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Mike’s Review: Channing Tatum Breaks ‘The Vow’
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Grade: C-
Every time a new romance film hits theaters, some moviegoers roll their eyes and others try to sweet-talk their boyfriend into going with them. Of course, by releasing the film on or around Valentine’s Day, they pigeon hole the reluctant male audience. But it’s narrow-sighted to just assume all romances are worthless cheese fests. They aren’t, even if you’d like them to be. I went into The Vow hoping for something worth remembering. And I think I got it, but then I couldn’t remember those moments anymore because Channing Tatum destroyed them like a snow plow to the back of the head with his flat, mumbling nervous acting. He’s like the love-child of Rocky Balboa and Hayden Christensen.
Mike’s Review: ‘The Grey’ Is A Ferocious Film
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GRADE: B++
Joe Carnahan has crafted a fine film that should not be considered a typical January release by any means. In fact, Carnahan recently told press that the only reason The Grey released on January 27th is because they were delayed in post-production by some effects shots. The studio has already agreed to re-release it in late 2012 for an Oscars push. While I think it will be a huge stretch for The Grey to earn Academy Award recognition beyond the great performance by Liam Neeson, that’s quite inspiring and should evoke confidence in potential audiences. Otherwise, the movie is quite a ride and really does keep you on the edge of your seat, unlike 99% of movies that use that pull quote from corrupt journalists.
Mike’s Review: ‘Red Tails’ Crashes And Burns
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GRADE: F
Yes, I went there. A pun review title. And trust me, that’s still less cheesy than Red Tails. You know how they say January is the dumping ground for bad movies? Red Tails reinforces that, and it’s unfortunate because the story of the Tuskegee Airmen deserves so much. If it didn’t take itself so seriously, maybe it could have been less embarrassing.
Mike’s Review: ‘The Flowers of War’ Is Hard To Watch, But You Should
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GRADE: A-
In our screening of The Flowers of War, a female audience member broke down into hysterical tears complete with sobbing and moaning. I had never heard a vocal reaction like that in a theater and it is one as unforgettable as the terrible events that transpired on screen. And the woman was well within her rights to do so, as the epic war film from China depicts some of man’s most detestable actions and rarely hides such details, though there is the occasional comedic relief thanks to (sometimes) drunk Christian Bale.
Keanu Reeves Presents Digital vs. Film Debate with ‘Side by Side’ Trailer
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If you love movies in any fashion, you are likely aware that there is a huge transition going on in hollywood. Film production is literally dying and digital cinema is taking its place. Some filmmakers are thrilled, while others are frustrated. Actor Keanu Reeves has a new documentary called Side by Side that highlights this great divide and the trailer ensures it is a must-see.
Mike’s Review: ‘We Bought A Zoo’ Lets Loose The Inspiration
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GRADE: B+
Cameron Crowe brought all his regular ingredients to the table with his latest film, We Bought A Zoo. It’s got the traditional Crowe inspirational dialogue, excellent music choices and commercial appeal of most of his work. Put simply, it’s a movie that seems impossible to hate – although cynics will still find a reason. The theaters are full of options this holiday season, but We Bought A Zoo is about as close to a guarantee family-friendly experience as you can get.
Mike’s Review: ‘War Horse’ Is A Classic Epic And A Return To Form For Spielberg
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GRADE: A-
War Horse is a sprawling epic. It balances big events with personal moments. It’s the Steven Spielberg that many of us grew up admiring. In fact, you can sense that his past work has influenced every chapter of his latest war drama. You can tell that Spielberg approached this movie with the confidence of a man who’s been there before. He has captured the terror of the front lines and he has manufactured the family drama that haunts many of his characters. And yet, while it comes across as cliche and predictable, War Horse feels new and passionate. Put simply, it brought me to tears three times.
Hollywood Is Shameless This Holiday Season, And I Like It
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It’s strange to think that you could bring your family to the movie theater right now and on either side of your innocent entertainment could be explicit, hardcore sexual content. As I walked through the theater the other day, I noticed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Shame were separated only by Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.
You Have My Permission To Watch ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Trailer [UPDATED]
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UPDATE: We now have a 1080p HD embed of the trailer that you can view right away after the break…
Fanboys have been drying off their sweaty palms all morning in anticipation for first full The Dark Knight Rises trailer. A teaser released on July 18th gave us only a slight glimpse of the third installment of Christopher Nolan’s beloved Batman trilogy. The new trailer gives a solid look at how Gotham has held up over the last eight years and where it might be headed.
The trailer gives us plenty of contemplate and even more to salivate over. The gut reaction when it’s over is one of relief and anticipation, but also disappointment that it is still seven months away. Nolan and Warner Bros. are following the same structure as The Dark Knight when it comes to releasing promotional material and a recently launched viral campaign. With the prologue currently showing in front of select IMAX screenings of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, we can expect this trailer will be the last look at this movie for a while. The prologue will most likely not be released online as it would defeat the purpose of showing it in true IMAX theaters only.
The Movie Mash 2011 Holiday Movie Guide
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Hollywood is known for bunching releases in certain time frames that fit their strategy. January and February are the dumping grounds for forgetful flops. June through August are the glory days for blockbusters full of explosions and scantily clad ladies. September through December are the months where drama reigns king. But at the end of December, as Christmas rolls around, we get an onslaught of choices that are both entertaining and award-worthy. So, how do you pick the right one for you? Our 2011 Holiday Movie Guide, of course!
There are nine high-profile movies hitting theaters between December 16th and December 30th, along with four highly-touted limited release art films. We are aware some movies will still be in theaters from late November, but this guide is focused on those releasing in the last two weeks of December. In order to make this a little more focused, we’ll give you some sub-categories for exactly what we think each type of movie lover might want.
