Movie Reviews and Ratings

2008/12/16 at 12:00am

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

12.16.2008 | By Alex Florez |

Rating: 2.0

Rated: PG-13 for adventure action and violence.
Release Date: 2008-08-01
Starring: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:NULL
Official Website: http://robcohenthemummy.com/

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Make no bones about it, The Mummy franchise is and always has been a blatant attempt to recreate the Indiana Jones lore. In this third installment, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the similarities are even more apparent. Rick ‘Ricochet’ O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) is Indy of course; Maria Bello (who replaces Rachel Weisz as Evelyn) is their version of ‘Marion’; and their son Alex O’Connell (Luke Ford) matches up with Indiana’s heir apparent, Mutt Williams (as played by Shia LaBeouf).

Unfortunately, the similarities also extend to the campiness, predictability, and unintelligent plot lines of ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’. Come to think of it, even their titles are both ridiculously long.

This time around, the O’Connells travel to Asia to battle the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li), awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse that a chinese sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) cast on him. The film, to its credit, moves along rather quickly with one battle scene following another, and its a good thing because the acting is often unbearable. At times, I couldn’t shake the feeling that newcomer Luke Ford, was doing his best Matt Damon impression. Just a terrible pick altogether to play Brendan Fraser’s son, since they look only a couple of years apart. An army of mummies, yetis in the himalayas and witchery I can believe, but Luke Ford playing Rick’s son, not a chance.

Of the three films, this one seems like the most poorly thought out as it strives to become more of a family adventure, than the thrilling archeological escapades in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ that most likely inspired the filmmakers in the first place. I assure you that years from now, these films will be no relic.

By Alex Florez

2008/12/16 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

Traitor

12.16.2008 | By Alex Florez |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG-13 for intense violent sequences, thematic material and brief language.
Release Date: 2008-08-27
Starring: Jeffrey Nachmanoff,
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://traitor-themovie.com/

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We know someone is either betraying a friend, a country or a principle – that we obviously get from the title. But who and why is something that’s buried deep enough in the film to keep us guessing and wondering how clever the filmmakers can actually get with this.

In some ways, ‘Traitor’ is the classic espionage film that mixes and matches modern day headlines to construct a plot where Americans continue fighting terrorism all across the world. To its credit however, it manages to personalize the story of its protagonist to a certain degree, stripping the film of the politically sententious rhetoric that so often make these films come across as propaganda.

Deceptively, Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda, Crash) plays Samir Horn, a former U.S. military operative who is linked to illicit activities in the middle east. When an FBI agent (Guy Pearce) heads the investigation, he begins to track Horn’s every move slowly uncovering the truth behind the massive conspiracy he’s been a part of.

Ultimately, the film is about a man trying to do the right thing for the right reasons, or his own convictions, but also about how wrong things can go in the process. In Traitor, that man just happens to be a Muslim American who finds himself in the middle of the conflict with hard decisions to make. However dangerously close the films comes to being about religious extremism and how far people will go for what they believe in, it is very careful with its commentary on the matter.

With a story that’s so rooted in politics and religion, the filmmakers actually manage to say very little about either subject. Both a good and a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Its moral ambiguity may frustrate some but alleviate others just tuning in to watch bombs being disarmed at the last possible second.

The film’s strong performances (save for Jeff Daniels as the veteran CIA contractor with a personal agenda) almost do the impossible: make it cliché-proof. Unfortunately, it is what it is: another spy thriller mirroring the ever present war on terror.

Jennifer Lopez returns to film with a ‘Plan B’

By Mack Chico

2008/12/16 at 12:00am

Movies

Jennifer Lopez returns to film with a ‘Plan B’

12.16.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Jennifer Lopez may have just given birth, but she’s all in favor of Plan B.

After taking time off her busy film career to play mama to fraternal twins Emme and Max (born last February), the A-lister has signed on to topline a fertility-themed romantic comedy for CBS Films.

Per Variety, Lopez will play a single woman who, unlucky in love, resorts to artificial insemination to have a child only to wind up falling for Mr. Right on the day she learns she’s pregnant.

Plan B, written by Kate Angelo, is slated to start shooting in April or May. Also in the pipeline for 2009, J.Lo is attached to star in The Governess, playing a thief who poses as a nanny to a wealthy widower in order to pull off the job of a lifetime.

‘Halloween 2’ is coming to a theater near you!

By Mack Chico

2008/12/16 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Halloween 2’ is coming to a theater near you!

12.16.2008 | By Mack Chico |

We just got word that Dimension Films will make “H2,” the sequel to Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake of “Halloween.” The film made $58.3 million domestically and was considered a success. Will the sequel do better?

Here’s a look at the press release Dimension sent us:

Once again, Rob Zombie has been tapped to write and direct. Malek Akkad of Trancas International Films, who also produced 2007’s Halloween with Dimension, will produce the sequel, along with Andy Gould of Spectacle Entertainment Group, Zombie’s long time manager and producing partner. The announcement was made today by Bob Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Dimension’s “Halloween” scored the highest Labor Day weekend opening ever with a record-breaking $30.6 million in its first four days of release and went on to gross nearly $60 million at the domestic box office in 2007.

Zombie’s “H2” will pick up at the exact moment the first movie stopped and follow the aftermath of Michael Myers murderous rampage through the eyes of heroine Laurie Strode.

“H2” will be Zombie’s fifth written and directed feature. Prior to the success of Halloween, Zombie released the critically-acclaimed film “The Devil’s Rejects” (2005), the follow-up to his cult classic “House of 1000 Corpses” (2004). Zombie just wrapped production on his animated feature film “The Haunted World of El Superbeasto” due to be released in 2009. Zombie, also an accomplished recording artist, has sold over fifteen million albums worldwide, making him one of Geffen Records’ top selling and longest running artists.

Bob Weinstein stated: “Following the success of 2007’s ‘Halloween,’ we are thrilled to be back in business with Rob Zombie, bringing a sequel to theatres. The fans have made it clear – and we agree – that they feel the franchise is in great hands with Rob Zombie.”

Rob Zombie said, ”I am very excited to be working with Bob Weinstein again and returning to the world of ‘Halloween.’ The remake laid the groundwork, now it’s time to really take Michael Myers to the next level. I believe we’ve just barely scratched the surface of where we can take this series.“

John Carpenter’s “Halloween” launched the Halloween franchise in 1978 and Moustapha Akkad, founder of Trancas International Films, executive produced the original classic. Akkad’s son Malek has continued with the franchise, producing “Halloween” (2007), “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) and now, “H2.”

“I am thrilled to be making ‘H2’ at Dimension, the home of the ‘Halloween’ franchise for the last 15 years,” commented Malek Akkad. “I look forward to working again with Bob Weinstein, as well as a filmmaker of Rob Zombie’s talent and stature.”

By Alex Florez

2008/12/15 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

The House Bunny

12.15.2008 | By Alex Florez |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: PG-13 for sex-related humor, partial nudity and brief strong language.
Release Date: 2008-08-22
Starring: Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.thehousebunny.com/

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From the get-go â€˜The House Bunnyâ€™ wants you to believe itâ€™s a post-modern fairy tale comedy set on a college campus. Only when it nearly forgets what the moral to its story is, it almost becomes the â€˜makeoverâ€™ episode from a daytime talk show.Â In fact, Iâ€™m inclined to say it turns the word â€˜makeoverâ€™ into a genre.

Leading the way is Anna Faris (Scary Movie), who steps into Shelley Darlingsonâ€™s pumps as a stereotypical blond Playboy bunny who is kicked out of Hugh Hefnerâ€™s mansion. But soon enough she finds a new home at an awkward sorority where the girls are dull, unpopular and desperate for pledges in order to keep the dean from taking away their house.Â Predictably however, Shelley takes it upon herself to transform the girls into beauty queens and become the most coveted group to be around.

The â€˜girlsâ€™, played by stars on the rise, Emma Stone (Superbad), Kat Dennings (Charlie Bartlett), Katharine McPhee (American Idol), Rumer Willis (Bruce and Demiâ€™s eldest) and a few others, are so surprisingly likable during their pre-makeover stage that youâ€™d almost wish they didnâ€™t undergo any treatment.Â Emma Stone in particular, works the â€˜bookwormâ€™ role so charmingly well, she steals more than one scene clearly meant for Faris to carry, who canâ€™t seem to hide how hard she tries for every laugh.Â

The pitfall here is that for too long a period, the film paints vanity in such a great light, that it sends mixed signals to the audience about the message the filmmakers want to convey. Is being beautiful on the outside really that important to get ahead in life? Well, for most of the film, they make you think so.Â Of course, thatâ€™s no message for a fairy tale to send – Shelley must learn that what boys really like is whatâ€™s on the inside. And so begins a mad and sloppy dash during the second half of the film to make things right.Â Â

One opportunity that the filmmakers certainly missed was to demystify the famous Playboy mansion. It does nothing to change or add to the widely held and fixed idea we all have of the estate.Â Instead weâ€™re limited to some Hugh Hefner cameos and a thinly put together subplot involving Shelleyâ€™s banishment.

Nevertheless, this female driven comedy has its appeal as screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde) take parts from â€˜The Revenge of the Nerdsâ€™ lore and attempt to make it their own.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is #1 at the box office!

By Mack Chico

2008/12/15 at 12:00am

Movies

The Day the Earth Stood Still is #1 at the box office!

12.15.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Keanu Reeves, an actor known for his offbeat movie choices, added another unlikely box office hit to his collection on Sunday with “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” a chart-topping remake of a 1951 sci-fi movie.

The film, largely ridiculed by critics, sold an estimated $31 million worth of tickets in the United States and Canada since opening on Friday, distributor 20th Century Fox said.

It was also the top pick internationally, raking in $39 million from 90 markets. Fox, a unit of News Corp, said the film was No. 1 in 53 of those markets, with Russia ($5.6 million) and Britain ($4.1 million) leading the way.

The film cost about $80 million to make, said Fox.

The North American tally was in line with expectations. It marks Reeves’ biggest opening since 2003’s “The Matrix Revolutions,” the third film in the blockbuster “Matrix” franchise, kicked off with $48 million on its way to $139 million. Since then, he has starred in a series of art-house pictures (2005’s “Thumbsucker”) and middling studio pictures (2006’s “The Lake House”).

Reeves, 44, plays the alien Klaatu, who comes to save Earth from itself. The film co-stars Jennifer Connelly. Scott Derrickson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”) directed.

“It’s an environmental as well as a political statement,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s senior vice president of domestic distribution.

Critics were less impressed. The Wall Street Journal said the movie was “insufferably full of itself,” while the Houston Chronicle described it as “a stunningly misconceived folly.” On the other hand, the Los Angeles Times said the film was “enjoyable.”

After two weeks at No. 1 in North America, the holiday comedy “Four Christmases” slipped to No. 2 with $13.3 million, taking its total to $88 million. The film, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

The only other new entry in the top 10 was also a Christmas tale. The Latin-themed ensemble piece “Nothing Like the Holidays” opened at No. 7 with $3.5 million. Industry analysts had expected an opening in the $5 million-$6 million range. It was released by Overture Films, a unit of Liberty Media Corp.

Rounding out the top five were the vampire romance “Twilight” at No. 3 with $8.0 million (total: $150 million); the canine cartoon “Bolt” at No. 4 with $7.5 million (total: $89 million); and the period drama “Australia” with $4.3 million (total: $38 million).

“Twilight” was released by Summit Entertainment LLC, which is privately held. “Bolt” was released by Walt Disney Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co. “Australia” was also released by Fox.

Nothing Like the Holidays (Movie Review)

By Mike Pierce

2008/12/12 at 12:00am

Reviews

Nothing Like the Holidays (Movie Review)

12.12.2008 | By Mike Pierce |

A holiday movie for the season, Nothing Like the Holidays stars a huge Latino cast, including Freddy Rodríguez, Luis Guzmán, Jay Hernández, Elizabeth Peña, John Leguizamo, and more. It’s about a Puerto Rican family living in the cold, windy city of Chicago, specifically Humboldt Park.

What’s it about, you may ask? Well, mix one crazy family, one white girl, a great soundtrack, and you get a pretty damn funny movie. Ok, ok, here’s the breakdown:

One son returns from Iraq, uncertain about what he wants to do with his life.
Another son is married to the white girl, who happens to make more money than him.
The sister, whom the family thinks is a huge actress in Hollywood, but isn’t (though she’s hot!).
The crazy cousin, who’s pretty much like another brother—he’s just nuts!
The almost-adopted son, living the street life and dealing with his own drama.
The dad, who runs a cool little store on the street corner, but is hiding a secret.
And last but not least, the mom, who thinks that “secret” is that he’s cheating on her.

Does that make sense? (Lol) The movie is funny and entertaining, and I loved the cast.

Hugh Jackman to host 81st annual Oscar awards!

By Mack Chico

2008/12/12 at 12:00am

Movies

Hugh Jackman to host 81st annual Oscar awards!

12.12.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Hugh Jackman will host the 81st annual Academy Awards in February. Executive producer Bill Condon and producer Laurence Mark made the announcement today.

Jackman takes over for comedian Jon Stewart, who has served as Oscar moderator for the past two years.

“Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star,” said Mark and Condon in a joint statement. “He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion. Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year¹s movies and to have fun doing it.”

The “Australia” actor previously hosted the Tony Awards in 2005, a year after winning the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in “The Boy from Oz.”

‘Nightmare On Elm Street’ remake begins filming next year

By Mack Chico

2008/12/12 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Nightmare On Elm Street’ remake begins filming next year

12.12.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Platinum Dunes’ remake machine can’t be kept down for long. After acknowledging that their plans for a Near Dark reboot have been scrapped due to it’s remarkable similarity to Twilight, the production company has green-lit a start date for their re-imagining of A Nightmare On Elm Street.

Producer Brad Fuller spoke with BloodyDisgusting and ShockTillYouDrop, and while he gave slightly different dates as to when shooting will begin, the bottom line is the cameras should be rolling by next summer.

“It’s like what we’re doing to Friday the 13th,” says Fuller. “It’s not Freddy cracking jokes. We want to make a horrifying movie. The concept is so scary, don’t fall asleep or you’ll die. This guy gets you when you’re most vulnerable, in your sleep. We love that. That’s the basis of the movie. It’ll be most similar to the first one but in terms of kills and dreams we’ll borrow from the entire series.”

Apparently Warner Bros. has been quite pleased with Friday the 13th’s test screenings, and that enthusiasm has helped get A Nightmare On Elm Street back on the fast track. The screenplay is currently being written by Wesley Strick, whose previous credits include Cape Fear, The Saint, and Doom. Fuller reiterated that Robert Englund will be replaced as child-killer Freddy Krueger, but he hopes the actor will return in one form or another.

Golden Globe nominations are announced; Bardem and Cruz on top

By Mack Chico

2008/12/11 at 12:00am

Movies

Golden Globe nominations are announced; Bardem and Cruz on top

12.11.2008 | By Mack Chico |

This is what the Oscar’s might look like as the nominations for the Golden Globes were unveiled:

“Doubt,” which tied with “Frost/Nixon” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for the most nominations with five, earned nods for all four of its main actors — Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis — but none for either best director or best drama. “Milk’s” Sean Penn received a best actor nomination, but the film — which the New York Film Critics Circle named the year’s best — was shut out of the best director and best drama categories as well.

“Frost/Nixon” earned a nomination for Nixon (Frank Langella) but not Frost (Michael Sheen). Both Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. earned supporting actor nominations for “Tropic Thunder,” but the film itself couldn’t find its way onto the best comedy or musical list. “Gran Torino,” the just-out Clint Eastwood flick that’s again earning the director critical plaudits, received its sole nomination for best song, which he co-wrote. (Eastwood also received a nomination for his “Changeling” score.)

“The Dark Knight,” the year’s top box-office success and the runner-up for best picture among the Los Angeles Film Critics, earned just one nomination, a supporting actor nod for Heath Ledger‘s performance as the Joker.

Then again, the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the Globes, showed some love toward movies that were generally overlooked by the general public.

“In Bruges,” a comedy that earned mixed reviews and had a quiet box-office run in late winter, earned nominations for best comedy or musical and actors Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. And Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” cleaned up — the film earned nominations for best comedy or musical and its stars Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall and Penelope Cruz. Allen, however, didn’t get a nomination for either screenplay or director.

The nominees for best drama are “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road” and “Slumdog Millionaire.”

The nominees for best comedy or musical are “Burn After Reading,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “In Bruges,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

The nominees for best director are Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Stephen Daldry (“The Reader”), David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), Ron Howard (“Frost/Nixon”) and Sam Mendes (“Revolutionary Road”).

The nominees for best actor in a drama are Leonardo DiCaprio (“Revolutionary Road”), Langella (“Frost/Nixon”), Penn (“Milk”), Brad Pitt (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”).

The nominees for best actress in a drama are Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”), Streep (“Doubt”), Kristin Scott Thomas (“I’ve Loved You So Long”) and Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road”).

The nominees for best actor in a comedy or musical are Bardem (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Farrell (“In Bruges”), James Franco (“Pineapple Express”), Gleeson (“In Bruges”) and Dustin Hoffman (“Last Chance Harvey”).

The nominees for best actress in a comedy or musical are Hall (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Sally Hawkins (“Happy-Go-Lucky”), Frances McDormand (“Burn After Reading”), Streep (“Mamma Mia!”) and Emma Thompson (“Last Chance Harvey”).

The nominees for best supporting actor are Cruise (“Tropic Thunder”), Downey (“Tropic Thunder”), Ralph Fiennes (“The Duchess”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) and Ledger (“The Dark Knight”).

The nominees for best supporting actress are Adams (“Doubt”), Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Davis (“Doubt”), Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”) and Winslet (“The Reader”).

Screenplay nominations went to Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”), David Hare (“The Reader”), Peter Morgan (“Frost/Nixon”), Eric Roth (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”).

The nominees for best animated film are “Bolt,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “Wall-E.”

The Globes also give out awards for TV series. Nominees for best comedy series are “30 Rock,” “Californication,” “Entourage,” “The Office” and “Weeds.”

Nominees for best drama series are “Dexter,” “House,” “In Treatment,” “Mad Men” and “True Blood.”

The awards will be presented on January 11. The show will air on NBC.