Friday, April 30, 2010
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?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
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!
Written and Directed by: Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore
Starring: Michael Rapaport,Jack Kehler,
and Josh Peck
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?
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
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?
Monday, April 26, 2010
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?
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?
Friday, April 23, 2010
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 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."
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?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Hidden Gem of the Week!
Written and Directed by: Ondi Timoner
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?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
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?
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?
Monday, April 19, 2010
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?
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?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Guilty Pleasure of the Week!
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?
Friday, April 16, 2010
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?
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?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
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.
Next is his Academy award nominated short film Two Cars, One Night:
Finally we have the trailer for his upcoming film Boy:
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:
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Hidden Gem of the Week!
Written and Directed by: Lynn Shelton
Starring: Mark Duplass, Alycia Delmore,
and Joshua Leonard
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?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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?
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?
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?
Monday, April 12, 2010
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?
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?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
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?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
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!
Directed By: Nelson McCormick
Written By: J.S. Cardone
Starring: Brittany Snow, Idris Elba,
and Johnathon Schaech
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?
Friday, April 9, 2010
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?
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?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
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?
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?
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?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hidden Gem of the Week!
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?
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?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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?
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?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
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...
Friday, April 2, 2010
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?
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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?
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?
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