The Big Screen Bulletin 07.21.08: Sunny Days and Dark Knights
Posted by Chad Webb on 07.21.2008
The Birthday Bash featuring Kristin Bell, the record breaking box office results, DVD sales figures, remake news for "10" and "Papillon", new DVD releases, new trailer ratings, quickees, and the movie dictionary with the Joker's origins!
Look out next week for my special Batman character timeline!
The Birthday Bash
Gisele Bunchen turns 28 - Words are not needed for this picture. I put her on because Tony Farinella likes saying her last name…Bundchen. She does count since she has appeared in 2004's Taxi and The Devil Wears Prada though.
Josh Hartnett turns 30 - Well now, it does appear that Josh is enjoying some "quality time" in the pool. Damn him. Anyway, expect approximately four future films from Mr. H, named I Come with the Rain, Bunraku, Queen of the South, and End Zone, a lame sounding football flick.
Kristin Bell turns 28 - She has an average looking body, but depending on the pose, or the movie role, or the bikini, she can be undeniably hot. I guess she does Gossip Girl, but I wouldn't know since I don't watch it, but as for movie roles, Ms. Bell has Fanboys, When in Rome, Serious Moonlight, and Antique on her slate.
Robin Williams turns 57 - He's one of the craziest comics on Earth, especially on talk shows, so I found the most unfunny pic I could. It looks as if he is on some other wavelength, or high. Look for four new projects from him, such as: Old Dogs, Shrink, The Prince of Providence and The Krazees.
David Spade turns 44 - What could I possibly say about David Spade dressed as a woman in a fireman's outfit? He lost his marbles long ago. He is on a show called Rules of Engagement, but has a film called Hollywood & Wine with Pam Anderson and some SNL alumni on the way.
The News Bulletin
Box Office Records Set in Gotham
Warner Bros.' Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" became box office legend as it opened to an estimated $155.4 million from 4,366 theaters, the highest opening ever for a three-day weekend. "Dark Knight," from filmmaker Christopher Nolan and returning Christian Bale as the caped crusader, shot past the previous record-holder, "Spider-Man 3," which earned $151.1 million in its debut in May 2007. Batman--after multiple stops-and-starts, is now the most successful superhero ever to hit the bigscreen. Legendary Pictures co-financed and co-produced "Dark Knight." Universal female-skewing musical "Mamma Mia!" was no wallflower either, grossing an estimated $27.6 million from 2,976 runs in its debut to snatch the best opening for a musical in narrowly beating out the $27.5 million opening of musical "Hairspray" on the same weekend last year.
"Dark Knight," along with "Mamma Mia" and several stalwart holdovers, delivered the film business its best weekend ever for a non-holiday, with total box office receipts of roughly $250 million. Frame's performance stunned Hollywood. Previous best weekend was July 7-9 2006, which racked up total B.O. grosses of $218.4 million, led by the $135.6 million opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." That doesn't mean there weren't trouble spots. Starz Media's toon "Space Chimps," distributed by 20th Century, only placed No. 7 in its bow, grossing an estimated $7.3 million from 2,511 runs. "Space Chimps" was outgunned by Disney-Pixar's "Wall-E." Pixar toon placed No. 6 in its fourth frame, declining just 48% to an estimated $9.8 million.
Like "Wall-E," Will Smith holdover "Hancock" continued to see good results, even with the mammoth opening of "Dark Knight." "Hancock" declined 56% in its third week to an estimated $14 million from 3,776 runs for a cume of $191.5 million. Pic placed No. 3 for the weekend. In its second weekend, New Regency and Fox's Eddie Murphy ill-fated laffer "Meet Dave" fell off the top 10 list, placing No. 11. Comedy declined 69% to an estimated $1.6 million for a cume of $9.37 million. "Dark Knight's" transformation into the event film of the summer confirms that Warners and Nolan have successfully relaunched a franchise that has seen several stops-and-starts. "Dark Knight's" added appeal is due at least in part to the late Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker. Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine also star. Film earned a record-breaking $67.8 on Friday alone. Of that, $18.5 million came from midnight shows, besting the previous midnight record set by Fox's "Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith," which grossed $16.9 million from 3,663 venues.
"Dark Knight" easily soared past the $47 million earned by Nolan's "Batman Begins" when opening in summer 2005. Sequel could gross as much as $220 million in its first week domestic--more than the final domestic gross of "Batman Begins," which cumed $205 million domestically. "Batman Begins" grossed another $166 million internationally.
I realize now that the predictions from the podcast was overall box office totals for The Dark Knight, not opening weekend. I think last week I went with around $165, so if this were The Price is Right, I'd be eliminated because I went over. Well the film certainly deserves what it gets, and thank goodness it topped Spider-Man 3. I am surprised Mamma Mia! came in at #2, and even more startled that Hellboy II declined 71% in its second week. Journey to the Center of the Earth is still going strong at #4, and Wall-E remains the animated picture to beat, but Kung Fu Panda is hanging on at #10. Next week The Dark Knight will reign supreme regardless of The X-Files and Step Brothers hitting theaters.
The State of DVD Sales
The domestic homevideo biz held its own in the first half of the year despite a challenging economy and a format transition fraught with hurdles. Consumers spent $10.1 billion on discs, according to Variety sister publication Video Business, to match year-ago levels on virtually flat sales of $6.17 billion and $3.97 billion in rental revenue. The showing is especially noteworthy given the bumpy year that the vid biz had in 2007: It started in the hole and never caught up -- and uncertainty has dogged it ever since. Among the question marks: how fast DVD will fade, and whether digital downloads or pricier Blu-ray discs will make up that gap any time soon. So far, at least, packaged media is hanging tough. High gas prices, among other things, did not deter consumers from buying top sellers "Alvin and the Chipmunks," "I Am Legend" or "Enchanted" on disc during the first six months of the year; and a growing number of consumers bought pricier Blu-ray versions of the latest releases.
Spending on the victorious high-def format tripled compared to the year-ago period to top $200 million, offsetting most of the decline in standard DVD sales. Studio execs were especially heartened by consumers' willingness to pay more for Blu-ray discs in this economic climate. Although the vid biz has been recession-proof in the past, there has been some question about whether the next-gen format's higher cost would impede its adoption during a downturn. Indeed, the continued vitality of standard DVD was by no means assured given its maturity and proliferating alternative entertainment choices. Ever since, Wall Street has been hammering showbiz stocks on the presumption that packaged media is on its way out; earlier this month, Lehman Brothers' Anthony DiClemente downgraded several congloms for their seeming inability to withstand the shift toward digital media. The studios themselves have also cited uncertainty about DVD and next-gen formats in their negotiations with the guilds.
Hit titles are selling less than they might have at the format's peak --problematic on a title-by-title basis since studios have come to rely upon homevid coin to cover ballooning marketing and production costs. On an overall basis, however, catalog sales and Blu-ray discs are cushioning the blow, while digital downloads have yet to become a factor. "I think people are becoming pickier on what they spend their money on, but home entertainment always represents a good value," said Lori MacPherson, general manager for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, North America. Blu-ray now accounts for less than 10% of disc sales per title, but studio execs remain confident that ratio will keep rising now that the format war has been resolved and more consumers buy HDTV sets in preparation for the digital conversion. Apple's iTunes Store quickly dominated the movie sector after the digital music powerhouse inked a series of studio deals earlier this year, but the movie numbers are still small compared to disc sales (Daily Variety, June 20).
It is interesting that DVD sales have not changed radically in light of gas prices and a suffering economy. The fact is people are staying inside, and instead of driving and wasting gas, they are buying and renting movies. Blu-Ray sales will continue to increase, but slowly, and they will only become common in households when the prices of the players decrease significantly. I have one, but bought it on a site called RefurbDepot, and it performs wonderfully. Most people still purchase the popular titles, no matter how good or bad they might be. We ARE getting pickier about what we buy, but isn't that expected considering the times? I have bought and watched a few movies using iTunes and my iPod, but I do not see those sales getting any better. Every once in a blue moon it might be beneficial to get a movie on iTunes, but if anything, the sales of TV episodes are the biggest money gainer there. If you miss an episode on TV, you can buy it there for $2.
Producers Plan Papillon Picture
New Spanish production shingle Atlantia Canarias is teaming with L.A. producers Branko Lustig ("Schindler's List," "Gladiator") and John Kelly ("The Black Dahlia") for a remake of "Papillon." The producers aim to finance the remake for the most part via tax-driven investments from Spain's Canary Islands.
Headed by screenwriter-producer Vicente Mora and Catalan producer Roger Corbi, Atlantia closed a deal a few weeks back to option movie and TV rights to Henri Charriere's autobiography, immortalized in the 1973 film starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. Roger Corbi's father, DrimTim topper Manuel Corbi, will produce. Currently in the earliest stage of development, with no screenwriter or director attached, "Papillon" will shoot in English on a budget of about $90 million, Lustig said.
Roger Corbi added that 90% of the shoot, skedded for September 2009, will take place in the Canary Islands. According to Lustig and Roger Corbi, the bulk of pic's financing has already been tapped from Canary Islands-based high net-worth individuals using the Canary Islands' RIC (Reservation of Canaries Investment) tax investment vehicle. Under the RIC system, taxpayers may earmark part of their payments for film and TV investment, recouping before projects' producers.
To access RIC coin, at least 75% of a film's shoot must take place on the Canary Islands. "RIC currently has accumulated up to $6 billion in tax payments to go into film and TV or other sectors," Corbi said. Atlantia Canarias was launched in May in a presentation supported by the Canary Islands government. Atlantia is also collaborating with the government in the construction of Atlantia Studios, a soundstage complex on the island of Tenerife, using government-ceded lands. Studios will have two large, split-able soundstages, Lustig said.
What follows is a few thoughts I recorded for my personal log when I first saw Papillon: "This might be the second greatest prison film I have ever seen. It is nearly 2 and a half hours in length, but not one moment is dull. I was glued to my seat, and riveted the entire time. McQueen turns in one of his top 3 performances easily here as the titular character, and Dustin Hoffman plays off him wonderfully. The two are opposites, but possess such natural on screen chemistry. Unlike the dreadfully lackluster "Midnight Express", Director Franklin J. Schaffner utilizes the surrounding locations beautifully to his advantage. The prison atmosphere is brutal and torturous on its own, but the blue skies and sunshine lighting the areas contrast nicely. There are numerous supporting portrayals to speak of: Don Gordon as Julot, Anthony Zerbe as Toussaint, Robert Deman as Maturette, and Woodrow Parfrey as Clusiot. Schaffner has made a gut wrenching, poignant, intriguing, and even funny film here on the heels of two other classics, "Planet of the Apes" and "Patton." It is a wickedly devastating and visceral experience to watch this. One is propelled to this time and place to truly see and feel what these prisoners are enduring." With that said, I disagree with this remake idea. I understood why 3:10 to Yuma was redone. Room for improvement was definite given the running time that was less than 2 hours on the original. Papillon runs over 2 hours, so you know damn well they will cut it to pieces. The task of these producers, not to mention the future screenwriter and director will be almost impossible. How can they update or adjust a classic? Apparently with Prison Break on the air, and The Escapist prison film on the way, that genre is still thriving. While that excites me, this idea does not.
Mr. Cruise Has Spilled the Salt
Tom Cruise will reportedly no longer star in the Columbia Pictures thriller "Edwin A. Salt", which Phillip Noyce will direct from a script by Kurt Wimmer. Fox 411 columnist Roger Friedman claims that "Cruise is out, and I'm told it's because of money. Apparently, Tom is unaware of the change in his status in the Hollywood community. Where once he was the top-paid star, Cruise now is in a position where a $20 million salary is not possible. I'm told an internal memo went around among the film's producers and top creators in which the Cruise situation was discussed and names were gathered for a replacement." "Edwin A. Salt" revolves around a CIA officer who's accused of being a Russian spy. He then faces a race against time to elude the authorities, clear his name and rescue his family.
When people claim that Will Smith is the last bankable star left, they might be correct, at least as far as blockbusters go. Many other actors still have a fairly consistent positive track record, such as Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, and so forth, but Cruise went downhill after he jumped on Oprah's couch. His Scientology beliefs didn't help either, but that episode with Oprah opened a lot of eyes. Now, his bizarreness has crossed over to Hollywood, and the public no longer views him as the universally likable guy he once was. That's the way the cookie crumbles I guess. In truth, the loss of this role means very little to his career. He'll grab something else rather quickly. He just needs to start accepting paychecks for less money. He is still a tremendous actor.
Finding the Next "10"
Hyde Park Entertainment Group has secured rights from Blake Edwards to remake his 1979 comedy "10." Original pic starred Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews and a famously cornrowed Bo Derek. Hyde Park chairman Ashok Amritraj and exec Patrick Aiello will produce with Lou Pitt; Blake Edwards and Geoffrey Edwards will exec produce.
After a long campaign to get Edwards to entrust them, the producers have already met with agencies to package the romantic comedy. They hope to engage in a global search for a newcomer to play the new "10." "Blake's timeless original encapsulated the fallacy of 'the grass is always greener' in relationships," said Amritraj. Hyde Park's in post on the Capcom vidgame adaptation "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li," which will be released Feb. 27 through its co-production deal with 20th Century Fox. Hyde Park also just wrapped romantic comedy "The Other End of the Line," which MGM will release in November. Hyde Park Intl. is selling international on those titles.
As I did above with Papillon, here is another excerpt from my mini-review of 10: "At times it seems as if this is just one brief comedy set up after the other, but many of the bits click. Dudley Moore is a hilarious little man, who carries us the entire way as a believably confused middle aged guy. Julie Andrews in the supporting role is interesting, but it works. She acts as the ideal older woman for George. The two have chemistry. Bo Derek is simply incredible looking. The title of this film suits her looks. She doesn't have a flaw on her body, and the dream sequence where she runs toward him is legendary. Many of the laughs are obtained through real situations and legitimate emotions. This is an exercise of the bizarreness that is human nature, and it hits the right notes just as George's songs do. "Pink Panther" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Director Blake Edwards also writes the screenplay here, and the result is a commendable effort of aging helplessness and the bumps on the road we all encounter in life. It is far from a masterpiece, but it doesn't need to be. Enough humor is infused, and plenty of heartfelt touches are added to churn a recommended flick." I can already see the problem this remake will have. They are concentrating on the woman, when they should be worried about who will fill Dudley Moore's shoes. Yes, locating a woman that everyone will be drawn to is a difficult task in this surgery based world of models, but the comedy is the key. I can only imagine how bad this will turn out.
The 20 Second Sermon
I finally bought and listened to the new Motley Crue CD Saints of Los Angeles. Overall the record barely squeaks by. A few tracks are above average, but they tend to run together, and most will not pop this in when they have a Crue fixation on a random afternoon. I'm sorry, but I must confess to the Saw franchise being a guilty pleasure, and they never fail to catch my attention with such splendidly horrific poster artwork. The new one for Saw V can be found here. Darren Aronofsky will not be filming a remake of Robocop, but a direct sequel taking place 20 years after the termination of the program. Well that changes my opinion, but it seems a bit late for a fourth installment right? Michael Bay claims that the first 12 minutes of the Friday the 13th remake will "re-write the books." Oh great, leave it to Bay to annihilate a horror icon. Seth MacFarlane has revaled that he would like to do a spoof of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan for Family Guy as he did with Star Wars. The originality continues….I just can't get Trey Parker and Matt Stone's commentary out of my head. It would be neat if DiCaprio did sign on for Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards. My fingers are crossed. Rob Cohen is mulling over a possible Monster Squad Remake. In the words of Weezer, "Say it ain't soooo."
What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?
DVD Headline of the Week
Spaced: The Complete Series - Not many TV titles make the headline, but this brilliant show is an exception, and finally it has arrived on DVD with loads of special features. I was fortunate to catch a bootleg from a film convention. If you enjoy Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, you must check this out. Buyable
21 - Director Robert Luketic has assembled a fine young cast, besides Kate Bosworth, and fashioned an acceptable gambling story. It is loosely based on true events, and I enjoyed the mathematical aspects, but the second half sank into standard thriller turns and twists which were just kind of 'meh.' This was watchable, but nothing else. Rentable
Kiss of the Spider Woman - Here is an Academy Award winning film starring William Hurt and Raul Julia that I have not seen, but the title is intriguing, so I'll add it to Netflix.
Vampyr – Criterion Collection - Legendary filmmaker Carl Dreyer made The Passion of Joan of Arc, one of my favorite silent pics, so the fact that he also did this horror film gets my attention instantly.
High and Low – Criterion Collection - It stars Toshiro Mifune, and is directed by Akira Kurosawa. What else do I need to say? I should probably mention that this is a drama, and not a samurai classic.
Picture This! - This has Ashley Tisdale, and looks to be pre-nose job. Not that her acting skills differ before or after surgery, but it felt like important information for this DVD release.
The Last Winter - A team in Alaska encounters an unknown evil. This features Ron Perlman and Kevin Corrigan. Possibly a straight to video nightmare for the future.
Bird (Two-Disc Special Edition) - From Director Clint Eastwood, this jazz biopic on Charlie Parker stars Forest Whitaker in 1988. This has been on my queue for weeks, so I should be seeing it soon.
Brutal Massacre: A Comedy - This is a comedy about the making of a horror film for a comeback director plagued by critics bashing. It has David Naughton and Brian O'Halloran.
The Boston Strangler - This is a new piece of horror that has David Faustino involved. Remember him? Anyway, this could be a future Direct-to-DVD nightmare as well.
Another slow week for DVD releases, unless you have been anxiously anticipating the continued release of episodes from the Teddy Ruxpin series.
Movie Dictionary: Word of the Week
The Joker Origins - Though many have been related, a definitive backstory has never been established for the Joker in the comics, and his real name has never been confirmed. He has been portrayed as lying so often about his former life that he himself is confused as to what actually happened. As he says in The Killing Joke: "Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another... if I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!" In Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth written by Grant Morrison, it is said that the Joker may not be insane, but has some sort of "super-sanity" in which he creates himself each day to cope with the chaotic flow of modern urban life.
The first origin account, Detective Comics #168 (February 1951), revealed that the Joker had once been a criminal known as the Red Hood. In the story, he was a scientist looking to steal from the company that employs him and adopts the persona of Red Hood. After committing the theft, which Batman thwarts, Red Hood falls into a vat of chemical waste. He emerges with bleached white skin, red lips, green hair, and a permanent grin.
The most widely cited backstory can be seen in The Killing Joke. It depicts him as originally being an engineer at a chemical plant who quits his job to become a stand-up comedian, only to fail miserably. Desperate to support his pregnant wife, Jeannie, the man agrees to help two criminals break into the plant where he was formerly employed. In this version of the story, the Red Hood persona is given to the inside man of every job (thus it is never the same man twice); this makes the man appear to be the ringleader, allowing the two criminals to escape. During the planning, police contact him and inform him that his wife and unborn child have died in a household accident.
Stricken with grief, he attempts to back out of the plan, but the criminals strong-arm him into keeping his promise. As soon as they enter the plant, however, they are immediately caught by security and a shoot-out ensues, in which the two criminals are killed. As the engineer tries to escape, he is confronted by Batman, who is investigating the disturbance. Terrified, the engineer leaps over a rail and plummets into a vat of chemicals. When he surfaces in the nearby reservoir, he removes the hood and sees his reflection: bleached chalk-white skin, ruby-red lips, and green hair. These events, coupled with his other misfortunes that day, drive the engineer completely insane, resulting in the birth of the Joker.
The story "Pushback" (Batman: Gotham Knights # 50-55), supports part of this version of the Joker's origin story. In it, a witness (who coincidentally turns out to be Edward Nigma, a.k.a. the Riddler) recounts that the Joker's wife was kidnapped and murdered by the criminals in order to force the engineer into performing the crime. In this version, the pre-accident Joker is called Jack.
The Paul Dini-Alex Ross story "Case Study" proposes a far different theory. This story suggests that the Joker was a sadistic gangster who worked his way up Gotham's criminal food chain until he was the leader of a powerful mob. Still seeking the thrills that dirty work allowed, he created the Red Hood identity for himself so that he could commit small-time crimes. Eventually, he had his fateful first meeting with Batman, resulting in his disfigurement. However, the story suggests that the Joker retained his sanity, and researched his crimes to look like the work of a sick mind in order to pursue his vendetta against Batman.
The latter origin is featured in the second arc of Batman Confidential (#7-12). This origin once more states his name as Jack, and eliminates the Red Hood identity. Bored with his work, Jack becomes obsessed with Batman, and crashes a museum ball to attract his attention. In doing so, he badly injures Lorna Shore (whom Bruce Wayne is dating). An enraged Batman disfigures his face with a batarang as he escapes. In retaliation, a furious Batman sells Jack out to mobsters who he had crossed, who torture Jack in a disused chemical plant. Turning the tables, Jack kills several of his assailants, but falls into an empty vat. Wild gunfire punctures the chemical tanks above him, and the resultant flood of toxins alters his appearance to that of the Joker.
--From Wikipedia.org
The Critic's Quickee
The Dark Knight - The highly anticipated sequel is here, and if you haven't seen it, do so now. Check out my full review by clicking right here.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - As long as Guillermo Del Toro returns to direct a third adventure with this fascinating character, it could be one of the finest comic book film franchises of all-time. However, with The Hobbit taking several years of his time, who knows when/if we will see Hellboy again. Here is a sequel that is just as competent, profound, and visually arresting as the original. I loved the entire beginning which re-introduced Hellboy to new audiences, and then led right into the title credits with the gears. The villains' motive makes a lot of sense for that universe, and was well integrated to develop Hellboy's attitude. The animated history of that race and the formation of Golden Army was a fantastic sequence in that it still left something to the imagination if they appeared later. The creatures all looked incredibly textured, colorful, and intriguing such as Johan Kraus, the tooth fairies, the tree monster and so forth. Two items that I thought were really masterful were the fight choreography and the set design. I could elaborate, but I'll just say the finale was adeptly staged. Now this IS a comic book adaptation, but Hellboy stands apart from other characters for any number of reasons, some obvious and some not. However, as I watch this, it exudes Del Toro's touch so vividly that it's as if it came directly from his mind. As a matter of fact, I would cite this as having more similarities to certain aspects of Pan's Labyrinth or the Harry Potter franchise than comics. What will win the avid moviegoers over is the character development, which is handled exceptionally well. Del Toro weaves weighty parts of the main characters in so effortlessly with the action and main storyline, plus he plants the seeds for future installments. My favorite scene and what might end up on my favorite movie moments of the 2008 has to be when Hellboy and Abe are singing. I won't say the song, or reveal the circumstances, but it is priceless. I enjoyed this better than Iron Man, not for any special reason, but I like Del Toro better as a filmmaker, and found myself having a slightly more entertaining time. The acting was top-notch from all ends, especially Ron Perlman, who now can forget he did In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. This goofy, but endearing film has everything, and is so pleasantly structured with witty humor, grand fight scenes, heartfelt drama, believable romance, and lots of breathtaking sights for the eyes. It is highly recommended, and will be tough to beat, but as I say that, I am attending a screening of The Dark Knight following this podcast. Final Rating = 9.0/10.0
Journey to the Center of the Earth - In the middle of all the comic book movies, a family film might be a nice escape. Read my review here for more thoughts!
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
High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Oh boy the teaser has arrived. Why do I have the feeling that this will be exactly like the first two, both in plot and level of suckage. Ms. Tisdale is the only tolerable character. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Terminator Salvation - I love Christian Bale, and the Terminator franchise, but I have serious doubts about this. I believe it will be terrible, but I must admit, this teaser was well constructed. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Watchmen - This was the best trailer attached to my Dark Knight screening. Hopefully Zack Snyder can continue to improve his skills after 300. I must read this graphic novel soon. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Vicki Christina Barcelona - I want Woody Allen to deliver more great films, and while this cast is certainly fabulous, I think all the hype rests on the threesome scene, which we know will be tame since this is rated PG-13. Allen needs a boost badly. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
The Perfect Game - Though I'm not a baseball fan, I always enjoy watching the Little League World Series. The problem with this film, despite a bad title, is that the preview reveals way too much, so hopefully it has more going for it besides the story, which I'm sure is inspirational. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
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
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 = 7.5/10.0
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
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
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
Tyler 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
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
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
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
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
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
The 411 Movie PODCAST - This week we have the second installment of the popular Hot or Not!
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.
