I generally like to end these previews with comedy since there’s usually more comedies than any other genre each season. Laughter has a high place at the movies and that will never change. There’s no better way to feel you got your money’s worth in these days of high ticket prices than to at least have a good laugh for a couple hours.
In case you missed them, here are the other fall previews I’ve posted thus far:
It’s no secret: summer is action movie season. Studios usually place all their action films in summer (and now spring) so that the dramas can begin to stroll in in the fall. Well, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some action films (and some thrillers) out there worth seeing. In fact, sometimes these are the best and most underrated movies of the fall.
So that’s my advice to you: don’t forget about these guys. A number of these eight movies might rank as Fall 2010′s best films. Read the rest of this entry »
If autumn has a favorite genre, it’s horror. Blockbuster action flicks have cooled down post-summer, dramas are a bit too far from Oscar-recognition time and comedies are spotty at best. Yet September/October is the time of year horror movies call home. At least one if not two horror films have great success at this time of year. “Paranormal Activity” was the low-budget hit of the fall and its sequel is one of the films vying for that same prominence.
Here are eight horror films on the fall docket (also known as the black and white poster parade) that you should take note of. If you missed my first fall preview post about fall dramas, check it out by clicking the link. Read the rest of this entry »
Our fall preview begins with the dramas. The fall is a peculiar time for drama. Most major/buzzworthy dramas debut at festivals in the fall and get released to the general public during the holiday season, but many Oscar gems have come from October and early November.
And then there are the stinkers. Not every film appearing in October or November that’s a drama is a real threat in the Oscar race, some not even close. So, which are which? I’ve ranked these films based on potential quality and overall buzz. Check out these eight dramas, watch the trailers and then you be the judge. Read the rest of this entry »
Not really sure what all this “The Last Airbender” business is about? Neither am I — and neither is anyone born before 1990. Join me as a fumble my way through flash websites, Wikipedia and more in attempt to learn something about one of this summer’s biggest fantasy films. I’ve scrummaged through the elemental nations, character, trailers, clips and more, so at least respect how much time I’ve put in and read.
At last, I’ve finished the Summer Movie Preview and what better way to end than with action, the genre summer movies are founded upon. There’s something about sun and stuff blowing sky high that just works like peanut butter and jelly. This summer has a lot of action to offer spanning different sub-genres from fantasy to historical to superhero. And a lot films I’ve already previewed I had to put in other genres (namely comedy and sci-fi) just to keep this post from overcrowding. Needless to say, if you ever want to watch something get destroyed these next few months, you’ll have that option at the movies this summer. Read the rest of this entry »
Let’s continue with the summer’s second-most beloved genre: the comedy. Over the last decade, Judd Apatow ruled the summer release schedule. Now, he’s relinquished a bit to Happy Madison and 2010′s biggest craze: the action comedy. Five of the ten films on this list are action comedies. Wow. Read the rest of this entry »
Summer lovin’ happens so fast. Romance is hardly the flagship genre of the summer months, but it deserves some love regardless, especially in 2010. With teenage girls being a demographic that studios are dying to get their hands on (pardon that awkward image) thanks to the number one film on this list as depicted above, we have a few more this summer than usual. Read the rest of this entry »
Part two of our summer preview combines two genres not getting a whole lot of love this summer, science fiction and horror, albeit the summer’s most anticipated film is quite possibly at the top of this list.
Of these six films, only three are particularly noteworthy. This a much more action-bent summer than past summers, but perhaps I only say that because “Star Trek” and “District 9″ were two of the year’s biggest films and both came out last summer. Either way, the numbers don’t lie: three sci-fi films and three horror compared to ten action/fantasy movies. Read the rest of this entry »
Ahh, summer movie season. Nothing compares. As such, this sumer’s preview will be unlike any season before it. I’ll cover the gamut, posting the most anticipated films in each genre and leaving no major film unmentioned. Summer movies are for everyone and it would be wrong to leave out even the most ridiculous of films — and there are plenty on this list.
I’ve chosen to break down the season by genre. After all, we’re all a bit more partial toward our favorite genres, especially in the summer. Rather than rank comedies alongside action films per say, I will sort out the best of each category. Today highlights the animation/family films that tend to be reserved for when kids are out of school.
When you look at this list, two trends will stick out immediately: live domesticated animal exploitation and sequels. Those two categories alone make up more than half this list. In fact, only one film on this list is an original script. That makes two animal movies, three sequels, a remake, a child’s book adaptation and Despicable Me. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a list of movies not quite worthy of my Top 10 and not quite worthy of being branded as something you shouldn’t consider. I’ve also mixed in some indie movies as some films coming off the festival circuit are getting small releases these coming months. I call this my Watch List, because you’re supposed to keep an eye out for reviews and other indicators to tell you which way this movie swings come release time, or in the case of an indie film, if it’s coming out near you. If you missed any other parts of my Spring Preview, click the links below.
The Word: As part of his deal with Summit for the Twilight films, Robert Pattinson stars as a rebellious young man at odds with his father (Brosnan, in one of his four movies in the first quarter of 2010, randomly) who gets abused by a cop (Cooper) for helping defend a guy getting beat up. He then learns the cop has a daughter (Emilie de Ravin of “Lost”) and the two form a relationship with anything but a solid foundation. It’s the screenwriting debut of Will Fetters who has some good projects in development. Allen Coulter (Hollywoodland) directs.
My Thoughts: I’ll take Pattinson as the rebel — I think this could help him climb out from the Twilight and Harry Potter shadow for sure.I certainly like the involvement of de Ravin too. The thing that gets me is in a story of four New Yorkers, two are Brits and one’s an Aussie. Can’t discredit the talent, however. Looks like it could be interesting, but in a busy March 12 weekend, it could get skipped over. (View Trailer) Read the rest of this entry »
Ah, here we go. Five movies to really look forward to these next couple of months. If you didn’t see the first half of my top ten, click the link.
I think at least three of these movies will be very good. Not just good, very good. Can’t exactly say which ones although I could figure. Either way, I feel unusually good about this spring line-up as compared to springs past.
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The Word: If any comedy this year has a chance at capturing even half the success of The Hangover, it’s the new time-travel comedy Hot Tub Time Machine from the writers of Sex Drive and Accepted director Steve Pink. For starters, outside of John Cusack it assembles a known but low-key cast with Craig Robinson (supporting role in every comedy you’ve seen in the last two years), Rob Corddry (the guy with one line in dozens of comedies) and Sex Drive co-star Clark Duke. The four friends travel to a ski resort and out of boredom, use a hot tub that happens to be a time machine. A time machine that takes them back to 1986.
My Thoughts: I’ll be the first to admit I’m a sucker for time travel movies. The humorous situations are endless. That aside, I think this unlikely group of four guys could make the comedy work. Robinson is always funny and Corddry can pull of the foul. Cusack is the glue and Duke the wildcard. With Spring Break placement, this movie is sure to do well for the ailing MGM. I’ve posted the link to the Red Band trailer which is much funnier than the all-audiences Green Band one. (View Trailer) Read the rest of this entry »
Winter might be the queen of bad movie season, but spring has plenty of weeds in need of killing too, you just have to squint a little harder. Rainy days in spiring lure a lot of moviegoers into bad films, but you can keep that umbrella for when you’ll really need it if you follow my advice.
As per usual, this list is loaded with awful rom com premises and family movies that will make you want to tear your hair out. I had added an untraditional sixth film to this list because I thought it only fair I add some other kind of genre to this list. Then in the midst of writing this post, the film was pushed back to May. At the same time, the five movies I put on this list for the winter received an average Rotten Tomatoes score of 18.6% and an imdb rating of 5.46, so I shouldn’t have felt obliged about anything.
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The Word: Following a long tradition of loser-gets-hot-chick comedies comes the awfully titled She’s Out of My League, also known as “She Happens To Be Just Than Into You Kind Of.” Jay Baruchel, product of the Apatow factory of guys that play good lovable losers kicks off a huge 2010 with his first of two star vehicles (the other is The Sorcerer’s Apprentice with Nic Cage) plus voicing the lead in Dreamwork’s upcoming How To Train Your Dragon. The rest of the cast is unknown including co-star Alice Eve and Jay’s pals. The script was written by the guys behind Sex Drive and a film that’s actually on my good list this spring, Hot Tub Time Machine.
My Thoughts: Ever get the feeling that ten years later, comedies are still trying to hard to be the next There’s Something About Mary? The hot chick and the loser … The trailer’s opening scene is of a lame guy and his group of guy friends explaining that he’s a “moodle.” How many times have films tried to introduce some slang vocabulary combining a word with “bro” or “man?” Well, that rubbed me the wrong way. The little every-ugy humor there was in this trailer is all kind of moot in my opinion with a typical bro comedy premise. No, moot is not a word I made up. (View Trailer) Read the rest of this entry »
Spring is in the air! Well, almost. Certainly can’t hurt to pretend, at least for the sake of my Spring Preview. March and April tend to pack the first decent big commercial releases of the year. Truthfully, ever since 300 had a huge opening weekend in March of 2007, everyone’s been trying to find a way to make a buck in March.
Here are the films that will vie to be the standout film of the first quarter of 2010 (if Shutter Island hasn’t already taken it). These are the first five of my Top 10, the rest will be posted on Wednesday.
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The Word: Jude Law and Forest Whitaker sound like a pretty original duo for a futuristic action movie about two men who repossess property for a major medical company when people don’t pay up. The catch is that this property is artificial body organs and these guys have to literally cut them out of people. The film was adapted by Matchstick Men novelist Eric Garcia from his book The Repossession Mambo. It is being released a pretty long time after it was completed. I’m pretty sure it’s been screened for test audiences for over a year now.
My Thoughts: This film could easily be moved four or five films up the list, but I’ve held it back here at No. 10 because it might just be too chaotic. The trailer is all over the place, but the sci-fi concept gives me hope (in addition to two reliable leading talents). Based on Garcia’s Matchstick Men, I’m sure there’s a good twist to be had in this film and I suspect it could fare well at the box office against romantic comedy The Bounty Hunter and kid flick Diary of a Wimpy Kid. (View Trailer) Read the rest of this entry »
As promised, here are some other films that might pan out that didn’t quite have the chops for my Top 10 list. Check out the trailers below on YouTube and decide for yourself if they should’ve been Top 10 material.
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The Word: The impossible-to-dislike-even-slightly Amy Adams stars with handsome Brit Matthew Goode in a film about a girl who travels to Ireland because on Feb. 29 every year leap year, women are encouraged to propose to their boyfriends and Adams’ character is anxious to tie the knot. Why she doesn’t realize her beaux (Adam Scott) is a dick and why this film didn’t come out a little closer to Valentines Day (or on a leap year) is still up in the air.
My Thoughts: Rarely does a Rom Com choose two fresher talents in Adams and Goode instead of actors who guarantee more dollars (although you can make a case Adams is totally read). That alone makes me feel like there are worse romantic comedies to see than this one – in general. (View Trailer) Read the rest of this entry »
