The Big Screen Bulletin: Where You Always Have To Wait in Line For Tickets
Posted by Chad Webb on 06.11.2007
A straight to video nightmare with Jean Claude Van-Damme, box office results, thoughts on "Thundercats" in CGI, "G.I. Joe" script news, Matt Damon's new projects, new DVD releases, new trailer ratings, new quickees, and more!
Straight to Video Nightmares
For the newer readers of the Bulletin, I felt the need to explain why I decided to write about movies that were never in theaters. The "Straight to Video Nightmares" section was started so that I could review some of the latest Direct-to-DVD releases that do not get talked about often. My goal is to watch films that only go to DVD, and have not been in theaters. Occasionally, I rent one that received a limited release for like 2 days. Sometimes I do this deliberately, and other times I mess up and think it was Direct-to-DVD when it wasn't. Some titles can be deceiving. Since these types of releases are so profitable for studios nowadays, it makes this part of my news report all the more fascinating. At first, I wrote only two short paragraphs on them, but as the column has progressed, I write more because I enjoy doing it.
Until Death
Starring: Jean Claude Van-Damme, Selina Giles, and Mark Dymond
Directed By: Simon Fellows
Release Date: April 24, 2007
Running Time 101 minutes
Rated R
I needed a break from sequels. My brain was beginning to ache after Half Past Dead 2. Currently, the Direct-to-DVD market contains slim pickings, but I remembered this Jean Claude Van-Damme tale coming out recently, so I chose that one for this week. This held a solid 2-3 rows on the Blockbuster new releases wall, and that is kind of surprising considering the star. That's the way it goes I guess. The Fountain has only a few copies in stock, and Until Death has multiple rows. Moving along. The content and pace of this film astonished me taking into account that we're dealing with the Van Damminator. Until Death is the cinematic equivalent to a saltine cracker. When you're in the right mood, it can be satisfying and edible, but other times it is bland with no taste. Shockingly, I had no urge to throw items at the screen. This is a flawed, yet tolerable drama/police thriller. Yes, that's correct, a Van Damme drama. Hell hath frozen over.
Our story begins in New Orleans. Detective Anthony Stowe has been tracking down his former partner Gabriel Callahan. No, not Dirty Harry's brother. Stowe is a narcotics officer, and is really down on his luck. A bust on Callahan goes awry, leaving 2 cops dead, and the entire department ends up blaming him for it. His job is in jeopardy due to numerous bad judgment calls, and in order to save some face, he rats out a friend. In addition, he and his wife are separated. Either this is one of Van Damme's best performances, or he is looking so rough and ragged these days that he just fell easily into the part. I haven't figured it out yet. Stowe is perhaps the most grizzled cop I have ever presented on screen, and we know this because he has the five o'clock shadow, dark eyes, dyed black hair, and leather jacket, not to mention the little drug habit. In a hilarious scene, he violates an ugly prostitute. He spends his spare time drinking scotch and spitting at mirrors. My first question lies with the business of Callahan the crime lord. It is never clear, although one can assume it involves drugs. Suffice to say he is one bad dude. What does he do exactly (besides kill people)? Stowe is absolutely relentless in pursuing this man. He investigates every lead, but always winds up in trouble because Callahan's thugs are everywhere.
Let's get back to his wife for a moment. Her name is Valerie, and she has been seeing another guy, and she informs Stowe that she is pregnant, but the child isn't his. This increases the issues between them. One day, he is double-crossed by a lady bartender, and a group of Callahan's men storm into a diner trying to kill him. He gets shot in the head, and lands in a coma. When he awakes a changed man, he wants to right all of his wrongs. I won't spoil any more and blow the whole load. Every plot detail I have given is also available on IMDB, so I didn't go too far. The first half of Until Death rolls along steadily, but as routinely as any police drama. But then something changed. Unlike most Direct-to-DVD fare, it does not venture further downhill, but actually chooses a different course. Make no mistake, the storyline is not original, but thankfully, it is executed with a calm approach. The action sequences are not crafted with outrageous martial arts, countless explosions, or a hero that dodges an onslaught of gunfire. They are simply gun battles, but neat skirmishes nonetheless, and more realistic than I expected. Stowe even stops to collect the guns of enemies, so as not to break the rule of unlimited ammunition.
Jean Claude Van Damme has fallen into that black hole of no return where his time as action star have come and gone in a flash, and he must now settle for whatever B-movie will hire him, instead of Steven Seagal, Wesley Snipes, or Dolph Lundgren. I didn't mind his work as Anthony Stowe. Van Damme portrays this cop in such a dirty manner that I would never want to encounter him in a dark alley. The supporting cast includes two V for Vendetta cast contributors. One is Selina Giles, who acts as Stowe's wife Valerie. She is adequate, except for when she screams and yelps annoyingly. The other is Stephen Rea, and he marks the biggest problem with Until Death. He is excruciating, torturous, and laughable as the villain Callahan. His voice is almost cartoonishly humorous. Though, it doesn't help that the script is another major catastrophe. The screenwriters, Dan Harris and James Portolese, fail at creating dialogue intriguing enough to improve the performances of the actors. Each character is handicapped by this dilemma. A sample: "Tell me the truth and not some bullsh** lie." Director Simon Fellows is no stranger to the B-world, and has worked with Van Damme before on Second in Command. His filmmaking is fairly standard, but his sporadic upside down, and/or circular effect shots almost induced a dizzy feeling. The final showdown was not aggravating or exaggerated, but at least passable by my scrutiny.
I found myself in a bit of a pickle with Until Death. Had the screenplay been polished, and placed in the hands of those who would have handled it with the necessary precision and care, this could have been a stellar Direct-to-DVD offering. This is a film that follows a path too straightforward. Had someone inserted a few cheesiness qualities, and expressed it like the pleasurable garbage it most certainly is, who knows what could have resulted? Fellows and company seem uncertain of their identity, and because of that, Until Death will slip through the cracks never to be heard from again. I'll be honest. Some of you might watch this and think I'm nuts for not hating it. One has to watch enough bad movies to appreciate those that are a bit ambitious and not insufferable. I anticipated much worse from Mr. Van Damme. It is nice to see him striving to adapt, and not channeling his Bloodsport days any more. This is not a nightmare, but possibly a peaceful midday nap.
Final Rating = 6.5/10.0
The News Bulletin
"Oceans 13" Gamble Pays Off
Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow's "Ocean's Thirteen" won the weekend at the B.O. with $37 million and a per theater average of $10,401 off 3,565. Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" sailed to No. 2 in it third frame, with $21.3 million, raising its cume to $253.6 million domestically. Universal's "Knocked Up" landed in third in its second sesh, with $20 million. Among new openers, Sony's animated "Surf's Up" crested at $18 million and bowed in the No. 4 slot on the charts. Lionsgate's "Hostel II" was sliced and diced, taking in $8.7 million off 2,350, and debuting in sixth place.
No surprises occurred this weekend. I thought Oceans 13 might grab a little more money than that, but we'll see what happens in weeks to come. Pirates 3 is not gaining as much ground on Spider-Man 3 as I expected in terms of total gross. Otherwise, I knew Hostel II would get slaughtered, and I figured Surf's Up would not perform all that well. Still, Surf's Up should stay strong in the children's market for a bit. I'm glad to see Waitress (#9) and Knocked Up (#3) still raking in money. Next week, Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer has a tough climb over the other blockbusters. I'll bet it barely gets it though.
The Thundercats Head to the Big Screen
It's Thundercats, ho! at Warner Bros. Studio has optioned a script by tyro scribe Paul Sopocy to turn the popular 1980s animated series and toy line into a CGI-animated feature. Warner-based Paula Weinstein will produce through her Spring Creek Prods. banner, along with Dick Robertson and Lew Korman. Property revolves around a group of humanoid cats (with feline names like Lion-O, Tygra, Panthro and Cheetara) who must flee their planet of Thundera after it's destroyed. Once crash-landing on another planet, Third Earth, they must thwart Mumm-Ra, an evil sorcerer, bent on killing them off. Sopocy has written the script as an origin story expanding on the major heroes and villains from the animated series, with the plot focusing on Lion-O coming of age as the leader of the Thundercats.
Project was brought to Warner by Palek Patel, VP at Spring Creek. Dan Lin is overseeing the pic for Warners. The Thundercats franchise began in 1983 and spawned several animated series, with the most recent airing on Cartoon Network, a toy line produced by LJN and comicbooks published by Marvel and DC imprints. Warner Bros. has owned the rights to the animated series since acquiring Telepictures Corp. in 1989. Studio's recently been bitten by the nostalgia bug, pacting with Joel Silver to produce a live-action "He-Man" movie, based on the toy and cartoon franchise, as well as a feature based on the DC comicbook "Teen Titans," a junior Justice League.
Weinstein most recently produced Warners' "Blood Diamond," and with HBO Films is prepping "Recount," based on the 2000 presidential election, with Sydney Pollack set to direct. "Thundercats" is Sopocy's first studio script sale as a screenwriter. He's currently senior writer, print advertising, at Fox Broadcasting Co., and has previously penned short films including "Staring at the Sun," which was screened at the Sundance film fest in 2005.
Christmas comes early this year for me! I know many will scoff at this recent trend with 80's cartoon adaptations, but I'd rather this be the craze than more video game films. Anyway, I think a CGI version of Thundercats is better than attempting a live action one. That would be silly. The problem the crew will face with CGI is what happened with TMNT. It doesn't need to just look nicely updated with the technology. The most important factor is the plot. Since the screenwriter is unknown, I cannot really comment, but he has his work cut out for him. He needs to not only maintain the spirit of the show, but impress today's audiences and critics with new ideas. That is not easy. An origin story is the only thing that can succeed. Not enough people know of this show, so their birth must be told again. I'm really looking forward to this proposal, but am skeptical at how they could abuse it. I just hope Sopocy does his research.
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"G.I. Joe" Script News
Cinematical reports that Paramount is asking both parties hired to pen a "G.I. Joe" script to finish their drafts at the same time. Script #1 is being penned by Skip Woods ("Swordfish"), is considered an 'origin story', and was reviewed poorly online not long ago. Script #2 is by David Elliot and Paul Lovett ("Four Brothers") and is said to be more of a straight-up adaptation of the series. That was reviewed as well with a more positive result. Woods is now expected to complete his version, whilst Elliot and Lovett will begin a third draft. The studio will then either make a choice or more likely combine elements of both.
An origin story would be pointless for a show like this. It is very popular already, so a standard adventure is fine. It just strikes me as unnecessary to contrast the birth of G.I. Joe as the newest mainstream movie. If one script was poorly reviewed, why is it still being considered? I guess he could change the parts which were disliked most, but with these characters it is just stupid? My concern is the issues wit the title. Isn't this supposed to be called Action Man? I understand that was the title of the show in the U.K., but G.I. Joe is the proper name, and anything else sounds ridiculous.
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Star Spills on "AVP 2"
"Alien vs. Predator 2" star Steven Pasquale has promised fans that the sequel to Paul W.S. Anderson's 2004 film will be a more terrifying experience than its predecessor. "[We're] trying to get back to the basics [with] the suspense and the gore," Pasquale informed MTV.com. "I think it's going to be really fun. [Directors] Colin and Greg Strause really know what they're doing in terms of a sort of true-blue monster movie." MTV reveals that Pasquale's role is that of "Dallas" (no relation to Tom Skerritt's character from "Alien"). "[He's] our convict who returns home to his small town in Colorado to find aliens and predators," the actor explained. He added, "Haven't we always wondered what would happen if they made it to Earth? [Well] now they have, and drama ensues. It's more about survival. Clearly we don't know what the hell these things are, so me and my little brother and a couple of the other main characters are trying to just get out of town with everything intact, and that's the journey rather than trying to sort of conquer the invincible monsters." "Alien vs. Predator 2" is slated for a Christmas '07 release.
I could describe how I feel about this sequel, but we all pretty much have the same opinion. Instead, I will state what I would want to see after learning of this premise. What I enjoyed about the first one, which wasn't much mind you, was the battles between the aliens and predators. Hence in this version, I would concentrate on that. Have them fight in interesting locations, where the fights are suspenseful and entertaining. Do not focus on a storyline with humans trying to avoid being killed by the aliens. No one cares. This is entitled Alien vs. Predator after all. Since it is inevitable, and a plot will have some humans involved, make it secondary, but also intriguing. This crap of trying to get out of town has been done time and time again. Now, what I have said here will not happen, but it would be better than what this news bit says.
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Damon and Greengrass Find Emerald
Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, who have worked together on the last two films in the Jason Bourne movie series, are joining forces again for a new film about Iraq called "Imperial Life in the Emerald City." The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Washington Post writer Rajiv Chandrasekaran. Damon, Variety says, will portray a composite character based on several people featured in the book about chaos in Iraq. Plans for the movie are being finalized now with scheduling issues yet to be worked out. Damon next appears in "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "Ocean's Thirteen." He'll also appear briefly in Francis Ford Coppola's WWII romance "Youth Without Youth."
Matt Damon is on a roll right now, and he has delivered some of the best performances of his career. It seems that he is making some good choices. He supplied 3 roles which were geared towards Oscars in Syriana, The Departed, and The Good Shepherd, and now he aiming for excitement and fun with Ocean's 13 and The Bourne Ultimatum. I personally believe that the public and critics underestimate his range, and overall talent. This Iraq film sounds like another fascinating project for him. I hope he wins an Oscar for acting one day. He deserves it. On a side note, I am anxiously awaiting Francis Ford Coppola's new offering.
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"Thanksgiving" On the Way?
In between projects, "Hostel" director Eli Roth told Slashfilm that he has plans to expand his "Grindhouse" faux trailer "Thanksgiving" into a feature. "I'm actually writing it with my friend Jeff just to have it ready. The first Grindhouse cost almost 70 million dollars. So I'm like, we should do it like Dogma 95 and call it Dogshit 2007, where you get half a million bucks and six days and no rehearsals. We'd have to list out crazy rules but we still want to do it. I've talked about doing it as a 45 minute movie with just so many missing reels" he says. Meanwhile Roth had posed nude for a double page spread in the upcoming photo book "Guts: The Art of Marketing Horror Films" which includes clever use of a KNB prosthetic that I borrowed the other day (I promise boys I'll return it when I'm finished). See the photo (definitely not worksafe) at NYMag.
In response to his fans almost demanding that the "Thanksgiving" trailer be made into a feature film, it looks as if it may actually happen. I do not agree with this or the "Machete" film. Sure, they both could be super cool, yes I said super cool, but doesn't this take away some of the humor from the Grind House intermission? It was funny because we knew they were so over the top, yet also not really upcoming movies. Now, two of them might make it to the big screen. They are no longer faux trailers, but real trailers. I'm somewhat disappointed, I'll be honest. Isn't that like having some of the air blown out of your tires? Maybe it's just me.
The 20 Second Sermon
D.J. Caruso is rumored to helm the Wolverine spinoff. Well that's terrific. Now we know it will suck. Sean Connery has said definitely no to Indiana Jones IV, but wishes them the best. That is unfortunate I must say. I hope Spielberg and Lucas have other tricks up their sleeves. Mark Steven Johnson is not sure if he wants a Ghost Rider 2 anytime soon. He wants to do something "lighter" and I say that is good because comic books are not his cup of tea. He talked about using Scarecrow as a villain, and since he was used in Batman Begins, that decision would be retarded. Beverly Hills Cop producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura says they think they have enough information to "take a good shot at" the script to Beverly Hills Cop IV. Doesn't that worry fans of the franchise? God only knows what they will come up with.
What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?
DVD Headline of the Week
The Hustler (2 Disc Collector's Edition) - No word yet on what extras this has that the previous version did not, but any double dip is probably worth upgrading. This is a four star classic. Buy
Ghost Rider (2 Disc Extended Edition) - This new version cannot be all that much of an improvement. One never knows for sure, but this film had many problems, which will be hard to erase. Avoid
Breach - The Chris Cooper/Ryan Phillippe thriller was riveting from beginning to end. A solid film worth owning. Buy
Stone Cold - I was never a huge follower of Brian Bosworth's acting career. This film was not very memorable in my eyes. Avoid
The Bridge - I heard a lot of positive things about this documentary. I'll be Netflixxing it soon.
Blood & Chocolate - I did see this online, and wow, this is undoubtedly as bad as it appeared. Avoid
John Wayne Screen Legend Collection - I have lost count of the John Wayne anthologies at this point. This one has Rooster Cogburn and The Hellfighters, among others.
Primeval - Sorry, I missed this one, but I seriously don't think I missed much.
The Two of Us - Criterion Collection - What would the world be without the obscure Criterion releases which none of us have seen? I am sure this is fascinating.
James Stewart: Screen Legends Collection - Jimmy Stewart has his fair share of box sets as well. On this particular set, one receives new copies of Shenendoah and The Glenn Miller Story. For the price, I say yes. Buy
The Three Musketeers (1939) - This is not one of the better adaptations of the renowned novel. I wouldn't bother with this. Avoid
Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams - I forget if/when this was in theaters, but I remember the title catching my attention. I never heard overly great reviews or anything, but I might rent this if I have enough time.
The Critic's Quickee
This week I am trying something a bit different. I did not have enough time to see Mr. Brooks, but my girlfriend Stephanie did. So I decided to ask her if she wanted to contribute her thoughts. I wanted to have something written on that film, so she agreed, and the quickee you read below was written by her. A female perspective is good for this site every now and then. Today, her Bulletin cherry has been popped.
Knocked Up - I was never worried that Judd Apatow's sophomore effort would not be funny. I was more concerned with whether or not Seth Rogen could carry a lead role. Thankfully, he does great, and that undeniable chemistry he possessed with his fellow Freaks and Geeks Jason Segel and Martin Starr was right back there as if the show never ended. The supporting characters that were not members of that show, Jay Baruchel and Jonah Hill, were hilarious as well. More than anything else, this is a smart film with a storyline that could have easily been ruined. Apatow's approach is so genuine and heartwarming that he never misses a beat. He cares for his actors, and it shows. This clocked in at over 2 hours, yet never once felt lengthy or sloppy. It switches gears into serious at ideal periods, and always has proper doses of humor, both mature and raunchy. Katherine Heigl was beautiful and believable as the Alison Scott. This is a movie that knows how to express the emotions of men and women alike. The key decisions are executed so deftly. For instance when the two main characters meet at the club. Everyone from Paul Rudd, to the cameos by James Franco, among others, was all spectacular. The marijuana gags got old, but that is a minor grumble. This is one of the best comedies of the year. Final Rating = 9.0/10.0
Mr. Brooks - Scenes that make you laugh, scenes that make you actually sympathize with a murderer, and one scene with a pair of scissors that made the two women sitting behind me in the theater gasp and shriek with fear so loudly it heightened the terror I was already feeling one hundred percent more, Mr. Brooks is one of the scariest thrillers of the year so far. Kevin Costner plays the title character, a Man-of-the-Year, family figure with a hugely destructive obsession. After a two-year hiatus, Mr. Brooks "the Thumbprint Killer"'s addiction to killing has come back in full force and due to Marshall, his maniacal conscience, he's having a hard time controlling it. When things get sloppy in one of his latest murders and he is photographed on the scene of the crime, his situation gets more complicated. Mr. Brooks is forced to deal with a whole new set of problems, including a "fan" blackmailing him, a detective right on his tracks, and a daughter with a slew of her own troubles that she dumps right onto his plate. By far the most entertaining and fun character in the movie was Marshall, played by William Hurt. He acted as Mr. Brooks's killing conscience, the devil on his shoulder, is in almost all of Kevin Costner's scenes, but no one else can see him. His character was very evil, very persuasive, and at the same time, pure fun to watch. Dane Cook, however, plays Mr. Smith, an eager student to Mr. Brooks's teaching, and I found him, quite oppositely, especially hard to watch. Yes a transition out of comedy for Cook must have been difficult, and this was a good movie to try it out in, but I still didn't think it fit well for him just yet. Seeing Kevin Costner in such a different role was enjoyable and quite interesting. He was usually convincing to the audience, but at times you could see right through the stand-up citizen Mr. Brooks into his Mr. Hyde interior. This bothered me a tad because his oblivious wife (Marg Helgenberger of CSI) had no inkling at all that he lived a double life. I found this detail a little unbelievable, so this didn't sit right with me. When it comes to the final rating, I enjoyed this movie, I did. It scared the heck out of me, I thought it was really original, and the acting was almost top notch all around. However, I have no interest in seeing it again and find myself only halfheartedly recommending it to people. But if you enjoy being scared or are a big Kevin Costner fan, this movie is for you. Final Rating = 7.0/10.0
Movievision Weekly
Monday Meet the Parents - Although the sequel damaged my liking of the first one, this is still a classic comedy in many ways. Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro are hilarious together. Laugh again on ABC Family at 9 pm. ***
Die Another Day - The worst Bond film I have seen to date, and what a shame as this has numerous visuals that are brilliant. Lee Tamahori's direction just gets so outlandish, and Pierce looked too tired. This will air on Spike TV at 9 pm. **
Tuesday Slap Shot - A superb hockey film with Paul Newman and the Hansen brothers. I absolutely love this movie. You can see for yourself how terrific this is by tuning in to AMC at 8pm. ***1/2
The Fabulous Baker Boys - The Bridges brother star with Michelle Pfeiffer in this wonderful and well-paced drama. This is a little overlooked gem if there ever was one. This can be found on ENCORE at 8pm. ***1/2
Wednesday Tremors & Tremors: Aftershocks - Personally, I hated this entire franchise, and the putridly awful sequels only make the initial film look worse. These movies could never decide if they wanted to be straightforward or pure B-movie, so they fall into the middle and fail. These are on Cinemax starting at 6:30, with the second one commencing at 8:15. ("Tremors" = **/ "Tremors: Aftershocks" = *)
Thursday Escape from Alcatraz - This is a mesmerizing and masterful film. I will be visiting this place later in the summer actually. San Fran here I come. Anyway, Clint Eastwood is perfect here, and this will be on AMC at 8 pm. ***1/2
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey - Here is a family flick that was a hit in theaters, and even more popular on VHS. I enjoyed it as a kid, but few dog films hold up over time. This was average, but no better. If you liked it more than I, watch it on Animal Planet at 8 pm. **1/2
Movie Dictionary: Word of the Week
Movieoke - Movieoke is a form of entertainment in which an amateur actor or actors perform along with a muted DVD in order to give voice to the character in the film. The film is projected onto a screen behind the actor and onto an alternate monitor which provides subtitles and action cues. Movieoke is a popular form of performative and interactive entertainment which began in a screening room/bar in New York City in early 2003, and has since spread to other parts of the world.
The word stems from the English word "movie" and the Japanese word "karaoke", which itself stems from the word kara (空), meaning "empty", and the English word "orchestra". This term used to be slang for media where pre-recorded acting is substituted by a live performance. The term movieoke can be interpreted as "virtual movie" because one can act along without the presence of a camera or crew. In the United States, the word is often pronounced as /muːvˈoʊki/, and in Britain /muːvˈəʊkɪ/. The Japanese pronunciation is /muːbiːoke/ (These pronunciations are in IPA.).
Karaoke has been a common form of musical entertainment at a dinner or a party in Japan, as in the rest of the world, for a long time. This tradition appeared in the earliest Japanese mythology.
Its newest cousin, Movieoke, was created and launched by Anastasia Fite in a screening room/bar in The East Village of New York City in 2003. A projector is connected to a DVD player so that the image is cast onto a screen behind the participant(s), an alternate monitor is placed in front of the participant in order to provide them with line and action cues from the film. Anastasia would mute the voice of the actor(s) in the film so that the participant could give voice to the character in the film, much to the audience's participation and delight.
Since these early Movieoke events, other businesses have cropped up which make technological advances allowing for people to enact Movieoke on their home computer, one such company is KaraMovie Inc., who introduced the MoXie Player in 2006 which provides the means to receive movieoke content via the internet. Live Movieoke events for the public still take place periodically around the world.
Based on the Trailer…
Newest Trailers
American Gangster - This is the one I have been waiting for, and it does not disappoint, at least by the looks of this preview anyway. I was surprised by the music contained, but this new Ridley Scott flick looks great. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
D.O.A.: Dead or Alive - Is this Mortal Kombat meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? The half naked women were nice, but this strikes me as a humongous rip off film. I don't know, maybe it will be entertaining. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0
War - A Jason Statham and Jet Li actioner. The fights should be nice, and the action as well, but the plot looks paper thin. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Evening - An all-star female cast causes this look pretty good to me. Males might be turned off, but I think it looks promising. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
June Releases
Ratatouille (2) - Pixar's newest offering might get lost with the CGI films that are more geared towards children, but it still looks intelligent and cute. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Live Free or Die Hard - This third sequel to the successful franchise does not look overly terrible. Maybe it will be shockingly good. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Live Free or Die Hard (2) - This second trailer is a bit longer, and reveals some more action sequences. They range from cool and exciting to wild and outlandish. It ends with a clip of Kevin Smith, which is not as funny as they'd hoped. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Eagle vs. Shark - This quirky little independent love story film struck me as way over the top in terms of weirdness. It reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite in a way. That is not a good thing. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Death at a Funeral - This English comedy from Director Frank Oz appears to have potential, but it will most likely be a limited engagement, and will be overlooked by most viewers. This preview did have some humorous bits though. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Evan Almighty - This sequel doesn't have strong plot. Evan is told to build and ark. Dumb, but Carrell is still funny. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Nancy Drew - This new movie is based on the books in some way I guess. It seems molded to fit the teeny bopper audience. I am not impressed. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0
A Mighty Heart - If you forgot Angelina Jolie could act, watch this preview. The movie displays some nice qualities, and Jolie looks superb. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
1408 - This new John Cusack thriller looks like your typical dumb thriller with some sort of idiotic twist. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Captivity - Elisha Cuthbert in some sort of Saw wannabe film. I don't care, and you shouldn't either. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2) - This second trailer is friggin fabulous. I've read the book, so I know they give away a lot of details, but I hope this makes even more people rush out to see it. This one is longer, and reveals much more of the action. I hope it delivers. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Hairspray - This doesn't seem like it will be all that terrible. I viewed this trailer as a fun looking musical with a glorious cast. Travolta will be spectacular. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Transformers - This is the newer trailer, and I think this could actually be decent. I have good feelings about it. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Transformers (2) - The more footage I see, the more I am pumped for this. It is likely to be a mediocre summer blockbuster, and not much else, but that's ok with me. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Talk to Me - Don Cheadle as a risky radio jockey. This looks to have potential, but it's not the role Cheadle is capable of shining most in. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
The Simpsons Movie - I am not the biggest Simpsons fan, but this trailer is hilarious. Maybe this movie won't be all that terrible. Trailer Rating = 8.0/1.0
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - Boy does this look bad. I am sorry to say that, but I will only be seeing this because of Jessica Biel in her underwear. That is worth the price of admission. Otherwise this is the regular Sandler hijincks. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Rescue Dawn - With Christian Bale and Steve Zahn (in a serious role). This war film from Werner Herzog looks terrific. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
No Reservations - I love Aaron Eckhart, and the whole world adores Abigail Breslin, but this romantic comedy appears to be disappointing. I am not enticed. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
License to Wed - With Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, and John Krasinski. This is another romantic comedy that looks just awful. Williams is better than these garbage roles. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
I Know Who Killed Me - This Lindsay Lohan stripper mystery thriller is billed as like it wants to be a spin off of I Know What You Did Last Summer. It looks ok enough to see, but will probably disappoint. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
August Releases
El Cantante - Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez get to do a movie together…yay. This appears to be your typical musician rises to fame, goes to drugs, vH1 Behind the Music story romance. I am not intrigued yet. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Superbad - This looks like it could be funny. The kid from Accepted was hysterical, and since Seth Rogen is a big part of the cast and crew, I will definitely give this a shot. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Rush Hour 3 - This is only a clip of the upcoming second sequel, but it is absolutely hilarious. I was surprised by how funny this was actually. I can't wait for an actual trailer to surface. Trailer/Clip Rating = 9.0/10.0
Rush Hour 3 - I reviewed the first clip, and it was hilarious, but the full trailer was not as funny. This looks like fun, but more of the same. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
The Bourne Ultimatum - Paul Greengrass is a great filmmaker, and this looks like a kick ass action flick, and hopefully a fitting chapter to the franchise. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Resident Evil: Extinction - This was an average teaser trailer. I'm still not sure how this will turn out though. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Underdog - Jason Lee sounds funny as the voice of this dog, but the preview does not catch my fancy. I hope it isn't as awful as it appears. This and Firehouse Dog will not cause the dog genre to make a comeback I think. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Halloween - Call me nuts, but this could be a surprisingly innovative re-imagination of the John Carpenter classic. I was not disgusted by the teaser, and I usually am. I hope this is solid. Good remakes are few and far between. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Stardust - With an all-star cast, this looks extremely bizarre. I'm not sure what I think yet, especially with Michelle Pfeiffer playing some ugly looking witch. It actually looks pretty bad after one viewing. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Balls of Fury - A new comedy with Christopher Walken. Some parts made me laugh, but overall I thought this looked dumb. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
September, TBD, and Beyond Releases
Sunshine - This new film by Danny Boyle looks outstanding. I can't wait to see it. We could use some good sci-fi. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
The Kingdom - If Chris Cooper is involved, I'm there. Oh yeah, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner are in this Iraqui actioner too. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Bee Movie - This is the second trailer. It is much funnier. I can't wait to see this. It's not made by Pixar, yet it still looks good. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Across the Universe - From Julie Taymor, this odd looking flick has a trailer well constructed and eye catching. Because it grabs your attention, I will give this a chance. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Penelope - This movie looks so strange. Christina Ricci has a nice like a pig and she's looking for a man. Whatever. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
The Savages - With Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney. This looks pretty funny, and with two outstanding performers, it should be halfway decent. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
National Treasure: Book of Secrets - I loved the first film, despite harsh reviews. They are entertaining. This one looks more of the same adventure of history. It's right up my alley. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
The Heartbreak Kid - The new Farrelly brothers comedy with Ben Stiller. It looks shockingly formulaic in my opinion. I am sure it will be funny, but we'll have to wait to see how good. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
The Brave One - This new Jodie Foster thriller/drama doesn't look all that bad. It has a Boondock Saints spin on it that intrigues me. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Other Stuff to Read
411 June Roundtable - This month I compiled the thoughts of the movie zone staff on the summer releases of June!
Fact or Fiction - Ben Piper gathers the thoughts of Al Norton and JT this week!
Furious on Film - Arnold Furious gives you rundowns on interesting movies every week.
