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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

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

I LOVE YOU, MAN Movie Trailer

paul-rudd2DreamWorks Pictures has released the coming attraction trailer to I LOVE YOU, MAN. Paul Rudd (Role Models) and Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) star in the film about a newly engaged guy desperately searching for a best man for his wedding. The highly likeable Rudd continues to be a major presence in movies these days, although most people probably can’t identify him by name when they see him. It’s nothing earth shattering but the trailers worth a  look…  

December 19, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | , | No Comments

Sneak Peek: Season Premiere of LOST

lostseason5posterreal-440x5ABC has released a really cool Sneak Peek of the season premiere of LOST. It features the characters of Jack and Ben and does a great job of setting up the events that will unfold this 5th season. It’s titled “Before you Left” and airs on Jan 21. As I’ve said many times, Lost is one of the greatest television shows ever created and a MUST SEE! Not since Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone has a program produced such amazing imagination. VIEW TRAILER

December 17, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | | No Comments

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE TRAILER

wolverinetrailertop-440x190

20th Century Fox has just released this first look coming attraction trailer to X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The film stars Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber (Sabretooth). Taylor Kitsch, Riggins on the terrific TV show Friday Night Lights, plays the Gambit character. I repeat that I personally feel this will be a tough film to pull off but I’ll hope for the best. Take a LOOK

December 17, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | | No Comments

Official Greenlight for NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST Remake

freddykAccording to Shock Till You Drop, Platinum Dunes and Warner Bros are moving forward on their announced remake of the 1984 horror film, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST, with the film slated to go into production by the summer of 2009. The project doesn’t have a director attached as of yet but it does have a finished script. Wesley Strick (Cape Fear) has penned a screenplay and promises a film that will take the Kruger character back to his very scary roots.

As far as concept goes, A Nightmare on Elm St is as good as it gets and the character of Freddy Krueger is a great one for any actor to play - although it will have to be someone pretty darn good to fill the shoes of Robert Englund. His Freddy is one of the great iconic characters in the history of pop culture entertainment. While producers are still looking for this generation’s Freddy, they do want Robert Englund to make an appearance in the new film. Rumors were flying a few months back that Billy Bob Thornton might be attached but nothing has come of it.

If screenwriter Strick follows the blue print of Wes Craven’s original, I think this has the potential to be the best of the Horror remakes from the 70s and 80s. While all of the Elm St films are worth seeing, the best of the bunch were the 1984 classic original, 1987’s Nightmare on Elm St: Dream Warriors (highly entertaining), and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare in 1994 (Pretty inventive and very scary). Platinum Dunes is responsible for the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the upcoming redo of Friday the 13th.

December 15, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | | No Comments

HUGH JACKMAN to HOST OSCARS - a good idea?

hugh-jackman-4The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced today that HUGH JACKMAN (People magazine’s sexiest man Alive) will be the HOST of the 81st annual Academy Awards, scheduled to air Feb 22. Producers Larry Mark and Bill Condon will reportedly forgo the joke telling and the programs signature opening monologue.

While Jackman scored good reviews for hosting the Tony awards four years ago I don’t really get this move. I like Jackman (I really liked Australia) and think he’s an appealing guy, but the Oscar host should belong to a comedian. The telecast has always lived and died on the opening monologue. Since it’s NO secret that Hollywood is a liberal crowd, an Oscar telecast without political jabs and inside jokes just won’t feel like the Oscars I have been watching my entire life. It’s one thing to revamp the telecast but this just feels extreme, and not for the better. When I tune in I want to laugh. I want an edge and I want to be wowed.

While some past hosts have been better than others, the definitive host was and will always be BILLY CRYSTAL. He’s not only brilliantly funny but he’s one of Hollywood’s own. The fun of a good Oscar host is having the anticipation of what might come next. You can only get that from a comedian. The choice of Jackman takes that equation right out of the game. While the “Wolverine” star is a solid actor, showman, and certainly a class act, he doesn’t have the right personality to pull this off. People tune in because they want to see that host take shots at their peers in the crowd. It’s pretty much assured that won’t happen this time around. To me that’s just not the Oscars!

December 14, 2008 Posted by chuckcurry | And Beyond | | No Comments

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