Entertainment Today and Beyond

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A LOOK at THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123

pelham1231Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, here are the first two stills released from director Tony Scott’s remake of THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123.
While there’s certainly top notch talent involved with this new version, it will be hard to recapture the efficiency of Joseph Sergeant’s 1973 incarnation which captured everything that makes a pelham1232movie thriller great. I regard it as one of the 1970’s very best films. The new version stars Denzel Washington (looking less than trim) as the hero, NYC transit detective Lieutenant Zachary Garber, who battles the film’s villain John Travolta (Mr. Blue) who takes over a subway car and holds its passengers hostage for a large ransom. Pelham rides into theaters July 24, 2009.

January 5, 2009 Posted by chuckcurry | Reviews | , , | No Comments

Tarantino’s INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS gets release date

ingbasterdsQuentin Tarantino’s latest offering, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, has an official release date of August 21, 2009. This WW2 vehicle starring Brad Pitt is certainly an important film for both the director and The Weinstein Company as both need a hit after box-office disaster, GRINDHOUSE. While I thought that 3 hour homage to 70’s exploitation was a lot of fun, it was totally rejected by the main stream public and pretty much closed right after it opened. I think Tarantino is at a point in his career where his work is starting to appeal to less and less people, a dangerous thing given movies cost money to make. Ask Woody Allen how that feels! It will be interesting to see if Basterds appeals beyond his loyal but shrinking fanboy crowd. This film will be violent (most likely very violent) and unconventional, so it certainly won’t be an easy sell. Still I look forward to seeing it. The big question is… will the masses feel the same way!

January 3, 2009 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | | No Comments

Entertainment Today and Beyond Radio - 2009 Movie Preview

Chuck and Michael preview upcoming 2009 must-see Movies LISTEN HERE and let us know what you want to hear about. email Chuck
Listen when you want >Get the Radio Show RSS FEED HERE


A SPECIAL INVITATION TO LISTEN TO OUR ENTERTAINMENT TODAY AND BEYOND RADIO PODCAST

First off I would like to thank each and every person who has stopped by to check this site out. Since I started Entertainment Today and Beyond in June I’ve had a blast writing it. In a very competitive landscape I feel the site has given a unique perspective on Movies and TV – mine! ETB has what I believe is the most UNIQUE, best produced and highly entertaining Movie and TV Radio Podcast and I’m really proud of that fact. My radio co-host, Michael Cooper, and I have developed a great niche idea that is getting tremendous feedback from all our radio listeners. We currently broadcast a TOP 5 program (We both pick five different films) on a weekly basis which can be heard on WEW in St Louis. Our fast moving program is filled with cool audio clips, one of the TOP reasons fans keep coming back to the site. Check out our Radio Show Archive. I personally want to thank my co-host and producer Michael Cooper, as he’s done nothing short of an AMAZING job both behind the microphone and as the producer of the program. I invite you to click on and LISTEN. I Hope you enjoy what you hear and keep coming back! Let me know what you think!

January 3, 2009 Posted by chuckcurry | Reviews | | No Comments

2008 Cinescape

January 2, 2009 Posted by chuckcurry | Reviews | | No Comments

TOP Money Makers of 2008!

batman-1While critical acclaim is certainly welcome, the cash resister is what matters most in Hollywood. The 2008 list contains two super hero films, three animated movies, a long awaited sequel and a movie teen girls flocked to. I think it’s safe to say that 2008 was the year of The Dark Knight, as the anticipation leading up to its release was incredible. Iron Man set itself up nicely for future sequels while Indiana Jones left many deflated, including me. Hancock entertained until its wall-e-4horrible third act twist. Wall-E had a poetic beauty, and Jack Black was a blast as a Kung Fu Panda. Madagascar 2 was better than the original. Twilight was the start of a new franchise and a film that put Summit entertainment on the map. Quantum of Solace wasn’t as good as Casino Royale, with no sense of fun and the year’s worst filmed action sequences. I certainly hope producers lighten up Daniel Craig a little in his third go round as 007. Despite the recession, people continue to flock to the movies!

2008 – U.S Domestic Box-office Top Ten

1. The Dark Knight - $530.9 million

2. Iron Man - $318.3 million

3. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull -$317.0 million

4. Hancock - $227.9 million

5. Wall-E - $223.8 million

6. Kung Fu Panda - $215.4 million

7. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $174.9 million

8. Twilight - $167.3 million

9. Quantum of Solace - $164.3 million

10. Dr Seuss Horton Hears a Who - $154.5 million

January 2, 2009 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | | No Comments

The Top 10 films to see in 2009

watchmen-niteowl-logo-hdrimg10. WATCHMEN- I never read the graphic novel and the trailer doesn’t look overly exciting, but I’m still totally intrigued by the hype!

9. LAND OF THE LOST- While I’m against turning the material into a comedy, I’m still interested in seeing what Will Ferrell does with the concept as I was a fan of this 70’s Saturday morning TV show.

termiantorsalvationfactory-440x2928. ANGELS AND DEMONS- I never read The Divinci Code so I actually enjoyed the movie. Have a feeling Howard and Hanks will please everyone this time around.

7. PUBLIC ENEMIES- Michael Mann’s take on the notorious 1930’s gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. Christian Bale and Johnny Depp star! 

6. TERMINATOR SALVATION- I love sci-fi and this franchise. While startrekcrewbanner-440x159this installment has a decidedly different feel than the first three, I’ll still be there on opening day. Will Arnold make a cameo? Rumor has it, it’s a possibility!

5. FRIDAY THE 13th- Lets face it, this franchise, along with Jason, is one that will never really die! While I know that this remake will never have the shock factor of the 1980 original, I’m still very interested in seeing it.

4. STAR TREK- In JJ Abrams we trust. While I’m not the biggest of trek fans, I do believe Abrams will deliver a quality product that will broaden the scope from its loyal but stagnant fanbase. 

3. 2012- I LOVE the disaster genre. Roland Emmerich brings us his take on the end of the world in a film that features tidal waves and volcanic eruptions. John Cusack, Amanda Peet and Woody Harrelson should make for a solid cast.

2. TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE- The original 1973 film, starring Walter Mathau and Robert Shaw, was one of that decades best transformers2empireusaversiand a classic. Very few films captured the feeling of NYC the way that movie does. While I like the idea of Denzel Washington in the Matthau role of transit detective, I’m not as fond of seeing John Travolta in the Shaw role as the villain who takes over a NYC subway train and hold the passengers hostage. He’s just way overexposed doing the bad guy thing at least five times too many! Still I’m curious what director Tony Scott will create with this redo.

1. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN- Transformers was my favorite summer movie of 2007. Yes I’m a Michael Bay fan!

December 30, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | | 1 Comment

MARLEY & ME REVIEW - Spoiler Warning that involves ending!

marleyandme_galleryteaserBased on newspaper columnist John Grogan’s best selling book about his life, Marley & Me is a winning story of a married couple who wind up owning one of the most undisciplined destructive canines imaginable. While I can’t speak for non-dog lovers, I found Marley & Me to be an entertaining and moving movie that should pull in sizeable loot at the box-office. The story follows newlyweds John (Owen Wilson) and Jenny (Jennifer Aniston) Grogan who pick out the seemingly adorable Marley from a pen of lab puppies at a discount price. As it turns out, it’s far from a steal.

From the get go it’s apparent that the dog is untrainable as he proceeds to maul, chew and stampede everything in his sight. Marley disobeying a dog trainer (Kathleen Turner, looking less than flattering) and doing his business on the beach are two of the movie’s funnier moments. Still, John and Jenny embrace him as they eventually start to build a family. As time goes by, John and Jenny change jobs, have more kids and move to new places. All while Marley remains a constant fixture in their lives - they love him despite his incorrigible behavior. While his actions continue to be frustrating and somewhat destructive he never the less remains a likeable lug.

Despite the way the film has been marketed, Marley is not always the story’s sole center of attention. Great detail goes into the Grogan’s relationship and John’s work life. This is handled in a fairly realistic way, showing the ups and downs of life and the chemistry between the two leads, which is really good. Owen Wilson is easily one of the most likable personalities in movies today and his casting is a big reason why this film works as well as it does. Alan Arkin, who plays Grogan’s eternally dry but highly likeable editor and Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy), who plays John’s journalist buddy, also add a lot to the film. Movies like Marley & Me will always have their distracters, with some crying emotional manipulation but I disagree! While the last 20 minutes is a true tear jerker, it certainly rings true. I, like so many others, have lost a dog and the movie ending is the way it usually plays out. While movies can stimulate many emotions like happiness and laughter, sadness is also a necessary outlet and healthy to explore. The film deals with that issue in an honest way as it explores the reality of Marley in his later years and his passing. I believe a good cry is a healthy thing and I never felt manipulated in the least. While parents might want to keep very young kids away (personally I don’t think they should), Marley & Me was an interesting journey well worth taking. While not a great film, it is a solid one that I was totally involved in and touched by. I certainly recommend it. 3.5 Zombies out of 5.

December 28, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | Reviews | | No Comments

Entertainment Today and Beyond Radio - Best Movies of 2008

Chuck and Michael review the best movies of 2008LISTEN HERE and let us know what you want to hear about. email Chuck

December 26, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | Reviews | | No Comments

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