Week of « Prev | Next »
13 articles
Fight Club – Blu-ray
20 November 2009 7:33 AM, PST
Blu-ray Review
Directed by: David Fincher
Cast: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Meat Loaf, Helena Bonham Carter, Jared Leto
Running Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
Rating: R
Due Out: November 17, 2009
Plot: An insomniac thirty something (Norton) with no purposeful existence meets an anarchist (Pitt). Together they start a “fight club,” which evolves into an underground society that offers men more happiness than the possessions that have ruled their lives.
Who’S It For? By appearance, Fight Club is a guy’s movie, a bonanza of machoness that has dudes beating each other in order to achieve catharsis. However, the mind of Fight Club extends far beyond the action movie genre, and is presented with an aesthetic brilliance that is worth a viewing itself.
Movie:
In honor of the tenth anniversary release of the amazing Fight Club, I am adding a few things to the organization’s list of rules, as things »
- Nick Allen
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
20 November 2009 7:28 AM, PST
Directed by: Chris Weitz
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Michael Sheen
Running Time: 2 hrs 30 min
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 20, 2009
Plot: Bella (Stewart) and Edward (Pattinson) are happily entrenched in human/vampire coupledom, when near tragedy forces Edward to leave Bella behind. In this installation, Bella’s friendship and attraction to the werewolf Jacob (Lautner) is the main focus.
Who’S It For? Fans of the book and twitterpated young girls everywhere.
Expectations: I thought it would blow. I loved the books and the first movie was an embarrassment. I know what you’re thinking, all you semi-psychotic Twilight fans! You’re thinking: “We need something to burn in angry, hateful effigy.” Well, hold that thought and read on!
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan: Kristen Stewart bugs the hell out of me, but she’s a fantastic actress and she »
- Morrow McLaughlin
He Said – He Said … Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
20 November 2009 7:18 AM, PST
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is the story of an overweight 16-year-old who is physically and emotionally abused. I know, it sounds like an after school special, not a potential Oscar-winning film. Lee Daniels (Shadowboxer) directs his second film which stars Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton and Mariah Carey. As always, it’s better to read reviews if you are planning on seeing this film. With all of the “said” articles, nothing is off limits. Plot spoilers, big twists and the ending are all fair game for us to talk about. Enough jibber jabber, onto the film Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire with he (Jeff Bayer) and he (Nick Allen).
Bayer’s Tsr – 8/10
Allen’s Tsr – 5/10
Bayer Said
I knew you were desperate for someone else to see this film. I also knew you gave it a 5/10. Plus, I knew it was about a big girl, »
- Jeff Bayer
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
20 November 2009 7:12 AM, PST
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Directed by: Lee Daniels
Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey
Running Time: 1 hr 45 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: November 20, 2009
Plot: An overweight 16-year-old girl (Sidibe) struggles to keep her life together while living with her abusive mother (Mo’Nique) and attending an alternative education school in Harlem 1987.
Who’S It For? If you can’t handle rape, physical and emotional abuse, then don’t even think of seeing this film. In fact, it’s hard to say, “You’ve got to see this movie, you’ll love it!” It’s more a movie you should see. It’s the struggles of lives most of us barely know.
Expectations: Fat girl. Tough times. I was a little worried this would come off like an after school special.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Gabourey Sidibe as Precious: The layers of this performance have »
- Jeff Bayer
The Blind Side
20 November 2009 5:00 AM, PST
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates
Running Time: 2 hr 6 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 20, 2009
Plot: Based on Michael Lewis’ book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game,” this is the true story about an extra-large, struggling teenager (Aaron) taken in by a do-gooder (Bullock) who hopes to turn his life around.
Who’S It For? It’s not a sports movie. It’s not a football movie. This is a family drama about the difficulties in raising children and helping those less fortunate. Football plays a role eventually, but not as much as everything else.
Expectations: For me, the preview looked like it was a good story about a young man who didn’t fit in, and Bullock threw herself into the mix. It did not look promising, almost like I couldn’t enjoy this without worshiping her new Southern accent. »
- Jeff Bayer
Early fan review of The Twilight Saga: New Moon
19 November 2009 3:35 AM, PST
On Friday, you’ll be able to find all our film coverage of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Morrow McLaughlin (who read the novels) and Nick Allen (who didn’t read the novels) will have scorecard reviews and they will be attacking each other in a He Said – She Said.
So what to do until then? Don’t worry. We have you covered.
Twilight Novel Novice saw an early screening of the film. And we’ve decided to forgive them for that “stuffy” comment…
Last year, Novel Novice Twilight brought you a review of “Twilight” that was written for fans, by a fan. Now we’re back to do the same with “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
Our review is, once again, written By a fan — For the fans (no stuffy movie critic types here). It’s our way of sharing with »
- Jeff Bayer
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas – DVD
18 November 2009 12:38 PM, PST
DVD Review
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas
Directed by: Fred Savage
Cast: Charlie Reynolds, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, Rob, McElhenney, Danny DeVito
Running Time: 43 mins
Rating: Nr
Due Out: November 17, 2009
Buy – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Its A Very Sunny Christmas
Plot:
The gang at Paddy’s pub gets ready for Christmas in only ways that they know how. Mac and Charlie are off to relearn the Christmas spirit. Dennis and Dee are trying to teach Frank a lesson ala the Christmas Carol. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned.
Who’S It For? If you watch this series week in and week out, desperately waiting for new episodes, then this is for you. If you’ve never seen the show before, this isn’t where you should start. This is a dysfunctional “Seinfeld” and yes, I know there is some redundancy in that. »
- Jeff Bayer
Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) – Blu-ray
18 November 2009 11:54 AM, PST
Blu-ray Review
Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
Directed by: Kevin Smith
Rating: R
Due Out: November 17, 2009
Who’S It For? With the fan-based nature of his movies, if you like these titles from writer/director Kevin Smith, then you probably own them already. It’s really up to you if you want to shell out ninety dollars to have their latest incarnation, though none of them really demand a high definition presentation except for maybe the more Hollywood Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. The documentaries about each movie are fun watches, but perhaps you should put this on your wish list before your immediate shopping list.
Movies:
Kevin Smith embraces the suckage of work by finding the amusing nature of the weird sh*t that can go on during one shift. Slaving away at a beat down convenience store on »
- Nick Allen
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection – Blu-ray
17 November 2009 4:01 PM, PST
Blu-ray Review
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection
Directed by: John G. Avildsen, Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith
Running Time: varies
Rating: PG (Rocky V is PG-13)
Due Out: November 3, 2009
Buy Rocky: The Undisputed Collection [Blu-ray]
Plot: A south-paw boxer (Stallone) from Philadelphia turns from a nothing to a champ. Throughout his career he must battle new foes in and out of the ring, with his wife (Shire) by his side.
Who’S It For? Do you get sucked into the Rocky films every single every single time they are on USA and Spike? Are you a fan of the underdog getting his shot?
Movie:
Rocky: Yes, to watch it now, the film crawls in the beginning … and middle. But this is clearly the best of the bunch. Most rewatchable? No. But clearly the most quality film. Rocky is a million to one shot. »
- Jeff Bayer
MacGruber with Will Forte and Ryan Phillippe to open in April
17 November 2009 5:24 AM, PST
First, MacGruber was a Saturday Night Live sketch starring Will Forte as a MacGyver knock off. Then it moved to a Pepsi commercial. So now the only logical conclusion is big box office film, right?
MacGruber is set for the big screen on April 23.
The cast has expanded with Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig, Val Kilmer, Powers Boothe and Maya Rudolph. Yes, that’s right, Phillippe and Kilmer are along for the ride.
It’s directed by Jorma Taccone, who’s best known for … Ok, he’s not really known yet, but he’s directed SNL and had a small role in Hot Rod. Taccone also wrote the screenplay with Forte and John Solomon.
Enjoy a MacGruber/MacGvyer episode …
Subscribe to the comments for this post?Tweet This!Share this on FacebookAdd this to Google BookmarksStumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponShare this on TechnoratiDigg this!Buzz up! »
- Jeff Bayer
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
16 November 2009 4:26 PM, PST
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Directed by: Troy Duffy
Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Clifton Collins Jr., Julie Benz
Running Time: 2 hrs
Rating: R
Release Date: November 13, 2009 (Limited)
Plot: The vigilante assassins (Flanery, Reedus) return from hiding in Ireland to stop a copycat killer who is putting a bad mark on their legacy. While back home they attempt to fix the unfinished business with the powerful Yakavetta Mob.
Who’S It For? If you like action movies with slow motion shootouts, slim plots, and shabby moral lessons, then you probably saw 1999’s original The Boondock Saints. Now that ten years have past, do you want the same thing again, or would a hundredth re-watch of the first suffice?
Expectations: The first film succeeded with a few clever ideas, such as a different way to imagine a shootout. Now that the Saints aren’t particularly new to us, »
- Nick Allen
Box Office Review – Nov. 15 – 2012 crushes A Christmas Carol
16 November 2009 4:52 AM, PST
Weekend Top 5 Studio Estimates, November 13-15, 2009
Rank. Movie Title – Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #
1. 2012 – $65.0 million | 3,404 | $65.0 million | 1
Jeff Bayer’s Tsr – 3/10
2. A Christmas Carol – $22.3 million | 3,683 | $63.3 million | 2
Jeff Bayer’s Tsr – 6/10
3. The Men Who Stare at Goats – $6.2 million | 2,453 | $23.4 million | 2
Jeff Bayer’s Tsr – 8/10
Nick Allen’s Tsr – 7/10
4. Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire – $6.1 million | 174 | $8.9 million | 2
Nick Allen’s Tsr – 5/10
5. Michael Jackson’s This Is It – $5.1 million | 3,037 | $68.2 million | 3
Chris De Salvo’s Tsr – 9/10
In my weekly prediction (Box Office Preview – Nov. 13 – 2012 looks to destroy the competition) I only got the first two correct … sigh. The Fourth Kind fell out of the Top 5, and Precious is raking in huge numbers at just a few theaters. For those who are looking for a second opinion to Allen’s review. I will be seeing the film Monday, and will have a review later in the week.
It’s amazing to see 2012 dominate the box office and break records. »
- Jeff Bayer
Planet 51
15 November 2009 11:25 PM, PST
Directed by: Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad, Marcos Martinez
Cast: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Justin Long, Jessica Biel, Seann William Scott
Running Time:
Rating: PG
Release Date: November 20, 2009
Plot: An American astronaut lands on an inhabited planet where the aliens resemble 1950’s Americans. Once he lands, he needs the help of Lem (Long) to hide from the alien army that wants to dissect his brain.
Who’S It For? Kids. Though their are a lot of jokes aimed at adults that will go right over most childrens heads.
Expectations: Not high, the premise seemed kind of like it hinges on one joke based on the trailer.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Dwayne Johnson as Captain Charles T. Baker: The Rock continues his assault on children’s movies with this role as the handsome, charismatic, and slightly dim astronaut Charles Baker. Johnson’s voice is a great fit for this vain, »
- Megan Lehar
13 articles
