Just a couple of pieces of news...some music to check out...

Hey guys! Here is some news that you all should be aware of...

-Ian McKellen WILL return as Gandolf in the upcoming Hobbit film...
-Jonah Hill is in talks to costar along side Shia LeBouf in Transformers 2...
-SAG has not struck a deal after roughly the first two weeks of talks...this, while early, does not look good...
-Look out for Mission Impossible 4 in the next couple of years...Tom Cruise's publicist has said that once the script is greenlight, it will be made...
-The next Coen Brother's film, Burn After Reading, will close the Venice Film Festival this year...


Other than that, there really is nothing new. Now, I really do love movies. It's my single most important passion. However, music comes in at second. So, I am slowly trying to do more posts that mix film and music, while still doing just straight film posts. I want to use this blog to highlight smaller films that I think everyone should know about, just like I want to highlight smaller bands or artists that I really like and think you should too. So, here's an example.



Kid Sister. This chica has popped due to the mad buzz behind this single featuring Kanye West. It was created by Kanye's friend and dj/producer A-Trak. It's a really sick song, and while I know some of you may have heard of her, most people that I have talked to haven't, and that is just a damn shame. So check this song out, and post a comment!

As always, GO SEE SOMETHING GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Top 20 films of the decade so far (2000-2008)...

Alright, so here is the thing. This may be the most pretentious top 10 I have ever done, as well as the most difficult...so I am just going to say, I know I WILL forget some really great movies...so here is my list...

20. Brokeback Mountain
19. The Pianist
18. Cache
17. Hustle And Flow
16. Maria Full Of Grace
15. Punch Drunk Love
14. United 93
13. Children Of Men
12. No Country For Old Men
11. Requiem For A Dream
10. In The Mood For Love
9. Zodiac
8. Kill Bill Vol. 2
7. Brick
6. Memento
5. City of God
4. Triplettes of Belleville
3. Amelie
2. Oldboy
1. There Will Be Blood


Let the verbal assault begin...

The Taking Of Pelham 123 Pics...New Mummy 3 Poster...The Girlfriend Experience...

Hey guys! Here are just a couple of pieces of news on this rather slow day.

- Taking of Pelham 123 has begun shooting. This film stars Denzel Washington, John Travolta, and James Gandolfini. It's a remake of an older film, which I have no knowledge of, so I will have to check that out. These pics could be promising..



- The first poster for the upcoming film, The Mummy: Curse of the Dragon Emporer has just come out...




-Speaking of new posters, the first Sex And The City poster is out now...check it out...Gotta love SJP...only girl I know who can really pull of fishnets...



-Other non poster news...Steven Soderbergh's next film will be about Highschool prostitutes! It will be called The Girlfriend Experience, and will be released in theatres and on DVD the same day as a part of his six film deal with HDNet, which began with the great film, Bubble. Can't wait...

Go see something good!!

Couple of posters...

Hey guys...not much new news, but there are a few big time posters. A Dragonball Z poster, and a new Batman poster...check em out...




What do you guys think??

Weekend Box Office...

Hey guys! Here is the final weekend box office tally


1.Baby Mama
2.Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
3.The Forbidden Kingdom
4.Forgetting Sarah Marshall
5.Nim's Island
6.Prom Night
7.21
8.88 Minutes
9.Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
11.Street Kings

Baby Mama pulls in 18.3 Million…over Harold and Kumar…really interesting…21 is still on there…more on that in a wee bit.

Here are the major releases that will be hitting your local multiplex this Friday, May 2nd.

- Made of Honor….Patrick Dempsey romantic comedy…moving on


~PICK OF THE WEEK!!!~

-Iron Man-
Now, if you have no idea what this is about, then get from under your rock, sit in front of the TV and check out any tv channel during a commercial break. You WILL see this movie. EVERYONE will see this film. So I won’t say much, but you can expect a review of it this coming Wednesday.

Also, Son Of Rambow, Redbelt, and Mister Lonely all get released this Friday in limited theatres, so if you hear that these films are around you, check them out for sure. I will be posting each of those films respective trailers later.

Finally, here are the notable DVD releases that will be released this Tuesday…

-Golden Compass…Special Effects film from American Pie director Paul Weiss…rentable if you have kids…

-27 Dresses…You know what, rent this movie. If you guys have a significant other, you will enjoy this movie, because you know what, your woman will like it, probably a lot, so she’ll be happy, and happy girlfreinds are what we all strive for! But no, this movie is a solid, studio romantic comedy. Not great, not horrible, just middle ground work.

-How She Move…moving on


~DVD PICK OF THE WEEK~

-Diving Bell And The Butterfly-
Now, all I know is that this film won a ton of awards for best foreign film, and people are saying it’s life changing. Also, it’s from Basquiat director Julian Schnabel, so please check this out. It’s a major miss from last year for me, so I am really excited to check this one out.

Okay, so I have had a long week. Finals, moving out, and moving back in. So, if you couldn’t guess, productivity for this blog is taking a hit. I will be scontinuing to post here, as much as I can. I am working from 6 to 3 in the afternoon, so I won’t be posting until the late afternoon. I will continue to bring you all the same stuff, just either in longer posts, or through a scheduled thing. Like maybe specific topics for each day. I have seen 21, so you can expect a review of that tomorrow, and an Iron Man review, albeit a really tiny, egg shell walking version on Wednesday. Other than that, I have no idea. So, go see something good!!!!

Just a few bits of news...

Hey guys, sorry for the late post. Here are just a very few pieces of news...

-J.J. Abrams will produce the high school-kid-looking-to-bone-teacher film, Hot For Teacher...not much else has come out from this film...
-Eli Roth is set to direct his first foray into high budget films with his first sci fi destruction film set for a 2009 release...
-Ewan McGregor is in talks to be in the film based on Dan Brown's Angels and Demons...
-Jimmy Fallon is in talks to take over for Conan O'Brien on the Tonight Show...
-Finally, it is now official, Guillermo Del Toro will be directing the Hobbit AND IT'S SEQUEL...horray...


Go see something good!!!

New Iron Man Stills...

Hey guys...
I have the great pleasure of bringing you guys some new stills from the upcoming Iron Man film, which I will be reviewing next weekend (maybe Wednesday if I can talk myself into doing it)...so here they are! Nothing really new, but if you know me then you know that I am MORBIDLY excited for this film. So any new news is great news to me, especially when it's this bad ass...

Newest Dark Knight poster...

I don't know, can a person get more excited about this film? I truly think that this will be a rare sight. This film is looking more and more every day like it's going to be one of the best films of the year. And this poster only enhances that. Best poster yet...what do you think?

Mummy news...

Hey guys, here are a couple of bigger pieces of news for this thursday night...

- The Mummy 3 may not be the last in the series. Actually, read this little piece of info posted by MTV...

The franchise has been away from the big-screen for seven years. It’s changed directors. It even replaced its leading lady. And, yet, so confident was newcomer Maria Bello that the Mummy series hooked itself up to the rejuvenation machine - she recently promised MTV that there would be at least three more before all was said and done.

“I’ve got to talk to her. We need to compare notes!” star Brendan Fraser joked, playfully refusing to directly address Bello’s assertion. “I have to go read my agreement. Do I get to come back too?” Well, of course you do, sir, so no fair being coy – the Mummy’s already out of the sarcophagus, so to speak. Let’s take it as a given that there will be more sequels. Given the choice, then, how would you like your next ten years Mr. Fraser? Covered in sand or draped in foliage?

-Microsoft is in the hunt for some employees to "expand the Halo universe". A source confirms that this is indeed a hunt for people to work on Peter Jackson's Halo Project...fanboys rejoice
-There are rumors that the original Terminator himself, AHNOLDDD will appear in the upcoming Terminator 4...
-Finally, Indy 4 will open at The Canne Film Festival...

Alright, so here's the thing. I will be seeing Iron Man at a special screening on Tuesday, three days before the wide release...do you guys want a review of it on Wednesday, or do you want one on Friday. I can have a brief one in my news post for that day, and then a full one on Friday, or just go all out Wednesday night. What do you guys want?


Go see something good!!

New Hancock TV Spot...2008 Box Office Predictions...

Hey guys. I have a final in the afternoon, so here is an early edition of news and notes...
-While watching the pile of shit that is the fan fed American idol (really, you guys are gonna send Carly home?), a new TV spot for the upcoming Will Smith film, Hancock was shown. I personally am starting to get interested in it. I mean, come on, Jason Bateman! Heres the spot


-Guillermo Del Toro has gone on the record as saying he will not do more than three Hellboy films...
-Jim Croce fans rejoice, Bad Bad Leroy Brown is getting optioned as an action comedy...
-Indy 4 will indeed premiere at the upcoming Canne Film Festival, but will not compete...hmmmm...
-Okay, the biggest news so far today is that Entertainment Weekly just released their projected box office numbers...here the are...


1. Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (355.9 million)
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (310.8 million)
3. Hancock (280.4 million)
4. Wall-E (280.3 million)
5. Iron Man (267.7 million)
6. The Dark Knight (255.0 million)
7. Kung Fu Panda (244.6 million)
8. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (176.5 million)
9. The Incredible Hulk (147.2 million)
10. Tropic Thunder (146.6 million)

I personally think that The Dark Knight is not gettting enough love. Although I really don't know where you could put it. I think this is pretty much a perfect list. What do you guys think?

More news later to day, so in the meantime, go see something good!

Igor

Okay, so Igor is a new film from the Weinstein Corp. It stars John Cusack, and here is a synopsis from Cinematical...

Cinematical has just received this creepy (but oddly adorable) exclusive teaser poster for Igor (click on the image to enlarge), an animated film coming to us via The Weinstein Co. this September. Igor features the voice talent of John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Coolidge, Molly Shannon, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall … it gets better … and James Lipton — playing himself! Igor is the story of a mad scientist’s hunchbacked lab assistant whose greatest dream is to win the coveted first place award at the annual Evil Science Fair.

Here is the first poster...


I think it could be good...maybe...I mean, James Lipton!

But it is an animated film, so I guess we will just have to wait and see some stuff...This is pretty much it for news today, so come back tomorow for late night news, and early morning notes. Go see something good!!!

Top 10 Revenge films...

Okay, so heres the deal. Deception is coming out this weekend, and while I don't give a shit about it and know very little about it too, I do believe that somewhere in the plot, revenge will be a big part. So here is my list of the ten greatest revenge films ever put to celuloid...

10. Once Upon A Time In Mexico
9. Count Of Monte Cristo
8. Gladiator
7. La Haine
6. In The Bedroom
5. Mean Creek
4. Once Upon A Time In The West
3. Memento
2. Kill Bill Series
1. Oldboy

Oldboy really has to be my number one with a bullet. That whole vengance triology can be right up there (Sympathy for Mr. Vengance, and Sympathy for Lady Vengance are the other two films), but you have to take the best one, and one of the best films to come out of the past five years. The hallway fight scene is worth the price of a rental all by itself.

Alright, so except a review of a new release some time this weekend, and next weeks top 10 is still up in the air, but I am leaning towards top 10 Westerns...if any of you have a better idea, just leave a comment.

Go see something good!

Kill Bill Anime??

Hey guys. So, I am checking my normal sources for news, and I didn't see much, so I decided to go stumbling. Then, while listening to Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) I came across this brilliant little nugget of cartoon news. Two years agor, Quentin Tarantino told reporters that he was in production for two anime companion pieces to his classic revenge flicks, Kill Bill. There were to be two films, one on the origin of The Bride, and one on Bill. Now, the Bride film has seemed to fallen through to this point, but it looks like the film on Bill is almost set. However, they are waiting to release them. Tarantino has stated that he wants to release an extended Kill Bill DVD called the Whole Bloody Affair. Now, if the anime is as good as it was in the actual film, I will be shelling out a ton of money for this set.

In other news....
-Rocky The Acting Bear, the bear in Semi Pro, killed his trainer yesturday with a vicious bite to the kneck...
-Disney has no plans for The Chronicles of Narnia after the third film...can we say SCORE!?
-Finally, in music news, Flight of the Conchords has a new CD out...granted, a lot of their older songs, songs they did on TV are on it, but some new tracks like Mutha'uckas, is true comedy gold. Go get that as soon as possible.

More news later in the day!

Go see something good!

Random news...

Hey guys, here is your news for this Tuesday the 22nd...

-Looks like a Nazi comedy called Mein Kampf is in the works...here is what Yahoo has to say....

“Mein Kampf,” based on a dark farce by Hungarian playwright George Tabori, is set in a Vienna hostel before World War One. In the play, an insecure Hitler is befriended by an elderly Jew who gives him his infamous hair style and toothbrush mustache.

Tom Schilling (”Elementary Particles”) will star as Hitler, and Goetz Georg as his Jewish friend, Schlomo Herzl. Urs Odermatt will direct the production, which starts shooting in Vienna this week. UFA plans to release the film in Germany next year.


As bad as it sounds, it sounds like it could be a solid black comedy...


-Disney is in talks with the cast of Enchanted in hopes of making a sequel...
-Here is the official plot synopsis for Indiana Jones 4...

The whip-toting, punch-packing, snake-hating, globe-trotting archaeologist with a fedora is back on screen in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” debuting worldwide Thursday, May 22, 2008. This newest adventure begins in the desert Southwest in 1957 – the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) have barely escaped a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents on a remote airfield.

Now, Professor Jones has returned home to Marshall College – only to find things have gone from bad to worse. His close friend and dean of the college (Jim Broadbent) explains that Indy’s recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him. On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who carries both a grudge and a proposition for the adventurous archaeologist: If he’ll help Mutt on a mission with deeply personal stakes, Indy could very well make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history – the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear.

But as Indy and Mutt set out for the most remote corners of Peru – a land of ancient tombs, forgotten explorers and a rumored city of gold – they quickly realize they are not alone in their search. The Soviet agents are also hot on the trail of the Crystal Skull. Chief among them is icy cold, devastatingly beautiful Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), whose elite military unit is scouring the globe for the eerie Crystal Skull, which they believe can help the Soviets dominate the world … if they can unlock its secrets.

Indy and Mutt must find a way to evade the ruthless Soviets, follow an impenetrable trail of mystery, grapple with enemies and friends of questionable motives, and, above all, stop the powerful Crystal Skull from falling into the deadliest of hands.

-Here is the newest poster for the upcoming film, Wanted....


GO SEE SOMETHING GOOD!!

Wonder Woman...Into Hell...Crank 2...

Here are a few more nuggets of news to end the day with...
-Crank 2 is set to begin filming by the end of this month or early next month with most of the original cast along with the addition of Bai Ling and Clifton Collins Jr. The original crew returns as well for this sequel...
-Speaking of Jason Statham, he is set to star in an upcoming film about soccer hooligans called Into Hell. Oh, it will also be about a political assassination...have fun with that you guys...
-Joel Silver has writers currently working on a script that would bring Wonder Woman to the silver screen...
-Frank Miller is in talks to direct a film adaptation of the comic book, Hard Boiled. Now, the thing here is, he was on to write the film, with David Fincher directing. I need to know why that can't happen. Is Benjamin Button taking that long? The film is about an insurance salesman turned cyborg killer. That sounds like a perfect Fincher vehicle right there!
-The new one sheet for the upcoming horror film, the Strangers is out...



That scene in the trailer is the reason I am into this movie at all...
-Looks like Speed Racer is set for a sequel. The Wachowskis are in talks about going into production pretty soon after the one coming out next month is on DVD...


That's about it. If anything huge comes up, you can count on me breaking it here for you. In the meantime, go see something good!!

Hamlet 2 Restricted Trailer...

I don't know much about this film, other than it was bought for the most money out of Sundance, and had the best reviews. Oh, and it looks funnier than shit. Check it out!


Go see something good!

Some big Indy 4 news...

Hey guys! Heres a few blurbs of news for this monday the 21st...

-Seth McFarlane, the voice of some of the characters on Family Guy, will be voicing Johann Kraus in the upcoming Hellboy sequel...
-The first Indy 4 review came out today. Here are some of the noteable blurbs
- "The best of the Indy sequels.”
- “The film has the strongest supporting cast of the sequels.”
- “There are many breakneck set pieces, with a protracted jungle chase being particularly memorable. As well as being evocative of the truck chase from the first movie.”
- “…an ending that any longtime diehard fan of the films could only dream about. Expect a particularly resounding reaction in the theater.”

You can read the whole thing here...
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/04/jonesah_mr_jone.php

God I hope this is all true...
-In BIG superhero news, test screenings of The Incredible Hulk have come out with two things. Mixed thoughts on the film, and the shock of seeing Tony Stark, Iron Man, in the film. Yes, the rumors are true, Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr, does make a cameo appearence in the Incredible Hulk.

Other than that, there really is nothing new, so come back later for more news....

Go see something good!!

Box Office...New Releases...

Hey guys! As usual, here is the weekend box office top 10...

1.The Forbidden Kingdom
2.Forgetting Sarah Marshall
3.Prom Night
4.88 Minutes
5.Nim's Island
6.21
7.Street Kings
8.Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
9.Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
10.Leatherheads

Forbidden Kingdom made roughly 21 million. Prom Night...really guys? You all deserve what is coming to you. Probably a shitty sequel or something...really glad to see Expelled up there...people are getting out to see this little indies...Please, go see Smart People!!!! NOT Forgetting Sarah Marshall....

Alright, so here are the noteable DVD releases for this Tuesday...
-Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Hanks stars as Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson during the Russian Afgahni conflict. Good movie. Not amazing but really solid, especially in the performance of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The guy is amazing and this film really shines when he is on screen.
-Cloverfield
First real big blockbuster of this new year. Is it worth a rental, sure, but just maybe. If you want to see it you really have to find it somewhere on the big screen, or you need the best surround sound money can buy, as the only real redeemable factor is the really phenominal sound design. It's rentable, but just barely.
-One Missed Call
Avoid at all costs.
-The Savages
Another Phillip Seymour Hoffman vehicle, that has just as phenominal of a performance as CWW did. It's a tale of a brother and sister who are coping with the mental loss of their father who is suffering from Altzheimers. Really great movie. Please check this out.
-Starting Out In The Evening
I know little to nothing abou this film other than it allegedly has one of the better set of performances of last year. It's about a graduate student who tries to convince a writer that her thesis could restart his career. Please please check this out. I know I will.

~~DVD OF THE WEEK~~
THE ORPHANAGE
Alright, heres the deal. America sucks at horror. Plain and simple. We pretty much lost the ability to do solid horror films once Saw came out. We had our classic days of Day of The Dead, The Exorcist, The Shining, Halloween, and all of those classic, top teir horror films. However, today America wants gore, and with that, other countries have taken this genre and ran with it. First there were the Italian greats like Mario Bava and Dario Argento who made classic horror flicks like Suspiria (which came out at roughly the same time as say Halloween and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre). The past decade or so saw the Koreans run with it with great flicks like Audition and The Host. But now it's Mexico's turn. The Orphanage is a truly amazing horror film with some really terrifying moments. It's a story of a woman who brings her family to her childhood home, and proceeds to open an orphanage for handicapped children. Her son then begins to talk to his new imaginary freind. This film is one hell of a good time, and I whole heartedly recomend this to anyone who doesn't mind sitting through a foreign film.

Here are the new theatrical releases for this Friday...
-Baby Mama
Skip it...the commercials are everywhere, make your own decision
-Deception
Now here's the thing. You have two real choices for movies this week, and this is the first. This features Ewan Kenobi, oh, McGregor, and Hugh Jackman in a story of a guy who's introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List. This has the makings to be truly horrible, and I think it will be, yet I'm still kind of intrigued. However, there's one film that I think everyone will go see...

~~PICK OF THE WEEK~~
HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY
I've never seen the first one. I probably never will. I'm just getting that out of the way. This film does really look hilarious, especially when Neil Patrick Harris is on screen. However, I'm not a big stoner comedy fan, so this isn't necesarilly a recomendation that I'm going to go by, but everyone else should because I know you all will like it. And hell, I may give it a shot.

Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!!

The Spirit Teaser...

Here is the teaser trailer for the upcoming film, the Spirit





Go see something good!

Prom Night...

Well, here it is. I finally gave in. With all of you saying you wanted me to rip into this movie, I decided to watch it. So thank you guys, thank you for being such great freinds and making me lose roughly two hours of my life. I really appreciate it.

Prom Night is the story of a High School Senior, Donna Keppel (Brittany Snow), who, three years ago, witnessed the brutal killings of her father, mother and younger brother by the hands of one of her teachers. The teacher was arrested, and charged for murder. Now, he pleaded insanity, so instead of facing the death penalty, he simply is placed in isolation. Donna goes to live with her aunt and uncle, and come her Prom night, she seems to be moving on with her life. However, that same night, the teacher escapes from the "high security prison" via vent shaft. Vent shaft. Now, he comes to the Prom, raises Hell, and it's the police's job to hunt the man down. Thats about the extent of the story. Oh, did I mention it's a remake?

Okay, so I don't try to destory movies or just rip them for the hell of it, so, I don't want to praise some stuff. The killer played by Johnathon Schaech was alright. Not amazing, but he was pretty good in a PG-13 horror film. Which actually leads me to a point. I personally don't like PG-13 horror films, I just don't think they work. Now, Halloween worked with no blood or anything, but John Carpenter is a master at what he does, and Nelson McCormick, the director of Prom Night, isn't such a guy, so it really doesn't work

Speaking of things that don't work, this film is filled with things like that. The biggest problem is the script. It's so bogged down in melodrama and it was really laughable at some times. There was no intensity and when it tried to be meaningful it was just simply laughable. The music was horrible, king of like Disturbia where the score didn't work and when the source music came in it was like top 40/Disney radio hits. The performances also just raised the script to a point that it took me out of the film. I didn't care about anything that happened, and the film is basically a cookie cutter thriller film, minus the thrills, and then add the acting skill of the girls from the Hills. I would say it's like watching Soap Opera actors in a film, but that is not giving Soap actors enough credit. This is just a horrible film. Stay the hell away. I think this actually may be the worst film so far this year, which really is saying a lot as this is the same year as Meet The Spartans, but it's definitley up there. I'm really not even going to give this a score. Actually, I will. -10/10. Yes, a negative score. Fuck you Prom Night. No, not Prom Night, fuck you Hollywood.

Wow. I feel like I'm in 28 Days Later. I've got the Rage over here. Now, here is a bit of positive news. The Spirit's new teaser is out now. Check it out here...
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1585694&vid=225572

It's pretty much Sin City 2, but it is from Frank Miller and it does look like a really neat noir, so, I'm in!

Go see something good!!

Couple of posters...Hellboy/The Spirit...DVD Recomendation

Hey guys! Just thought I would drop in and let you all check out a couple of recently released posters for Hellboy 2, and The Spirit, based on Will Eisner's graphic novel. Also, come back in about four hours to check out the teaser trailer for the Spirit...So, here are the posters....






What do you guys think?


Outside of that, there really isn't any news worth noting, so here is a DVD recomendation for you all....

Once is a story of an Irish musician played by real life musician Glen Hansard, who is the lead singer of a small band called the Frames. One day, he meets a girl played by Marketa Irglova, and they begin to play together, and fall in love. Now, I didn't see this one in theatres, but after hearing all of the unanimous praise that it got out of Sundance and once it hit theatres, I had to check it out. It was really worth it. Michael Phillips, critic for the Chicago Tribune called it "possibly the greatest music film of our generation", and well, I think he has something there. This film is truly amazing. I'm not going to say anything else about it, because I went in totally blind, and it made the experience that much better. Please check this out. Here's the Trailer...



Go see something good!!

Some news on G.I. Joe...other notes...

Hey guys! Here are a few big pieces of news from the world of films...

-Alright, so, here are some new pictures from the new G.I. Joe film...







What do you think? I really don't like them, but thats just me...
-The upcoming remake of Friday the 13th will be rated R...
-Ashley Tisdale will be starring in a remake of Teen Witch
-Madea Goes to Jail will be the next film from playwrite Tyler Perry
-Soul Train, the 70's TV Show, will be getting a film incarnation, produced by host Don Cornelius
-Eddie Murphy is set to star in the remake of The Incredible Shrinking Man directed by Brett Ratner...

That's all for now, so check back later for some more breaking news..

Go see something good!!!

Some news...Uwe Boll, you bastard!

Here are a couple of noteworthy pieces of news from this rather slow news day...

-Ridley Scott's next film will be the period drama noir, the Kind One, starring Casey Affleck...can't wait...
-New G.I. Joe picture is out...Scarlett, played by Rachel Nichols, is looking HOT!





-Michael Stahl David says that there will indeed be a Cloverfield 2, although he's not sure if his character will return...
-Thing's may be shaky in the town known as Sin City...Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez are occupied right now, and no talents have allegedly been contacted yet...it's still scheduled to be released next year, but with all the CGI, will we ever see this hotly anticipated sequel?
-Could the Incredible Hulk be no more?
http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/04/15/the-incredible-hulk-no-more/
-Alright, Uwe, this shit has gotten personal
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/04/16/uwe-boll-slams-michael-bayand-gus-van-sant-and-tom-twyker/#more-2137

How many good movies has Gus Van Sant done?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Bastard....

Alright, well, that's all I have for now, come back later for more...

and Go see something good!!!

X-Files name...is Uwe really THAT bad...

Hey guys! Here is some news for this wednesday, the 16th...
-Ed Norton says that the fight between him and Marvel was grossly taken out of context and overblown...
-Starship Troopers 3 is indeed in production, and will be called Star Troopers 3: Marauder...
-The upcoming X Files film finally has a name as well...X-Files:I Want To Believe...and I want to beleive that this will be a good movie...
-Danielle Panabaker has been cast in the female lead for the upcoming remake of Friday the 13th...
-Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain will be costarring in Terence Malik's new film, Tree of Life...
-Owen Wilson is out as the lead for the film adaptation of The Greatest American Hero...
-Entertainment Weekly has jumped on the Ewe-Bol-is-a-douchebag bandwagon, and have named him the worst director in film, and give his 11 films as evidence...

German Fried Movie - 1991 (series of sketches spoofing sitcoms)
Murder in Geneva - 1993 (Political Crime Drama)
The First Semester - 1997 (College Comedy)
Sanctimony - 2000 (American Psycho clone)
Blackwoods - 2002 (Suspense Drama)
Heart of America - 2003 (Guns in Schools drama)
House of the Dead - 2003 (first real US Wide release - video game adaptation)
Alone in the Dark - 2005 (Video Game adaptation)
Bloodrayne - 2005 (Video Game Adaptation)
Bloodrayne 2 Deliverance - 2007 (Video Game Adaptation)
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Seige Tale - 2007 (Video Game Adaptation)


-The official time length for Indiana Jones 4 has been released...the film will be 140 minutes long, roughly 25 minutes longer than any other IJ flick before...


Come back later for more news...

Go see something good!!

Captain America film? Redford's next big project...

Hey guys, here are a few pieces of news for this Tuesday night...
-Zak Penn has indeed been working on a script for a possible Captain America film...he also has an Avenger's flick in the works...
-Robert Redford is set to direct an upcoming biopic of Jackie Robinson...
-The upcoming horror film, Midnight Meat Train, will indeed be getting a theatrical release...
-DreamWorks has aquired the rights to do a new Ghost In The Shell film...and are planning to do a LIVE ACTION 3D MOVIE...
-Pixar...probably the BEST people working in animation today, are allegedly looking into renting the Pompeii ruins for an upcoming project. The question remains...what is the project? Brad Bird's next film will be the long awaited 1906, a story about the San Francisco Earthquake, which the book they are basing it on has no mention of Pompeii. This could get interesting...

Come back tomorow for more news and reviews...

Top 15 Animated Films...

So, thanks to Anna Lisa for this list. I was going to wait to do this until friday, but with the weekend and all, I figured I would get more response with this....I also realized that I haven't seen many good Foreign animated films, so instead of making a top 10 for American and a seperate one for foreign, I just decided to do a top 15 instead. So here is the list...


15. Pinocchio
14. Waking Life/A Scanner Darkly
13. Antz
12. Beauty And The Beast
11. Spirited Away
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas
9. Fantasia
8. The Lion King
7. Watership Down
6. Toy Story 2
5. Yellow Submarnie
4. The Iron Giant
3. Aladdin
2. Grave of The Fireflies
1. Triplets of Belleville


Triplets is far and away my favorite...what about you guys?

Some news...

Hey guys, here a few nuggets of news that you all should know about...

-450 jobs have been cut at New Line Studios...
-Blockbuster has made a bid to buy out Circuit City...
-Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are going to reunite in a non Rush Hour film...
-Star Trek 11's release date has now been pushed back to summer '09. The studio wants it to be a summer Blockbuster...
-Finally, the new Hulk poster is out...check it out!




Go see something good!!

Tears of The Black Tiger...

Forget Blockbuster. I walk in a couple of weeks ago, and see that their prices are something like 2.50 per movie for five days, just for an older release. Now, I say forget that, buy four movies, and walk out. I decide that I should just make a new account at Family Video, up here in Allendale. Now, this was a few months ago, yet, I still go back every time I need my DVD fix. Today was a perfect example why. I look around after returning High Fidelity and Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and find that I have a great selection to choose from. I pick up four movies...Bubble, Breaking and Entering, The Tripletts of Belleville, and the film I will be reviewing now, Tears of The Black Tiger, all for 2$. What a great set, and I will be reviewing them all for the blog. So, lets get started.

Tears of The Black Tiger is a Thai Western, and is a story about a group of outlaws who are ruining a region in the outskirts of a local area. Amoung them, Dum, promised an old fling, that no matter the difference in their class, they will one day become married. He becomes involved in a fist fight, and loses his chance. However, he will not stop, and this is the story of him, The Black Tiger, and his attempt at regaining his lost love.

Now, the first thing that I need to say, is that this film was suprisingly really good. I was really hesitant about picking this up at first. The cover didn't really make the film seem appealing and it took me a couple of times to actually pick it up. However, I should have done it faster. This film is so over the top. The performances are hilarious, yet they work for the film. They are over the top and really bring a sense of humor and sometimes raise the stakes too. It's almost like Telemundo Telenovela kind of acting and it's so colorful and fun to watch. The best example of this is the first meeting between the two ex-lovers after years of seperation, and when Dum leaves, he goes next to a wall, the music picks up, and he punches a wall only to turn his head and stomp off. It really is quite comical. This is one film you watch with the dubbing ON.

Speaking of colorful, this films pallet may be one of the most stunning I have seen in a long long time. It has really bright blues and pinks, and everything just pops off of the screen. There is melodramatic jump cuts, extreme emotional closeups, and classic western style shots. It's almost like Kung Fu Hustle, meets Once Upon the Time In The West. Some of the shots are also just really stunning. In the opening fight scene for example. It cuts between the women walking in a garden, and the gun fight, only to stop and point out an impossible shot the main character makes. It's so obvious that it even says that they will replay it for you, and then they follow the bullet. It really is something to behold. The score is also really well done. Now, the over the top acting and story, color scheme, and score are all really great, but I do have a few problems.

There are just a couple of negatives to point out. First, the second act lags a little bit. I personally didn't care a ton about the romance, but the style is so amazing that it still kept me in. The only other problem was that the whole thing gets to be a little tedious. Like, this should have been cut about 15 minutes. However, I had no problem sitting through it, and neither will you. Please do yourself a favor and check out this little gem of a flick. You'll have a blast. This should be at most local video rental stores, and if you have a choice, don't go to Blockbuster. Forget Blockbuster.





Okay, so, expect some more news, and maybe a review of The Triplets of Belleville or Bubble tomorow.

Go see something good!!

Top 10 Up and Coming Directors...

So, I was thinking of a good top 10 to do, and I thought of this one. What are the top 10 directors that have made three theatrical, feature lenght films or less, and you always want to know what they are doing next? Well, after a long time making this list, here are my top 10...remember, three feature length, theatrically released films or less...no shorts count...

10. Bennet Miller (Capote)
9. Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone)
8. Todd Field (In The Bedroom, Little Children)
7. Sophia Copolla (Virgin Suicides, Lost In Translation, Marie Antoinette)
6. Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow, Black Snake Moan
5. Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know)
4. Silvain Chomet (Tripletts of Belleville)
3. Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem For A Dream, The Fountain)
2. Shane Caruth (Primer)
1. Rian Johnson (Brick)

Let the discussion begin...

Couple of pieces of news...

Here are a few pieces of news for today...

-Shia LeBouf has signed on to be the star of the upcoming film adaptation of Dark Fields, a novel written by Alan Glynn in 2002
-Scott Adkins has joined the cast of Wolverine
-Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, MCA, is going to bring us all his new documentary, Gunnin for That Number 1 Spot, a film about highschool basketball players and their lives...
-Rocky has been crowned the greatest sports film ever by Lovefilm.com...Is this a good choice?
-Zach Snyder is set to helm the upcoming adaptation of Kathryn Lasky's childern book, The Guardian.
-Finally, there is a trailer for the upcoming anime prequel to the Dark Knight, Batman: Gotham Knight...here it is...



Looks pretty awesome I must say....

Go see something good!

Weekend Box Office...New Releases...Upcoming reviews...

Hey guys...here is the final estimated weekend Box office ranking...
1.Prom Night
2.Street Kings
3.21
4.Nim's Island
5.Leatherheads
6.Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
7.Smart People
8.The Ruins
9.Superhero Movie
10.Drillbit Taylor

Prom Night gained 22.7 Million Dollars this weekend...If you have to see one, check out Smart People. That and Leatherheads are the two best wide released films out right now, so check those out...really, Prom Night? Come on guys!

Here are the noteable DVD releases for this upcoming Tuesday...
-Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem...Sequel to Alien Vs. Predator...moving on...
-In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Seige Tale...Jason Statham in a 300/Lord Of The Rings style film...no thank you...
-Juno...Beloved (by everyone but your's truly) little comedy...rent worthy...

~~DVD OF THE WEEK~~

I actually have two this week...
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
New film starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke from director Sidney Lumet. This was just outside of my top ten from last year and is a really good film. I really recomend this for any heist film buff...
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL...
Quirck filled comedy about a guy, Lars (played by the always good Ryan Gosling) who buys a sex doll online and falls in love with it. If it sounds like a stupid premise, then you just have to see this for yourself. This film is filled with so much heart and it's really a solid little indie comedy. It also was right outside of my top 10, and expect an old review of it on Monday. Check these two out, and go ahead and check Juno out too, only after you've seen Smart People.

Here are the new releases for theatres for this Friday...

-88 Minutes...New Thriller starring Al Pacino who is on the hunt of a man who says he will kill him in 88 Minutes...pass
-Forgetting Sarah Marshall...new comedy from Team Apatow who brought us such gems as Walk Hard...pass on that shit too...
-The Forbidden Kingdom...Kung Fu flick starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan...looks a little interesting...this will probably be the film I will review this weekend...check it out!
-Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?...This is the newest film from Morgan Spurlock who brought us Supersize Me. Now, this seems like it can be interesting, however, don't expect a wide release for a couple of weeks. If it comes near you, check it out though...

Speaking of a limited release...

~~New Release of The Week~~
THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES

This is the new film from acclaimed director Vadim Perelman who is best known for bringing us the amazing and really heart breaking House of Sand and Fog, a personal fave of mine. Now, if this comes near you, please check it out. This is a great director who brings us solid films, and his next movie is going to be the adaptation of Atlas Shrugged, so, let's support the guy. However, your best wide release bet is either Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which I hear IS actually funny, or The Forbidden Kingdom...

Okay, so expect a review of a new release sometime this weekend, although I still don't know what one...how about you guys pick again...what would you like me to review...
A)Street Kings
B)88 Minutes
C)Forgetting Sarah Marshall
D)The Forbidden Kingdom
E)Prom Night

Also, I will have an old review of mine of Lars And The Real Girl, another music recomendation, and maybe of Brick/Blood Simple/Hard Candy/or Fargo...so, in the meantime

Go see something good!!

Who's shittier...

Okay, so I was scouring the internet for funny stories/movie news, and this came up...
http://kotaku.com/378137/michael-bay-responds-to-fucking-retard-remark

Three shitty directors tossing daggers at each other...whats better? So, here is the question, who is the shittiest of them all...

A)Michael Bay
B)Uwe Boll
C)Eli Roth

Also, Darren Aronofsky (one of the BEST directors working today), is set to create a psychological thriller called Riverview Towers for the freat tv channel AMC. Now, they have created two really good series, Mad Money and Breaking Bad, so this is looking like it will be great.

Go see something good, like Smart People.

Smart People...

It's a rainy Saturday night here in Michigan. So, in the mess of weather that we call "Lake Effect", I decided that it would be fun to go out with my girl and check out Smart People, because what does one want to do other than hang out with a bunch of self loathing, quircky, rich people for an hour and a half. Now, I know that sounds like a ton of fun, but was it really worth it all?

Smart People is the story of a widower profesor, Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid), and his life. He has a teen daughter (played by the great Ellen Page), and they live in suburban Pittsburgh. He teaches at Carnage Melon, and is quite the arrogant, self obsessed teacher. His daughter is also very self obsorbed. She is a 4.0 student whose major goal in life is to get a perfect SAT score. However, this seemingly perfect little life is shaken up one day when Lawrence's adopted brother, Chuck (Thomas Hayden Church), comes and asks to stay. Now, Lawrence had an accident which forced him to be unable to drive, so, even though he doesn't want to, he says yes, and allows him to stay. So, he comes in and there lives change dramatically. Lawrence begins to fall for his doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Chuck teaches his neice a little about living life.

Visually, this film is pretty basic fair. It's in the same style as say a Margot at The Wedding, with the drab pallet and pretty high contrast in the lights and darks. No bright colors, no flashy camera tricks (sometimes it seems like the editing goes a little overboard) but it works for the usually dark and rainy climate of the city. Most people will compare this to Juno (more on that comparison later), but to me it's main influences are Sideways and the afformentioned Margot. It's not as glib as Juno, which is definitley a good thing, and the character's still are quircky, but are more fleshed out. Their are quircky things, like the doctor bringing a cake with antidepresants on it to Christmas dinner, but those are few and far between. Also, the performances in this film are really top notch. Thomas Hayden Church gives what I am calling now the funniest performance all year. He is just real comic perfection and proves again that he is gold everytime. Ellen Page is also sold again. This is definitley an indie film and Ellen's character can be seen as a Juno-esque character, as she does say some very glib one liners, and it is very similar, like if Juno had been raised by a Republican, but that's really where the comparisons stop. This film is much better than Juno. I mean, where that film felt indie for indies sake, Smart People had fully fleshed out characters. Sure, people are not going to want to spend time with them at the begining, hell, I wanted to leave, but if you stay, you will laugh a ton and watch people change for the better and grow. However, there are a couple of problems.

In the begining, you probably will not like this flick. You have to warm up to it. The first act is really bad, as is the case with a bunch of indie films lately. It's just setting you up as to what these characters are like, and some stuff is just really heavy handed. Like how the main character can't ride in the passenger seat because he will become sick, or how he just parks anywhere and any way. This just felt really heavy handed and pretty pointless. Open the film in his class and show us that way how he is self obsorbed, and it would have worked better. Also, the romance this film rides on really has no chemistry. The scenes between SJP and Quaid are sometimes really unwatchable and just kind of pretentious in the same way the begining of Juno was. There is just something wrong in Quaid's performance. He plays an arrogant writer well, but sometimes it seems to just hit a wrong note, as does Parker's doctor. There just seems to be little chemistry between the two whose romance this film rides on. Sometimes it's really great, but others it's just rough. Nothing huge, just be warned, not everything will work. However, these few moments are saved by the exchanges between Page's conservative no it all, and Church's pot smoking mooch. This film is in my top 5 of this year, and probably is number 4 right now, so I totally and wholeheartedly recomend this film. If you can get past the first ten minutes of the film, you will really enjoy this film. Go out and check it out! Probably a 8/10


Go see something good!!

Couple pieces of news...new Iron Man scene...

Hey guys!! I'm glad to say that there are indeed a few new pieces of news to let you all know about...

-There is a new scene from the upcoming May 9th release, Iron Man...check it out here...



-Gisele Budchen has been sent the script for the upcoming Austin Powers 4 film, and is said to be interested in the female lead role...
-Two new photos have been released for the upcoming adaptation of Will Eisner's famous comic, The Spirit. It is directed by Frank Miller, and here are the two photos. One is of Samuel L. Jackson's character, Mr. Octopus, and the other is of Scarlett Johansson as Silken Floss.





-And finally, Atlas Shrugged will indeed begin filming later this fall...can't wait for that...

Go see something good!!

Lelo's new flick...The Kills...

Hey guys!! Well, today, as has been the rest of this week, has been a really slow news day, so, here is the main piece of news that has come out today...

Lindsay Lohan. She has decided to star in a small, low budget flick for 75k, and she will also have a nude scene in the film...here is what MSN says...

Lindsay Lohan has offered to bare all on screen for just $75,000.

The troubled actress is reportedly set to play a sex-hungry waitress in upcoming low-budget film ‘Florence’.Producers were happy for Lindsay to appear topless but she was keen to go naked to prove herself as a mature actress. A source said: “She just wants to remind people that she can act and she’s worth hiring.

She said it would be no problem to appear nude."

Now, here's the question I pose to you guys...is Lelo a...

A)Good actress
B)Mediocre actress
C)Bad Actress
D)Depends on the role
E)Douchebag

And, in the honor of the horrible weather we have here in the great state of Michigan, here is a music recomendation for all of you to lighten up your day...



It's a video from the really cool little band The Kills, and I hope you guys enjoy.

If more news comes up, I'll have it here. Also, I'll have a review of Smart People tomorow afternoon, but in the meantime, go see something good!

Some news...

Hey guys! Now, here are just a few pieces of news that I think you all should know about...

- Rose McGowan is still slated to star in an updated version of Barbarella...Score one for the good guys...
- Edward Norton is allegedly fighting with his studio over the quality of The Incredible Hulk. He says if he doesn't like the finished film, he wont do publicity for it.
- Some scenes of Heath Ledger as the Joker in the Dark Knight have been allegedly placed on the chopping block. Sources say they play disturbingly similar to the actors untimely death early this year...
- In Prince of Persia news, Jake Gyllenhal has been set as the main character, and not Orlando Bloom...
- Ben Hur is set to become a TV miniseries...
- The new Street Fighter film has a new website up...
http://www.streetfightermovie.net/

- Finally, the teaser trailer for the American remake of the spanish film REC. has come out...it's called Quarantine, and is pretty much Cloverfield minus a monster...It comes from the director of the upcoming pile of shit the Poughkeppsie Tapes...



So, there's a lot of great DVD's out now, so go see something good!

The Visitor...

Hey guys! Now, I don't really know anything about this film other than it is released today, and it is from the director of a great little indie flick called the Station Agent, and is from the producers of Sideways. It's about a profesor who goes back to his home only to find out that two illegal immigrants have been living there. All I know is that it looks really really good, and I hope it comes to a theatre around here, and if you have a chance go check it out...here's the trailer...





Go see something good!

A few pieces of news...

Hey guys. Here are a few pieces of news that all of you should know about...

-In W casting news...Rob Corddry has landed a role as press secretary Ari Fleisher.

-There have been reports that the upcoming remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still is not all that great. Rumor has it that when the script was sent to the director, he threw it against the wall and stormed out...also, Klatu Beraddu Nictu is not uttered once during the entire film...blasphemus...

-Finally, there is a new Indy 4 poster out...

More news as the day goes on...

Go see something good!

A music recomendation to make the day go by...other news...

Hey guys!! Now, I don't normally do this, but I just need to share this great artist with you all. His name is Lightspeed Champion and this troubadour is hopefully going to bust out with his soon to be released album, Falling Off The Lavender Bridge. Here is a video for his first single, For What It's Worth....




What do you guys think???


Also, just in brief film news, it appears as though Midnight Meat Train will be going straight to DVD...is anyone suprised???

Go see something good!!!

10 New Disney Films...

So, Disney has just sent out a statement discussing their upcoming films, all the way into 2012. Thanks to Yahoo! for this pretty big piece of news. For all you Toy Story fans and Cars fans (are there any of you out there?), you will especially enjoy this.


"The Walt Disney Studios previewed 10 animated movies on Monday that it will release during the next four years, including further installments in the “Toy Story” and “Cars” series and two new fairy tales. With the exception of “Wall.E,” a robot love story opening on June 28, and “The Princess and the Frog,” a hand-drawn animated fairy tale set in New Orleans and due to open Christmas 2009, the remaining eight movies will be made in digital 3-D.

The first Disney digital 3-D movie for release is “Bolt,” the story of a dog of the same name who thinks he has superhero powers. John Travolta gives voice to Bolt while hit teen singer/actress Miley Cyrus is voicing Bolt’s owner Penny in the movie, due to open on November 26.

“Up,” the story of an unlikely 78-year-old adventurer and his 8-year-old sidekick, is due to be released on May 29, 2009.

“Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2″ are due to be re-released in digital 3-D on October 2, 2009 and February 12, 2010 respectively, while “Toy Story 3″ is due to hit screens on June 18, 2010.

The classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Rapunzel,” about a girl trapped in a tower whose long golden hair is the only way for anyone to climb up to her, will be released at Christmas 2010.

Next comes “Newt,” a story of the last two blue-footed newts on the planet that aims to show that love is not a science, which is due to hit screens in summer 2011.

“The Bear and the Bow” — an action-adventure about a royal family in rugged and mythic Scotland — is slated to open Christmas 2011 starring the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson.

“Cars 2,” in which Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater bid to take on the world’s fastest cars, is due for release in summer 2012.
“King of Elves,” based on a 1953 short story by Phillip K. Dick, will hit screens at Christmas 2012. "



Go see something good!

DVD Pick of The Week...

So, I was just hanging out, and then my girlfreind said that she was back from the mall. Now, she got me There Will Be Blood with some money I gave her, and she also got me the Coen Brother's gift set for my birthday, and it came today. So, in honor of that, I think I am going to start giving weekly, maybe on Wednesdays, a weekly DVD pick. Today's DVD pick is Blood Simple. This is probably the two's masterpiece (although Fargo may have something to say about that), and I recomend that everyone go out and rent, no BUY this film. It's one of the best modern film-noirs, if not the best, and it's in your best interest to go check this out now.





Go see There Will Be Blood too...it's bloody brilliant...

Teaser news...

Ice Age 3 Teaser Trailer...

A little bit of news...

Okay, today so far has been a slow day, but here is a few of the bigger stories from today...

-In "W" cast news, Tony Blair will be played by Ioan Gruffud, who is probably best known as Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four...another great bit of casting...I probably should stop talking about this as now it's just overhyped...

-"Milk" is allegedly near the end of it's filming, and if I have to say so, this may be one of the bigger films come Oscar time...

-Speaking of Oscar talk, looks like Valkyrie will have to wait until 2009...it's offically been delayed to Feburary 13th, 2009...

-Robosapien fans stand up and cheer, your little robotic freind is set to get it's very own film...That's about it for right now, so, check back later tonight for more news and notes if anything comes up...

Go see something good!

There Will Be Blood...

This film is loosely based on an Upton Sinclair novel called "Oil!" So right there you know what it is going to be about. It is the story of an oil tycoon named Daniel Plainview (played by Daniel Day-Lewis, more on him later), who discovers that their is an "ocean of oil" below the are that he is in. As the story grows, so does his capitalistic insanity, and want for more money and oil. Along the way he meets a young pastor (played great by Paul Dano, coming off his good role in Little Miss Sunshine) who does not see eye to eye with the tycoon and fears for not only his family, but his church. That is all I want to say about the plot, because I went in pretty much blind about the entire film, and it really really helped me get into it.

This film is absolutely stunning. It begins with this almost silent (minus some grunting) film and really gets you into the man and myth that is Daniel Plainveiw. It's almost like a D.W. Grifith film. We are watching this man become fused into this capitalistic world. And then when he says "I am an oil man", I just got kinda excited. And what I thought would end up happening didn't. He (Paul Thomas Anderson) doesn't go into the Hollywood, thriller mode. He keeps it grounded in reality and makes a perfect choice. Also, with that "I am an oil man" statement, which we hear multiple times, we don't get to see who he is talking to, or the group that he is talking to for a while into each speach. And you know what, it doesn't matter. To Daniel Plainview, each town is the same. Each person is the same. This is a great little character discussion.

This is an absolutely gorgeous film with one monster performance. Daniel Day-Lewis gives what I am calling right now the strongest and heaviest performance of this century so far. He is a tour de force on that silver screen. And, it's not only a big performance, but everyone knows a person just like Daniel Plainveiw. A person who deals in absolutes. We can understand this character more that way.

However, this strength leads to a hinderence in other characters performances, Paul Dano's character mainly. He trys his hardest to match wits, but just falls short. Maybe it was meant for Dano's preacher to be a less than good one, but it just bothered me a little bit. That is the main quable that I had with this film. Also, with the first two thirds being so damn amazing, the third act almost shouldn't have happened. It was a little bothersome. It wasn't so much that it wasn't good, I loved the ending, it just seemed out of place. PTA seems to give Daniel Day too much range to roam. It's not a bad engind, just one that may have been a little out of place. That standing, this ending will leave you talking about this film forever. It is such an interesting ending, that the character development, especially in the HW character doesn't really stand up. The last couple of lines are so intense and really I don't wanna say anything, but if anyone sees this (and if I see one more week where Alvin and the Chipmunks is in the top 10, someone will die) I would like to hear what you think about the last line especially.

With that said, this is one of the best, possibly the best film I have seen all year. It is a sweeping epic and is much more than a film. It is an experience. Paul Thomas Anderson proves himself as one of the most exciting directors working today. He made a film that is wholly original, thought provoking and tracendent. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Now, heres the debate. What is the better film, No Country For Old Men, or There Will Be Blood? If anyone reads this and has seen both, I would like to hear what you think. I personally think that they are both amazing masterpieces. I do have one problem with TWBB that I don't with No Country. I think the performances as a whole are better in No Country. Granted, Daniel Day-Lewis is phenominal, but Paul Dano, and especially the guy who plays the adult HW are kind of lacking. However, I do give There Will Be Blood the edge for the sheer audacity and ambition of this Citizen Kane-esque masterpiece. So, if I had to pick one, I would go with TWBB...what about you? Any thoughts?

Leatherheads...

So, it's a Monday night. Clover has class, I have nothing to do, and so, I decide to go to the movies. Then I have a debate...21, or Leatherheads. So, I decide to go with Leatherheads...I like Georgey boy, Zellwegger is kind of hot in a model-who-just-ate-a-lemon way, and I am a pretty big sports fan. Now, the big question is, was it worth my time?Leatherheads is the story of football hero Dodge Connolly whose team has just gone under. One day, he hears about a young hotshot Princeton student who is a huge star, and war hero. He decides to go out and meet the guy. When he gets to the hotel he is meeting him at, he looks upon a stunning young journalist who is out to make a name for herself by bringing down the allegedly war heroes story. Now, when these two cross paths, the chemistry flies. Dodge offers the star, Carter Rutherford a spot on his fledgling team. He says yes and off they go. With a new governing body in football, a mystery into Carter's past, and a romantic triangle, this is a plot that, if you let it, will let you fall right into its web. Is that a good thing though?

For about 2/3rds of the flick, it definitely was. There are a lot of things good about this film. First off, Clooney and Zellwegger have truly amazing chemistry. There interchanges are really fun to watch. It's almost noir-esque, and it really works for this film that's set in mid 20's Chicago. It's almost like a solid prequel to the Cohen’s O' Brother Where Art Thou. Clooney's character is a carbon copy of his character from that also great film. The script deserves a lot of this credit. It's also written by amazing sports journalist Rick Reilly who always does the back page of SI, and it's a pretty solid first outing. The cinematography is also pretty good. It's all in the sepia sort of colors, a very autumnal color scheme, which is perfect for this fall sport flick. The supporting cast also gives stellar performances. The biggest thing is that this shows that Clooney is indeed a good director. If you didn’t know that from his two previous amazing efforts, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and Good Night and Good Luck, than this should cover it. It’s not even close to those other two flicks, but it is indeed solid, although there are a couple of problems.

I simply have two problems with this movie. First off, the performances from John Krasinski and his agent played by Jonathan Pryce are simply laughable. There tone is just so off, and this film really had almost a split personality. For one second it wants to talk about the glorification and necessity that the U.S. has with its war heroes, and then it wants to almost be a commentary on government with the discussion of the instillation of a new governing body and new rules in pro football, and it all just seemed a little heavy handed. Finally, and least importantly, the second act did kind of drag, and it really got me checking my watch, but then Clooney and Zellweger got back on screen, and I got back in the movie. This is one that you should definitely try and get out to. At least worth a rental in 3 months. I give it 8/10 or 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Go see something good!

Hate to say I told you so...

Thandie Newton has been signed to play Condoleeza Rice in the upcoming flick that I can't stop talking about I guess, "W"...Brilliant casting, I think so.

Other news...
-A Wicker Man sequel has been canceled...finally, one for Hollywood!
-Speaking of canceling movies, Warner Brothers has dropped the Bryan Singer produced horror flick, Trick R Treat...
-Ray-Ban is set to launch a line of designer 3-D glasses...
-And finally, check out this trailer to the new film from City of God and Constant Gardener director Fernando Mierielles...looks like it could be interesting...



more news as it comes...go see something good!

Charleton Heston dead at 84...

Hey guys, and it's good to be back. However, i'm saddened that this is the news that I must bring you. Hollywood legend Charleton Heston has been found dead at his Beverly Hills home...may he rest in peace

CNN News...http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/04/06/heston.dead.ap/index.html

More news later tonight...

Weekend Box Office...

Hey guys! Here is the final top 10 for this weekends box office...

1.21
2.Leatherheads
3.Nim's Island
4.Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
5.The Ruins
6.Superhero Movie
7.Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns
8.Drillbit Taylor
9.Shutter
10.10,000 B.C.

21 brought in another 15 mil, followed by Leatherheads which grossed roughly 13.8 million dollars...expect a review of that flick on tuesday...

Here is a list of the new releases that are coming out on DVD this tuesday...

-11th Hour-
Leonardo DiCaprio produced and narrated flick that is basically a redue of An Inconvinent Truth. Worth a rent if you are into the subject of global warming and climate change...
-Lions For Lambs-
Film about the Iraq War starring Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and the always brilliant Meryl Streep...it just kind of came and went...however, I say give it a chance...
-P2-
Moving on...
-Walk Hard-
Do not see this...it's a piece of shit...really, no joke
-The Water Horse-
Moving on...

~Pick of The Week~
THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Probably the best film to come out last year, and maybe of the decade so far. I'm not going to say anything else, other than that and the star, Daniel Day-Lewis gives one of the best performances EVER...run out and BUY this film...buy 10 copies...it's for your own good...

New releases for Friday...

-Prom Night-
If any of you see this, than you will get what you deserve, a piece of shit movie
-Street Kings-
Promising, but my gut feeling is that it will be right on the same par as the film just above this...

~New Release Pick of The Week~
-Smart People-
New comedy from the producers of Sideways...stars Dennis Quaid, Thomas Hayden Church, and Ellen Page...oh, Sarah Jessica Parker is in it, but we won't mention her. It looks to be a comedy in the mold of the afformentioned Sideways and last years overrated hit, Juno...however, hopefully it will actually be good...

So, with the already long post, comes something to make it a little longer. Top 10 Crime films. I was going to do this one a while back when I reviewed the Bank Job, but I decided against it, so here it finally is...

10. Brick
9. Rashomon
8. To Kill A Mockingbird
7. Se7en
6. A Clockwork Orange
5. Reservoir Dogs
4. Rear Window
3. City of God
2. Goodfellas
1. Pulp Fiction

Go see something good!

Dance Bot...

Hey guys...this isn't a movie note or anything...just a quick little thing to have you all check out. I was messing around with some of Clover's manipulatives for her teaching class, and, as I was creating a pretty amazing beast of a figurine, she had the bright idea to do some stop motion. Also, it works as a test for her camera, as I hope to shoot some shorts with it later on...it's not the best, but it works. So, here it is...Dance Bot, Episode 1...probably the only one...the song is pretty bad ass...



Also, I am still taking ideas for some fun stuff to do here. Maybe a weekly DVD that I can check out and have you guys watch too, and then we can have a discussion on it, or movies you want or top 10's you want. So post away. Also, I won't be posting this weekend, so I'll have a top 10 tomorow night, with that days news and notes. Go see something good!

Some news...possible reviews...

Hey guys! First off, thanks for the comments on the last post...it was a fun one to do, and I would love to hear more on it. It's been a slow week, so here are just a few of the bigger notes that I came across...

-Amanda Righetti has landed the lead female role for the upcoming Friday the 13th remake. She's been on a bunch of little sitcoms and dramas in guest roles, but nothing big. I'm really not looking forward to this remake...
-Javier Bardem is out of Francis Ford Coppolla's upcoming film Tetro...he's been replaced by Carmen Maura
-Final Destination 4 has had a plot leak...it's set to be in 3:D and parts have been released for the casting calls and auditions...
-Bill and Ted are set to get a remake...The duo are looking to come back on screen in a remake as 10th graders...Keanu has also said that he is thinking of making a guess spot...though the phone booth will be replaced with a cell phone...can you get service during the American Revolution? Hopefully they won't have nextel...
-Speed Racer is going to close the Tribeca film festival...
-The Aqua Teen Hunger Force film is being streamed at the cartoon network website http://www.adultswim.com/index2.html so, go check that out...
-Finally, Chris O'Donnel has joined the cast of Max Payne...

Okay, so, with this being a pretty busy week, I have a couple of notes for the upcoming week...First off, There will be no posts on Saturday, and maybe Sunday. I will do the box office post, upcoming flicks, and a top 10 on Sunday night or Monday afternoon. Also, not much has been coming out, so you might relize that I haven't had a review in a while. However, that will change in the following week. I plan to review; In Bruges, 21, Leatherheads, and maybe Shine a Light...so there will be more reviews. Also, any top 10's you think would be fun to do, I would love some ideas. I have a few I want to do, but I don't want to run out, so the more the better. Thanks guys, and go see something good!

Top 10 Overrated films...a few bits of news...

Okay, so this list is a tough one to talk about. I in no way mean that these following 10 films are bad...well, a couple are to me, but thats not what I mean. I simply don't think that these films are as great as many people say they are. So, don't burn me for this...also, it's a slow ass news day, so why not spark up some controversy, eh? Heres the list...

10. Juno
9. Lord of The Rings Trilogy
8. Little Miss Sunshine
7. Star Wars Trilogy
6. American Beauty
5. Chicago
4. Monty Python and The Holy Grail
3. Donnie Darko
2. Forrest Gump
1. Saving Private Ryan

Alright...let the verbal massacre begin...

Here are just a couple of notes that have caught my attention...

-Universal Studios has gotten the rights to create a Neil Armstrong film. The bought the rights to the non fiction book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, so expect that to come out in the coming year or so.
-I am happy to hear that Roger Ebert is going to return to writing reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times...coming from an aspiring film critic, I want to say that I am glad to hear one of my idols is doing well after complications caused by a Janurary surgery.
-Halo has allegedly gotten a new script. Halo has been in limbo for about two years, but now it looks like a new script has been shopped around in Hollywood, so more on that later...

Now, go see something good!

Top 10 1st Quarter....

Hey guys. Today is a slow ass news day, outside the news that Adam Sandler broke his ankle playing basketball, so I decided that, as it is April 1, that I would rank my top 10 films of the first 3 months of this year...This was really hard, as not a whole lot of amazing stuff has come out, and i've only seen 21 films so far this year, so not a lot to choose from..but here it goes anyways...

10. The Other Bolyen Girl
9. Charlie Bartlett
8. Run, Fatboy, Run
7. Persepolis (eh, it came out in Europe last year, but wasn't widely released in the states until this year, so it counts)
6. The Bank Job
5. Be Kind Rewind
4. Cassandra's Dream
3. Funny Games
2. My Blueberry Nights
1. Paranoid Park

My big misses: In Bruges, City Of Men, Snow Angels, Chicago 10, U2 3D, Teeth (check out the story behind that hahahaha), and 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days...

And, the worst film I've seen so far this year has to be either Meet The Spartans or Never Back Down...

Now, here's my top 5 most anticipated films for the next 3 months.
5. Smart People
4. Wall-E
3. Iron Man
2. Indiana Jones: Kingdom of The Crystal Skull
1. Son of Rambow

Go see something good!