This Week's Theatrical Releases

1. The Brave One (2,755 Theaters, Rated R): The Director? Neil Jordan (Mona Lisa, Crying Game, Interview with a Vampire). The Lead Actress? Two-time Academy Award Winner Jodie Foster (The Accused, Silence of the Lambs). Supporting Actor? Oscar Nominee Terrence Howard. The Plot? A warmed over version of Death Wish.

Is it just me, or do these creators deserve a better movie?

Okay. I'll grant you that the whole "person looking for revenge" story is a powerful one. But it has been used umpteen times before. Will The Brave One bring anything new to the table? Or has the topic been examined enough?

Yes, I know that it is Jodie Foster, looking and acting like a female Bernie Goetz. And I'm sure she'll act the heck out of it. But it's been done before. Does it really matter if she's a better actor than Charles Bronson when he did essentially the same role as she more than thirty years ago.

Hollywood gets a lot of flack for lack of originality. This case, I think it's deserved.

2. Dragon Wars (2,269 Theaters, Rated PG-13): I first saw ads for this a few weeks ago, and I wondered why I hadn't heard of it before. Something this big budget with this much CGI usually gets some press in the entertainment magazines or advance buzz on the internet.

One of the reasons why you might not have heard anything is because Dragon Wars (or, as it's alternately called, D-War) is a Korean movie, one of the most expensive Korean films ever made.

The plot basically involves dragons fighting in the skies of Los Angeles. There is some wacky mumbo jumbo about one of the dragons trying to get into Heaven, which adds a bizarre spin to the plot, but this movie should appeal to anybody who likes to see giant beasts trying to kill one another while destroying everything the come in contact with.

To be honest, I might go to see this if they promised me that Godzilla would show up somewhere in the movie. I mean, if it wasn't for him, this movie probably would have never made it over here.

3. Mr. Woodcock (2,231 Theaters, Rated PG-13): Finally, in what could quite possibly the most derivirative weekend of movies ever, we come to this one. Even the poster is unoriginal, apeing the poster for 1998's BASEketball.

The most obvious comparision you could make for this movie would be last year's School for Scoundrels. It also starred Billy Bob Thornton as a teacher whose adversarial relationship with a student kicks up when the teacher begins a romance with someone close to the student. Billy Bob better be careful, or else he might start getting typecast.

The modern dumb comedy has become so incestuous that they have even become quasi-cookie cutter. Take a "high concept" plot, take actor from dumb comedy A, add costar from dumb comedy B, add in an Oscar Winning actress for "What is she doing in this type of movie" shock value, shake and serve.

This is what we essentially have here. This movie essentially follows that formula. But that doesn't mean that it's going to be a success.

Now to the predictions. This is what I predicted for last week:

1. 3:10 to Yuma
2. Halloween
3. Shoot 'Em Up
4. Superbad
5. Balls of Fury

And this is how it turned out:

1. 3:10 to Yuma
2. Halloween
3. Superbad
4. Shoot 'Em Up
5. The Bourne Ultimatum

I flipped 3 and 4, and that Balls of Fury had more lasting power than it did. I am now 51 for 95 in 19 weeks, and have an accuracy percentage of 53%.

This is what a call for this week.

1. The Brave One
2. 3:10 to Yuma
3. Halloween
4. Superbad
5. Mr. Woodcock

What do you think?

Bill

This week's New Releases

1. 3:10 to Yuma (2,652 Theaters, Rated R): I don't know about you, but I like westerns. I'll admit that they are an acquired taste, but it is definitely a taste I've acquired.

 

Why do I like westerns? I could give you a whole bunch of reasons like "I enjoy the way they show America's past" or "I like the primal struggle between law and lawlessness you find in them". These reasons are essentially true. But the real reason I like westerns is because my father liked westerns.

Every weekend, my father would find a western on cable and sit down to watch it. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, even Audie Murphy found a home on our TVs on those days. And even if I didn't watch all of them, they seeped into my consciousness through osmosis.

This one looks like a good one. It's a simple concept. Christian Bale is trying to get criminal Russell Crowe to the train so he can get shipped up to the big city to receive his punishment. Crowe's gang is trying to stop him. It is a solid concept, which probably is why this is the second time we're seeing it (this flick is a remake of a 1957 film of the same name).

The cast is first rate. I am a big fan of the leads and also some of the supporting cast such as Alan Tudyk, Ben Foster and Gretchen Mol. And I loved James Mangold's last effort, Walk the Line. So this should be one great movie.

2. Shoot 'Em Up (2,108 Theaters, Rated R): You can bring some comparisons between this movie an 3:10 to Yuma.

Both movies feature great casts and solid, simple concepts (In this one, Clive Owen protects a newborn baby from a bunch of criminals). But I think the similarities will end there.

This one seems to be high octane action from start to finish. Sort of like The Transporter meets Sin City with a bunch of old Warner Bros. cartoons thrown in for good measure.

The film got more that its fair share of buzz coming out of the San Diego Comic Con. And it does boast not one, but two Oscar nominees in the cast (Owen and Paul Giamatti). But the plot, while simple and solid, does seem to be a little short on logic and more of a means to an end.

It's so rare when two movies come out in any give week that I want to see. Which one will I see? That's a good dilemma to have. While 3:10 to Yuma might be the better film, this one looks like much more fun.

3. The Brothers Solomon (700 Theaters, Rated R): I guess a sure sign that the the summer movie season is over is the fact that all three movies this week are rated R.

Not necessarily that they are meant for a more mature audience. You can consider this movie an offspring of the Will Farrell/Ben Stiller comedies. The ones where the lead characters are usually pompous boobs, yet somewhat lovable. Only, in the case of this movie, much less so.

This film has the stink of Saturday Night Live all over it. SNL cast member Will Forte wrote and stars in it, director Bob Odenkirk once wrote for SNL (and The Ben Stiller Show, to bring that name up again), SNL castmate Kristen Wiig is the female lead and co-star Will Arnett is married to SNLer Amy Poehler.

The movie, however, seems more stupid than dumb, more raunchy than witty. I do like the fact that Lee Majors and Jenna Fischer are in the cast. But I am not big on Kristen Wiig. She is this era SNL's version of Melanie Hutsell, only with one annoying way of speaking in lieu of one annoying facial expression.

Now with the predictions. This is what I guessed for last week:

1. Halloween
2. Superbad
3. Balls of Fury
4. The Bourne Ultimatum
5. Rush Hour 3

And this is how it turned out:

1. Halloween
2. Superbad
3. Balls of Fury
4. The Bourne Ultimatum
5. Rush Hour 3

5 for 5! 100% percent accurate this week. This makes me 49 for 90 in 18 weeks, with a prediction percentage of 54%. Quite the spike in accuracy, but it'll taper off after this week. This is how I see it.

1. 3:10 to Yuma
2. Halloween
3. Shoot 'Em Up
4. Superbad
5. Balls of Fury

What do you think?

This week's new releases.

I. Balls of Fury (3,052 Theaters, Rated PG-13, Opened Wednesday): Ah, will Hollywood ever run out of sports to parody? I think ping pong falls somewhere between Ice Dancing (Blades of Glory) and Dodgeball (DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story) on the sport/not-a-sport scale.

This film also apes that Jean-Claude Van Dam classic Kickboxer in it's premise. Dan Fogler stars as Randy Daytona, a down and out ping pong player who must train with a mysterious Asian master so he can enter an illegal, underground table tennis tournament. Every win in the tournament brings him one step closer to Feng (Christopher Walken), the man who killed his father, and also, to vengeance.

If you are not familiar with Dan Fogler, you might think that he is just a "Jack Black-type" the producer got on the cheap. But Fogler is a TONY Award-winning actor, known most for his role as William Morris Barfee in Broadway's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. So, he got acting chops.

Another reason to see the film is the fact that it's written by Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, the creative minds behind Reno 911 and former members of The State, one of the best comedy troupes of the 1990s.

2. Halloween (3, 472 Theaters, Rated R): The original Halloween was one of the first slasher films, was one of the most well received of the genre, spawned numerous sequels and served as inspiration for the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street franchises.

So, it was only a matter of time before it was remade. I'm not saying that it needed to be remade, only that it was bound to be remade, eventually.

If you believe that the Horror genre could be home to a distinct cinematic vision, then Rob Zombie is a director with one. His work on House of 1,000 Corpse and The Devil's Rejects were original takes on Horror and have acquired Zombie a fanbase.

So, we are almost guaranteed that Rob Zombie's take on Halloween will be unique. But we have to ask, as we do with all remakes, will it be better than the original. And will Zombie's unique take separate it enough from the John Carpenter version.

4, Death Sentence (1,822 Theaters, Rated R): A man sees his son killed by a gang. When the gang is put on trial, the prosecution gives them a plea deal of 6 months. This does not make the father happy and he decides to inflict his own punishment by tracking the gang members down and killing them.

A man disenchanted by the legal system taking the law into his own hands? That sounds a lot like Death Wish, doesn't it?

Well, it should. Death Sentence is loosely adapted from a 1975 novel by the same name from Death Wish author Brian Garfield.

How loose is the adaptation? Well, the novel was a more direct sequel to the Death Wish novel and followed the main character Paul Benjamin to Chicago. According to Wikipedia, it followed Benjamin as he continued his vigilantism. No family, no gang, no dead son.

This movie is also marks a departure for Saw director James Wan, moving from the horror genre to crime thrillers.

So, what about predictions, first let's take a look at what I predicted for last week:

1. Superbad
   
2. War
   
3. Nanny Diaries
   
4. Rush Hour 3
   
5. The Bourne Ultimatum.

And here's how it really was:

1. Superbad
   
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
3. Rush Hour 3
   
4. Mr. Bean's Holiday
   
5. War

A weak week, performance wise, from the new releases. Mr. Bean's Holiday did better than I expected, but nowhere near #1. This makes me 44 for 85 and an accuracy percentage of 51%.

What do I think of this week?

1. Halloween
   
2. Superbad
   
3. Balls of Fury
   
4. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
5. Rush Hour 3

I think Halloween might pull in enough for the top spot, but Superbad will be able to hold on to the second spot. What do you think?

A different version of this post appeared on the FilmBuffOnline website.

This week's movie releases.

1. The Nanny Diaries (2,629 Theaters, Rated PG-13): A movie featuring a spunky young woman in a demeaning job answering to a demanding boss adapted from a popular chick lit novel? It's no stretch of the imagination that the Weinstein Group is hoping that a little of last year's Devil Wears Prada audience with this one.

And who can blame them? Devil Wears Prada was a surprise hit, making over $124 Million domestically. This proves there is an audience for this type of story.

This is a pretty big theater pull for a movie of this type. Will the investment in screens be justified? Will the Prada audiences be more turned off than attracted to the similarities?

The cast is first rate. I am a big fan of Scarlett Johansson. I keep waiting for her to get that one really good role that her acting chops deserve. Laura Linney is also a good actress. She's no Meryl Streep, but she's good. And I consider Chris Evans, next to Michael Chiklis, the best part of the Fantastic Four movies.

2. War (2,277 Theaters, Rated R): Most TV ads for this movie tell us that it is about a law enforcement officer seeking vengeance against and assassin. Maybe it's just me, but I find it hard to tell which actor is playing which in those ads (although the trailer I'm including now makes it a little more clear.)

For the record, Jason Statham is playing an FBI agent and Jet Li is playing the assassin. I hope everyone can rest easier now. i know I will.

This movie seems to me to be like a glossy Grindhouse flick for the MTV generation. It's a simple premise, shouldn't be to hard to execute, and the final verdict on how good the movie is will be how awesome the inevitable final fight scene between Li and Statham is.

Both actors are skilled martial artists and it should take much effort to have the final confrontation be great. But it should last about 20 minutes, at least. Any less, and the movie is in trouble.

3. Mr. Bean's Holiday (1,713 Theaters, Rated G): Yes, that rating is right. The movie is rated G. You do not see that all that often nowadays.

Ah, Bean. What can I say about Bean.

Can I say that I don't like Bean?

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't the biggest Blackadder fan in the world but I did like what I saw of Rowan Atkinson in that. But there is just something about Bean that gives me a pain deep in the pit of my stomach.

And I realize that I am in the minority here. There are people out there who love, I mean looooove, Mr. Bean. They are treating this movie like Star Wars fans treated Episode One.

And I don't know exactly why I don't like Bean. I guess it's just the whole "stupidity piled on top of stupidity" thing that really gets on my nerves. It's funny up to a point, but, in my opinion, Bean goes well over that point. Well, different strokes for different folks.

4. Resurrecting the Champ (1,602 Theaters, Rated PG-13): This one is the tale of the two TV ads. I have seen two ads for this film on TV. One plays it as a tear-jerking, Oscar-caliber, life-reaffirming underdog story. The other, plays it as an Oscar-caliber, Shattered Glass-style tale of journalistic malfeasance, that what ever Samuel L. Jackson's story is, Josh Harnett's character made up to get ahead.

Which one is it? Well, it is based on a true story. If you want to spoil the movie, you could probably find out after about a half hour of googling.

Either way, it has the look of a movie that is shouting "Hey! Oscar voters! Look at me!" Not saying that's a bad thing. I think Samuel L. Jackson, when he's not making stupid decisions in choosing roles, can be a great actor. I still argue that he was robbed of an Oscar for his role in Pulp Fiction.

Another point about this movie, Cold Case's Kathryn Morris appears to be playing Josh Hartnett's wife or girlfriend in this one, even though, per IMDB.com, she is at least 9 years older than him. This is refreshing because most times in Hollywood, it's the other way around.

Now, on to the predictions.

This was what I predicted as last week's Top 5:

1. Superbad
   
2. Invasion
   
3. Rush Hour 3
   
4. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
5. The Simpsons Movie

And this is how it actually was:

1. Superbad
   
2. Rush Hour 3
   
3. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
4. The Simpsons Movie
   
5. Invasion.

1 for 4. I had all five right, I just made a mistake on how well Invasion would do. This makes me 43 for 80 after 16 weeks and brings my prediction percentage down to 53%.

It will probably go down even lower this week. Here are my picks.

1. Superbad
   
2. War
   
3. Nanny Diaries
   
4. Rush Hour 3
   
5. The Bourne Ultimatum.

It's a tricky week this week. Any of the movies could be in the top 5. And, while I personally don't think so, any of them could be number one. And it is quite possible none of them would make the top 5. So my prediction this week is just a stab in the dark.

What do you think?

This week's movie releases

1. Superbad (2,800 Theaters, Rated R): At last! It seems like they started advertising this film in 2004!

Yes, if there were Academy Awards for Best Marketing Program, Superbad might have a lock on the Oscar. Its trailer started appearing at the beginning of the summer, its internet-only, R-rated, red-band trailer set the trend for marketing R-rated movies, and the movie has been trumpeted in all forms of media (including its stars, Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, sharing the number 12 spot on Entertainment Weekly's "The EW 100 The Star We Love Right Now" list in its June 29th/July 6th issue).

At first, the movie seems like a classic, 80s-style, teenage sex comedy. Hill and Cera play high school seniors who try to use alcohol to sleep with much more attractive and popular girls.

But this is filtered through the unique vision of producer Judd Apatow and co-writer and co-star Seth Rogen. I have been a fan of Apatow since The Ben Stiller Show (which feature the producer/director doing a hilarious Jay Leno impersonation) and I like both from The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Their careers to this point have built up a lot of good will in me, and hopefully, Superbad will continue that trend.

2. Invasion (2,700+ Theaters, Rated PG-13): I wonder if Jack Finney knew when the first installment of his "The Body Snatchers" appeared in Collier's magazine in 1954 the effect it would have on the world of movies.

Invasion is the fourth time the story was adapted for the silver screen. It first made the leap to celluloid with 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and was remade in 1978, 1994 and now 2007.

The main crux of the story, aliens land on Earth and slowly take replace the human race, is a timeless one that resonates with any generation. It taps into human's fear of change, both personal and to the world around them. Especially, it connects with the fear that such change is beyond our control. That fear will most likely never go away. So more "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" adaptation are destined to come.

Outside of it's lineage, this particular adaptation is interesting for many other reasons. One, the studio, after seeing an early version of the film, called for on rewrites by the Wachowski Brothers (of Matrix fame) and the rewritten scenes were reshot by Wachowski associate James McTigue (director of V for Vendetta). This kind of reworking usually is a sign of trouble and, in most cases, the movie suffers for it.

Two, Nicole Kidman, an Aussie, and Daniel Craig, a Brit, put on American accents for the movie. It is always interesting to see actors from other English speaking countries try to sound American Finally, Kidman and Craig will reunite later this year for The Golden Compass.

3. The Last Legion (2,000 Theaters, Rated PG-13): Another story that has been brought to movie screens repeatedly is the King Arthur legend. From 1963's The Sword and the Stone to 1975's Monty Pyhton and the Holy Grail to 1981's Excalibur to 1995's First Knight to 2004's King Arthur, the story of the legendary King of the Britons has been a Hollywood favorite.

The reason for its popularity? Probably because of the way the legend can bear and encourage a wide variety of interpretations. Just looking at the list above you can see that the tale is just as at home in family fare as it is in comedy, in romance as it is in action.

This latest installment ties the legend into that of the Roman Empire in a story that focuses on the quest for the legendary sword Excalibur.

From the trailers, the film appears to be a little of Lord of the Rings mixed together with a bit of HBO's Rome series. I can't say if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

Unfortunately, iFilm does not give me the option of embedding the trailer. If you want to take a look at it, you can see the preview here.

Now, on to my predictions, starting with last week. This is what I thought that weekend's top 5 would look like:

1. Rush Hour 3
   
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
3. The Simpsons Movie
   
4. Stardust
   
5. Underdog

And this is how it turned out:

1. Rush Hour 3
   
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
3. The Simpsons Movie
   
4. Stardust
   
5. Hairspray

4 for 5! Underdog faded faster and farther than I thought it would, darn it! That makes me 42 for 75 after 15 weeks, with an accuracy percentage of 56%

How do I think this weekend will look?

1. Superbad
   
2. Invasion
   
3. Rush Hour 3
   
4. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
5. The Simpsons Movie

I think the mix of marketing, the creators involved, and the popularity of that type of story with make Superbad the number one movie this weekend. I think the acting and new approach will make Invasion hop over a falling Rush Hour 3 for the second spot. What do you think?

Bill

This week's movie releases

1. Rush Hour 3 (3,000+ Theaters): The team that took the buddy film, to a whole other level is back.

Why? Well, because they really didn't have much anything else to do.

The Rush Hour movies are sort of a "mother's purse" movie for these two. If times are getting tough, and you need some cash, you hit up mom for money.

Chris Tucker, outside of Michael Jackson videos, hasn't done anything outside of these movies since 1998. Jackie Chan has been busier, working in films on both sides of the Pacific, but none quite as successful as the Rush Hour flicks. So, therefore, both men return to the franchise for a quick (and they hope, lucrative) payday.

If you are going to return to the well again to make a quick buck, this is the way to do it. It's been six years since the last one of these films--just long enough so that people are still interested but soon enough that their reteaming isn't silly.

Rush Hour 3 - Trailer

Posted May 24, 2007

LAPD detective James Carter and Chinese Chief Inspector Lee travel to Paris to battle a wing of the Chinese organized crime family, the Triads.

2. Stardust (2,300 Theaters): The recent trend in Hollywood of looking to comics for adaptation fodder has meant some of the greatest authors comics contain have got some valuable screen time.

First was Alan Moore (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, From Hell, V for Vendetta and the forthcoming Watchmen), then Frank Miller (Sin City, 300, and, to some extent, Daredevil) and now Neil Gaiman gets his time in the Hollywood spotlight.

Of course, not all adaptations of the works of said comics masters were all that positive. The movie LoEG resembles Moore's LoEG as about as much as it does a Sweet Potato Casserole. Which is not much at all.

Stardust does have a great cast and a good filmmaker in Matthew Vaughn. And Neil Gaiman seems to have given the project his seal of approval. I, for one, hope that this flick does well so Gaiman can get the chance to bring his character, Death, to the big screen.

Stardust - Trailer

Posted Apr 03, 2007

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm.

3. Daddy Day Camp (2,184 Theaters): This could be one of two things for Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s career. Either a step back towards respectability or another swirl in the downward spiral he's been on since he won the Oscar.

Daddy Day Care, the prequel to this movie, was a surprise hit for Eddie Murphy and kind of set him on the road to becoming a family movie star. There is a lot of money to be made in family fare these days. And if this movie is successful, Cuba could become a marketable actor in the genre.

That being said, Murphy passed on this film. That is a baaad sign, especially when you know that Murphy didn't pass on the Adventures of Pluto Nash, one of the worst movies of all time. Heck, Jeff Garvin didn't even return! And it's not like that guy has a boatload of movie offers to choose from.

Judging from the preview, it looks like the downward spiral will continue. I weep for Cuba Gooding, Jr.. But not much, because no one forced him to follow up his Oscar Winning role with Snow Dogs or Boat Trip.

Daddy Day Camp - Trailer

Posted Jun 11, 2007

A kid-harried dad is put in charge of a summer day camp.

4. Skinwalkers (650 Theaters): Personally, I don't consider 650 theaters to be wide release, but Box Office Mojo does, and that's good enough for me.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a werewolf movie. It seems like once a year, Hollywood brings out a werewolf movie hoping that it will catch on like the zombie movies or vampire flicks have. To date, it hasn't worked.

Sure, we had American Werewolf in London, which was horror mixed with great special effects and a dose of humor,Teen Wolf, which was a comedy, Wolf, which was more drama than horror, Underworld, which was vampires versus werewolves, and the more traditional Howling, but nothing that caught on in a big way. Sure, most of the above had sequels. But you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a zombie movie. Werewolf movies are less prevalent.

This one doesn't seem to be the one to change things. The plot involves two groups on werewolves fighting over a boy who could be the future of their kind.

By the way, I think Skinwalkers is a damn silly title for a movie. I just do.

Skinwalkers - Trailer

Posted Feb 28, 2007

Two sects of werewolves battle one another for control of a child, half-human/half-wolf who has the power to end their curse.

So, how do I think the Top 5 will look like this week?

1. Rush Hour 3
   
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
   
3. The Simpsons Movie
   
4. Stardust
   
5. Underdog

I wish that Stardust would do better, but I believe that there is a chance that it might not even crack the top 5. I think Skinwalkers and Daddy Day Camp have little or no chance to break in.

Weekend Box office: How did I do?

This is what I predicted:

1. The Bourne Ultimatum.
2. The Simpsons Movie
3. Hot Rod
4. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
5. Underdog.

This is how it turned out

1. The Bourne Ultimatum
2. The Simpsons Movie
3. Underdog
4. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

It does my heart good to see that while I was only 3 for 5, that the Brats movie was nowhere near the top 5 and Underdog got some more love.

So, that brings my overall total up to 41 for 75 with an average of .546 after 15 weeks. 

This weeks movie releases

1. The Bourne Ultimatum (3,500+ Theaters): When I first heard that Matt Damon was going to play a secret agent, I mocked. He didn't really fit the secret agent type. But then again, he was playing a role originated on TV by Richard Chamberlain.

Of course, the Bourne Identity film changed all that. Damon was truly impressive, in my opinion, during that movie, especially performing the action sequences.

I guess I wasn't the only one that was impressed because here we are, with the second sequel to that original movie.

I have yet to see the Bourne Supremacy, but this film seems to carry over a lot of the plot elements from that movie, judging at their respective trailers. His former bosses go after him, he goes after them, etc. I'm sure there's more than that, but that is what it looks like.

The Bourne Ultimatum - Trailer

Posted Apr 25, 2007

In the new chapter of this espionage series, Bourne will hunt down his past in order to find a future.

2. Underdog (2,800 Theaters): For those of you uninitiated out there, allow me to tell you about a trend I have seen about other medium adaptations such as Underdog.

No matter what idiom movies take from, be it comics (Batman, X-Men), books (Harry Potter, Nancy Drew) or TV shows (Dukes of Hazzard, Underdog), and no matter how great of pains the creators go to to protect the spirit of the project their adapting, most fans of the original will not be happy.

In this internet age, nothing sets off message board posters quite like when movie makers change something about the comic, book or TV show they love so much.

I have to admit that I am equally to blame when it comes to comic book movies. But I am a little more lenient than some people. I understand that movies are different from comics and some changes need to be made.

But there are a lot of Underdog fans out there that are up in arms about this movie, complaining about every thing from the CGI to the changes to the story.

I grew up watching Underdog but I thought the trailer was fun and a riot. Heck, you have Peter Dinklage as Simon Barsinister! How can that not be good?

Underdog - Teaser

Posted Feb 16, 2007

A bumbling watchdog, who seems to be more-or-less a beagle, gets exposed to a substance that gives him the powers of a superhero. He is adopted by a 12-year-old boy and uses his superpower to protect his love and the citizens of Capitol City from the evil Simon Barsinister.

3. Hot Rod (2,500 Theaters): I have to admit, I knid of admire Andy Samberg on a number of fronts.

I admire his daringness with his humor on Saturday Night Live. He might not always be funny (although I will stand behind the fact that "Lazy Sunday" is one of the funniest thing to come from SNL in years), but he is always taking chances.

I also have to admire his meteoric rise. He just joined the cast of SNL, what, two years ago? And now he's the lead in his own summer movie? That's impressive.

Hot Rod seems to be a movie in the Will Ferrell/not-so-smart hero comedy genre, with Samberg cast as a younger Ferrell.

Problem with this is that the old Will Ferrell is still around and doing these types of movies. And doing them well, if you are a fan of the genre. So, Samberg would have to bring something new to the table to separate him from the master.

Hot Rod - Trailer #2

Posted Jun 28, 2007

Amateur stuntman Rod Kimble has a problem--his step-father Frank is a jerk. Frank picks on Rod, tosses him around like a rag doll in their weekly sparring sessions, and definitely doesn't respect him, much less his stunts. But when Frank falls ill, it's up to Rod to stage the jump of his life in order to save his step-father. The plan: Jump 15 buses, raise the money for Frank's heart operation, and then--kick his ass.

4. Bratz (1,700+ Theaters): And then there's this one.
For those of you who don't know, Bratz is a doll line. Not that I'm and expert, but they are notable for their grossly misshapen heads on tiny little bodies.

Apparently, after conquering the world of Saturday Morning computer generated cartoons, they are head to the live-action big screen.

And the world silently weeps.

I know I am nowhere near the target audience. But the trailer alone is enough to make me possibly vote this movie the worst movie of the entire year.

The plot, if you can call it that, seems to be the tale of four friends from Junior High school who find themselves forced into different cliques. The clique's designation, name and lunchroom seating charts, along with newbie clique assignment, are all controlled by one blonde evil nasty girl. Our four heroes rebell and make the clique Nazi's life a living heck.

That is at least what I got from the trailer. The actual movie might be even more unrealistic.

Bratz: The Movie trailer

Posted May 14, 2007

The live-action adventure based on the popular dolls of the same name! Follow Jade, Yasmin, Sasha, and Cloe as they make their way through Carey Nation High proving that fashion rules, and friendship is forever! In theaters August 10th.

So, how do I think the Top 5 will look this week?
1. The Bourne Ultimatum.
2. The Simpsons Movie
3. Hot Rod
4. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
5. Underdog.

I hope, wish and pray that the Bratz movie is nowhere near the top 5.

This week's box office: How did I do?

Another bad week for Bill. This is what I predicted:

1. The Simpsons Movie
   
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
3. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
   
4. No Reservations
   
5. Hairspray

This is how it turned out.

1. The Simpsons Movie
2. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
4. Hairspray
5. No Reservations

I guess the rest of America doesn't share my wish that Chuck and Larry would just go away.

I am now 38 for 70 with an average of .542

Gates Picks: This week's new releases

Simpsons

1. The Simpsons Movie (3,922 Theaters): I am of mixed opinions on this. I love the Simpsons. Love love love the Simpsons. I have yet to jump on the "the Simpsons have been going downhill for the last several years" bandwagon. All I know is that when I tune in, I get a chuckle or two out of the show.

That being said, I have my doubts about the movie. Like, how will it be different than the TV show? From what I heard, there will be some Bart nudity. And, frankly, that will not be enough for me.

It not like other TV to Movie adaptations where you have a bigger budget which means bigger sets, special effects and locations. The Simpsons is animated. Drawing France on the big screen costs no more or less than drawing France on the little screen.

I will probably go to see it. And it has recieved a 81% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.   Which is a good thing.

The plot has been kept secret and none of the previews that I saw have given much a hint. The IMDB page for the movie says that the plot involves Homer dumping nuclear waste into Springfield's river, causing the town to possibly have to relocate. Oh, and that Tom Hanks plays himself in the movie.

 

No reservations

2. No Reservations (2,425 Theaters): This is weird. An Oscar Winner (Zeta-Jones), an Oscar nomineee (Abigail Breslin) and a Golden Globe Nominee (Eckhart) in a little piffle of a romantic comedy.

Not only is this film a remake of a German film (Mostly Martha) but the entire concept is not original. A high-powered business woman is forced to take care of a child, and love develops while she struggles in her guardianship role? Wasn't this essentially the plot of Baby Boom?

But I do like the actors involved. Zeta-Jones hasn't done much since winning the Oscar, but I think that she's a good actress. Eckhart has been good in everything I've seen him in so far (can't wait to see him in The Dark Knight). And Breslin held her own in Little Miss Sunshine.

Unfortunately, reviewers have not been kind to the flick. Rotten Tomatoes has it at only 44% positive. And even the good reviews don't gush over it. They call it "nice" and "simple". Not a ringing endorsement by any means.

 

I know who killed me

3. I Know Who Killed Me (1,200+ Theaters): And then there's this one. Poor Lindsay Lohan. If getting pulled over chasing the mother of your personal assistant while drunk and having cocaine in your pocket wasn't bad enough, your latest movie, which opens the same week, wasn't even submitted to be reviewed. That is a very, very bad sign.

You know, I have a little bit more sympathy for Lindsay than I do for Paris. Because Lindsay has a modicum of talent and a boatload of potential, which she is just throwing away.

That doesn't mean that her antics this week will in anyway help her movie at all. Not that we really know all that much about it.

All I know is that she plays a stripper in the film. Which, if she wasn't a total wreck, might have been enough to draw the horny frat boys in. The confusing story deals with her escaping from a serial killer, presumed to be another person, but the real person is still in danger.

If that sentence didn't make sense to you, sorry. But I really can't be bother trying to explain it more.

 

Who's your caddy

 4. Who's Your Caddy? (1, 019 Theaters): Here's something that might tragically become a trend. Let's take a classic 1980's comedy (say, like, Caddyshack) insert an ethic group (say, like, African-Americans) and rerelease it as a new movie with a slightly sterotypical name (say, like, Who's Your Caddy?).

I mean, basically, what this film is, with Big Boi playing the Rodney Dangerfield part.

I mean, the spirit is the same, the underdog dealing with prejudice from the rich elite and overcoming, only this time with poor upbringing being replaced by skin color. But that doesn't excuse the lack of originality.

 What's next? Will "Meatballs" turn into "Crunk Camp"? "Police Academy" into "Fuzz-izzle for Shizzile"? "Ghostbusters" into "I Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts?"

People criticize Hollywood for a lack of originality, with all the adaptations from novels, TV shows and comics. Not to mention the trend for sequels and remakes, which Who's Your Caddy essentially is. This movie makes me think those critics might have a point.

So, how do I think the top five will look like?

1. The Simpsons Movie
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
4. No Reservations
5. Hairspray

I think the Simpsons will be on top when it's all said and done. I think Harry will sneak past Chuck and Larry. I think No Reservations will have enough to make the top five and I Know Who Killed Me and Who's Your Caddy? will be way out of the top 5, if not out of the top 10.

 

 

 

 

Box Office Totals: How did I do?

Horrible. This is what I predicted:

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
2. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
   
3. Transformers
   
4. Ratatouille
   
5. Hairspray

And this is how it turned out:

1. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. Hairspray
4. Transformers
5. Ratatouille

0 for 5. That's...that's just pathetic. I just all the Harry Potter fans decided to stay home and read.

This makes me 37 for 65, with an average of .569.

Gates Picks: This week's new releases

My wife said I should retitle this that. Blame her.

 

Hairspray

1. Hairspray (3,121 Theaters): I saw the new TV ad for the movie and when I saw John Travolta doing his little drag song and dance number, I temporarily went blind. Only for a few seconds. Luckily I turned away from the screen before any permanent damage was done.

Let that be a hint as to whether or not I will be going to see this movie.

This is the latest entry in the whole "movie to Broadway musical to movie musical" thing, following in "The Producers" footsteps.

It does have an interesting cast, I'll give it that. It has Christopher Walken in it, and who doesn't like Christopher Walken. And it also has James "Cyclops" Marsden too.

But Travolta in drag is a bit much for me. He has always been hit or miss for me as an actor. And from what I've seen in previews, his perfomance here might fall into the miss category.

 

Inowpronounceyouchuckandlarry

2. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (3,495 Theaters): And then there's this one.

Apparently, the movie has been screened by GLAAD and the organization has given it a passing grade. They say the movie uses humor to address and bring attention to some of the problems same sex couples face.

But the review from Time Out New York, written, if the first sentence of the review is to believed, by a gay woman, is a little less kind. Here's a quote: "What’s worse: a film that engages in fag jokes for two hours or one that does it only for the first half, devoting its remaining time to promoting the limpest liberalism?"

So, which is it? Could it be both? Is Sandler hoping to bring in homophobic frat boys with the promise of seeing Jessica Biel in her skivvies, soften them up with gay jokes for an hour, and then hit them with an eye-opening dose of awareness and compassion for those who are different? I don't know.

It might be worthy of a viewing just to see how they explain why a single father couldn't name his kids as the reciepient of his death benfits if he dies. I can wrap my head around why he has to get married at all.

So, what do I think the top 5 will look like?

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
3. Transformers
4. Ratatouille
5. Hairspray

I think the Deathly Hallows will cause enough buzz to keep Order on the top spot. I think people will be curious enough to make Chuck and Larry number two. But I think people just aren't up for seeing movie musicals nowadays, making it lucky if Hairspray gets to number five. Of course, this week of all weeks, I could be wrong.   

Weekend Box Office; How did I do?

This is how I predicted:

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
2. Transformers
   
3. Ratatouille
   
4. Live Free or Die Hard
   
5. Captivity

And this is how it was:

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
2. Transformers
   
3. Ratatouille
   
4. Live Free or Die Hard
   
5. License to Wed

Not only didn't Captivity make it into the top 5, it didn't even make it into the top 10! Yay! The novelty has worn off!!!

This makes me 37 for 60 after 12 weeks for an average of .616. Yes, my correct top 5 movie prediction average is the Mainstream Marvel Universe. I am so happy.

Bill

Weekend Box Office; How did I do?

This is how I predicted:

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
2. Transformers
   
3. Ratatouille
   
4. Live Free or Die Hard
   
5. Captivity

And this is how it was:

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
2. Transformers
   
3. Ratatouille
   
4. Live Free or Die Hard
   
5. License to Wed

Not only didn't Captivity make it into the top 5, it didn't even make it into the top 10! Yay! The novelty has worn off!!!

This makes me 37 for 60 after 12 weeks for an average of .616. Yes, my correct top 5 movie prediction average is the Mainstream Marvel Universe. I am so happy.

Bill

This week's movie openings.

Harrypotterorderofthe phoenix

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (4,285 Theaters): Yes, the summer of Harry Potter officially begins. July is one big Harry Potter fest. If you are not deluged with ads and articles about the last Harry Potter book, you're seeing press about the latest movie. Frankly, to me, it's a bit of overkill.

Yeah, I know by saying that it's like I'm saying the ocean is a bit damp. Cut me a break.

We are well into the time when the Harry Potter franchise. You know, when cast members continue to die off at a pace of at least one per movie.

I haven't read this one yet. Actually, I haven't read any of them. The ones prior to this I listened to in audiobook form (which I highly recommend. An actor by the name of Jim Dale does all the voices and he's just amazing).  But, from what I know about the movie, I have a bone to pick about Dumbledore's hiring practices, especially when it comes to his Defense of Dark Arts teachers.

I guess I should include a

Spoiler Warning

 

In case you are the one person in the world who hasn't read any of the Harry Potter books or seen any of the movies but still want to.

So, for this one, and correct me if I am wrong about any of this, Dumbledore hires a teacher who denies the existance of Voldemort, even though several member of the school have actually seen him, and refuses to teach her students to combat him. This is after in the first movie/book he had a Voldemort sympathizer who actually had an emaciated He Who Would Be Named hiding out under his turban. Then came a vainglorious fool who almost got himself and Harry killed. Then there was Lupus, who actually was a good pick. Then came another Voldemort supporter who was imitating an Dumbledore ally. Does he even have an interview process? Does he even bother to check references? Shouldn't "what are your opinions on Voldemort?" be part of interview process?

 

Captivitybannedbillboard

2. Captivity (1,050 Theaters): Yeah, I'm using the banned poster for this post. Why? Because I'm a badass, that's why.

Not really. But I just wanted to talk about this.

Yes, this is the poster that cause all that fuss a couple of months ago. Remember? It was so disturbing that they had to pull the ads.  Ring a bell?

Yeah, me neither. I barely recall this. As a matter of fact, before I went looking for posters, I forgot about it completely. I bet the studio is happy for this. That little bit of controversy was the only thing separating this one from the recent spate of Saw rip offs.

Yeah, I am not a huge fan of torture porn, as it's called. Especially when women are the victims. Go on. Make all the "female empowerment" statements you want. "The girl gets the upper hand in the end!" Yeah, but for the two hours prior she is tortured within an inch of her life.

Luckily, the fact that Hostel II wasn't a monster success (it still made more than its budget back, however) means that this genre is on its way out. Not a moment too soon, in my opinion.

So, how do I think the top 5 will look?

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2. Transformers
3. Ratatouille
4. Live Free or Die Hard
5. Captivity

I think Captivity will barely, barely, make it to the top 5. Only because License to Wed and Evan Almighty aren't strong enough to claim the fifth spot. What do you think?

Weekend Box Office: How did I do?

Here is what I predicted:

1. Transformers
   
2. Ratatouille
   
3. Live Free or Die Hard
   
4. License to Wed
   
5. Evan Almighty.

And this was the real top 5:

1. Transformers
   
2. Ratatouille
   
3. Live Free or Die Hard
   
4. License to Wed
   
5. Evan Almighty.

5 for 5 for the second week in a row! If only there was money to be made from doing this.

This makes me 33 for 55 after 11 weeks, with an average of .600.

This week's movie releases.

Since all the movies are already out, I might as well write this today.

 

Transformers

1. Transformers (4,011 Theaters): Yes, this movie has already been breaking records since it opened Tuesday. Who would have thunk it?

It has gotten some fairly good reviews, so I guess the curse of Michael Bay either didn't apply or Bay had finally found the perfect movie to direct.

The wife and I were willing to see this today. But when we got to the theater and saw that four showings on three screens were already sold out, we decided to pass.

See, I wasn't a major Transformers fan growing up. Sure, I have a couple of the toys, but I do not have an indepth knowledge of their universe or the names/relationships of all their characters.

Now, when/if the G.I. Joe movie comes out, I'll be first in line. Heck, I'll audition for Chuckles.

But it's good to see that the movie doesn't need my $10. It seems to be doing a brisk business with all ages. That means it will be around for a while and I will catch it in a week or two.

 

License-to-wed

2. License to Wed (2,401 Theaters): I have to admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for Robin Williams. I was a fan of his ever since Mork and Mindy.

However, this fannish devotion has led me to a lot of bad movies. Remember Club Paradise? Toys? Death to Smoochy? (the latter was the first movie that my wife and I saw as a couple. It's a wonder why we lasted so long).

I liked RV last year. It got really bad reviews but I still thought it was goofy, albeit formulaic, fun.

This one has also been hammered by critics (a 15% fresh at Rotten Tomatoes). Williams plays a priest who puts a soon-to-be-wed couple through a series of tests to prove their love to each other.

This seems to be the kind of movie that should be over in 20 minutes. Who would put themselves up for this kind of punishment? I mean, if our rabbi suggested that I direct Jen as she drove a car blindfolded, I'd ask for another rabbi, a priest or hit the justice of the peace.

But enough about that. How  do I think the top five will look?

1. Transformers
2. Ratatouille
3. Live Free or Die Hard
4. License to Wed
5. Evan Almighty.

Transformers as number one should be a no brainer. I think that License to Wed will break the top 5, but no higher than 4.

Weekend Box Office: How did I do?

This is what I guessed:

1. Ratatouille
   
2. Live Free or Die Hard
   
3. Evan Almighty
   
4. 1408
   
5. Fantastic Four

And this is how it turned out:

1. Ratatouille
   
2. Live Free or Die Hard
   
3. Evan Almighty
   
4. 1408
   
5. Fantastic Four

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I was 5 for 5 this week. I rule. (Of course, the hardest thing about this week was which movie would come in first. This makes me 28 for 50 after 10 weeks, with an average of .560.

This week movie releases.

Live free or die hard

1. Live Free or Die Hard (3,172 Theaters): John McClane is back! And this time, he doesn't have any hair!

Okay, that wasn't the tagline. But wouldn't it be cool if it was?

This one opened yesterday. I guess it was to get a jump on Ratatouille. I have yet to see it. But I might before the weekend's over (assuming the wife is willing to see this and Ratatouille).

When this was announced, people mockingly lumped it in with Rocky Balboa, Rambo IV, and the next Indiana Jones movie as franchises revived by way-too-old-to-play-the-characters actors to try to jump start their careers.

In the case of Die Hard and Indiana Jones, i think they're wrong. McClane is a cop and Indy an archeologist. Age really shouldn't play as much a role in their characters.

I loved the last Die Hard. I loved the interaction between Willis and Samuel L. Jackson. I loved the cat and mouse games. And I loved how the movie tied into the continuity of the two prior.

I don't know how much this is going to tie in to the other three. McClane has an almost grown daughter in this one. And the movie seems to be special effects intensive. Cars flying through the air, cars flying into helicopters, cars falling down elevator shafts, etc. Most of the fun of the Die Hard movies was McClane using his wits to outsmart the bad guys. Hopefully, some of that still remains.

 

Ratatouille

2. Ratatouille (3, 940 Theaters): You know what? The smartest thing Disney ever did was to buy Pixar. I mean, to think, they almost let Pixar get away. Thankfully, Chicken Little helped them come to their senses.

Pixar seems to have the magic touch. They are to computer animation what Walt Disney himself was to painted cel animation. And, I have to admit, I didn't really find a rat who wanted to be a chef all that appetizing (pun intended). But the previews have won me over on that aspect just a bit.

There are articles all over the web putting so much context in director Brad Bird's work. I don't know if its as deep as some writers would have you believe, but it seems that he has captured the perfect blend of kiddie entertainment and serious adult enjoyment. Instead of a few bones thrown at the parents, both generations can enjoy the whole movie.

Critcal acclaim for the film has been overwhelming (a whopping 92% fresh ranking over at Rotten Tomatoes). It is being released in tons of theaters and advance buzz has been good. It looks like Pixar is going to be around for some time to come.

 

Evening

3. Evening (978 Theaters): Box Office Mojo says this is a wide release. I'll just take their word for it.

What I do know is that the movie has a veritable who's who of female acting in it, including two sets of mother/daughters (Redgrave and Richardson, Streep and Gummer).

The plot seems to be a chick flick version of  Citizen Kane. A martiarch of a family says the name of a mysterious man on her death bed. Her daughters attempt to find out who it was, leading to a recounting of the last 50 years of the woman's life.

Yeah.

Well, it's nice that there will be something for the ladies to go see while their husbands and boyfriends see FF, Die Hard and the other action movies that are out.

So, what do I think the top 5 will look like? And what will the number one movie be? Will it be John McClane? Or the rat who want to be a chef? Place your bets! Place your bets!

 

 

1. Ratatouille
2. Live Free or Die Hard
3. Evan Almighty
4. 1408
5. Fantastic Four

Yeah, I'm going with Pixar over Bruno. More theaters and more family friendly. Other than that, just a shift of the top three films from last week down two spaces.  

 

Weekend Box Office: How did I do?

Pretty damn crappy. This is what I predicted:

1. Evan Almighty
   
2. Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer
   
3. Knocked Up
   
4. 1408
   
5. Ocean's 13

This is how it ended up.

1. Evan Almighty
2. 1408
3. Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer
4. Ocean's 13
5. Knocked Up.

I got all the movies that were in the top 5 right, but only one in the right position. Jeff may have been right when he said that Evan Almighty would pull the comedy audience away from Knocked Up. My 1 for 5 this week brings my 9 week total to 23 for 45, and my average to .511. Yikes.

And for those of you who remember this post, Spider-Man 3 is now up to $876,392,857. Which means even if Radar was right, Spidey 3 brought home more money that entire studios make in a year in profit. Eat it, Radar!