The Big Screen Bulletin 05.26.08: The Quiet Weekend
Posted by Chad Webb on 05.26.2008
The birthday bash featuring Anne Heche, the box office results, Coppola's "Tetro" Dilemma, Cannes 2008 updates, advice from Tarantino, new DVD releases, for argument's sake, new trailer ratings, the 20 second sermon, and much more!
The Birthday Bash
Mike Myers turns 45 - I'm guessing that Mr. Myers woke up on the wrong side of the swamp on this particular day. He doesn't look enthused to be holding a doll. He has Shrek Goes Fourth, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,and the Keith Moon biopic with a long title on the slate for the next few years.
Anne Heche turns 39 - Initially, I had a sexy sort of pic of her wearing very little, but then I spotted this, where her hair apparently endured the wrath of a tornado. Either that, or she thought messing it up would become a trend. For those Indiana Jones fans, you can spot her with long curly brown hair in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: The Scandal of 1920 on the volume 3 DVD. She is on the TV show Men in Trees, and has a movie called Spread on the horizon.
Joseph Fiennes turns 38 - Joe Fiennes is praying people stop confusing his name with Ralph Fiennes, and also understand that he does more than just period pieces. He has The Escapist later this summer, and other projects like The Red Baron, Against the Current, and Vivaldi.
Kylie Minogue turns 40 - This just gives me an excuse to display a photo of her. She has been in the horrendous animated film Doogal however, in addition to an episode of Doctor Who. You have to admit, for her age, she looks pretty ok.
Andre Benjamin turns 33 - Andre 300 tips his hat to all the Bulletin readers. The member of Outkast has been contributing his acting talents to a fair amount of mainstream material in recent years. Among them are Four Brothers, Be Cool, Revolver, Charlotte's Web, Idlewild, and Semi-Pro. He does just fine for a musician turned actor, but the projects are sometimes weak.
The News Bulletin
Indiana Jones and the Piles of Money
Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is looking to become the second-best Memorial Day opener ever, with an estimated four-day gross of $126 million from 4,260 runs. Including Thursday's haul, "Crystal Skull's" five-day opening gross looks to nab a hefty $151 million, according to Paramount, which is distributing the film for George Lucas' LucasFilms. "Crystal Skull's" strong box office debut marks a triumphant return for the action-adventure franchise. Tentpole stars Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen and Ray Winstone. Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" opened last year at the same time and continues to hold the record for best Memorial Day opener, grossing $139.8 million for the four-day holiday.
"Crystal Skull" was able to edge out 20th Century Fox's "X Men: The Last Stand," which posted a four-day Memorial Day gross of $122.8 million in 2006. Elsewhere at the Memorial Day box office, Disney holdover "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" placed No. 2, declining an estimated 58.2% in its second frame for a Friday-to-Sunday cume of $23 million from 3,929 runs for a cume of $91 million in the sequel's first 10 days. Disney won't release Monday box office estimates until Monday. Par's "Iron Man' continued to impress in its fourth frame, declining just 37% for a Friday-to-Sunday total of $20.1 million for a new cume of $257.8 million.
As with "Prince Caspian," Par only provided weekend box office estimates for "Iron Man."
Twentieth Century Fox's "What Happens in Vegas" came in No. 4 at the Memorial Day box office, declining only 35% in its third frame to an estimated $9 million from 3,1888 runs for a cume of $54.2 million. Fox will provide Monday box office results on Monday. Warner Bros.' "Speed Racer" placed No. 5 for the weekend, declining an estimated 51% in its third frame to $4 million for a new cume of $36.2 million through Sunday.
Well predictably Indiana Jones 4 came out the victor, but can it match the longevity of Iron Man which refuses to go down? That remains to be seen. It remains in the top 3, while Speed Racer, though still pulling in poor numbers, has stayed in the top 5. The bottom half of the top 10 is holdovers with Forgetting Sarah Marshall as the comedy that will not go away. Unbelievably, Made of Honor is still attracting Dempsey fans. That same audience will all be flocking to the theaters for Sex and the City which will probably get #1, but it won't be easy. If this fails to top Indy, all signs pointing to more sequels will die fast. I say the girls will be forcing the boyfriends to see this though…as retribution for Iron Man.
The Trouble that Followed Coppola
The Argentinean actors union is claiming that actors on director Francis Ford Coppola's "Tetro" have been working without a contract, and said they shut down the film's production here. Coppola's spokeswoman, Kathleen Talbert, denied this, saying production on the film was proceeding as planned. "There are no holds on shooting, no problem with actors. In fact, the majority of the Argentine actors have already wrapped the shooting," she wrote in an e-mail. The Asociacion Argentina de Actores (Argentina Actors Association) claims that union members have been working without a contract since production started in late March and that Zoetrope Argentina -- Coppola's newly-formed local production house -- was given various opportunities to present the proper paperwork to avoid the work stoppage.
"At the moment, they are not filming because the contracts have [not] arrived to the union. On Tuesday, the union gave them 48 hours to present the documents and they didn't do that, so we took this action," AAA spokesman Daniel Valenzuela said. Local press reports say that script changes and communication problems between the multi-national cast and crew have extended filming days beyond regularly scheduled hours, and that some of the Argentine actors are still not certain of their salary. Argentina's strong production capabilities, competitive prices and European look have made it a popular destination for foreign film and commercial shoots in recent years.
"Tetro" has had a rocky road from the beginning. Thieves broke into the Palermo neighborhood office of Zoetrope Argentina in September and stole Coppola's computers and back-up systems. Oscar-winner Javier Bardem dropped out just before shooting began and his part was re-written as a female role for actress Carmen Maura. Coppola's semi-autobiographical screenplay tells the tale of an artistic family in modern-day Argentina, and stars Vincent Gallo in the title role as well as Maribel Verdu, Alden Ehrenreich, Rodrigo de la Serna and Leticia Bredice. The AAA said it plans to send inspectors to the set on Friday evening to ensure that filming does not take place.
Boy oh boy, Coppola's return to the director's chair has certainly been given its share of bumps. Since Youth Without Youth bombed big time, and after the incident with thieves that the article mentions, it has not been smooth sailing for the veteran. Then again, if anyone can overcome adversity, it is Francis Ford Coppola, the same man who put his life and bank account on the line to complete Apocalypse Now. In comparison to this new dilemma, it seems like small potatoes. Why though, would his camp deny any hold-ups? If one organization is claiming that production must not take place, wouldn't it make the situation worse for his crew to say "production is proceeding as planned." Personally, I hope whatever delays Tetro is struggling with, are quickly rectified. I want Coppola to show he still has one more great piece of cinema left in him.
Scorsese Out, Demme In
Jonathan Demme ("The Silence of the Lambs," "Beloved") is replacing Martin Scorsese as director on Tuff Gong Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment's Bob Marley documentary says the trades. Demme will work with the Marley family on the biopic of the legendary singer songwriter which is scheduled for a global release on February 6th 2010, the 65th anniversary of Marley's birth. Demme previously worked with Shangri-La on the acclaimed Neil Young documentary "Heart of Gold". Scorsese is said to have exited the project due to scheduling difficulties.
For those who have not seen Neil Young: Heart of Gold, I urge them to do so, regardless of how strongly they enjoy his music. Demme is equal to Scorsese in terms of music documentaries, at least in my eyes, so this is a superb replacement. I almost expected this since Scorsese has been acquiring projects almost monthly for the past year. The point is, we will have someone at the helm who plans to capture the essence of Bob Marley, his life, and his music. I think Demme will do just that.
2008 Cannes Festival Updates
The Croisette was less crowded this year, and even the most popular restaurants had a few empty tables. So it didn't take long before some Cannes festgoers declared that this year's market was already dead -- but the obits may have been premature. There were fewer looky-loos this year, to be sure, but deals were being made. As is often the case, the most frenzied action was non-American, with Asia and India making big splashes. But among the American outfits, Focus and IFC enjoyed a lot of action and even Sony Pictures Classics -- which looked like it might go home empty-handed -- on Wednesday made a modest six-figure bid for all rights on James Toback's "Tyson" doc.
Americans may have felt the market was subdued because the weak dollar and inclement weather dampened enthusiasm. And some of the highest-profile films at the market were U.S. pics that came without a domestic distrib -- and still hadn't found one as the fest headed to a close: Steven Soderbergh's "Che" two-parter, James Gray's "Two Lovers," Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened?" and Charlie Kaufman's feature helming debut, "Synecdoche, New York." Focus Features Intl. sales and distribution prexy Alison Thompson told Daily Variety that it had "done pretty much all the business we had hoped" at the fest, despite the alleged doom and gloom at the market. A number of companies bought international rights to Focus films such as "Milk," the Gus Van Sant-directed bio of slain gay pol Harvey Milk; Sam Mendes' untitled pic about newlyweds starring John Krasinski; and "A Serious Man," from the Coen brothers.
IFC made a series of smaller acquisitions, picking up six pics. The indie nabbed Un Certain Regard opener "Hunger," Brit rookie Steve McQueen's pic about a 1981 IRA hunger strike; Arnaud Desplechin's competition entry "A Christmas Tale"; Olivier Assayas' "Summer Hours"; Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed"; Korean hit "The Chaser"; and Anna Melikyan's "Mermaid." IFC will release the films through its day-and-date theatrical/VOD distribution model, which shares revenues with filmmakers. "IFC is taking more risk at the festival," said William Morris Independent's Jerome Duboz. "They will go for movies even if they are difficult."
Meanwhile, the "Tyson" deal wasn't set on Wednesday, but Toback said he talked with SPC's Michael Barker, his "prospective distributor," on the Croisette that day. Toback was hoping to close on one of several offers before he left town. ICM's Jeff Berg is handling the sale. As the fest, which began May 14, enters its closing days (it wraps Sunday), four buyers are bidding on Joaquin Phoenix starrer "Two Lovers," but 2929 Entertainment will sell the $12 million film only if the deal gives it a shot at a bigger upside through output deals than it would get on its own through Magnolia Pictures. The same is true of Levinson's $20 million Sundance pic "What Just Happened," which will close the fest.
"Synecdoche, New York," which Sidney Kimmel Entertainment backed for $20 million, failed to score a sale out of an early buyers' screening. Buyers are waiting for critical response to the film, which unspools today. And Steven Soderbergh's "Che," which received love-it/hate-it reviews, is looking for a U.S. distrib, but the question is in what form: One long film, two two-hour pics -- or some other configuration of the biopic. And while Wild Bunch execs still need, and remain confident of getting, a significant U.S. deal to cover their substantial financial investment, pic has already pre-sold widely to a number of major territories, including the U.K.
To get something off my chest, I hate the fact that critics are posting reviews of these films months, perhaps even years before they ever arrive in theaters for the public. We don't get to see them, and when those opinions are out there, it puts that notion in our head on how the film will be. Can't they wait until opening day at least? The word through the grapevine is not promising on the festival as a whole. Most of the anticipated projects have not received stellar reviews, although Eastwood's Changeling has, but when is he not greeted with unanimous praise? This is not a good sign, but in regards to Soderbergh's Che, I can bet it would make a huge difference for the critics who watched the entire 4 hour epic in one sitting, than those who will be introduced to it in two parts, which was the original plan anyhow. These are things people do not consider. It is pleasant to see so many foreign films being purchased. Apparently they were the big winners this year . The Class, a French film, won the Palme d'Or.
Friendly Advice from Tarantino
Director Quentin Tarantino had this advice for aspiring filmmakers: take the money they have saved to go to film school and use it to make their own movie instead. "Trying to make a feature film yourself with no money is the best film school you can do," he said during a Cinema Master Class at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, referring to his own early experience. Tarantino also revealed why he uses previously recorded music from other movies and TV shows rather than an original score for his films. "I just don't trust any composer to do it," he said, noting that the music is the last major element added to a production. "The idea of paying a guy and showing him your movie at the end -- who the f*** is this guy coming in here and throwing his s*** over my movie. What if I don't like it? And the guy's already been paid!"
People used to tell me the same thing when I took guitar lessons years ago. They would tell me the best thing is to teach yourself. Well, that is easier said than done if you ask me. The basics must be learned somewhere right. Books and videos don't work all the time. Kevin Smith only attended his film school for half the time, then left, and made Clerks. This day and age, if you can hold a camera, you can make a movie. I would say film school can only help you if you want to win the Coca-Cola refreshing filmmakers award, which really does not advance your career at all. But hey, at least it is shown prior to the mainstream releases.
The 20 Second Sermon
Richard Dreyfuss is in final negotiations to play Dick Cheney in Oliver Stone's W. This is probably a better overall selection that the rumored Robert Duvall. The casting in this movie is top-notch, which means the acting will be fabulous, but the script is the wild card, and the fact that Stone and company are rushing this to be released prior to the election tells me this will be a flop. Bow Wow will be focusing on acting now as he has scored roles in a sports drama called Patriots, as well as a recurring part on Entourage. I missed the time when Bow Wow proved he should be receiving substantial offers. Like Mike, Roll Bounce, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift all speak for themselves. Clint Eastwood killed ridiculous internet gossip that his next film would be a Dirty Harry sequel. Really, why would Clint want to resurrect that franchise when he has critics bending over backwards to praise all of his new and original stuff? Jay Roach says the next installment with the Fockers, entitled Little Fockers is moving forward slowly, but they are working out the kinks on a story. I am totally against this one. The first sequel was trash.
What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?
DVD Headline of the Week
Rambo - This was just a kick ass action movie the more I think about it. Watch Sly blow a bunch of bad guys to smithereens. Blood is spilled by the truckload. From what I hear, a new box set tin is being released also, in addition to Blu-Ray editions. I'm a sucker for tins, so I might be forced to upgrade. Buyable
Cassandra's Dream - Woody Allen supplies his third film focusing on the psychological ramifications of murder, and so forth. It's getting old. Ewen McGregor, Colin Farrell, and the rest of the cast are superb, but the film is too predictable and spineless to be anything special. The consequences rest with Allen here. Borrow
Grace is Gone - Though it feels like viewers have been bombarded with "wife dead" plots lately, I need to play catch up on John Cusack's recent efforts. I would watch this mainly for his performance.
Cleaner - Not to be confused with the putrid Cedric the Entertainer comedy. Here is another flick that was either in theaters for a week, and ripped out, or went straight to DVD. It has well-known people, but is likely horrible.
The Walker - It is nice to see Harrelson working diligently, but it's too bad most of his material is quickly processed to DVD. I'm not sure about this one. Looks mediocre, but hey, Lauren Bacall is in it.
WWE Backlash 2008 - Usually, the follow up to Wrestle Mania is really good, and as I have not seen this PPV, it strikes me as underwhelming by the looks of the card.
Dario Argento Box Set - This is a collection of five films from "The Italian Hitchcock." Most of these are worthless, except maybe "Tenebre", but that can be found by itself on DVD.
The Three Stooges Collection, Volume 2 - 1937-1939 - There are so many DVD's with random shorts featuring Larry, Moe, and Curly that I have stopped keeping track. They are funny to this day, and at least this isn't expensive.
For Argument‘s Sake: All-Star Casts
I attended a "Filmmaker's Symposium" recently, which allowed me to see obscure releases before they hit theaters. After the screening would be a special guest (usually the director) and a short discussion. At one point the person in charge was describing the future films of a specific person, and he mentioned that the movie Powder Blue had an all-star cast. He read three of the names: Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, and Forest Whitaker. It also stars Patrick Swayze and Lisa Kudrow, which I noticed later.
It struck me that what defines an "all-star cast" has drastically changed over the years. Now, if the film has 2 or 3 mainstream stars, it must be referred to as an "all-star cast" or line-up because I suppose it gets attention. This was not the only person to incorrectly use the term. Critics do this weekly. I have no doubt done it before as well. After further examination, an all-star cast in my opinion does not rely solely on the popularity of the names. That counts don't get me wrong, but I think the mastery of the casting, despite all the names being well-known, in addition to the number of names, will depend on if this term should be used. I mean, Paris Hilton is a household name, but if she were in a film with other actors, would she be considered one of the all-stars? I think not.
The term is thrown around a lot these days. Articles use it to describe television shows too. The master of all-star casts is unquestionably filmmaker Robert Altman. Efforts like Short Cuts and Nashville certainly have all-star casts, but if I listed some of the names, not everyone would be recognizable. With Altman, the amount of names can go beyond a dozen in some cases. Using the term can attract people immediately, but I would say that the best time to use it is after the film or show has been released, or maybe after you have seen what the cast has accomplished. For instance, the movie Even Money had Kim Basinger, Danny De Vito, Forest Whitaker, Kelsey Grammar, Nick Cannon, and more. The movie was horrible, so isn't it silly to describe the cast as "all-star" even though it has more than half a dozen common names? The lesson here? Only use it when it properly applies. Thank you.
Movie Dictionary: Word of the Week
Wire Fu - Wire fu is an element of Hong Kong action cinema, exemplified by the work of Tsui Hark, Yuen Woo-ping, and Jet Li, that has been appropriated by Hollywood. It involves the use of wire-work (the name being a combination of "wire work" and "kung fu") to perform qing gong stunts. Almost all modern wuxia movies fall in this category. However, not all martial arts films used wire work.
The basic concept is not very complex, and originates in the mechanical effects of stagecraft. The most common, Western example being the "flying angel cliche" of elementary school or church play. Planning and persistence is important, as it often takes many takes to accomplish the stunt, let alone making it look just right.
Typically a harness is hidden under a costume, and a cable and pulley system is attached to the harness. When live sets are used, wire removal is done in post production. Another technique of creating wire fu is by using a green screen. This is done for more complex stunts and camera angles. The actors are suspended in the air by green wires. Then special effects are added to the scene such as the location.
--from Wikipedia.org
The Critic's Quickee
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - (The following is exactly what I said on the pod cast in case anyone already heard that) Someone needs to explain the Narnia logic to me. Because it doesn't make any sense in these films…at all. And you know when I make that statement, everyone always says the same thing. Well, it was all explained in the books. You know what? These aren't the books. I very much disliked this sequel, primarily because it suffers from the exact same problem the first one did. The final act kills it. Lately we have been given a lot of blatantly bad fantasy movies, and this is the first one in some time that does not look obviously horrible. However, I like to view the Narnia series the same way that they make the cars on MTV's Pimp My Ride. They are polished turds. It looks real nice, but right under the surface, a multitude of problems are on display. Now, I have a bunch of minor issues, most of which occur at the end, but the first is at the beginning. You have the kids in the train station. One says "Gee I wonder if we'll ever go back. Seconds later, whoosh, they are off to Narnia. Minor, yes, but still dumb. This time in Narnia, we have British actors with cheesy Spanish accents, centaurs with dreadlocks and other odd hairstyles, and strangely of all, someone in the armory decided, you know what, we are going to carve goatees and beards into the masks…because it will look cool. Now I didn't hate everything. Warwick Davis and Peter Dinklage join the cast. Dinklage basically fills in for James McAvoy, but they are both brilliant, and deserve so much more credit that what they receive. The most entertaining character is by far the head mouse, voiced by Eddie Izzard. Other than this, the central children performers have not sank into the roles more effectively, Ben Barnes is Caspian and is inserted as eye candy for young girls, and returning director/co-writer Andrew Adamson does not add any depth to the proceedings. As a matter of fact, he takes some away. Now, I could go another hour on minor grumbles, but I won't do that . First and foremost, this is a sequel that is virtually inconsequential. There is no point to the plot whatsoever. It is an overlong film tied together by a series of tiresome battle sequences. That is all. This was made solely for battles, which can be found in just about any historical epic of the last two decades. There is a one on one sword fight in this film that is so ludicrously executed it made me laugh out loud. I would love to divulge more, especially about the ending and the ridiculous Aslan, but I will not ruin anything for those who have not seen it. It was ok for kids, and that's fine, but these are meant for a wider audience I feel. This is one of the most overrated franchises in a long time, and the more I think about it, the more it makes me want to scream. Final Rating = 5.5/10.0
Based on the Trailer…
Newest Trailers
Australia - The new epic from filmmaker Baz Luhrman seems to have left out his usual exaggerated flair. Kidman and Jackman will make a fine team. I think this looks rather good, and the trailer has a splendid piece of music accompanying it. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Eagle Eye - Mr. LaBeouf surprises me with every passing role. I'll start giving him more credit. This thriller teaser has me intrigued for sure. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Bigger, Stronger, Faster* - Finally, a documentary all about steroids, and how it is viewed in today's society. I am definitely seeing this, as it involves Bush, Hogan, Bonds, and Stallone. It should fascinating. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
May Releases
Sex and the City (2) - The teaser was fine, and that should have been it, but this new trailer spoils the end of the series, and most of the plot in the film. Why bother seeing it now? This is one of the worst kind of previews. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0
Midnight Meat Train - You watch this preview, and it strikes you as a riveting thriller, then the title comes up, and you can't help but chuckle. It seems to take itself way too seriously for a bizarre title like that. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
The Tracey Fragments - For all those who question the abilities of Ellen Page, watch this preview. This looks outstanding. The plot seems different, and the cast looks good. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
The Strangers - They actually showed this preview before Baby Mama and the audience erupted in laughter. This looks incredibly dumb, and what was Liv Tyler thinking doing a clumsy horror flick? Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
June Releases You Don't Mess With the Zohan - What a shame that Adam Sandler's films seem to be getting worse. I have no interest in seeing this, and I did not laugh once during this trailer. Same old song and dance from him. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
Kung Fu Panda - This could be funny. Jack Black has solid voice for CGI, and the premise is intriguing. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Get Smart - I need to catch a few episodes of the original show before seeing the film. The trailer is funny, which means it should be somewhat fun. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
The Love Guru - I usually enjoy Mike Myers, but this new character might not be as popular as Austin Powers or Wayne Campbell. I laughed a few times, but this has not really jumped out as all that spectacular. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
The Incredible Hulk - I love Edward Norton, but I fail to see how this will right all the wrongs of Ang Lee's version. Is the origin story the biggest demand from fans? This just looks ok so far, and the CGI appears sloppy. It is a long ways away, but I'm not impressed. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0
The Incredible Hulk (2) - This second trailer is a bit better than the first, but not by a lot. It shows part of the transformation and more of William Hurt, which was neat, but the CGI still looks bad to me. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Wanted (2) - This movie does look extremely cool, but I still se a lot of Matrix elements. Oh well, Angelina Jolie is sexy, Morgan Freeman is playing his customary wise instructor role, and the special effects look neat. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Wall-E - Another Pixar classic is under our belt, and I can't wait for the next one. This robotic adventure should be great, and easily superior to Robots. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
Wall-E (2) - The second trailer for Pixar's upcoming film makes me want to see it even more. I'm sorry, but this company is doing wondrous things right now. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
Wall-E (3) - How can some people not be lovers of Pixar? This movie looks wonderful, and I'm pleased this trailer revealed some added characters. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
The Happening - While many have lost all faith in Shyamalan, I think he can still supply riveting thrillers if he puts his mind to it. I actually see this as a vast improvement from Lady in the Water. Here's hoping anyway. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl - The new Abigail Breslin vehicle. I'll bet this blows as it looks similar to Nancy Drew, which was horrendous by itself. I'll be passing on this one. Trailer Rating = 3.0/10.0
July Releases
Hancock - Will Smith plays one of the most extraordinary looking super heroes in history. I'm actually excited to see this. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Hancock (2) - This is the superhero movie that is top on my list. Unfortunately this 3 minute trailer gives away basically the whole storyline. These previews anger me. The movie looks cool, but this trailer is not. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
The Wackness - This little indy was a hit at Sundance, and definitely looks funny and creative by the teaser trailer. I'll be giving it a chance for sure. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Meet Dave - Just when you think Eddie Murphy will only dove lower for his comedies, this to me, actually looks kind of funny. I'm having trouble admitting that after Norbit, but this seems original. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Mamma Mia! - I have never seen this musical on Broadway, but I suppose I'll have to see this film, featuring music from Abba…ugh. It doesn't look terrible, but it's not my type of thing. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - I loved the first film, and am greatly anticipating the sequel. It looks to have kept the same sense of visual excitement and adventure. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
The Dark Knight (2) - I have to admit, despite the endless news bits about this film, the trailer is marvelous and could not have been handled better. This will rock. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
The Dark Knight (3) - I'll be honest. I was getting sick of everyone talking about this movie, that is until I saw this trailer. It is amazing, and Heath Ledger's performance looks to go down as one of the best in term so of comic book adaptations. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D - This will most likely be cheesy and preposterous, but hey, it's in 3D, and it has Brendan Fraser, so it should be semi-enjoyable. This should be fun in the theater, but not much else. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
The X-Files: I Want to Believe - I really need to revisit this series. From what I read, a list of episodes are related to this film. Either way, the trailer looks average to me. I like what Duchovny has been doing lately, so I'll see this no matter what. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Step Brothers - Now this is a Will Ferrell comedy I can't wait to see. The premise is unusual, and the jokes in this preview are hilarious. Plus, it's directed by Adam McKay, who knows his stuff. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
August, TBD, and Beyond Releases
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - Months ago when this premise was announced, I laughed at it. Now that the trailer is finally out, it still looks bad. I like Brendan Fraser, but not this new approach with following the son character. I'll see this only out of curiosity. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Righteous Kill - The new crime thriller with Pacino and De Niro! This looks average at the moment, but it should be fantastic with the two of them as a duo on screen for most of the film. The supporting cast looks excellent as well. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Blindness - This is a movie that proves how I have changed. It stars Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. It involves an infection. That sounds rather bland right? Well, it's directed by Fernando Meirelles, a brilliant filmmaker, so I'm in, even though it doesn't sound outstanding. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
The Rocker - Rainn Wilson from The Office finally gets to star in a comedy of his own…with some Jonah Hill wannabe guy. This actually looks really funny, mainly because I enjoy Rock ‘n Roll and Rainn Wilson. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Madagascar: The Crate Escape - This is some sort of weird DVD trailer, but we see the basic layout of the plot, and it is not very funny or interesting. I could care less about this one. Trailer Rating = 4.5/10.0
Lost Boys: The Tribe - I stumbled upon this trailer for the Direct-to-DVD sequel starring Corey Felmdman. For a B-movie, it doesn't look half bad, though Feldman is not the actor he once was. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Bangkok Dangerous - Nicolas Cage continues his "Next" phase with this assassin story. Ehh, Cage is starting to piss me off. He's such a talented actor, and he does this junk. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
The Accidental Husband - How many ways can we package a typical romantic comedy? This doesn't fool me. It is the same old song and dance we get every year, only this time with Uma Thurman and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Quarantine - I suppose this wants to be the Cloverfield of "infected" movies. I say this will suck big time. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - It might be Star Wars, but this movie looks goofy to me. It starts out with an excessive amount of Yodaness which made me chuckle. The animation looks nice, but isn't this a bit of overkill? Ehhh. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Igor - The concept has potential, but I can't see this being anything more than a couple laughs. John Cusack does not sink into the character well. I'll see this for Steve Buscemi‘s contribution, but I'm not all that impressed. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
The Duchess - This is a goofy trailer. You wonder who could be introduced, and then the title "The Duchess" comes up, and you wonder why all the hassle of building it up. Knightley is to period pieces as Seagal is to B-movie action. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
City of Ember - Here is a film that could end up being pretty neat. The cast alone is worth the price of admission. You have Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan, and Tim Robbins, among others. Gil Kenan is a decent director and the plot is creative, so I'm in. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - I generally hate the term "chick flick", but really what else applies here. Never saw the first one, won't see this one, and this trailer is not up my alley. That is all. Trailer Rating = 4.5/10.0
The Escapist - A British prison break film starring Brian Cox. This is my favorite genre, so I can't wait for this, but in order for this to make a splash, it will have to be something special. The critic quotes being from random guys worries me. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Star Trek XI - The teaser was superbly placed before Cloverfield, and this causes me to be amped for the next installment despite my doubts about the cast. I hope it's as good as we deserve. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Lakeview Terrace - Patrick Wilson and Samuel L. Jackson star in this thriller about an insane neighbor who is also a cop. This seems sort of like Cape Fearto me, but not nearly as good. Ehhh. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Hamlet 2 - I heard a lot of positive things about this comedy, plus I'm a huge fan of Steve Coogan, who is the star. Catherine Keener and Amy Poehler also star. It is about a high school drama teacher who writes a musical called "Hamlet 2." Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Tropic Thunder - I am liking the plot to this film, and the trailer is pretty funny. Hopefully this is a Ben Still flick I don't hate. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
The Pineapple Express - This is the red band trailer by the way. I Haven't laughed this hard at a trailer in awhile. This is going to be great. The cast is fantastic, and James Franco is being put to good use. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
Defiance - This new Edward Zwick film looks outstanding with Daniel Craig leading the cast in World War II story. This gave me chills. I can't wait. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
The Spirit - This is the new adaptation from Frank Miller. I'm anxious to see this, but from this teaser, it looks a bit too similar to Sin City. Oh well. I loved that film, so maybe this will be just as entertaining. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Make sure to check out all of this week's reviews of DVD's, Movies, Music, and more!
And of course read every movie review with the name Chad Webb attached to it.
Thanks for reading the whole way through, and make sure to tune in next week.
We have ABSOLUTELY have not had any work stoppage in Bs As on TETRO -- we are beginning our 9th week, and have worked productively each and every day. We will accept any verification whatsoever of this fact. If the Press has any interest whatsoever in reporting the truth, they will correct the mistaken impression they have given, and now is being repeated, that our production is running anything but smoothly.
Posted By: Francis Coppola (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 04:58 AM
Chad, Meet the Fockers had great legs at the box office. That is something that is very rare for a sequel. That tells me that it was well liked by the people who went to see it. If it were really a "trash" movie like you said, then there would have been a HUGE drop off. When I saw it, the crowd didn't boo or walk out. Thet actually gave it applause, because they enjoyed it so much. If you didn't like it, then fine, but don't say your opinion as if it's fact. It's so much more insulting to a crowd than any movie could ever be.
Posted By: Capt. Smooth (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Midnight Meat Train is a great title for a porn flick. Maybe Vivid is going manistream.
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on May 26, 2008 at 02:36 PM
