Traitor - 3 stars (opened Wednesday)
Don Cheadle stars as an American Special Operations officer who goes undercover with a terrorist organization in the middle east. The movie does a great job making you question whether he is still undercover or has completely gone over to the other side. Don Cheadle is always great, and he plays the character perfectly. We also get great performances from Guy Pearce and Jeff Daniels. Its too bad the movie is opening on one of the worst movie weekends of the year. Cheadle should get an Oscar nomination for this movie, but he probably won't because not enough people will see it.
Babylon A.D. (not screened for critics)
Director Mathieu Kassovitz says "It's pure violence and stupidity", "parts of the movie are like a bad episode of 24", and "I should have chosen a studio that has guts." How bad does a movie have to suck for the director to say its a big steaming pile of crap?
Disaster Movie
From the people who made Meet the Spartans and Epic Movie. I hear this parodies the latest superhero movies more than disaster movies, but the name Superhero Movie was already taken. The biggest stars in this movie? Carmen Electra and Kim Kardashian. Seriously.
College (not screened for critics)
Three high school students visit a college campus, pretent to be students, join a fraternity, and hilarity ensues. I'm guessing this isn't as good as Superbad.
Elegy
Ben Kingsley has love scenes with Penelope Cruz, which isn't quite as creepy as when he made out with Mary-Kate Olsen in The Wackness. But still a little creepy.
Man on Wire
Imagine the World Trade Center is still standing. Now imagine stringing a wire across the tops of the towers and walking from one to the other. That's what Philippe Petit did back in 1974.
The Last Mistress (Une Vieille Maitresse)
Its a period drama directed by Catherine Breillat (Fat Girl, Romance), and starring Asia Argento (xXx, The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things). Breillat's movies all have nudity and sex, Argento gets naked on screen a lot, so I'm guessing this will be a nice G-rated family movie.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Out on DVD today (well, yesterday).
Brotherhood of the Wolf: Director's Cut (2 discs)
I saw this when it came out in 2001, and I don't remember being blown away by it. But the director's cut is about 10 minutes longer than the theatrical cut, and the second disc has some good bonus features. I will probably have to check this movie out again. Maybe the added 10 minutes will make all the difference and I will love it.
Cannibal Holocaust
One of the most controversial movies ever made (another is listed below), the director was actually arrested and charged with murder when the movie came out. He had to get the actors to appear in court to prove that he didn't kill them. The movie is that realistic. And disgusting. I dare you to watch it.
Chicago 10
The true story of protestors who were put on trial following the 1968 Democratic National Convention, it premiered at Sundance 2007. For a while Spielberg was going to direct a movie based on the same events called The Trial of Chicago Seven starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Not sure if they are both still attached, or if the movie will ever be made.
Entourage: The Complete Fourth Season
I hear great things about this show. I need to catch up on it soon.
Heroes: Season 2
I hear mixed things about this show. I may catch up on it someday.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning
Because after the Star Wars prequels, we really want to know every character's origin story.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector's Edition and Ultimate DVD Set
I've never seen this, but this DVD set makes me want to see it. I love DVD sets like this. Extras up the ass, including commentary by Tim Burton and Danny Elfman. But the best part sounds like Tim Burton's original illustrated poem narrated by Christopher Lee. The Ultimate DVD set would look great on the mantel, but it will cost you like $125.
Nude for Satan
Because Satan wants you to get naked ...
Postal
Another masterpiece by the great Uwe Boll. Yeah, right. Apparently no distributor wanted to touch it, it only got a limited theatrical release, and the critits all hated it (9% at www.rottentomatoes.com). It generated enough controversy that I want to see it, just to see what the fuss was about.
Redbelt - 3 stars
It helps if you like David Mamet's movies. This one's about a martial arts instructor who is forced to compete in prize bouts, even though its against his moral code. Another great performance from the great Chiwetel Ejiofor (say that 5 times fast), and a surprisingly good dramatic performance by Tim Allen.
Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom: Criterion Collection
This is the other one on the 'most controversial movies of all time' list. It takes a story by the Marquis de Sade and puts it in fascist Italy during World War II. Featuring nudity, torture, shit-eating (I shit you not), fun stuff like that. As with all Criterion DVDs, this features lots of good bonus features. You know if this movie is for you.
Son of Rambow - 3 stars
This is a great movie that reminds you what its like to be a kid and unpopular (assuming you were one of those). A sheltered kid who has never seen a movie before sees First Blood, and is immediately obsessed with Rambo. He decides to make his own movie, casting himself as the son of Rambo(w). Bonus features include a making of featurette and commentary with director Garth Jennings, producer Nick Goldsmith, and actors Bill Milner and Will Poulter (the two main kids). The kids' mothers even show up in the commentary.
The Shield: The Complete 6th Season
I hear really good things about this show. I saw the pilot episode and it was very good. The end hits you like a sucker punch to the gut.
UFO Hunters: Season 1
My roommate loves this show.
What Happens in Vegas - 2 1/2 stars
I didn't think this was nearly as bad as the critics said (27% at www.rottentomatoes.com). I think it makes for a pretty good date movie. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz play their standard roles, and they have decent chemistry together. Some of the jokes are too obvious, been-there-done-that, but the movie doesn't suck. And their friends Tipper (Lake Bell) and Hater (Rob Corddry from The Daily Show) have some very funny moments.
Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?
I hate to spoil it, but Morgan Spurlock doesn't find Bin Laden.
I saw this when it came out in 2001, and I don't remember being blown away by it. But the director's cut is about 10 minutes longer than the theatrical cut, and the second disc has some good bonus features. I will probably have to check this movie out again. Maybe the added 10 minutes will make all the difference and I will love it.
Cannibal Holocaust
One of the most controversial movies ever made (another is listed below), the director was actually arrested and charged with murder when the movie came out. He had to get the actors to appear in court to prove that he didn't kill them. The movie is that realistic. And disgusting. I dare you to watch it.
Chicago 10
The true story of protestors who were put on trial following the 1968 Democratic National Convention, it premiered at Sundance 2007. For a while Spielberg was going to direct a movie based on the same events called The Trial of Chicago Seven starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Not sure if they are both still attached, or if the movie will ever be made.
Entourage: The Complete Fourth Season
I hear great things about this show. I need to catch up on it soon.
Heroes: Season 2
I hear mixed things about this show. I may catch up on it someday.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning
Because after the Star Wars prequels, we really want to know every character's origin story.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector's Edition and Ultimate DVD Set
I've never seen this, but this DVD set makes me want to see it. I love DVD sets like this. Extras up the ass, including commentary by Tim Burton and Danny Elfman. But the best part sounds like Tim Burton's original illustrated poem narrated by Christopher Lee. The Ultimate DVD set would look great on the mantel, but it will cost you like $125.
Nude for Satan
Because Satan wants you to get naked ...
Postal
Another masterpiece by the great Uwe Boll. Yeah, right. Apparently no distributor wanted to touch it, it only got a limited theatrical release, and the critits all hated it (9% at www.rottentomatoes.com). It generated enough controversy that I want to see it, just to see what the fuss was about.
Redbelt - 3 stars
It helps if you like David Mamet's movies. This one's about a martial arts instructor who is forced to compete in prize bouts, even though its against his moral code. Another great performance from the great Chiwetel Ejiofor (say that 5 times fast), and a surprisingly good dramatic performance by Tim Allen.
Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom: Criterion Collection
This is the other one on the 'most controversial movies of all time' list. It takes a story by the Marquis de Sade and puts it in fascist Italy during World War II. Featuring nudity, torture, shit-eating (I shit you not), fun stuff like that. As with all Criterion DVDs, this features lots of good bonus features. You know if this movie is for you.
Son of Rambow - 3 stars
This is a great movie that reminds you what its like to be a kid and unpopular (assuming you were one of those). A sheltered kid who has never seen a movie before sees First Blood, and is immediately obsessed with Rambo. He decides to make his own movie, casting himself as the son of Rambo(w). Bonus features include a making of featurette and commentary with director Garth Jennings, producer Nick Goldsmith, and actors Bill Milner and Will Poulter (the two main kids). The kids' mothers even show up in the commentary.
The Shield: The Complete 6th Season
I hear really good things about this show. I saw the pilot episode and it was very good. The end hits you like a sucker punch to the gut.
UFO Hunters: Season 1
My roommate loves this show.
What Happens in Vegas - 2 1/2 stars
I didn't think this was nearly as bad as the critics said (27% at www.rottentomatoes.com). I think it makes for a pretty good date movie. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz play their standard roles, and they have decent chemistry together. Some of the jokes are too obvious, been-there-done-that, but the movie doesn't suck. And their friends Tipper (Lake Bell) and Hater (Rob Corddry from The Daily Show) have some very funny moments.
Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?
I hate to spoil it, but Morgan Spurlock doesn't find Bin Laden.
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