wessmith1966's Recent Comments
Box Office: BANGKOK Wins Another Slow Weekend - Sep 07, 2008 - 07:19pm
It's been a drab couple of weekends for the movies. I'm glad I've been away. I went to see Traitor and Bangkok Dangerous and thought they were both less than average movies. Burn After Reading should be pretty funny (I'm hoping the funniest moments haven't been shown in the previews), I'm not sold on Righteous Kill, and I've already been told I'm taking my girlfriend to see The Women (payback for me watching five NFL games in two days!). I really hate this time of year because the summer movie season is over and we have to wait three months for the holiday season movies.

WB Decides to Reboot Darker SUPERMAN - Aug 24, 2008 - 08:09pm
Thank god Singer's Superman is going to be ignored. That's the best thing that could happen to Superman. Use the opening credits of the new movie to give up a quick overview of Superman and get to the story!

Box Office: TROPIC THUNDER Knocks Down the Batman - Aug 17, 2008 - 06:46pm
Tropic Thunder was A LOT funnier than I thought it would be. Ben Stiller in a starring role usually means a crappy movie to me (I don't find him funny), but I actually thought TT was funny. Robert Downy Jr. just cracks me up! Mirrors was about what I expected it to be. Maybe I'm just too old to be scared anymore, but it just wasn't creepy enough for me. The kids really liked Clone Wars, but I wasn't all that impressed. I hated the music, too. Why in the hell didn't they use the classic Star Wars theme to begin the movie? And the comedy relief of the robots was just plain annoying.

Box Office: DARK KNIGHT Takes Down The Pineapple - Aug 10, 2008 - 06:38pm
There weren't as many movies coming out every weekend "back in the day." Theaters showed one movie, not 14 in one building, so if you wanted to go to the movies you had only had one choice. Most towns had one theater. What movies debuted the same time as Gone With the Wind to compete with its BO take? That has to be taken into account when fudging numbers. RaithManan...Penguin as the Gotham's new crime boss who's also the owner of Gotham's newest hotspot. He decides that with Batman on the run from the law all he has to do is take out Gordon and the city's his for the taking. Penguin's top lieutenant is Catwoman who goes after Gordon's family. She kidnaps Gordon's wife and kids in order to get him to resign and leave Gotham. Gordon meets Batman on a rooftop. Their conversation goes something like..."He has my family." "I know." "I don't care what you have to do, get them back." Batman turns and leaps off the building, "I will." Batman exposes Penguin as the criminal he is and saves the Gordon's from certain death in front of Gotham's citizens who later cheer Batman as the Batsignal is re-lit. The title...Batman Rises. I saw Pineapple Express and I got a few laughs, though it's not really my cup of tea, or I guess I should say my kind of smoke. The gang's already planning for a night out to see Tropic Thunder. I'm hoping I get avian flu before Friday! I do want to see Mirrors, although it'll probably be as bad as most of the recent "Horror" movies. The kids are chomping at the bit to see Star Wars so I'll be dropping a wagonload of money at the theater this weekend.

Box Office: KNIGHT Slides Past The Mummy - Aug 03, 2008 - 09:25pm
mlaforcer...your comment is what pisses me off about Singer's Superman movie. It was so disappointing after almost 20 years of false starts that people are wary of another film. It's Superman for @#%& sake, one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Not just in America. Not just to comic book fans. Not just to kids...No, EVERYONE in the world knows who Superman is. We all know his story, so don't waste my time with a "reboot." I want Michale Bay to direct it because he's great with special effects and beautiful, iconic imagery. Where Batman's films have that dark look, a Superman movie should be bright and majestic. Look, I don't care that Bay doesn't make deep character movies; he makes entertaining action movies and it's time we have that for a Superman movie. And he puts little emotional moments in them, so I really think he could make one hell of a movie. I want a Superman movie that shows him being Superman and battling a super villain who almost matches him with Luthor pulling the strings in the background, and I want the story by Jeph Loeb. Give me a director who knows Superman, not a director who makes a movie that speaks to the feelings he had as an orphan. I feel like Dennis Miller on a rant, but after waiting 20 years, I'm still pissed off at what we got while Nolan's made two amazing Batman movies in the space of a few years. Clownican...I like your idea, but I doubt DC/WB will want to wait. I'd rather the third movie deal with a redemption plot for Batman; maybe "Batman Rising." And then, back up a Brinks truck for Nolan and Bale (and all of the wonderful supporting characters who made the movie as great as it is) for a fourth movie that takes us into the future for "The Dark Knight Returns."

Box Office: KNIGHT Slides Past The Mummy - Aug 03, 2008 - 07:07pm
I'd like to see the next Batman have Penguin as the new Gotham crime boss who operates out in the open through a legitimate business (maybe a club owner like in the animated series). Make Catwoman his top lieutenant. You'd have the villain operating in the open and the hero operating in the shadows.

Box Office: KNIGHT Slides Past The Mummy - Aug 03, 2008 - 06:12pm
The Mummy wasn't a good movie, but it was a fun summer popcorn movie which is exactly what I expected. I enjoyed it. I have the same feeling about it as I did seeing the Fantastic Four movies. It's not worth full price admission, but matinee price is ok. I'd give it a C+ (the + is because of Maria Bello and Michelle Yeoh...I love them!) I was disappointed in Swing Vote except for the girl who played Costner's daughter in the film; she was absolutely fantastic. Costner was ok, but pretty much phoned this one in. The movie had its moments, but was just off target enough to miss being a really good commentary on our electoral system and our American belief structure as a whole. I'd give it a C. The Dark Knight does indeed rule all. Now, my question is...will DC/WB finally get off its collective ass and make a great Superman movie for the 21st century and will TDK's success lead to a fast track for other DC properties?

Box Office Update: KNIGHT Scores Victory Over Brothers and FBI - Jul 28, 2008 - 11:42am
Glad to see I'm not the only Costner fan out there. I think Swing Vote's going to be a great commentary on our rather jaded electoral system. While I think it will open better than $40 million because of all of the hype that will surround the movie I think Watchmen will take in around $150 million. It's not really known outside of the comic and literary worlds. Of course, it could strike box office gold like 300 did. When is Watchmen opening? I think it's release date and the competition in the two or three weeks after its release is going to tell the tale of its success. I loved the trailer and can't wait to see it on the big screen. We all know Alan Moore's going to rip to pieces, and I'm sure there's going to be missing parts of the story that will piss off some purists. As long as the main thrust and feel of the story is there I'm sure it will be fantastic to see this finally come to the big screen. jonniej...sorry you didn't like TDK. While I don't agree with your views, it's cool you have the strength to go against the tide and make your feelings known. I think TDK showed itself to not just be a great super hero movie, but a terrific crime drama filled with wonderful performances from the leads and supporting cast.

Box Office Update: KNIGHT Scores Victory Over Brothers and FBI - Jul 27, 2008 - 07:54pm
goatartist...yeah, I'm a big Costner fan. I don't know what it is about his movies, but I like most of them. Waterworld though, didn't like that one at all. I loved Dances With Wolves (up until they shot the horse and wolf...can't stand that), The Upside of Anger, Open Range (a great classic western), Thirteen Days, For Love of the Game (probably my favorite baseball movie), Message in a Bottle, Postman (I know, I know stone me!), Tin Cup, Wyatt Earp, Bull Durham, No Way Out, The Untouchables and Silverado (another great western). I really can't explain why I like his movies so much but I just do. I have to agree with you about Selma Blair; I don't think she's got any talent as an actress, and her sitcom on NBC is going to bomb this fall. It looks really bad.

Box Office Update: KNIGHT Scores Victory Over Brothers and FBI - Jul 27, 2008 - 06:17pm
Stayed away from X-Files, but I got pulled kicking and screaming into Step Brothers. I've made my disdain for Will Ferrell movies well known on this site, but I have to eat crow and admit that I laughed and enjoyed this movie a lot. I also went to see TDK again. Superman will probably always be my favorite super hero movie; the movie was magic for me. TDK has definitely jumped to a close second. I know I'll see the Mummy this weekend because it'll be a fun summer popcorn movie. I'm really looking forward to Swing Vote though; I'm a big fan of Costner movies.

DARK KNIGHT Fastest to $200 Million - Jul 24, 2008 - 06:37am
TDK isn't just a great superhero movie, it's a great crime drama. It's hard to compare Jack's Joker to Heath's, because they approached the character from very different angles. Jack's was perfect for Burton's Batman while Heath's was perfect for Nolan's Batman.

Box Office Update: KNIGHT Captures Box Office History for WB - Jul 20, 2008 - 04:36pm
I was in wiseguy's court thinking TDK would do in the $130-40 million range. At 2 hours 30 minutes, I just didn't think it would get enough screenings in the day to go much above that number. The movie was fantastic and wasn't just a great superhero movie, but a great crime drama as well. I was blown away by every aspect of the film. It was perfect, and Ledger was absolutely brilliant as Joker. I always thought Jack's Joker wasn't psychotic enough, he was too funny (and yes, I see the irony in that statement because of his name). Ledger gave me the Joker I've always wanted to see. Everyone was fantastic and I really liked the Two Face plot. The movie was so well written and plotted. For the next movie, I'd like to see the introduction of Penguin as Gotham City's new crime boss with Catwoman as his top thief and lieutenant Good call on the numbers hanso! I also saw Mamma Mia over the weekend. It was our date night movie, and I loved it. I haven't been able to stop singing Abba songs. I'm really glad to see musicals making a comeback. Some of my favorite movies growing up were the old MGM muscials. I think TDK will still rule the box office next weekend and take in around $80 million. It's strange, but even my friends who were into X-Files (I never got into the show because I didn't like the leads) aren't giving the movie much thought. They've kind of moved on and don't really care about Mulder and Scully anymore. And, of course, I'll be staying away from Step Brothers because it's got Will Farrell in a lead role.

Box Office: HELLBOY Edges Past Hancock - Jul 13, 2008 - 08:55pm
I'm throwing my two cents in with wiseguy. I think TDK will pull in 130-140 million for the weekend. I think some parents might take in Space Chimps or Wall-E with their kids because TDK does look very dark and violent. From what I've read from critical reviews, I don't think Heath's performance is getting lauded because he's dead. From everything I've read so far, he's just that good in the role. I can't wait to see the film and make up my own mind. He's looks like he went over the top like Jack did, just in a different direction. Jack's Joker was comical and Heath's looks dangerous.

Box Office: HELLBOY Edges Past Hancock - Jul 13, 2008 - 02:53pm
First off, how in the hell did Eddie Murphy's new movie get greenlighted? I saw the trailer in the theater a couple of weeks ago and everyone in the audience groaned. Thank god I didn't have to go see that this weekend. It looked like a real stinker. Did anyone actually think that movie would be any good? Maybe Eddie needed a paycheck for lawyer's fees. He should go back to standup. Took the kids to the Journey of the Center of the Earth and they absolutely loved it. It was a fun movie; a little cheesy sure, but really great family entertainment. When we got home I showed the kids pictures and video I took hiking on Snaefellsnessjokul when I lived in Iceland. I told them I looked, but didn't find any secret passageways to the center of the earth! Hellboy was ok, but nothing special for me. I never read the comic so I don't have an attachment to the characters. I just can't get into the Hellboy and Liz characters, but liked everything else. The creatures were fantastic and I liked the overall look of the film. I liked the general plot of the film, but it just didn't get fleshed out enough for me and I could have done without the Hellboy & Liz subplot. I did like the scene with Hellboy and Abe slugging a few brews to Manilow. I like Abe and was glad he had a much bigger role in this film, as I find his character to be more interesting than the other leads. Looking forward to seeing The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia this weekend.

HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY - Jul 11, 2008 - 03:14pm
First off, Excellent review Josh. Took in a matinee of the film today. I wasn't a big fan of the first film or the characters (Never read the comic book), and after second, my mind hasn't been changed. I loved the look of the film with the world within the world. Guillermo is certainly "visionary" as the ads say. The creatures and everything about the world they live in are just beautiful to look at. I liked the the main plot of the story and how the backstory was told, but with the exception of Hellboy and Abe sharing a few beers and Abe's being smitten by the love bug I didn't like the subplots. I'm probably a minority here, but my problem is I don't really like Hellboy and Liz all that much. I didn't get any connection with the characters at all. I do like Abe, and he as actually given a lot to do in this film. For me, Hellboy just isn't a very sympathetic character in any respect. The effects were good and the action was enjoyable, but for me this would be more of a Netflix film. I don't really think it's worth a full-price admission. I guess I'd have to give it a C for a grade.

'HELLBOY II' a Journey Worth Taking - Jul 11, 2008 - 03:11pm
Took in a matinee of the film today. I wasn't a big fan of the first film or the characters (Never read the comic book), and after second, my mind hasn't been changed. I loved the look of the film with the world within the world. Guillermo is certainly "visionary" as the ads say. The creatures and everything about the world they live in are just beautiful to look at. I liked the the main plot of the story and how the backstory was told, but with the exception of Hellboy and Abe sharing a few beers and Abe's being smitten by the love bug I didn't like the subplots. I'm probably a minority here, but my problem is I don't really like Hellboy and Liz all that much. I didn't get any connection with the characters at all. I do like Abe, and he as actually given a lot to do in this film. For me, Hellboy just isn't a very sympathetic character in any respect. The effects were good and the action was enjoyable, but for me this would be more of a Netflix film. I don't really think it's worth a full-price admission. I guess I'd have to give it a C for a grade.

Box Office: HANCOCK Flies into July 4th Victory - Jul 06, 2008 - 07:08pm
I'm a big fan of Will Smith's work (with Wild Wild West being the one exception), and while I enjoyed a couple of moments of the film, I thought it was one of worst movies I've seen in a while because of the story. The performances were ok, nothing spectacular, but the story was a joke...and not a funny one. I liked the premise of what happens if a near omnipotent super hero, even though he does good deeds, doesn't have Superman's "moral compass." I would have liked to see more of that and not the awful storyline that I watched. That really is 90 minutes of my life that I'll get back again. I'm a fan of director Peter Berg too, but after seeing this I can't figure out what he was trying to do with this movie. I'm glad this movie did well for Smith, because he seems like a genuine, good guy, and has proven himself to be one of the most bankable actors alive. A definite argument could be made that he is at the top of that list. He can do action, drama and comedy equally well. I may not have liked Hancock, but that doesn't change my opinion of Smith and I know that I'll see his next film, regardless of its subject matter.

First Official Trailer for EARTH STOOD STILL Online - Jul 04, 2008 - 12:21pm
I didn't like the trailer at all. I'm trying to be open minded about this film. I usually don't mind remakes, but the original film is one of my favorites. It seems like the slant is going to be eco-related instead of an alien race worrying that we're going to take our weapons and immaturity to the stars. I got that impression that Klaatu is here to save the earth from us. I think Keanu will do a good job as Klaatu, because he's good at playing a distant character (Neo-ish). I'm kind of glad that the story has been changed, but a part of me would have liked to see a remake set in the 50s. I like the cast, so I'm going to try my best to judge the movie on its merits, not as a remake of a beloved classic.

First SOLACE Trailer Online Now - Jun 30, 2008 - 11:54am
Casino Royale was great, my favorite Bond film, and I like how this movie picks up right where CR ends. Craig makes a great badass Bond. I like Bond's attitude in CR; he's an elite killer spy, one of the best in the world. I imagine a guy like that might be a bit cocky in "real life." The trailer looks great; can't wait for this movie.

Box Office: WALL-E Victorious But WANTED Strikes Hard - Jun 29, 2008 - 04:41pm
Wall•E was cute, and the animation was top-notch. but I didn't think it was one of Pixar's better efforts. I actually thought it was a little boring. A lot of kids in the theater where I saw the film must have been thinking the same thing, because I heard a lot of "Is it soon over?" I'm sure it will make a ton of money and be a big hit, but doesn't rank up there with Toy Story, Finding Nemo or Monsters, Inc. I have to agree with wiseguy about Wanted. It was just a bunch of set pieces mixes with a thin storyline, reminding me a lot of Day/Nightwatch in that respect. Angelina Jolie really needs to eat a couple of meals. Brad, take the girl out for spaghetti once in a while! I think ultrazilla might be right about Hulk's appeal. We've now had two very distinct realizations of the Hulk on the big screen, and neither one has really been a blockbuster. Neither has been a flop in my opinion, but I think we all expected Hulk to perform better. I know I'm, going to see Hancock this weekend because I like Will Smith, but I'm not sure what to expect.

Sony Gives Fans a Taste of HORNET - Jun 23, 2008 - 07:40am
monkeyfoot is right...I remember when I read that Michael Keaton had been cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman. I couldn't believe what I was reading. There was no way Keaton could pull off the Dark Knight, but we all know he did a great job. Seth really seems to want to make a good Green Hornet, so I'm going to wait to see a trailer.

George Carlin Passes Away at 71 - Jun 23, 2008 - 07:31am
A brilliant comedian who really called the world out on it's bullshit. He was funny as the voice of the VW bug in cars and the priest in Dogma. He also showed a more sensitive side as the dad in Jersey Girl, my favorite Carlin performance. Some comedians mellow as they get older, but not Carlin. I watched has most recent HBO special and he was just as feisty as the first one I watched as a kid. His voice will be missed.

Box Office Update: WB Has SMART Victory While HULK Drops - Jun 22, 2008 - 07:23pm
I was hoping Hulk wouldn't drop so much in its second weekend. I do believe Marvel got it right this time though, so I'm ok if we don't get another film. I don't need one. I want to see Thor, Captain America and Avengers on the big screen. I'd also like to see a Black Panther movie starring Chiwetel Ejiofor in the title role. Of course we'll get another Spider-Man movie (make mine please!), too. Anne Hathaway did indeed look WOW in Get Smart, and the movie was passable, but it didn't have as much witty banter as I'd hoped. Joss Whedon or Aaron Sorkin should have written the dialogue; they're both great at that. Steve Carell did a solid job as Max. The general consensus of the group was "wait for it on Netflix." I got drug to Love Guru and that was one big turd of a movie. I was expecting a movie that was a whole lot better than what I saw. A huge disappointment for me. I like a lot of his work, but this one missed the mark on every level. I can't wait to see Wall-E. I think that's going to be the biggest movie of the summer. I know I'll see wanted, but I'm not really expecting a whole lot. I've never read the comic, so I only have the movie to go on.

Summit Reveals New Video Clips for TWILIGHT - Jun 18, 2008 - 05:22am
I'll pass on this one even though I love vampire movies.

AFI Releases Top 10 Lists for Genre Classics - Jun 18, 2008 - 05:20am
I know it's subjective, not to mention tough to put these lists together, but how can you not have Rudy on the list of sports movies or Superman on the list of fantasy movies. The list of movies snubbed could go one and on and on depending on who's making it.

Stan Winston Passes Away at 62 - Jun 16, 2008 - 07:11pm
A sad day for movie fans as the man was simply a legend. What a resume the man had, including some wonderful design work for Iron Man.

Director Alexander Talks PUNISHER - Jun 16, 2008 - 06:46am
I wasn't impressed with the trailer at all. If I based going to a movie on my reaction to a trailer I wouldn't be going to see the new Punisher film. I like Stevenson, look forward to a hard "R" Punisher and I like how "up" the director is on the film, but I thought the trailer was awful.

Box Office: HULK Flies into Top Spot - Jun 15, 2008 - 06:28pm
I really liked Hulk; it was everything I wanted in the first movie. I thought it would do better numbers, but from everything I've read so far the powers that be are happy with its bow. I doubt there will be a sequel though. The next time we see Hulk will be in the Avengers movie. I really don't need a sequel for Hulk. Although they left a lot of doors open (no spoilers in this post) for another film, the movie was a nicely contained story that told the audience everything they needed to know about the characters. The best part for me...the kids I took to see it absolutely loved the movie and were yelling "HULK SMASH!" when we went for pizza after the movie. I pulled all of my old Hulk comics out of the attic for them and they've been reading them and asking questions ever since. I really like how they pretty much ignored the first film and how much the movie was like an episode of the TV series. The Happening was right about where I thought it would be. I thought it was ok, nothing special, but had some nice images throughout the movie. I agree with wiseguy562 that the movie will drop hard next weekend. We did a couples night to see the movie and the girls all thought the movie was "creepy" and the guys thought it was "ok." This weekend is going to suck for me. I've already been told we're going to see both Love Guru and Get Smart; neither of which looks very good to me. Hopefully I'll be surprised by one of them, and as almostunbiased noted...Hathaway is a hottie!

Stacy Keibler Joins Six Hour SAMURAI GIRL - Jun 10, 2008 - 05:16am
Don't know if she can act, but she sure is gorgeous, has an amazing body and the camera loves her.

Favreau Concerned About IRON MAN 2 Timing - Jun 10, 2008 - 05:14am
Marvel's got a schedule they want to keep to lead up to the Avengers movie, and that's all well and good, but they should make sure the directors can get quality films out in that timeframe.

New TV Spot Featuring Cameo in HULK - Jun 09, 2008 - 09:06pm
Why not play off the success of Iron Man. The average moviegoer isn't aware of Marvel's rich history with these characters. No preview can ruin a movie for me, regardless of what Easter Eggs they show.

IRON MAN 2 Has a Lift-Off Date? - Jun 09, 2008 - 09:02pm
Boston in 6. The best part of the series so far is seeing the old clips of the Larry and Magic years. Take me back to when I actually watched the NBA. Can't wait for another Iron Man. I read that Captain America might make some kind of appearance in Hulk. I want a Captain America movie so bad. I was so bummed when the Cap movie went direct to video back in '90. I want Thor and another Iron Man and the eventual Avengers film, but I really want to see Cap on the big screen. It's so great seeing Marvel weaving its universe together on film. They need to get control of the other franchises now, because I'd love to see Daredevil or maybe Human Torch make an appearance in a Spider-Man film.

Christensen Up for a JUMPER Sequel - Jun 09, 2008 - 08:53pm
I agree with everyone here...why? The first one was just a so-so movie at best; popcorn fluff. After seeing Life As A House, I really thought Hayden was going to light up the screen with a great career, but I'm starting to think the director pulled a great performance out of a below average actor. He's been absolutely wooden in everything since. I can't really fault him for the Star Wars fiascos, because he had lousy scripts, lousy direction and I imagine it's hard to get into your craft if everything around you is painted green.

New Set Photos for DA VINCI Prequel - Jun 09, 2008 - 08:47pm
I'm hoping for a better movie, because I thought Angels & Demons was a much better book than DaVinci Code.

New Extended Clip for Pixar's WALL-E - Jun 09, 2008 - 08:45pm
Everyone I talk to can't wait to see this. Wall-E's going to be another smash hit for Pixar and I'm still betting it ends up the #1 movie of the summer. Iron Man, Indiana Jones and The Dark Knight are/will be huge hits, but the summer will belong to Wall-E.

Box Office: DreamWorks Using KUNG FU on Competition - Jun 09, 2008 - 08:13am
Hellboy 2 won't make anywhere close to $250 million, but I can see it maybe making $100 million. Hanso, if you're anywhere around Lebanon, PA, when Hellboy comes out you can join my friends and I when we go see it!

Box Office: DreamWorks Using KUNG FU on Competition - Jun 08, 2008 - 04:38pm
I'll probably see both The Incredible Hulk and The Happening this weekend. If I only have time to see one it'll be Hulk. I think Hulk will take in $85 million over the weekend and The Happening will pull in about $25 million. The kids didn't want to see Kung-Fu Panda (thank god), opting for a day at the pool, mini-golf and pizza instead. I stayed away from Zohan (just didn't look at all funny to me), but went to a matinee of The Strangers this afternoon. Pretty decent thriller/horror and worth a matinee viewing. We were all pretty much on the nose with Sex on the City going south in its second weekend. How can there be any talk of a Speed Racer sequel when the first movie has tanked this badly?

Box Office: INDY Cuts into CITY Victory - Jun 01, 2008 - 06:23pm
Sex and the City won't make $200 million. The movie will probably drop a lot next weekend. The people that wanted this move badly saw it this weekend. It was a good date movie, but I don't think it's a movie that people will go see multiple times. I think it'll eventually make over $100 million in the theaters because it is a date movie and an alternative to action/adventure films. Hobbs, don't let your dislike of Ang Lee's Hulk stop you from going to see the new film; they're completely different films. Hell, Hulk even looks different in the film. Just put Lee's version out of your mind and go see the new film with an open mind. I think we're going to get the good, fun, popcorn munching super hero film that we didn't get the first time around. Yes, Lee's film definitely had its merits, but I still think it took itself a little too seriously. Plus, it had those damn laughable gamma dogs and pop Banner's Absorbing Man-type monster thingie at the end.

Box Office: INDY Cuts into CITY Victory - Jun 01, 2008 - 05:10pm
I was a good boyfriend and did the double date thing to go see Sex and the City. The best part of the evening was the sushi we had for dinner. The movie bored me, although I must admit that it had a couple of somewhat funny lines. My girlfriend loved it and I got points for being on my best behavior all night (it wasn't easy though because the other couple were just plain twits who I doubt have had an original thought in their entire lives). Unless the kids want to see Panda this weekend, I doubt I'll go to the theater this weekend; Zohan just looks dumb to me. Has anyone seen Bloodline? It's not playing anywhere near me.

Top Maniacal Rumors: Spidey Confusion, Mandrake Mistakes & Office Robots - May 30, 2008 - 06:12am
hanso...congrats to all of the Lakers fans. I think it would be great to see a Lakers vs. Celtics finals. I remember those great series in the 80s with Bird and his boys and Magic and his crew. The Lakers need someone to wear Kurt Rambis' old glasses! It wouldn't bother me if they recast Peter Parker in the Spider-Man. After doing three films I could understand if Tobey wanted to move on. Michael Angarano could make a good Peter. Recast everyone but Betty and J.J. and I'd be happy...as long as they make my version of Spider-Man 4! The Punisher has got to be R-rated to be effective, but the rest of Marvel's universe can easily be PG or PG-13. I'm glad that Marvel wants to keep their moves accessible to the whole family. A Mandrake movie could be fun. I'd like to see a Doc Savage film and a new Phantom movie. Throw in the Shadow, combine all of the characters and you could have a new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen-type movie. I think the prison show should be on HBO or Showtime. I doubt I'll watch it, but I might tune in for a few minutes to watch Rose battle another inmate in a rough and tumble shower scene! ha ha If Rowling is doing this for charity I think it's a great way to help raise money. I'm sure there are a lot of rich Potter fans out there so the bidding could be pretty fierce. Let's face it, Rowling could write on a cocktail napkin about the first time Harry took a shit and wiped himself and fans of the series would spend a year's salary to buy it.

Box Office: Paramount Finds Memorial Day Treasure with INDY - May 26, 2008 - 12:39pm
mla & Jarrod...Yes, by "boss" I meant girlfriend. I work for myself, so I don't have a work boss, unless I start arguing with myself...but that's a whole other story. I've been told we're doing a double date night to see the movie. I'm really dreading it, too, because I don't like the couple we're going out with (the guy's a pompous prick). My girl's been great about going to see movies she's not crazy about, so I guess I'll survive watching Sex and the City. I know I'm going to want to fall asleep, but if catches me I'm a dead man! I have to agree with a lot of comments about Indy being pretty over the top in places, but it was an Indy movie so I expected it. I liked the visual of Indy watching the mushroom cloud. I thought that looked cool. the refrigerator gag was a real stretch. Then again, so was the fall from the sky in the emergency raft in Temple. The gophers were funny because they really are all over the place out there. As for Mutt playing Tarzan, I just wrote that off as what I've come to call "a Lucas moment." The snake moment was funny until he used it to pull Indy out. He would have killed the snake and more than likely torn it in two. My top 10 for the summer... 1. Wall-E 2. Indiana Jones 4 3. The Dark Knight 4. Iron Man 5. The Incredible Hulk 6. Hellboy 2 7. The Love Guru 8. Star Wars: The Clone Wars 9. Sex and the City 10. Zohan My sleeper hit for the summer is going to be Mamma Mia. Now I'll havesomething to look back on in September and laugh at wrong I was!

Box Office: Paramount Finds Memorial Day Treasure with INDY - May 25, 2008 - 11:49pm
I think Indy's numbers were what everyone expected. The movie was like seeing a great friend after a long absence; it may not have been everything you remembered, but you still had a great time. I think it's great how Iron Man is still pulling in big numbers. I'm not looking forward to sitting through Sex and the City this weekend, but I've already been told by "the boss" that we're going to see it this weekend. It's too bad for the W Bros. and Speed Racer.

Top Maniacal Rumors: Spidey Madness & Arrow Enemies - May 23, 2008 - 05:37am
Here's what I'd like to see in Spider-Man 4...Dr. Conners, through experimentation to regrow his arm, becomes the Lizard and terrorizes the city. To boost newspaper sales and the Bugle's image, J.J. hires the world's most renowned hunter, Kraven, to track down and capture the beast. In the meantime, Peter finds out that Conners is the Lizard and begins a hunt of his own. Gwen Stacey, who has become something of a celebrity in the city, is now a local TV reporter and assigned the Kraven hunt story. Spider-Man and Kraven find the Lizard at the same time and a three-way battle ensues with Peter trying to stop the Lizard from doing any more damage, and Kraven from killing the Lizard. Gwen and her camera crew arrive on scene to cover the story. During the battle, Peter saves the Lizard, who changes back into Dr. Conners, and embarrasses the proud and egotistical Kraven on TV. Kraven becomes obsessed with Spider-Man and slowly goes off the deep end. Seeing dollar signs at the possibility Spiderman's unmasking, J.J. hires Kraven again, this time to capture Spider-Man. Kraven gets a battle suit from an unknown source to amp up his already formidable physical abilites, giving him the power to go toe-to-toe with Spider-Man. During this time, Gwen and Peter run into each other a lot covering the same stories and get close, causing a rift between Peter and Mary Jane. There's also jealousy on MJ's part, because as her star seems to be setting, Gwen's is rising. Kraven eventually discovers Peter is Spider-Man and uses Gwen as bait to lure Peter into a trap. During the battle between the two, Gwen falls. Peter tries to save her and...snap...broken neck and Gwen dies. Peter brings down Kraven, almost killing him, when Mary Jane shows up to save Peter's soul and Kraven's life by talking Peter down. "Peter, remember Uncle Ben! With great power..." A tired and guilt-ridden Peter drops Kraven to the ground and walks over to Mary Jane's waiting arms "Comes great responsibility." The movie ends with a pair of glowing eyes in the darkness watching Peter and Mary Jane walk away. In Spider-Man 5...The goblin returns. I think the leads will be recast with a new director at the helm, but that's ok with me. I never got into transformers when I was younger and the movie didn't do much for me either. It was a fun popcorn movie. I hope the characters fans want to see are all in the next movie. I still wonder if Supermax is going to get made. A super hero movie without a super hero. I just don't see it doing well, regardless of who the villains are. I hope Favreau comes back for another Iron Man and then Avengers. Hell, I'd like to see him do Captain America, because he really seemed to grasp what the audience and fans wanted to see. Marvel should back up the money truck to Favreau's house, dump a load of cash on his front door and secure him for a series of movies. He's proven he can mix effects, acting and storyline.

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL - May 22, 2008 - 08:26am
Raiders of the Lost Ark was a nearly perfect adventure movie. I've read the phrase "lightning in a bottle" referring to the first film quite a few times in reviews this last week. Lighting doesn't strike the same place twice, so no, Indy's latest adventure isn't Raiders but it was one fun adventure. I read a few reviews that said it seemed like everyone was "going through the motions," but I didn't see that at all. What I saw was a slick adventure movie made by professionals at the tops of their respective games who enjoy their craft and know the character of Indy as well as the backs of their collective hands. 65 must be the new 45, because Harrison was great as Indy and can definitely still handle the action. Go see this and when you do don't think too much; just have a lot of fun which is what Indy's movies are all about!

Bale Confirmed for Whole TERMINATOR Trilogy - May 20, 2008 - 08:16pm
Does this mean no more Batman movies for Bale? I don't really need any more Terminator movies, but I guess it would be cool to see how the story ends. Will the last movie show Connor's dad going back in time to save his mom from the first Terminator?

Cameron Talks Sci-Fi AVATAR Technology - May 20, 2008 - 08:09pm
Looking forward to seeing this if for no other reason so we stop hearing about it. Cameron's been talking about this movie, and trae publications and websites have been reporting on it, for ten years. I just have to wonder if it will match the inevitable hype that's going to precede the movie hitting theaters.

Iron Scribes Penning HIGHLANDER Remake - May 20, 2008 - 08:06pm
The first Highlander is a classic. I still love the movie. The rest of the movies were just plain bad and only made to collect cash, not further the story because...there shouldn't have been any more story! The series was ok, although it made the first film null and void which I didn't like at all. There are some films, regardless of how well they do at the box office, that are meant to be singular films. Highlander was one of them. Either make it a single movie, or plan out a two or three picture arc that ends with Connor defeating the last immortal and uttering the fateful words for the last time..."There can be only one."

Breck Eisner & Sony Prepping FLASH GORDON - May 20, 2008 - 08:00pm
I'd love to see a good Flash Gordon movie with a retro feel to it like Rocketeer. Don't make it campy like the 80s version or just plain awful like that terrible SciFi Channel version. Flash Gordon could be a great adventure film with a feel like the old serials (like Raiders of the Lost Ark). I'd love to see a Doc Savage movie, too.

Box Office Report: CASPIAN Scores Victory for Disney - May 18, 2008 - 08:37pm
Took some kids to see Narnia and they loved it. Although I didn't care much for the first one, I found the second installment more entertaining than the first, but it still didn't do much for me. I thought the effects were better than the first one. The kids were happy though and that's the important thing. Talk about an expense though! For myself and four kids (with snacks) I spent over $50. I took in a matinee for Iron Man with a couple of friends (I wanted to see if I could spot cap's shield) who didn't know all that much about the character and they all loved it. Superman is still the #1 comic movie for us (we were kids when that movie came out and saw it through the wonder of a child's eyes), but everyone else picked it as #2 on the list (Burton's Batman is still #2 for me). Hanso, the more I see for Wall-e the more I'm looking forward to it. The kids are already planning on that one! I'd still love to see Pixar do a Star Trek movie using the original series crew with the actors' voices (or someone close for those actors not with us). A Pixar Star Trek movie would be guaranteed a slot in the top 10 moneymakers of all time list. Can't wait for Indiana Jones this week. I'm not worried about any negative reviews. I think hype's built this movie up so much because it's been a movie everyone's wanted for 20 years. I don't expect to have a "religious experience" seeing the movie, but I know I'm going to love it and have fun seeing Indy on the big screen again. Has anyone seen Bloodline? I saw the trailer at apple.com, but it's not playing anywhere close to me. I'm a junkie for these Biblical historical mysteries. If anyone's seen it, I'd appreciate a report. Thanks!

Universal Unleashes New MUMMY Trailer - May 16, 2008 - 11:35am
It'll be a fun summer romp and I can't wait to see it.

Extended Clip of M. Night's HAPPENING - May 16, 2008 - 11:30am
I'm a MNS fan as well, but sometimes I think he's read too much of his good press over the years. His movies are intelligent which is a nice change of pace from the majority of mainstream movies which is why I'll always go to see an MNS movie.

Hill to Possibly Move to JUMP STREET - May 15, 2008 - 09:59am
This was a really shitty TV show and now they want to make it into a movie? The only thing that kept the show on the air was the stars popularity with teens and young adults. It was a cultural phenom for all of what, 15 minutes? Without those stars this movie will bomb big time.

IRON MAN Takes Checkered Flag - May 11, 2008 - 08:34pm
monkeyfoot, Chiwetel Ejiofor would be great casting for Black Panther.

IRON MAN Takes Checkered Flag - May 11, 2008 - 05:34pm
I figured Iron Man for $60 Million and a first place finish this weekend, but I thought Speed Racer would do a lot better than $20 million (I figured $50 million). With a budget reported around $120 million it's got to be considered a huge disappointment. Although the racing scenes did nothing for me, I actually liked the characters in the film. Hirsch was pretty good as Speed, Matthew Fox made a good Racer X, and I really liked Goodman, Sarandon and Ricci in their roles. I thought Goodman was fantastic as Pops and gave the character a lot of depth. Looks like Goodman's dropped a lot of weight. The effects and the "look" of the film were terrific (the colors in the film were terrific, reminding me a little of when I saw Dick Tracy back in the day), but the movie was just "eh" for me. I was never a big fan of the show, so maybe that's why the movie didn't do anything for me. I agree with wiseguy that it was an assault on the senses, but it's anime come to life, so that's to be expected. I caught a matinee of Redbelt Saturday, and I loved that film. If you're a Mamet fan, or just like woven storylines, go see this film. The lead actor (can't remember how to spell his name, but he's the fantastic black actor who played the cross-dressing boot designer in Kinky Boots and the government agent in Serenity) was great, as was the supporting cast. After his string of family movies, it's nice to see Tim Allen in a different kind of role. This was a great movie. I'm glad Iron Man is doing so well. I don't know about Brad Pitt as Thor, but who knows. I remember when his name was being thrown around for the part of Steve Rogers a few years ago. I'd like to see someone a little more imposing as Thor, but as wiseguy noted the camera can be used to play tricks on the eye. He definitely has the acting chops for the role. Not looking forward to seeing Prince Caspian this weekend, but promised to take the kids. The first Narnia movie didn't impress me, I found it boring, so I'm hoping this one's better. I'm just waiting for the 22nd to see Indy 4.

Third Indy Trailer Online - May 11, 2008 - 04:00pm
Enough with the trailers...let the adventure begin! I'll be there on the 22nd for the first showing. I can't wait to see this film. I haven't read any early reviews. I don't want anything to spoil this movie for me.

Fox is off to WAR - May 08, 2008 - 08:54am
I thought Small Soldiers had its moments. Sure this story sounds familiar, but it's way too soon to call it a rip off of Small Soldiers. I have to laugh at the "Related Products" part of this page! Just because the movie's called "Little Big War" the related products show books about indian wars. That's just silly.

Bekmambetov Leading Vampyric KNIGHTS TEMPLAR - May 06, 2008 - 07:39pm
As a big fan of both vampire and templar lore, I look forward to seeing this movie, or at least a trailer. I love the visuals and the overall mythology of the Nightwatch and Daywatch, but I have to admit that overall I thought the movies were pretty weak in execution of the story.

New DARK KNIGHT Trailer Online - May 05, 2008 - 09:01am
Saw the trailer with Iron Man and it looked great. Nolan really amped up the action for this one. I hope the fights scenes aren't so clipped, but have more fluid camera work. That was my only complaint from the first movie. It looks like Ledger has delivered one hell of a performance. It's going to be difficult to compare Iron Man to The Dark Knight, and I don't think it should be done. Different directors, different characters, different "feel" for the movies. I just think it's great to see all of these characters I grew up with on the big screen.

TERMINATOR 4 is PG-13? - May 05, 2008 - 07:13am
I don't think PG-13 will hurt the movie, only help it. PG-13 movies can be pretty intense. The T movies don't have a lot of gore and so they can't go around dropping the "F" bomb. I just don't think it'll make that much difference.

Hammer, Spitfire Grab New VAMPIRE Flick - May 05, 2008 - 06:18am
Hammer and vampires...those words go together like peanut butter and jelly for me. I grew up watching the Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing Hammer movies. Dawsons Creek meets horror; could be interesting.

IRON Launches To Top With 104.2 Mil Debut - May 04, 2008 - 06:23pm
Saw IM twice this weekend; just a phenomenal film. I got to see the trailers for The Dark Knight, The Incredible Hulk and Indiana Jones, too. I'm stoked for those movies. Not only is IM a hit with comic book fans, but it seems the general moviegoing public and critics have taken a shine to it too. Bravo Marvel! I've seen so many people still in a theater when the end credits were rolling...SPOILER...The comic fans were yelling their approval at the end of the "easter egg' scene. I took my dad (he's 62) to see the movie and had to explain to him why Nick Fury is now a bald black man instead of a middle aged white man with graying hair...I think IM will stay number one next weekend (IM-$60M and Speed Racer-$50M for the weekend). I just don't think Speed Racer is going to be as big a hit as the studio hopes. I'll probably see it just because I like W Bros. movies, but I haven't seen anything from the trailers that gets me excited for the movie. Are we doing top 10 again this year? 1. Wall-E, 2. Chronicles of Narnia 2, 3. Indiana Jones 4, 4. The Dark Knight, 5. Iron Man, 6. Hancock, 7. The Incredible Hulk, 8. Speed Racer, 9. The Love Guru, 10. Star Wars: The Clone Wars. My sleeper hit for the summer is going to be Mamma Mia. Now I'll have something to look back on in September and laugh at wrong I was!

IRON Has Estimated 38 Mil From Thur & Fri - May 04, 2008 - 03:09pm
$100 million+ for the opening weekend! Great. As long as Hulk pulls in good numbers I'm sure Thor and Captain America will get green lights quickly. Give Cap a great WWII movie. He gets frozen at the end. Give Thor a movie doused in Norse mythology. Both of those movies leading up to Fury teaming Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye and Black Widow in the "Avenger Initiative." Shield has found Cap in the frozen Arctic waters and brings him around. The movie will focus on the Avengers battling some menace, Cap dealing with what's happened to him, and the stories will come together as Cap takes on the mantle of leader of the Avenger Initiative to surge to victory over the global menace (maybe the 10 Rings organization).

23.5 Degrees: Bloodline---The Movie - May 04, 2008 - 07:56am
Is there a point to this "column?"

Second INDY IV Trailer Online! - May 03, 2008 - 08:35pm
Great trailer; saw it with Iron Man. This is going to be such a great summer for movies!

Doomsday Entering SMALLVILLE, Luthor Departs - May 02, 2008 - 10:05am
I think Doomsday will disappoint those who are too tied to Superman's comic book continuity. It's time for Lex to depart the show; there really isn't much more his character can do on the show. I think he's been knocked out or hurt in every way possible over the last seven years and his descent into darkness is pretty much complete. Season 8 should be it for the series and the focus should be Clark, with urging and assistance from Chloe, accepting his place as a hero. Chloe should be killed in the last episode. At the reading of her will, Clark is given a sealed box. He goes home to the farm, opens it and finds a letter and a costume. As he reads the letter we hear Alison's voice explaining that it's time for Clark to become the hero she knows he's always meant to be and the brightly colored costume will be a beacon of hope to people while always reminding Clark of his heritage. The last shots should be of Clark donning the costume, saying something like "What did Chloe always call it, the never ending battle?", looking around the farm and then slowly at the sky. The camera should pan around him while he does this ending up with a shot on his face. He looks in the camera, smiles, and says "Up, up and away." He flies off and the show ends.

New Full HANCOCK Trailer Online - May 02, 2008 - 09:49am
I wasn't sure about this at first, but I like the new trailer. I'd see this anyway because I'm a Will Smith fan, but now I'm thinking it'll be pretty good. Doesn't Charlize Theron play the villain in this? I thought I saw a picture of her in some black leather costume. That should be an interesting subplot since she appears to be Bateman's girlfriend and/or wife (lucky bastard!).

IRON MAN - May 02, 2008 - 07:19am
Velgron...Some of the combat scenes are fairly realistic, and that might be a little taxing for a five year old, but there's no real blood and gore shown.

IRON MAN - May 02, 2008 - 06:28am
goldeneyez...Howard is a great actor. There's no doubt about it, one of the best of his generation. He's been brilliant in everything, even small roles like Mr. Holland's Opus. His voice just needs to change! ha ha!

Mania's Top Maniacal Rumors: Let's Talk War Machines and Wonder Woman - May 02, 2008 - 06:07am
With Rhodes comment in the one scene near the end of the movie, I can definitely see him becoming War Machine in the second Iron Man movie. Stark painted a bullseye on himself at the end of the movie, so it would make sense that Rhodes will have to don the suit...It's too bad about the Wonder Woman and Justice League movies. I would have liked seeing them both. Between Iron Man, The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk, Super hero movies are probably going to bank more than $500 million this summer. Money gets the suits motivated to make movies, so I'll bet a lot of genre movies get fast-tracked to cash in on what could be the next wave of success...Looking forward to seeing 24 again in the fall...Transformers was ok for me, nothing special, but I'd go see another one as long as that terrible government agent character isn't in the film. He ruined the movie for me...I'll be happy when they find Earth in Battlestar; the crazy Starbuck schtick is getting old for me...I know he's an amazing writer, but I've just never gotten into Gaimen's writing...Go see Iron Man and don't leave the theater until after the credits roll. Sitting through the five minutes of rolling names is worth the 15 second payoff!

IRON MAN - May 02, 2008 - 05:02am
I give this one an A. I couldn't find fault with it on any front. Favreau and company delivered on all fronts. Marvel really delivered the goods with this first foray into self made and self financed movies. The cast was perfect. I've never been a Paltrow fan, but she really gave Potts depth and wasn't just the "damsel in distress." Bridges was wonderful as the villain and Howard was great as Rhoades (although his voice always bothers me because it just sounds like he hasn't gone through puberty yet!). Downey Jr. was spot on as Tony Stark; I can't imagine anyone playing the role better. Favreau did an amazing job assembling and directing the cast. The effects were spectacular. The plot moved quickly, but never felt rushed for me, and the story wasn't just an "origin movie," but really showed Stark's journey from playboy genius to hero. The ending of the movie had everyone cheering, and don't you dare leave the theater before the credits end. Trust me, the five minutes of watching names rolling down the screen will be worth the 15 seconds that end the film. After all is said and done I have a feeling Iron Man will be considered one of the top five super hero movies ever made. I doubt anything will ever knock Superman out of first place for me, but Iron Man might be third or fourth on the list. The trailer for The Incredible Hulk looked terrific, too. This is going to be a great summer for Marvel.

Universal Unleases New HD HULK Trailer - May 01, 2008 - 07:49am
Yes, that hint of the TV theme was perfect, and that's why I think most people will like this movie better than Ang Lee's version; it's what we all think of when it comes to the Hulk. Banner's the fugitive, the man on the run who wants nothing more than to find a cure for the monster inside. He hates the monster, but is forced to unleash him to help others. It's what makes Banner the hero and Hulk the super part of superhero. Lee's movie just didn't connect with most fans because it missed those elements. It got too cerebral and took itself way too seriously.

New French Trailer for Diesel's BABYLON A.D - May 01, 2008 - 05:56am
Can't tell much from the teaser, but if I had to make a viewing decision based on that I'd pass. There was nothing in that teaser that would make me want to see the movie.

Universal Unleases New HD HULK Trailer - May 01, 2008 - 05:52am
ultrazilla...maybe they're not completely done rendering Hulk but wanted to get a trailer out. Remember the one Iron Man scene in an early trailer that everyone said looked more like a videogame than a movie? That scene wasn't finished and has since been rendered to look more realistic. I doubt Hulk will ever look real, but then again how real can a 9 ft. green monster really look. That might be the problem; we don't have the ability to suspend our belief enough to accept a CGI Hulk. We'll always be looking at it as fake. I think this movie will be fun and a lot more entertaining than Ang Lee's more cerebral version. This looks more like a fun summer popcorn movie like the Fantastic Four movies.

HULK Gets Angry in New Online Photos - Apr 30, 2008 - 01:30pm
Just watched the new Incredible Hulk trailer in glorious Quicktime on Apple's website and was blown away. This movie's going to knock your Aunt Connie's socks off and I think the lighting in some of the still images may have something to do with making Hulk look "plastic." I thought the CGI looked great in the trailer. I loved that they used some of the old TV show theme music in the score for the new movie. From the looks of things, it seems like Norton, the director and the producers really want to give the public the movie we didn't get from Ang Lee. I liked parts of Lee's take on the Hulk, but I think he just missed the mark on what we (in general...I know some loved the film) wanted to see. Part of that could be the fact that Lee never read Hulk comics; he had no attachment to the character. Raimi loves Spiderman, Favreau is a big Iron Man fan and Norton's a Hulk fan. That doesn't always mean we'll get a stellar movie (Daredevil and Ghost Rider are examples of that because Johnson's a fan of both of those characters. I liked both of those movies, but they're generally not considered great editions to the genre) but I think it helps to genuinely like and know some of the mythology behind the characters.

Batman Begins' Tone Influencing WOLVERINE? - Apr 30, 2008 - 08:21am
wiseguy..I can't agree that Nolan's getting too much praise for Batman Begins. While it may not have been as financially successful as some of the movies you mentioned, Nolan's Batman was probably the first "superhero" movie to try and ground the character's world in a realistic universe. I do agree with you about Keaton's Batman though; he'll always be my favorite....What are your top five favorite superhero genre movies? I'd have to go with Superman, Batman, X-Men 2, Spiderman and Spiderman 2. I want to put Justice League The New Frontier in there, but stuck with live action movies. I have a feeling that after I see Iron Man tomorrow night my list will be changing.

Batman Begins' Tone Influencing WOLVERINE? - Apr 30, 2008 - 05:57am
I thought Wolverine was kind of "dark" in the X-Men movies, but I like that they're dealing with the pain in Wolverine's life. I would imagine that if someone was as old as Wolverine and had been through the wringer like he has been (using his comic book origins) in his personal life, that person would be pretty "dark" indeed.

Exclusive: New INDY Trailer For Iron Man? - Apr 30, 2008 - 05:52am
As much as I am looking forward to Iron Man, The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk, Indy's the movie I'm looking forward to most this summer. I'll be seeing Iron Man tomorrow night with friends, so this will be a nice addition to the evening's fun. I'm glad I'm going to the 8 p.m. showing, because the last midnight showing I went to was so loud it was hard to concentrate on the movie.

HULK Gets Angry in New Online Photos - Apr 30, 2008 - 05:48am
I agree with ponyboy76; Hulk looks better, but he still looks "fake." Regardless of that, I'm still looking forward to the movie and I think I'm going to like this one better than the first one. I liked the one picture that was a close-up of Banner's face; reminded me a lot of the Bill Bixby TV show. The picture of Hulk and Blonsky (pre abomination) was pretty good too.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Escape Velocity - Apr 29, 2008 - 09:04am
I only started watching the show at the end of last season. I was intrigued so I bought all the seasons on DVD and got caught up with the storyline. This is a tremendous show, so well written and acted. I really liked the overtones of this episode and where they're taking Baltar and Roslin.

Sleestaks Revealed for LOST Remake - Apr 29, 2008 - 08:29am
The Sleestaks look cool, but there's no way I'm going to see this until it comes on HBO because of Ferrell. I don't mind them making the movie a comedy, but I've never found Ferrell's schtick funny for more than five minutes and I'll have to pass.

Update: No More Bootleg, New KNIGHT Posters - Apr 29, 2008 - 08:22am
I never had a doubt about Ledger's ability to play Joker, but from the trailer it looks like he's absolutely going to own the role. I really like how it seems that Nolan's going to show Dent's descent into Two-Face. I just hope the Joker and Dent storylines don't mean that we're going to get very little of Batman screentime. Thanks for posting the trailer; can't wait to see it in glorious Quicktime.

New Teaser Poster for WANTED - Apr 27, 2008 - 12:28pm
I've never read the comic and the trailers haven't done anything to make me want to see this, but I do like the lead character's first name! lol. Angelina is so insanely thin these days that I don't really find her all that attractive anymore, so she's not a draw for me either. Freeman, depending on how large his role is, could be the saving grace for me.

Del Toro Confirmed for HOBBIT Films - Apr 25, 2008 - 08:19am
This is great news. If Jackson's not directing Del Toro is the perfect choice to helm the project. With Jackson still involved and Wingnut and Weta handling production, these movies will be great.

Update: New KNIGHT Poster, Trailer Online Monday - Apr 25, 2008 - 08:13am
Great looking poster. Gargoyle's right; Batman wouldn't destroy a building to put his logo on it, but the scene could simply mean that Joker did the damage and Batman's on the scene to investigate. It's only a movie poster, and a damn striking visual.

Mania's Top Maniacal Rumors: Hulk Hints, Holy Superman and Return of Spidey's Old Foe - Apr 25, 2008 - 08:00am
It's great to see Marvel laying the groundwork for their universe in film with the mentioning of the Super Soldier Formula and Stark's meeting General Ross in the bar. If Marvel ever gets the rights for all of its properties back it would be great to see Spider-Man make a cameo in a Fantastic Four movie talking to Johnny on a rooftop, or Daredevil make an appearance in a Luke Cage movie. The "angry god" comment could easily have been misinterpreted. There were a lot of comments about the godlike imagery used by Singer in Superman Returns (remember Superman flying high into the sun's rays after being shanked by Luthor). With all of his amazing abilities Superman is almost godlike, so the whole "angry god" could have just meant that he gets really pissed off in the next movie. I'm still hoping that my idea (see my blogs) gets made, because it would be one hell of a movie. Norton not being at NYCC could spell trouble for the film, unless it was just a scheduling problem. Hopefully the movie's just that good that Norton and the director are having disagreements on what to leave out and keep in. I have my doubts, but I did like the trailer. I'm really hoping Justice League gets made. I want to see this movie, but I have my doubts that this project hasn't fallen into turnaround. I read somewhere that people working on preproduction have been given their pink slips. That's definitely not a good sign. Maybe they should have gone with the whole motion capture idea that was thrown around when this project was first mentioned last year. I know I'll see Speed Racer, and with the W Bros. at the helm, I'm sure the movie will be entertaining, but movies based on shows many of us loved as kids haven't fared so well on the big screen. I'm worried that the style of the film is going to be too big of an assault on the eyes and ears. In some of the scenes it just looks like there's too much going on. It's anime come to life, and I'm not a big anime fan, so maybe that's why I'm having a little trouble with the visuals. Looking forward to seeing Iron Man next weekend, and chomping at the bit for The Dark Knight. This should be a great summer for movie fans!

Ayelet Zurer Lands Lead in Da VINCI Prequel - Apr 24, 2008 - 07:36am
I thought Angels and Demons was a much better book than Davinci Code, and I look forward to seeing the movie. I'm still not sold on Hanks as Langdon for some reason. He just doesn't fit the role for me. I know a film is being made of The Last Templar (the book read like a movie, very fast paced), and I'm hoping to see a film version of Steve Berry's The Templar Legacy one of these days. James Rollins' Map of Bones would make a good movie, too. In the past couple of years I've really enjoyed reading these historical-mystery-thrillers that question our beliefs and perceptions of the Bible and religions as a whole. For those looking for good reads mixing Biblical/religious history, adventure, and real-world contemporary events, I suggest Joel Rosenberg's series of books. If you enjoy reading books that make you think a lot, I suggest Rosenberg's non-fiction "Epicenter" which discusses the prophecies of Ezekiel and how they seem to be coming true. I read that book before I read his fiction series. Regardless of your beliefs, the book makes you think and wonder.

Screen Gems Scores at the PROM - Apr 13, 2008 - 05:56pm
Prom Night was just too bland for me; it wasn't scary. It wasn't horrible, but it was just there; no scares and no gore. For me, it was just like the remake of The Fog, watered down "horror" with the pretty boys and girls of the moment. Street Kings was better than I'd though it would be. I wasn't expecting much, and although wiseguy is right about it being a little predictable, it was passable entertainment. I agree with Sonyman about Daniel Craig's WWII movie; I'm really looking forward to that one.

The Omega Man - Apr 08, 2008 - 05:59am
You're right squid, Touch of Evil is a must for a Heston collection and don't forget Will Penny. I'd have to include that on the list and probably Gray Lady Down, too. I liked him as the villainous cardinal in the Three Musketeers and his role in Earthquake. The man had one hell of a resume.

Charlton Heston Passes Away at 84 - Apr 06, 2008 - 02:49pm
How many years did I watch Ten Commandments at Easter growing up. I'll never forget seeing Planet of the Apes the first time; one of my favorites from childhood. For me, Charlton will always be "The Omega Man." That was my favorite movie as a kid. The man was an icon who towered over people in his films, not because of his height, but because of the sheer force of his presence on screen. Fair winds and following seas Mr. Heston, and thanks for the great movie memories.

21 Doubles Down at the Box Office. - Apr 06, 2008 - 02:43pm
I saw Leatherheads and wasn't impressed at all. There were one or two funny moments, but it felt like they didn't know whether to make a slapstick comedy (I kept thinking of some of the old Burt Reynolds comedies for some reason) or a drama and they missed on both. The movie was bland, somewhat boring and very unimpressive. I didn't think I would like the Ruins, but I was surprised to find it a passable horror/thriller. Not great, but ok.

New SOLACE Pics Online From Chilean Set - Apr 04, 2008 - 07:53am
joey...That's only because they didn't show the rest of Gemma. She definitely doesn't look like JG from the neck down! Can't wait for the next chapter in the "new" Bond. I loved Casino Royale and I like that they gave Bond's character some feelings some depth.

Millar and Gough Exit SMALLVILLE - Apr 03, 2008 - 08:48am
Next season will probably be last last, and like I said before, it should revolve around Clark becoming Superman with Chloe pushing toward that goal. Chloe should die at the beginning of the last epsiode. At the reading of her will, Clark is given a box to be opened in private. He opens the box to find the costume Chloe's made for him. The last shots should be of Clark hearing a distress call from a jetliner in trouble over Metropolis, donning the tights, saying something like "What did Chloe call it? The never ending battle?" And then flying off the top of the Daily Planet as Superman.

Universal Plans FIRST MAN on Moon - Apr 02, 2008 - 10:02pm
bigsxc2000...Most of the conspiracy theories I could read and explain, but honestly there were a few that made me scratch my head in wonder. Still, I can't really believe that a coverup of this magnitude would remain secret for very long and certainly not for this long. I believe we sent men to the moon, landed there and brought them home safely. Humans are amazingly inventive creatures with an astounding capacity to do wonderful things...when we can get our collective heads out of our asses that is!

Universal Plans FIRST MAN on Moon - Apr 02, 2008 - 07:11am
This is a movie I'd really like to see. I don't know much about the first man to set foot on the moon. I can't imagine what that experience must have been like. A few months back, during a bout of insomnia, I researched some of the "we didn't land on the moon" conspiracy theory websites. Really entertaining stuff. At times they had me believing...then again it could have been because I hadn't slept in a day and a half!

New Photos for Singer's VALKYRIE - Mar 31, 2008 - 06:35am
I'm looking forward to this movie. The cast is stellar. Brannagh makes a good Nazi; he was terrific in "Conspiracy." Yes, Cruise may be crazier than a shithouse rat with his belief in Hubbard's cult, but he makes entertaining movies.

Jason Cast for FRIDAY Remake - Mar 31, 2008 - 06:07am
I was hoping Kane Hodder would get the role. Is this going to be another PG-13 unscary horror movie?

21 Beats the Odds and Hits Jackpot - Mar 30, 2008 - 04:12pm
I'm not a fan of spoof movies; I just don't find them funny. Well, I had to sit through Superhero Movie this weekend and I have a tough time thinking of a worse movie. The audience I was a part of didn't laugh once; it was like a meadow of crickets in the theater. It was like watching this year's Saturday Night Live; painful and nothing to laugh at. Leatherheads looks funny; llok forward to seeing it this weekend.

No Zod, No Constantine and No FF 3 - Mar 28, 2008 - 08:28am
Bear90...Marsters is a Californian, but he does do a great British accent and could pull off Constantine rather well I think.

No Zod, No Constantine and No FF 3 - Mar 28, 2008 - 06:23am
I'm probably one of the few who liked the FF movies because they were just fun summer popcorn movies. Yes, there were problems with the movies, but I really enjoyed them. Chiklis and Evans were great as Thing and Torch. I'm not interested in a SIlver Surfer movie; never really cared much for the character. I'm tired of all of the Justice League talk; just make the damn movie already. No matter what the story is and no matter who's playing which character DC's going to piss some people off. We're still going to see the movie because we're fans of the genre. I'd rather have a JL movie to discuss and even diss than not have any movie at all. No Zod in The Man of Steel? That is such good news. I've made my thoughts about the next movie well known (I have my idea posted on my blog) and won't reiterate it here. The effects technology is now available to give us a battle with Supes and (insert superpowered villain here) that could shatter the earth. I want to see that on the big screen.

Common Says Fans Have Say for LEAGUE - Mar 27, 2008 - 11:19am
mitchel42...If I remember correctly Flash is killed (Barry Allen), there's a funeral for him and Wally West assumes the mantle. I think I read that somewhere. Maybe that's how the movie starts and then covers how Flash died (I'm assuming it happened battling Maxwell Lord and the OMACs).