Trailer Time ("Schmucks"...and a crazy dude named "Scott Pilgrim"!)

- Posted by Rusty

"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"

Ramona Flowers: "We all come with baggage."
Scott Pilgrim: "Yeah, well my baggage doesn't try to kill me every five minutes"

Stacey Pilgrim: "Next time, we don't date the girl with 11 evil ex-boyfriends."
Scott Pilgrim: (weakly) "Seven."
Stacey: "Oh, well that's not that bad."

Trailer Rating: 5 bites [out of 5]

What IS this movie? Based on the very popular comic series, I had a vague idea of what Scott Pilgrim vs. the World would look like, but none of that comes close to this bizarrely awesome first teaser. Scott Pilgrim, a slacker and musician wannabe (Michael Cera, the king of lovable geeks) meets the girl of his dreams, Romona Flowers (Live Free or Die Hard and Sky High cutie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead--nice to see her get a leading role). But, as it turns out, to win her heart, Scott must battle and defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends, battle-royale, video-game-crazy style. Yep, you read that right. It's a hilarious idea, and I love the bait-and-switch in this teaser (which, at first, looks like another hipster teen comedy), as well as the "wham! zonk! kapow!" old-school comic-book visual style. From genre-bending director, Edgar Wright (who made two of my favorite films, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz), this just looks like a lot of creative fun. The supporting cast is also peppered with actors I love (Up in the Air's Anna Kendrick, Jason Schwartzman, and the soon-to-be Captain America, Chris Evans, who looks to rock his role as the obnoxious ex/skateboarding star, Lucas Lee). On top of all that, this looks to give Michael Cera a great chance to riff on the dweeby persona that made him famous...before turning that completely on its head as he develops into a legitimate geek fighting badass. Can't wait to see more! (as soon as the full-length trailer comes out, I'll have it up here as well) Scott Pilgrim takes on the evil exes on August 13, 2010. ["Dinner for Schmucks" trailer and thoughts after the jump]

"Dinner for Schmucks"

Trailer Rating: 2 1/2 bites [out of 5]

Shouldn't this look a bit funnier? I've been looking forward to seeing footage from this for a while now, and, well, the end result didn't floor me the way I thought it would. The premise - a bunch of corporate stooges have a weekly contest to see who could bring the most ridiculous guest to dinner - should definitely get some laughs. And, boy, does thing thing also have an amazing comic cast. I'll see anything with Paul Rudd in it (I'm actually watching his turn as Koonu in Forgetting Sarah Marshall right now!), and when you add Steve Carell, Office Space's Ron Livingston, Star Trek's Bruce Greenwood, The Hangover breakout, Zach Galifianakis (and one day I swear I'll learn how to properly spell/pronounce his name), and Flight of the Concords' Kristen Schaal and Jemaine Clement to the mix, there's bound to be some good entertainment here. I liked pieces of this trailer (especially the Post-It joke in the beginning, and anything with Zach Galifianakis and his "mind" powers), but other parts look a little stale. The subplot with Paul Rudd's disapproving girlfriend, in particular, already looks kind of grating, and something we've seen before too many times in comedies like this. On the flip side, the idea that this might turn into an offbeat friendship story (between Rudd's straight-laced hero and Carell's weirdo dead-mouse diorama-maker), before leading to an epic awkward dinner, is promising. We'll just have to wait and see. I know I'll watch this anyway, and, judging by their last collaborations (Anchorman and The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Paul Rudd and Steve Carell are brilliant together. And, after all, Paul Rudd's last starring vehicle, I Love You, Man, had a so-so trailer too, and that movie's now resting comfortably on my favorites shelf. We'll find out July 23rd if this is all worthwhile.


What do you guys think of these trailers? Has anyone read the Scott Pilgrim comic-book series? (I think I'll check them out before the movie comes out). And which of these summer films are you more excited about?

I'll be back later with my review of Clash of the Titans!

Trailer courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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Trailer Time (Toys and Ogres)

- Posted by Rusty

These two trailers seemed appropriate to group together: both are for highly-anticipated family-franchise sequels, and both are hitting this summer to what will surely be blockbuster success. So, how do they fare? Read on to find out… [trailers and thoughts after the jump]

“Toy Story 3”

Trailer Rating: 4 ½ bites [out of 5]

Ken: “Love your legwarmers.”
Barbie: “Nice…ascot.”

Ah, I love this trailer. Seriously, is there any way the Pixar geniuses could mess this up? It’s always risky to do a third film in a series, let alone one that boasts one of the very best sequels of all time. Toy Story 2 is that rare film—it not only holds up to the original, but it actually improves upon it with more mature themes, bigger laughs, and perhaps most importantly, an even greater dose of heart (who didn’t feel for Woody as he feared being abandoned and forgotten as Andy got older? Or Jessie, for that matter, who was completely tossed aside as her girl grew out of playing with dolls). But I have absolute faith in Pixar, the hit-making machine that just keeps getting better and better with each new film. Plus, this film is also buoyed by phenomenal word of mouth from an early screening at ShoWest (would we expect anything less?). All the pieces in this trailer suggest a worthy final chapter for Woody, Buzz, Rex, Slinkie, and all the rest (great to see Joan Cusack’s Jessie the Cowgirl come back too). Best of all, the central idea this time around – of Andy leaving for college, and possibly leaving all his toys behind – not only leads to fantastic comic potential with the pre-school “monsters” and the Great Escape-inspired journey back to Andy, but also a poignant exploration of how our attitudes change toward the things we adored as kids (come on, we all had that favorite toy, who, like the Brave Little Toaster, seemed to have a special meaning to us, a personality underneath that plastic coating). I could’ve lived without the “log” joke, but that’s just nitpicking – even that has a pretty funny payoff in the end of the trailer. Oh, and looks like Barbie and Ken (voiced by the always-great Michael Keaton) will steal the show! And the toy dinosaur flirting killed me too. And can’t forget Mr. Potato Head’s “manly” toy rival… Ugh, is it May 23 already? Here’s hoping this will top The Incredibles as my all-time favorite Pixar film!

“Shrek Forever After”

Trailer Rating: 2 ½ bites [out of 5]

Speaking of great sequels, I thought Shrek 2 was another case when a follow-up actually outshone the original; I might be in the minority, but I found the second Shrek adventure more moving, heartfelt, and, frankly, wittier and far sharper than its predecessor. The Hollywood-like city of Far, Far, Away (with two Starbucks-es!), the dim-witted Prince Charming, Donkey getting competition for his position of Annoying, Talking Animal, and, really, what could beat Shrek’s lovely character arc, where he cared for Fiona so much he was willing to sacrifice everything to make her happy? Oh, yeah, and it had Puss n’ Boots too! Antonio Banderas stole that entire film, and, if nothing else, I’m glad it exists just for Puss’s “innocent” eyes and his angry rants in Spanish.

But then the filmmakers had to make a third film. That, to me, felt like an unfinished draft of what could have been a good script. There were some solid ideas in there (Shrek’s growing fears about being a father, the idea of settling down and giving up all of his charmingly awful and grungy ogre ways), but it never came together in the final film. It felt rushed and, with the exception of a few fun sequences (more Puss-n-Boots, Camelot-as-high school, complete with a John Krasinski-voiced douchebag Lancelot), pretty useless. And I’m now a little worried that this fourth film won’t be much better. The “what if” scenario always felt like a last-resort screenwriting trick to me, and I can’t see much in this trailer to make it look like the right direction for this final Shrek outing. Striking a deal with the mischievous Rumpelstilskin, Shrek has to navigate an alternate universe where Donkey doesn’t know him, Fiona is hunted by peasants and is a member of an ogre resistance team (featuring Mad Men’s Jon Hamm as the chiseled ogre…and possible romantic rival?), and lots of other quirky changes. Maybe I’m maxed out on alternate timelines thanks to Lost, or there’s still a sour taste left over from Shrek the Third, but I didn’t find this trailer all that funny. Nor do I think there’s really much story left to tell, since Shrek seemed to finish his emotional journey (the angry loner transformed to kind, loving – but still proudly dirty! – family man) in the last film. Still, you never know, it could surprise me. And the fat Puss n’ Boots is pretty brilliant—that Garfield-ish pot belly should be good for some guaranteed laughs.

I know there’s a lot of money to be made from Shrek and his pals—it’s a giant franchise from Dreamworks, and I don’t really blame them for trying to milk it for more stories. It’s just a little disheartening to see it devolve from “must-see” to “maybe it’ll be pleasant and watchable”. I’ll see this anyway; although, at this point, I’ll come in with my expectation in check.

All in all, it looks like it will be Pixar for the win in terms of best summer sequel!

What do you guys think of the trailers?

Trailers courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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New "Robin Hood" trailer!

- Posted by Rusty

Note: It’s good to be back. Sorry, everyone—for the past few weeks, work completely took over. Well, that period should be good and gone. I have a lot more free time on my hands now, and, for that matter, I have a bunch of reviews that I’ve been mulling over. For now, though, I figure I’ll start small. I’ll bring back the “What’s on the Menu” next week (especially since that weekend brings what will surely be my embarrassing geeky obsession, Clash of the Titans), but this is a trailer that deserves a quick mention. Looking forward to posting more, and, on that note, a big thanks to everyone who kept checking the blog and did not write me off yet (however tempting that must always be…).

Now that’s more like it. I panned the first trailer for Ridley Scott’s newest historical opus (and latest collaboration with burly muse, Russell Crowe), mainly because it was heavy on the macho and grit, and light on anything that could give the umpteenth version of the Robin Hood story some substance or relevance. Well, this full-length trailer finally makes it look like the interesting film it deserves to be. [more thoughts after the jump]

Grounding the famous archer and his merry men into their likely historical context (near the end of the Crusades), this looks to play to Scott’s strengths in staging massive spectacles (ie, the siege of Jersualem in Kingdom of Heaven—still a hugely underrated film, particularly the Director’s Cut) while always giving each epic a much-needed emotional core (something many directors neglect as they get lost in their expensive battles and set-pieces). I like that we get to see more of Robin Hood’s transformation from humble knight to a hero of legendary heights, with Crowe showing just the right mix of charisma and Gladiator-like heroic presence. More so, I love the further glimpses into this cast—British go-to bad guy, Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Rock ‘n’ Rolla, the upcoming Kick-Ass) looks perfect as the most-definitely-evil foil, Sir Godfrey (just watch him scowl!), and, better yet, Cate Blanchett should be great fun as the plucky, headstrong love of Robin’s life, Maid Marian (check out what she does with her voice—it’s amazing how easily Blanchett slips into different people). Also, be sure to catch the quick glimpse of Pride & Prejudice’s Matthew Macfadyen as this story’s most famous villain, The Sheriff of Nottingham (where have you been, Mr. Darcy?!)—it’s my favorite scene in the trailer, and I’m really hoping Nottingham won’t be marginalized in favor of bigger heavies, Godfrey and the corrupt Prince John.

All in all, it finally looks like a must-see summer film. The battle scenes seem impressive, and the trailer’s new focus on character has me much more optimistic about the final product. Ridley Scott can make a film of this scale better than almost anyone, and Universal’s probably gunning for more of that Gladiator lightening-in-a-bottle success. I sure hope so. I love this original story (even though I’m positive this won’t be the last time we see it), and this is an immensely talented cast and crew behind it. Quick guilty confession: the screenwriter, Brian Helgeland justly won an Oscar for L.A. Confidential, but he also penned one of my favorite films (no matter how flawed!), the Heath Ledger and Paul Bettany-starrer, A Knight’s Tale. He knows his way around knights and battles—let’s see if his Robin Hood can conjure up some of that energy, intelligence, and fun.

Robin Hood hits theaters on May 14. (By that point, it will be a good 12 days since Iron Man 2 came out, so we’ll have no excuse for not seeing this). So, what do you guys think? Could you go for another version of this tale? Or does this trailer still not winning over any new fans?

P.S. Anyone else crazy about the below version of Robin Hood? Ah, gets me every time... "La Liberte"!

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News Bites: “Get Him to the Greek” Trailer

- Posted by Rusty

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is my favorite film from the Judd Apatow camp, and a big reason of that is the scene-stealing work of British comic Russell Brand as the "reformed," bad-shirt-averse, “citizen of the world” rock star, Aldous Snow. As such, I’m psyched that producer Judd Apatow is bringing his character back for the spin-off, Get Him to the Greek. [some more thoughts on the trailer after the jump]

It’s a bit confusing that Sarah Marshall alum, Jonah Hill, who shared some of that film’s funniest scenes with Brand, is playing a different character here, but I think that will wear out once this film finds its own voice and rhythm. Plus, his character – a record company newbie forced to escort the notorious Aldous Snow (Brand, presumably after the events of Forgetting Sarah Marshall) to the Greek Theater for a reunion concert – looks to go for more sweet and innocent notes than his creepy, way-too-obsessed waiter in the duo’s previous movie. I like this trailer – it sells the premise, has some good laughs (Hill’s awkward “European" kiss is too awesome), and promises more very funny work from Brand, Hill, and, in what looks like a nice surprise, Sean “Puffy” Combs. (Actually, considering that this film is about him, there’s less Russell Brand shown here than Jonah Hill. Could there be a more profane, Aldous Snow-heavy, red-band trailer in the future? Most definitely). Forgetting Sarah Marshall helmer, Nicholas Stoller, is back in the director’s seat, and original writer Jason Segel (who’ll probably pop up in a cameo) wrote some brand-new songs for Aldous Snow’s band, Infant Sorrow. All sounds good to me, and, judging just by this, the movie looks fun, in that dirty-but-still-heartfelt way that producer Judd Apatow has mastered. Let's see if it can top the last time these guys got together, let alone the super-catchy previous Aldous Snow songs, "Inside of You" and "Do Something" (whose, um, inspirational music video is hilarious). Looking forward to catching this when it hits theaters this June.

How about you guys? Do you like the trailer? Interested to see a Forgetting Sarah Marshall spin-off, or just a good, long showcase for Russell Brand?

Trailer courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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News Bites: "The A-Team" Trailer now online

- Posted by Rusty

I'll be honest--I know next to nothing about The A-Team. I never watched the TV show, and I only learned about Mr. T's catchphrase through Chandler on Friends (anyone remember Chandler's "Best Bud" bracelet from Joey? "The reject from the Mr. T Collection?!"). So, do we really need another big-budget TV-adaptation? Probably not. That said, I think this trailer makes it look like one huge, ridiculous, fun package. And that cast is superb: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper (fresh off the huge success of The Hangover), and, best of all, District 9's Sharlto Copley (in his first film role after that breakthrough sci-fi hit)! To top all that off, this is from director Joe Carnahan, who gave us the cool, hard-edged indie, Narc, and the underrated Smokin' Aces. Smokin' Aces wasn't too popular, but I actually dug it, narrative flaws and all. Carnahan knows how to stage great, hyper-kinetic, go-for-broke action, and he gets good performances out of his actors--it might sound weird, but Aces stars Jeremy Piven and Ryan Reynolds delivered some of their best work in that film. This looks along those lines--big, expensive action set-pieces (like that aerial fight near the end of the trailer), and a game cast. Let's hope it turns out well. If anything, this went from a picture I have no interest in to something that could be worth catching on the big-screen. Looking forward to seeing more footage! The A-Team (with their cheesy, though still kinda cool, "No Plan B" catchphrase) hits theaters this summer, June 11.

What do you guys think of the teaser? And are any of you fans of the original TV show? [end of post] Read more!

News Bites: "Iron Man 2" trailer!

- Posted by Rusty

Trailer Rating: 5 bites [out of 5]

Welcome back, Tony Stark. I don’t know about you guys, but I missed that lovable bastard of a superhero. Check out the brand-new teaser above for the big superhero sequel, sure to be one of the bright spots of next summer. Mostly, it’s the same footage that we saw at Comic-Con (which may have been just a minute or so longer, for we got an extended version of that opening trial sequence with Garry Schandling), but with one great little addition: the “kiss” between Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Love it–that quick “You complete me” just reminds me why I was crazy about the first movie.

The sequel’s story is a bit up in the air, though we see the basics: Tony Stark = still good, and as cocky as always, Mickey Rourke = evil (how could he not be? Did you hear that thick Russian accent??). And did anyone else catch that fleeting shot of Stark’s chestpiece infecting his body? I noticed that in the Comic-Con footage too—it could be a very interesting direction.

All in all, the effects look solid, the laughs well-earned, and the cast perfect like last time (especially Don Cheadle as his buddy Jimmy Rhodes, a.k.a. the ultra-badass Iron Man ally, War Machine—catch that awesome tease at the end!). Well done, folks at Marvel. I have high expectations for this, and I can’t wait to see more!

We can probably expect a more story-heavy trailer as we move closer to the movie's May 7, 2010 release. But, for now, what do you guys think of the trailer? Excited to see the final film? Or are you taking a wait-and-see approach until we see more footage? [end of post] Read more!

News Bites: Full-length “Alice in Wonderland” trailer is…well…wonderful!

- Posted by Rusty

Trailer Rating: 5 bites [out of 5]

Check out the new trailer above. I was already excited about this film, but now that we get a greater sense of the direction Tim Burton and co. are taking, I’m all the more psyched to see it! [more thoughts after the jump]

The first teaser gave us a sense of the visuals and tone; now, we see the story this version will try to tell, and it look like a perfect approach. I think Tim Burton was born to bring Wonderland to the screen—his penchant for quirky darkness, but one that’s always imbued with some kooky humor and warmth, is a natural fit for the world of Lewis Carroll. He’s become an excellent storyteller over the years, and I think he could capture the whimsical tone of the original story and, at the same time, give it a fresh dose of heart. Also, in watching this trailer, it’s clear that the Burton and screenwriter Linda Woolverton (one of the hands behind The Lion King and Mulan) are attempting to give us a full-fledged narrative, a real first for this material. In my mind, that’s a very good thing—exactly what this material needs to give it a novel spin. And, thus, we’re getting a quasi-sequel—Alice comes back to Wonderland, not remembering a thing, and it’s up to her to end the Red Queen’s (a deliciously evil Helena Bonham-Carter) brand of "off with people's heads" tyranny. All of the Wonderland heavy-hitters are here: Stephen Fry’s The Cheshire Cat, The March Hare, The White Rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen), Alan Rickman’s mushroom-smoking Caterpillar (who's not in the trailer, but you can see him on the movie-theater posters), and, of course, Johnny Depp, Tim Burton’s partner-in-quirky-crime, with an all-out-wonderfully-wacky take on the Mad Hatter.

On another note, I know it looks like they’re rejiggering the original story, potentially throwing out what made the original so special, but I don't think that's the case. Here’s the thing: for all the fond memories we have of Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, I think it’s the world we love. It’s the characters, each battier than the next, the lovingly nonsensical details, and that playful, well, weirdness that populates the whole work. Reading it, we’re a lot like Alice—we’re curious and adventurous, and we’re soaking up the details. It works on the page, thanks to Carroll’s imagination and clever wordplay, his great eye for the wonderful and odd. But it honestly has no arc for Alice—she goes on a tour, and comes out pretty much the same. Much like us, she enjoys the ride…but that’s not a film. And I think that’s where previous adaptations stumbled, even the enjoyable 60's Disney animated version. Here, it looks like Alice has a role to play, an actual purpose--just look at her bravely leading Anne Hathaway's White Queen's army! For once, going down that Rabbit Hole looks to be a wholly new experience, a substantial journey for both Alice and us, the audience. And I can’t wait to see what Tim Burton and his team of visual wizards cook up.

Alice in Wonderland hits theaters on March 5, 2010—it can’t come soon enough!

P.S. If you guys get the chance, try to catch the 3-D version of the trailer, now playing before prints of James Cameron's Avatar. If ever a movie needed an extra dimension, it's this one--just wait until you see the loopy Wonderland in full 3-D insanity!

What do you guys think? Like the trailer? Agree/disagree with my take?
Clip courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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Trailer Time (Knights, Titans, and Merry Men)

- Posted by Rusty

Thanks to Avatar and Sherlock Holmes, a bunch of new trailers came out over the weekend, all trying to spark some buzz for next year’s biggest films. Some are slam-dunks (you know that I can’t resist a mythic-beast-fighting Sam Worthington at this point), while others sadly miss the mark (sorry, Russell Crowe…and your batch of very un-Merry Men). Let’s see what came out... [new trailers after the jump]


“Clash of the Titans”
Trailer Rating: 5 bites [out of 5]

Could you tell I’m excited about this film? I loved the teaser, and very much love the concept. This trailer just gives us more—more creatures, more heroic-looking Sam Worthington, more of his love Andromeda (played by Defiance’s Alexa Davalos), and, of course, more of those damn mortal-teasing gods, Zeus and Hades, played by the British greats, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes (Neeson, especially, in full-clad armor and bathed in ridiculous waves of shining light, looks like he’ll be great fun). I just put the original Clash of the Titans on my Instant Netflix queue, and can’t wait to watch it. It’s supposed to be a corny classic, and, on that level, I’m sure it will be plenty entertaining.

As for this remake, the new trailer is even more fun than the teaser—the action looks all-out insane, and I think that will work just perfectly. Ditto the phenomenal visuals (did you see that Kracken?! Take that, Davy Jones' "pet"!), and the catchy, rousing energy—here’s hoping that translates to the final film as well. We’re still a little fuzzy on the story—we know we’re set for one big clash between gods and mortals, with Perseus set to tip the balance in the human direction. Nonetheless, the brushstrokes we get look solid; unlike the below Robin Hood teaser, this one manages to effectively give us the tone and basic conflicts in the film. And, like I always believed, that vast Greek world of gods and monsters and larger-than-life heroes is too rich to be only relegated to cheesy 80’s action fare (although TV’s Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was a very enjoyable guilty pleasure when I moved to America)—it’s about time we apply our modern effects for one big, crazy Greek-mythology epic. I’m seeing this for sure. Opening day. If it’s as satisfying as this trailer, we’re in for one great treat come March 2010. “Damn the Gods” indeed. Can’t wait!

P.S. Anyone else thinking that Sam Worthington’s Perseus might be getting groomed for his own Greek-mytho franchise? It would make sense for Warner Bros. to snatch the red-hot Worthington before his asking price swells out of control (you could thank Avatar for that, the well-deserving global hit, as I’m sure this one will be). I know they’re playing fast and loose with Perseus’ original confrontation with the snake-haired Medusa, and, by all means, that sounds like the right approach. Using that same thinking, why couldn’t Perseus encounter other gods, other Titans, other great myths? It could make for one fun series of films, and Worthington's Perseus looks like a worthy hero to follow through more than one movie. I predict a nice, very long career of saving the world for him.

“Robin Hood”
Trailer Rating: 2 bites [out of 5]

I was really looking forward to seeing footage from Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, but this teaser trailer is pretty much a letdown. Actually, it’s not so much a trailer as a carefully constructed message: “this isn’t the Robin Hood you’re used to.” Gone are the tights and merriment, the light spirit and that would-be-mustache-twirling evildoer, The Sheriff of Nottingham (he’s still in the film, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even make an appearance in the teaser). Instead, this trailer makes the new approach pretty clear: this is Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe, reuniting once more after Gladiator (and 3 films since then), and it’s that kind of treatment—rough, dirty, gritty, and proudly extra-bloody—supposedly, this will be a more realistic spin, tracing the actual historical roots of the Robin Hood legend (thus being the story of the Crusade knight, Robin of Locksley). This particular take could make for a good film, especially since Ridley Scott can do historical epics better than almost anyone (watch the Director’s Cut of Kingdom of Heaven if you get the chance—it’s a masterpiece that I think far surpasses Gladiator).

Too bad this teaser trailer gives us no sense of the overall arc or characters. Crowe is a fine actor, and his presence in a film like this is hard to replicate (Orlando Bloom ran into that problem in Kingdom of Heaven—he’s a good actor as well, but Crowe is more easily believable in command of any army)—he’ll be a more rough-and-tumble Robin Hood than we’re used to, but I think it will work. As will Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, his love interest—she’s too good of an actress to not do justice to this role. But I wanted more of the Merry Men (here looking like the most pissed-off bunch in the Sherwood Forest), more romance, more of the journey of noble knight to outlaw. Oh, well—perhaps that’ll come out in a later trailer. There’s very little shown here after all, and teasers are supposed to just that—tease. The Robin Hood legend is one of those enduring stories—that rascally, charming outlaw stealing from the rich for the greater good, and I eat up almost every version (my favorite: easily Monsieur Hood from Shrek--his riverdance kills me every time!). The story and characters stay around for a reason, and I’m pretty sure this cast and crew won’t mess it up.

This is still on my radar—here’s hoping the next trailer will make it look like a much more interesting film.

Robin Hood hits theaters May 14, 2010.

“Knight and Day”
Trailer Rating: 1 1/2 bites [out of 5]

Easily the worst trailer of the bunch. I’m including it here because it’s a high-profile film, and, not knowing too much besides the basic cast (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) and crew (director James Mangold), I honestly thought it would have looked more promising. Sadly, this tone-confused trailer doesn’t give me much hope for this project. Judging by the footage, I think it’s some sort of spy-romantic comedy, aiming for something akin to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but missing the wit and high-wattage star chemistry that made that one a hit. I still contend that Cruise is a good actor, and with the right material, he shines (Jerry Maguire, Minority Report, Valkyrie, Magnolia, even M:i-3). Diaz, on the other hand, I’m not a fan of—she had a few good performances (Being John Malkovich and Vanilla Sky, ironically with Tom Cruise), but her usual choices of soapy chick-flicks have put her off my list of people to watch. Still, she could be charming when she tones down her persona (ie, The Holiday), though it doesn’t look like that here. It mostly looks like two stars chasing former glories…and not exactly succeeding—the jokes are awkward, and the action doesn’t quite gel with the goofy vibe the trailer is trying to sell. I expected better from director James Mangold (the excellent 3:10 to Yuma, Identity, and the very-rewatchable Kate & Leopold). Then again, it’s certainly nice to see Peter Saarsgard and Lost’s Maggie Grace in supporting roles. Who knows? Maybe this is a bad teaser, and the final film will be actually be smart and entertaining. Maybe. It just doesn’t look that way for now.

Knight and Day opens July 2, 2010, in what’s sure to be a very busy summer.

I’ll be back with more trailers in a bit (including the biggie for next year, Iron Man 2). For now, what do you guys think of these? Were you excited to see footage from any of these big upcoming movies?

Clips courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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"Clash of the Titans" teaser rocks!

- Posted by Rusty

Liam Neeson as a god? Terminator Salvation breakout Sam Worthington fighting mythological beats? Huge creatures, great British actors, and some crazy-looking action? This thing had me at “Liam Neeson as a god” (Zeus, for that matter!). I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, and this looks like the best stab at this material in years. It’s also a remake—I’ve never seen the original film, but I know it’s a beloved, cult-ish kind of property, especially famous for the effects work of creature-king Ray Harryhausen. [more thoughts after the jump]

But I love the look of this. This is one of my most anticipated movies of next year, and it looks like pure adrenaline—a zippy adventure with some awesome effects. Loosely based on the myth of Perseus (played here by Sam Worthington), a brave warrior who defeated Medusa, that snake-haired demon with a thing for turning men into stone (she makes a quick cameo in the beginning of the teaser, if you watch carefully), to rescue his love, Andromeda (Gemma Arterton, who’s going to have a very good year, with the double-whammy of this and Prince of Persia). It’s a myth ripe for some visual fun, and the story’s foundation is strong (and simple) enough to allow the filmmakers to add plenty of new details.

Mostly, though, I’m excited that this is from director/loveable-French-guy Louis Letterier. This is the man who made the insane (but very fun) Transporter 2 and the excellent, Edward Norton-starring The Incredible Hulk. I think he’s going to be a major force one day—his action scenes have a great kinetic kick to them, and he gets terrific performances from his actors (say what you will about Jason Statham, but that guy put in solid, subtle work as the world’s most dangerous, laws-of-physics-defying delivery man). By the way, if you ever get a chance, the guy's an absolute blast to listen to--his DVD commentary on The Incredible Hulk is entertaining with lots of great factoids, and his comments about Transporter 2 (and Jason Statham's big gay secret) are priceless.

Plus, I think this will be the movie to cement Sam Worthington as a superstar (if next month’s Avatar doesn’t do it first). This part should be a perfect fit, making good use of some of the cheer-worthy hero moments he got to show in Terminator.

What do you guys think of the teaser? Since the movie comes out in March, you can expect a much longer trailer in a few months.

And has anyone seen the original? Does it hold up, or do you think the story could use a tech-savvy update?

Trailer courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.
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Trailer Time (Catch-Up Edition)

- Posted by Rusty

Think of this as my long-overdue catch-up. A bunch of trailers came out over the last few weeks, and here are some of the ones that caught my eye...

"The Fantastic Mr. Fox"

Based on a beloved book by Roald Dahl (the same genius who gave us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda), this looks, well, pretty fantastic. I'm going to try to check out the book before this hits theaters, but, for now, I'm loving the low-tech look (especially in this day of overpriced, CG-animated cartoons, like Monsters vs. Aliens), and I'm a sucker for the stop-motion style in general (the kind seen in A Nightmare Before Christmas). The all-star voice cast (including Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Meryl Streep, and Jason Schwartzman) seems game and perfectly at home in this oddball setting, and George Clooney, in particular, seems to bring just the right amount of suave, charm, and winking humor to the title role. This comes from the weird (but, to be fair, always interesting) mind of director Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore); I can't say I'm always a fan of his work, though his low-key quirk seems like a good fit for the clever world of Dahl. It might not be for little kids (much like Where the Wild Things Are), but I'm really looking forward to this. Could be some smart, very funny family entertainment. [more trailers after the jump]

"Season of the Witch"

I'm an unashamed fan of Nicolas Cage--he is and always will be one of our most watchable actors. He does Oscar-worthy roles (like Adaptation and Moonstruck) with aplomb and confidence, but no other actor attacks bad material (ie, The Wicker Man, Next, Snake Eyes, and many, many more) with as much over-the-top craziness and enthusiasm as Cage...and, really, that's what makes his awful choices like Ghost Rider fun to watch. I dig the guy a lot, and Con Air will always be one of my all-time, stupid-movie favorites (could anyone else do that bizzare, bunny-obsessed, Elvis-accented hero like Cage?). So, I reckon this next film will fit comfortably with Next and Ghost Rider--utterly ridiculous, but entertaining all the same. Taking place in the Black Plague-scorched Middle Ages, a few knights (Cage included) must transport a supposed witch out of the kingdom. This teaser doesn't reveal much (it barely even lets Cage talk--can't wait to hear that accent!), and the fact that this comes from the director of Gone in Sixty Seconds doesn't bode too well. My hopes aren't high at all, but, you know what, could be an amusing (or so-bad-it's-good) diversion before one of my most anticipated 2010 films, Clash of the Titans (whose awesome trailer I'll spotlight in just a little bit), hits theaters a month later.

"Date Night"

I liked this trailer much more than I thought I would. Building off of a hopefully fun mistaken-identity plot, a bored married couple (Steve Carrell and Tina Fey) spend their first real date in years outrunning a band of criminals trying to kill them. The cast is chock-full of great people, including Common, and the not-shown Kristen Wiig, Ray Liotta, Mark Ruffalo, and Gossip Girl's scene-stealer, Leighton Meester. Carell and Tina Fey are funny by default, but I liked seeing Mark Whalberg in probably his first full-on playful role since I Heart Huckabees (he also has a comedy with Will Ferrell coming out next year), as well as James Franco and Mila Kunis (who already proved they're hilarious together). I think it's going to be silly and probably pretty forgettable, but I'll see this just to watch these guys bounce off one another; at the very least, Steve Carell and Tina Fey, two of the funniest people alive, are inspired casting as a bickering couple. This comes from Shawn Levy (who gave us the similarly star-filled Night at the Museum movies)--he's not a strong director, though I'm hoping the script is decent enough (and the improvisation plenty) to make this as good of a time as the trailer suggests.

What do you guys think of these trailers? Anything that looks interesting?

Clips courtesy of Apple and Trailer Addict.
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“Prince of Persia” trailer hits!

- Posted by Rusty



Check out the first teaser from Disney’s upcoming blockbuster above. I really like this preview. More than anything, this looks BIG. Like epic-adventure, huge-battle-between-good-and-evil BIG. Exactly as it should be. We have sweeping deserts, swordfights, jumping acrobatics between buildings, collapsing temples…and, oh, yeah, some magical gizmo called the Sands of Time, a dagger which allows one to control time, and which Jake Gyllenhaal must stop Ben Kingley’s evil vizier (is there another kind? Have we learned nothing from Jafar??) from possessing [more thoughts after the jump].

My friend is a huge fan of the games this is based on. Judging by what he told me, there is a ton of story potential here, and it’s especially reassuring to see that Prince of Persia mastermind/creator Jordan Mechner co-wrote the script. This is honestly great material. I’m always up for some escapist swashbuckling, especially in a cool ancient setting. Plus, this one looks like it takes a few good tips from Pirates of the Caribbean (no surprise, since they’re both from producer Jerry Bruckheimer)—we get plenty of humor, some cool-looking action, Jake Gyllenhaal’s rascally hero (he won’t be Captain Jack Sparrow, but good to see that he’s not brave-and-boring, like poor Orlando Bloom) and a cute, feisty female lead in Gemma Arterton (with a strong Elizabeth Swann-vibe). The visuals are gorgeous too, and I like the nifty special effects for the Sands of Time Dagger—a very cool way to show its powers. Disney obviously wants a franchise with this one, and, by all means, if this preview is an indication, we could be in for something that’s just pure enjoyment and excitement—there really aren’t enough of those types of movies.

As for Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s a weird bit of casting (an American Jewish guy is not the first thing that pops into your head when you think of a prince of Persia), and it probably would’ve been better to find an unknown, one more fitting for the role, and make it a true discovery for audiences (like Keira Knightley was in Pirates). But Gyllenhaal should be more than up to the task, and I think he’ll make a fine adventure hero. He’s a strong actor, charismatic as hell, and, to his credit, he looks remarkably like the prince from the game cover. I like his impish charm in this trailer, and he looks perfectly believable in the big action sequences.

I doubt this will reach Pirates-like brilliance…but I’m looking forward to this one all the same. If anything, this might just hold the honor of being the first genuinely good video-game movie. I like the Resident Evil films as guilty pleasures (and loved the awful John Leguizamo-Bob Hoskins Super Mario Bros. as a kid), but, up until now, every attempt to turn a game into a film has pretty much failed—we get all the noise and action, but rarely a decent story from the concept. Here’s hoping the Prince can work his magic and break that mold…and set a good precedent for Bioshock, my other hugely-anticipated video-game movie in 2010.

So, how about you guys—did you like the trailer? Are you excited to see it come next May? And do you think Gyllenhaal will make a good hero to follow through a series of Prince of Persia films?

And for a bonus, check out this interview below with producer Jerry Bruckheimer on the movie. I respect Bruckheimer a great deal—though his track record is sometimes spotty, he’s a savvy producer with an amazing eye for talent (he supported Johhny Depp’s wacky take on Jack Sparrow when Disney suits were getting worried), and a smooth ability to make hugely entertaining movies, often ones that shouldn’t work at all (ah, Con Air, how much I love you, despite your stupidity…). That said, this interview is hilarious for one reason: just listen about 1 minute in to Bruckheimer’s reasons (especially their order) of why he thinks Gyllenhaal is a good choice for the lead…



Completely harmless, and probably just spoken without thought…but I love that “He’s in fantastic shape” goes before “he’s a great young actor”...

Image courtesy of Ubisoft.
Clip courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.

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News Bites: Action-Movie Heaven!

- Posted by Rusty

The Expendables - Trailer
by flogoo

That's the trailer for next year's The Expendables, and just look at the roster of people here: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lungren (Rocky IV reunion!), Jet Li (who finally gets to do more than his usual silent badass-glaring), Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, and, although the trailer doesn’t show it, expect some cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger (more about that here)! That may just be the best group of cinematic tough-guys ever assembled. Looks silly? Yep. Over-the-top and ridiculous? Hands down. But fun, in that cheesy, '80's, few-dudes-take-down-armies-of-bad-guys way? You bet. Plus, Stallone wrote and directed this, and he’s actually quite an underrated filmmaker—just look how he brought the Rocky franchise back to glory with Rocky Balboa.

Check out that trailer above—you get lots of one-liners and explosions, and Statham (my favorite current action hero) looks like he’s relishing sharing the screen with a legend like Stallone (himself looking relaxed and very funny in kicking-ass home territory). The story’s as simple as can be: the Expendables are a group of mercenaries led by Stallone, and they’re sent to South America to dispatch some evil dictator. Cue the fistfights and streams of bullets, and expect piles of anonymous dead bad guys (who still haven't learned to shoot at the heroes, instead of around them). Definitely a must-see for me—this macho-guys-on-a-mission movie will hit theaters in August of 2010.

What do you guys think of the trailer? It won’t win any Oscars…but it looks like a big, loud, old-fashioned good time at the theater. [end of post] Read more!

News Bites: Full-length “Avatar” trailer now online!

Check this out below. You won’t be sorry…

Wow. On a visual level alone, Avatar looks to be something amazing—a true movie-going experience, something that we haven’t had in quite some time... [more thoughts after the jump]

I like that the Na’vi, those blue, cat-like creatures on the gorgeous planet of Pandora look like real things. Real, breathing creatures that seem to occupy space and interact believably with the human characters. And just look at those surroundings, with the forest beasts, flying dragon-things, the floating mountains, and the poppy, stoner-ific colors. For special-effects, this looks to be one for the books.

This is also our first real glimpse into the story. We saw 20 minutes of footage at Comic-Con—beautiful stuff, but we barely got a sense of what the rest of the movie will bring. This gives us a better idea. Sam Worthington is sent undercover (using his “avatar,” a special, psychically-connected being made form Na’vi and human DNA) to infiltrate the primitive lands, and help the “good guys” get what they want, in this case being rare natural resources. I think we know where this story will go—Worthington will have a change of heart, he’ll see the beauty of the uncorrupted, indigenous aliens, and fight back against that greedy human military. We’ve seen variations on this before, and, minus the totally original setting, I doubt this one will break new ground in terms of story beats.

Still, Cameron could deliver something worthwhile here. He’s never been the most original storyteller, but he’s a master of details—for good characters, the right emotional balance, actions sequences that actually resonate (this is the same guy that made Terminator 2 have a heart—he’s a real talent when he’s in his element). I’m hoping Avatar will compensate for familiarity with those Cameron trademarks. Impossible to tell now, but this 3 ½ minute trailer is one whopper of a preview. If it fails, it’ll be one of the most good-looking weak movies ever. If it reaches Lord of the Rings-like epic brilliance? Well, consider us lucky viewers then.

What do you guys think? Does this make you want to see Avatar (which comes out in IMAX 3D glory December 18th) any more or less?

Trailer courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.
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News Bites: Could this be Mel Gibson's comeback?

- Posted by Rusty

Say what you will about Mel Gibson off-screen (and there’s a ton that could be said), he’s still one of my favorite on-screen players, and he does brink-of-madness intensity (ie, Ransom, Lethal Weapon) better than almost anyone. So, it’s a great kick to see him in this just-released trailer for Edge of Darkness (see it above). A new thriller from director Martin Campbell (The Mask of Zorro, Casino Royale with Daniel Craig), Gibson plays a father out to avenge his daughter’s murder, all the while uncovering the secrets of what might just be a widespread conspiracy. So, yeah, looks like a solid, twisty combo of Ransom and Taken, with Gibson back on the familiar, man-with-nothing-to-lose ground that first launched him to superstardom. I like this trailer—it looks like it’ll deliver plenty of plot shockers, and it’ll fit in nicely with the recent rush of gritty crime films like The Departed, Gone, Baby, Gone, and Liam Neeson’s Taken. Plus, it taps into that emotional pull of one father out for justice in the name of his child—if done right, this could be gripping storytelling. Director Campbell has a solid track-record with smart action films, so my hopes are high.

Could this put Gibson back on top, be his long-last cinematic comeback? Maybe. Either way, it’s good to see him back on the screen (he also has a comedy with Maverick co-star Jodie Foster out for next year). He might never gain back the public’s love, but he could certainly return to the top-notch acting turns that made me a fan to begin with. Catch Edge of Darkness in theaters on January 29, 2010.

Clip courtesy of Trailer Addict and Yahoo! Movies. [end of post]

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The Daily Munchies: Trailer Time (October 6th)

- Posted by Rusty

Lots of interesting stuff to check out—here, we have explosions galore, Wild Things, and a badass, futuristic Denzel Washignton. Let's dig in, and check out some of the best new trailers...

"2012"

Now this I just couldn’t resist. From Roland Emmerich, the disaster maestro behind The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, and (yep) the American Godzilla, comes 2012, which looks to be his magnum opus…where he’ll get to destroy the entire world this time! Everything falls apart here—LA collapses in earthquakes, the Sistine Chapel breaks down (but cracks apart ever so perfectly on Michelangelo’s famous ceiling), the White House gets smashed by a tanker, and people do big heroic things, like drive off of helicopters in massive storms (and say beautifully cheesy lines, like: “I thought they had the right to fight for their lives!”). Honestly, I love Emmerich’s films, and, with The Day After Tomorrow, I think he embraced the all-out stupidity of the concept to just give us a fun overall ride—it was dumb, but with a knowing wink—a non-pretentious, Big Summer Movie. Here, it looks like he’s tackling similar ground. The plot revolves around the legendary Mayan prediction, with the world finally collapsing in 2012. It’s a good set-up, and this will give Emmerich the chance to put on the biggest spectacle of his career. Also, he’s managed to get quite the cast to play along—John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Danny Glover (as the president!), Oliver Platt, and Woody Harrelson are the humans we care about as everyone else dies, and, really, the special effects are amazing (as expected). Emmerich is not a bad storyteller (Stargate is good proof of that)—he’s supposed to tackle Isaac Asmiov’s Foundation novels next, and I think it will prove him to be more than a just flashy entertainer. In the meanwhile, 2012, opening November 13th (a Friday, of course), looks to be exactly what this trailer promises—lots and lots of ridiculous fun.

"Book of Eli"

This just looks better and better. Book of Eli takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, where the landscapes are bleak, scavengers and criminals run amok, and villains (like the always-brilliant chameleon, Gary Oldman…who plays the absolute best villains possible!) reign supreme. But then we have Denzel Washington’s Eli, a mysterious, martial arts-skilled drifter carrying some sort of book…a book that Gary Oldman’s character is desperate to get from him. That’s the stage of the conflict, and the trailer only hints at everything else—Mila Kunis’ character somehow fits into the picture, lots of fighting ensues, and, from brief flashes, it looks like the title book might be a bible…or is it? I like the mystery, and I love this haunting, desolate world. This could be a good genre film—some well-cast, smart entertainment to start off 2010. Washington looks solid as the hero, and it’s a thrill to see Oldman back in scene-stealing bad-guy mode (see: True Romance, The Professional, The Fifth Element, and many more—the guy’s a genius in any role, but he plays evil like only few can); I can’t wait to see those two acting giants square off. The January release date is a bit fishy (most of the time, studios release only their worst films then), but I have some faith in this cast and crew—I’m hoping that was done just so the film will have little competition. This comes from the Hughes Brothers, who gave us the stylish Johnny Depp murder-mystery, From Hell, and I think this could be something interesting—hopefully in the vein of Children of Men, another bleak, end-of-humanity film. I know, a high standard, but if it hits half of the strong notes that brilliant film did, it’ll easily be worth the ticket price. Look for this in theaters on January 15, 2010.

"Where the Wild Things Are"

This is my favorite trailer of the year. There’s actually a longer one out right now, but this teaser is one of the best bits of advertising I’ve ever seen, so I had to include it. Check it out above—look how little dialogue there is, how it’s mainly just a rush of beautiful images, all set to the perfect, melancholy song, Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up”. Allow me to gush for a few seconds here…but, man, it’s all so gorgeous, so sad, so full of life and real childlike wonder. I have no idea what the final film will be (and I just read the tiny, tiny book it’s based on, so I’m even more curious now), but the footage is making a strong case for it. Maurice Sendak's beloved book follows the story of Max—a boy who misbehaves, and, in a fit of anger over his punishment, imagines himself going to the Land of the Wild Things (that’d be those giant, frightening, terrible creatures in a far, far away land) where he could be free to roam wild and do mischief to his heart’s desire.

More so than anything, I love that director Spike Jonze, the offbeat mind behind Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, seems to have built upon the book, expanding its themes of the strangeness (and, sometimes, pain) of growing up. Max is at the heart of all this, and I like newcomer Max Records—he’s got an edge to him that you don’t often see in child actors, and he honestly comes across as a real kid, warts and all. There are a lot of interesting things going on in this trailer—we see some glimpses of Max’s mother (played by the lovely Catherine Keener) and what looks like a new boyfriend (added plot material that could work very well), scenes of Max feeling out of place in school, and, of course, that epic, imaginative world where the Wild Things live. All of the Wild Things are also made into fully believable characters—a wondrous mix of CGI, real-life costumes, and some great voice-acting from the likes of James Gandolfini and Forest Whitaker. From what I read, this was a bit of a troubled production…and I’m not too surprised—this doesn’t look like your average, “safe” kids’ movie—there’s something unsettling about it, something that creeps under your skin a bit. By all means, it’s not a bad thing at all, but I’m guessing it was probably a hard sell to the bigwigs at the studio. Still, the end result looks amazing—if it could sustain the momentum of this fleshed-out story (while keeping the book’s few original plot beats), and make the entire ride as emotional and thoughtful as this preview, we could be in for a real treat. I can’t wait to check this out—Where the Wild Things Are hits theaters next Friday, October 16th.

So, what do you guys think? Any of these films look worth checking out?

I think the biggest question mark here is Where the Wild Things Are. The buzz over the last couple of weeks has been very positive (one of our best critics, Michael Philips, called it his favorite movie this year) and I'm fascinated to see how they'll transform that classic book into a two-hour movie.

Clips courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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The Daily Munchies: Could "Percy Jackson" be the next "Harry Potter"??

- Posted by Rusty

Ever since the one-two punch of Lord of the Rings and (especially) Harry Potter (man, that was a great year), studios have been trying hard to find that next, great fantasy family-franchise. Did you guys notice this? It seemed like every possible kids' fantasy book, all with potential to be a series, was optioned and made into a movie…most with pretty spotty results...

And, so, we got stuff like Eragon, The Seeker: The Dark is Rising, The Water Horse, Inkheart (which had potential, but sadly fell apart), City of Ember, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. My pick for the best of these was The Golden Compass—a tricky piece of material (based on a very good book, even if its sequels didn’t live up to it) that, at the very least, had some magic and moments of wonder. And it was one of the few that seemed to love its source material, and not just trying to hit that fantasy money-making sweet spot.

Which brings us to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Apparently, it’s another very popular children’s book series, tracing the great destiny of Percy, the son of Poseidon, and his adventures with the Greek gods in the modern world. I like that concept a lot, and I’m crazy about Greek mythology—we have far too few films tapping into that sprawling, epic, very fun world (I’m psyched for next year’s Sam Worthington-led, Clash of the Titans).


This movie will be based on the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief. And I have to give the filmmakers credit—they’re really trying for this to be a hit. They got Chris Columbus to direct (the guy who gave us the first two Harry Potter movies), hopefully getting that lightning to strike twice, and a hell of a cast—Pierce Brosnan (who was in Columbus’ Mrs. Doubtfire), Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Troy…and great to see him back in ancient-Greece territory—now can they just give him his long-deserved Odyssey movie?), Uma Thurman, Catherine Keener, Rosario Dawson, and Steve Coogan (Tropic Thunder, Octavius in the Night at the Museum movies) as the underworld god, Hades (brilliantly voiced by James Woods in Disney’s Hercules). The lead role falls to Logan Lerman, a talented young actor—he was really good as Christain Bale’s son in 3:10 to Yuma.

You can see the brand-new teaser above. I like some of the imagery (even if Mt. Olympus evokes a little too much Hogwarts), and I love this cast, but I still don’t have a solid grasp on the film. Could be fun…or it could be a star-filled, expensive, bland movie that will never see a sequel (after all, Eragon had an amazing cast too)—there’s far too little footage here to get a good feel for the the movie. Columbus made two good Harry Potter movies (although, in retrospect, he’s probably the weakest director to take on that franchise), and he does have a great eye for casting (as he showed by finding Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint). The material sounds ripe for some visual, epic fun…so let’s wait and see. I doubt it will be on the level of Harry Potter, but I’m certainly interested to see more.

How about you guys? Like the concept, or intrigued by the trailer?

And has anyone read the series it’s based on? This hits theaters February 12, 2010, so I’ll try to read a few of the books by then. If anyone’s familiar with it, shoot your thoughts in the comments below.
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The Daily Munchies: Trailer Time

- Posted by Rusty

Two big trailers came out this weekend. Let’s see how they stack up…

“Valentine’s Day”

Remember the cast for “He’s Just Not That Into You”? Between Jennifer Connelly, Bradley Cooper, Ben Affleck, and Jennifer Aniston, I thought that was probably the best group of people ever assembled for a romantic comedy. Well…I think that’s about to be blown away completely by this movie. A quick list: Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace (great to see him as always!), Patrick Dempsey, Anne Hathaway, Shirley Maclaine, Jamie Foxx…and, many, many more. Yeah, this movie’s a guaranteed hit—with the people involved, chances are you’re a fan of at least one person in there, and it’s from director Garry Marshall (“The Princess Diaries,” “Pretty Woman”), who has a light, entertaining touch with almost all of his movies. Now the bad news (for me at least): it’s from the guys who wrote “Never Been Kissed” and “He’s Just Not That Into You”—neither movie was great, and I’d hate for this to be another case where you like some of the stories, but can’t stand a good chunk of them. Still, the trailer looks cute (I like how Bradley Cooper is becoming the rom-com master—take that, McConaughey!), and I’m hoping this could be like our very own, all-star, American “Love Actually”. This one opens (you guessed it) next Valentine’s Day weekend—February 12th, 2010.

“Everybody’s Fine”

I like little movies like this, where it’s all about the good acting and the writing. Here, Robert De Niro is a widower who never quite connected with his kids as closely as his wife did. So, when they all cancel for a weekend get-together, he decides to go out and visit every one of them…oh, and his grown-up kids are played by Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale, and Drew Barrymore. Another solid cast, and the whole trailer has a warm and friendly feel to it—it reminds me a lot of Steve Carrell’s “Dan in Real Life”—another dramedy about family, which was just a well-acted, lovely all-around package. De Niro is in fine form (as always) as the aging father, and the rest of the cast looks spot-on, particularly Barrymore. It might not win many awards, but I think it'll be a pleasant diversion from the Oscar heavy-hitters. “Everybody’s Fine” hits theaters December 4th.

What do you guys think? Curious to see one or both of these?

I'll see "Everybody's Fine" for sure, and I’m looking forward to “Valentine’s Day”—here’s hoping that it won’t turn into a bunch of likeable stars and great actors in a mediocre movie.

Trailers courtesy of Trailer Addict [end of post] Read more!

The Daily Munchies: Trailer Time

- Posted by Rusty

Sorry, you guys--I haven’t done one of these in quite a while. But, to make up for a bit of lost time, here are some of my favorite recent trailers...

“The Men Who Stare at Goats”

I’m digging this trailer a lot—this movie tracks a top-secret division of the U.S. government, devoted to paranormal missions…and, yes, these guys are so good, they can stare down any goat! I like the offbeat sense of humor, that crazy cast (always great to see Jeff Bridges!), and the fact that it’s all supposedly based on true events. Clooney’s a lot of fun when he’s slightly unhinged (best seen with his Coen Brothers’ work, like “O, Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “Burn After Reading”), and it’s the directing debut of his longtime creative partner, Grant Heslov (you might remember him as the young agent under Schwarzenegger’s wing in “True Lies”)—this could be a quirky sleeper hit to go alongside Clooney’s more serious, likely Oscar-nominated turn in “Up in the Air,” out later this year too. Genius poster too, by the way—about time a goat gets its Hollywood due… Catch these crazy dudes on November 2nd. (and thanks for the heads up on the poster, Kristal!)

“Up in the Air”

I should just call this column the Clooney edition, huh? This movie comes from director Jason Reitman (son of director Ivan Reitman…who gave us “Ghostbusters”!). With just two films under his belt—the biting “Thank You for Smoking” and the quite lovely (if a bit overrated) “Juno”—he’s proving himself to be a major talent. This is a really creative trailer too—I can’t quite tell you what this is about, but I like the way it slowly draws us in. We know Clooney’s character is some kind of corporate speaker—one of those guys who travels so often that it becomes a way of life. And that’s it, really—the trailer is a quick series of scenes, all set to Clooney’s monologue about life on the move, what it takes to succeed. His speech is all cutthroat, business-people stereotype—these people are “sharks,” never stopping, never settling down. And yet look at the images—the empty apartments, the bare-bones connections, the people breaking apart, the quiet desperation. This is subject matter that could be jammed down our throats in the wrong hands, but I like the subtle, melancholy tone of the trailer—I think we’re looking at one of this year’s potential best films. Also, while Clooney’s one of our biggest stars, I think we tend to forget how good of an actor he can be—this could be a solid reminder of that. The reviews coming from the Toronto International Film Festival are nothing short of glowing, so I think this will be well worth checking out. This hits theaters November 25th.

“A Christmas Carol”

Director Robert Zemeckis gave us “Back to the Future,” one of my favorite movies of all time (I’m psyched every time someone gets a “Hey, McFly” or “Great Scott!” reference). He also gave us “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf,” both using his beloved motion-capture technology—simply put, it’s the technology that helped bring “Lord of the Rings”’ Gollum to life—capturing every detail of a live-action performance, and then transforming that into anything imaginable. I get why Zemeckis is attracted to it—the possibilities really are endless—any world can be constructed from the ground up, and actors are free to play whoever (and whatever) they want, minus all real-world restrictions—it’s a gift to actors who are game to experiment. It’s a fantastic concept…but I’m not crazy about the results so far.

All that blabbing aside, Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” is probably the best showcase yet for Zemeckis’ new style—if he really wants us to love this motion-capture filmmaking, this is probably the movie to do it with. Charles Dickens’ story has been adapted seemingly every single year...and why not? It’s timeless and charming—an adventurous, perfectly-constructed morality tale for the ages, all delivered with a tiny hint of Gothic-y horror goodness, and a huge, infections helping of Christmas spirit. Victorian London is a gorgeous setting, and, here, Zemeckis could really show off what motion-capture could do—you can even see it in this trailer. Big Ben Tower, which is just being constructed, Ebenezer Scrooge flying through the sky, the slightly exaggerated features of the characters—it honestly looks great, and I’m curious to see more now. (The animation is still a bit jarring, though, but hopefully the story will overpower that). I also like the designs of the Three Ghosts (of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come)—the individual looks are imaginative, and they seem more organic in this world than they would in a live-action setting. All in all, the clip has a fun spirit, and I hope that will translate to the final movie.

Plus, Zemeckis has Jim Carrey playing roughly 8 different roles—we all know Carrey’s a gifted physical comedian, but he’s a hell of an actor too (as “The Truman Show” and “Eternal Sunshine” showed us)—this is the ideal platform for him to go crazy, and show us just how much of a ridiculous range he has. There's also quite the cast playing along, including Gary Oldman (playing Tiny Tim!), Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, and Bob Hoskins (reuniting with his “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” director). Disney’s releasing this November 6th both in regular theaters and in IMAX 3D—I’ll try to catch it in 3D for sure. I want to like Zemeckis’ new approach (his next film will be filmed the same way—a remake of the Beatles classic, “Yellow Submarine”)—he’s too gifted a filmmaker, so I hope this is the movie that finally makes me a convert.

Now, if he could just get that rumored “Roger Rabbit” sequel off the ground…that I would see in a heartbeat!

What do you guys think? Do any of these movies look interesting or worth checking out? If I had to pick one, I think I'd go for "Up in the Air"--it looks like the kind of smart, powerful film Hollywood likes to give us around Oscar time (ie, "Brokeback Mountain," "Almost Famous," etc).

I'll be back with some more cool trailers (and one crappy one, but it's worth talking about) next week, along with my much-belated review of "State of Play", one of my favorite new films.

Clips courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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The Daily Munchies: Trailer Time

- Posted by Rusty

“9”

How amazing is that trailer? Love that music, those dark, demented, eerily cool visuals, that almost so-real-you-could-touch-it look to the world. And it just looks really interesting. It hit me while I was watching this that, minus the post-apocalyptic set-up (and that great tag line: “9 Will Save Us”), we still don’t know much of the story. And that’s just the way it should be—I hate it when trailers give away the entire movie—this one just gives us a good, entertaining taste, but leaves the rest in mystery. How is 9 going to save us? And, wait, save us from what? Are any humans still alive in this future? Ah, I can’t wait to find out! This opens next week (on 9-9-09—how perfect is that?), and it’s got some pretty mighty producing muscle behind it: this is Shane Acker’s directing debut, but it’s brought to us by Tim Burton (an always favorite of mine…and the man who knows how to make a great trailer) and the crazy-visual Russian maestro, Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted,” “Night Watch”—yay for my people!). By the way, I haven’t checked this out yet, but this movie’s based on Shane Acker’s Oscar-nominated animated short of the same name—I hear nothing but amazing things about it, so check it out here if you’re interested.

“The Informant!”

I knew a bit about this movie going in, but I didn’t expect anything this funny and entertaining. This is the new Steven Sodebergh movie (the man behind “Ocean’s 11-13,” “Erin Brockovich,” “Traffic,” and “Out of Sight”), and apparently it’s all based on a true story. Matt Damon looks like he’s having a blast playing a corporate doofus out to expose his company (he’s "Agent 0014" because “he’s twice as smart as 007”), and the whole thing just looks like a lot of clever fun. Plus, a bonus for “Chuck” fans: Scott Bakula plays one of the agents working with Damon…and the sequence with him helping Damon wear a wire is priceless! Catch it in theaters on September 18th.

What do you guys think of these trailers? Do they make you want to see these movies?

Trailers courtesy of TrailerAddict [end of post]. Read more!

The Daily Munchies: "District 9"

So in light of this weekend, figure I'd post a trailer for District 9. I don't know if I'm going to watch it this weekend (but I know my cohorts plan on doing so). And I have to be honest, the first trailer really didn't pique my interest. But this trailer looks much more intriguing. Something you may want to check out this weekend!



DESCRIPTION: An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly find a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.

Peace, Love, and Chicken Grease
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