Lock, Stock, and Two Film Geeks

Pixar does it AGAIN. 4/4

Just when I think I’ve outgrown Pixar films, they go and release a film like Toy Story 3.

The best cartoons are the ones that are made for kids, yet have something for the adults to enjoy, whether it’s a few well-disguised jokes that go past the kids’ heads, fascinating animation, or just good old-fashioned nostalgia.  It’s in this way that Pixar is the sneakiest of film companies: they don’t make cartoons, they make real films.  They just happen to be animated.

Continue reading

We enter another week of “Taking Stock,” our weekly column in which the entire staff tells you what they think of the movies coming out this week based on very little knowledge and first impressions.  Also, if you can read this column, you have too much time on your hands.

Get Him to the Greek

James: Aldous Snow was the highlight of Forgetting Sarah Marshall for me.  I’d be down to see more of this character.

Benn:  Love Brand’s Aldous Snow character, but I’m not crazy about Jonah Hill in anything but very small roles.  Still, it just might be worth.

Dylan: I’m in a small minority that doesn’t think Russel Brand is entertaining. However, I did like Forgetting Sarah Marshall for reasons other than Brand, and P. Diddy (Diddy Dome Diddy Doo, or whatever he’s called now) looks kind of funny. If a group is going, I wouldn’t be opposed.

Fil:  Russell Brand was the best part of Forgetting Sarah Marshall (that bitch) – so if given a choice between this and anything else but Splice, I’d probably see this.

Anna: I really liked Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so I probably wouldn’t go into this kicking and screaming. But it’s really not worth the movie ticket.

Continue reading

Alien, The Thing, and The Abyss take focus in our Isolation Sci-Fi podcast where we discuss a bit of horror, a bit of sci-fi, the combination thereof, and how extreme isolated situations have an effect on characters.

As usual the podcast is available for download on iTunes and Podcast Alley. Please leave a review there if you haven’t yet, we need more listeners. And you can always listen to it right here on our web page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We enter another week of “Taking Stock,” our weekly column in which the entire staff tells you what they think of the movies coming out this week based on very little knowledge and first impressions.  Like the American Justice System.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time  

James: Because I’ve liked a lot of Bruckheimer films that even others have not, and because I have a nostalgia for the franchise, I may try to see this, this weekend.  But because of the mediocre reviews, it may not happen as well.  But if I see anything this weekend, it will be this.

Benn:  You know what, I don’t have a problem with the Disney/Bruckheimer adventure films; they’re easy fun and very enjoyable.

Dylan: The Bruckheimer/Disney Pirates films, though void of making any sense, were decent popcorn flicks. Kingsly is awesome, but I’m not sure about Gyllenhall. He doesn’t see like the action type of actor. If I’m dragged to this, I’ll do it without much complaining.

Fil:  You would think I’d be excited about this.  I love Pirates.  I love Bruckheimer.  But seriously – how the FUCK is Jake Gyllenhall a prince of PERSIA?  Also – the coolest thing about this (the parkour action) looks soooo bad.  No no no no no.

Anna: The only thing that barely tugs me about this movie is Kingsly, but I just don’t care to see another generic period/action/adventure/romance/CG piece. Continue reading

Haunting and Intimate: 3.5/4

You would expect a film titled sex, lies and videotape to be obscene, if not flat out pornographic.  And while there is virtually no sex and no nudity to speak of, the characters strip themselves bare through the art of intimate conversation.

Continue reading

We enter another week of “Taking Stock,” our weekly column in which the entire staff tells you what they think of the movies coming out this week based on very little knowledge and first impressions.

Shrek: The Final Chapter

James: I was barely able to make myself watch the last film on TV while multitasking and making food.  After that, I decided I had no need to move forward with the franchise, even though I love the first film.

Benn:  Mike Myers once said he was afraid that the no-talent police would come and get him.  No-Talent PD, we’re waiting….

Dylan: I must have been in the dark because I had no idea there was a third one let alone this forth. This one looks like they’re wringing the towel for whatever is left in the original idea, which doesn’t look like much anyways. Pass.

Fil: I was initially into Shrek – but then I realized the comic book Fables does everything Shrek does better.  This movie can go fuck itself.  Also, the last one was terrible. (I’ll probably watch it someday).

Anna: I love all three of the Shrek movies. They may not be the best movies out there, but I have a lot of fun with them. I’ll definitely be seeing this.

Continue reading

Ben Hur, Last of the Mohicans, and Braveheart take the forefront in our discussion of epic movies.

As usual the podcast is available for download on iTunes and Podcast Alley. Please leave a review there if you haven’t yet, we need more listeners. And you can always listen to it right here on our web page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We enter another week of “Taking Stock,” our weekly column in which the entire staff tells you what they think of the movies coming out this week based on very little knowledge and first impressions.

Robin Hood

James: Check out the upcoming podcast for my thoughts on these sort of epic movies.  This looks pretty cool, but it also looks like more of the same from all involved.  I’ll likely see it, so here’s hoping it’s good, but I’m not chomping at the bit.

Benn:  It looks like a typical Ridley Scott epic (see: “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Gladiator”), which isn’t a bad thing.  We may have seen this type of film countless times before, but you can’t argue with a strong cast and director.  Go.

Dylan: It’s got the look and feel of an epic film, like Gladiator or Master and Commander, but I just can’t get myself excited to see this one. When the trailer ends with Russell Crowe charging into battle, it just feels bland and steril. I’d see it if I’m dragged to it.

Fil:  I’ve gotta agree with James on this one.  I love the people involved, but this seriously looks like Gladiator 2 mixed with King Arthur.  I mean, I won’t shy away from it, but I just can’t get super excited about it.

Anna: What Fil said.

Continue reading

Iron Man 2 hit theaters just last Friday to favorable commercial and critical success.  In the film, Robert Downey Jr. and Mickey Rourke play enemies due to a generation-old betrayal, with one family being disgraced, and the other having acted disgracefully.                                                                        

Perhaps it was by mere coincidence that these individuals were cast as men who have, in one way or another, fallen from grace and must fight their way back to the top.  There aren’t many people like Mickey Rourke and Robert Downey Jr., who are as famous for their self-destruction as they are for their immense talent.

Continue reading

Letters to Boo-liet. 1/4

Hoping to latch onto fans of Twilight and Nicholas Sparks, Letters to Juliet isn’t hopelessly romantic so much as it is just plain hopeless.  What’s more frightening is girls from the ages of 14 to young women in their mid to late twenties (or tweenties maybe?) will be coming in droves to see this saccharine disaster.

Continue reading