The Dumping Ground Months are Looking Better Every Year
-----Here's the deal. This year I'll try my best to be tougher on ratings, but that's not gonna happen; so outside of 4.5 and 5 star ratings, you should read the review before blindly going to see it-though you probably should anyway, in case your tastes vary form my all powerful judgements. You can expect a Top 10 list for 2009 hopefully sometime around mid-February before the Oscars because I'd like to see a few more films that didn't come to my theater ('The Hurt Locker,' 'Up in the Air,' etc.) before making a final list. That being said, it's a toss-up for 'Green Hat Reviews' Best Picture, seeing as there was such a diverse pallet this year and the films are virtually equal in my mind when it comes to my top 5; that, and there's no obvious choice like there was in 2008 ('The Dark Knight'). In the meantime I'll be finishing up some 2009 reviews I haven't gotten to yet, along with hopefully providing at least one review a week for new releases. Bare with me, I don't have the time alotted by summer. Other than that, I'm hoping sometime this year to add more features to the site, including possible mini-reviews of older films I've been watching, and maybe more film news at some time or another. Until then, I recommend NewsInFilm.com. It's a pretty strong source, though also biased to a usually humorous though occasionally annoying outcome. Anyway, here's what you can look forward to in January.
-----First up, yet another vampire flick arrives in 'Daybreakers.' This one has a strong cast in Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe, and could possibly be an enjoyable action film. Then there's the romantic comedy 'Leap Year,' listed partially because I know that my theater's getting it, and partially because it's actually filmed in Ireland, so it could be a mildly enjoyable chick flick. After all, Amy Adams had a pretty solid track record last year with 'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian' and 'Julie & Julia.' Also that week is Michael Cera vehicle 'Youth in Revolt.' This coud be an entertaingin little comedy, and the dual personality spin should offer a new take on Cera's typical routine. The next week, only one film catches my eye; the postapocalyptic action flick 'The Book of Eli.' The veteran acting talents of Denzel Washington ('The Taking of Pelham 123') and Gary Oldman ('The Dark Knight') may very well elevate it to something beyond mediocre action fare. The 22nd of January brings a seemingly similar film to the table in the Angels vs. Humans action flick, 'Legion.' Despite its blatant premise flaws, it could be an OK action film, seeing as it stars the immensely likable Paul Bettany of one of my all time favorite films, the ultimate crowd pleaser that is, 'A Knight's Tale.' Rounding out the month is 'The Edge of Darkness,' marking the return of Mel Gibson to acting. It basically looks like 'Taken 2: Boston Brawl,'with the poster, release date (see the link to Jaunary 2009's 'Upcoming Potential' section below, which was actually the very first ever 'Potential' entry) and premise resembling last year's entertaining revenge flick 'Taken.' Hopefully it will pack more of a storytelling punch than 'Taken' though, as the trailer does seem to suggest (although in reality its trailer isn't even on par with 'Taken's exceptional trailer campaign). And that's it, a surprisingly full pallet for the dumping ground that January usually is. And one bonus of January, the films aren't always marketed for six months in advance, so there's the occasional chance of surprise hits and whatnot, always a nice bonus when you see as many films as I do.
Daybreakers Trailer
Leap Year Trailer
Youth in Revolt Trailer
The Book of Eli Trailer
Legion Trailer
The Edge of Darkness Trailer
For December
Five Films to Bank On
-----November was a lot of fun, kind of like a mini-summer with all of the big budget extravanganzas and whatnot. It's best film...'New Moon.' It's worst film...'Planet 51.' Still though, I really enjoyed a lot of November films, and it proved to be one of 2009's best months.
-----Fewer films come out in December, and it's time for final appearances among Oscar hopefuls. In that spirit, i've got five films for this month's section, which I will likely (*ahem*, hopefully) see all of. First up is the drama 'Brothers,' about a man thought KIA overseas returning home to find that his brother has become a little too close to his wife in mourning. Not my sort of story, but who can deny the intensity of Tobey Maguire screaming his lungs out in the trailer, not to mention fellow costars Jake Gylenhaal and Natalie Portman, all of whom are typically great. Next week, the 11th, comes 'The Lovely Bones' and 'Invictus.' 'Bones' is compelling due to the amazing visuals and musical score present in the trailer and, oh yeah, it's directed by that one guy who did those films about the elves and rings or whatever. That...was a joke; Peter jackson is amazing, and has already had a hit this year, as producer of the epic 'District 9.' Also that week is a film I'm even more excited for, 'Invictus.' After merely seeing the poster, featuring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon in a Clint Eastwood film, I was already excited for this one. And when i finally saw the trailer, I waited to catch it on the big screen before a movie I was seeing, it delivered. And whether you typically like Eastwood films or not, there's no denying their quality and power. Next up is James Cameron's 3-D epic 'Avatar.' I'm starting to question the hype for this one, though it initially seemed through the roof. Needless to say, I'm not deterred by any doubts of the film's potential, and have already purchased my IMAX tickets. The last two films I saw on the beasty IMAX screens were 'The Dark Knight' and 'Watchmen,' so I've got a pretty good track record when it comes to prebuying tickets for IMAX. Finally, rounding out the month is Guy Ritchie's 'Sherlock Holmes' adaptation, starring Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder, Iron Man), Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams (The Time Traveler's Wife). This one looks like a lot fo fun thanks to the fun cast and gritty disposition of unlikely Director Guy Ritchie, best known for 'Snatch,' and also the Director of last year's entertaining crime film, 'RocknRolla.' Seems to be a great month for film, so we'd better enjoy it while it lasts, because after this December it's a new year, and the dumping ground that is the Spring movie season will take over. *shudder*
P.S. 'Up in the Air,' starring George Clooney, is getting a lot of Oscar hype, but I probably won't be able to see it until around January or February, assuming it goes over well with the Academy. It is being distributed in a Limited Release on the 4th.
Brothers Trailer
Invictus Trailer
The Lovely Bones Trailer
Avatar Trailer
Sherlock Holmes Trailer
For November
The Weather Gets Colder, but Things Are Heating Up
-----October was a quality month for movies. Sure there was a lot of crap, but I had a lot of fun with 'Paranormal Activity' and I loved 'Zombieland.' And now...I'm ready for the big guns that come with the Holiday movie season. Is Oscar Gold hidden in the titles awaiting us?
-----So the first week is a little too crowded for any paying moviegoer. First up is 'A Christmas Carol.' The 3-D motion capture remake from Director Robert Zemeckis looks fun, with Jim Carrey providing acting for eight characters! Also that week is the quirky comedy, 'The Men Who Stare at Goats.' Great cast, funny premise, but will it have a substantial plot? We'll see. Then of course there's 'The Box' from the Director of 'Donnie Darko.' The movie looks cool. Finally, rounding out the 6th is 'The Fourth Kind,' an alien thriller based on real case studies. Once I was done laughing at star Milla Jovovich adressing the audience in the trailer, it actually looked kind of spooky. But talk about bad timing, coming out only two weeks after the release of the similar-looking hit, 'Paranormal Activity.'
-----Now that we've battled through the sixth, surprise! Out of nowhere, it's already time for the wolrd to end again at the hands of Director Roland Emerrich. The effects look amazing, and despite Emerrich's reputation, I love 'Independence day,' and 'The Patriot' is also a great movie. The following week holds the cliche-but-perhaps-enjoyable-true-football-story, 'The Blind Side,' with Sandra Bullock. The film is already infamous at my local theater for Bullock's southern "You mess with my son, you mess with me!" Hear it enough during trailers, and yes, it can get funny. Oh yeah, and I would like to thank the marketing committee for putting the ending of the film in one of its TV spots. Also coming out that week is 'Planet 51,' an animated adventure that looked OK three months (or so) ago when I first saw the trailer. Now having the trailer virtually memorized...I hate it. But seriously, it could be a fun, shameless outing. And of course, I haven't forgotten 'Twilight: New Moon.' Joining that will be a review of the laughable first 'Twilight' film, of which I saw the DVD some time ago, but did not follow up with a review, seeing as everyone had already seen it and/or previously hated it; and frankly, the franhcise has a LOT of room for improvement. Mercifully however, there's a new Director who may actually *gasp*...know how to Dircet a feature film, and who just might be able to inspire some sort of emotion from his actors. Seriously though, I think the new one looks promising.
-----Rounding out the month that marks the return to big budgets and blockbusters, is another loaded weekend, that of Thanksgiving. In this week alone I'm sure to be disappointed, because it's more or less impossible for my local theater to get all of the promising films being released. First is 'The Fantastic Mr. Fox.' While the trailer was better the second time, I'm afraid that an animated movie by Wes Anderson ('Life Aquatic,' 'The Royal Tenenbaums') will only inspire wristcutting from the children who see it. But whatever, if my theater gets it (a small chance), I'll hope for the best. Next is 'Ninja Assasin,' which I saw at Comic-Con ( I'm so special). It was a fun action movie but disappointing as the epic I expected from the creators of the 'V for Vendetta' film. Next is 'Old Dogs,' a film with a great cast, but composed almost solely (judging by the trailer) of comedy routines from other movies; namely, 'Wedding Crashers' and 'Without a Paddle,' with the respective stars of those two movies (Matt Dillon, Seth Green) re-enacting the same scenes again. Whatever, maybe the routines will be funny again. Then there's 'The Road,' which looks cool mainly due to the participation of star Viggo Mortensen, one of the best actors in Hollywood today. Unfortunately, my theater probably won't be getting this one either.
-----Finally that week, there's...'The Princess and the Frog?' Wasn't that scheduled for Christmas? It was! I suppose they felt that Thanksgiving was a less crowded lineup, but that seems like a longshot. Perhaps they're wanting to dodge 'Avatar' and 'Sherlock Holmes' (for good reason), although those films aren't exactly kids movies. This Old-School animated film from Disney (there first in five years!) seems kind of lame. I like the idea of taking it back to 2-D, drawn animation, but what's with the story? All of the fairytales in the world and they choose the one about kissing the frog? There's also the matter of the Princess. She's Disney's first black Princess, which is awesome. What's not awesome however, is the fact that she seems like (and maybe it's just me) the black stereotype. Instead of making a Princess that just happened to be black, Disney has made it a focal point, with the trailer practically dripping with what I would consider somewhat of a racial stereotype. I was practically waiting for her to say something about lovin' dat de-licious friiieeeed chicken! And then the villain is like, a Witch Doctor, or...a Voo-Doo Master? That on top of the New Orleans atmosphere. Apparently black people only live in Louisiana? Now maybe, and hopefully, I'm wrong, and just drawing conclusions where there is none. Maybe they're going for the New Orleans thing to return attention to the still rebuilding town, and maybe the Princess's voice just seems odd in the trailer. It'll probably be a cool animated feature...and yet, I worry about the direction the film has been taken in. Not to be a jerk, but that's what I saw (and heard); watch the trailer below and decide for yourself. The end.
A Christmas Carol Trailer
The Box Trailer
The Fourth Kind Trailer
The Men Who Stare at Goats Trailer
2012 Trailer
The Blind Side Trailer
Planet 51 Trailer
Twilight: New Moon Trailer
The Fantastic Mr. Fox Trailer
Ninja Assassin Trailer
Old Dogs Trailer
The Princess and the Frog Trailer
The Road Trailer
For October
Protagonists Include: Zombies, Toys, Couples, Citizens, and Wild Things
-----Nothing too epic in September, but there were some quality flicks towards the end. October looks pretty cool though. Although there is a nasty trend...the potential seems to drop with every week...the opposite of Septmber, where it rose almost every week.... Anyway, we've got 'Zombieland' on the 2nd, which looks hilarious in the tradition of 'Shaun of the Dead.' Also on the 2nd, be sure to head to theaters for 'Toy Story' 1 and 2 in 3D. We know the movies are great, so seeing them on the big screen again, in 3D none the less, should be spectacular. Don't wait up for a review though, because all I could really cover is the 3D aspect, the films already being classics themselves. Also that week is 'The Invention of Lying,' which my theater won't be getting. Too bad, it looked funny.
-----On the 9th only one movie of note comes out, the raunchy comedy 'Couples Retreat.' Rated PG-13 on an appeal (originally R-Rated), we'll see if the great cast can save a film that looks like a lot of other movies, and seems to be filled with "that's what she said" humor. Fingers crossed. On the 16th, 'Where the Wild Things Are' is released. It seems to have an awesome art direction, and the song in the trailer is perfect; however, does the children's book contain the raw material to base a movie on? From the clips I saw at Comic-Con...maybe not. If nothing else it should be original. Also that week, 'Law Abiding Citizen' comes out. It looks sick (in the good way). Starring Gerard Butler ('The Ugly Truth,' 'Gamer'), the movie seems to be pretty awesome. I shall be upset if my theater does not receive it.
-----That's pretty much it on the notable side of things. The 23rd brings 'Astro Boy'...which my theater may not even get. It also brings 'Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant.' How bout dem effects? The 23rd also brings the "give me Oscars or my existence is futile" biopic, 'Amelia.' I lose respect for films that seem interested only in Oscar gold. You can tell 'Amelia' is one of these, because they made Swank look ugly(er)...and I actually heard Amelia Earhart was igood looking? Or at least not ugly and nerdy looking. Seriously, she looks like a giddy, posing twelve year old on the poster (see below). There's films that tell a story with Oscar potential, and there's films that exist only for Oscars, and the latter I do not applaud. But we'll see, could have some nifty cinematography. Finally, on the 23rd, is 'Saw VI,' which I may not see even if my theater gets it. It's hard to keep an open mind after five movies of people getting chopped up for...no, mostly just chopped up. Although I haven't seen them.... So, maybe I should hold my tongue, or maybe I should believe what I hear from basically everyone. Man, the 23rd is not looking too spiffy. Spiffy? Reeeeeaaaally? Whatever, then 'Michael Jackson's This is It' comes out. I respect him as a performer...but do I want to watch a movie about him performing...not so much. But I'll try to go in open minded anyway. Until November....
-----"Aww crap, I almost forgot!" Tony Jaa (think Jet Li mixed with Jackie Chan) is back for his third movie, 'Ong Bak 2: The Beginning,' in Limited Release on the 23rd. The already legendary action star from over yonder needs to come to America, or get American screenwriters to put a story around his amazing stunts talent. If we could blend his action with a solid story ( and maybe teahc him english for those wary of subtitles and dubs), we'd be talkin' classics, rather than just awesome action sequences...it's just such a difficult blend to brew without overdoing the American influence. Still though you should check out 'The Protector' and especially 'Ong Bak: Thai Warrior' if you haven't. The stories aren't special but the action is as good as it gets while still being real. And if you live in Los Angeles or New York, you might have a shot at actually seeing this one when it's released! Go figure! Below is the trailer, and some clips from his other two outings.
Zombieland Trailer
Couples Retreat Trailer
Law Abiding Citizen Trailer
Where the Wild Things Are Trailer
Ong Bak 2: The Beginning Trailer
Clips from 'Ong Bak: Thai Warrior' Chase Scene
Amelia Poster (Is it just me?)
For September
There May be a Few Quality Flicks in what is Typically a Horrific Month for Movies
-----So August brought us a couple of classics in 'District 9' and 'Inglourious Basterds,' can September hold up? Absolutely not. September is one of those dumping ground months for Hollywood as audiences go back to school and work, meaning the movies that studios have lost faith in as far as making money goes, are inserted into September. Oh no. And yet, I find myslef oddly excited for some of the flicks scheduled for the month.
-----September 4th marks the arrival of 'Gamer,' or rather 'Death Race2' by the looks of it. Same premise, same archetypes, but video game style. The next week nothing particularly exciting (judging of course from trailers and hype) comes out. The next week, the 18th, we get a slew of surprising potential! Sex symbol Megan Fox stars in 'Jennifer's Body,' or as I see it, 'Megan Fox: The Movie.' Coming from the screenwriter of 'Juno,' one can only hope that the film about Megan Fox eating people is self aware and extremely hilarious!...but we'll see. Also that week is the funny looking 'The Informant!' starring a nerdy Matt Damon as...an informant! It sounds like a smart comedy for sophisticated adults weary of raunchy comedies, and one that is hopefully very funny. Also that week is the first animated (and non-R rated) film I will have seen in a while, 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.' The animation looks great, the colors brilliant, and your theater may even get it in 3-D; something that I am eagerly awaiting at the movie theater nearest me. Finally, on the 25th a few action films round out the month. Bruce Willis stars in 'The Surrogates,' a film with a reasonably intriguing premise that could easily be terrible but just as easily be good. Also, there is 'Pandorum,' starring Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid, both of which are actors whom I generally enjoy. As for the film itself, it looks like 'Resident Evil' in space, but as long as we're talking the original 'Resident Evil,' that's OK with me. And that's all she wrote for September. P.S. Don't take any chances in ASpetmeber, wait for my reviews or you're likely to be disappointed, it's considered one of Hollywood's dumping grounds for a reason. Besides, football is starting, so there'll be something to do other than movies. GO PACKERS! Go Broncos (start the rookie instead of Orton)!
And that's all she wrote.
Gamer Trailer
Jennifer's Body Trailer
The Informant! Trailer
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Trailer
The Surrogates Trailer
Pandorum Trailer
For August
Action...Action...Action What More Could One Ask For?
-----July was definitely a hit or miss month. Providing the year's best fantasy and drama alike, there were also plenty of flicks that were disappointing and/or terrible. August looks pretty awesome right now though, with some serious potential debuting every week through to the 21st. I've decided to skip writing a novel about every film I plan to see, and instead will give a quick rundown of the month's most promising; the others will just have to wait for their review.
-----First up is 'G.I. Joe' on August Seventh. It looks like an amazing action film to rival, if not surpass, the original 'Transformers' flick. And for all of you currently dissing me and the movie for what you think it will be, well...we'll see who has the last laugh. Next comes the science fiction film 'District 9.' This was a little known film until about a month ago when the viral ad campaign really started to pick up steam. This looks like it could be one of those classic alien films that rates up there with the likes of 'Independence Day'or 'Men in Black.' Rounding out the high potential trio for August is the new Quentin Tarantino flick, 'Inglourious Basterds.' Unfortunately it is a remake, but it looks pretty damn awesome none-the-less. Here's hoping the acclaimed director is through making homages, and is ready to make something that defines its genre rather than honoring it. So that's it for August. I'll surely see more films, but like I said, I've decided to rededicate "Upcoming Potential" to the films each month with the most foreseeable potential, rather than poking in the dark. Until next month (assuming there's no unforeseeable changes to the site's "Upcoming Potential" section), cheers!
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Trailer
District 9 Trailer
Inglourious Basterds Trailer
For July
Mobsters, Wizards, and Comedians make for one Promising Month
-----What happened?! What happened to June's promising lineup of movies? Of the seven I saw, only two made it anywhere above the Worth-Nothing realm, and only one was completely satisfying (The Hangover)! Indeed, it was a sobering month, and further lends to just how amazing 2008 was, when nearly every summer hit I saw was a worthy and very entertaining film. Regardless, I still have hope for July!
-----Starting on Wednesday July 1st, we have two promising blockbusters from seperate ends of the spectrum. There's the animated family sequel 'Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,' and the true story of mobster John Dillinger in 'Public Enemies.' 'Ice Age 3' is a promising sequel because while the first two weren't classic, they were certainly passable entertainment and worth seeing. Also, the second in the trilogy took many of the better parts from the original, and made them focal points. That bodes well for the third installment, which promises to avoid being a simple remake with the added allure of dinosaurs. And with the first two clocking in at about four stars a piece, one hopes the newest installment will be good too. 'Public Enemies' looks even more promising than 'Ice Age 3.' With a dream-team cast including the brilliant Johnny Depp ('Pirates of the Caribbean') and the always intense Christian Bale ('Terminator Salvation') not to mention having one of the coolest trailers of the year; one can't help but be excited for what has the potential be one of the year's best films. However, in the back of my mind I fear this could be another 'American Gangster,' a well-acted, well-made mobster movie that's weighed down by its conventional true story. I'll have a special early review up as soon as tomorrow, June 30th.
-----The next week, two comedies will be playing for the over-the-top gags, with the Borat-esque 'Bruno' starring Sacha Baron Cohen, and 'I Love You, Beth Cooper' starring Hayden Panettiere. I have to say, I think 'Bruno' looks completely stupid. While that is sort of the point, I never saw 'Borat' for a reason. As for 'I Love You, Beth Cooper,' hopefully it's better than this year's 'I Love You, Man.' However, despite Panettiere being gorgeous (and apparently naked, though that will probably be discarded for a PG-13 rating, and then the DVD will probably have an unrated version, which also won't show anything, but will rather just included five minutes of deleted scenes they never got around to rating), I'm not sure it has much going for it that we haven't seen before. I am at least more excited for 'Beth Cooper' than 'Bruno,' however.
-----Our third week has the highly anticipated 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.' Initially slated for a fall 08' release, it was moved because the producers got greedy after seeing 'The Dark Knight's success. However, moving from a winter release to a summer spot definitely worked out for 'Star Trek's excellence. The recent trailers have been absolutely stunning, and at first I was really excited for the movie. Then I found out that what is arguably the most violent book in the series has been made into a PG movie. Perhaps the greed of the producers went too far this time, seeing as the prior two Harry Potter films were PG-13 (and I'm not even too sure why), and it certianly didn't hurt their Box Office take. People are going to see 'Harry Potter' despite the time of year it's released, and despite the rating. And after the adequate, but somewhat disappointing 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,' if this is one of the better films in the Potter series, it has a shot at winning this year's Box Office battle. The trouble will be getting non-readers to see it after the series has recently gone into somehwat of a slump. This is how I see it; 'Sorcerer's Stone' and 'Chamber of Secrets' were spot on with the books, partly do to their shorter length. 'Prisoner of Azkaban' did well developing the now teenaged actors, but left out some of the better parts of the book that ould have looked great on the big screen, like Quidditch. Then the series hit an all time low with the far too short and very disappointing 'Goblet of Fire,' which had an insulting intro to what could have been eye-candy magic, but instead cut it off just as the Quidditch World Cup game started. It's not like the people going to see this are too worried about the run time! Not to mention the horrific pacing that made the whole thing feel like it was being fast-forwarded before your eyes. With 'Order of the Phoenix,' there was certainly too much to be reasonably covered in the adaptation, but at least the pacing was corrected for an entertaining film, providing a much needed step back in the right direction for the franhcise. How will the sixth book hold up? We'll find out in about two weeks.
-----In the fourth week of July, we'll see three movies released, of which my theater will probably only get two, if not one. First off there's the hilarious looking raunchy romantic comedy, 'The Ugly Truth,' starring Gerard Butler (2007's '300') and Katherine Heigl. Secondly, there's the movie tailor-made for small children, the 3-D live action story about CGI mice known as the 'G-Force'.... It's going to be tough to review this one as I'll have to keep the target audience in mind. Finally there is the dreadful looking 'The Orphan,' with a trailer so excruciatingly terrible looking that I refuse to put it on my site until I review it, if it even comes to my theater. I try not to judge films before I see theme, but I am so sick of evil, possessed little girls being the centerpieces in films. Why do these movies exist? Quick bucks. I''m absolutely disgusted with little demon girls, even in movie I otherwise like. Take 'Knowing,' for example; great movie, 4.5 stars, and yet one of the things that kept pulling it back was the premise involving a somewhat possessed little girl with black hair and dark eyes. Yuck.
-----Finally, in the five weekend month that is July, we have the kiddy flick, 'Aliens in the Attic,' and the Apatow-Sandler comedy, 'Funny People.' I won't talk much about 'Aliens in the Attic,' because it's very questionable whether or not my theater will even get it; so I probably won't see it. As for funny people, I look forward to seeing Adam Sandler in a humorous, yet dramatic role that I have high hopes for. He proved he can act with films like 'Spanglish,' now it's a question of whether or not he can blend comedy and drama and whether or not he can make a good movie with Judd Apatow (producer of last month's 'Year One'after last year's dreadful 'You Don't Mess With the Zohan.' I'm agreeably excited for this dramedy about a comedian who's dying, and then finds out he's been cured. Although, I can see him dying again before the film's end, otherwise why would they have told you he's cured in the trailer? But then again, it is hard to market a comedy about someone dying, especially when Apatow and Sandler's demographic is much more about laughs than drama.
-----Well, that's it for July. Here's hoping that it turns out more quality movies than June, but to be safe, be sure to check out GreenHatReviews.com the night of each respective film's release (not to mention an early review for 'Public Enemies' on June 30th); I'll be sure to get my reviews out as quick as possible. It should also be noted that on the weekend of the 24th I'll be attending the San-Diego Comic-Con once again, and will not have reviews for 'The Ugly Truth,' and 'G-Force' until about the Tuesday after their release. I will however, have a special 'Upcoming Potential' section detailing the many movies that will be announced at the Convention, and will also look to provide information regarding further details on film's like 2010's 'Iron Man 2' among others.
More Green Hat News for July Here's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Updates ( Not in that Order)
-----Due to a surprisingly poor Box Office debut (due in part to dreadful early screenings), 'I Love You, Beth Cooper' did not come to a theater near me. However, based on the general reviews from fellow critics and moviegoers alike, you can probably skip this one. The bad new continues unfortunately...unless I am able to post an early review for 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' on Tuesday (an agreeably slim possibility), then I will most likely be unable to post a review until Thursday night, or Friday at worst. This unfortunate delay is due to rare circumstances out of my control, but then again, most people who will see it before Friday were probably going to see it regardless of anyone's review.
-----On a lighter note, I plan to see the recently expanded Limited Release, 'Moon.' I'll be heading out into unchartered territory as I make about a one hour journey across state lines to see the well reviewed sci-fi film starring Sam Rockwell. And while I'm there, I plan to see the romantic comedy of sorts, 'Away We Go.' It has been out fairly longer than 'Moon,' but like 'Moon' never went into a Wide Release. I'll be sure to tell you whether either of the films are worth the journey to a theater far from you, or even worth a rent for that matter.
-----And for my first Comic-Con Update, I can now tell you what possibilities lie ahead. There's a rumored early screening of the amazing looking 'District 9' taking place, and I assure you I'll try my best to get in if there is. Also, there will be the world premiere of the Thomas Jane noir film, 'Give Em' Hell, Malone.' Haven't heard of it? Me neither, and unless some light is shed on the project, I may not find my way into this screening. Other Comic-Con news includes the world premiere of DC Comics straight-to-DVD Animated Film, 'Green Lantern: First Flight' (which I may see, but a review is questionable seeing as it's straight-to-DVD). I also may attend panels for such movies as 'Toy Story 3,' 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,' James Cameron's 'Avatar,' 'Zombieland,' 'District 9,' and more. Only time will tell which I attend, and which films are actually worth getting excited for.
And that is all....
Public Enemies Trailer
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Trailer
I Love You, Beth Cooper Trailer
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer
The Ugly Truth Trailer
G-Force Trailer
Funny People Trailer
For June
Shia LaBoeuf, Megan Fox, Optimus Prime
'Transformers' Returns
-----After the dominating month of May, June is a letdown. However, it is still the summer movie season, and there are still some promising movies left, namely the highly anticipated 'Transformers' sequel. That's not until the 24th though, so we'll need something to pass the time until we all go to see it twelve times. Starting on June 5th is the raunchy comedy, 'The Hangover.' Say what you will, but I, a critic who rarely enjoys raunchy comedies, am very excited for this one. With stars including the hilarious Ed Helms (from TV's 'The Office') and the awesome Zach Galifianakis (best known for his role in 2001's riotous 'Out Cold'), this one looks like it could be a surprise comedy hit. Also coming out on the 5th is the movie adaptation of the 1974 TV show, 'Land of the Lost.' I'm not a fan of Will Ferrell when he's the only comedic force in a film, but when he's got strong co-stars to balance the screen time I'm tolerant of his humor. And he's got at least one funny guy with him in Danny McBride (who co-starred in last year's 'Tropic Thunder' and 'Pineapple Express'). All in all it might provide ample entertainment, so I'm cautiously optimistic about it.
-----The following week, we've got the family comedy 'Imagine That,' starring Eddie Murphy. Can't say I'm excited for this one...at all. However, also that week the action film 'The Taking of Pelham 123' comes out. It stars John Travolta as a terrorist that looks like a little too young for him, and Denzel Washington as a pencil pusher that looks a little too old for him. Of course, that's just my intial observation. While I'm not pumped for this film, I hope it's a good one seeing as it's been awhile since I've seen a quality action movie without superheroes and spaceships.
-----On the 19th we have a pair of promising comedies with 'The Proposal' and 'Year One.' Certainly on opposite ends of the comedy pole, one is a romantic comedy, the other more of a spoof. In 'The Proposal' we'll se the always funny Ryan Reynolds on screen with the funny-before-she-did-'Crash' Sandra Bullock. While it's good to see Bullock back in a comedy, I'm pretty sure she's a lot older than Reynolds. Oh well, it still looks funny, but might be terrible. It's tough to say with rom-coms. 'Year One' is simlar as far as the risky factor. I could see this being a clever and hilarious buddy-comedy, or a horribly stupid Apatow vehicle. The art deirection definitely looks cheesy and manufactured, but for now, I'm assuming that's what they're going for...only time will tell.
-----Now that all of these movies will have passed the time, 'Transformers' will be arriving on Wednesday the 24th. All of the major players are back including Shia LaBoeuf, Megan Fox, and Director Michael Bay. That's all you really need to know about what could be the year's biggest Box Office success. You may even want to chekc this one out in IMAX, because as was the case with 'The Dark Knight,' it has a few select scenes filmed with IMAX cameras, which will make the film literally larger than life during certain sequences. If you haven't seen the original, I advise you to, it's an epic and fun popcorn flick in the tradition of films like 'Independance Day.' Although I must admit, while I love the original film, I think it's become slightly overhyped. I guess that's the result of effectively having something for every type of movie-goer, and then doing it again in a sequel.
-----Well, that's all I've got for this month. I think I covered just about every movie I'll be seeing, but there's always a chance I won't be able to see one listed, or I'll get to see one I didn't expect too. Until next month, I'll be watching 'Transformers'...unless it's bad...but I highly doubt that.
The Hangover Trailer
Land of the Lost Trailer
The Taking of Pelham 123 Trailer
The Proposal Trailer
Year One Trailer
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Trailer
For May
The 'SUMMER' IS NOW
-----The summer movie season hath finally arrived! It brings with it the highly anticipated fourth entry into the 'X-Men' franchise, a little prequel called 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine.' Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine, and Ryan Reynolds costars in the silver screen debut of Deadpool. As if that weren't awesome enough, Liev Schreiber (who also co-starred with Jackman in 2001's 'Kate and Leopold') will play Wolverine's arch-nemesis, "Sabretooth." Rounding out the cast is the relatively unknown Taylor Kitsch taking on the helm of fan favorite X-Man, Gambit, a character also making his silver screen debut. This premise would be enough alone to make for a great month, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. A movie that may very well be even more highly anticipated than the aforementioned blockbuster, 'Star Trek' will be coming out on the eigth. The reboot of the franchise puts new actors in the roles of the classic characters as it tells of the birth of the Enterprise and its infamous crew. Chris Pines will star as a young Kirk, Zachary Quinto will fill in as the calculated Spock, and Simon Pegg (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People) will play the ship's trusty engineer, "Scotty." I'll be seeing a sneak preview on the seventh, and will be sure to have my review up for all to see by Friday at the latest. On the sixteenth another prequel will enter theaters. The film, 'Angels & Demons,' looks falt out ridiculous to me. I find it hard to take a movie seriously when it has a trailer as laughable as the film's premise, so I probably won't be running out to see it anytime soon. From an unbiased view however, if you liked 'The Da Vinci' code (a film that was forgettable and conventional in my opinion), you'll probably like 'Angels & Demons.' Continuing this amazing month, Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) stars in the fourth installment of the 'Terminator' franchise. However, this time there's a twist...judgement day already happened! Yes, that was sarcasm, seeing as there were three films leading up to, and even procrastinating before the ominous, "judgement day." Seriously though, Christian Bale is a very skilled, very cool actor who hasn't missed in a while, and the trailer looks amazing; so I'll definitely be seeing 'Terminator: Salvation' on the twenty-first. The very next day I may be heading back to the theater for the follow up to a family favorite, 'Night At the Museum II: Battle of the Smithsonian' on the twenty-second. Ben Stiller (Tropic Thunder) returns along with costars Robin Williams and Owen Wilson (Drillbit Taylor). Finally, rounding out this absolute powerhouse of a month will be Pixar's follow up to the Oscar-Winning 'Wall-E,' the 3-D adventure 'Up.' Well, that's all for May. It looks I'll be seeing five films at this point, but my plans are subject to change in extreme cases (*ahem* April). If you're in to seeing movies the Friday they come out, you'd better see em' while you can; because while five films may seem like overkill for one month, I count only six films over the next three summer months that even come near to matching the hype of May's fearsome five. However, if you're not into seeing movies on opening night, wait for my review; I'll let you know if it's worth your time and money. Well, that about wraps it up. Until next month's "Upcoming Potential" section, I'll be at...yeah, you get it.
-----NOTE: I have recently been hired at my local theater. This puts me in the advantageous position to see every major summer release. That is to say, every movie that my theater gets. So, my reviews for 'Terminator: Salvation' and 'Night at the Museum II' will be slightly delayed (a day or two respectively), but I will also be seeing 'Dance Flick' and 'Angels & Demons' this weekend. Also, be sure to check out my newest feature, Best Picture Quick Ratings, where I quickly rate every Oscar Winner for Best Picture that I have seen, and will continue to see.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Trailer
Star Trek Trailer
Terminator Salvation Trailer
Night At the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Trailer
Up Trailer
For April
Action-Adventure-Comedy-Drama You Name It, April's Got It.
-----Starting in April, many action junkies will be excited to see the new 'Fast & Furious.' And while I must admit to seeing only the original, Diesel and Walker's stocks have risen considerably since the original's debut. So I guess I'll have to watch the sequels and head out for this one, for better or worse. In other news 'Adventureland' also debuts on April 3rd. There's just something funny about bums working at an amusement park, not to mention the always funny Ryan Reynolds making an appearance. So it looks like I may have to double dip that week, something I normally hate to do. Following up all of this excitement is a legendary anime brought to the big screen in 'Dragonball Evolution.' While I admit to being a fan of the old show, not even I can salvage much from the trailer. As for fellow fans of the classic series, I believe Edward Blake said it best in last months 'Watchmen' when he said, "God help us all." Well, can't judge it til I see it, but you can just read my review and make an educated decision. Also that week, Seth Rogen vehicle 'Observe and Report' comes out. The story of a mall cop who...sounds a lot like Paul Blart: Mall Cop' huh? Yep, too much of a bad taste in my mouth to see anything with malls or cops in it for a long time. This one is probably a rental for me. As for the sequel to 'Crank' starring Jason Statham, I will NOT being seeing it. The fact that he bounced off of a car after falling thousands of yards and lived is a bit of a deterrent for me. Ending the month we have a potentially conventional tearjerker. 'The Soloist' is the story of a mental musician, and I'm as shocked as anyone to see a movie that screams, "look at me Academy!" coming out in April. However, despite the fact that the whole story is told in the trailer, it has Robert Downey Jr. in it, and he has earned a Green Hat Card. That is to say, his last two movies, both of which he receieved a Green Hat Nomination for (Best Actor-Iron Man, Best Supporting Actor-Tropic Thunder) were excellent enough for me to go to just about any movie he makes until he screws up. Well, that's all, I look forward to May, when the Summer Movie Season starts. Until then, it's Dragonballs and instruments!
-----NOTE: Due to the weak weekend performance of 'Dragonball Evolution,' my theater didn't even get it. Sorry for the inconvenience supply and demand has put on me and especially you. As for the only adequate performer at the Box Office this weekend (April 10th), 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' is one that I'm sure NO review will adequately persuade nonchalant viewers, or likewise dissuade previous fans of Cyrus already going to see it. My next review will be of 'The Soloist' if my theater finds it in its heart to bring it here. Then of course, the summer movie season will start and you can expect a review of a new release every weekend. Another NOTE: My theater failed me again by not getting 'The Soloist.' Will they get 'Wolverine?!' It'd be funnier if that satement was a joke.
Fast & Furious Trailer
Adventureland Trailer
Dragonball Evolution Trailer
The Soloist Trailer
For March
THE END IS NIGH!
-----The end of our wait is anyway. Watchmen finally soars into theaters after nearly two years of drooling from comic book fans! As the calendar reaches that fateful day (03.06.09) we'll all flood into theaters to see what I'm predicting to be 'The Dark Knight' of 09'! After seeing a pre-screening of the film Kevin Smith (director of 'Clerks,' 'Zack and Miri make a Porno') has been quoted saying, "Iron Man and the Dark Knight raised the bar for comic book films, and [Watchmen] raises it even further." In other news, 'Monsters vs. Aliens,' Dreamworks next animated adventure looks surprisingly funny and fresh, if somewhat of a takeoff from 'Monsters Inc.' You can see the trailers for both movies below.
For February
It's time for the Super Bowl! And its' equivalent in the movie industry!
-----We'll start things off with the Super Bowl, and then things may get dull for a while. Not much happening in theaters other than some reruns of Oscar nominated flicks, but be sure to tune in February 22nd to see if your favorite nominees take home the little, yet heavy, golden man.
For January
Get Ready to Be 'Taken'
-----Mark your calendars for January 30th! This critic is pumped for 'Taken,' starring Liam Neeson as a man who's daughter is kidnapped while vacationing in Paris. The Man gets the assailants on his daughter's cell phone where then the trailer is brilliantly executed as the always intense Liam tells them about his "particular set of skills" and we see violent flashes of just what he means. Liam is best known for his dramatic yet calm and forceful mood seen in his portrayals of Qui-Gon-Jin (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace), Ra's Al Ghul (Batman Begins), and even as the voice of Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia franchise). Maybe somewhat of a takeoff from 'Man On Fire,' but if this is even remotely as good as that film, we're in for a treat. So quit reading this and watch the trailer below now!
