mask (the mask is almost laughable in the movie) to the skintight suit, folks dressed to the nines. I wore a hoodie!

The movie has a few good one-liners… but not enough for you to spend the money. Stay at home this weekend. It’s not worth the money. (It might be if you can find it on IMAX. This is a good example of an “in your face” movie that should be displayed on a screen of that size.) I might not even rent it, unless you are really into superhero movies. I give this one 1/5 stars… or kernels.

This film had so much potential. The acting was horrible; the storyline was weak (it was actually two totally different story lines, one here on Earth and another in outer space). I have never seen such bad special effects. And what is the continued obsession with 3D? I am so over it, and this movie would have benefited from NOT being in 3D. I would rather have seen this in HD… not 3D.

Actors & Actresses

Let’s go back to the acting for a second. The movie featured Chris Hemsworth as Thor (anyone know another movie he has been in?), Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, and Kat Dennings. So there are a few big names in here, but they never have the chance to show off their talents. I like Natalie Portman, and love Anthony Hopkins, but their roles in this film just didn’t fit.

Most of the movies Kat has been in are comedies… and sure enough, nearly every line she has in this film is humorous. I didn’t expect any humor, let alone a joke tossed in every few minutes. There was no need to add humor in this… I wanted more action. I wish they had spent more time focused on the special effects. I have seen Disney movies with better graphics than this.

Tell me a Story

When I go to see a movie… I want someone to tell me a story. This movie does that, but it tells me two stories. There is the story here on earth, where Thor falls in love with a woman obsessed with learning more about the stars. There is also the story of… well, I am not sure what they are. They are giants maybe, and when they breathe they freeze everything in their wake. Basically it’s just dumb.

Fast Five was bad… Thor was worse. I have not wanted to leave a theater in a long time, but almost walked out of this one. The movie has been out for a week now, and the jury still seems out. Was it good? No, not at all.

(For all of the ladies reading this, the actor that plays Thor is attractive. So if you want to see this just for the eye candy, then by all means.)