The Big Screen Bulletin 07.14.08: I Went Boggy Creek Three Times and Survived!
Posted by Chad Webb on 07.14.2008
A nightmare with Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd, the box office results, release date changes, "Heavy Metal" updates, problems facing Spike Jonze, new DVD releases, new trailer ratings, quickees, and much more!
Yes, I finally finished watching the Boggy Creek trilogy. Well, maybe trilogy is not the best word, but there are three films, all of which will make you dumber. The Return to Boggy Creek is the second installment, and most likely the one you haven't heard of. It is only available on VHS. It is so terrible that putting my genitals in a vice would have been more comfortable. Boggy Creek 2…And the Legend Continues can be seen on MST3K. It is almost as bad, but not quite. On that note, on with the Bulletin!
Straight to Video Nightmares
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control
Starring: Masi Oka, Nate Torrence, Jayma Mays, Larry Miller, and Patrick Warburton
Directed By: Gil Junger
Written By: Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember
Release Date: July 1, 2008
Running Time: 71 minutes
Rated PG-13 for crude humor and some language
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control is a Direct-to-DVD spin-off of the theatrical motion picture. Obviously this is not the first time supporting characters received their own time to shine, but I'd be curious to find out how many times it happened this quickly after the release of the main feature. Just so we're clear, Get Smart is a film adaptation of the classic television series. I admire the idea of an added adventure, but this should have been an extra on the future Get Smart DVD, not a separate entity of its own.
If you have not seen the new Get Smart movie, chances are this will be of little interest, and won't make sense. I actually laughed quite a bit during Get Smart, and was not overly disappointed, but it had noticeable problems. This bonus "misadventure" (as the cover says) had good intentions, but the execution was bland and the acting resembled a made-for-TV special. This may be due to Director Gil Junger's resume, which consists primarily of television work. He got his break on Blossom. I just felt like mentioning Blossom. The screenwriters, Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember, also penned the feature Get Smart, but one can plainly detect that this was comprised of leftovers they thought were cool enough for a extra plot. Similar to whem McDonald's takes all the excess chicken and makes the nuggets.
The premise here parallels the events in Get Smart. While CONTROL's Max and Agent 99 are battling KAOS, the bungling inventors Bruce (Masi Oka) and Lloyd (Nate Torrence) are trying to perfect the OCT (Optical Camouflage Technology). They are good at building gadgets, but the invisibility cloak is one that is highly sought after. For starters, the CIA wants to get its hands on the technology in order to take the credit of creating it. The Underchief (Larry Miller) wants the finalized cloak on his desk asap, but after a party it winds up missing. If that wasn't enough, the headquarters are attacked by KAOS, so presumably Bruce and Lloyd suspect them of taking it. The Underchief has no choice except to order the duo on a mission of obtaining the cloak from the enemy.
Masi Oka and Nate Torrence possess natural chemistry together, and as short as this film is at 71 minutes, they remain likable throughout the hijincks. However, a little of them goes a long way, so there are times when you prefer just the minor scenes in the theatrical release. The two are a nerdy pair in the vein of Laurel & Hardy, Abbott and Costello, or Martin and Lewis. I did get a kick out of the unique inventions like the flawed stun gun that causes immediate and permanent hair loss, the ANS (Alcohol Neutralization Spray) that prevents drunkenness, and the gecko spray for shoes. To better illustrate Bruce and Lloyd, imagine watching a full length film on Q from the James Bond series, and that is what you have here.
The supporting cast gives new meaning to a mixed bag. Larry Miller is the Underchief of CONTROL, and his twin brother runs the CIA. Miller's timing is as usual, spot on, and it is nice to know we can always count on him for a solid B-movie performance. Jayma Mays is the cute redhead Nina, who helps the guys out as Bruce's girlfriend. She is stationed in the forensics lab, and smells of formaldehyde. This is probably the amount of screen time she deserves. Marika Dominczyk is Isabella, a sexy temptress who might be undercover for the enemy. She struggles with each and every line, and is meant as a female who looks like Anne Hathaway. Patrick Warburton does appear as Hymie, but only for a few minutes, which is a shame because he could have supplied ample laughs.
This serves merely as a manner of revealing more gadgets that had no room in Get Smart. The clumsily assembled storyline is just ridiculous, and I'm sorry but I have trouble really caring about an invention that we have all seen for years in the Harry Potter series. As I said, if this had aired on TV, or was simply attached as a bonus to the Get Smart disc, I might be inclined to be generous, but it's not, so I can't. By releasing this on its own, it must be judged as such.
One line was truly hilarious, and stood out because it was much more intelligent than the rest of the script. It involved Lloyd criticizing humans for predictable safe combinations. Out of Control was a clever attempt in trying to further capitalize on the success of Get Smart as an extra comedic mystery thriller, but in the end all the weaknesses are too evident to ignore.
Final Rating = 5.5/10.0
The News Bulletin
Hellboy Scorches the Box Office
The weekend box office brought both victory and defeat as Universal's "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" opened strongly on one end and 20th Century Fox/New Regency family laffer "Meet Dave" saw one of the worst opening grosses ever for an Eddie Murphy pic. Beating holdover "Hancock," filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's "Golden Army" grossed an estimated $35.9 million from 3,204 runs to place No. 1 for the weekend on the strength of males and older moviegoers. Will Smith topliner "Hancock" came in No. 2 in its second sesh, declining a slim 47% to an estimated $33 million from 3,965 runs for a cume of $165 million, according to Rentrak.
"Meet Dave" only placed No. 7 for the weekend, grossing an estimated $5.3 million from 3,011 screens. Pic, with a production budget of under $60 million is the second 2008 summer comedy to take a free-fall after Mike Myers' "The Love Guru." "Meet Dave" has three financing partners--New Regency, Fox and Dune Capital Management. Finding some middle ground was New Line and Walden Media's 3-D action-adventure "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Pic came in No. 3 in its opening, grossing an estimated $20.6 million from 2,811 runs, a sizeable chunk of which came from higher-priced 3-D tickets. "Journey," distributed by Warner Bros., is the widest test yet for the fledgling 3-D marketplace. "Golden Army" easily outperformed the opening of the original "Hellboy," which debuted to $23.2 million on its way to cuming $59 million domestically.
Among holdovers, Disney-Pixar's "Wall-E" continued to please, dropping 43% in its third frame to come in No. 4 for the weekend. Pic grossed an estimated $18.5 million from 3,849 runs for a cume of $162. 8 million. Par's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"--which has played like a family pic, despite being rated PG-13," came in No. 10 for the frame, declining 40% to an estimated $2.2 million from 1,664 runs for a cume of $310 .5 million.
Boy I regret betting on Eddie Murphy, but I'm glad I was wrong. I expected him to have enough power to get that #1 spot, but apparently the public is growing tired of him. I'm happy for Guillermo Del Toro and the Hellboy II crew. Now that Myers, Sandler, and Murphy have all delivered duds, maybe that will clue them in to try something different, but it won't. Hancock's mediocre reviews have not phased the masses as it came in at #2, and Journey to the Center of the Earth did admirably at #3. WALL-E is fast approaching King Fu Panda's gross of $202 million with $163 million. The rest are holdovers with Indy 4 hanging on at #10. We know that The Dark Knight will win the weekend easily, but the question is, how much it rake in? My estimate rests at around $165 million for the opening weekend.
Paramount Listens to Softer Rock
David Fincher's planned remake of the 1981 R-rated animated feature "Heavy Metal" has been ditched by Paramount Pictures. Blur Studio's Tim Miller, who's handling the animation for the film, tells Entertainment Weekly that the project is now being shopped around to other studios because new production execs at Paramount feel it is too risque for mainstream audiences. The plan remains to film 8-10 of the erotic and violent short stories from the fantasy magazine from which it gets its title and compile it into an anthology feature. Fincher is set to direct one of the segments. Miller is confident the film will eventually see the light of day, saying that "David really believes in the project. It's just a matter of time."
As of now, I still have not watched the existing Heavy Metal films. I know I know, those damn 411 writers never prepare. I'll see them soon enough. Anyway, my guess is the longer this project goes without potential distributors, the less enthusiastic David Fincher will be. It's not like the guy is short of work. I can bet if this situation is not corrected quickly, he'll walk away. I hope he doesn't, but that is what I expect. Since this is an anthology feature, and Fincher is only set for one, I am curious to see who directs the others. Currently no information can be viewed on IMDB unless you subscribe to IMDB pro.
Release Date Changes!
- The Ed Harris-directed, Viggo Mortensen western "Appaloosa" will open in limited release on September 17th.
- "Red", a thriller about an older man (Brian Cox) who seeks revenge when three troublesome teens kill his beloved dog, will open in limited release on August 8.
- The Neil Burger-directed ex-soldiers on a road trip feature "The Lucky Ones" has been moved up a month from October 24th to September 26th.
- The Michael Madsen house invasion thriller "House" will open in limited release on October 3rd.
- Yari Film Group has pulled "The Lonely Maiden" off the schedule.
- The Seann William Scott & Paul Rudd comedy previously entitled "Big Brothers" is now "Role Models" and will open wide on November 14th.
- The Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac comedy "Soul Men" will open wide on November 14th.
- "Defiance", the Ed Zwick-directed Daniel Craig WW2 thriller has been scheduled for limited release on December 12th.
- The film version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 2005 play "Doubt" with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman has been scheduled for limited release on December 12th.
Wow, Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson, together finally! Count me out. Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd together is a clash of comedic styles if I ever saw it, and unless Michael Madsen is in a Tarantino flick, it is not worth spending time or money on. The Brian Cox revenge thriller about a dead dog intrigues me since it is an Indie, as does Ed Harris' sophomore directorial effort after Pollock. He and Viggo should make a competent team. I am shocked that the Daniel Craig war thriller Defiance will now be limited, only because the trailer has been attached to many blockbusters this season. And you can bet anything with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman will be fantastic.
The "Wild Things" Are Out of Control
"Where the Wild Things Are", the much troubled $80 million film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic child fantasy book, has been pulled off the release schedule. The Spike Jonze-directed feature hit trouble in December last year when a test screening allegedly caused quite a few young audience members to break out in tears and screams of fright. The film was pushed back a whole year to October 2009 soon after.
Talk then turned toward something more frightening - that Jonze would be kicked off the project and replaced with someone else who'd reshoot and re-edit his dark and unique vision (which is what the original work was) into something more commercial and family friendly.
Horn has now denied rumors of Jonze being replaced, telling the Los Angeles Times that "We've given him more money and, even more importantly, more time for him to work on the film. We'd like to find a common ground that represents Spike's vision but still offers a film that really delivers for a broad-based audience...we remain confident that Spike is going to figure things out and at the end of the day we'll have an artistically compelling movie."
No word yet as to when the project will be moved forward, but with the absorption of over a dozen New Line films into their schedule it's expected that the studio is in no hurry to have this out earlier than late next year.
I have read this book, but it has been years, so forgive me if the minor details have escaped me. If it was intended as a dark story, then it needs to be filmed as just that. Children can get scared at the movies can't they? Not everything needs to be bright and happy. News bits like these are read by everyone, including critics, so expect them to be extremely harsh now. I am anxiously awaiting this picture, but will this "common ground" be more of a clash than a satisfactory merger of ideas? It is sad that this will probably get thrown on backburner now that New Line now consists of only a few people. I sincerely hope that after the budget has now increased, and the problems have escalated, that Jonze completes the finished product we all now he is capable of. This must be a stressful time for him, seeing as how his other project, Ripley's Believe it or Not has been enduring its share of issues as well.
Tremors in the City
Ron Underwood ("Tremors", "City Slickers") will direct "Night Crew", a fast-moving monster tale from "Tremors" and "Short Circuit" scribes S. S. Wilson and Brent Maddock. According to the production company's website, "Crew" is "full of quirky characters, scary moments, and laugh-out-loud humor, but this time in an urban setting". That tells us nothing about the film… but does suggest it'll be in the same vein as the gang's 1990 classic, "Tremors". On a side note, seems Wilson and Maddock also recently penned a remake of the 80s classic "Smokey and the Bandit" for Universal. No word on whether that's going ahead or not.
I am not a fan of the Tremors franchise. Each installment never settled on whether it wanted to be a B-movie, or a straight action/monster/horror adventure. Granted, I could tolerate the first one, but the sequels made it seem extraordinarily stupid. That being said, I love City Slickers, but Underwood has not had a hit since then. That was 1991, and since then he has given us The Adventures of Pluto Nash and In the Mix starring Usher. Now it appears he has gone back to what brought him to the dance, and simply placing monsters in the city instead of the desert. I have low expectations. As for the Smokey and the Bandit remake…bad idea…bad bad bad.
The 20 Second Sermon
Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright were arrested off the set of Oliver Stone's W for preventing police from arresting a fellow crew member. See, Stone has his entire cast going crazy for his political agenda. Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios have reached a deal for him to direct the Iron Man sequel, due out in 2010. I wouldn't bet on that release date, but at least Favreau is returning. Anything else would be disappointing. The new poster for Ace Ventura 3 is out. You can view it and the plot by clicking here. I can't even find the words to express my disgust. If Eric Brevig has his way, a sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth might involve going to Atlantis. He wants a whole new franchise. I'd be ok with that. Talk of a Sex and the City 2 has sprouted. No one believes me that this was envisioned as a trilogy at first. It made money so of course they'll want to take advantage. What bothers me is that Sopranos movie gossip starts along with that. Give it a rest. Poor David Chase will probably be forced into it down the road anyway.
What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?
No DVD worth headlining this week. The Bank Job - This was a smart and fascinating thriller with Jason Statham that didn't seem redundant. I do think it was a tad overrated, but it is certainly worth a rent. Buy it Used
Trafic – Criterion Collection - The cover alone entices me to see this one. In case you haven't noticed in previous issues, I am way behind on my Criterion films.
Penelope - Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying this little family fantasy. It is not perfect, or all together original, but it has some sweetness and adept direction to enhance it. Buy it Used
Step Up 2 The Streets - I reviewed the first film on DVD many moons ago and hated every second. Chances are since I have yet to see the sequel in theaters, I won't go out of my way to see it now.
Shutter - Yet another dull, stupid, and abominable Asian horror remake. I am so sick and tired of ghostly visions that I am on the verge of going insane. Joshua Jackson and Rachel Taylor hand in below mediocre performances in a film that wanted to be called one of the worst of 2008. Trashable
Meet Bill - I love Aaron Eckhart, but occasionally he does the most obscure films that are in theaters for like 2 days. Jessica Alba is apparently in the cast, and that is never a good sign.
College Road Trip - New rule: I don't see any movies with Raven-Symone....period. I won't even get started on Martin Lawrence.
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation - Here is a foreign film that is fairly recent and received some positive reviews. It seems to be something that will get lost in the summer shuffle though.
Monsieur Vincent - This is an Oscar winning biopic chronicling St. Vincent De Paul from 1947. Seems interesting if it won a statue.
The Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth - This is described as being based on the novel by Jules Verne, but they inserted "fabulous" for some reason. This is a 1978 film. The cover gives me a King Kong vibe.
Asylum - If the only tactic for marketing was flaunting the fact that David R. Ellis, director of Final Destination 2 is at the helm, then why should I care?
TNA Wrestling: Sacrifice 2008- This promotion began as so innovative and different, but now they have "Scott Steroid" (as Scott Keith would say) in the main event. Is this not foreshadowing on the future? At least they still have some strong talent.
Secretary - Here is a flick (from 2002) I am really embarrassed to have not seen, but trust me, I will soon, and when I say that, I mean it.
The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell - This is another National Lampoon jewel. I refuse to watch anything associated with this company. I've said this before, but felt like reiterating it.
Movie Dictionary: Word of the Week
Read-through - In the context of film production, the read-through is an organized table reading of the screenplay by the actors with speaking parts. An additional professional actor not otherwise involved in the production is usually hired to read the non-dialogue parts of the script such as scene headings and action. These parts of the script are usually edited down severely for the purposes of the read-through to keep the pace of the reading up. The read-through usually takes place towards the end of pre-production but before the rehearsal period, if any has been scheduled.
In addition to the cast members with speaking parts, the read-through is usually attended by the principal financiers or studio executives, producers, heads of department, writers, and of course directors. It is extremely rare for anyone not involved in the production to be permitted to attend. It is usually the first time everyone involved in the production will have gathered together and it is traditional to go around the table (usually a ring of tables, in fact) and allow everyone to introduce themselves by both name and job. The director may then open proceedings by making a short speech outlining his or her aspirations for the project.
The read-through is an important milestone in the production of most films. It is a clear signal that all of the key elements, including cast, finance and heads of department, are in place and that pre-production is almost complete. It is often the first time that the script has had a life beyond the written word, and it is also an opportunity for everyone involved in production to get at least a partial insight into the way the actors may approach their roles. In addition, a read-through is often a surprisingly powerful tool for identifying problem areas in the script. Wooden dialogue, unbelievable situations or boring sections of the film which have not been addressed during the script development process are often writ large in the read-through, and may now come under intense scrutiny.
It is traditional to treat the read-through as a cold reading. Because the actors have had no rehearsal time, and may not even have discussed the project much with the director, they are not expected to give a performance but simply to read the words on the page. Some actors including major Hollywood stars will indeed read their entire role in a flat monotone, whereas others (often actors from the theatre, or character actors with relatively minor parts) will 'go for it' and are often the most entertaining part of the process.
The read-through can be very nerve-racking for the producers, director, writer and executives. Despite the fact it is supposed to be a cold reading, everyone is on the alert for possible casting or script problems -- a lack of chemistry between the principals, a key player who lacks charisma, a script which has logic problems or is obviously extremely boring. Even in their very short introduction, it may become clear that the director is unsure of himself or herself, or finds it difficult to communicate ideas. On the other hand, it can be extremely exciting to finally see a project which may have been in development for many years finally begin to take on a life of its own. In his book Adventures in the Screen Trade, screenwriter William Goldman describes the read-through as the most important part of film production, because if the script is right and the cast is right there's not much else that can go wrong.
--From Wikipedia.org
The Critic's Quickee
Hancock - What we have with Hancock is a multimillion dollar idea with limitless potential, and an entire franchise is just sitting and waiting for sequels. I was pleasantly surprised that the second trailer did not spoil an excessive amount of the plot. I had my doubts, but there is a lot more to this storyline than anyone will expect. The premise is very engaging and fascinating for the first half, but when the cast and crew open up that can of worms, they do not know how to wrap it up nicely (much like Superman Returns). I wanted so badly to afford this a solid recommendation. I was looking forward to a homeless superhero that drinks and swears for months. I had no qualms about the performances. Will Smith was on fire, Charlize Theron was absolutely terrific, and Jason Bateman never misses a beat. The drawbacks rest with Director Peter Berg. He is a filmmaker with a one track mind, who must have that "wow" factor from the audience. Berg prefers laughs and action above all else, and will stop at nothing to acquire sufficient amount of those no matter how much it taints the final result of the movie. We have three conflicting tones. Berg has one I described already, the screenwriters Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan have another tone, and composer John Powell has one in mind. The music conveys somber, almost tragic elements to the character. The script struck me as a superhero flick with equal amounts of drama and action, and Berg suffered from Michael Bay-itis. A lot of questions are raised, and not enough of them are answered to win me over totally. The CGI was fine, until they bombarded viewers with too much of it. The random villains were ok, until they became cheesy and paper thin. I was on the fence with this, but ultimately I must go with a marginal thumbs down and **1/2 stars because the concept was marvelous, but the implementation was scanty. I blame Peter Berg, because had this been in the hands of a wise filmmaker, one with patience, who was not afraid to stretch the short running time, and embrace the R rating that this flirts with, it could have been one of the best summer blockbusters of the year, but it isn't. On a side note, Mike Epps calling Hancock "Handjob" was hilarious. Final Rating = 6.5/10.0
The Wackness - For all my thoughts on this wonderful new drug comedy, read my full review by clicking here.
Mongol - The Academy Award nominated foreign film is now in theaters. Check out my superb review to see my rating.
City of Men - If you liked City of God, I recommend watching this new film set in Rio de Janeiro. Click here to read my article.
Based on the Trailer…
Newest Trailers
Hell Ride - I've been eager to see this trailer since the poster debuted. This is the red band trailer by the way. This seems to be a funny and action packed film with B-movie roots, and with Tarantino's two cents involved, it can't be all that terrible. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Max Payne - This trailer kicks major a** with the song in the background and Marky Mark as the main character, but then again, so did the Hitman teaser, and it ended up blowing. Remember, this is based on a video game. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Quantum of Solace - I saw this weeks ago, but forgot to rate it here. The new Bond movie looks to be just as awesome as Casino Royale. I can't wait. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
Outlander - Hmm, I'm not sure about this, but the cast alone is enough for me to buy a ticket. James Caviezel is so talented, but his script choices continue to boggle me (not in a bad way mind you). The idea is shaky, but the effects and acting look good, so I'm in. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Tyer Perry's The Family That Preys - Kathy Bates and Cole Hauser in a Tyler Perry film. That certainly surprised me. This looks to be fairly ambitious for Perry, and might not be as bad as his previous efforts. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
July Releases
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
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
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
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
American Teen - This is a documentary constructed around 5 kids to resemble "The Breakfast Club." The concept is interesting, but we'll see how genuine it is when it comes out. 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
Swing Vote - The new Kevin Costner political comedy. The plot of this is absolutely ridiculous, and will only gain money based on middle age to older couples who love Costner from way back. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0
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
Death Race - Anyone who remembers the Top 10 B-Movie feature a couple years back, knows that the original is a favorite of many staffers here. I must admit, this doesn't look near as bad as anticipated, as long as the Statham routine is toned down. It looks to have nothing in common with the original. I'll see it out of curiosity. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
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
Disaster Movie - I realize all the bitching about these putrid films has been done, but what really bothers me is that some of the flicks it is parodying are not even out yet. These people have no souls. Trailer Rating = 1.0/10.0
September Releases
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
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
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
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
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
Miracle at St. Anna - I get annoyed by some of Spike Lee's comments, but he is a fabulous filmmaker, and this new war epic looks marvelous with Derek Luke and Joseph Gordon Levitt. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
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
October, TBD, and Beyond Releases
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
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
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
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
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
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
Punisher: War Zone - This is only a teaser, but I get the impression I have seen all I need to. This sequel (or whatever is in relation to the previous film) looks like an comic action nightmare with cliches up the wazoo. I'm not a fan of the Punishers movies thus far, and this does not look to change that. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - This film looks amazing. David Fincher is the man, I will be waiting to purchase my ticket. A plot about someone who ages backwards has all sorts of possibilities. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0
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
The Day the Earth Stood Still - This teaser illustrates how a classic sci-fi film will probably not update well for this era. I am curious because Keanu Reeves is a suitable choices, but I noticed too much CGI just from this, so that's not a good sign. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
The Tale of Despereaux - This new Universal CGI film has some cute lines and some exquisite animation, but the plot strikes me as dull. You never know, at least it isn't filled with poop jokes. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Bolt - It takes exactly two seconds to decipher the Disney CGI to the Pixar Disney CGI. This has John Travolta as the lead voice. The hamster seems funny, but the rest doesn't impress me. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0
Repo! The Genetic Opera - They keep the music clips to a minimum in the trailer, which was wise. While this certainly intrigues me, the praising quotes from random websites worries me. It could be really bad, but check out the cast. That alone is worth the price of admission. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
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.
The critic quotes for The Escapist are from British reviewers as the movie has been and gone over here. I'm sure there'll be some Yank-friendly ones closer to its release.
Posted By: Guest#0856 (Guest) on July 14, 2008 at 11:08 AM
