The Big Screen Bulletin 06.09.08: Where Mondays Always Feel Lucky and Always Make Your Day
Posted by Chad Webb on 06.09.2008
The birthday bash featuring Elizabeth Hurley, the box office results, Kevin Smith's teaser trouble, Leo's new role, remakes of "My Fair Lady" and "The Evil Dead", new quickees, new trailer ratings, and much more!
The Birthday Bash
Natalie Portman turns 27 - This exquisite actress gives a seductive gaze to all the Bulletin readers. I have no doubts she is one of the millions…and millions. Ms. Portman has a role in Brothers coming up, in addition to New York, I Love You where she has written, directed, and starred in a segment.
Johnny Depp turns 45 - No jokes here. We like Captain Jack here at the Bulletin staff (which consists of one person). He has approximately 5 projects on the horizon such as The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Public Enemies, Shantaram, The Rum Diary, and Sin City 3 which might be out when I'm 50.
Elizabeth Hurley turns 43 - Luckily I didn't have to search for this picture since I already saved it to my computer. I mean…ummm…never mind. Man! She looks good for her age though. The last film she performed in was 2004's Method. She will play herself in the upcoming Made in Romania.
Shia LaBeouf turns 22 - He looks like a complete dork, but LaBeouf has reason to sport such a bright smile. It is good to be him at the moment. He has a part in New York, I Love You, Eagle Eye and Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Is that the title? It needs to change pronto.
Jerry Stiller turns 81 - Not many older folks can pull off the pink shades above the eyebrow look. Come to think of it, Jerry Stiller isn't one of them. He currently has no future roles lined up. Whenever his son calls him I suppose.
The News Bulletin
This Weekend, Everybody Really Was Kung Fu Fighting
Turns out you don't mess with a panda who knows kung fu. DreamWorks Animation and Paramount's "Kung Fu Panda" easily won the weekend box office, grossing an estimated $60 million from 4,114 theaters and delivering the best opening ever for a DreamWorks Animation original pic after the "Shrek" sequels. Only toon to have opened higher was "Shrek the Third" ($121.6 million). That didn't mean there wasn't plenty left over for Sony's Adam Sandler laffer "You Don't Mess with the Zohan." Irreverent PG-13 comedy opened to an estimated $40 million from 3,462 runs, further solidifying Sandler's reputation for turning out consistent B.O. hits.
Elsewhere, New Line and Warner Bros.' "Sex and the City" all but jumped the $100 million mark at the domestic box office in only its second weekend, although it still saw a sizeable decline of 63% to an estimated $22.8 million from 4,190 runs for a cume of $99.3 million. Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" crossed the $250 million mark at the B.O. and narrowly beat out "Sex and the City" to come in No. 3. Tentpole declined 49% to an estimated $22.8 million from 4,190 screens in its third frame for a cume of $253 million. Universal and Rogue's horror pic "The Strangers" placed No. 5, declining 56% in its second weekend to an estimated $9.3 million from 2,477 runs for a cume of $37.6 million.
"Zohan" and "Panda" proved a potent combo in terms of overall B.O. perf. Weekend was up more than 30% over the same frame last year, when "Ocean's Thirteen" led with a $36.1 million opening, but toon "Surf's Up" only opened to $17.6 million. Some had expected a closer contest between "Zohan" and "Panda," but "Panda"--toplining the voice of Jack Black--far exceeded expectations. On the specialty side, Picturehouse's "Mongol" scored the best per screen average of the weekend. Film grossed an estimated $133,136 as it opened in five theaters in Los Angeles and Gotham for a per location average of $26,627, besting "Panda's" per location average of $14,584.
Dreamworks scores big this weekend, while Sandler comes up around 20 million short of #1. His newest flick attained more money that I would have predicted, but I can bet the second week dip percentage will be huge with the next releases distracting the masses. Iron Man, dropping to the bottom half of the top 10, has still yet to achieve the $300 mill mark, and Indy 4 is fast approaching. I'm sure Stark will get there first though. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is falling faster than the studio would have preferred. It is at #7, and will not hit any substantial money marks. Meanwhile, credit must be given to the romantic comedies, which have managed to stay in the top 10 for many weeks while still gathering the cash. Next week, The Incredible Hulk will probably and at #1, since the public might not have fully forgiven Shyamalan for Lady in the Water yet.
The Teasing is Over for Silent Bob
Kevin Smith's unrated internet teaser trailer for his upcoming comedy "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" has been taken down under orders from the MPAA. On his last few films, Smith has been releasing 'Internet-only trailers' for his upcoming productions to keep fans happy and help build buzz long before the theatrical trailer hits cinemas. Until now it hasn't been problem, and yet all of a sudden it has become one as the organization aims to expand its scope to include online movie materials. Smith says on News Askew that:
"The MPAA called and said we had to take it down. Weinstein Co., like most studios, is a signatory of the MPAA," explains Smith. "As such, there are protocols involving trailers that we failed to follow. As with features, all trailers get rated get rated by the MPAA. The majority of them are for general audiences (Green Band trailers), but trailers packed with adult content (like our teaser) earns you what's called a Red Band trailer.
Well, we didn't go through this process - simply because, we felt, that since the teaser didn't contain any footage from the actual flick, it wasn't technically a trailer. Boy, was I wrong. Turns out all promotional material for any film financed/distributed by a signatory of the MPAA has to be signed-off on by the MPAA - including internet-only materials. I never realized this, as it'd never been a problem in the past... nobody ever raised a red flag before (not even on the last flick, for which we also put up two 'net-only teasers in advance of the rated trailer). But I guess since the teaser was so, shall we say, racy... a rating was in order." Smith has since submitted the teaser to the MPAA for a rating and, if approved, will post it back online.
I'll be honest. I had no idea trailers needed go through regular MPAA screenings for ratings or approval. I mean, obviously we have red-band and green-band versions, but I did not know the MPAA judged them accordingly. I guess I never gave it much thought. Odd that after all that Smith has done, now the Weinstein company and the MPAA decide to thrown down the hammer. I wonder what line it was that made them upset? "Would you bleach your a$$hole?" That might have been it. Of course Smith must be applauded for always trying to please the fans. I am certain the teasers will find their way to the DVD release.
Leonardo DiCaprio will produce and is attached to star in Atari, a biopic of videogame industry icon Nolan Bushnell. DiCaprio's Appian Way company will produce for Paramount. Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman (Bart Got a Room) will script.
As The Hollywood Reporter reminds us, "Bushnell was an engineering student, puzzle-lover and game enthusiast (chess, Go, early computer games) who went from fixing broken pinball machines to launching Atari Corp., a video game manufacturer, in the early '70s. Its first product was a little game called Pong that transfixed kids in suburban rec rooms across the country and led to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of video game sales. Within a few years, he sold the company to Warner Communications for $28 million."
The trade adds that the filmmakers hope Atari will have shades of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Tucker.
Hopefully someday soon moviegoers will give Leo the respect he has earned ten times over. The Oscar nominee constantly chooses scripts that are unique and interesting. This is no different, and it is the ideal time too. With The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters being an impressive documentary on older video games, it shows that the public loves nostalgia and returning to the past. By mentioning Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as an inspiration, I am definitely following the progress of this project. That is one of my favorite films. The above picture is of the actual Nolan Bushnell btw.
Sony Pictures and CBS Films are set to remake the classic Lerner & Loewe musical "My Fair Lady". Keira Knightley is in talks to star as Eliza Doolittle in the project produced by Duncan Kenworthy ("Love Actually," "Notting Hill") and frequent West End producer Cameron Mackintosh. The film will retain the Lerner & Loewe musical's score and 1912 setting, with shooting to take place on location in the original London settings such as Tottenham Court Road and Covent Garden.
Further material from George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion," which served as the basis for the musical, will be added to this film to "dramatize as believably as possible for present-day audiences the emotional highs and lows of Eliza Doolittle as she undergoes the ultimate makeover, transforming under the tutelage of Professor Henry Higgins from a Cockney flower girl to a lady."
The musical was first staged in 1956 featuring Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison. Audrey Hepburn and Harrison starred in the Oscar-winning George Cukor-helmed film in 1964. Two further stage revivals took place starting in 1979 and 2001.
Damn. What for? So Keira Knightley resembles Audrey Hepburn? That means we need to start remaking musicals now? Haughty musicals like My Fair Lady and Gigi, to name a few, were never my cup of tea, but the former was entertaining because of Hepburn and Harrison at least. I wouldn't buy it as I prefer musicals with more of an edge, but the 1964 Oscar winner does not need to be touched. Surely Knightley could fill any musical role that is partially inventive? I feel like going off on a tangent like in Lewis Black's Root of Evil during the "Ripple of Evil" segment. Soon, movie theaters will feature all remakes and we will constantly recycle ideas until we as a culture are too dumb to notice.
IGN spoke with director Sam Raimi yesterday and got him to give us the lowdown on what's happening -- or, more accurately, what's not -- with the long-gestating remake of his 1981 horror cult classic The Evil Dead, which he will produce via his Ghost House Pictures banner.
"One of the things we said [when forming Ghost House] was, 'Where are we going to get new material from?' Well, we thought we could get someone to remake Evil Dead as one of our horror films. That was only shot in 16mm and I don't think many people saw it on the big screen," Raimi said. "They usually saw it later on video if they liked it or not so no one's really seen it on the big screen. No one saw it in 35mm. The sound job should have been stereo because that movie's only as good as its sight and sound. If you could have a director tell it on the big screen and move the sound around that would increase its effectiveness threefold."
Raimi added, "We just thought that was an experience worth remaking because we have a horror company. But then we never really pursued it. We said we were going to do it and then we got so busy with other projects we never actually pursued it. So we still want to do it, we still think it's worth trying and I still have not done a single thing about it."
So the internet fanatics still have time to petition Raimi to simply redo his original film and re-release it in theaters. Or better yet, create a sequel to Army of Darkeness with Bruce Campbell returning to the iconic part. Seriously, wouldn't that be worlds more fun than an obligatory remake?
The 20 Second Sermon
I have still been picking up new albums every now and then. 3 Doors Down's self-titled release is pretty solid. At this point, they appeal primarily to loyal fans only. I'm one, so enjoyed it. I also bought the "secret" project of Green Day, the Foxboro Hot Tubs, who released the album Stop, Drop, and Roll!!. The 60's sound is fantastic, and I think changing the name of the band was wise in this experiment. Rumblings of an Anchorman sequel are getting louder. Apparently, whatever ideas Adam McKay and Will Ferrell are toying with, Steve Carell said he would come back. That tells me he's a good guy, seeing as how he is a bigger star than Ferrell at the moment. Director Alexander Aja claims that we will see boobs and blood in 3-D for the Piranha remake. I'm totally there. Is Tobey Maguire returning as Spidey for the fourth installment? J.K. Simmons seems to think so, but I say even if he does, several more key roles would have to be filled by the original cast members, and the chances of the entire group returning are slim.
John Adams (mini-series) - I was really interested in seeing this, but unfortunately I did not. This might be worth a blind buy, but then again, it is not all that cheap either, so I won't know until I'm in the store.
The Grand - One of the most overlooked and underrated films of the year. If you like mockumentaries, and you like poker, you need to see this. The cast is excellent, the laughs are plentiful, and it is worth owning. Buyable
The Bucket List - Here is a comedy that older folks will enjoy because of the cast, but for me, it was a little phony, and unless you have as much money as Nicholson's character, this entire adventure would not occur. Borrow
The Other Boleyn Girl - The possibilities of a Johansson/Portman picture are endless, but this was not what I envisioned. The direction was too bleak, and the way they portrayed Anne changed several times, which I didn't understand. The acting was solid though Borrow
Jumper (Two-Disc Special Edition) - This was one of biggest disasters of 2008...so far. Besides the ffects, the plot was just ridiculous, and the performances made it worse. I hated this. Doug Liman can do better. Forgettable
The Dukes of Hazzard Two Movie Collection - This contains "Reunion!" and "Hazzard in Hollywood." I was not a fan of the show, but I suppose this wraps up the entire set.
Funny Games - This shot-for-shot remake from the same filmmaker, Michael Haneke, is just as good as the previous version, so if you prefer English to subtitles, pick this inventive movie up. Buyable
High Noon (2-Disc Ultimate Edition) - The acclaimed classic starring Gary Cooper was never my cup of tea, so I won't be purchasing it, but this is probably worth the upgrade for fans. Rentable
Witless Protection - I still have not seen one Larry the Cable Guy comedy, but I am curious.
Sophia Loren - 4 Film Collection - For all the Sophia Loren fanatics out there, I guess this would interest you. None of these movies seem worth it to me.
The List - A Direct-to-DVD effort starring Malcom McDowell (since that is all he does these days) and Will Patton. Meh.
The number of straight to video titles this week is endless, so I would suggest visiting Amazon if you don't see one here.
Movie Dictionary: Word of the Week
Pyscho-Biddy - Psycho-biddy is a colloquial term for a sub-genre of the horror/thriller movie also known by the name Older women in peril, which was most prevalent from the early 1960s through the mid-1970s. The genre has also been variously nicknamed by the press as "hagsploitation," "hag horror" and "Grande Dame Guignol" Psycho-biddy thrillers are a bricolage of many genre elements and themes: gothic, Grand Guignol, black comedy, psycho-drama, melodrama, revenge, camp and even the musical. But none of these, nor their combination, mark a particular movie as belonging to this peculiar sub-genre.
A psycho-biddy movie, by its very nomenclature, must possess a psycho-biddy: a dangerous, insane or mentally unstable woman of advanced years. Often (but not always), there are two older women pitted against one another in a life-or-death struggle, usually the result of bitter hatreds, jealousies, or rivalries that have percolated over the course of not years, but decades. These combatants are often blood-relatives and live a life of relative wealth.
The psychotic character is often brought to life in an over-the-top, grotesque fashion, emphasizing the unglamorous process of aging and eventual death. Characters are often seen pining for lost youth and glory, trapped by their idealized memories of their childhood, or youth, and the traumas that haunt their past. The genre began in 1962 with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? directed by Robert Aldrich; however, the 1950 Billy Wilder classic Sunset Boulevard, which shares many thematical and plot similarities with the former, can also be seen as a precursor to the genre. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? bolstered the flagging careers of its stars, Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson and Joan Crawford as Blanche Hudson.
Though the genre is more-or-less dead, the influence of the psycho-biddy flick can be felt in many movies. One example would be Requiem for a Dream, the Darren Aronofsky movie. A highly technical anti-drug movie, the most memorable and affecting performance is perhaps that of Ellen Burstyn, which owes quite a bit to psycho-biddy tradition.
--from Wikipedia.org
The Critic's Quickee
Sex and the City - First of all, let me say that I have read a lot of comments lately which bug me. Many have said that this is tailor made for fans of the show, and that making criticisms unless you are a fan is not right. When a show enters the movie realm, it is an entirely different ballpark, so it must be judged as such. What worked on television might not be the same on the big screen. Secondly, the beginning of this movie shows brief summaries of past events, and proceeds to introduce the characters by full name, thereby proving it wanted to reach out to more than just existing fans. Having said that, it was a failure of an attempt as anyone not familiar with the characters will be thoroughly confused, and that is not a proper transition from TV to theater. Third, I have watched every episode of the show, and yes I still have my testicles. My girlfriend owns all the seasons, and that is how dedicated I am, readers. I watched every episode to prepare for the movie. The series had problems for sure, but the strength was the casual conversations about sex and men. They are funny and intriguing. This movie has some of those moments, but it has a large quantity of problems as well.
The show ended exactly how it should have. Thus, the film is not necessary. Nevertheless, the first half was similar seeing old friends again. The girls were back together, exchanging humorous lines, and encountering obstacles in life. Then the wedding incident happened, and the whole movie went down hill fast. Without going into spoiler details, this movie is so trivial it boggles the mind. The Jennifer Hudson character is totally unneeded. She pops in during the middle, and is taken out before the end, which is incredibly poor decision making. Certain things go down that make no sense to the characters we have known. Steve for one, and the two homosexual men. The second half slows to a dull pace, and ruins the picture with so much filler material, like the fashion show for instance. Almost every storyline concluded in a way that reaffirms the fact that this movie did not need to happen. The trailers for Sex and the City did not help the reviews it is receiving. They revealed so much that any "twists" induce a "who cares?" reaction. The acting was all top-notch. The girls slipped back into the roles with ease, as did the guys for that matter. On a side note, Chris Noth was always my favorite character. This is not just an extended episode like many critics are claiming. At near 2 and a half hours, this is like one full season smushed into a painful theatrical experience. A more pointless epilogue to an established series could never be found. Final Rating = 5.0/10.0
The Strangers - If it's one thing I really hate, it is when a movie flat out wastes my time. That is precisely what occurs in the latest horror offering. When you greet the audience with an FBI-like narrator and his deep voice announcing that this is based on actual events, but the full truth is not known, that's ok, but your movie better damn well show the viewer what happened. Or at the very least, use your imagination on what went down. The Strangers is a story with absolutely no payoff at all. It is a series of cheap and overused scares tied together with little gore and an insult of an ending. As it began, I was surprised at how well the performers were downplaying the material. The storyline got my attention and Liv Tyler was looking scrumptious. This might be suspenseful I thought. Then the villain(s) started making noises to frighten the couple. And then they kept making noises. Ok, fine…something will happen soon I told myself. And then the pounding on doors, brief glimpses, and creepy Tamara questions kept coming. I was getting irritated at this juncture, and the baghead guy decides to enter the house, then go back outside to scare some more. O….k…? Some will use the argument that this is a focus on suspense, not blood and body count. Wrong. This is lazy filmmaking. We know it is lazy because of the conclusion. It is perfectly acceptable to insert cliché scare tactics in your film. However, the motive and twists better be worth the wait. This is the debut feature for Bryan Bertino, and it is apparent he has a lot to learn. Perhaps he could refine his skills of suspense and pacing, but he needs to know that the final portion of any horror effort is the most important. Give me the Scream sequels over this any day. More and more, I hear people say, "It's been so long since I've seen a decent horror movie." I sympathize with you, I really do, but crap like this does not deserve praise. Final Rating = 2.5/10.0
Based on the Trailer…
Newest Trailers
Space Chimps - A new CGI film about chimps going to space. Ehhh…don't care. The voice cast looks fair, but the jokes in the trailer are weak. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Regilulous - Well, Bill Maher is always one to stir up controversy, and I'm sure this documentary will do the trick. I think it looks funny personally, so I'll give it a shot. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
June Releases
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. 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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
September, TBD, and Beyond Releases
Nights in Rodanthe - An adaptation of a novel from Nicholas Sparks, so this might not be too bad for a romance. It has Richard Gere and Diane Lane reuniting from Unfaithful, so I'm in. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Burn After Reading - The new comedy from the Coen Brothers looks funny as hell. I am not totally sure where the plot goes, but then again, that is why I am so fascinated by it. The cast looks great, and I am definitely seeing this one. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Choke - A new adaptation from author Chuck Palahniuk, and that gets me excited. I love his books, though I haven't read this particular one. I will before the movie comes out though. This has Sam Rockwell in the lead, so it should be funny. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
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
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - 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
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
Zack and Miri Make a Porno - Kevin Smith's new comedy looks hilarious. I'm anxious to see this because I know he is a great filmmaker that can flourish outside of Jay and Silent Bob. Note: This may not be online anymore. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
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 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
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
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.
Sorry to say this, but Steve Carrell is hardly a bigger star than Will Ferrell. I looked up his last 2 movies (Evan Almighty and Dan in Real Life) and neither exactly set the world on fire box office wise, while even though Ferrell's last movie (Semi-Pro) performed similarly, he last 2 before that both made well over 100 mil.
Posted By: Joel Yeomans (Registered) on June 09, 2008 at 12:14 AM
I like Shia enough. Seeing a but much of him lately, but he's cool. BUUUUTTT.....that picture makes me want to punch his bloody face in. He looks like a complete douche.
Posted By: StrykersWeaponX (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 04:47 AM
Hey Chad, on your based on the trailer reviews, why do you have the line: "Is the origin story the biggest demand from fans?" under the Hulk trailer?
Posted By: Toddo (Registered) on June 09, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker is already overrated and nobody's even seen the damn movie yet. Just b/c he killed himself, people want to suck his balls. Get over it. There is only one Joker, and his name is Jack Nicholson.
Posted By: MBD (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 11:37 AM
For people complaining about the title of the new Transformers movie...it makes sense.
At the dawn of time, Primus created new life, the 13 original Transformers, to crew his planetary form into battle against his eternal nemesis Unicron. One of these 13, his original name now lost to the mists of time, turned against his siblings, his creator, and his universe, and betrayed them all.
As Vector Prime was constructed to safeguard Space/Time, this robot's function was to oversee the primal force of entropy, the aging and dissolution of order in this universe as presage to a new creation. However, this guardian of entropy became obsessed with the darker side of chaos and death, and in the black place these urges led him, the betrayer found a new god, more suited to his nature. He turned against Primus and became the Fallen.
Got it from the Transformers wiki...I know, NERD!
Posted By: Kevin F. (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I disagree about ledger's performance it looks like he created a character to play that is meanacing and unforgettable. the original joker was just nicholson in make-up playing himself. the man has been playing the same character for 25 years except in about schmidt. other then that when i watch him act i just think that's probably what he'd be like in real life
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 01:15 PM
You think Elizabeth Hurley looks good for her age of 43?
How old are you, 12?
Posted By: HoosierJim500 (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Hey mdb, guest's comments about Nicholson are right on the money. He always plays himself and is very overrated, yet everyone wants to suck his balls. Anybody who's actually read a Batman comic would know that Ledger's performance is acually true to the character of the Joker, a homicidal psychopath. not a frickin clown . This was the general opinion even before Ledger's unfortunate death.
Posted By: fury (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Well guest and fury said all that needed to be said about that....
But damn! Natalie Portman looks boobilicious in that pic, so does Hurley and she certainly looks great for being 43, she's aging very well, especially compared to the average 43 year old woman who's had a kid or two.
The description of the Bushnell movie should have included the fact that Warner preceded to drive the company into the ground. Also, I wonder if it'll go into his starting Showbiz Pizza. >_> Hopefully it's accurate and doesn't make it look like Bushnell did it all himself..
Posted By: PHOENIXZERO (Guest) on June 10, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Although I agree with the posts about Ledger's Joker being more true to the comics, the people who said that Jack is overrated apparently haven't seen any of his movies. Chinatown and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest are enough to prove you wrong about Nicholson's acting ability.
Posted By: Loz (Guest) on June 10, 2008 at 02:22 PM
The possibilities of a Johansson/Portman picture are endless, but this was not what I envisioned.
Exactly. What I envision wouldn't be shown in theaters.
Posted By: stan (Guest) on June 10, 2008 at 02:50 PM
