John Stevenson, director of last year's totally awesome Kung Fu Panda, is readying himself for a trip to the the live action world with the long awaited sequel/remake/re-imagining of He-Man. While it excites me to have a capable director, I for some reason will always have a soft spot for my Dolph Lundgren version. What do you guys think? Keeps your fingers crossed for a Courtney Cox and Frank Langella cameo.
--Greg MacLennan
Taken - (59% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)Pick of the Week
Check our our review of it HERE.
The Uninvited - (43% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
Check our our review of it HERE by our new writer Clark Herer. Be sure and leave a comment so Clark knows just exactly how his writing makes you feel.
New In Town - (12% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
Renée Zellweger stars as Lucy Hill, a powerful businesswoman who feels right at home in glamorous Miami. But soon a business opportunity takes her to small town America, and she realizes that she may have found more there than just another way to climb the corporate ladder. Harry Connick Jr. costars as the object of Lucy's affection, and J.K. Simmons also co-stars. Critical consensus tells us Cliched and short on charm, New In Town is a pat genre exercise that fails to bring the necessary heat to its Minnesota setting.
--Greg MacLennan
The third installment in The Chronicles Of Narnia series is set to hit the big screen - after Twentieth Century Fox stepped in to co-finance the project. Disney decided to back out of co-financing the third movie in Walden Media's fantasy series, despite the first two films garnering huge revenues at the box office.
And Fox bosses have now rescued plans for the third installment in C. S. Lewis' classic series - Voyage Of The Dawn Treader - and have already started work on a script.
The film, directed by Gorrillas in the Mist moviemaker Michael Apted, is slated for release in November 2010 and will star Prince Caspian lead Ben Barnes.
--Greg MacLennan
5) Milk
I went into this film expecting a solid film and some excellent performances and I walked out completely satisfied. I almost wanted to omit this film from my list, but I just couldn't deny it. Gus Van Sant did a really good job, and I couldn't help but reward a good James Franco movie while I had the chance. It may be about history, but the film could have never seemed more relevant, the supporting cast is all star and top notch. I know you might have to drag yourself to see it, but trust me, it's completely worth it.
4) Wall-E
If you had two eyes and a heart, or even one heart and one eye, you couldn't help but be completely charmed and affected by this truly sweet, simple, and wonderful story of the last robot on earth. Those scenes where he is watching the musical and dancing, or when he's taking care of E.V.E., had my heart swelling. It reminded me of Joe vs. The Volcano, and I love Joe vs. The Volcano. This was Pixar at it's finest, although I did love The Incredibles slightly more.
3) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Call me a sucker, call me a sap, call me an apologist. But I loved Benjamin Button. It is a heart wrenching spectacular tale and though a far reach from F. Scott Fitzgerald's original story, I would like to think he would have still enjoyed it. Brad Pitt dazzles and entertains as a young/old man and and then breaks your heart as an old/young man. Cate Blanchett is also awesome, and David Fincher seems he can do no wrong. (Sue me, I can totally enjoy Alien 3.)
2) Slumdog Millionaire
I saw this at AFF a couple of months before it was released and walked out saying it was the best film of the year. Given a little bit of time, and seeing the hype around the film had it slide in my mind. Also factoring into it's slip from 1 to 2 was me thinking about rewatchability, and the number one film oozes with that. But make no mistake, this is one of the year's best if not the best. Danny Boyle changes genres like you change your underpants, on a daily basis and with complete ease. The man is a master craftsman and you need look no further than here, or anywhere for that matter. The story is expertly paced, written, filmed, acted, everything. It was a complete and total surprise when I saw it because I had absolutely no expectation or information about the film other than a synopsis. I look forward to revisiting it on DVD.
1) The Dark Knight
What can you say that hasn't already been said? Eckhart, Bale, Oldman, Cain. Incredible actors doing incredible work. And Ledger? Well it's a shame a light so bright burnt out so fast, but he truly did some amazing work here. When you are acting alongside guys like Eckhart, Cain, Bale, and Oldman and people single you out as the best performance, you know you did something special. I really loved this movie, and it's a crying shame the Academy didn't. When I stepped out of my IMAX this past summer, I immediately wanted to run back in and have them respool it. My jaw was on the floor, and my ridiculous expectations were exceeded on almost every level. Stupid Academy...
Guilty Pleasures
Critics had their way with Speed Racer, Hancock, and Australia, but this critic liked them all. Does that mean I have bad taste? Or does it mean critics are out of touch? Well they can't be out of touch with the public if you look at the box office returns for these films. (excluding Hancock) But why did I like these films if critics and the public alike didn't? Well Hancock I liked because Will Smith can do next to no wrong. He's comforting and charming, heck just thinking about Will Smith almost makes me want to watch Wild Wild West right now...almost. Australia was just epic romantic filmmaking, and I had no problem with it. Very few films jab me in my soft spot and this one found it's way, and I credit Hugh Jackman and his manly way of showing vulnerability for that. Yeah it wasn't more than the sum of it's parts, but it's too hard to find fault with any of those parts, other than saying on a whole you didn't like it. And Speed Racer, well, I know I'm in the minority on this one, but aside from some of the more retarded parts, (Chim Chim and Spritle) I thought it was candy coated fun. I don't feel I have to defend myself for any of these choices, merely explain. And that is that. Let me know what you guys think, or let me know if I left something off that you felt was a gross omission.
--Greg MacLennan
G.I. Joe, directed by Stephen Sommers, has some new sleek looking photos out. (Be sure and click to enlarge) Now before you get excited thinking these look cool, let me remind you the posters for Sommer's previous film, Van Helsing, also looked uber cool and we all know how that one turned out. That being said what do you guys think?
--Greg MacLennan
So we know it's going to be a multi-part film directed by the likes of Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. We know it's going to be motion capture and cost bajillions. We know it's probably going to be pretty decent at worst, and now we know who is playing Tintin. Jamie Bell is going to be our lead character joining the ranks with Daniel Craig who is set to be the nefarious pirate Red Rackham. These two join Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Andy Serkis, and Mackenzie Crook to be directed by Spielberg from the script by Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, and Steven Moffat. Doesn't sound too shabby to us, what do you guys think?
--Greg MacLennan
It's a good day to like crime, it's a good day to like Colin Farrell, and well, it's just a good day to be a movie fan. We have several excellent releases for you this fine Tuesday, head on over to our DVD Section and check them out for yourself, and if I'm lying you can well...call me a liar.
--Greg MacLennan
It turned out to be more bark than bite, as the latest Underworld installment failed to match any of the openings of its predecessors. Still it didn't do terrible. Well, I suppose that's all a matter of perspective, as losing to a fat mall cop has to be pretty demoralizing for a picture. Check out the rest of the box office results HERE and see how the post Oscar noms shook things up.
--Greg MacLennan
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
RICHARD JENKINS - THE VISITOR
FRANK LANGELLA - FROST/NIXON
SEAN PENN - MILK *
BRAD PITT - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
MICKEY ROURKE - THE WRESTLER
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNE HATHAWAY - RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
ANGELINA JOLIE - CHANGELING
MELISSA LEO - FROZEN RIVER
MERYL STREEP - DOUBT *
KATE WINSLET - REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JOSH BROLIN - MILK
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. - TROPIC THUNDER
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN - DOUBT
HEATH LEDGER - THE DARK KNIGHT *
DEV PATEL - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS - DOUBT
PENÉLOPE CRUZ - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
VIOLA DAVIS - DOUBT
TARAJI P. HENSON - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
KATE WINSLET - THE READER*
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
DOUBT (Miramax)
FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
MILK (Focus Features)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures) *
--Greg MacLennan
Frost/Nixon - (90% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) (Pick of the Week)
Oscar-winning director Ron Howard brings to the screen writer Peter Morgan's (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland) electrifying battle between Richard Nixon, the disgraced president with a legacy to save, and David Frost, a jet-setting television personality with a name to make, in the untold story of the historic encounter that changed both. Critical consensus is that Frost/Nixon is weighty and eloquent; a cross between a boxing match and a ballet with Oscar worthy performances.
Inkheart - (37% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
Check out our review HERE.
Revolutionary Road - (67% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
We got this too, check out the review HERE.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans - (60% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes)
Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy revisit their roles from Underworld in this Romeo and Juliet prequel to the horror-action hybrid. Sheen stars as Lucian, a werewolf who battles vampire Viktor (Nighy), despite his love for Viktor's daughter Sonja. I wonder how it all ends?
--Greg MacLennan
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