New Blog

Hey everyone! As of Sunday, August 1st, we will be relocated to the Pan and Tilt Film Blog. Check us out at panandtilt.blogspot.com!

DVD Releases!

Legion - As most of you know, this is definitely my top guilty pleasure of the year so far. I found this movie to be quite entertaining, even though it has absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever. It features Lucas Black, the retarted redneck quarterback from Friday Night Lights (the movie) as a character named "Jeep", who is supposed to be the savior of humanity (and which allows for some great lines of inspirational dialogue). Dennis Quaid, AKA one of the worst actors ever (see: Vantage Point), plays Jeep's father, which results in the worst family of actors ever portrayed on film. Add to that the infamous scene with the demonic grandma, this movie is a must-see for those who enjoy fun, terrible movies.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Daybreakers - This Ethan Hawke vampire flick looked like another great candidate for my guilty pleasure of the year, so I am a bit interested.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Edge of Darkness -  This seemed like an interesting choice for Mel Gibson's first film since Signs in 2002, and from what I can tell from the trailer, if you enjoyed Taken, this seems like pretty much the same movie.

Rating: 2 out of 5

So, any of these interest you?

Box Office Report!

The full report can be found here, but Iron Man 2 was successful, but not as much as the studio might have hoped. The film opened up at #1 with $133.6 million domestically, which is the fifth highest opening weekend of all time. While this may not sound dissapointing, Paramount was hoping for and even predicting this film to be the highest opening of all time, which is a goal the film was far from reaching. In second was last week's winner A Nightmare on Elm Street with $9.1 million in its second week, and in third was the continually impressive How to Train Your Dragon with $6.7 million in its seventh week of release. The other new release this week was the documentary Babies, which debuted at #10 with $1.5 million in 534 theaters. Some experts believe a film like Babies could stay strong since it is different from the summer films the studios have to offer.

So, what do you think? Surprised by Iron Man 2's showing?

New Releases!

Iron Man 2 - This is one I'm not terribly excited about. First of all, the first installment didn't really do much for me. I thought it was one of the better made superhero films, but I just was not too impressed. Secondly, I'm only a fan of sequels under special circumstances, and I don't believe this is one of them. Early reviews have said this is decent, but nowhere near as inventive or as good as the first. I do like Robert Downey, Jr. and Mickey Rourke (even though this seems like a paycheck role for him), I'm just not thrilled about seeing this one. I probably will eventually, though (honestly, it would be pretty tough to avoid it).
Rating: 3 out of 5

Babies - this film already inspired one of the better discussions on this blog (which can be found here), so by reading that you can get a sense of my feelings toward this movie. First, the film is supposed to be very minimalistic (some may say "boring"), and it seems to just follow these babies around with little to no narration. Second, this movie just creeps me out.
Rating: 0 out of 5

So, what do you want to see this weekend?

Hidden Gem of the Week!

Phantasm (1979)

Written and Directed by: Don Coscarelli

Starring: A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury,

and Angus Scrimm

Trailer 

After losing their parents, Mike and Jody notice some strange happenings at the local cemetery and funeral home, where they are forced to deal with supernatural forces controlled by the Tall Man.

This film is one of the staples of low-budget horror cinema. It is well shot, and the special effects are very effective, especially given the time period and the budget. This also features one of the most famous effects in horror film history, which deals with a sphere that attaches to your face and drills a hole right through your head. I encourage everyone to watch this, it is definitely very  fun and very memorable.

So, what do you think? Does this appeal to you?

DVD Releases!

Tetro - This is the latest from director Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), and is said to be his most personal film to date. While I've heard this film has its fair share of problems, it also seems to be beautifully shot in black-and-white, and very interesting as well.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Leap Year - This Amy Adams romantic comedy seems to be lacking on originality and quality. Definitely not for me.
Rating: 1 out of 5

Nine - Like many critics, I was not very impressed with this film when i saw it in theaters. While I found some of the musical numbers to be impressive, along with great performances from (the always great) Daniel Day-Lewis and (recently impressive) Marion Cotillard, I thought the overall film was convoluted. If its your thing, you might enjoy it, otherwise I would advise you to avoid this one.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Tooth Fairy - This one falls in the category of "I can't believe this movie actually exists". But, it does feature the long awaited screen debut of Ryan Sheckler (OMG!!!!) In all seriousness, I don't want to see this.
Rating: 0 out of 5

So, what will you be renting this weekend?

Box Office Report!

Hey guys! Again, this is a day late, but once the semester is over, which will be on Saturday, I will be back up to speed on the blog.

The full report can be found here, but it seems as if, after a few weeks of close finishes at the box office, we finally have a clear cut winner. A Nightmare on Elm Street ran away with the top spot this week, pulling in $32.2 million over the weekend. In second this week was How To Train Your Dragon, which continues to impress by pulling in $10.8 million in its sixth week of release. The only other release this week was Brendan Fraser's Furry Vengeance, which came in fifth with a dismal $6.5 million.

So what do you think? Were you surprised by the winner this week?

Guilty Pleasure of the Week!

Hey guys! Since I missed this feature last week, I have decided to have two guilty pleasures this week! Hope you enjoy!

Get Over It (2001)

Directed by: Tommy O'Haver

Written by: R. Lee Fleming Jr.

Starring: Ben Foster, Kirsten Dunst,

Shane West, Colin Hanks,

and Sisqo

Trailer

In order to win back the affections of his ex-girlfriend, Berke Landers joins the school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. While being coached by his best friend's little sister, he develops feelings for her and must decide who he wants to be with.

This movie is purely entertaining on many levels. First, it stars Ben Foster, one of my favorite actors, in about the best performance one could give with this material. It is also a (not really that) clever high school version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and it stars Sisqo, what more could you ask for?!

The Happening (2008)

Written and Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel,

and John Leguizamo

Trailer 

When an unexplained terror comes to New York City that causes people to inexplicably kill themselves, A high-school teacher, his wife, and a young girl must figure out what is happening, all the while trying to run from it.

Now, I have taken much heat for supporting this movie. Yes, I realize the script if terrible, which in turn causes the acting to be atrocious, and there are serious problems with the story. However, I have two points I would like to use to defend myself. First, I thought the scenes of suspense and those of violence were very well done, showing that Shyamalan does have talent as a director, just not a screenwriter. Second, I heard this idea on a podcast and I would like to run with it. The plot of the movie, as well as the twist, seems to be much like a Sci-Fi horror film that would have been made back in the 1950s, much like Invasion of the Body Snatchers. That being the case, had Shyamalan realized this and made this more of an homage to those films, mainly by shooting it in black and white and in the same style as those, creating characters to fit that time period, but keeping the gore at the same level, I think he could have had a very interesting film on his hands. However, he took the source material way too seriously and the film suffered for it.

So what do you think? Do you like any of these movies as well? 

New Releases!

A Nightmare on Elm Street - While this is getting terrible reviews, everyone knows I am a fan of horror movies, however terrible they may be, and I still believe they did about as good of a job casting Freddy Kreuger as you can do. Needless to say, I am a bit intrigued.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Furry Vengeance - If you want a good laugh, I encourage you to check out the rotten tomatoes page on this movie. This is sure to be a shoo-in for the Razzie for Worst Picture, and when a movie is this bad, it's fun to read the creative ways critics get across that feeling. As for the movie itself, I'll pass.
Rating: 1 out of 5

So what do you want to see this weekend?

Hidden Gem of the Week!

Hey everyone! Sorry about not only this being late, but also for the lack of updates recently. School has been pretty crazy this week. Nevertheless, here is your hidden gem!

Special (2006)

Written and Directed by: Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore

Starring: Michael Rapaport,Jack Kehler,

and Josh Peck

Trailer 

Special follows Les, a man down on his luck and needing money. In order to obtain funds, Les begins taking an experimental drug, which affects him in a way that makes him think he has super powers, when in reality he does not.

I found this film to be quite inventive and creative. This film plays with perspective in an interesting way. Not only do you see the action through Les' eyes, but also through reality so you can see both perspectives on what is happening. The plot is also very unique, and Michael Rapaport gives a performance to remember.

So, does this look interesting to you?

DVD Releases!

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - This is a film that had much buzz surrounding its release because, not only was it Heath Ledger's last film, but also because Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrell all stepped in to take over the role after his death. All that being said, I was not too terribly impressed with this film. It seemed to drag on through the first half of the film, and while it got better in the second half, the plot just did not seem to make a whole lot of sense. The visuals were very compelling, though, and I am open to the idea of seeing it again.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Five Minutes of Heaven - This is a decently reviewed film starring Liam Neeson that is apparently about the potato famine in Ireland. The film is said to be a very good actor's showcase, which gives me some interest even though the plot doesn't appeal to me.
Rating: 3 out of 5

It's Complicated - This romantic comedy would normally have no appeal for me, but I am a huge fan of Steve Martin and I like Alec Baldwin's recent acting. I have heard some good things about this film, so I may have to see it eventually.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Transylmania - This parody of recent tween vampire flicks just looked incredibly dumb. I'll pass.
Rating: 1 out of 5

The Descent: Part 2 - This direct-to-DVD film is one I would like to pretend doesn't exist. As some of you may know, this film has two endings(SPOILERS for The Descent). The one shown in theaters in the states ended with the idea that the main character possibly escaped the cave, but it seemed open for interpretation. The other ending, however, makes it clear that the main character died in the cave, which is the ending that made the film very smart and enjoyable for me. This film has the main character returning to the caves, which makes my interpretation completely obselete. The best thing for me to do is to pretend this film does not exist.
Rating: 0 out of 5

So what do you plan on renting this week?

Box Office Report!

Hey everyone! Sorry for this being late, along with the lack of updates this weekend, I was very busy. Anyway, we continue on, starting with the box office report!

The full report can be found here, but it seems as if How to Train Your Dragon has prevailed once again, pulling in $15 million in its fifth week of release, bringing its total to $178 million domestically. In second was The Back-up Plan, the new Jennifer Lopez comedy, which made a weak $12.3 million, and Date Night finished in third with $10.6 million. The other two new releases this week were The Losers, which came in fourth with $9.6 million, and Oceans, which impressively came in eighth with $6 million, taking into account the facts that it had a smaller release than the others and it is a documentary.

So, what do you think of all this?

New Releases!

This is a rather slow week with theatrical releases, nevertheless, I bring you my opinions, starting with my pick of the week.

The Losers - While I'm not particularly excited about this one (there seems to be a ton of movies just like it), it is by far the best this week has to offer. To add to that, the reviews have been poor, so there's not too much appeal there. However, it does feature a cast of many actors I have my eye on, especially Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Columbus Short, and your future Captain America, Chris Evans. I'll see it eventually, but not anytime soon.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Oceans - This is another installment in Disney's series of nature documentaries. While this is getting positive reviews, I'm just not entirely interested in nature docs. If you are, though, this might be one to check out.
Rating: 2 out of 5

The Back-up Plan - A romantic comedy starring J-Lo getting terrible reviews? I'll pass.
Rating: 1 out of 5

So what do you want to see this weekend?

The Green Hornet delayed again!

This is a terribly sad day for me and anyone else anticipating the release of The Green Hornet. The article can be found here, but Sony has made the decision to delay the superhero movie starring Seth Rogen and directed by Michel Gondry to January 14, 2011 in order to release it in 3D. A move like this is usually a statement on the lack of quality in the film, but Sony insists its merely just to release it in 3D, due to the fact that Tron: Legacy and Yogi Bear would occupy 3D screens at that time.

This news is especially sad for me, because I have said on the blog that this is the most anticipated film for me this year. What do you think? Also, did you guys know there was going to be a Yogi Bear movie?

South Park Controversy

As you may know, I am sort of a new fan of "South Park". What I have been reading today has been rather shocking and interesting. The first part of this story can be found here, but apparently Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the show's creators, received more-or-less "death threats" from a radical muslim website based on the episode "200". In the episode, they are once again satirizing the fact they are unable to safely depict the prophet Muhammad, even having the prophet show up in a mascot bear costume at one point. The website had this to say:

"We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them."

Theo Van Gogh was a Dutch filmmaker who was murdered for making a film that was a statement against the way women are treated in Islamic society.

The other aspect of this story can be found here, but basically when airing the latest episode, "201", Comedy Central bleeped out much of the audio, more so than the creators intended. This has caused Parker and Stone  to be upset in the way the episode was presented, even to the point that, as of all day, the episode is not accessible on the website southparkstudios.com. On said website, Parker and Stone left this statement:

In the 14 years we've been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldn't stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made a determination to alter the episode. It wasn't some meta-joke on our part. Comedy Central added the bleeps. In fact, Kyle's customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didn't mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too. We'll be back next week with a whole new show about something completely different and we'll see what happens to it."

So what do you guys make of all this controversy?

Hidden Gem of the Week!

We Live in Public (2009)

Written and Directed by: Ondi Timoner

Trailer 

We Live in Public is a documentary that follows the rise and fall of Internet pioneer Josh Harris. The film follows Harris as he inherits millions as a "dot-com kid" and his continual exploits that eventually led to his bankruptcy. These exploits include an underground experiment where hundreds of artists were living together under 24 hour surveillance for the world to see, and eventually him and his girlfriend living their lives under 24 hour surveillance posted on the internet.

I found this film to be incredibly fascinating on so many levels. One trap these technology documentaries often fall into is the trap of irrelevancy. I recently saw a film called Talhotblond that came out the same year and while I found it to be entertaining, I just felt like its story and message were outdated. This film, however, dealt with issues involving the Internet and privacy that are still relevant to normal people today. We see as Harris basically predicts the future of the Internet's impact on people's personal and social lives in his experiments a decade before they really occur. We even see the story of a man who is being punished socially and financially for being way ahead of his time. I urge everyone to check out this documentary if they get a chance. It is available instantly on Netflix, it is rather short, and it is one of the most interesting and thought-provoking viewing experiences you can enjoy.

So what do you think? Does this interest you?

DVD Releases!

Hey guys! Here's a look at what is coming out on DVD this week, starting with my pick of the week.

Crazy Heart - This movie, featuring the Academy award winning performance of Jeff Bridges as washed-up country music singer Bad Blake, was a fine film in my opinion. While I thought the story line was a bit dry and typical, I thought the acting performances carried the film from average to quite good. I was a bit dissapointed in it (I was hoping for something along the lines of The Wrestler, but it wasn't of that quality), but I still feel like this is one to see if you haven't.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Avatar - This doesn't actually come out until Thursday, but it is still worth mentioning, since it is the highest-grossing film of all time, after all. I thought this film was visually stunning and a triumph on that level, but the story was severly lacking as was the acting. This is not one I particularly liked, but it is one that would be worth picking up if you own a nice TV, a Blu Ray Player, and a hell of a sound system.
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Lovely Bones - Peter Jackson's newest film was one that was often regarded as a dissapointment in critics' circles. While I have not seen it, I'm not too intruiged based on the critism I have heard. Still, I would like to see it eventually because of the cast, but I am in no hurry.
Rating: 2 out of 5

The Young Victoria - This was a film that, rather surprisingly, came out of nowhere to be a minor player in the awards season, even winning an Oscar for costume design. Emily Blunt's performance was heavily praised, even resulting in a few nominations. While I hear this is good for a period film, the subject matter doesn't really appeal to me at all. If it does for you, however, I encourage you to check it out.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Peacock - This is a direct-to-DVD film that has quite a bit intrigue for me. It features a cast of Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Susan Sarandon, and Josh Lucas, and it is about a train accident in rural Nebraska that causes an interesting turn of events. While I cannot vouch for the quality of this particular film (there are no reviews released), I will say that one effect the economic recession has had on the movie industry is the quality of direct-to-DVD films has improved. This is a result of many independent film production companies folding, forcing them to release their films this way. This famously almost happened to Slumdog Millionaire, which, as we all know, found another distributor and went on to win Best Picture. I did rent this film, and I will let you know what I think after I watch it.
Rating: 3 out of 5

So what do you plan on renting this week?

New Bond film delayed indefinitely!

The full article can be found here, but the production of the new James Bond film has been delayed due to the uncertain future of MGM as they are trying to close a sale. This may have a larger impact on Sam Mendes, who recently was attached to direct.

What do you think? What kind of impact will this delay have on the franchise?

Box Office Report!

Hey guys! I realize this is a day late and I apologize (I had to work a lot this weekend), but nevertheless, here's your box office report!

It was yet another rare close finish in the box-office this week, only it involved two completely different movies than last week. The report can be found here, but How To Train Your Dragon pulled a shocking upset, coming in first with $20 million in its fourth week of release.In second was the new release this week, Kick-Ass, which pulled in $19.75 million. This race was considered too close to call Sunday night, which is rare, even though it happened last week, when Date Night and Clash of the Titans finished too close to call. This week, Date Night finished in third with $17.3 million and Clash of the Titans came in fifth with $15.8 million. In fourth was the other new release this week, Death at a Funeral, which pulled in $17.3 million.

So, what do you think of these close box office finishes?

Guilty Pleasure of the Week!

Celtic Pride (1996)

Directed By: Tom DeCerchio

Written By: Judd Apatow

Starring: Daniel Stern, Dan Aykroyd,

and Damon Wayans

Mike and Jimmy are best friends and die-hard Celtic fans. When the Celtics are in the finals and facing the Jazz, Mike and Jimmy kidnap the Jazz star player, Lewis Scott, and hold him hostage to ensure a Celtic Championship.

This movie, as most featured in this section, was universally panned by critics. The humor is silly and absolutely unintelligent, but this movie was one I watched and liked as a kid and still enjoy mainly for that reason. Also, its interesting to see some of Apatow's early work before he became the king of slacker comedy.

So, anyone else with me in secretly loving Celtic Pride?

New Releases!

Hey everyone! Here's the movies coming to theaters this week and my thoughts and feelings about them!

Kick-Ass - This week marks the long-awaited and much-discussed release of Kick-Ass. I've been hearing this movie is actually pretty clever and good, with some great action sequences. It features performances from two up-and-coming actors everyone should be on the lookout for in Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) and Chloe Moretz (Hit-Girl). This is one I am actually really looking forward to seeing.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Death at a Funeral - On the other side of the spectrum, here is a movie whose release I have been dreading since I saw the trailer. I am a huge fan of the British original, and it seems as if they have replaced the smart, subtle humor with race, sex, and Burger King jokes. I'll pass.
Rating: 0 out of 5

So what do you want to see this weekend?

New Feature! Up and Coming Director Showcase of the Month: Taika Waititi

Hey guys! This will be a once-a-month feature, and in it I will showcase a rising director I believe you should be on the lookout for. So here is your inaugural showcase!

Taika Waititi (also sometimes credited as Taika Cohen) is a 34 year old filmmaker from New Zealand, who also writes most of his scripts and even acts in his movies. He is also known in New Zealand for being a painter and a comedian. He burst on the scene in 2003 when he was nominated for an Oscar for his short film Two Cars, One Night. He has since directed Eagle vs. Shark, some episodes of "Flight of the Conchords", and Boy, which appeared at Sundance this year. He is also known for acting, which he played Gordon (Jarrod's older brother) in Eagle Vs. Shark, Alamein (The boy's dad) in Boy, and has been cast in the upcoming Green Lantern movie as Thomas Kalmaku.

Waititi has a style that is very similar to Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) with his sense of awkward humor and similar characters. The major difference, in my opinion, is Waititi develops his characters further and makes them people we can empathize with and root for. His films deal with deeper issues than Hess' and is successful in creating charming and heartfelt films that are a joy to watch.

Filmography

John and Pogo (2002)

Two Cars, One Night (2003)

Heinous Crime (2004)

Eagle vs. Shark (2007)

"Flight of the Conchords" (4 episodes)

Boy (2010)

Videos:

First is the trailer for his 2007 film Eagle vs. Shark:

Next is his Academy award nominated short film Two Cars, One Night:


Finally we have the trailer for his upcoming film Boy:

 

Hidden Gem of the Week!

Humpday (2009)

Written and Directed by: Lynn Shelton

Starring: Mark Duplass, Alycia Delmore,

and Joshua Leonard

Trailer 

Ben and Anna, played by Mark Duplass (Greenberg, The Puffy Chair, TV's "The League") and Alycia Delmore, are a happily married couple on the verge of trying to have a child. Suddenly, Ben's old friend, Andrew, played by Joshua Leonard (The Blair Witch Project), shows up at their home in the middle of the night needing a place to stay. While drunk at a party, Ben and Mark agree to film a themselves engaging in a sex scene together for an upcoming pornographic festival. The film follows the days to come, as their friendship, plus the relationship between Ben and Anna, are tested as both decide they want to go through with the plan.

This film belongs in a rising independent sub-genre known as mumblecore, which consists of extremely-low budgets, highly improvised acting, actors playing versions of themselves, and following 20 somethings through a period in their life. While many critics and audience members seem to write off this genre, I find myself oddly drawn to it. From what I've heard, this is one of the best mumblecore offerings out there, and I would seem to agree, even though I haven't seen many films in this genre. It is very interesting to see the surprisingly realistic reasons why these two straight men want to engage in a homosexual act, and how much these characters go through in deciding if they can follow through or not. All three leads give excellent performances, but I would like to give special recognition to Duplass, who I believe is someone to keep an eye out on in the very near future.

What do you think, interested in seeing this film?

A 'Lost' Script From Stanley Kubrick is Getting a Cast!

An article can be found here, but Sam Rockwell (Moon, The Green Mile) and Scarlett Johansson have been cast in a project coming from a script found in the late Stanley Kubrick's files. The film is called Lunatic at Large, and it was discovered as an 80 page film treatment of a novel from pulp fiction novel writer Jim Thompson. There is no word on a director as of late.

What are your thoughts? Any Kubrick fans excited and/or saddened by this?

Trailers for Paper Man, When You're Strange, and The Kids Are All Right

Here's some more trailers!

The first is an interesting-looking indie flick starring Jeff Daniels, Ryan Reynolds, and Emma Stone Called Paper Man:


Next is a documentary about The Doors entitled When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors:


Finally we have one of the major hits out of Sundance this year starring Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, and Mark Ruffalo. This one is called The Kids Are All Right:


So, any of these peak your interest?

DVD Releases!

Hey everyone! Here's the list of what comes out on DVD this week!

Pirate Radio - This is a film that got some questionable reviews, but the people that liked it seemed to adamantly stick by it. It's not one I've had the chance to see yet, but due to the cast and the interesting subject matter, I am definitely looking forward to checking it out.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Defendor - This superhero movie starring Woody Harrelson got a very limited theatrical release earlier in the year, and now it is showing up on DVD. The premise is interesting, but, from what I'm hearing, the film doesn't quite live up to it. Nonetheless, I am interested.
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Slammin' Salmon - This one is the newest from the comedy Troupe Broken Lizard (Supertroopers, Club Dread, Beerfest), and I've heard it does a decent job at being a brainless comedy full of potty humor, and apparently Michael Clarke Duncan turns in a memorable performance.
Rating: 3 out of 5

So what are you renting this week?

Trailers for Accidents Happen, Exit Through the Gift Shop, and The Other Guys

Hello everyone, I have some new trailers for you!

The first is an interesting independent "dramedy" starring Geena Davis and (For all you Eagle Vs. Shark fans out there) Joel Tobeck (Damon). This one is called Accidents Happen:


The second is a documentary that has received some major buzz around the festival circuit this year, it is called Exit Through the Gift Shop:


Finally, we have a summer comedy featuring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg (among others) called The Other Guys:


So, any of these interest you?

Do we have a new Spider-Man?

Yesterday it seemed like we did, but today it seems as if we don't. According to hitfix, it seemed as if Lerman, who is starring in the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Theif, and has also appeared in Gamer, 3:10 to Yuma, and The Number 23, had all but locked up the role, beating out hopefuls such as Anton Yelchin, Jesse Eisenberg, Patrick Fugit, and Johnny Simmons. However, today (here) Sony has denied these reports, even going so far as to saying he's not even being considered for the role at all.

What do you think? Is Sony just trying to milk some press out of this, or are they really not going to cast Lerman? And, who do you think should play the role?

Box Office Report!

Hey everyone! This weekend was very interesting in terms of the box office because as it stands right now, experts are saying its too close to call. The report can be found here, but it seems as if Date Night has the slight edge on the #1 spot, pulling in $27.1 million, while Clash of the Titans sits in a close second with $26.9 million in its second week. The official results will be released Monday, but whoever wins, both films exceeded expectations for this weekend. In third place, How to Train Your Dragon pulled in $25.4 million in its third week. The other national release this week was Letters to God, which raked in $1.3 million, placing it at 10th.

So, what do you think of the rare close box office finish?

New Feature! "Guilty Pleasure" of the week!

Hey everyone, I have a new feature for the blog! Every Saturday, I will feature a movie that has few, if any, redeeming qualities to it, yet I still like it. So here is your inaugural guilty pleasure!

Prom Night (2008)

Directed By: Nelson McCormick

Written By: J.S. Cardone

Starring: Brittany Snow, Idris Elba,

and Johnathon Schaech

Trailer 

Prom Night follows Donna, a high school senior with a tragic past, as she attends her high school prom. Everything seems to be perfect, until a former teacher/stalker escapes from a mental institution and will stop at nothing to win Donna's heart.

I found this film to be very entertaining and fun. Of course, it was not well-made and didn't feature any surprisingly good performances, but it did feature a lot of slashing from the lead singer of the One-ders (That Thing You Do!)

Anyone else secretly like Prom Night?

New Releases!

Hey guys! Well, this is a slow weekend at the movies, but nevertheless, we continue on here, starting with my pick of the week:

Date Night -  While I can see the potential of this movie not being very good, it still has a likeable cast and an entertaining premise.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Letters to God - This faith-based inspirational film seems way too on the sentimental side for my taste, so I will likely avoid this one.
Rating: 1 out of 5

So what are you looking forward to seeing this weekend?

Trailers for The Square, The Thorn in the Heart, and Step Up 3D!

The first trailer of the day is an Australian film noir thriller that seems to be getting some decent early reviews called The Square:


Next, we have a documentary from visual director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep) that tells the story of his family in his unique vision. This is called The Thorn in the Heart:


Finally, we have what must be the top movie in the "are you serious?" category, and that is Step Up 3D:


Any of these look interesting to you?

Logorama!

Hey guys, I have a surprise today! I found this on another film blog, so I thought I'd share it with you guys. This is the winner of the Academy Award for best animated short, and it is called Logorama.


Logorama from Marc Altshuler - Human Music on Vimeo.

I found this to be very detail-oriented and interesting, and one that seems to have many subtle, hidden messages that would require multiple viewings. What do you think?

Hidden Gem of the Week!

Benny's Video (1992)

Written and Directed by: Michael Haneke

Starring: Arno Frisch, Angela Winkler,

and Ulrich Muhe

This controversial film follows Benny, a fourteen-year-old boy who is a video freak. After he becomes obsessed with an amateur video of a pig being slaughtered, Benny is inspired to commit an unspeakable act of violence. Upon finding out about this, Benny's parents must decide what is the best thing to do in order to protect their son and their family.

I chose this film this week in honor of the paper over Haneke's Funny Games I have been working on throughout the day. This film is absolutely not for everyone, it can be very disturbing at times. For those that may be able to handle it, I think you will be surprised at what you may see. If you are brave enough to attempt this movie, I encourage you to focus on the way Haneke uses video monitors to make a statement on the emotional disconnect Benny experiences.

So what do you think? Do you think you can handle seeing a movie as potentially disturbing as Benny's Video?

Trailers for Splice, Best Worst Movie, and Dinner for Schmucks!

Hey everyone, I come with trailers!

The first is a sci-fi film featuring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley called Splice:


Next we have a documentary about one of the worst films ever made called Best Movie Ever:


Finally, we have a new summer comedy featuring Paul Rudd and Steve Carell called Dinner for Schmucks:


Any of these look interesting to you?

DVD Releases!

Hey guys, kind of a quiet week on the DVD front with only two feature films, but one of those happens to be one of my favorites from last year. So, here they are!

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - As stated earlier, I thought this was a fantastic film. It made my list at #6, and as most of you know, I was very fond of last year in film. This one has an interesting style, since it is directed by Werner Herzog, and it features Nicolas Cage in a very crazy, yet memorable role, along with various reptiles and a breakdancing ghost. If any of those intrigue you, or if you just want to watch something refreshingly different, I highly advise you to check this one out.
Rating: 5 out of 5

The Collector - While I know very little about this film, I hear that, while it is very problematic and far from a great film, it is still enjoyable if you like horror movies. With that description, I am a bit intrigued.
Rating: 2 out of 5

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Blu Ray) - For most of you, yes, the time is finally here. The Lord of the Rings trilogy has finally arrived on Blu Ray, so I know most of you with HD TVs and Blu Ray players will be very excited about this release.
Rating: 3 out of 5 

So what are you checking out this week?

Box Office Report!

Happy easter everyone! Here's your box office report!

The article can be found here, but it seems as if Clash of the Titans has opened strong, taking in $64.1 million dollars, which includes the Thursday showings. Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? opened in second at $30.2 million, continuing an impressive box office streak for Mr. Perry. The other opening this week was The Last Song, the new Miley Cyrus movie, which opened at number four with a weekend total of $16.2 million, which brings its total to $25.6 million since its wednesday release. How to Train Your Dragon continued its impressive box office run with a third place finish in its second weekend at $29.2 million.

So what do you think? It seems as if many people wanted to see Clash of the Titans...

Ben Stiller and Noah Baumbach may have a new project!

According to this article, Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller, who have recently teamed up on Greenberg, are in talks to adapt Mr. Popper's Penguins, a classic childrens novel.

I think Baumbach is a talented writer, and I like Ben Stiller as well in his more intelligent projects, so this intrigues me. Thoughts?

New Theatrical Releases!

Hey everyone! Sorry this is coming late today, but I was traveling today. Anyway, here are your new releases this week!

Clash of the Titans - I saw the original, and it just didn't do it for me. It seems as if this is just a reason to get all these mythological creatures together to battle it out. I usually don't fall for blockbusters unless there's more to the plot other than the special effects, and seeing how it has a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, I doubt it does.

Rating: 2 out of 5

The Last Song - Miley Cyrus + Nicholas Sparks = no interest from me.

Rating: 0 out of 5

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? - I was surprised to learn that this movie series has quite a following. Unfortunately, I'm not a part of it.

Rating: 1 out of 5

Not too much quality coming to theaters this week in my opinion. What do you think?

Trailers for Solitary Man, The Expendables, and Mother and Child!

Hey guys! I have some trailers for you, and you could call this post "large cast edition" if you so choose. But without further ado:

The first is for a film that is featuring a great cast including Michael Douglas, Jesse Eisenberg, Jenna Fischer, Mary Louise Parker, Susan Sarandon, among others. This one is called Solitary Man:


Next, we have the answer to where every over the hill action star has been recently. I'd explain the cast, but I think its best just discovering them from the trailer. This is The Expendables:


Finally, we have a drama featuring the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, Annette Bening, and a couple faces you may recognize if you watch Dexter. This is Mother and Child:


Thoughts?

Hidden Gem of the Week!

Hello everyone, I am here with you're hidden gem of the week! If you are new to the blog, you can see a summary of what this feature entails by selecting the first hidden gem on the left side of the blog. Without further ado, here we go.

Kabluey (2007)

Written and Directed by: Scott Pendergast

Starring: Scott Pendergast, Lisa Kudrow,

Christine Taylor, Chris Parnell

and Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Trailer 

This coming-of-age story is about Salman (played by writer/director Scott Pendergast), a guy who has not done too much with his life, who comes to the aid of his sister-in-law (Lisa Kudrow) and helps her raise her family while his brother is off fighting in Iraq. To make ends meet, Salman is forced to take a humiliating job standing on the side of the road in a large, blue mascot costume of a large corporation while handing out fliers to passing cars.

This is a very funny and charming film featuring many memorable moments. It is also, at the same time, a very touching and heartfelt look at a man who really tries to overcome himself in order to help out this family he cares so much about, all the while being an interesting social commentary on how the war effects people's lives.

So, you guys should check it out. Does it have any interest to you? And if you've seen it, what did you think?

Trailers! Foreign Film Edition!

Hey guys, today I thought I'd bring you some trailers for foreign films that look and sound very interesting.

The first comes from Korea, and is a film I've heard rave reviews about from the director of the Korean film The Host, and this one is called Mother:



The second is from France, and seems to be a very inventive film from the director of Amelie, and this one is called Micmacs:



And finally, we have a Spanish zombie film. This one is a sequel to a film called [REC], which was remade for American audiences into Quarantine, so here's [REC] 2.



Thoughts? Any of these films interest you?

This week's DVD releases!

In my opinion, this is just not a very exciting week for DVD releases. While I'm sure this is not the case for most of you, none of the releases really appeal to me that much. But, without further ado, let's get right into it, starting with my pick of the week and working from there.

The Baader Meinhof Complex - This is a film that has been available to rent and to watch instantly on Netflix for quite some time now, but now it is available for purchase. This film looks quite interesting, especially from the trailer (here), but the fact of the matter is that I may not get around to seeing it, especially with its 2 and a half hour run time. I hope to one day, though.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel - I literally shutter every time I see the title of this movie. And no, I never plan on seeing a movie that terms itself as a "squeakquel". As you may have noticed, I rate these on a 1-5 scale, meaning I don't acknowledge a 0 rating. However, for certain, rare occasions, you will see a 0 rating appear on this blog, and that is reserved for those movies I will actively avoid seeing. Here is the debut of that rating.
Rating: 0 out of 5

An Education - This was a film that was well made and well acted on every aspect, it just really didn't appeal to me. However, if you are into British social comedy/dramas involving interesting relationships that cross age and class barriers, this film is one of the better ones out there, but again, that doesn't really appeal to me personally.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Sherlock Holmes - I thought this film was fun to watch, featuring Robert Downey Jr. in a fun role, accompanied by Jude Law and (a very attractive) Rachel McAdams. This movie definitely had its flaws and pointless scenes, but I think the characters and the action were fun enough to carry this film. I especially enjoyed the relationship of Holmes and Watson (see if you can sense a certain subtle undertone in their relationship).
Rating: 3 out of 5

Alice in Wonderland (Special Un-Anniversary Edition) - Finally, we have Disney re-releasing the original animated version from the vault (Note, this is not the Tim Burton edition in theaters). Its always an exciting thing when these classics are released, however, I've just never really had much of an interest in Alice in Wonderland.
Rating: 3 out of 5

So, what are you renting this week?

Jon Heder drops out of Will Ferrell sitcom!

The article can be found here, but it seems as if Jon Heder has removed himself from a sitcom featuring him and Will Ferrell that would be produced by Comedy Central. The cast was also supposed to have featured SNL alums Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz, and production was set to begin in two days. There is no word yet on whether or not this project will continue without Heder.

Thoughts?

Godzilla gets another remake!

The article can be found here, but basically the only information present so far is that Legendary has signed on to produce and they are aiming for a 2012 release.

The last installment was in 1998, which was panned by critics, but rather profitable in the box office.

What do you think? Ready for another Godzilla flick?

Box Office Report!

Someone has finally unseated Alice and Wonderland! The full report can be found here, but How to Train Your Dragon premiered at #1 this week with $43.3 million. Alice in Wonderland finished in second, ending a three week run at #1, finishing with a weekend total of $17.3 million, bringing its total to $293.1 million domestically. The only other new release this week was Hot Tub Time Machine, which debuted at #3 with $13.7 million.

In other news, for the first time since its December release, Avatar finished outside of the top 10. This is likely due to How to Train Your Dragon taking most of its remaining 3-D screens, but it was a good run, as its domestic total is at $740.4 million and its worldwide total has reached $2.7 billion.

What do you think? How long do you anticipate How to Train Your Dragon being able to hold on to that top spot?

Top 25 Movies of 2009!

I originally posted this on facebook, but I thought it belonged here as well. This is my list of the Top 25 movies of last year:

Top 25 Movies of 2009

Since I’ve been closely following movies, which has been for around five years now, I feel like this has been the best year in film so far, so needless to say it was hard to narrow this list down to 25 movies this year. That being said, I’ll start off with five “honorable mention” movies that quite didn’t make it onto the list:

Crazy Heart
In The Loop
The Informant!
The Messenger
The Road

And, without further ado, here are my top 25 films of 2009.

25. Paranormal Activity
While it suffered from over-hype during its theatrical run, I felt this movie was a very effective horror film which held up on a second viewing much better than I anticipated.

24. I Love You, Man
This is just a very clever and funny movie that’s charming and one that I wouldn’t mind watching more than once.

23. The Cove
The likely winner of best documentary feature, this is a must see for all the bleeding-heart animal lovers out there. Even for those of us that aren’t, this is still an effective and well-made documentary.

22. (500) Days of Summer
One of the best scripts of not only the year, but in a while, I felt this film ultimately suffered from trying to make its characters too “hip and cool”. Still a great movie, nonetheless.

21. Black Dynamite
A surprisingly clever and funny send-up of blaxploitation films of the 1970’s, it features many memorable scenes, including a final num-chuck battle against a surprise opponent (I definitely don’t want to give it away.).

20. Funny People
While it is a bit long and even depressing at times, this underappreciated movie features not only Adam Sandler’s best performance ever by far, but also a highly underrated turn by Seth Rogen.

19. Bronson
Featuring great art direction and an amazing lead performance by Tom Hardy, this film is about Charlie Bronson, Britain’s most notorious criminal. It has a Clockwork Orange sense of style to it, and pulls it off quite nicely, actually.

18. Big Fan
From the writer of The Wrestler, comes another very effective character study of a man, played perfectly by comedian Patton Oswalt, whose obsession with the New York Giants effects his ability to lead a normal life. While dark and dreary at times, this film is a must see by sports fanatics and others alike.

17. Where the Wild Things Are
A film that feels very strange during the first viewing, mainly because it’s because it’s told from the perspective of a child. Also, this movie features some of the best art direction and style this year.

16. Drag Me to Hell
A very fun horror-comedy that succeeded both its missions: make me jump and laugh a lot.

15. District 9
A well-made and effective film, especially in the context of its metaphor with the apartheid in South Africa. I felt like its rather surprising best picture nomination was definitely warranted.

14. Observe and Report
A deeper and smarter movie than most people think, this film is largely a comedic version of Taxi Driver. It also happens to feature many funny, memorable scenes.

13. Antichrist
While this film is very shocking and definitely not for everyone, its combination of extreme beauty and extreme horror, combined also with its near-perfect direction, makes this one of the most interesting films I’ve seen in a while.

12. Up In The Air
A cleverly written and directed movie featuring two great performances of the year in George Clooney and Anna Kendrick, this film is very topical with the economy today and an interesting look on relationships amongst different types of people.

11. Adventureland
My top movie of the early part of the year that unfortunately suffered from poor marketing, it features great writing and characters and a fantastic performance by the up and coming Jesse Eisenberg.

10. Sugar
One of the best sports films I have ever seen, Sugar is an honest look at a Dominican baseball player’s attempt at having a major league career in the states. This film is a great study on the clashing of different social and cultural environments.

9. The Hurt Locker
The probable (and should be) best picture winner, this film is often regarded as the best Iraq war film made to date (for good reason). Not overtly political and message-filled, The Hurt Locker is ultimately effective by focusing on its characters and intense action sequences.

8. Adam
This romantic comedy about a man with Aspberger’s Syndrome trying to figure out his life after his father passed away is one of the best movies of the year no one’s heard of. This movie also features one of (the many) best lead acting performances that were looked over by the academy this year, this time by Hugh Dancy.

7. Up
After Wall-e, which I felt was one of the best animated films ever made, I couldn’t help but assume that Pixar was destined to take a dip in quality in its next film. That was absolutely not the case. If you can make it through the first 20 minutes of this movie without wanting to cry, you must have no soul.

6. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
One of the two times I have ever liked Nicolas Cage in a movie (the other being Adaptation), this character study about a guy who is basically just an asshole is very strange, but intriguing and fun to watch nonetheless.

5. World’s Greatest Dad
A dark comedy that is absolutely not for everyone, but if you can handle the extremely dark humor, this is a wonderfully made movie about a father trying to do what’s best to honor his son (and failing miserably), features another great male acting performance overlooked by the academy, this time from Robin Williams.

4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
I don’t think there is a better way to describe this movie than by simply calling it charming, extremely charming. A claymation film done by a director who has never dealt with animation before, this has been one of the most respected films amongst Hollywood circles this year, and for good reason.

3. Inglourious Basterds
Definitely Tarantino’s best work since Pulp Fiction, this film not only stands as the best escapist film this year in my opinion, but also has plenty in it for film nerds such as myself. His integration of German media and film in the storyline makes it feel authentic as the type of movie that would be released around the time WWII was ending. It also features one of the best acting performances of the decade by Christoph Waltz.

2. Moon
A criminally unseen and amazing science fiction film, it also features the best performance of the year by Sam Rockwell, that was unfortunately not honored by the Academy.

1. A Serious Man
Probably the best comedy by the Coen brothers since Fargo, this movie was a bit confusing and hard to understand, which made it all the more endearing for me. The use of music and rhythm in this film, along with its use of Jewish customs they don’t waste time explaining, make this my favorite film of a fantastic year in film.

What do you think? Do you agree with my picks? What were some of your favorites from last year?

Friday's New Release Feature!

Hey guys! It's Friday, and that means it's time for me to comment on what's coming to theaters this weekend! A little clarification of the rules, I judge this based on what's playing in Lubbock, that's because not only do I live there, but I figure if it's playing in Lubbock, it must be playing just about anywhere else. So, without further ado, here they are!

Hot Tub Time Machine - Recently I've had this gut notion that, even though this movie just looks incredibly stupid and terrible, this movie was going to get surprisingly good reviews and possibly be a hit. As the reviews have come out today, turns out I was kind of right. This has a 62% on rottentomatoes.com, which is rather good for a movie about a hot tub that travels through time. All in all, that has sparked some interest from me, but not too much.

Rating: 3 out of 5

How to Train Your Dragon -  Speaking of reviews, the one's for this movie have been surprisingly stellar, as the tomameter sits at 97% during the time I'm posting this. I just went from not all that interested to really intrigued.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Not too much on the slate for this weekend, but are you planning on seeing either of these? Also, what do you make of How to Train Your Dragon's amazing reviews?

The 'Scott Pilgrim vs The World' Teaser finally arrives!

And here it is, the teaser for the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, starring Michael Cera and directed by Edgar Wright.



With this trailer, and a cast that also features Oscar nominated Anna Kendrick, Jason Schwartzman, and Chris Evans (among others), this adds to my list of the most anticipated movies of 2010 for me (along with Greenberg  and The Green Hornet so far). Thoughts?

Some interesting names are being floated about to direct Mission: Impossible 4

Yes, there is going to be a fourth installment of Mission: Impossible(slated for a May 2011 release), and some interesting names have surfaced as possible directors. The article can be found here, but some of the names that have been mentioned are Brad Bird, who directed The Incredibles and Ratatouille, Edgar Wright, who directed Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and Ruben Fleischer, who directed Zombieland.


Some directors I really like, especially Wright and Bird, but I don't think it'll be enough to add to a movie that probably shouldn't get made. What do you think?

Trailers for Predators, Please Give, and Girl With a Dragon Tattoo!

Hey guys, I've got new trailers!

The first is for Predators, this time directed by Robert Rodriguez:


Next, we have Please Give, a movie starring Catherine Keener that premiered at Sundance:


Finally, we have Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, a foreign film I've heard a lot about recently:


Which one of these interest you?