Entertainment Today and Beyond

Never Met a Zombi I Didn’t Like…

Summer Blockbusters to come (maybe)

Hellboy 2HancockPREVIEW OF JULY AT THE MOVIES 

7/3  HANCOCK – Critical reaction has been wildly split on this Will Smith anti-superhero movie. It’s based on an edgy novel titled Tonight He Comes. Some seem to love it, some seem to hate it. There’s no doubt it will have a sizable opening as Smith is as sure a thing at the box office as Paris Hilton is on a first date.

7/11  HELL BOY 2 The Golden Army – Advance reviews on the Guillermo Del Toro directed sequel have been terrific. I enjoyed the original Hell Boy and think Ron Perlman is nothing short of fantastic as the cult comic book character. Having said that, I still think its 85 mill budget is a gamble for Universal as this one, like the first, might not radiate to moviegoers outside its small core fan base. Even so – I won’t miss it.
 
Journey to the Center of the EarthJOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH – Advance reviews have been surprisingly very positive on this movie which was shot in 3-D and specifically made as a movie going thrill ride. Don’t go in expecting a direct remake of the James Mason version. Brendon Fraser stars and this looks to be a good summer for Fraser as Mummy 3 also hits the theaters in August.

DaveDAVE – Just going by its trailer, this looks like another why are you doing this Eddie Murphy high concept comedy? Of course we know why he’s doing this – for the big paycheck. Did I mention he’s once again playing multiple characters? Dave would have to be truly great to erase the bad taste of his Norbit disaster.

Heath Ledger7/18  DARK KNIGHT – Advance reviews are so insanely great that it’s given me chills. I don’t think I have been this excited to see a movie in quite some time. It’s one of those movies I know I’ll just have to see multiple times in a theater. See the trailers in my other Dark Knight posts.

Mamma MiaMAMMA MIA – I’m hoping its summers Hairspray. I love the trailer. Here’s a look.  View Trailer

Step Brothers7/25  STEP BROTHERS – It’s a Will Ferrell comedy. What else do you need to know! 

 X-FILES: I Want to Believe – This second big screen movie will have to be really good to get people excited. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson star.

 Overall July looks to be a good one!

July 1, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

And Beyond… Nottingham, Spiderman, Hancock, The Strangers & more

Robin Hood sequel, NottinghamDirector Ridley Scott is getting ready to unleash another variation of the ROBIN HOOD tale with a big screen treatment called NOTTINGHAM. Russell Crowe is already attached to the project (he will play the sheriff of Nottingham). There’s been much speculation and rumor as which actor will put on the tights and bow and arrow of Robin Hood with names like  Christian Bale and Jake Gyllenhaal floating around. It’s been 17 years since the last Robin Hood film when Kevin Costner played the part in the flawed but highly entertaining PRINCE OF THIEVES.
 
It appears that Sony is looking at a summer 2011 release for its next entry in their wildly popular SPIDERMAN franchise. With this much of a time gap I think there’s a solid chance Tobey McGuire will be back, along with director Sam Raimi. For the record, I love the SPIDERMAN films – even the 3rd. I knowlatest Spiderman installment in the works there’s been a backlash against part three for a few different reasons, including the fact that it contained too many characters, but I still found it highly entertaining and better than most of the comic book films that have been produced in recent years.

HancockAll reports say that public awareness and want to see factors are very high for Will Smith’s new film, HANCOCK; a darker spin on the superhero genre which hit’s theaters July 2nd. Personally, I wish the studio would have gone with the movie’s original title which was TONIGHT HE COMES, as it just seems a better anticipation builder than HANCOCK.  Many have said that Smith might be Hollywood’s last real box-office superstar who can make any film he’s attached to a success. I would certainly agree.   

Sony pictures has reserved May 2009 as a release date for its DAVINCI CODE prequel, ANGELS AND DEMONS. Tom Hanks will once again star under the direction of Ron Howard.

Rogue pictures is reportedly talking about a sequel to its hit horror film, THE STRANGERS. The movie, starring Liv Tyler, has scored a very solid 50 mill in box-office receipts. That’s pound for pound as good as any movie released this year, particularly since its budget was just 9 mill. I like THE STRANGERS to a point but some scenes just went on way too long. Plus, it has one of the bleakest endings you can imagine, although many horror purists probably like that.

Universal just released its coming attraction trailer to THE MUMMY 3. While I’m not a huge fan of this franchise, it does look pretty exciting.  WATCH THE TRAILER

June 25, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

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