411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 72

Posted by Ben Piper on 04.13.2007

Is Entourage overrated? Is Jessica Biel the hottest woman on the planet? Is the most anticipated movie of the summer based on a comic book? 411's Nick Wallander & Chad Webb debate these and other topics in the latest edition of Fact or Fiction: Movies.

It's that time of the week again, kiddies! That's right, it's time for Fact or Fiction. This week we have the Big Screen Bulletin's Chad Webb and 411 newcomer Nick Wallander, author of "I'm Not Gonna Lie" which you can catch each and every Saturday. Now that the introductions are in place, let's see what these two guys have to say.

1. You were surprised by Grindhouse's poor opening weekend box office showing.

Nick Wallander: Fact. I didn't expect this one to be owning the box office this past weekend, but I sure expected it to take in more than Are We Done Yet?. It really is a shock that it only brought in $11 million. The promotional campaign for Grindhouse seemed as solid as any movie that has come out this past year. Perhaps this is a case similar to that of Snakes on a Plane where the movie didn't fulfill the internet hype. Blades of Glory retaining the top spot isn't unheard of because the recent trend has been that good comedies stick around the top for a few weeks. Still, great reviews for Grindhouse had me thinking that it would have hung in towards the top of the list. Nobody would have guessed that the most unique film of the bunch would get lost in the shuffle.

Chad Webb: Fact. I felt really bad for the Weinstein Company, Tarantino, and Rodriguez. They made one of the best films so far this year, and it got fourth place. It seems to me that when a movie goes over 2 – 2 and ½ hours in length, moviegoers become afraid to spend that much time. Not always, but I hear complaints about films being too long a lot. The cast and crew were pushing hard for Grindhouse the whole week before its release, and more people went to see Are We Done Yet?. I would like to meet the folks that looked at that trailer and thought it looked like a better way to spend $10. I wouldn't even take my kids to see Are We Done Yet?. Now, the Weinstein Company is thinking of splitting up both movies, which defeats the purpose of it being titled Grindhouse. Doing so would hurt the vision that the filmmakers had in mind. So anyway, yeah, I was shocked. I expected it get #2 at the very least. I realize that 3 hours and 15 minutes is a long running time, but it's worth it, trust me. Read the reviews.

Score: 1 for 1

2. You agree with Stuff Magazine's assertion that Jessica Beil is currently the hottest woman on the planet.

Nick Wallander: Fiction. I probably don't have a clear favorite for who is the hottest woman on the planet, but I do know that it sure isn't Jessica Beil. Her hotness points have declined since she was posing naked on a bathroom sink. She was edgy and hotter then because of the whole taboo factor stamped on her for playing the reverend's daughter on 7 th Heaven. Name the last movie you saw Biel in that made you think "Damn, I'd tap that!" Yeah, I am guessing you would say Blade Trinity or make reference to the erect nipple freezer scenes from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Both of them are few years past due. The new hotness is girls closer to being the girl next door. For that reason I give my hotness vote to Katherine Heigl.

Chad Webb: Fiction. I think Jessica Biel is mighty hot. After watching the trailer for Adam Sandler's new comedy I Know Pronounce You Chuck and Larry featuring Biel in her underwear, I was reminded of just how great her body looks, but there are other women that I think are hotter. Scarlett Johansson comes to mind. Jennifer Love Hewitt maybe? The fact is, the women I think are sexiest are the ones that have never posed nude. When they take the clothes off, it takes some of the fun and imagination out if it. When model/actress Vida Guerra did Playboy, I found that I really didn't care about her layouts anymore. Nick is right about the photos of her in Gear magazine. Those pics are pretty discreet, but she is topless. I would put her in the top 10 maybe, but not #1.

Score: 2 for 2

3. After radio and MSNBC personality Don Imus made derogatory racial remarks on-air towards the Rutgers women's basketball team, he should be fired.

Nick Wallander: Fiction. Now hear me out on this one. Firing Don Imus accomplishes nothing other than MSNBC saving some face. When something like this happens it should be a network's social duty to make something positive out of it. Is Don Imus going to learn anything from this if he gets fired? No. He is just going to blame a race of people for his firing. Isaiah Washington of Grey's Anatomy supposedly went into educational rehab for his bigot behavior and there is no reason that MSNBC can't make Imus do something similar. Educate the man, enlighten him, and try to help him have a better understanding of diversity. He might really be a jerk, but there is no reason he can't open his mind to new things. That is the kind of thing that could have a ripple effect on viewers/listeners who may have had similar thoughts in the past who might decide to think differently. Firing the man isn't going to allow for such an opportunity.

Chad Webb: Fact. I understand what Nick is trying to say here, but the fact is I don't think Imus would learn a damn thing. He is a jerk, plain and simple, and that's putting it nicely. I am not a fan of his show, and I am not a fan of his attitude. This is not the first time he has landed in hot water due to insulting comments. It has happened before. I'm not sure how many of us actually listened to what he said recently, but truthfully, it was despicable. I am amazed that he just sat there calmly doing his show and proceeded to say some of those things to people who did nothing to him. I don't care what his race is. No matter what color you are, if you make statements of this nature on the air about another race, your job should be in jeopardy. Rehab is a step in the right direction, and maybe he should take that upon himself regardless, but in Imus' case, I don't think it would be a total cure.

Score: 2 for 3

Note: These answers were gathered prior to MSNBC's announcement that they were dropping the Imus program, and CBS Radio's dismissal of him. -BP

Switch

4. Entourage is overrated.

Chad Webb: Fiction. Well I am a huge fan of the show, so I totally disagree with this one. I am just about finished with the DVD set of Season Three, Part One. I have not seen the newest episode(s), so I don't know what is happening now, but I love this show. What is most enjoyable to me is that a lot of the situations are fairly accurate about what goes on with actors in Hollywood. The cast is great, the star cameos are hilarious, and each episode is masterfully handled to keep you coming back for more. The only negative I can think of is the character of Dom, but he was taken out rather quickly anyway. This is a great show, and one of the best currently running. I hope it stays around for awhile.

Nick Wallander: Fiction. If I said anything other than fiction I would be a bold faced liar. The truth be told, I spent my entire Sunday sitting in front of the television and watching Entourage On Demand while I had a free preview of HBO. It is hard to not like the crude true-to-life humor. Perhaps that is the best thing about the show. The conversations that the characters have are usually variations on real conversations that we have all had with our friends. Every episode is like hanging out with your friends. And at the end of every episode you are left wanting more because the writing is so impeccable that they manage to give us reasonable cliff hangers nearly every week. I agree with Chad about Dom being a low part of this season, but they did nip that in the bud almost immediately.

Score: 3 for 4

5. Disney's contemplating making a forth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. That would be a bad idea, creatively.

Chad Webb: Fact. I was really excited about how this was initially going to be a trilogy. Now they want to do a fourth one, and much of the original cast does not, or has not been contacted to return except Depp. I realize that Disney is making loads of money, but do we have milk a franchise to death every single chance we get these days? What's wrong with three movies? I remember the writers talking about how difficult it was to stretch the premise out to three films. What will they do in a fourth? I am sure someone can think of a bad storyline, but why can't we just let it be? I liked comparing this trilogy to Back to the Future. That was only three movies, and it was superb. I'd bet that most moviegoers respect that trilogy to this day. What would the world think if we were given a 4th, 5th, and 6th Pirates installment. All I'm saying is, enough is enough. Quit while you are ahead.

Nick Wallander: Fiction. I am going to have to disagree with my colleague on this one. When you look at this franchise it isn't really an ensemble franchise. PotC is Johnny Depp's franchise. Jack Sparrow is the character that everyone loves and I'd probably bay to see him read out of the dictionary. The rest of the main cast is honestly a bit expendable. Orlando Bloom is bland and uninteresting, they'll get another pretty face to replace Knightly, and Geoffrey Rush just isn't as charismatic in his persona as Depp is. I am certain that the whole supporting cast will be on board for a fourth installment because to be quite honest they have nothing else on their plates. Ten to fifteen years from now they will want to make a sequel anyways, so they might as well do it while the stars are still young, good looking, and at least willing. Think of what could have been of the Star Wars franchise had they just gotten right on the supposed sequels to the original trilogy. I know people want those sequels now, but it won't happen unless Han Solo is in a wheelchair and on oxygen. I say go for it while you can still make a decent movie.

Score: 3 for 5

6. The summer movie you're most looking forward to doesn't involve comic book superheroes.

Chad Webb: Fact. I'll admit that I will definitely be in the theaters to see Spiderman 3 and especially Fantastic Four 2 to finally see the Silver Surfer on the big screen, but when making a list of summer movies I am looking forward to, the comic book adaptations were way down on my list. I can't wait for Pirates 3 and Ratatouille from Pixar. I am hoping that delivers. Besides that, I will be searching for a lot of smaller films. For example, Rescue Dawn has Christian Bale in it, and it is directed by Werner Herzog, who I am a big fan of. Also the comedy Knocked Up from 40 Year Old Virgin director Judd Apatow gets released, Waitress starring Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion, and Bug, a new horror film from Director William Friedkin, the man who gave us The Exorcist. I am one of the few who did not enjoy Spiderman 2, so this new sequel is not something I am going crazy for. The summer has loads of interesting releases besides the comic book heroes. Don't forget The Bourne Ultimatum comes out in late August I believe.

Nick Wallander: Fact. Chad has an impressive list of movies there and I can't argue with any of them being worthy of my time and money. Spiderman 3 comes out in the beginning of May anyway and won't really interfere with my summer. It is probably kind of obvious that I am looking forward to PotC:AWE, but it isn't the one I want to see the most. That title belongs to the Judd Apatow movie "Knocked Up". The trailer is hysterical and this will be the sleeper hit of the summer. Anybody who was ever a fan of Anchorman or The 40 Year Old Virgin knows what this movie is capable of. Seth Rogen's career is going to flourish just as Steve Carell's did. Hell, this movie will do wonders for the flick "Superbad" which Rogen wrote and stars in at the end of the summer. If you haven't see the trailers for "Knocked Up" you probably should look them up. Make sure you see the alternative one on YouTube that isn't really safe for children. If you don't like this one you can just send me hate mail in early June.

Final Score:4 for 6

Chad and Nick bat over .500. Not bad, guys, and thanks for participating. Check back next week for more 411 Fact or Fiction: Movies