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Poll: What Did You Think About 'The Dark Knight'?
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:02:00 EST
Filed under: Fandom, PollsSo I finally caught a screening of The Dark Knight last night after spending weeks of dodging reviews and spoilers, while watching everyone I know stop just short of dropping to their knees and praying to a new God in Batman. Personally, I absolutely fell in love with the film and (I'll admit this once and only once, so don't get used to it) actually shed a tear or two during the quiet of the night whilst thinking of Ledger's performance and how he's no longer with us. It really hurt last night for some reason. But that's all I'll say about that.I feel that if a gritty crime drama like The Departed can win Best Picture, there's no reason why The Dark Knight shouldn't be nominated for a few things; most definitely for Ledger's Joker and for the dynamite screenplay ... with its layer upon layer of sweet awesomeness. But that's me. I obviously dug the film a whole lot. Both our reviews (James' review and Scott's review) capture exactly how I felt about the film, so I'll stop here by saying that I cannot wait to see it again. What did you think? Did it live up to the hype?View Poll Permalink | Email this | Comments
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New 'Lebowski' DVD May Be Right Up Your Alley
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:03:00 EST
Filed under: Comedy, Universal, Fandom, Home Entertainment, Movie MarketingTo triple dip or to wait? That is the question facing Dude-loving fans of the Coen Brothers' cracked comedy The Big Lebowski, which is due out on September 9 in a Tenth Anniversary Edition from Universal Home Video. Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, and Julianne Moore star. The announcement was made without details on bonus features; DVD Active has now posted pictures of the menu screens, so we know what's new.
The Big Lebowski was initially released on DVD in 1998, and then was remastered for the 2005 Collectors' Edition. That edition included a "making of" feature, photos by Jeff Bridges, and a brief, jokey introduction. Those extras were included on the HD-DVD edition, released in June 2007 (and reviewed at High-Def Digest). The Tenth Anniversary Edition features those extras plus more: "The Dude's Life," "The Dude Abides: The Big Lebowski Ten Years Later," production notes, theatrical trailer, "The Lebowski Fest: An Achiever's Story," "Flying Carpets and Bowling Pin Dreams: The Dream Sequences of the Dude," interactive map, and photo gallery.
A standard Tenth Anniversary Edition will reportedly retail for $19.98, while a Limited Edition "in special bowling ball packaging" (pictured) will also be available. No news on a Blu-ray edition, though, so the question remains: will you triple dip or wait for Blu-ray? Or will you roll this sucker into your alley? The Dude wants to know. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Review: 'Take'
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:32:00 EST
Filed under: Drama, Independent, Thrillers, Casting, New Releases, Tribeca, Mystery & Suspense, Celebrities and Controversy, Box Office, Scripts, Movie Marketing, PoliticsDeath is the ultimate dramatic device, but great art doesn't emerge from strong devices alone. In Take, the directorial debut of Charles Oliver, the impact of a single, startling tragic death immediately conveys the sense of watching a gravely serious movie, which is definitely the case. However, having immediately provided a tone, Oliver fails to follow up with a story powerful enough to justify it. That's not to say that the experience Ana (Minnie Driver) goes through after her son dies in a freak accident before the start of the film isn't relentlessly bleak, but there's hardly anything distinctive about the circumstances to make viewers care any more than they would if they were glancing at it in the morning headlines. Still, Olilver has made a quietly observant work solely driven by the specific needs of two downtrodden protagonists with completely believable motives. In flashback, we learn that Ana struggled with her son's elementary school, which wants to put him in a special needs program. Meanwhile, she has a hard time communicating with her husband and finding decent work to get by. Elsewhere, reckless gambling addict Saul (Jeremy Renner) destroys his life in a whirlwind of debt. His misfortune, as it's shown in early scenes at a prison where Saul awaits execution, will lead him to accidentally murder Ana's innocent child, Jesse (Bobby Coleman). Continue reading Review: 'Take' Permalink | Email this | Comments
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We've Got a Date for the 'Dance of the Dead'!
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:03:00 EST
Filed under: Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Mystery & Suspense, Home EntertainmentI'll admit it: Most of the indie / foreign horror films that I see at film festivals and then recommend like crazy ... are not exactly "mainstream" titles. My apologies if you watched Inside, Teeth, or Frontier(s) with your mom -- although she'd probably like The Signal. Heck, even my preferences in studio horror fare tend to run towards the bleak, and hats off to The Mist, The Ruins and The Strangers for keeping me on my toes.So what's my point? There's one particular indie that is absolutely NOT a gorehounds-only affair. I actually expect quite a (relatively) mainstream groundswell of support once Gregg Bishop's Dance of the Dead hits DVD -- and according to good ol' Bloody-Dee, that DVD will arrive on October 14. Yes, the movie is about a prom that's been overrun by zombies, leaving only the dateless outcasts to save the day, and sure, it's got some gore, some salty language, and some playful sexiness -- but dang if the Dance of the Dead doesn't feel like something Spielberg might have done as a newcomer. (And actually liked horror movies.) It's quick and colorful and jaunty and amusing -- and I think that's the first time I've ever used the word "jaunty" in any capacity. Anyway, toss a red circle around this title. It's not just for the horror fans. (No less than eight Cinematical staffers saw and really enjoyed it.)And hey, get this! Lionsgate is absolutely GUSHING horror flicks on October 14! Not only the Dance will hit DVD on that date, but seven more titles as well: Brotherhood of Blood, Dark Floors, The Last House in the Woods, No Man's Land: The Rise of the Reeker (cool!), Room 205, The Substitute, and something Russian called Trackman (that looks pretty wild). Now that sounds like a Halloween party! Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Don Cheadle's 'Marching Powder' Marches Forward
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:32:00 EST
Filed under: Action, Drama, Foreign Language, Brad Pitt, Cinematical IndieAt the rate Brazilian filmmaker José Padilha (Tropa de Elite) is becoming attached to projects, I might need to start another annex called Cinematical Padilha. Earlier this week, I posted info about his latest documentary, Garapa, and prior to that I had written about his transfer to Hollywood for a South America-set action movie formerly (and maybe again?) called A Willing Patriot. Of course, I don't mind writing so much about the guy; Padilha is one of the most exciting new talents, and it's cool to see his career exploding. Today's Padilha news is that he'll be writing and directing the based-on-a-true-story drama Marching Powder. Again, this one's set in South America (good to see a foreign filmmaker making such a gradual move to Hollywood), and if it sounds familiar, that's because we've seen Don Cheadle linked to it for awhile. The Oscar-nominated actor will reportedly still produce (along with Brad Pitt and others) and star as a British drug dealer serving time in a Bolivian prison, of which he eventually gives illegal tours to travelers (he became popular enough to be featured in Lonely Planet guides).The movie will be based on the book "Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine and South America's Strangest Jail" by Thomas McFadden (the British drug dealer) and Rusty Young, who apparently found the story by signing on for one of the prison tours. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Stars in Rewind: Christian Bale Sings and Dances!
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:02:00 EST
Filed under: Fandom, Trailers and Clips, Stars in RewindBecause why the hell not?With Christian Bale currently in theaters kicking ass right, left and sideways as Batman, we thought it'd be fun to take a look back at the Dark Knight when he was just a wee boy. In the clip above, watch as Bale sings and dances up a storm in the film Newsies as Jack "Cowboy" Kelly. Remember that one? It came out in 1992 (though it was set in 1899) and it followed Kelly as he organizes a newsboys' strike due to the raising of the distribution price per paper by the publisher, Joseph Pulitzer. These kids were pissed, poor and ready to put on their dancing shoes -- and who could blame them. In all seriousness, though, this was a fun little flick ... and the music wasn't even half bad. What do you think? Should Bale take this Batman act to Broadway? Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Hyde Park Readies Remake of Blake Edwards' '10'
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:32:00 EST
Filed under: Comedy, Deals, Remakes and SequelsAmerican writer/director Blake Edwards will always have a special place in my heart for two reasons: 1) He was responsible for making one of my favorite movies of all time, Victor/Victoria, and 2) He showed me a side of Julie Andrews that was about as far from Mary Poppins as you could get (not to mention the man had one of the more memorable Oscar moments in recent history). But personal milestones aside, Edwards is one of the best comedic directors around, and his 1979 flick 10 set the standard for every 'mid-life crisis comedy' to come after it. We all should have known that a remake was inevitable, and Variety has now announced that Hyde Park has secured the rights to remake the classic film.10 centers on a man named George Webber (played by Dudley Moore), who encounters a young woman on the street, and at the expense of his own relationships, becomes obsessed with this beautiful stranger, even going so far as to follow her on her honeymoon. The film is probably best known for introducing Bo Derek to the world, but it was also a box office smash that made instant stars out of Derek and Moore. Edwards will serve as an executive producer on the remake, and according to Hyde's execs, it was a battle to get the legendary writer and director to agree to sell the rights. If the movie must be made, then maybe this is a job for Judd Apatow; because if anyone can make a raunchy comedy about a hot girl and an everyday guy, it's him. Sound off below on who you would like to see rocking those infamous cornrows... Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The New Jason Voorhees is Ready for His Close-Up
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:32:00 EST
Filed under: Horror, Paramount, Remakes and SequelsOK, I know what you're going to say before you even say it: "Dude, it's a big guy in a hockey mask. Don't exactly need a snapshot to envision a big guy in a hockey mask." And that's a fair comment, but I work for this blog and weekends are really slow so here we go:Our first look at the new Jason Voorhees! A big bulky guy in torn clothes and a hockey mask: Yep! Snark aside, the big guy looks pretty solid. No silly changes or anything, although his NECK sure does look sort of extra-thick. It's the close-up shot of horror-dom's supreme stalker that the fans want to see, but I'm quite a bit more impressed by the "far off" shot. The lake is a grungy shade of green and the shadows are trickling through the forest quite creatively. Anyway, the new Jason will be played by Derek Mears, who's played more crazies, creeps and killers than just about anyone.The pics come from a recent EW article that Erik covered right here, but it took the hardcore horror fans to get a bigger shot of the serial stalker. Expect a lot more Friday freakiness once Comic-Con starts next week. And if director Marcus Nispel can do as good as job as he did with the Texas Chainsaw remake, that'll be good enough for me. (Yes, I quite like the Chainsaw remake. A hell of a lot more than any of the TCM sequels, anyway.) The next Friday the 13th arrives in February of next year.[ Thanks: BD.com ] Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Review: The Doorman
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:02:00 EST
Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Independent, Theatrical Reviews What do war, famine, disease and poverty have in common? They're four of the few things in life less funny than The Doorman, an excruciating, run-for-the-hills mockumentary about a famous international gatekeeper to ritzy nightclubs. Think Borat with 99 percent less ingenuity and humor. And, in fact, keep thinking about Sacha Baron Cohen's befuddled Kazakhstani journalist, or fluffy clouds on a warm summer day, or your first kiss, or anything else that makes you smile, as conjuring up memories of happier experiences gone by is the prime means of enduring such across-the-board ineptitude.The dolt at the center of this fiasco is Trevor (Lucas Akoskin), a doofus with an ambiguous European accent, an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean, a taste for overblown threads, and a predilection for Yogi Berra-isms. "I know people. And more importantly, I know people who know me," is typical of Trevor's self-consciously dumb dialogue, though he's not alone in delivering leaden bon mots, as evidenced by one doltish woman's claim that "The Doorman is God, really." Which, I guess, makes me an unrepentant atheist.Continue reading Review: The Doorman Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The Rocchi Review -- ComicCon Preview with Erik Davis
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:02:00 EST
Filed under: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Podcasts, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, ComicCon, The Rocchi Review: Online Film Community PodcastWhat are going to be the biggest surprises at this year's ComicCon? Can McG and Christian Bale make us care about Terminator: Salvation? Will the movie adaptation of Twilight please fans, or alienate them? What's behind the venom being directed at Batman's detractors on-line? And does Meryl Streep's Mamma Mia! have a chance against The Dark Knight this weekend? Joining James this week to talk all things ComicCon is Cinematical's Editor-In-Chief Erik Davis. ... Cinematical's podcast is now available through iTunes; you can subscribe at this link. Also, you can listen directly here at Cinematical by clicking below: As ever, you can download the entire podcast right here -- and those of you with RSS Podcast readers can find all of Cinematical's podcast content at this link. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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