All apologies for neglecting to write up the weekend arena last week, but my rationale is simple and is offered here: I could not bring myself to write anything about Rock of Ages or That’s My Boy. Some of you might be wondering, What’s hard to write about two crappy films? – something totally justified by the […]
What can knock Snow White and the Huntsman and Men in Black III from their blockbustery perches? Perhaps a tale about the quest for the origins of our existence. The kids are also sure to flock to the latest installment in the we’re-not-Pixar-but-we’re-trying movie studio franchise. If you’re looking for something filled with quirky, mordant, eerie people — or […]
Perhaps my low-to-no expectations influenced what I’m about to write here. Or, perhaps Cameron Crowe’s characteristically solid soundtrack brought me to a nostalgic familiar place. Regardless, We Bought a Zoo was pretty good. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a surprise to see those words transfer from my brain to the page, but it’s true: […]
Not sure if any of these will not Men in Black III from the top spot, though this weekend’s openings might drive people in droves to Battleship, which is still looking to lose about $200 million domestically. Taylor Kitsch really needs to find a new agent. John Carter + Battleship = career napalm. However, if you’re in […]
(Take 5 is a recurring column in which we gather up five of our favorite Movies About Gladiators contributors and ask them a few questions about cinema. This edition is extra special because we have six people answering. Below are their responses.) 1. Why is it seemingly so difficult to make a successful trilogy? Dustin Freeley: For […]
About ten minutes into Michael, you realize that there is no angel from Saturday Night Fever coming to shatter the innocent veneer or heavenly ideology. The protagonist of Markus Schleinzer’s Michael is a quiet insurance salesman. He smokes like our aforementioned angel, has a beer over dinner, but aside from the ten-year-old boy he keeps locked in […]
Hang on to your cliches folks! Men in Black III is sure to challenge them all and include a few that left at the end of last decade, like any reference to Andy Warhol, free love, televisions, record players. If giving Scientology money isn’t your bag, check out Orin Peli’s new horror flick, one guaranteed to keep you […]
Cowboys and Aliens is a cocktail of fun, silliness, and attempts at transparent meta-commentary. The film begins with a mystery as Jake Lannergan (Daniel Craig) awakes in 1873 in the Arizona dessert, and we, by default, are introduced to our first alien: a man unaware of his surroundings and completely foreign to the rest of the characters […]
The Avengers is an exercise in giving characters enough screen time without making them seem exploited and underutilized. And, for the most part, it works and successfully builds off of the characters limned in previous installments leading up to this supergroup of an action hero film. By far, the Hulk is the best part of The Avengers. […]
This weekend brings us the latest installment in the two-hour-commercial genre, a bunch of people popping out progeny, an exploration of men and their grooming habits throughout the years, and Sam Jackson kicking ass — this time without the aid of a raging green monster or an iron-clad playboy / philanthropist. Battleship: I understand the logic of […]