The Big Screen Bulletin 08.18.08: The Return from the South
Posted by Chad Webb on 08.18.2008
The birthday bash with Sean Penn, the box office results, thoughts on Heath Ledger's final film, the "Inglorious Bastards" cast, DC Comics future strategy, new DVD releases, new trailer ratings, and much more!
Last week was the first week in almost 150 issues that I missed. I went on vacation to a place with barely any internet connection. It was rough. I went through 411mania withdrawal. The vacation was in Oak Island, North Carolina, a beach with absolutely nothing to do except sit on the beach. It was relaxing with friends, but could have been better. Anyway, I want to thank Matthew Motiuk for doing such a terrific job as a substitute last week. Also, on a side note, keep an eye out for more comic book character timelines in the future. Here are the first two:
Sean Penn turns 48 - Don't go that far Mr. Penn. It has only been a week since the last Big Screen Bulletin. It's back now, so you can stop with the suicidal gestures. He has two huge films on the horizon: Milk from Gus Van Sant, and the long awaited Tree of Life from Terrence Malick.
Robert De Niro turns 65 - The sausage fest continues, and since De Niro is usually looking tough, this funny caricature will do. The two-time Oscar winner has 2 films out this year: What Just Happened? and Righteous Kill. Past that, he has 4 projects on the way: Everybody's Fine, Edge of Darkness, Street of Dreams, and Frankie Machine.
Edward Norton turns 39 - No no says Ed Norton. Do not click away from this superb news report. And if Bruce Banner says so, it must be true. The two-time Oscar nominated star has Pride and Glory set for this year, followed by Motherless Brooklyn and Leaves of Grass.
Robert Redford turns 72 - I stumbled by this Wii interpretation of Redford and thought it was amusing. It's actually pretty close. He has A Walk in the Woods, of which he serves as producer, and an untitled Jackie Robinson project in the works.
John Stamos turns 45 - I've always described myself as looking like a mix of John Stamos and Jeff Gordon. Cue muffled laughter. That being said, I can't really make fun of him, plus no odd pictures exist besides his mullet phase. He will have acted as roastmaster for the Bob Saget Roast on Comedy Central that should have aired last night, and he might still be on ER, but I don't know, since I don't watch it.
The News Bulletin
The Thunder Dethrones the Knight
DreamWorks and Paramount's big-budget comedy "Tropic Thunder" topped the weekend box office in grossing an estimated $26 million from 3,319 theaters for a five-day opening cume of $37 million. The R-rated comedy skewed older, with a hefty 57% of the aud over the age of 25. Warner Bros.' Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" also was victorious in officially becoming the second highest grossing pic of all time domestically, surpassing the original "Star Wars." For the weekend, "Dark Knight" grossed an estimated $16.8 million from 3,590 runs for a cume of $471.5 million in just 30 days. Warner Bros. took the No. 2 spot with "Dark Knight and the No. 3 spot with George Lucas' animated "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which opened to an estimated $15.5 million from 3,452 runs. Among other new openings, New Regency's R-rated "Mirrors," distributed by 20th Century Fox, took advantage of being the only horror pic in the market, coming in No. 4 and debuting an estimated $11.1 million from 2,664 runs.
Woody Allen pic "Vicky Cristinia Barcelona," bowing on 692 screens and released by MGM/The Weinstein Co., placed No. 10 for the weekend in grossing an estimated $3.7 million for a per screen average of $5,361. Like Allen's other pics, film played strongest on the East Coast. Summit's 3-D toon "Fly Me to the Moon" wasn't able to crack the top 10 in its bow, hampered by holdover 3-D film "Journey to the Center of the Earth." "Fly Me to the Moon" opened to an estimated $2 million from 452 screens, coming in behind "Journey," which grossed an estimated $3.5 million from 1,405 screens for a cume of $88.1 million in its sixth sesh. "Tropic Thunder"--toplining Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black and Tom Cruise--seemed to take a bite out of Sony's R-rated "Pineapple Express," which fell a steep 57% in its second weekend to an estimated $3,255 from 3,072 playdates for a cume of $62.9 million in its first 10 days.
Well, I didn't make any predictions for this week, but I'm pretty sure I would have guessed Tropic Thunder for the top spot, though one would expect Star Wars to give a better showing than #3. The Dark Knight is making more money than I would have dreamed prior to its opening. Besting Titanic will not be an easy task, but you never know. Mirrors did fine debuting at #4. Pineapple Express took a major dip because let's face it, the potheads won't be seeing that one twice in the theaters like fanboys would for TDK. Sisterhood 2 is dropping off the radar fast, and the rest are mostly holdovers, except for Vicki Christina Barcelona cracking the top 10. Next week is a tough bet. Death Race is the strongest contender, but in my estimation, it is no match for Tropic Thunder, which should do well from positive buzz.
How to Sell Ledger's Last Lines
Heath Ledger has helped propel "The Dark Knight" to the top of the boxoffice. His presence might have a less beneficial effect on his next and final film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." For U.S. distributors, the quirky Terry Gilliam film -- centering on parallel worlds, a theater troupe and a devil-dealing 1,000-year-old doctor -- presents a conundrum. On the one hand, it's a chance for the history-making opportunity -- not to mention a marketing coup -- of releasing Ledger's last movie. But it also comes with challenges that lately have followed the stubbornly noncommercial Gilliam. The director has been behind a series of boxoffice flops and hasn't had a hit since "Twelve Monkeys" in 1995. Buyers who might otherwise be willing to shell out for a Ledger film are holding back.
"In this market, unless I have a reason to think a movie like this is going to be a slam dunk I'm not going to take a flyer on it, even with Heath Ledger," one distribution executive said. One specialty exec added few execs at his company had been tracking it. Those familiar with the project said that when it comes to commercial expectations, "Parnassus" is more of a mini-major play than a studio picture. The film, which has sold in many foreign territories, is being handled by Lionsgate, which has been mentioned as a candidate to pick up the film domestically. Financed by Grosvenor Park and produced by Samuel Hadida's Davis Films, "Parnassus" was said to be close to having footage shown and even a deal made several weeks ago, just as the buzz for "Dark Knight" was reaching fever pitch. But as of late last week, many buyers had yet to see footage.
That hadn't stopped them from weighing in to say that the prestige value of distributing a Gilliam-Ledger film might be worthwhile -- but only for a price. Given that the film's budget is somewhat more than $20 million, that could take a while. Recently, another challenging $20 million release, Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York," didn't spur buyers until the sellers finally decided on a more modest offer from Sony Pictures Classics. That could put the late actor in a position of having one of the biggest- grossing movies in Hollywood history out at the same time he's in a movie hunting for a domestic distribution deal.
Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law stepped in to the Ledger role after the actor died in January, with the script tweaked to reflect a shapeshifting element that allowed for other actors to play his role. The trio, who have said that they're donating their fees to Ledger's family, took over, as shooting moved from the U.K. to Vancouver. The prospect of getting involved with three marketable stars makes for a relative bargain for a buyer, who might pay low-seven figures for domestic rights but get an eight-figure level of promotable talent. But even that troika might not be enough. Said one longtime distribution guru: "For all the elements in this film, it is a Terry Gilliam picture, and as much as you want a movie of his to be good, you have to be careful."
The last line of this news bit says it all. You could have as many all-star actors as you can pay, but in the end, this is directed by Terry Gilliam, a man who has had more bad luck in Hollywood than anyone I can think of. His projects either flop or do not get developed at all. Basically distributors are hoping that since The Dark Knight did amazingly at the box office, partially because of Ledger, that his final film will soar due to that popularity. Ledger was only part of the reason for that film's success. The main reason has nothing to do with an actor. People love Batman…period. It was also a sequel to a movie that has aged wonderfully in only a few years. Gilliam's pictures are weird, and the public will see that. Just because Ledger gave one of his best performances does not change the fact that when he was alive, he accepted some strange scripts. And who knows how the script alterations affected the movie as a whole. I will certainly be seeing The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, but many will let is pass by, and probably wait for DVD, if they decide to see it at all.
Shrek the Bastard
Mike Myers will play a small role in Tarantino's WWII drama "Inglorious Bastards" says The QT Archives. In the film, a band of U.S. soldiers facing death by firing squad for their misdeeds are given a chance to redeem themselves by heading into the perilous no-man's lands of Nazi-occupied France on a suicide mission for the Allies. Myers joins a cast that so far includes Brad Pitt, Nastassja Kinski, Simon Pegg, David Krumholtz, B.J. Novak and Eli Roth. Shooting begins October 13th in Germany.
Only Tarantino could have assembled a quirky cast like this. And for once the Brad Pitt casting rumors which arise for nearly all anticipated films, turned out to be truthful. This is exactly the choice Myers needed to make following his Love Guru flop. He should be tackling more serious roles, and not be above the supporting parts. He is a talented actor, and he should be showing it to the world in other genres. Inglorious Bastards should be awesome.
The James Bond Degree in Advertising
James Bond is bringing back some familiar brands in "Quantum of Solace." Sequel to "Casino Royale" will again be backed by Ford Motor Co., Heineken beer, Smirnoff vodka, Omega watches, Virgin Atlantic, Sony Ericsson cell phones and other Sony electronics. These brands all have products placed in the film and each will shell out tens of millions of dollars as a promotional partner of the pic. Sony Pictures, which is distribbing the movie, declined to disclose how much the brands are ponying up, but returning partners spent up to $100 million worldwide on ad efforts around "Casino Royale," industryites estimate. The same is expected this time around.
As was the case then, Daniel Craig, who reprises his role as 007, won't be the sole face to promote the products. Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, who plays feisty 007 ally Camille in the pic, is being used to push Heineken beer and the latest version of Ford's small European car, the Ka. The 22nd film in the franchise will mark the fifth time that the beer company has co-promoted a Bond adventure. "Our long association with James Bond has helped enhance the profile of the Heineken brand across the world," said Stefan Orlowski, group commerce director for Heineken, which used Eva Green in its ads associated with "Casino Royale." Bond will again drive his signature Aston Martin in the pic. Ford brands Volvo and Range Rover and other Ford vehicles also make prominent appearances with characters behind the wheels.
The redesigned version of the Ka will roll out in European dealerships around the Nov. 7 release of the film. A special-edition "Solace"-themed Ka will be sold that features metallic gold paint and exterior graphics. Ford is spending most of its movie tie-in coin in Europe. Sony Ericsson will release a limited edition Titanium Silver C902 Cyber-shot phone, also seen in the film, around the release of the pic. Company's products appeared in the previous two outings. Virgin Atlantic began its relationship with Bond's producers with "Casino Royale," in which the airline's planes were shown and company prexy Richard Branson made a cameo.
The Bond franchise has long been a magnet for marketers looking to associate their wares with a character who favors high-end products. Property has proved so valuable that brands have returned to the films year after year, locking out rivals. Smirnoff vodka made its original appearance in Bond's first outing, 1962's "Dr. No." Sony and the franchise's EON Prods. have opted to limit the number of promo partners to about seven, the same as for "Casino Royale." The 2002 Bond installment "Die Another Day" was packed with some 20 tie-ins — so much so that critics dubbed it "Buy Another Day."
Fewer deals enable the brands to stand out more and keep marketers happy, especially when they're ponying up millions of dollars to tout their association with 007. And studios are only happy to keep partners pleased considering that the dollars they're spending often double a pic's marketing budget and expand the reach of a film's campaign. Brand-backed pushes will include TV, print, radio, online and other advertising to launch in 40 countries. Campaigns start rolling out in October, a month before the pic unspools.
The James Bond franchise has always been one that can flaunt the product placement, but usually deliver a solid film. However, it is not untouchable. When you go overboard, the viewers will notice, and that plan of drawing attention to high-end products can backfire, as with Die Another Day. By limiting this, people will leave saying things like "did you see that cool cell phone?". I remember people could not stop talking about Will Smith's shades in Men in Black. Though gadgets galore infuse Bond flicks, the cars normally shine the brightest. Waiting to see what vehicle he sits in, and how slick it drives, is fun. These companies would be fools to drop out anytime soon. Keep in mind that this is a reboot as well, and well all know how successful these reboots can be. I'd be shelling out millions too. The amount of gain in return will be astounding.
DC's Future Strategy
When it comes to superhero properties, Warner Bros. couldn't be sitting on a more enviable source: DC Comics, home to Batman, Superman and other well-known caped crusaders. But to make its heroes fly at the megaplex, the studio knows it needs to make the right movies. The financial payoff is too big to squander with a creative misfire like "Catwoman." "They can really be an evergreen source of enjoyment and income," says studio topper Alan Horn, referring to the coin a hit pic can collect at the B.O. and from sources like TV, homevid, vidgames and merchandise. The studio earned $1 billion from DC fare alone in 2005, when "Batman Begins" was released. "If you do it wrong, you're dead, you're out of there." Getting out there, however, has taken time.
Warners and DC (both Time Warner entities) have labored in vain over another Superman, and launches for Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Arrow and Green Lantern. It's maddening for fans as rival Marvel Comics has successfully begun financing its own slate of pics, first with "Iron Man," then a reboot of "The Incredible Hulk" this summer. That could soon change, as Warners is readying to revamp how DC's properties are developed -- changes that could be announced within the next month. DC doesn't have a separate film division the way rival Marvel does, which is moving forward with an "Iron Man" sequel and adaptations of Thor, Captain America and the superhero team-up "The Avengers" for 2010 and 2011. That means Warners doesn't have a sole cheerleader for its comicbook projects, or someone to work closely with filmmakers to develop them.
Until now, those duties have been shared by production prexy Jeff Robinov and Gregory Noveck, senior VP of creative affairs for DC Comics, who has served as a liaison between the comicbook publisher and the studio. Some say Robinov's attention may be pulled in too many directions, given his other responsibilities, which include the rest of the studio's slate and marketing. Noveck formerly was Joel Silver's TV topper.
"We're having a lot of internal discussions on it," Horn says. "We haven't committed to any change at DC at this point," adding that both Warners and DC are committed to turning "the properties into viable movie product in an intelligent way so that we introduce them like planes on a runway. They have to be set up the right way and lined up the right way and all take off one at a time and fly safe and fly straight." One high-profile property is "Justice League," which Warner Bros. had hoped would start production before the writers strike. But given that it unites Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Arrow, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, the studio is trying to figure out how such the pic (cast with younger actors) would affect its existing Batman and Superman franchises -- and whether the script respects how the characters play off each other in the DC universe.
To put it simply: the studio doesn't want to piss off the Comic-Con contingent. "We're not off the notion of a Justice League," Robinov says. "There's a massive interest and knowledge in the comicbook industry and it takes time to sort of catch up and understand the characters and the history, where they've intersected with each other and what their worlds are. That's part of the education that we're going through." When it comes to Batman, the future of the franchise is in Christopher Nolan's hands. That's what a successful reboot with "Batman Begins" and breaking records with "The Dark Knight" will do. There's a deal for the director to helm a third pic, but he has yet to decide on whether to tackle it yet. "We have no idea where Chris is going with this," Horn says. "We haven't had any conversations with him about it." Either way, there's no question Warner Bros. will produce more superhero pics. The question is when.
"These are big, iconic characters," Noveck says. "So when you make them into a movie, you'd better be shooting for a pretty high standard. You're not always going to reach it, but you have to be shooting for it. We're going to make a Justice League movie, whether it's now or 10 years from now. But we're not going to do it and Warners is not going to do it until we know it's right."
I must say this sounds like really great news for comic book fanatics. Warners and DC seem to have the attitude that if they launch a pile of films, they want to do them right. I mean, it would help if they had a separate division ala Marvel, but since no drastic changes will be announced anytime soon, they must build another strategy. It seems they have learned from Catwoman, and will craft future pics while trying to avoid similar pitfalls. The first order of business is to kill the George Miller Justice League project for good. A recent article on 411mania said the studio did not want to piss off Nolan. If the world wants him to return to the director's chair, they need to be patient, and persuade him the proper way…by eliminating that doomed film from the slate. As for Superman, they need to wait awhile. I would say the same for Wonder Woman, since casting the lead has been an endless ball of frustration. Unearth more of the minor characters like Martian Manhunter, Flash, or Aquaman. Do not push Superman just because he's Superman. It's too risky, and people tend to prefer heroes with flaws. So, I know fans want more comic book adaptations asap, but if they sit back and wait calmly, the great ones will come.
The 20 Second Sermon
A few random notes this week. I finally got around to reading the Jason vs. Freddy vs. Ash comics. All in all it was entertaining and funny. I liked how the trio came together. However, it would not work on the big screen unless the dialogue was polished significantly. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was delayed, and while the announcement was a shock, the reasoning makes sense considering theaters will be feeling writer's strike backlash in 2009. Disney filled the empty slot with Bolt, as did Twilight. Can I get a "who cares"? Javier Bardem dropped out of Joe Carnahan's Pablo Escobar biopic, and Edgar Ramirez (Bourne Ultimatum) is replacing him. Without the Oscar winner, few will pay as much attention. I predict the studio to market the film as an action drug pic in the vein of Scarface, instead of as a biopic. Punisher: War Zone now has a PG-13 rating instead of R. This adaptation will fail despite the rating.
What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?
No DVD Headline this week The Sarah Connor Chronicles – The Complete First Season - In the Terminator universe, this show blows with all sorts of plot holes, a lame alternate reality, and a measly female terminator. Plus, John is too whiny for my tastes. Forgettable
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Certainly a heartwarming family geared experience, and probably well worth seeing for the splendid Francis McDormand and Amy Adams. I'll give it a whirl.
Street Kings - This was much better than it had a right to be, but David Ayer knows his police corruption. This follow-up to Harsh Times is filthier, grittier, and more violent. Also, Keanu Reeves is wickedly bada$$. Buy it Used
Recount - I'll most likely be blind buying this if it is on sale for a decent price. With the election on the horizon, I am anxious to brush up on some political films. This is one HBO offering I missed.
The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior - The original still marks the only pic I walked out of early, though I did eventually finish it. This is a definite straight to video nightmare. I mean, come on, it stars Randy Couture!
Prom Night - If the original Prom Night is a rather unremarkable slasher fest, the remake is ten times worse. It is an abomination starring Jonathan Schaech as the motiveless killer. I hated it with a fiery passion. Trashable
Twenty-Four Eyes – Criterion Collection - I need to catch up on new Criterion. Luckily my local library gets them in stock quickly. This is a Japanese story set from 1928 to WWII.
An American Crime - For all those who ceased their Ellen Page viewings with Juno, the star has this movie, Smart People, and The Tracey Fragments available now.
Nixon (Extended Director's Cut) - An Oliver Stone "biopic" that still eludes me. It will be viewed promptly. On a side note, for a fictional post-Presidency Nixon story, see Altman's Secret Honor.
The Life Before Her Eyes - Vadin Perelman helmed The House of Sand and Fog, a beautifully directed, but depressing as hell film. I am curious as to how this fares.
The Wizard of Gore - This is a remake of a Herschell Gordon Lewis B-movie horror piece I own. This has Crispin Glover in the lead, so I am certainly renting it, because after all….he is Willard.
The Fletch Collection - For the price, you really can't get a better one-two punch of comedy. Well worth picking up on a rainy day. Buyable
Deal - A poker flick with Burt Reynolds, Shannon Elizabeth, and Jennifer Tilly. Well, at least we can expect plenty of nice cleavage shots right?
Don Quixote - The final film of Orson Welles, and it was never completed until a filler director stepped in. Quixote" is one of the most troubled adaptations in cinematic history.
Quid Pro Quo - I am a fan of Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, so perhaps this previously limited release is worth seeing.
The Critic's Quickee
Pineapple Express - Seeing this film in the theater was interesting. I loved the movie, but had trouble enjoying it fully due to all the potheads who came with friends and couldn't shut the hell up. Other than that, this latest Apatow clan comedy, or rather action-comedy, or stoner action….you get the point. This is just a hilarious film laced with stellar shootouts, brawls, and car chases. It is strange that this was directed by David Gordon Green, the same man who did Snow Angels and the independent gem George Washington. His transition to stoner flicks is triumphant. Though, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's script brings little new to the table in terms of marijuana gags, the result is uproarious nonetheless. The main reason is the chemistry of Rogen and James Franco, who have known each other since the Freaks and Geeks days. The duo plays off each other spectacularly, and the reactions are priceless. Rosie Perez and Gary Cole are fabulous together as well. Rogen has been a workaholic lately, and he needs to start moving away from the pothead role a bit. He has done a great deal of voice work, but hopefully he stretches his range a tad more in the future. The beginning black & white sequences were bizarre, but they eventually made sense. The fight scenes resembled a WWE hardcore match, and the choice of music from Bone Thugs N Harmony and Cypress Hill was outstanding. Thus far, the jokes of Apatow based pile have aged well, and I hope this does as well. I laughed until my sides hurt during this one, and will gladly purchase it on DVD. I realize this is a week old, but I wanted to get my thoughts out there, and play some catch up. Final Rating = 8.0/10.0
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - This was released at a bad time for me. My main concern was seeing the above film before leaving on vacation. If I had more time, I might have tackled this franchise, but as it stands, I do not really care much about it, and I can bet most of my readers don't either.
Movie Dictionary: Word of the Week
Serials - Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials or Film serials, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. Known as "chapter plays," they were extended motion pictures broken into a number of segments called "chapters" or "episodes." Each chapter (a typical serial usually had as many as 15 of them) would be screened at the same theater for one week. The serial would end with a cliffhanger, as the hero and heroine would find themselves in the latest perilous situation from which there could be no escape. The audience would have to return the next week (and pay admission) to find out how the hero and heroine would escape and battle the villain once again. Serials were especially popular with children, and for many youths in the first half of the 20th century, a typical Saturday at the movies included a chapter of at least one serial, along with animated cartoons, newsreels, and two feature films. Most serials were Westerns, since those were the least expensive to film. Besides Westerns, though, there were films covering many genres, including crime fiction, espionage, comic book or comic strip characters, science fiction, and jungle adventures. Although most serials were filmed economically, some were made at significant expense. The "Flash Gordon" serial and its sequels, for instance, were major productions in their times.
Serials were a popular form of movie entertainment dating back to Edison's "What Happened to Mary?" of 1912. There do appear to be older serials, however, such as the 1910 Deutsche Vitaskop 5 episode "Arsene Lupin Contra Sherlock Holmes", based upon the Maurice LeBlanc novel "Arsene Lupin Contre Herlock Sholmes", and a possible but unconfirmed Raffles serial in 1911. Usually filmed with low budgets, serials were action-packed stories that usually involved a hero (or heroes) battling an evil villain and rescuing a damsel in distress. The villain would continually place the hero into inescapable deathtraps and situations, or the heroine would be placed into a deathtrap and the hero would bravely come to her rescue, usually pulling her away from certain death only instants before she met her doom. The hero and heroine would face one trap after another, battling countless thugs and lackeys, before finally defeating the villain.
Many famous clichés of action-adventure movies had their origins in the serials. The popular term cliffhanger was developed as a plot device in film serials (though its origins have been traced by some historians to the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle), and it comes from the many times that the hero or heroine would end up hanging over a cliff, usually as the villain gloated above and waited for them to plummet thousands of feet to their deaths. Other popular clichés included the heroine or hero being tied to a railroad track; being lashed to a log in a sawmill, lying on a conveyor belt and approaching a gigantic whirling sawblade; or being trapped in an abandoned mine shaft, watching as the burning fuse of a nearby bundle of dynamite sparked and sputtered its way towards the deadly explosive. The popular Indiana Jones movies are a well-known, romantic pastiche of the serials' clichéd plot elements and devices.
The silent era was the zenith of the movie serial and serial stars from this period were major stars such as Pearl White, who starred in the quintessential silent serial "The Perils of Pauline" which still ranks among the best known silent films. Ruth Roland, Marin Sais, Ann Little and Helen Holmes were also early leading serial queens. Most of these serials put beautiful young women in jeopardy week after week. The serials starring women were the most popular during the silent period but in the sound era few serials had a female character in the major role. Years after their first release, serials gained new life at "Saturday Matinees," theatrical showings on Saturday mornings aimed directly at children. For that reason, serials are sometimes called "Saturday Matinee Serials," even though they were originally shown with feature films. In the early days of television in the United States, movie serials were often broadcast, one chapter a day. Many are now available on VHS tapes and DVDs for collectors.
Based on the Trailer…
Newest Trailers
Che - Granted, this is in Spanish, which I do not speak fluently, but this trailer looks amazing nevertheless. Soderbergh's epic should be fantastic. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Pride and Glory - A nifty looking cop thriller with Ed Norton and Colin Farrell. Should be ok. And if we're lucky, we will get some commendable work from Jon Voight. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Babylon A.D. - I had almost forgotten about Vin Diesel. I was happy about that. This has the standard trailer music (which I love), but the plot does not win me over just yet. I'll give it a chance. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Traitor - Jeff Daniels in a thriller…with Guy Pearce and Don Cheadle? Sign me up. The story seems average, but the acting will be brilliant. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Wolverine - Not the finest quality of trailers, but you can still seen and understand it. Gavin Hood is directing, so that is intriguing. The preview is ok, and I am still unsure. Can the character carry a whole film on his own? Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
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
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
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
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
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 Punisher will fail BECAUSE of the PG-13 rating. The Punisher should be struggling to not have an NC-17 rating to get the feel of the comic book.
Posted By: Joel Yeomans (Registered) on August 18, 2008 at 01:26 AM
The punisher will fail because this new incarnation looks horrible, not because of a PG-13 rating. They should have waited to get Thomas Jane back.
Posted By: Toddo (Guest) on August 18, 2008 at 10:47 AM
The Punisher is going be a very hard R. Where'd you get the PG-13 thing from?
Posted By: EricG (Guest) on August 18, 2008 at 04:47 PM
.According to The Omniverse Almanac, Johnny Depp is actually one of the few very cool people inhabiting this planet, along with Steven Splielberg, Riccardo Mariti, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake, Angelina Jolie, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, Bill Gates, Stephen Hawkings, Laurence Dale, the Dalai Lama...
Posted By: Almanac (Guest) on August 18, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Was that mother f-ing GAMBIT that I saw in the Wolverine trailer or am I crazy? If it is, I am THERE!
Posted By: monty (Guest) on August 18, 2008 at 07:40 PM
"Quarantine - I suppose this wants to be the Cloverfield of "infected" movies. I say this will suck big time."
Actually, it wants to be the American [REC]. It's a remake of a film that didn't suck and came out before Cloverfield did. Look online for [REC] and you'll find a few sites showing the entire thing. Much better than Cloverfield.
Posted By: JJChandler (Registered) on August 18, 2008 at 11:32 PM
