 Okay, so this is the start of a new, ongoing feature we’re going to be trying here at Premium Hollywood in which I’ll be taking a look at the slate of new movies releases for the coming weekend each Friday, making highly opinionated remarks about them, and perhaps engaging in some box-office prognostication — though I’ll mostly avoid specific numbers as I am certain to be wrong. Then, on Sunday night/Monday morning, I’ll be reporting back with information on just how very wrong I was, with further apt comments on same. Let the madness begin….
(Bret Michel of The Phoenix has a semi-spoilerific rundown on the changes from book/mostly-true story to film, which includes de-Asian Americanizing the real-life main character of the book, Jeff Ma. Ma, presumably well paid, doesn’t seem to have a problem with this, and there is a token Asian in the filmic group of unusually attractive overachieving nerds turned card counters, but I count this is as a cop-out and a missed opportunity. Hollywood really seems to have an issue with Asian-American men not practiced in the martial arts, and, in world where John Cho exists, there really isn’t that much an excuse other than rank cowardice. Besides, there’s more to life than playing Harold and Sulu.)*
“Stop-Loss” predictably fared better on the Tomatometer than “21″ — but not all that much better. That’s bad news, because “serious issue” films generally need at least borderline ecstatic reviews to succeed, not half-hearted appreciations of good intentions. Though it has a moderately big name in the stolid Ryan Phillippe and the always outstanding Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a supporting role, I would be flabbergasted if this one did anything but mediocre-to-abysmal business. In any case, if ever a war seemed to be box-office poison, it’s this one. W didn’t only screw several nations with his war, he had to include filmmakers as well * Not screened for critics, I think it’s safe to say that “Superhero Movie” isn’t going for quality. Especially lately, Hollywood has rarely lost money underestimating the intelligence of America’s teenagers, but I can’t help but wish a massive box-office defeat on the latest entry in a string of inexplicably successful films that seem to think that merely recreating one scene after another from recent popular films on a lower budget amounts to hilarity. In this case, there’s an odd wrinkle, because the Weinstein Company is the target of a boycott by outraged Star Wars fans, angry over the treatment of the upcoming film, “Fanboys.” If I may engage in an act of outrageous self-linkage, I can’t help but sympathize with fanboys and fangirls in the fight for justice. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this come down in the second or third slot on Sunday.
Also David Gordon Green’s “Snow Angels” is expanding some this week. I personally failed to fully grok the arty wunderkind’s ultra-lauded debut miniature, “George Washington,” and have lost track of him since, but at least this drama “of love and loss converging” is a chance to see Kate Beckinsale play a human. *H/t to Greencine for the Bret Michel and Chris Orr pieces on “21″ Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Actors and Actresses and News and Reviews and Movie Comedies and Movie Dramas and External Movies Comments: 3 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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* If “21″ is the main commercial hope of this weekend, then the Iraq war drama, “
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While most fanboys have no doubt already watched the new “Incredible Hulk” trailer several times (check it out here if you haven’t seen it yet), Empire Online has released an informative deconstruction of the two-minute spot by director Louis Leterrier. Surely you have your reservations about the film (personally, I think The Hulk looks a little too rubbery), but after reading through Leterrier’s discussion, I’m definitely a more interested in seeing the final product than I was after watching the trailer. Along with a detailed reasoning for the Abomination’s look, Leterrier also discusses the film’s climactic (26 minute!) battle and why the trailer took so long to release. Check it out here, and then come on back to discuss. Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Action Movies and External Entertainment and External Movies Comments: None Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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I can’t even express just how psyched I am.
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The red band trailer for the 2008 comedy “Strange Wilderness” has finally hit the web, and though Adam Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison, is proudly mentioned in the opening seconds, it definitely feels more like “Grandma’s Boy” than “50 First Dates.” Of course, Sandler himself doesn’t appear in the film (as is common with most of the Happy Madison projects), which means that it’s probably going to suck. The film follows the crew of a wilderness-themed TV program as they go in search of Bigfoot in order to score better ratings, and while red band trailers usually show a comedy for what it really is (“Walk Hard” looks that much better because of its very own red band trailer), “Strange Wilderness” has got flop written all over it. It’s too bad, really, since the movie has a decent cast of comedy up-and-comers including Steve Zahn, Justin Long, Jonah Hill and Kevin Heffernan. Unfortunately, the latter two are hardly featured in the trailer. If Paramount were smart, they’d re-cut a new trailer featuring as much of Hill as they possibly can. The kid’s not only talented – he’s one of the most talked about up-and-comers in the industry right now. Check out the worldwide premiere here, and then come back to tell us what you think. Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Movie Dramas and External Movies Comments: None Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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Despite all the punchlines which have starred our great white neighbor to the north, the moment things start to get rough in these United States, the first reaction of most Americans tends to be, “That’s it, I’m moving to Canada.” And, believe me, I’m definitely including yours truly in that number. If an opportunity presented itself, I’d totally move to Canada…although I’d probably avoid attempting a transplant to Saskatchewan. (Those people are pretty testy.*) With this being the case, I was highly surprised to find myself so disappointed in Albert Nerenberg’s documentary, “Escape to Canada.”
Maybe it’s my own fault. Maybe it’s because I’ve always thought that escaping to Canada sounded like a good idea that I was disappointed. But I walked gleefully into the proceedings, figuring I’d get a good schooling on the reasons why I was right, and all I got in return was a lengthy conversation on how awesome it is that Canada has legalized pot and gay marriage. And while I’m sure it’s great news for a certain demographic, I’m not gay, and the closest I’ve ever gotten to smoking pot is the secondhand smoke I inhaled when I went to see AC/DC on their “Fly on the Wall” tour. In other words, neither of those are really great selling points for me…which was unfortunate, since, well, that’s pretty much the only two things that “Escape to Canada” takes the time to discuss. I’m not saying the film isn’t interesting on a certain level; even though these aren’t matters that affect me on a personal level, there’s something to be said for a country that’s progressive enough to embrace them to the point of making them legal. But, honestly, at the end of the viewing, all I could think was that it’s gonna take more than the ringing endorsement of Mr. Tommy Chong to make me seriously consider Canadian citizenship. So, yeah, I realize this is a pretty short review, but, unfortunately, I just don’t have much else to offer. On the whole, I walked in looking for info on topics like Canada’s lower crime rate, their medical plan, and other stuff, but it’s like Nerenberg went in with his blinders on. If he’s happy with this streamlined view of what’s great about the Great White North, more power to him. But, personally, I was just disappointed. * This is a joke, intended for a friend of mine who lives in Regina, Saskatchewan. If you are not this person, please don’t get testy…mostly because you’ll only be perpetuating a stereotype. Post-script: I dropped an E-mail to the aforementioned friend in Regina, telling him of this documentary and my disappointment with its streamlined approach, and this was his response: “My guess is that, perhaps, it’s more to highlight that, compared to the US, Canada has greater freedoms, that where the US is compromising liberties, Canada is expanding them. There are a number of ways one could argue that Canada is freer, the political system is (somewhat) less corrupt, and the social fabric less tattered, but the dope and same-sex marriage stuff are more recent points of contention, and the two countries are heading in opposite directions. Religion also doesn’t have much hold of our political system (or society, really). When the Liberals passed same-sex legislation, the prime minister, Paul Martin, openly said that as a Catholic he’s opposed to it, but that he wasn’t elected to be a Catholic prime minister, only prime minister for all Canadians.” Okay, fair enough, and I’ll buy that. But I was still disappointed, anyway. Filed under: Movies and Movie DVDs and Trailers and Reviews and Documentaries and External Entertainment and External Movies and External Movie DVDs and Doc of the Day Comments: None Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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The trailer for the new Rambo flick (ingeniously titled “Rambo”) has finally hit the net, and I can’t tell whether the movie is supposed to be a follow-up to the third film in the popular action series or a sequel to “The Pacifier.” In it, John Rambo plays babysitter to a group of Christian missionaries after they’re kidnapped in Thailand. Along with his trusty knife, bow and cliched dialogue (”Live for nothing, or die for something” - seriously?), the Vietnam vet wreaks havoc on the savage Burmese mercenaries. Sylvester Stallone has gone on record as saying that the reason the film wasn’t titled “John Rambo” (like “Rocky Balboa,” which signified the end of a franchise), is because he’s still very much open to making more. Too bad. If this trailer is any indication - not to mention it’s January release date - they should have quit while they were ahead. Click here to check out the trailer, and then come back to let us know what you think. |
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I’m still not sure what to make of this. Visa recently launched another ad in their ‘cash and checks are evil’ series, taking place in a toy store. It is easily the most visually stunning of these spots to date, thanks in large part to the fact that literally everyone in the commercial is juggling. (You can view the clip here, scroll down to “View ‘Juggling’ TV Commercial). I love the fact that they used Danny Elfman’s theme to “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” as the background music. That piece changed soundtrack music forevermore, no joke. It was also the song my wife and I chose as cake-cutting music at our wedding. Again, no joke. Now here is where my spider sense starts tingling. Have you seen the trailer for the upcoming Dustin Hoffman/Natalie Portman family movie “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”? The majority of it takes place in a toy store, and in the background they play, yep, Danny Elfman’s theme to “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.” Huh. How about that. To 20th Century Fox’s credit, they also commissioned a remix of the Pilot song “Magic” for the spot as well, and anyone who wants to resurrect that song has our blessing. Still, something here just seems off. Now, you could argue that the creative directors from two very different companies decided to use the same song at the same time, each one unaware of what the other was planning. Or, perhaps, this is calculated product placement, only we’re not supposed to know it yet. Maybe, a couple weeks from now, that Visa spot comes with a tag that says “See ‘Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,’ in theaters November 16.” Changes things, doesn’t it? I suppose time will soon tell whether I’m a prophet or paranoid, though I suppose those traits aren’t mutually exclusive. Filed under: TV and Trailers and Action Movies and External Movies Comments: None Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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You gotta love Jon Favreau. Not only is he responsible for one of the greatest movies ever made (”Swingers”), but he’s also a fanboy at heart. At this year’s Comic-Con, Favreau showed up with an exclusive trailer for his new film, “Iron Man,” and easily won over the crowd with the best panel of the four-day event. Of course, the trailer showed up on the net soon after, and instead of going nuts like most studios these days, Paramount didn’t even attempt to take it down. Honestly, the quality of the video that was showing up online wasn’t very good, but after seeing the trailer three times at Comic-Con, I can understand why people wanted to check it for themselves. And now you can. Previously scheduled to hit Apple.com at midnight tonight, the trailer has already been unveiled for impatient fanboys, and though it doesn’t include everything we saw in San Diego (not to mention it’s been completely recut), you can still get a sense of what the movie is about. Plus, the fact that a trailer this extensive is being shown a full eight months before the movie arrives in theaters is generous enough. Click here to enjoy, and then come on back to tell us what you think. Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Action Movies and External Entertainment and External Movies Comments: 2 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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This is just depressing. The first four minutes of “Saw IV” are now online, and man, does it look a mess. It looks like someone doing an impression of a “Saw” movie, using people who have never acted before. And just try not to scream “Just chop the damn chain already!” Dumb people in horror movies deserve to die, even if someone has sewn their eyes shut. To view the clip, click here. Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Horror Movies and External Movies Comments: 7 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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Allow me to quote Paul Rudd in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” when I say, “Y’know, I always thought that Matt Damon was a bit of a Streisand, but he’s rocking the shit in this one!” After playing the Bond-like protagonist in the first two films, Damon returns for his final performance as Jason Bourne in the third chapter of the supercharged action series. The film hits theaters at the beginning of August, but we haven’t had the chance to see a full trailer until today. From the few minutes highlighted in the trailer, I think it’s safe to say that the movie promises to deliver the same level of action that made “The Bourne Identity” the official blueprints for every other action flick that followed. Paul Greengrass returns to direct, Julia Stiles switches sides as Bourne’s right-hand lady, and David Strathairn steps in as the new evil government agent. Check it out and then come back to let us know what you think. |
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…or does the trailer for this movie seem designed to completely sink the film at the box office?
I mean, the first three “Die Hard” films had one key element above all others: Bruce Willis was a smart-talking tough guy with rapid-fire patter that made you laugh even as he was kicking ass and taking names. I’ve seen this preview three times now, and each time, I find myself thinking, “Who is the morose motherfucker that made this thing?” It’s so dark that it practically creates a fun vacuum, in which no merriment can possibly exist; even the ostensibly funny lines don’t get a laugh because the overtones of the preview are so ominous. In fact, the only person who comes close to getting a laugh is Kevin Smith, and even his big line - “Who is this man?” - feels tacked on, like someone watched the trailer and said, “Yeah, I’m not still smiling here. Better show the fat guy.” I spent all this time getting psyched for this movie, and, now, I almost don’t even want to see it. Based on the trailer, it doesn’t feel the first thing like a “Die Hard” flick. Am I alone on this…? Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Actors and Action Movies and External Entertainment Comments: 2 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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(god save klytus)
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This is what I get for not reading Bloglines for a month. Best Week Ever posted a link in January to a trailer for a horror movie about…sheep. Evil, mutating, sheep of death. And no, this does not appear to be a “Shaun of the Dead”-type parody. Watch the trailer for what could be the funniest movie of the year. Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Horror Movies and Action Movies Comments: 5 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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Could this be the next “Shaun of the Dead”? It certainly looks that way.
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With the winter movie season already proving a disappointment, and the summer season looking positively clogged with unneccesary three-quels, it’s come to my attention that Spring 2007 looks to offer the best selection of films of the year. Along with soon-to-be cult classics like “300,” “Hot Fuzz,” and “Grindhouse” in the books for March and April release dates, the latest flick to join the ever-growing laundry list of promising features is the sci-fi thriller, “Sunshine.” Directed by Danny Boyle (”Trainspotting,” “28 Days Later”) and starring a great cast including Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans and Rose Byrne, the film is set 50 years in the future where a team of astronauts are sent into space to reignite the Sun. The first trailer just hit the net a few days ago and I already can’t wait to watch it again. Of course, it always helps to have that killer Clint Massell tune (which was also used in “Requiem for a Dream,” “One Hour Photo” and the trailer for “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towes”) in the background. Check it out here, and then come back to speak your mind. Filed under: Movies and Trailers and External Movies Comments: 1 Comment Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
 Oh, sure, it’s about as likely to happen as the long-rumored “Pretty in Pink 2″…but it sure would be cool. If you don’t remember the original Val Kilmer flick, check out the trailer below:
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Hey, a lot of people have been waiting for it and now a trailer for the Transformers movie due in ‘07 is up. Frankly, I was never into any transforming mech toys when the things were huge the first time around. Why can’t the Go-Bots get their due? It’s like picking a Rough Riders 4X4 and not giving the Stomper 4X4 a try and seeing if it could be just as enjoyable (all right, I’m getting into obscuro toy talk here). That said, I always fancied myself more of a That’s Incredible! dude, although Real People did have Skip Stephenson (R.I.P.). All right, I have no idea where I’m going with this anymore. Filed under: Trailers and News and External Movies Comments: 2 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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“Singin’ in the Rain,” the George Lucas edit. Seriously, this link will be dead within hours. See it while you can. It’s awesome. |
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“Hot Fuzz” may just be the most anticipated comedy of 2007, and the new trailer has finally hit the net courtesy of Working Title Films. There’s really no good reason NOT to see this movie, but just in case you need one, feel free to check it out here. Filed under: Movies and Trailers and Movie Comedies and External Entertainment Comments: 1 Comment Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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Shhhh. Don’t talk. Just watch. And try not to drool.
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