Weekly Trailer Updates 4/28/2010

Check out these latest trailers...


Survival of the Dead

In theaters May 28th, 2010

Ondine

In theaters June 4th, 2010

 Living in Emergency

In theaters May 28th, 2010

African Cats

In theaters April 22nd, 2011

Beastly

In theaters July 30th, 2010


Grown Ups

In theaters June 25th, 2010




Looks like a pretty good line-up!

Classic Movies you Must See Before You Die

What makes a good movie? Or better yet what makes a movie a classic? Just like a good recipe there are essential ingredients that make a great film. Well I got a few that you definitely gotta see, its just that simple. If you have seen them already go ahead and watch it again.

From big budget blockbusters, to breakout independent films, to discoveries from around the world, moviegoers have seen exciting and groundbreaking cinematic work created in the last two decades. And many "cineastes" will tell you that film as an art reached its peak in the late '60s and early '70s. But the truth is there have been remarkable movies made in the 1990s and 2000s.

Check out a taste of some films from the past 20 years that are now classics. Tell me what you think!

1990
Goodfellas
Misery

1991
Beauty and the Beast
The Silence of the Lambs


1992
Malcolm X
Unforgiven 

1993
Groundhog Day
Schindler's List

1994
Forrest Gump
Pulp Fiction

1995
Heat
The Usual Suspects

1996
Fargo
Scream

1997
Eve's Bayou
Titanic

1998
 Saving Private Ryan
There's Something About Mary

1999
Fight Club
The Matrix
The Sixth Sense

2000
Almost Famous
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

2001
The Lord of the Rings
The Royal Tenenbaums 
2002
The Pianist

2003
City of God
Finding Nemo

2004
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Sideways

2005
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Brokeback Mountain

2006
Borat
Children of Men

2007
Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men

2008
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire

2009
Avatar
The Hurt Locker

DVD Releases 4/27/2010

Here are the new flicks set to hit stands today 4/27/2010:

It's Complicated (R)

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (PG-13)

Although a short list, it gives you a little of everything! Enjoy!

Simple and Straight to the Point...The Losers

After leaving the theater from watching The Losers, I came to this conclusion this is a movie that once you leave you are pretty much satisfied. At least I was.

Based on a comic of the same name, this film is an old-fashioned action movie with tough guys, guns, chicks, and explosions. The plot has the main characters, The Losers, traveling from place to place, working together, carrying out various missions, exchanging witty banter, while trying to find and destroy the ever-so-elusive Max, a ruthless boss who is very well-protected.

The Losers was a prime example of a fast-paced action movie that really does not have to explain a whole lot. Which is a good thing, because it could have easily been a movie that just went overboard and bores you. One thing that I liked aout this movie was that with each scene it manages to be clever, action-packed, and full of humor. Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard) who directs this action flick manages to show the audience that wherever the plot may go, the characters along with their relationship dynamics truly make this film shine.

Plus when it boils down a great cast is put together, such as this one, the can elevate a movie to its high potential making you think that this was not so bad after all. The chemistry amongst the cast make you believe in the movie, they almost give off this vibe as though they have worked together (in some cases they have). Each character definitely contribute to this movie in a unique (trust me)!

Once again try not to dissect the movie or you will really disappoint yourself. Take it for what it is a "simple and straight to the point" action flick.

Grade: B+

DVD Releases 4/20/2010

Check out the this week's DVD releases for Tuesday April 20th, 2010:

Avatar (PG-13)

The Lovely Bones (PG-13)

Crazy Heart (R)

The Young Victoria (PG)

Got some heavy hitters on this list! 

A Successful Remake!! (Death at a Funeral)

It's something about going to a midnight show, especially when it is a comedy. If you were sleepy before this movie you no longer will be. On late last night/ early morning I was able to catch the new comedy Death at a Funeral.

Aaron (Chris Rock) is a well-mannered and hard working young man, married to Michelle (Regina Hall), and still living at his father's home. When his father dies, it is up to Aaron, the oldest son, to organize the funeral and give the eulogy. The funeral takes place in his father's home and Aaron tries to put on an appropriate expression on his face to welcome his relatives, including his famous writer brother Ryan (Martin Lawrence), and his father's friends. But preserving a civil atmosphere will be a hard thing to do, especially, when from the very start, the undertaker makes a horrifying mistake. And Ryan wants to be the celebrity of the event without paying for anything. But those incidents are only minor compared to the information that Aaron and Ryan get from Frank (Peter Dinklage) the mysterious dwarf who is attending the funeral and nobody seems to know.

After watching this movie you will truly realize to "just say no to drugs". Each family member or family friend has some kind of quirk that makes them unique to the film. You can definitely tell that the characters truly embraced their role and enjoyed it at the same time. All in all I will say this is not a PC movie, but it doesn't need to be (Its black humor). Sometimes we miss out on "laugh out your chair" comedy, this movie was an example of not trying hard to be funny. Everything truly flowed.

Ok yeah it's the same story, but TRUST me from the clips of the original that I have seen this new one boosted it with many more enjoyable laughs. From what I could gather in the original in the first 10 minutes one couldn't tell weather they were watching a comedy or a tragedy. The all star cast did a great job bringing a new life to this movie. And for one who has not seen the original I thought this was a pretty good flick. Literally from beginning to end, I was dying laughing. Trust me when I tell you there is a little bit of everything in this movie. You can't help but lean back and say I got a family member just like him or her. And I will say this please watch out for Danny Glover's character (Uncle Russell) trust me he did it for me (LMAO)!!!

This is what you call a great remix/remake worth watching! When you go, you will definitely have fun!


Grade: B+

Weekly Trailer Updates 4/14/2010

Check out these upcoming trailers:
The Other Guys

In theaters August 6th, 2010

Dinner for Schmucks

In theaters July 23rd, 2010

The Losers

In theaters April 23rd, 2010

The Joneses

In theaters April 16th, 2010

The Secret in Their Eyes

In theaters  April 16th, 2010

The much anticipated ... Iron Man 2

In theaters May 7th, 2010

Exit Through the Gift Shop

In theaters April 16th, 2010

The high profile and high fashion...Sex and the City

In theaters May 27th, 2010

Robin Hood

In theaters May 14th, 2010

Splice

In theaters June 4th, 2010

Step Up 3D

In theaters August 6th, 2010

ENJOY!!

DVD Releases for 4/13/2010

Check out today's new DVD releases!

Pirate Radio (R)

Crazy on the Outside (PG-13)

Defendor (R)

Are movies losing their star quality?

Well I know you are probably wondering how this topic came to my mind. Well after going to the movies lately, the movies have been lacking in its luster and shine. As of lately many of the movies have trailers that are full of hype but when you actually go see it, it crashes and burns! Not everyone is an avid movie-goer like myself but it becomes a disservice when just any ol movie hits the screen.

What happen to the movies that have substance that keep you glued to the screen like the Godfather series, E.T., Pulp Fiction, Malcolm X, The Lion King, and many others. Its almost as though originality is gone and its the new day of remix theater. Now don't get me wrong there have been some movies that have been remade successfully (Ocean's 11, The Departed, Heat, Shaft) but does everything have to be a remake.  Yes movies are meant to entertain, but at the same time they should not wastes folks money either. Why do you think people are resulting to bootleg copies? You might even consider checking out some indie films. It just might surprise you in a good way.

Just think about it...

I only ask the question because its been on the brain...So tell me your thoughts...

Weekly Trailer Updates 4/6/2010

Here are your weekly trailer updates for the week:

Salt

In theaters July 23rd, 2010

The A-Team

In theaters June 11th, 2010

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky


The Expendables

In theaters August 13th, 2010

Peacock


Micmacs


Mother and Child

In theaters May 7th, 2010



Enjoy!

DVD Releases for 4/6/2010

Check out the new dvd releases for this week:

The Collector (R):

A killer awaits an ex-con with bloody games of his own. (Andrea Roth, Josh Stewart, Karley Scott Collins)

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (R):

Detective and prostitute live in post-Katrina New Orleans. (Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer)

Our list this week is pretty slim, but nonetheless we got something for ya!

Crash...I mean 'Clash of Titans'...

"The mortal son of the god Zeus embarks on a perilous journey to stop the underworld and its minions from spreading their evil to Earth as well as the heavens."

Now let me first start out by saying I have never seen the 1981 original version of Clash of the Titans however I have this theory that the more hype it builds the worse it is. And so far I am on a roll. I did not really plan on seeing this flick, but something said just go see it on a whim. Based off of the previews on tv one can assume that the "up-dated version" is nothing more than a huge CGI-fest...which is what it pretty much ended up being. And let me give you this disclaimer, if you are expecting to see more than CGI then you might want to think twice about going to see this film.

Anyone who has ever read mythology knows that every single tale is of epic proportions. Each individual book always tells a story of one man's struggle against countless odds that stretch over a long period of time. Basically you have a lot of time to tell an engaging story.

Put it like this the movie has many flaws, the story isn't great, the pace is off, the writing is so-so, and the dialogue is pretty sketchy at best. There was really no point in making this movie into 3-D at all, except that it takes every little penny from out the movie-goers pocket.

Grade: C

Tyler Does It Again!

All I can say is wow! Tyler has done it once again. I was definitely impressed Tyler Perry's newest addition, Why Did I Get Married Too.  The one thing that I like about these type of films that he makes they are sooooo realistic. You can gurantee that you know someone or a couple in one of these situations.

In any good sequel it is key to be able to follow along an pick-up from the last movie. With this one you do not necessarily have to see the first one to see the second. There a several hints and giveaways that will bring you back up to speed.

I like the fact that he even added some mystery because throughout the film you are constantly trying to guess what couple is headed to "Splitsville".

Going in you will already know that there is lesson, and Tyler does not disappoint us at all. After watching this movie you truly realize that you have seen many of the scenarios within our own friendship circle. Also in addition to a great storyline, the acting in this newest Perry film is truly remarkable each of the characters especially Jill Scott and Janet Jackson truly embraced their roles. I could not see it any other way.

Great cast, story, characters, great package! :-)

You don't want to miss out on this film. There is a little bit of everything from humor to saddness to action to twist here and a twist there. I will say the ending is something I will leave up to the viewer, somewhat on the fence for me.

All in all, a MUST SEE!!

Grade: A

In theaters Friday!! 4/2/2010

Check out the new flicks for this weekend! Its going to be beautiful weekend so why not catch a good movie!

Breaking Upwards (NR):

Two lovers (Daryl Wein, Zoe Lister-Jones) decide to end their relationship in stages.

Clash of the Titans (PG-13): 

Perseus, son of Zeus, embarks on a dangerous quest to save Andromeda.

The Greatest (R):

Grief-stricken parents meet a young woman who is pregnant with their late son's child.

Don McKay (R):

Everything seems a little off-kilter when a man returns to his hometown after 25 years.

The Warlords (R):

Blood brothers (Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro) grapple with battle and betrayal.

Why Did I Get Married Too (PG-13):

On vacation in the Bahamas, four close couples examine questions of love and fidelity.

Have a great weekend!

Throwback Thursday: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

An FBI trainee seeks advice from a brilliant, psychopathic prisoner to catch a killer...
A perfectly executed dramatic thriller that sits in a class all by itself....

The first of Thomas Harris's Hannibal novels to be adapted for the screen, only to be followed some years later with some very lackluster and non-intriguing follow-ups, despite how old the film is it still remains one of the most effective chillers of modern times. One of the best movies of the 90's and one of the few thrillers that can match up with Alfred Hitckcock's movies. All in all, the film manages some effectively disturbing scenes that make it a not altogether pleasant viewing experience.

The psychological path of Hannibal is hard to trace. He is so odd a mixture of intelligence, cruelty, insanity, grace and charisma. In the depth, fledgling FBI trainee Clarice is no match of him. She is still naive yet very ambitious. On the trail of the serial killer Buffalo Bill, she's sent to interview him, a psychiatrist-turned-cannibal. Hannibal is willing to provide clues to finding the killer but only in return for personal information about Clarice herself. He calls it Quid Pro Quo. In those mind games, the two dance backward and forward between cannibal and FBI agent, mentor and student, psychiatrist and patient, father and daughter.

The Silence of the Lambs, is a powerful example of how great a movie can be when superb writers, directors, actors, and others work at the top of their craft. It's quite interesting the intensity that comes from the two main characters Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster Both would do a tremendous job in their portrayals of Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling. Hopkins has one of the most billiant performances, so charming and yet so demented. And Jodie Foster expresses a character that is so easily relatable. And to top it off  Hopkins' screen time in the entire film was just over 16 minutes. Imagine that it takes only 16 minutes and you've done your job!

The Silence of the Lambs is one of those types of films that one would call a sleeper. When first released it was anticipated to have a high success mark, unfortunately it was so low that it was almost immediately distributed to movie rental companies rather than to theaters. Roger Ebert would say the "terrifying qualities" of Hannibal Lecter, and has since recognised the film as a "horror masterpiece," alongside such classics as Nosferatu, Psycho, and Halloween."

The film would, however, go on to win the top five Academy Awards in that year: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Screenplay. To date, it is the third and most recent winner of this grand achievement.

To this day, I still get chillls after watching this film. it really plays with your mind, you will definitely think outside of the box. Despite being scared it is still an excellent mystery and suspense film. This is a film that will wrap itself around you and you will likely never be able to shake some of the key elements you have seen in this amazing masterpiece.

*Interesting Fact: Michelle Pfeiffer was initially offered the role of Clarice Starling, but turned it down. She has said about her rejection of the part, "that was a difficult decision, but I got nervous about the subject matter." According to Jonathan Demme (Director), there were 300 applicants for the role of Clarice Starling.

The Top Ten Most Anticipated Summer Movies of 2010

Spring is here and it looks like Summer will be even bigger at least as it pertains to the movie industry. I have compiled a couple of movies together to showcase some of the most anticipated movies for this summer.

Check it out and let me know what you think:
1. Iron Man 2
2. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
3. Robin Hood
4. Toy Story 3
5. The Last Airbender
6. The Expendables
7. Inception
8. Predators
9. Sex and the City 2
10. Shrek Forever After

Honorable Mention:  Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
 

Feel free to re-rank, agree, disagree, add, or remove, either way this is going to be ANOTHER great summer for the movies!