Stepping back into the Blog, and the Upcoming Weekend!

I’m going to be trying to make like Viktor above and be aggresive on this blog again.  I’ve actually been looking to do a site re-design again, to make it easier to find articles here, and less complicated. I think I may have taken on a bit too much when I went with this design.  It’s nice, but then I tried to do too much customization and junk like that, and it’s just gotten messy.  Hopefully I find something soon so that you don’t have to go searching through my archives just for something to read!  Not that you wouldn’t be doing that anyway… Read more

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Movies this Weekend! 1/23/09

Hey.. this is post #300 for the blog!  I’m surprised I’ve made it this far, and I’ve really been slacking in the way that I’ve been posting.  No excuse for that, and I pledge to continue to get back on the right track, but make no promises.  In any case, I actually have a movie review for when I finally get to writing that, but first, let’s take a look at the movies that are out this coming weekend.

First up, we’ve got:

Frost Nixon - Directed by Ron Howard, Rated R

Frost/Nixon is the story of the battle between Richard Nixon, the disgraced former president, and up and coming journalist David Frost.  For nearly three years after he was forced from office, Nixon remained silent about what actually happened in the Watergate scandal.  However, he shocked the nation when he agreed to an all-inclusive interview, and selected David Frost to be the one to conduct the interview.  Nixon expected to easily outwit the journalist, and there were doubts even from his own staff that David Frost would be able to hold his own.  What happened instead was an epic battle of wits as Frost worked hard to get the truth as to what really happened.

Next up.. a fantasy based on the book by Corneila Funke, Inkheart (aff)

Inkheart - Directed by Iain Softley, Rated PG

A young girl finds out that her father can pull characters out of books and bring them to life.  However, when an evil character takes her dad hostage, she must assume the role of hero and try to rescue her dad.  There are a few good characters who will help her out along the way.

Now, another movie coming to wide release:

Revolutionary Road - Directed by Sam Mendes, Rated R

Frank and April meet at a party, get married, and to the outside world, seem like they have the perfect family.  However, that facade hides the turmoil that really exists in their lives, as their marriage falls apart.  To add to it, Frank works a job that he hates, and April feels that they don’t belong where they are.  Their realtor doesn’t see this, and introduces the family to her unstable son, hoping to bring some normalcy to his life.  The audience gets to watch as Frank and April’s lives unwind.

Lastly, one that I’m looking forward to….

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans - Directed by Patrick Tatopoulos

The prequel to the previous films in the horror/action series, it tells the story of Lucien.  Lucien is a werewolf, tired of his people’s enslavement by the vampires, decides to fight against their masters, despite his love of Sonja, the daughter of the vampire Viktor.

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

I can see it being busy this weekend, but I doubt it will be as the holiday season has passed, and those gift cards are likely running on empty.  The major draw of the weekend will likely be Underworld, but personally, I think it took too long for the limited releases to go wide.  Both were apparently excellent films (I’m talking about Revolutionary Road and Frost/Nixon if you didn’t pick that up), but I think that their appeal has dropped off.  I don’t know if the awards they won will help them, but I doubt it will be enough for them to make the impact that they should have.  Frost/Nixon could have actually drawn on the inauguration of the new President of the United States, but it appears that they’ve squandered that opportunity.  I’m sticking with Underworld for the top pick this weekend.

Don’t wait. Guarantee your seat before you go and avoid a sold out show. Skip the box office lines and buy movie tickets at Fandango.com.

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Movies This Weekend! 1/9/09

2009 made a bit of a bang at the box office as you can tell from our Weekend Wrap Up, but it felt weird because there were no new movies released.  However, it looks like the studios are trying to pick up right where they left off, with 5 movies going wide this weekend.  Will these films help make the beginning of the 2009 new movie season a success?  Let’s take a look:

Bride Wars - Rated PG, Directed by Gary Winick.

Weddings can bring out the best and the worst in people.  Bride Wars has been likened to the TV show Bridezillas, and if you’ve seen that, you should know what to expect!  Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway portray two best friends turned foes when they schedule their weddings on the same day.  This comedy shows what weddings can really do to your friendship if you let it happen!

Gran Torino - Rated R, Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Clint Eastwood plays a grizzled Korean war veteran who forms a friendship with a young Hmong man and his immigrant family.  Eastwood’s character refuses to move along with the times, holding onto ideals that have long passed, and staying in the same neighborhood despite the ever-changing demographic.  When his prized muscle car is nearly stolen as part of a gang initiation, Walt Kalwalski (Eastwood), must grapple with the realities around him, and the racism that he’s developed over the years.

Not Easily Broken - Rated PG-13, Directed by Bill Duke.

A relationship drama about a couple whose marriage is falling apart.  Based on Not Easily Broken: A Novel (aff) by T.D. Jakes.  Jakes also serves as a producer on this film.

Reader - Rated R, Directed by Stephen Daldry.

The story of Hanna Schmitz and Michael Berg.  Hanna has an affair with a young boy (Berg), with the two spending their short time together making love and reading literature.  When Hanna disapperas, Berg continues on with his life, but runs into her again about 10 years later.  However, she is on trial for her work as a S.S. guard during the war.  Berg is torn over what to do as he may know a secret that could save her life, yet feels that justice should be served.

Unborn - Rated PG-13, Directed by David Goyer.

Casey Beldon always hated her mother for leaving her as a child.  However, after strange and terrifying events begin to occur, she starts to understand why her mother left.  Beldon turns to her spiritual advisor Sendak, to try to make her nightmares stop.  With his help, Beldon uncovers a family curse that dates back to the days of the Nazis, a creature that can inhabit anything, and becomes stronger with each possession.  Her only hope is to close a door that has been pried open by someone who has never been born.

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

Personally, I think it’s a little early for a horror movie, and I feel that Bride Wars is actually the most appropriate movie for this time of the year.  However, the rating of the Unborn makes it a perfect weekend movie for the tweenage crowd, and the bane of my life.  I think you’d be surprised how much the rating of a movie actually makes a difference.  All I can say is, if you really want to see that movie, don’t go to a show around 7pm… it’s bound to be filled with plenty of high schoolers who are going to be obnoxious.

I’m gonna say Bride Wars makes #1… but that’s just my opinion.  What’s yours?

Don’t wait. Guarantee your seat before you go and avoid a sold out show. Skip the box office lines and buy movie tickets at Fandango.com.

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Weekend Wrap Up: Marley and Me sit up Top

Welcome to the first post here at Intermission at Work for 2009.  It’s late, and I know that I haven’t been doing much posting recently, but I hope to be able to do much more this year, and maybe recruit some writers to help me out.  I’m sure that there are plenty of moviegoers looking to get their opinions out, but either don’t have a movie blog or don’t want to go out and make a blog just for an occassional post.  (Even though that’s what it feels like I’m doing sometimes!)  We’ll talk more about that later though. In any case, let’s take a look at last weekend’s box office! Read more

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How to (Easily) Ruin a Movie for People

When people think of how to ruin a movie for people, some very typical things may come to mind.  Allowing your cell phone to ring, actually talking on the phone, throwing food, etc.  What I propose is somewhat different, but to a fairly regular moviegoer, I believe it can be just as annoying, and maybe even fully ruin the movie. Read more

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Movies This Weekend! 12/19/08

It’s about to get really crowded in theatres… well, at least in terms of product.  If you’re closer to a smaller location, you might want to go check out that movie before it leaves the theatre because that’s bound to happen a lot sooner now that we’ve got more movies.  Three this week (in wide release), then a few more on Christmas day… which doesn’t leave much room for older movies.  Let’s take a look at what’s going to be offered on Friday.  I think it’s a pretty strong slate actually.  It’ll definitely make things interesting for the Christmas holiday in terms of what people choose to go see.

The Tale of Desperaux, Directed by Sam Fell, Rated G

In the kingdom of Dor, there used to be magic in the air, laughter, and anything you could possibly want.  However, a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, and the kingdom became despondent.  Hope in the world was lost, and everything became grey.  Then Desperaux Tilling was born.  A small mouse, he cannot stand to be confined in his world, and is banished when he refuses to follow the rules expected of a mouse.  He refuses to be weak, despite being wheezy and having oversized ears.  He soon meets up with Roscuro, a fellow outcast; a rat who refuses to live in the underground like his kind.  Together, they embark on a noble quest to change the way their world is.

Yes Man, Directed by Peyton Reed, Rated PG-13

Carl Allen was never one to say yes to anything.  He lived a sheltered life, avoiding anything that could possibly be bad.  However, when he signs up for a self-help program that is solely based around saying “yes” to everything, he finds that his life can be changed in amazing and crazy ways.  However, he also discovers that it’s not always good to open your life to endless possibilities.

Seven Pounds, Directed by Gabriele Muccino, Rated PG-13

Will Smith is reunited with the directors and producers of The Pursuit of Happyness in this emotional drama.  Ben Thomas is an IRS agent with a secret, and must embark on a journey of redemption.  On his way, he will seek to forever change the lives of seven strangers, a task he must complete in order to obtain redemption.

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

As I mentioned before, these are very strong films.  We’ve got a good children’s movie coming out in Desperaux, a serious drama in Seven Pounds, and a comedy in Yes Man.  Basically, if there’s something you want to see or take someone to, you’ve got options this weekend.  However, with how close it is to Christmas, and all those gift cards yet to be distributed, I think that we’ll be disappointed at the Box.  I’m going to go with Seven Pounds in the number one spot, only because its hard to bet against Will Smith recently.  Desperaux will follow that in my rankings, and Yes Man will finish in third of the wide releases.

What do you plan on seeing this weekend?  Or will you just wait for Christmas?

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Weekend Wrap Up: The Box Office Stood Still… Almost

Well, the holiday shopping season is now in full swing… and it did reflect somewhat at the Box Office.  Keanu Reeves’ The Day the Earth Stood Still did manage to grab the top spot, but following right behind it was Four Christmases, which remained strong.  Hard to believe that movie has made $87.8 Million Dollars!!!  Here’s how the rest of the box office looked (after the jump): Read more

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Movies This Weekend! 12/12/08

We’re getting closer to the holidays, and yes, the holiday movies are starting to come in.  One movie that’s supposed to be huge, a kids movie, and another holiday movie.  Yep, that’s right…. another holiday movie.  I’m actually pretty happy about that because it’s what people are looking for around this time of year.  It may be corny, but christmas and holiday movies tend to do well around the holiday they are about!  Let’s take a closer look at what’s in store for moviegoers this weekend:

Delgo, Directed by Jason Maurer, Rated PG

The land of Jhamora is inhabited by two peoples who are extremely prejudiced against each other.  There are the Nohrin, winged masters of the skies, and the Lockni, who live on the land, and have harnessed it’s powers.  Delgo is a reckless Lockni teenager who develops a forbidden friendship with Kyla, the Nohrin Princess.  When their people find out about their friendship, hostilities rise.  In this time of trouble, the old exiled empress takes the opportunity to reclaim her lost throne.  Delgo is imprisoned falsely, but to escape, he must put aside his differences and join forces with his enemy, travelling through the land of Perran.

Nothing Like the Holidays, Directed by Rick Najera, Rated PG-13

The Rodriguez family is coming home to Chicago to celebrate the holidays, and the return of their youngest brothers from combat overseas.  Each one in the family has their own issues to deal with.  Returning home, Jesse finds his feelings for an old flame rekindled, while his sister has been trying to acheive her goal of becoming an actress for years with nothing to show for it.  To top things off, the oldest Rodriguez son has brought home an executive wife, much to the dismay of his mother.  When their mother reveals that she will be divorcing their father, the three siblings begin to think about their past a reconsider their futures.  Suddenly, when one of them is faced with a real life crisis, the entire family pulls together, and discover that they are much stronger than they ever realized.

The Day the Earth Stood Still, Directed by Scott Derrickson, Rated PG-13

A remake of a 1951 sci-fi classic.  Keanu Reeves plays an alien who comes to Earth, trying to convince them that they need to save their world.  An unstoppable robot is dispatched to Earth, and only one phrase stands in it’s way “Klatuu Barad Nikto”.  Fans of the old film will be glad to see that this made it into the movie, but you’ll have to listen carefully to hear it!

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

I think that there are three strong films coming out this weekend.  Four Christmases should be dethroned as the number one movie this week, especially with a second holiday movie in Nothing Like the Holidays.  The advantage that Four Christmases has is that its a comedy and is easier to watch (comedies are generally easier to watch, in my opinion), than Nothing Like the Holidays should be.  We’ve also got a potential blockbuster in The Day the Earth Stood Still.  A lot of sci-fi fans should be heading out to see if this compares at all to the original.  I’m actually pretty interested in that movie, so I’m going to try to check it out, but I’ve got plenty of catching up to do as well.

I’m also really far behind on the Christmas shopping… will you make it to the movies this weekend?

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Weekend Wrap Up: The Holidays Take their Toll

As I said in when I previewed the movies this past weekend, I didn’t really think that the films being released were appropriate for the time of the year.  Well, the box office really showed that, with Four Christmases taking home the top spot again.  In fact, the films that were released did so poorly, only two of them cracked the top 10!  Let’s see how the box office rounded out: Read more

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Movies This Weekend! 12/4/08

After a pretty big box office last weekend, will this week be able to match or even top it?  If I had to give my opinion (and I’m going to), I don’t think so.  We do have a few films that could make some noise, but I think that last week’s offerings were better.  Let’s take a look at what we have to look forward to this weekend!

Cadillac Records, Directed by Darnell Martin, Rated R

A film that explores the rise of Chess Records and the artists that rose to fame with it.  Leonard Chess, a young Polish emigrant hires a talented blues duo.  Fascinated by the sounds they produce, and wanting to get in on the lucrative recording industry, Chess arranges a recording session for Muddy Waters, one of the two he hired.  Waters’ initial recordings make their way up the R+B chart, and he becomes a success.

Chess tries to treat all his artists like family, buying them a Cadillac when they record their first hit.  However, conflicts of interests between all his artists begin to cause issues with his increasingly talented prodigies.  Soon, all of his artists are displaying their troubles, and trying to stay united while more and more scandals become revealed to them.  As Rock n Roll begins to rise, Chess’s artists try to move on as they are taken over by other popular artists.  However, each of them has lost a small fortune trying to live the high life, yet their spirit remains strong.  Chess eventually moves on and gets out of the record industry, but the blues live on.

I can’t even write this synopsis with any justice to the film without revealing too much! Sorry!

Nobel Son, Directed by Randall Miller, Rated R

A tale of familial dysfunction, betrayal, lust, and all that other good stuff.  Barkley Michaelson is trying to finish his PhD thesis when his father wins the Nobel prize.  However, his father’s past begins to catch up with him when Barkley is kidnapped on the even of the Nobel being accepted.  His father refuses to pay the ransom to free his son.  Soon, however, he will learn that payback is quite the b*tch.

Punisher: War Zone, Directed by Lexi Alexander, Rated R

Frank Castile continues to wage his war on the world of organized crime, setting his target on mob boss Billy Russoti.  After Russoti is left disfigured by Castile, he begins his plan for revenge as a new man, Jigsaw.  With Russoti’s men hot on his trail, and the FBI not able to bring in Jigsaw, Castile must stand up for himself to the army that is after him, to ensure that good will prevail.

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

I’m kinda surprised that with this being the holiday season, that studios would decide to release 3, count em, 3, rated R movies.  Do they not understand the atmosphere of the holiday season?  I may be wrong, but I really think that a movie like Four Christmases was perfect for the time.  Do people really want a couple of heart-wrenching tragedies or an action thriller about someone who is trying to fight an army of darkness?  I don’t think so.  That being said, because they’re new films, they’ll at least crack the top 10… but don’t be surprised to find those theatres less full than those for Bolt and Four Christmases.

What do you think… do you agree with me?

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