VH Corner

Appaloosa went into wide release, but I already posted it in limited releases a few weeks ago. There are a couple interesting films being released–one with potential young lovers having fun in New York City and the story of the guy who invented intermittent windshield wipers. There are a couple that don’t seem to have much potential–a non-funny satire, an idiot making a fool of himself in front of celebrities, and everyone going blind. Finally, there is a talking dog movie, but let’s try to ignore that. The one I want to see the most is a limited release and would also be the only Certified Fresh movie this week, which is Rachel Getting Married.

Nationwide Releases

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Directed: Peter Sollett
Starring: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings
Trailer

Synopsis: Two young people meet up in a New York City night club and get dragged around trying to escape his ex-girlfriend and to find her drunk friend.

My Take: Michael Cera is funny. I am disturbed that his ex is played by pumpkinhead from Invasion though.

RT Score: 72%
RT Consensus: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist combines a pair of charming leads, the classic New York backdrop, and a sweet soundtrack.

Continue reading “Movies Opening October 3″

Tags: Alan Alda, Allah Made Me Funny, An American Carol, Andy Garcia, Anne Hathaway, Ballast, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Bill Irwin, Bill Maher, Blindness, Chaz Thorne, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, danny glover, Danny Huston, David Zucker, Debra Wigner, Dermot Mulroney, Drew Barrymore, Eleonore Hendricks, Fernando Meirelles, Flash of Genius, gael garcia bernal, gerard butler, greg kinnear, guy ritchie, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jay Baruchel, Jeremy Piven, Jimmyron Ross, Johnny McPhail, Jonathan Demme, Josh Safdie, julianne moore, Just Buried, Kat Dennings, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley, Kirsten Dunst, Lance Hammer, Larry Charles, Lauren Graham, Leslie Nielsen, Marc Abraham, mark ruffalo, Megan Fox, michael cera, Michael J. Smith, Michael Wolfe, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Nigel Bennett, Peter Sollett, Placido Domingo, Pleasure of Being Robbed, Rachel Getting Married, Raja Gosnell, Religulous, Robert B. Weide, RocknRolla, rose byrne, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sergio DiZio, Simon Pegg, Tarra Riggs, Thandie Newton, Trace Adkins, Wayne Chin

None of the wide releases seem super interesting this week. There is a WWII war movie that has the most potential. There is also some stupid thriller, mushy older people love story, and marriage-on-the-rocks fable that only having faith God can save. The limited releases don’t look much better. There are tons of documentaries and only Choke seems interesting to me this week.

Nationwide Releases

Miracle at St. Anna
Directed: Spike Lee
Starring: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller
Trailer

Synopsis: During World War II, an all-black unit gets separated from the other troops in Tuscany, Italy. They must fend for themselves and risk their lives to save an Italian boy.

My Take: It seems like an interesting story that just happens to be set during a World War.

RT Score: 27%
RT Consensus: Miracle at St. Anna is a well-intentioned but overlong, disjointed affair that hits few of the right notes.

Continue reading “Movies Released September 26″

Tags: Al Goldstein, Alex Kendrick, All Roads Lead Home, Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela, Amiri Baraka, Anjelica Huston, Barney Rosset, Ben Bevel, Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story, Brax Villa, Brian William Henke, Choke, Christopher Meloni, clark gregg, D.J. Caruso, Daniel O'Connor, Danny Jacobs, Darren Grodsky, Dennis Fallon, derek luke, diane lane, Eagle Eye, Erin Bethea, Fairuza Balk, Fireproof, Forever Strong, Frances Conroy, Gary Cole, George C Wolfe, Greta Scacchi, Humbolt County, Ishmael Reed, Jack Thompson, Jag Mundhra, Jason London, Jason McLeod, Jeremy Strong, John Hurt, Julian Lennon, Kelly MacDonald, Kim Kindersley, Kirk Cameron, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Laz Alonso, michael chiklis, Michael Dukakis, Michael Ealy, Michael Pena, Michelle Monaghan, Miracle at St. Anna, Molly Hagan, Naseeruddin Shah, Neal McDonough, Neil Burger, Neil Ortenberg, Nights in Rodanthe, Obscene, Olaf De Fleur Johanesson, Olivia Galudo, Om Puri, Omar Benson Miller, Penn Badgley, Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Boyle, Peter Coyote, Pierce Brosnan, Rachel McAdams, Raquela Rios, richard gere, rosario dawson, Ryan Little, Sam Donaldson, Sam Rockwell, Scott Glenn, sean astin, Sean Faris, Shia LaBeouf, Shoot on Sight, Spike Lee, Stefan Forbes, Stephen Greif, The Lucky Ones, Tim Robbins, Tom DeLay, Valery Grand, Vivien Cardone, Whaledreamers

There aren’t any real stand outs in the wide releases this week. Ghost Town looks passable, but the others can be easily skipped. the more interesting movies seem to be the limited releases. Well, at least the first two Appaloosa and The Duchess seem interesting.

Nationwide Releases

Ghost Town
Directed: David Koepp
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell, Kristen Wiig, Dana Ivey, Aasif Mandi
Trailer

Synopsis: A dentist who is not a people person dies for seven minutes during surgery starts to see ghosts everywhere.

My Take: It doesn’t seem outstanding, but looks like an amusing romantic comedy saved by Ricky Gervais being funny.

RT Score: 87%
RT Consensus: Ricky Gervais’ consistently sharp performance and beautifully dry execution transform this otherwise mainstream comedy into an endearing, funny, and altogether snappy romantic comedy. With ghosts.

Continue reading “Movies Released September 19″

Tags: Aasif Mandi, alec baldwin, Andrea Ramiro, Appaloosa, Battle in Seattle, Billy Campbell, Bradley Snedeker, Brian Scott Miller, Caio Junqueira, Charliz Theron, Charlotte Rampling, Dana Ivey, dane cook, David Koepp, Dax Shepard, diane keaton, Dominic Cooper, Ed Harris, Elite Squad, Ghost Town, greg kinnear, Howard Deutch, Igor, jason biggs, Jay Hernandez, Jennifer Coolidge, Jeremy Irons, John Cleese, john cusack, Jose Padilha, kate hudson, keira knightley, Kerry Washington, Kristen Wiig, Lakeview Terrace, Liv Tyler, Mackenzie Firgens, Martin Henderson, Mercedes McNab, Michelle Rodriguez, Milhem Cortaz, My Best Friend's Girl, Neil LaBute, patrick wilson, ralph fiennes, Renee Zellweger, Ricky Gervais, samuel l. jackson, Sarah Thompson, Saul Dibb, Smother, steve buscemi, Stuart Townsend, Tea Leoni, The Duchess, The Pink Conspiracy, Tony Leondis, Viggo Mortensen, Vince Di Meglio, Wagner Moura, woody harrelson

This week, we have a Certified Fresh release with the latest Coen brothers movie. Tyler Perry hates critics, so he doesn’t let his movies be screened for them. That doesn’t seem to stop people from seeing them though. I don’t think that it looks like Robert De Niro in the poster for Righteous Kill. It almost looks like it is a video game. Finally, The Women remake has been in the works for about 15 years and it looks like it should have stayed that way.

Nationwide Releases

Burn After Reading
Directed: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Starring: George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Tilda Winton
Trailer

Synopsis: Dumb gym employees find an ex-CIA’s memoirs and try to blackmail him.

My Take: It doesn’t look like the best Coen brothers movie, but it still looks pretty funny and a substandard Coen brothers movie is still damn entertaining.

RT Score: 78%
RT Consensus: With Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters.

Continue reading “Movies Opening September 12″

Tags: aaron eckhart, Al Pacino, Alan Ball, Alfre Woodard, annette bening, brad pitt, Brian Dennehy, Burn After Reading, Clara Khoury, Cole Hauser, Curtis Jackson, debra messing, Diane English, ethan coen, eva mendes, Family That Preys, Flow: For Love of Water, Forgiveness, Frances McDormand, george clooney, Godfrey Cheshire, Irena Salina, Jada Pinkett Smith, joel coen, John Leguizamo, John Malkovich, Jon Avnet, kathy bates, Makram Khoury, Maria Bello, Meg Ryan, Michael Sarne, Moni Moshonov, Moving Midway, Peter Macdissi, Righteous Kill, robert de niro, Sanaa Lathan, Summer Bishil, The Women, Tilda Winton, toni collette, Towelhead, tyler perry, Udi Aloni

I guess this is the death week between summer being over and the fancy Oscar-worthy fall movies come out. After having give movies come out last week, only one came out this week. They couldn’t find anything better though?

Nationwide Releases

Bangkok Dangerous
Directed: Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Chakrit Yamnarm, Charlie Yeung
Trailer

Synopsis: Greasy-haired assassin rethinks his job when he is hired to kill an actual nice guy that helps poor people.

My Take: Um, I’m going to ignore this movie came out.

RT Score: 8%
RT Consensus: With murky cinematography, a meandering pace, a dull storyline, and rather wooden performances, The Pang Brothers’ Hollywood remake of Bangkok Dangerous is unsuccessful.

Continue reading “Movies Opening September 5″

Tags: Andrew Vo, Ayesha Mohan, Bangkok Dangerous, Cerena Vincent, Chakrit Yamnarm, Charlie Yeung, Chris Smith, Danny Pang, Everybody Wants To Be Italian, Jason Todd Ipson, Jay Jablonski, Jessica Yu, Jhangir Badshah, Jim Lau, Jimmy Tsai, John Enos, John Kapelos, Khary Payton, Nana Patekar, nicolas cage, Oxide Pang Chun, Ping Pong Playa, Pool, Richard Libertini, Roger Fan, Venkatesh Chavan

Beyond Hamlet 2, the movies look very dismal this week. When we saw the trailer for Babylon A.D. for the first time before Hellboy 2, the girl in the movie asked Vin Diesel why he was risking his life for her and a guy in the theater answered, “Because I haven’t had a good movie in a while.” If that doesn’t sum it up, the director has admitted the movie isn’t good. eek! College and Disaster Movie were not screened for critics, which almost always means they are horrible. All the bad movies this week are really ripping off much better movies. That means I just said Transporter is better that some of these movies. Then there is Traitor, which bores me so much that I turn the tv whenever I come across the trailer.

Nationwide Releases

Hamlet 2
Directed: Andrew Fleming
Starring: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Amy Poehler, Elisabeth Shue
Trailer

Synopsis: A failed actor is now a high-school musical teacher leading his students through a sequel to Hamlet that involves time travel and a sexy Jesus.

My Take: Sounds incredibly stupid, yet I laugh every time I see the trailer.

RT Score: 61%
RT Consensus: The script’s biting premise and Steve Coogan’s endearing, off-the-handle performance make Hamlet 2 an hysterical — if slightly painful — ride.

Continue reading “Movies Opening August 29″

Tags: aaron seltzer, Alyy Khan, Amy Poehler, An Nguyen, Andrew Caldwell, Andrew Fleming, Babylon A.D., Ballet Shoes, Catherine Keener, College, Crista Flanagan, David Arquette, David Kaplan, Deb Hagan, Disaster Movie, Don Cheadle, Drake Bell, Elisabeth Shue, Emilia Fox, emma watson, Gary "G-Thang" Johnson, Guy Pearce, Hamlet 2, Hayley Bennett, Hideaki Ito, jason friedberg, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Ken Leung, Kevin Covais, Koichi Sato, Lambert Wilson, Lee Wong, Lucy Boynton, Mark Strong, Masanobu Ando, Mathieu Kassovitz, Matt Lanter, Melanie Thierry, Michelle Yeoh, Neal McDonough, Nicole Parker, quentin tarantino, Randall Duk Kim, Ryan Pinkston, Said Taghmaoui, Sandra Goldbacher, Steve Coogan, Sukiyaki Western Django, Takaaki Ishibashi, Takashi Miike, Traitor, Tsai Chin, Vanessa Minnillo, Victoria Wood, Vin Diesel, Yasmin Paige, Year of the Fish, Yusuke Iseya

Out of the wide releases this week, the critics aren’t loving any of the movies. Death Race doesn’t promise to be more than mindless, violent action, yet the critics did not have any fun watching it. It was too empty for them. Speaking of empty, House Bunny is the first movie for Anna Faris to lead, and even though critics like her, the story is about as blank as her character. The Rocker appears to just be a bad rip-off of School of Rock, Rainn Wilson’s character isn’t much of a stretch from Dwight on The Office, and he’s naked far too much in it. Finally, The Longshots is a stereotypical sports movie where a girl wants to play football, isn’t allowed on the team, but beats all odds by the end. The most shocking part about the movie, though, is it directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst.

Nationwide Releases

Death Race
Directed: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane
Trailer

Synopsis: In order to go even more extreme with reality television, there is a racing competition inside a jail with the prisoners.

My Take: Perfect movie for when you need to turn off your brain, but still probably very horrible.

RT Score: 40%
RT Consensus: Mindless, violent, and lightning-paced, Death Race is little more than an empty action romp.

Continue reading “Movies Opening August 22″

Tags: anna faris, Azazel Jacobs, Cara Buono, Carl Deal, christina applegate, colin hanks, Cthulhu, Dan Gildark, Dash Mihok, David Walker, Death Race, Eleanor Hutchins, Emma Stone, Fred Durst, fred wolf, House Bunny, I Served the King of England, I.O.U.S.A., ian mcshane, ice cube, Ivan Barnev, Jason Cottle, jason statham, Jeff Garlin, Jill Marie Jones, Jiri Menzel, joan allen, Julia Jentsch, Katharine McPhee, Keke Palmer, Ken Jacobs, Longshots, Marian Labuda, Matt Boren, Milan Lasica, Momma's Man, Oldoich Kaiser, Patrick Creadon, Paul W.S. Anderson, Peter Cattaneo, Piero Arcilesi, Rainn Wilson, Richard Edson, Robert Padilla, Rocker, Ron Paul, Rumer Willis, Scott Green, Tasha Smith, Teddy Geiger, Tia Lessin, Tori Spelling, Trouble the Water, Tyrese Gibson, Warren Buffett, William Bonner

There has been some protests surrounding Tropic Thunder, but that hasn’t stopped the critics from loving it. It has been Certified Fresh. Woody Allen has had some good films (Match Point) and some horrible ones (Melinda and Melinda and Scoop) lately. Vicky Cristina Barcelona appears to be one of the good ones. Mirrors wasn’t screened for critics in advance like most horror movies. It is another remake of an Asian horror movie, this time a Korean movie. The Clone Wars caused confusion since there was already cartoons made of it for television a few years ago and it seems to covering the same territory. I think George Lucas just needs to let the franchise go.

Nationwide Releases

Tropic Thunder
Directed: Ben Stiller
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel
Trailer

Synopsis: Big movie stars take themselves so seriously in a Vietnam war drama that the director decides to just drop them into the jungles of Vietnam to fend for themselves, but doesn’t tell them that.

My Take: While I am not a Ben Stiller fan, this looks hilarious. Also, Robert Downey Jr. cracks me up. It looks so wrong, yet so funny.

RT Score: 84%
RT Consensus: With biting satire, plenty of subversive humor, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder is a triumphant late Summer comedy.

Continue reading “Movies Opening August 15″

Tags: Adriana Barraza, Alexandra Aja, Amy Smart, Anthony Daniels, Ben Stassen, ben stiller, Benoit Magimel, Brandon T. Jackson, Cheryl Hines, Chris Messina, Christopher Lee, Christopher Lloyd, Claude Chabrol, Clone Wars, Dave Filoni, Fly Me To The Moon, Flyboys, Francois Berleand, George Lopez, Girl Cut in Two, Henry Poole Is Here, Ian Abercrombie, jack black, Jack Brooks Monster Slayer, Jason Flemyng, javier bardem, Jay Baruchel, Jesse James, Jon Knautz, Kiefer Sutherland, Ludivine Sagnier, luke wilson, Mark Pellington, Mathilda May, Matt Lanter, Mirrors, Nicollette Sheridan, Paula Patton, penelope cruz, Rachel Skarsten, Radha Mitchell, Rebecca Hall, Reiley McClendon, Robert Downey Jr., Robert Englung, robert patrick, Robert Patrick Benedict, Rocco Devilliers, samuel l. jackson, scarlett johansson, Stephen Baldwin, Tim Curry, Tom Sizemore, Trevor Matthews, tropic thunder, Valeria Cavalli, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, woody allen

Nationwide Releases

Pineapple Express
Directed: David Gordon Green
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Amber Heard, Danny McBride, Gary Cole
Trailer

Synopsis: A stoner unintentionally witnesses a murder and gets his stoner friend to help him with not getting killed.

My Take: Along the same lines as Superbad and Knocked Up, so it should be good times.

RT Score: 69%
RT Consensus: Both funny and scatter shot, this loose-knit action/buddy/stoner comedy bridges genres and keeps a steady tempo of low ball laughs.

Continue reading “Movies Opening Aug 8″

Tags: Aaron Rose, alan rickman, Alexis Bledel, Amber Heard, amber tamblyn, America Ferrera, Antonio Cupo, Ashton Holmes, Beautiful Losers, Ben Kingsley, Bijou Phillips, Bill Pullman, Blake Lively, Bottle Shock, Cheryl Dunn, Chris Johanson, Chris Pine, Danny McBride, david carradine, David Gordon Green, Dennis Hopper, Elegy, Eric Balfour, Freddy Rodriguez, Gary Cole, Hell Ride, Isabel Coixet, James Franco, Jo Jackson, Joshua Leonard, Larry Bishop, Noah Segan, Patricia Clarkson, penelope cruz, peter sarsgaard, Pineapple Express, Rachael Taylor, Randall Miller, Rick Gonzalez, Rodger Grossman, Sanaa Hamri, seth rogen, Shane West, Shepard Fairey, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Thomas Campbell, Tom Wisdom, Vinnie Jones, What We Do Is Secret

Nationwide Releases

Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Directed: Rob Cohen
Starring: Brenden Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh
Trailer

Synopsis: Brendan Fraser is attacking Jet Li as a dragon emperor while lots of dead things attack everyone.

My Take: The first two were campy, goofy fun. This one loses it and tries too hard. I was also confused in the trailer why they were shooting arrows at skeletons. Do arrows hurt bones?

RT Score: 9%
RT Consensus: With middling CG effects and a distinct lack of fun, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor finds the series past its prime.

Continue reading “Movies Opening Aug 1″

Tags: Alex Holdridge, Bradley Cooper, brenden fraser, Brian McGuire, Charlie McDermott, courtney hunt, Dennis Hopper, Eddie Marsan, frozen river, Greg Sulkin, helena bonham-carter, in search of a midnight kiss, Jet Li, John Hannah, Joshua Michael Stern, Kelsey Grammar, Kevin Costner, Leslie Bibb, Maria Bello, Mark Boone Junior, Melissa Leo, Michelle Yeoh, midnight meat train, Misty Upham, Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Nathan Lane, paul weiland, Paula Patton, Peter Jacobsen, rob cohen, Roger Bart, Ryuhei Kitamura, Sara Simmonds, Scott McNairy, sixty six, Stephen Rea, swing vote, Vinnie Jones