Ryan Gosling Rides a Motorcycle in New Film, The Place Beyond the Pines

Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper appear together in a new film, The Place Beyond the Pines. The film also has a father-and-son theme and attempts to show the real human pain suffered in loss due to violent crime. What's even better is that Gosling gets to ride a motorcycle often in the film. Check out the trailer in the article by Victoria Ahearn of NationalPost.com. Here's an excerpt:

"Ryan Gosling's confession of a bank-robbing fantasy over a duck confit dinner led to his latest film, The Place Beyond the Pines. The multi-generational crime thriller, opening Friday, has the hunky London, Ont. native playing a tattooed, platinum-blond motorcycle stuntman who starts robbing banks to provide for his newborn son and his former flame (Eva Mendes). The noir-ish, three-act drama takes a sharp turn when his character encounters a rookie cop, played by Bradley Cooper. Other co-stars include Rose Byrne and Ray Liotta." -- Victoria Ahearn, NationalPost.com

Read the full article and watch the trailer (video)

Indian Thunder Stroke 111 Engine Fires Up at Daytona

At Daytona Bike Week, Polaris has introduced the new engine that will power their 2014 Indian motorcycles. In addition, Indian introduced a streamliner, the Spirit of Monro that also housed the new engine, dubbed Thunder Stroke 111. This streamliner is in tribute to Burt Monro who set the world speed record for motorcycles under 1000cc in 1967 riding an Indian motorcycle. This story comes to us from an article in MotorcycleUSA.com by Bryan Harley. Here's an excerpt:

"The pulse of the new Indian Motorcycle Thunder Stroke 111 powered to life Friday night in front of a packed house at Dirty Harry’s on Main Street when elated American Picker Mike Wolfe flipped the switch. After whetting the appetite of the public with sound bites of the first Polaris-developed Indian V-Twin over the course of the last few months as the Indian display traveled across the country with the IMS, the striking new powerplant with the ribbed heads was a hit with the large Bike Week crowd gathered to witness this next evolution of Indian Motorcycles." -- Bryan Harley, Cruiser Editor, MotorcycleUSA.com

Read the complete article.

The history of Indian Motorcycles over the years can be found in my article, Indian Motorcycles. Also, check out my movie review, The World's Fastest Indian - A Review to learn more about Burt Monro and his world record riding an Indian motorcycle in 1967.

Best Motorcycle Movies

Sometime ago I compiled my list of 10 Famous Motorcycle Movies. I own all these movies and in my article they were reviewed and had links to buy them on Amazon.

I just found another article entitled Timeless Two-Wheeled Travels: The Best Motorcycle Films by Dennis Pimento of bestmoviesevernews.com. He reviews his list of best mototcycle movies. Many of his picks are the same as mine. Other picks include modern films replete with motorcycles. Read Timeless Two-Wheeled Travels: The Best Motorcycle Films. Take a look at the pictures and be sure to watch the video clip of an Easy Rider scene at the end.

Summer Movies Feature Motorcycles

Summer movies are action filled and what's better than major characters riding motorcycles to keep you on the edge of your seat. Picture Anne Hathaway as Catwoman riding a custom motorcycle in the new Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises." Susan Carpenter of the Los Angeles Times published an article that gives you a rundown of summer films featuring motorcycles. Here's an excerpt:

"The superhero extravaganza 'The Avengers' marks the first of many movies that will feature motorcycles racing onto the big screen this summer. Not only will Captain America helm a Harley-Davidson in the big-budget Marvel movie, but one of the leads of 'Men in Black' will time-travel to 1969 on board an 'Easy Rider'-esque chopper. A circus bear will even throw a furry leg over a Ducati in the animated feature 'Madagascar 3.'" -- Susan Carpenter, Los Angeles Times

Read more.

Motorcycles Used in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Movie

The new movie, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, required three identical motorcycles for the character, Lisbeth Salander, to ride. Here's an article in bikeexif.com that explains how these bikes were prepared for the movie and how the star was trained to ride them. Here's an excerpt:

"About a year ago, I finished reading the final instalment of Stieg Larsson’s 'Millennium trilogy.' I found these Swedish crime novels absolutely gripping—and not just because the heroine Lisbeth Salander rides a motorcycle. In two weeks, the US movie adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will be released—so here’s a timely look at how the motorcycles used in the film were prepared. The job was given to Justin Kell of Glory Motor Works in LA, and it’s an insight into a rarely-seen aspect of the film-making process."

Read the article.

Mary Murphy, Star of "The Wild One," Dies

The girl-next-door waitress, Mary Murphy, who played opposite Marlon Brando in "The Wild One," has died at 80.

For a classic picture of Mary with Brando in a scene from "The Wild One," read about her life and death.

Check out my feature, Motorcycle Movies: 10 Famous Motorcycle Movies, to learn more about "The Wild One."

Wild Hogs - Motorcycle Movie Review

I finally got around to finding time to go see the new motorcycle movie: Wild Hogs. I'm not one for going to a movie when it first opens, especially one that has been so hyped on TV. So I waited until the first snowstorm after the opening and my wife and I joined maybe 10 other people for a Wednesday afternoon showing.

It was pretty good. Not Academy Award material but a nice way to spend a snowy afternoon.

Here's my review of Wild Hogs.

Motorcycle Industry Council Comments on Wild Hogs Movie

Wild Hogs, the new movie starring John Travolta and Tim Allen, opens today. I saw a review on TV today that said to forget it. Another review in the paper gave it two stars out of four. So the reviews keep coming in. Of course, the true test is what the fans think and the box office take will be the final test.

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) says, in a release to Business Wire, today that the reviews are mixed. Here's an excerpt:

"We want to give ‘Wild Hogs’ a thumbs-up for inspiring even more Americans to take a look at motorcycling and everything great it has to offer, the sense of freedom it provides, the adventure,” said Tim Buche, president of the MIC. “At the same time, we want to continue to encourage new and returning riders to go about it the right way. After you’ve taken the ride vicariously in the movie theater, enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCourseSM and learn about two-wheeling in the real world."

Read the complete article.

Of course Motorcycle Views wants to encourage everyone thinking about learning to ride a motorcycle to do so but it has to be done right. That doesn't mean running out after seeing a movie like this and buying a new motorcycle and then trying to learn to ride it on your own. Check out my step-by-step procedure to do it right by reading You CAN Ride a Motorcycle.

I also have a Motorcycle Views Forum where you can ask questions about learning to ride and receive answers from our expert riders. Check out the Motorcycle Views Forum.

As I said before in this blog, I will be giving you my review of this movie soon.

Wild Hogs Suits the Fancy of Bikers

Almost every day there's another story or TV interview about the new motorcycle movie, Wild Hogs. Tomorrow's the opening day for the movie starring John Travolta, Tim Allen, William H. Macy and Martin Lawrence.

Motorcyclists are tough critics of movies that try to explain the biker experience. They are even harder on TV shows that misrepresent motorcycling. However, the early returns from riders who have seen the sneak preview of Wild Hogs have been favorable even to the point of recommending that their buddies go see the movie.

I plan to see the movie and write a review. In the meantime, here's a story by Scott Bowles of USA TODAY that describes a trip up the Pacific Coast Highway with John Travolta, Tim Allen, and William H. Macy as they ride their Harleys in real traffic and encounter real people along the way. The article, From Hollywood to hog-wild, also has a great picture of the four riders.

Also, check out my previous movie review of Ghost Rider, starring Nicolas Cage.

Peter Fonda Does Ghost Rider Without a Motorcycle

Peter Fonda, iconic star of Easy Rider, has done over 70 films. He appears in the current Ghost Rider film playing the devil. Peter continues to ride motorcycles as he shortly turns 67.

A piece by Susan Carpenter, Los Angeles Times, and reported in delawareonline.com discusses Fonda's career and his need for speed. He once went 189 mph on an MV Agusta F4-1000 sportbike. Here's an excerpt:

"I've had this puppy up to 189," Fonda said, not so much boasting as marveling at his own stupidity during a rest stop at Coldwater Canyon Park. "I never want to do that again. One road rut, and I would have been toast."

Read Carpenter's story for all the details.

Also, read my movie review of Ghost Rider as reported here in the Motorcycle Views Blog.

Ghost Rider - Movie Review

The number one movie this week was Ghost Rider starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. Ghost Rider is based on the Marvel Comics series. I hadn't heard much about this flick except through watching the trailer and TV interviews with the stars. I was definitely going to see it.

I took my wife along and although she loves motorcycles, she hates action/adventure/science fiction/fantasy. She's also the type who wants to know the ending before she sees the movie. I was worried about what her reaction would be.

Not to worry. She liked it.

Here's my review of Ghost Rider.

Motorcycles Hit the Screen for 2007

Every year I hope for some decent movies or TV shows about motorcycles. Last year I liked The World's Fastest Indian about the life of Burt Munro. That one starred Sir Anthony Hopkins. I also liked the TV show, American Chopper, about the adventures of Paul Sr., Paul Jr. and Mikey Teutul of Orange County Choppers. I've watched almost every show in the series and observed their success as they built their world-wide fan base. I realize that American Chopper doesn't appeal to a lot of bikers, but I enjoy it and apparently so do millions of other people. Here's a review I did of their latest book, Orange County Choppers: The Tale of the Teutuls.

What about this year?

There are two major motorcycle-related motion pictures being released soon. There is also one Reality TV series that should be released as well.

The first movie is Ghost Rider starring Nicholas Cage and Eva Mendes. It's based on a Marvel Comics character and set to be released on February 16, 2007. Here's the Ghost Rider Web site that also gives a trailer.

The second movie is Wild Hogs starring Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, and John Travolta. It also stars Jill Hennesy and Marisa Tomei. The four main characters are now making the talk show circuit. I saw them all on Oprah just yesterday. This is a story of four guys in a mid-life crisis who decide to take a road trip on motorcycles. Along the way, they encounter a few real bikers and that's good for a few laughs too. This movie will be in the theaters March 2, 2007. Here's the IMDB Website that will lead you to a trailer.

Finally, there appears to be a Reality TV series about a biker build-off of metric bikes. 22 builders have been chosen to create their own custom metric bikes and a winner will be chosen. This series has been looking for a network and now seems tied to ESPN2 for a release in the second quarter of 2007. Their information says that the first show will appear on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. EST on March 31, 2007. Now since the beginning of daylight saving time is starting early this year on March 11, please check your local schedules to get the correct start time. Here's a link to the Metric TV site with as much information as is available. The link to the trailer is at the very bottom of the page.

Do you know of any other new movies or TV shows with a motorcycle theme? Please leave a comment, below.