Recent Movies

the mane event


The 3D re-issue of The Lion King has topped the US chart with $29.3m, 17 years after its original release.

mario hits 30

The original Super Mario 3 advert.


An extraordinary tribute.


the good, the bad & the kermodian

 
There is always a big decision to make when Mark Kermode brings out a new book.  Should it be purchased in paper format, or as an audiobook read by the good Doctor himself?  True, the book does cost half the price, but any regular listener to the Kermode & Mayo film review show (BBC Radio 5 live), must surely be tempted to go the extra six quid and get the audio version from iTunes.  And this is exactly what I did when I heard Dr. Kermode manfully plugging his book last week (also on 5live).

I should add that some of my favourite radio moments of the last decade have involved Mark Kermode, his rants about the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels are awesome.  With or without 3D glasses, he is a man that sees no shades of grey.  He thinks that he is right and everyone else is wrong, and often says so. 


It is important to understand that this is not so much a book, as series of lectures. It is by and large constructed of snippets of the aforementioned 5live show.  This presents one of the books biggest problems,  any regular listener to his show will have heard nearly all his opinions and anecdotes before. 

The books tour de force, is a vivid description about a visit he and his daughter took to local multiplex.  Any regular cinema visitor will nod with resignation as he recounts a series of unfortunate events spanning from the online booking process, to the rolling of the final credits, albeit with only 90% of the picture being visible.  We share in his exasperation as he can't get his ticket from the credit card machine, then we share his anger as he can't get the teen at the popcorn outlet to understand that he can't get said ticket machine to work.  This is all a mere appetiser to Kermodes' central complaint - when he finally makes it to his cinema seat, the top chunk of the picture is missing.  He then goes on to lament the lack of projectionists in multiplex cinemas and the general lack of anyone to sort things out when something goes wrong.  He predictably gets no joy from the cinemas management.  But somewhat less understandably, he doesn't follow the complaint up, or get a quote from the chain of cinemas, or tell us who they are.

It's this lack of questioning, that lets the book down.  Too often he relies on a generalisation or cheap remark, (something really original like the World Series only involving North American teams), rather than seeking out answers.  His jibe about television (a medium he doesn't watch), as 57 channels and nothing on- seems to be based more on the desire to repeat an old lyric, rather than any knowledge or fact.  Surely the platform that has given us Dexter, Mad Men, The Wire, and The Sopranos deserves better from an informed critic.

The book is at its most enjoyable when he stands up for the underdog, literally in the case of his love for Dougal and the Blue cat, and his staunch defense for the talents of Zac Efron.  Sadly, the book is at its weakest and most patronising when he tries to explain why people haven't enjoyed films that they think they have enjoyed, when he criticises the Americans for not rewarding the right kind British movies and a rather tedious rant about remakes of foreign movies.   He informs us that no one will watch an original version of a movie, after watching the Hollywood remake.  This was news to me, as I enthusiastically sought out Infernal Affairs and Let the right one in,  after enjoying their Hollywood remakes The Departed and Let me in. But maybe that's just me.

There are other things to enjoy here, the details he gives about when he first wrote reviews as a child are moving and fascinating. His chapter on 3D is great(and correct in every way), but it is nothing that even a casual listener to his radio show wont have heard dozens of times before.  And that brings us back to the main problem, this whole project feels a bit like an overpriced deluxe greatest hits album; another way to buy stuff you've already listened to.

More Kermode:

big screen trailer park

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - David Fincher Version

 

The Muppets - The Pig With The Froggy Tattoo Teaser Trailer 

fonzie OBE

To celebrate the award of the OBE to Henry Winkler- (the Fonz from Happy Days), here are five great things from that show.

1. The theme tune


2.  It coined the phrase jumping the shark, the moment a previously good show goes bad.


3.  It also coined the phrase Chuck Cunningham syndrome. The moment a character leaves a show, without explanation and is never referred to again.  Other examples include Mandy Hampton from The West Wing and ward clerk Bob from ER.
MIA: Chuck Cunningham

4.  It had a cameo from Tom Hanks.

5.  Happy Days footage was used in this awesome Weezer music video for Buddy Holly.  (it's an official video, so there is sometimes a short ad)

missing something?

on Comedy Central

new season, some shiny new shows

Mad Men with wings? on ABC & BBC 2

Mad Men with bunny ears? on NBC

Spielberg! dinosaurs! whats not to like?  on FOX & Sky 1


Simon and Paula reunited,  on FOX & ITV2

big screen trailer park





Lots of wedding stuff in the new The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 1 trailer.

this Halloween, who ya gonna call?

Ivan Reitman 1984

Hot on the heals of the welcome Jurassic Park re-release next week,  80s classic Ghostbusters will be getting an outing at cinemas this Halloween.  Both movies have new sequels on the way.

when's that awesome show back?

A few dates for the Sky plus.
Glee Season 3, Thursday September 22nd on Sky 1

After a gimmick heavy season two, the producers of Glee promise us that the show is going "back to basics".  Sadly one of the best characters from the last season, Sam (Chord Overstreet), is not returning.

The Walking Dead Season 2, Friday October 21st on FX
Following the worrying departure of The Walking Dead creator Frank Darabont, the new boss Glen Mazzara was reported by TV Guide as saying:

"There’s been all this concern that I’m going to fuck up this show, and really, we’re just trying to get it done....We all did a lot of work on plotting this season under Frank, and part of the reason we’ve had such a smooth transition is that it’s a fully articulated world....So, now I’m in this situation where I have to take over and try to fill Frank’s shoes. Well, that’s a dangerous situation....I think the show would be inauthentic if I tried to mimic’s Frank’s voice. I’m not Frank Darabont and I shouldn’t try to be. I think that would hurt the show. I asked them, please help keep me honest,  keep the writers honest and be collaborative."

 So that's alright then.

Boardwalk Empire Season 2, October on Sky Atlantic
Two and a half men Season 9,  Tuesday September 20th on Comedy Central

The Sheen-less sitcom returns, now with added Ashton.

True Blood Season 4, January 2012 on FX


Dexter Season 6, Spring 2012 on FX

FX is a great channel, but the six to twelve month waiting period to see shows like True Blood and Dexter is just crazy.  As for the programs themselves, it would be nice if a bit more humor could be injected into True BloodThe Vampire Diaries (no date yet) is certainly tamer, but at least its a bit more fun.

Season five of Dexter, did not quite live up to the awesome season four.  Julia Stiles was pretty amazing, but the season was let down by a few to many loose ends, under developed characters and an almost shark jumping episode six.  Apparently Dexter finds God in the new season, which sounds like it should be worth the long wait.


feel the need, (the need for silly glasses)



For those that simply can't wait until the next Olympics to see beach volleyball in 3D, help is thankfully at hand.  In early 2012 Top Gun is set to be released in 3D

Let's hug it out, bitch!


After 96 (mostly great) episodes, Entourage leaves the small screen tonight, on HBO and Monday on Sky Atlantic.  Thanks dudes, its been an awesome ride!

Responding to a tragic day.




It is hard to believe that over a decade has passed since the devastating attacks of September 11th 2001.  On that day terrorists killed 2976 people, and wrecked the lives of countless others.

In the years that have followed,  these events have influenced many Hollywood films and television shows.  In this post we remember some of these.



A.I. Artificial Intelligence.  Stephen Spielberg

A.I. was actually made before 9/11, but coincidentally it was released in the UK ten days after the attacks.  Underrated at the time, this futuristic reworking of Pinocchio still looks stunning and packs an emotional punch.  Towards the end of the movie, we see a flooded New york City (above), and then a haunting image of the twin towers, damaged, but still standing.



Stephen Spielberg

As USA Today described, the 2005 remake of War of the Worlds took the images and sounds from 9/11: 

The dust-caked faces of thousands of terrified, fleeing citizens. The hundreds of "Have You Seen ... ?" posters with photos and contact information for loved ones trying to find the lost. One line of dialogue — "Did you lose anybody?" — was a common New York greeting at the time.




Life on Mars

The short lived (but decent), American version of Life on Mars used the World Trade Center to inform Sam Tyler of his arrival in 1973.


Paul Greengrass

Oliver Stone

In 2006 two movies reconstructed different aspects of the tragedy.  United 93 looked at the story of the fourth plane, that had been prevented from reaching its target by the heroism of its passengers.  This is truly a stunning piece of work.  On the other hand, Oliver Stones World Trade Center looked at the true story of trapped rescuers at the New york site, with some incredible reconstructions.

Nicole Rittenmeyer, Seth Skundrick


The first of two outstanding documentaries on this list, The History Channel's  102 minutes that changed America (2008) is an extraordinary chronological retelling of the tragedy on 9/11. It covers the moments from when the first plane, American Airlines flight 11, hit the north tower- until it collapsed 102 minutes later.   Weaving together a variety of amateur and news footage it takes you through all the devastating incidents.  The fact that we know what is going to happen, whilst the people on screen don't, adds to its power.


James Marsh

Man on Wire (2008) documents Philippe Petits' illegal tightrope walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in 1974. The most remarkable aspect of this documentary is that it manages to be both compelling, despite containing no actual footage of the walk, and is a tribute to the World Trade Center without mentioning 9/11. 

Allen Coulter


Somewhat unfairly mauled by critics, Remember me really isn't that bad.  And the unhappy ending sort of works.

Thats magic!


LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 will be available on Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS & 3DS by Christmas.

One Day in hell (and seven decent romantic comedies)


Much of the criticism leveled towards One Day (Lone Scherfig) has been regarding the vocal talents of Anne Hathaway.  Whilst it is true that her accent is somewhat all over the place, her voice is not the only reason to dislike this movie.  

The central premise of the film is that we follow a relationship between Emma (Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) on the same date each year, from 1988 to the present day.  Ignoring the fact that the long form relationship is hardly a new idea in movies (When Harry met Sally, A lot like love, The Notebook), One Day tackles this idea in a fairly dull and pedestrian fashion, offering little that is exciting or innovative.   

The fundamental flaw of movie is that Dexter is such an unsympathetic and loathsome character.  His attitude towards his ill Mother puts him beyond redemption quite early in the film.  From then on, it is very hard to care what happens to him or to sympathise with him in any way.  In contrast, it is possible to have a little empathy with Emma, albeit because she seems to be in love with detestable Dexter.  

Some of the previous movies that have trod this path of long-form romance, have used nostalgia or real events to great effect.  Remember the blend of music and history in Forest Gump?  Watching One Day, you could be forgiven for thinking that the only thing of note to happen in the past two decades was the rise of trash television.  Given the period it spans, this is a real wasted opportunity. 

It was about the time the movie reached 1995 that I longed for another fictitious Dexter to appear and do us all a favor.

Here are seven romantic comedies that are just better...


Better concept.

Better nostalgia


Better romance.

Better music.

Better restaurant scene.

Better tennis.

Better climax.

The boy done good



This weekend Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (HP 7.2) passed the $1.3bn mark at the global box office. With a massive gross of $1,311,580,000, it stands as the third biggest movie of all time, behind only Titanic and Avatar.  This figure is even more remarkable when you consider Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 took an impressive, but lesser $955,417,476 globally in late 2010. Part of this difference can be explained by the higher 3D ticket prices for HP 7.2.  Part one was a wholly 2D affair. 
  

On the all time US box office list HP 7.2 now sits at fourteenth with a take of $374,580,000, having just surpassed the total for Spider-man 2.  Why not higher than fourteenth?  Well, Harry has always done better internationally than in the US.  In the global chart the previous seven movies span places 11th to 32nd, with five entries in the top twenty.  In the US list these movies chart between 28th and 62nd.



Source: boxofficemojo.com
 
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