The Big Screen Bulletin 08.04.08: News Sponsored by Pogs and Micro-Machines

Posted by Chad Webb on 08.04.2008

The Ultimate Daredevil Guide, a nightmare with Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, thoughts on the rumored Batman villains, box office results, release date changes, John Carpenter's return, new DVD releases, and much more!

I talked about Batman: The Animated Series and the amount of criticisms I received last week in the 411 Movie Podcast, but in case you haven't heard that, I'll address them here as well. I admit to being a bit harsh in my rating of the series as a whole, and possibly a bit generous to The Batman cartoon, but I will stand by my complaints.

What some of you need to remember is that rating films and shows is a subjective thing. If I do not give Batman: The Animated Series a rating to everyone's liking, then some of you will have to deal with it, and likewise with George's rating, who actually afforded a favorable 7.5 to the show, and still received unintelligent comments. For those who simply said they disagree, that is fine, but to the others, these are just cartoons. We all have varying opinions depending on what we grew up watching. I enjoy He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, but would certainly not insult someone who disagreed.

Upon further review, I have adjusted some of my ratings from last week because I probably was too hasty when I initially did it. You can view the updated version here. I feel like B: TAS became better as time went along, and I recently purchased The New Batman Adventures on DVD because I liked that show better, but perhaps I missed some of the episodes that won many of you over. I've given thought to reviewing the show by episode down the road. And I would also like to add how ridiculous and asinine it was that some people went berserk on Bryan Kristopowitz just because he did not give The Dark Knight a 10. Arguing about his specific complaints is one thing, but he gave it a 7.5, which in case some of you weren't aware, is still positive.

On a side note, next week, I am going on vacation to a destination without internet access, so you might see a replacement for Monday, and you might not. I haven't decided yet. And keep an eye out for more timeline guides of comic book characters in the future. The one below wasn't difficult since he has only 1 film.

The Ultimate Daredevil Guide

Well, not quite ultimate, but I'm going with a theme here. Daredevil did have a short stint on the Spider-Man animated series from the 90's, The Incredible Hulk live-action series, and so forth, but I'll get to that when I tackle Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk. Without further ado, this is the Daredevil timeline:

1983 Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends - Daredevil first appeared on television in his civilian identity as Spider-Man's lawyer, Matt Murdock (voiced by Frank Welker), in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "Attack of the Arachnoid. Daredevil appears in a flashback cameo narrated by Stan Lee. While Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends was still being broadcast, Marvel and ABC came to an agreement to broadcast a cartoon series based on Daredevil. Featuring Daredevil and a sidekick seeing eye dog named Lightning the Super-Dog, this series was removed from ABC's schedule before the first episode was to be broadcast.


2003 Daredevil - The original film contained a lot of footage that was cut, and in the end, it greatly affected how critics and fan viewed it. What we are left with is a mediocre film that has a multitude of problems. I never had issues with Ben Affleck's performance, but many did. Writer/Director Mark Steven Johnson had a lot going on in his theatrical version, but it lacked a certain coherency. For those unfamiliar with the comics and this character in particular, many questions arose, but were not answered. Parts were enjoyable, but compared to the glorious comic book adaptations we have been given as of late, this adventure was not worth remembering. Final Rating = 5.5/10.0


2004 Daredevil (Director's Cut) - It took me awhile to actually sit down and watch this because many people told me that a second version would probably not garner much improvement. They were wrong. The Director's Cut version not only adds over 30 minutes of footage, but deleted a hefty amount as well. The result is a longer, articulate, and even profound comic book film. The sub-plot involving Coolio was terrific, and the fact that the love scene with Elektra was snipped impressed me greatly. Whether any detractors would change their opinion, the truth is, the Director's Cut is overall a superior picture. It is one of those rare cases where the term "Director's Cut" actually means significant alterations took place. Final Rating = 8.0/10.0


What does the future hold for Daredevil? Kevin Feige has stated "there are many more stories to be told with old Hornhead and we'd love to tell them someday." Avi Arad said that a sequel will begin development once the rights go from 20th Century Fox to Marvel Studios. Ben Affleck stated that he would never reprise the role, calling it 'humiliating'. Director Mark Steven Johnson showed interest in returning to direct with the Born Again (written by Frank Miller) storyline. Michael Clarke Duncan stated strong interest in returning. Johnson stated that the villain Mr. Fear is a possibility to appear for the sequel. I would bet that a reboot of the franchise is more likely since Affleck would not reprise his role.

Straight to Video Nightmares

Lost Boys: The Tribe







Starring: Tod Hilgenbrink, Autumn Reeser, Angus Sutherland, and Corey Feldman
Directed By: P.J. Pesce
Written By: Hans Rodionoff
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Running Time: 94 minutes
Rated R for strong vampire violence and gore, language, sexuality and some drug use.

Before Joel Schumacher became one of the most hated filmmakers in the world when he helped destroy the first Batman franchise, he was actually making some half decent films. He still does, but his reputation will forever tarnish his legacy. In 1987, he directed The Lost Boys, a film about teenage vampires starring a bunch of 80's stars like Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, and Jason Patric. It was always one of my favorite vampire flicks growing up. I must confess, it Corey Feldman was involved, and it was made during the 80's, I grew up loving it. There, I feel better now.

Anyway, 21 years after that picture was released, Lost Boys: The Tribe has no arrived at the height of the Direct-to-DVD popularity. Surprisingly, it makes more of an effort to connect with the same universe as the original than any other DTV effort to date. The problem is, this sequel has landed at a time when the vampire genre has run out of original ideas. The Tribe is an admirable stab at a follow-up, but ultimately, it does not realize that it is a B-movie.

The story has Chris and Nicole Emerson, allegedly the cousins of Sam and Michael, moving to Luna Bat, California after they have lost their parents in an auto accident (the required death for cinema parents). They have moved into a shoddy shack owned by their Aunt Jillian. Luna Bay is a surfer city, and Chris was a former star of surfing himself. He coincidentally encounters Shane, also a former surf pro, and is invited to a party, which his sister drags him to. Upon arrival, Nicole falls for Shane, and drinks a mysterious liquid from his whiskey flask. It just so happens, that she drank the blood of the head vampire, and Nicole is now halfway along to becoming a full fledge vampire herself. Chris must kill the head vampire before she makes her first kill and fully transforms. Meanwhile, he enlists the aid of local surfboard shaper Edgar Frog.

Yes, Corey Feldman has returned. Well, in truth, Feldman has been an on/off B-movie actor for years, but this film is the first in years where some folks actually noticed. He is the only actor who treats the material for what it really is…a crappy straight to video sequel. He is given all the tasty one-liners, and all the memorable (if you can call them that) scenes. Lines like " A lot of valuable information can be gained by reading comic books" is sure to win over some audiences. Feldman is certainly not the actor he once was, but that's ok. If he put forth the effort, he could be a excellent B-movie star. Corey Haim is in this movie, briefly, but if I divulge specifics it would spoil the plot. Let's just say he was supposed to be in this more, but wouldn't show up to shoots.

Tod Hilgenbrink is a relatively new face, who has been in Epic Movie and American Pie presents Band Camp. His sister is played by Autumn Reeser, a sexy young girl who can be seen in plenty of shows and films like The Girl Next Door. Both portray the roles as if this is a theatrical release. In other words, they are way too serious, hence it is difficult to buy into the substance. There is nothing wrong with them I guess, but compared to the hilarity of Feldman, they look ridiculous. Angus Sutherland, the half-brother of Kiefer from the original, is ok, but tries too hard to be the suave vampire. For his contribution, he is tolerable.

I had trouble counting the references to other films. For instance, Aunt Jillian makes a point at mentioning and displaying a copy of The Goonies. It was probably written in Feldman's contract. Another moment has someone yelling "Stay out of Malibu Lebowski!" I started to wonder if writer Hans Rodionoff just inserted these references to fill gaps of dialogue. Director P.J. Pesce has previously helmed Sniper 3 and From Dusk Till Dawn 3, so it is with great trepidation that he has been promoted to 2's. His camerawork and guidance is very pedestrian and overly hackneyed. Barry Donleavy's cinematography is largely uninspired, and the music is quite irritating with the band Aiden to covering "Cry Little Sister."

Schumacher's Lost Boys at least had some artistic quality to it. That is a facet which Pesce's The Tribe lacks completely. It is not excessively terrible, but it is not good in any way…aside from Feldman of course. Oh yeah, it does have some superb nudity, which is one of my B-movie requirements. Sadly, intriguing violence is missing. The vampire kills contained here are totally lame. The stingy budget is obvious, the absence of imagination is crippling, and the unstable acting is bothersome. This is the sort of sequel that will not hurt the reputation of the original because honestly, who will remember this exists in a month?

Final Rating = 5.0/10.0

The News Bulletin

Even More Box Office Records Set in Gotham
Universal's "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" wasn't able steal the box office crown away from Warner Bros.' juggernaut "The Dark Knight," which pulled off the near-impossible by dropping only 42% in its third weekend to all but cross the $400 million mark in domestic ticket sales. The race was close, however. "Dragon Emperor" grossed $42.4 million domestically from 3,760 screens, while "Dark Knight" grossed $43.8 million from 4,266 theaters for a cume of $394.9 million.

Box observers, along with Universal, had expected "Dragon Emperor" to win the weekend. Film, directed by Rob Cohen, marks the return of the "Mummy" franchise to the bigscreen after a seven-year lapse. "The Mummy" opened to $43.4 million in 1999, while "The Mummy Returns" debuted to a boffo $68.1 million in 2001. "Dragon Emperor," returning Brandon Fraser in the title role and also starring franchise newcomer Jet Li," did bigger business overseas, grossing an estimated $59.5 million from 28 markets.

Domestically, the weekend's other new wide entry was Kevin Costner starrer "Swing Vote." Politically comedy saw a muted opening, grossing an estimated $6.9 million from 2,213 theaters to place No. 6 for the weekend. Film drew older moviegoers, with 65% of the audience over the age of 35. Among holdovers, Sony's R-rated comedy "Step Brothers" came in No. 3 for the weekend behind "Dark Knight" and "Dragon Emperor," respectively. Toplining Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, "Step Brothers" declined 47% in its second sesh to $16.3 million from 3,094 screens for a hearty cume of $63 million in its first 10 days.

Universal's "Mamma Mia" had plenty of reason to dance, declining only 25% in its third weekend to an estimated $13.1 million from 3,062 screens for a cume of $88 million. The Meryl Streep-Amanda Seyfried musical, coming in No. 4 for the frame, is on track to gross upwards of $125 million domestically. New Line and Walden Media's 3-D action-adventure "Journey to the Center of the Earth" remained high on the box office chart, underscoring the value of being able to charge more for 3-D movies. Also starring Brandon Fraser, the family pic declined a slim 29% to an estimated $6.9 million from 2,285 theaters for a cume of $73.1 million and coming. Twentieth Century Fox's "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" wasn't able to rally after its tepid opening the weekend before. Directed by Chris Carter, pic fell off a steep 66% to an estimated $3.4 million from 3,185 runs for a cume of $17 million in its first 10 days. Pic placed No. 9 for the weekend.

It was closer than I expected with the photo finish, but as I predicted correctly, The Dark Knight remains on top because, in the words of Triple H, it is That Damn Good. Meanwhile, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull owns the Japanese box office. The next few weeks should be interesting to watch because depending on how much TDK drops, will shows us if it can challenge more of the all-time top box office positions. Other films in the top 5 performed wonderfully. The Mummy III should be satisfied, Step Brothers is fine at #3, Mamma Mia! is incredibly strong at #4, and unbelievably Journey to the Center of the Earth is at #5 refusing to go away. Swing Vote had a piss poor debut, but that is no shock, and Space Chimps is hanging on at #10. The rest are holdovers like Wall-E which crossed the $200 mill mark. Next weekend is tough. I can't envisions Pineapple Express or Sisterhood 2 making an effort for #1, so my money is on The Dark Knight again with some competition from The Mummy III.






Universal Has Big Guns
Universal has loaded up "2 Guns," picking up the rights to the graphic novel from Boom! Studios. Marc Platt will produce the crime thriller via his Marc Platt Prods. banner along with Boom! co-founders Andrew Cosby and Ross Richie. It's the third time the parties are teaming up. "Guns," written by Steven Grant with art by Mat Santolouco, follows a DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer who are unwittingly investigating each other and who steal mob money for the good guys. They realize later that the mob actually got them to steal $50 million from the CIA.

The project is targeted to be a throwback to classic '80s buddy cop movies in the vein of "Lethal Weapon" and "48 HRS.," but with a modern spin. Uni's Jeffrey Kirsch¬en¬baum will oversee for the studio; Adam Siegel, who brought the project into Marc Platt Prods., will oversee for the company with Jared LeBoff. Cosby and Richie are producing via their Boom Entertainment. At Universal, Platt, the producer behind the studio's hit comic book movie "Wanted," also has set up with Richie and Cosby the Boom! projects "Tag" and "Talent."

This definitely has promise. I usually loathe buddy cop movies, but if they do it with a modern spin, and avoid the routine clichés of that genre, then it could turn out positive. Plus, it is a graphic novel, and they do not disappoint most of the time. I actually enjoyed Wanted. It all weighs on who will write the screenplay. I hope this ends up as cool as the artwork leads us to believe.






Release Date Changes!
The Perfect Game
The Lionsgate sports drama has been delayed indefinitely from its August 8th release.

Rachel Getting Married
The Johnathan Demme-directed comedy starring Anne Hathaway will come out October 3rd. Whether or not it's a limited release remains to be seen.

Crossing Over
The Weinstein ensemble drama starring Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Ashley Judd, and Ray Liotta has found a new release date: October 24th 2008.

Nothing like the Holidays
Previously named "Humboldt Park", the Hispanic-geared holiday drama has moved up from November 26th to the 14th.

Last Chance Harvey
The Overture Films romance-drama starring Dustin Hoffman as a struggling jingle-writer will come out January 23rd 2009.

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail
The seventh Tyler Perry film adaptation, and arguably of his most well-known play, comes out February 20th 2009.

The Jonas Brothers: Burning Up
The Jonas Brothers' Digital 3-D concert-documentary will debut February 27th 2009.

The Janky Promoters
The Dimension Films comedy starring Ice Cube and Mike Epps will come out March 27th 2009.

Julie & Julia
The Columbia Pictures dramedy starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep will come out April 17th 2009.

The Proposal
The Julia Roberts/Ryan Reynolds rom-com has moved up from September 25th 2009 to the now-vacant June 19th. Good luck against Transformers 2.

I have come to the conclusion that I care little about the release date changes of these flicks, and chances are, you will care even less. Damn, sign me up for The Jonas Brothers: Burning Up in 3D. I am so there! Ok, I'm kidding, but we must admit that for a February release, that concert will steal the box office. What a weird turn of events for The Perfect Game? I've seen the trailer, and it looks adequate, but now it has been delayed indefinitely. Notice The Janky Promoters, another comedy for Epps and Ice Cube because they have run out of excuses for Friday sequels. So Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds will be in a romantic comedy together. Please tell me this is a joke. Oops, I better watch what I say. I remember this site has legions of Reynolds followers. Last Chance Harvey sounds like a spin-off film about Jesse from Full House. The only projects that I find remotely good are Crossing Over and Julia & Julia.






The Master Has Returned
iF Magazine reports that legendary genre helmer John Carpenter will direct "Scared Straight" for Nu Image/Millennium Films. The story follows group of juvenile delinquents are trapped inside a prison as part of the "Scared Straight" program when a large-scale riot breaks out, and it is up to inmate Karl Rix to save the kids. Nicolas Cage will play Rix and shooting begins in the Fall. The project was previously set up at New Line Cinema with Rob Cohen attached to direct.

Nicolas Cage teaming up with John Carpenter? This will either be a match made in Heaven, or a huge disaster. I love both Cage and Carpenter, so I'm pulling for the former. The premise has potential, especially with the director of Assault on Precinct 13 at the helm. What worries me is the script, since Rob Cohen initially was attached to the project. Hopefully Carpenter's intellect will mold a better film experience.







A third live-action "Scooby-Doo" movie is going straight to DVD and the Cartoon Network in fall 2009. Direct-to-platform production arm Warner Premiere will begin principal photography on Monday in Vancouver on "Scooby-Doo: The Beginning," a prequel to the two live-action theatrical "Scooby-Doo" pics Warner released in 2002 and 2004 that jointly yielded $458 million in global box office revenue. Brian Levant ("Are We There Yet?") will helm the film, with fraternal writing duo Daniel and Steven Altiere penning the script. Brian Gilbert will produce. Prequel will focus on the original formation of "Scooby-Doo's" mismatched group of teenage and canine mystery solvers as they seek to expose what's really haunting their high school. Pic's Cartoon Network release will coincide with a DVD bow by Warner Home Video.

I have a friend who is a huge Scooby-Doo fan, and the only thing on his mind is when the uncut versions of The New Scooby-Doo Movies will be on DVD. You know, the series that had all the special guest stars. A "best-of" was released, apparently with many images removed. Other than that, he has never discussed the live-action abominations with me. The point of this tangent was, who really gives a flying horse's a$$ if they are making a prequel. If the mainstream releases had Matthew Lillard for Shaggy, imagine the sap who plays him for the Direct-to-DVD movie.

The 20 Second Sermon

Normally I ignore the gossip about sequels directly after one film opens successfully because most of the casting rumors are complete bullshi*, but with The Dark Knight, I can't help it. Angelina Jolie, although sexy in leather, is too old for Catwoman…period. Johnny Depp COULD make an intriguing Riddler, and by examining Captain Jack Sparrow, one can plainly see that Depp could pull it off, but he strikes me as too gritty for the Riddler. Philip Seymour Hoffman, like Depp, can do anything, but please leave the Penguin out of the movies. He is the same as Catwoman in that the best performer can only make the character so convincing in live-action. Here is what I would want to see, but keep in mind, if Christopher Nolan returns as director; he usually knows what the audience wants before they do. Many of the 411 Movie staffers have voiced their opinions, and I agree with Mike Gorman's assessment of Harley Quinn. With Ledger gone, logically Harley would be the best way to make a smooth transition in explaining his absence. It would make sense, and I have the ideal person to play her. Rachel McAdams. Tell me she would not be perfect. I also think that you could briefly introduce Terry McGinnis, possibly as a newborn child. It might not lead to anything, but would be neat. Harvey Dent should/could also conceivably be still alive, and would be a suitable second villain with Quinn. With more than two, you start to flirt with Joel Schumacher territory. If not Harley or Two-Face, then maybe the Riddler would best. Nolan and company could mold that persona the easiest of the remaining foes. But please, no Robin, no Bane, No Mr. Freeze, and No Poison Ivy. I could go on, but you get the picture.

What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?

No DVD Headline this week
The Counterfeiters - The Oscar winning foreign film slipped by me because I wanted to see it prior to the ceremony, but was unable to, so I decided to wait until DVD. It looks superb though.

Nim's Island - This might be semi-enjoyable, but I wish Abigail Breslin chose some more risqué projects. This is also a rare lighthearted turn from Jodie Foster, which will be interesting.

Starship Troopers: Marauder - The obligatory second sequel to the Paul Verheoven film. This has Casper Van Dien returning. I would say this is a definite straight to video nightmare, but I am sure Mr. Kristopowitz will want to review it. A Starship Troopers box set will also be available.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Vol. 3 - I know absolutely nothing of this most recent cartoon series, but love He-Man. I need to rent it at some point.

Star\Trek the Original Series – The Complete Second Season - Gotta dig the original Star Trek show. I enjoy watching this particular series, but not any of the newer ones.

Masters of Science Fiction – The Complete Series - I heard mixed reviews of this show, but I'm still intrigued to see if any hidden gems emanated from it.

WWE: Summerslam – The Complete Anthology - All the Summerslam Pay Per-Views come inside a cooler. That is…weird. Part of me wants all these box sets, but knowing how heavily they edit them bothers me.

Garfield's Funfest - Garfield is by far my favorite comic strip character, but if he is not being voiced by Lorenzo Music, and it is animated, I have trouble caring. Maybe if I have time, I'll rent this.

The Critic's Quickee

Step Brothers - Go back in time for a second. Did one of your teachers in school ever instruct you and a group of your choosing to do report/presentation on anything you wanted, or perhaps a subject very enjoyable? In a sense that is what occurs in Step Brothers for Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, and John C. Reilly. They have been permitted to film what they wish, and basically go crazy. This is not a first this summer. Adam Sandler did the same thing with his buddies on You Don't Mess with the Zohan, and likewise with Mike Myers on The Love Guru. However, Ferrell's mindless fun projects are definitely more entertaining than both Sandler's and Myers' combined. That being said, this is far from a perfect film, or a coherent comedy for that matter. I like Will Ferrell. He is a consistently funny person, he has a jovial presence, and he has fabulous timing. However, not many of his efforts are all that memorable to me with the exception of Old School and probably Anchorman, although I still hate the ending. On a side note, The Landlord is one of the best shorts ever. Lately his comedies run together. Seeing them in the theater is always neat because everyone is laughing out loud. A lot changes during the time the movie transitions from the big screen to DVD though. That eye opening shock style of humor has lost some of its pizzazz so to speak. My guess is the same will happen for Step Brothers. It is filled with hilariously random scenes that viewers will talk about, and the step brother relationship is actually quite accurate, but the storyline doesn't really go anywhere, and it doesn't really mean anything. In addition a lot of moments fall flat and are just dumb. The school bullies clip from the trailer is a fine example. Brennan's character has another brother named Derek played by Adam Scott, and he overplays the role almost double that of the stars, so he was quite irritating. Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins are the parents, and I must say that Steenburgen has not aged at all, and it's kind of bizarre. This is McKay's third feature with Ferrell, and he understands what it takes to make an audience crack up, but sometimes forgets that the jokes need to take a back seat to the plot sooner or later. The first 30 - 45 minutes consists of top-notch material, but it quickly wears thin until you are left with a somewhat unfulfilled aftertaste. Best line from Dale: "You have the voice of an angel. I mean, it's like Fergie meets Jesus." In the end my rating rests at **1/2 stars because this was meant for quick laughs, not long term ones. Final Rating = 6.5/10.0

The X-Files: I Want to Believe - I would like to see this, but The X-Files is a series I am not familiar with…yet. After seeing the DVD released specifically to prepare for this film, it seemed like a lot to tackle just to see this movie. Eventually, I will start from the beginning and see this.

Based on the Trailer…

Newest Trailers

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - This was a great book, the darkest of the set, and this trailer rocks. I'm anxious to see this. The franchise has not decreased in quality, and here's hoping this continues that trend. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

August Releases

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

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

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 Releases

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

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

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

W. - You're lying if you say you're not curious. Josh Brolin looks the part with white hair, but as the younger Dubya, he looks like himself. I will definitely see this because it is Oliver Stone, but I have serious doubts since its being rushed for the election. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

RocknRolla - The new thriller from Guy Ritchie. It can't be as bad as Revolver right? He needs a comeback badly, and I hope this is it. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Saw V - This is just a teaser, but it gets the same point across. I am a fan of the series, so I'll certainly be seeing this one. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

November, TBD, and Beyond Releases

Body of Lies - The new Ridley Scott pic featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. It looks phenomenal, but that should be expected with such brilliant talent. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Yes Man - A new Jim Carrey comedy where he must say yes to everything. Sounds a bit like Liar Liar, but this is the Carrey humor I have missed for years. It looks pretty funny to me. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Stuff to Read

The Best Movies of the Alphabet
411 August Roundtable - This month Owain J. Brimfield takes the reigns and compiled the thoughts of the movie zone staff on the summer releases for August!
The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks - Thanks again to John Meehan for providing my banner here, and for the Alphabet feature.



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