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'The Dictator' And Five Other Terrible Film Tyrants

Posted 5/17/12 10:23 am EST by in Commentary, Top Five

by Matt Adler

Sacha Baron Cohen’s “The Dictator” has invaded theaters, featuring His Excellency, the incomparable Admiral General Aladeen, in his feature film debut.

But the beloved Admiral General is far from the only despot to reign over the big screen throughout the years, so as a celebration of this momentous occasion in his glorious reign, we thought it might be instructive (not to mention entertaining) to take a look a back at some of filmdom’s other most feared (or mocked) tyrants.

Pharaoh Rameses II
A heavyweight among our lineup of autocrats, Rameses II has roots that are not just historical, but biblical to boot. But it was the screen presence of Yul Brynner that brought him to life in modern times, as the vindictive and arrogant Pharaoh in 1956’s "The Ten Commandments," who just doesn’t know when to quit, even after Moses (Charlton Heston) tells him to “Let my people go!”

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Guy Pearce's Five Most Badass Movie Roles

Posted 4/13/12 1:00 pm EST by in Commentary, Top Five

by Ryan Rigley

Despite the fact that Guy Pearce has appeared in several Oscar-winning films, including "The King's Speech" and "The Hurt Locker," it seems like the vast majority of people still have a hard time recognizing him. But hopefully, with this summer's "Lockout" and "Prometheus," the Australian actor will finally gain the recognition that he deserves.

In "Lockout," which comes out this weekend, Guy Pearce plays a man known as Snow, who is wrongfully accused of conspiracy to commit espionage against the United States. Luckily for Snow, all charges will be dropped if he can manage to rescue the president's daughter from a prison located in outer space. Oh, and the space prison has been taken over by the world's most dangerous inmates.

This isn't the first time Pearce has been put up against nearly impossible odds. Throughout his career, Pearce has played a number of memorable badasses. Here's a list of the five most badass roles that Guy Pearce has played so far.

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Five More Cabins In The Woods

Posted 4/13/12 10:00 am EST by in Top Five

by Ryan Rigley

Don't go in the woods. Seriously, it's dangerous. Especially if you're staying in a cabin. With the release of "The Cabin In The Woods," audiences across the country are in for a clever twist on a tried and true staple of the horror genre. Starring Kristen Connolly and Chris Hemsworth, "Cabin In The Woods" follows a group of five friends as they journey to a remote cabin in the woods for a little rest and relaxation. Unfortunately for these rowdy teenagers, the cabin in the woods isn't exactly what it appears to be.

Fans of the horror genre will be quick to realize that the "cabin in the woods" storyline isn't exactly reinventing the wheel. There have been a wide array of "cabin in the woods" storylines over the years, probably because it's just such a creepy concept. The thought of being alone in the middle of the woods with some sort of maniacal killer on the loose would send shivers down anyone's spine.

While not being a direct parody, "The Cabin In The Woods" takes this horror movie cliche and flips it upside down. Here's a look at some of the more popular "cabin in the woods" movies that "The Cabin In The Woods" pays homage to.

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'Lockout' Producer Luc Besson's Five Greatest Films

Posted 4/12/12 4:00 pm EST by in Interviews, Top Five

by Ryan Rigley

Some might argue that the new Guy Pearce movie "Lockout" is just "Taken" in space. Well, first of all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. "Taken" in space is a brilliant idea. Second of all, both movies were written by the same guy!

Luc Besson, the famed French filmmaker, is the man behind several of the best action movies to come out of this past decade. Although his name might not be instantly recognizable, Besson has been involved in the production of over 50 films as either a writer, director or producer. He's also the creator and founder of the EuropaCorp film company, which has produced over 100 films since it's inception back in 1997, including this weekend's "Lockout."

In honor of the space-set action flick, written and produced by Besson, we've compiled a list of the five best films that Luc Besson has ever been involved with. Check them out after the jump!

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Five More '90s Movies Ready For A Sequel

Posted 4/10/12 11:00 am EST by in Commentary, Top Five

Nine years after the last sequel and 13 years after the original was released, Jason Biggs, Tara Reid and the rest of the gang had an “American Reunion” this weekend, as they looked back on their high school years with wistful nostalgia.

Yes, it may be shocking to some, but the '90s are now a good decade and some past us. Given Hollywood’s love for remakes and sequels, it’s already started turning towards the '90s well — the 80’s have already been well-plundered, after all. Besides “American Reunion,” there was, of course, the announcement that Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels will reunite for a sequel to 1994’s uproarious “Dumb & Dumber.” Clearly, we’re in for an avalanche of '90s nostalgia for the next decade!

So, which '90s movies are ripe for a sequel? Here are five that we think would be great.

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Five High School Movies That Deserve The 'Reunion' Treatment

Posted 4/9/12 12:03 pm EST by in Commentary, Top Five

Seeing all the original stars from "American Pie" back together again for "American Reunion" has me feeling all nostalgic for great high school movies of the past and stuff. I got to thinking that there are a bunch of other beloved films in the genre that I'd love to see take a page from the "American Pie" playbook and make a reunion-style movie. Pending on all of the original cast's participation, of course, I'd gladly pay to see the reunion versions of these five favorites:

Clueless
To be honest we doubt that Cher, Josh, Dionne and Murray have changed all that much but it would be so great to see what they're up to nearly 20 years later. Amazingly enough, most of the cast members have worked steadily over the years. Paul Rudd is definitely the MVP of the group and I think Jeremy Sisto takes home the most improved award, thanks to his charming work as a single dad on ABC's hit "Suburgatory."

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'Titanic' Star Billy Zane's Top Five Movie Moments

Posted 4/6/12 11:30 am EST by in Commentary, Crazy Talk, Humor, Top Five

Once in a generation, there is born a talent so great, so astounding, that it cannot be stopped. When I think back on the pantheon of actors in the world, one name tops my list...

Zane. Billy Zane.

The bad boy baldy has played some of the most crucial and instrumental roles in the great rolodex of film, gifting us with unforgettable moments that have warmed viewers' tender hearts on the coldest of nights.

With "Titanic" back in theaters, my mind is not on Leo and Kate (sorry Jack, I totally let go), but on the most inZane man on the planet. In honor of the return of his most iconic role to date, I present to you, the top five greatest Billy Zane moments ever captured on film.

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'Hunger Games' Playlist: Five Movies To See First

Posted 3/19/12 9:00 am EST by in Hot Stuff, Top Five

by Joel Hanek

Until very recently, I hadn't paid much attention to "The Hunger Games" and all of the surrounding hullabaloo, dismissing it because I thought that I wasn't the right demographic or perhaps I was too old to get into it (to give you a hint of how old I am, I just used the word "hullabaloo"). Recently I picked up the first book, read it cover to cover in just a few days, and now I must admit: I am a fan. Depressing futuristic dystopias, cynicism of the media and how it’s consumed, and children murdering other children – what’s not to like?

Since the film adaptation doesn’t come out until Friday (March 23), here are some movies that share some similarities with Suzanne Collins’ hallmark franchise to whet your appetite. Consider them cinematic amuse-bouches.

1. "Battle Royale" (2000)
In "Battle Royale," fascist rulers punish teenagers by sending them to a remote area with deadly weapons. There, they must kill each other one by one until there is a sole survivor. Sound familiar? It’s a perfect combination of campy, bloody, creepy, and fun. Many have drawn comparisons between these two franchises so check it out and see for yourself.

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'John Carter' And Our Other Favorite Movie Martians

Posted 3/8/12 5:51 pm EST by in Commentary, Top Five

by Ryan Rigley

This weekend marks the release of Disney's newest blockbuster, "John Carter," an adaptation of the popular sci-fi novels first published in 1912 and featuring a hero of the same name. Largely based on the novel "A Princess of Mars" in which John Carter makes his first appearance, Disney's "John Carter" tells the story of a Civil War veteran that is brought to Mars and imprisoned by the 12 foot tall, savage-like Martians that inhabit the planet. Eventually, John Carter makes his escape and is subsequently put to the task of rescuing the Princess of Helium, Dejah Thoris.

It's a tale as old as time, being equal parts romance and action/adventure movie. However, that's not the reason we're looking forward to it. Sure, Taylor Kitsch plays quite the hunky John Carter. But it's the 12 foot tall Martians and handful of other deadly space beings that's got us really excited!

Tars Tarkas, played by Willem Dafoe, is the leader of the Martian warriors known as the Tharks. Their huge stature and green complexion reflect a very basic idea of what the majority of people think Martians would look like. There have been many movies that take place on the Red Planet throughout the years, each featuring their own individual interpretations of Martians. Here's a list of some of our favorites!

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Five Sci-Fi Characters Influenced By John Carter

Posted 3/5/12 12:43 pm EST by in Top Five

You may know that the new movie “John Carter” is based on some very old stories – Edgar Rice Burroughs’ title character first appeared in print a century ago. But you may not fully appreciate the influence that Burroughs’ creation has had on the sci-fi genre and pop culture in general.

So, with a little help from BigShinyRobot.com editor and Burroughs enthusiast Bryan Young, I give you the top five characters influenced by John Carter:

1. Flash Gordon
John Carter was a direct ancestor of this early sci-fi hero, as well as Buck Rogers. With the Carter stories, Burroughs “created that breathless, serialized style fifteen years before it was popularized in those ‘30’s serials,” says Young. “He was writing movie serials before movie serials existed.”

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