Popcorn Pick- December 2011

Ah, tis the season!

December is finally here, which means the second-biggest season for movies (behind summer, of course). As usual there is the mixed bag of yawner Oscar-bait films, big franchise films, and kiddie/family movies. I must admit this year's awards season looks a little weaker than most, but there's still good fun to be had at the movies.
In addition to my picks, there are two other movies coming out from the master of all cinema which I will discuss in a special section at the end of this post.

Friday, December 2nd
Hugo

With no new releases coming out this week (at least not in wide release), this is the time to catch up on any movies you may have missed but still want to see. My choice: Hugo, which opened November 23rd. Martin Scorsese, director of such dark crime-centric films like Taxi Driver and The Departed, turns to children's movies for the first time with this 3D charmer about an orphan boy living behind the clock in a Paris train station. The muddled plot also includes something about a robot boy, a key shaped like a heart, and a secret left behind by his dead father. However strange it may sound, people are coming out the of theater crying. Probably worth a look. While the young lead is an unknown, the film co-stars Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass), Ben Kingsley, and Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat).

Friday, December 9th
New Year's Eve

While the release date is a bit premature, this film follows the success (and formula) of Valentine's Day to produce another celebrity-stuffed surefire hit. An immense ensemble cast- made up almost entirely of stars- are all dreading the ball dropping on the new year in New York City. Love is found, lost, and talked about in detail in this romantic comedy. I wasn't a fan of Valentine's Day, but I did really love its predecessor, He's Just Not That Into You. Let's hope this one is more like the latter! The cast includes (but is definitely not limited to) Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Robert De Niro, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Zac Efron, and Jessica Biel.

Friday, December 16th
Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol

The fourth film in the immensely popular action series is almost upon us! Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and produced by J.J. Abrams (director of the third film), this film involves Ethan Hunt and his team of (mostly) new characters being framed for bombing the Kremlin and on the run to find out who set them up. Tom Cruise returns, as does Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, while the rest of the cast includes Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Paula Patton (Precious), and Josh Holloway (Lost).
Another sure-to-be-popular sequel opening the same day: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, pitting Holmes and Watson (Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law, respectively) against the evil Professor Moriarty. Fans of the original Holmes short stories know the significance of that fateful encounter.

Wednesday, December 21st
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The most anticipated film of the season (for some, of the year) is sure to be a huge movie event, and something everyone should pay attention to, even if they aren't interested in seeing it. The adaptation of the massively popular book (and remake of the 2009 Swedish film) is about a journalist (Daniel Craig) hired to solve a decades-old cold case of a missing girl. When he discovers new evidence that the girl may have been murdered, he enlists the help of a young punk computer hacker with a photographic memory. Lisbeth Salander is played by Rooney Mara (The Social Network) and is already one of the most famous (and controversial) fictional characters of the last decade. David Fincher directs this dark, twisted thriller, which is definitely one to watch come Oscar season.
Also opening the same day: the family-friendly drama We Bought a Zoo. The title says it all: Matt Damon plays the head of a struggling family who buys a run-down zoo and tries to rebuild it. Based on a true story.

Sunday, December 25th

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Taking the coveted Christmas Day slot, this is an adaptation of the popular book by Jonathan Safran Foer. After his father dies in the 9/11 attacks, a young autistic boy goes on a journey to find the lock that matches a key his father left behind. The book is an avant-garde mind-trip, and the film promises to be more straightforward. Fans of the book will undoubtedly cry foul at many of the changes made, but it still looks like a charming film, if maybe not strictly for kids. Co-stars Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock.

Popcorn Pick Special Section

Steven Spielberg

If you've been paying attention to the movies coming out this holiday season, it's been impossible to miss the fact that the master has returned. Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg- arguably one of the best directors in the history of film- is coming out with not one, but two movies this month- both being released within a week of each other. If you take a closer look, it's also impossible to deny that both films look...well, for lack of a better word, boring.

The first is The Adventures of Tintin, out December 21st. The first animated film Spielberg has ever done (and his first 3D film), this is an adaptation of a comic book about a young boy journalist and his faithful dog going on a quest to find a sunken ship with a secret cargo. Done in the style of Indiana Jones movies, and marketed to kids, it's hard to imagine any kids seeing this movie. The comic books are very popular...in Europe, where the film will surely be a hit. But in America, very few people have heard of Tintin, or his dog Snowy. Adding stars to the cast of this motion-capture film (Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis) doesn't help since you don't get the star power of their faces.

The second is War Horse, out December 25th. Based on a children's book, this is about a boy and his horse getting separated and trying to find each other during World War I. That's right, it's a movie about a horse. The idea that the director of Saving Private Ryan made a kid-friendly war film is really tough to swallow, made even more difficult by its subject matter. World War I? Yawn. A book no one's heard of? Yawn. Horses? Unless you're a 9-year-old girl, yawn. But even then, being a war movie, it has no appeal to 9-year-old girls. It's not clear exactly who the target audience of this film is, besides critics, who will undoubtedly fall head over heels in love with it.
At this point in his career, Spielberg has reached a stage where he can do whatever he wants- indeed, he's even earned that right. But doing films that no one wants to see can't possibly be fulfilling for him, the guy who made Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., and Jurassic Park. While Popcorn Pick is about choosing movies worth seeing, I'm so incredibly disappointed at these films that I felt compelled to mention them. If I do see them, it will be out of sheer morbid curiosity, and it will probably be on DVD.
These are my un-Picks, you could call them. Before you judge me, remember that I am one of Spielberg's biggest fans, and have been eagerly waiting three and a half years for his next film. That I get these two instead of another potential classic is very disheartening.

But, chin up! There's still good movies out there! My next post will be the best and worst movies of the year- my most popular, and controversial post by far. See you then!

Popcorn Pick- November 2011

Ah, November is here! Now that we're done with the "scary" movies of Halloween, now we can move on to the "prestige" movies of the fall. And if you're not into that, well, there are plenty of potential blockbusters just waiting to happen. Thanksgiving movies are typically big, not as big as the summer or Christmas films, but enough to get people motivated to go to the theater. As usual there's the usual mix of kids' and adult movies, so I've tried to represent that with a mix of picks. Let's jump in!

Friday, November 4th
Tower Heist

Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy join forces for the first time in this action-comedy from Brett Ratner, director of the Rush Hour movies. A timely plot involves employees at an upscale apartment building planning a heist on one of their residents, who stole their money in a Ponzi scheme. Stiller is the leader of the motley crew, Murphy is the professional thief they bring in to help them. Bringing together two comedic geniuses- from two very different classes of comedy- was a great idea, and this film looks like a good addition to both their resumes. An all-star cast includes Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda, Casey Affleck, and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious).
Look for a Ratner/Murphy reunion in February at next year's Academy Awards ceremony: Murphy is hosting the show while Ratner is producing.

Friday, November 11th
J. Edgar

...Hoover. Sorry, it's just- shouldn't the last name be added onto the end of the title? It feels incomplete without it.
Anyway, this is the first real prestige film of the year, a biopic of the famous FBI director who revolutionized the way the government deals with crime. I see Oscars in its future! Leonardo DiCaprio plays the title character over several decades of his life. Topics include his relationship with his right-hand man Clyde Tolson, which sparked many rumors; his clashes with Robert F. Kennedy and several presidents, and his secret private life. Acclaimed director Clint Eastwood helms this epic that Dustin Lance Black (Oscar-winning writer of Milk) wrote. Armie Hammer (The Social Network), Naomi Watts, and Judi Dench co-star.

Friday, November 18th
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1

I know, I know. I've famously debunked the Twilight movies in the past, so why would I pick the most recent one? So I could make fun of it, of course.
The fourth (and penultimate) film hilariously proves that it's just a Harry Potter-wannabe by going all Deathly Hallows on us and dividing the final book into two movies. (Part 2 is due this time next year.) In this film, the pasty vampire Edward and the clingy human Bella finally get married and have sex, resulting in a pregnancy of a hybrid child that threatens to kill the mother. There's also something about a war between vampires and werewolves, and Taylor Lautner looks all moody while he takes his shirt off. Even fans of the "romance" series didn't like this book; so why prolong the inevitable disappointing conclusion by doubling the films they have to watch? For money, of course. Sure to be a big hit, no matter what critics say.

Wednesday, November 23rd
The Muppets

The title says it all: the Muppets are back! Anyone who grew up watching their movies, or old enough to remember the original show, undoubtedly fell in love with the felt creatures, and has missed them terribly this last decade or so. (Fozzie was always my favorite.) Jason Segel wrote and stars in this franchise reboot, about old fans finding the Muppets gang and convincing them to re-open their theater and start their act again. All the old favorites return, along with some new characters and a slew of celebrity cameos.

Think Segel is a strange choice to bring the Muppets back to the screen? Just remember his infamous Dracula musical sequence- with puppets- from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Wokka-wokka!







Bonus Pick- Christmas!
What says November better than Christmas movies?
It happens every year that the biggest holiday movies open in November (sometimes even in early November), to make room for the big blockbusters that need a Christmas Day release date. There are two good-looking movies starring Santa coming out this month- and wouldn't you know it, one's for kids and one's for adults.

The first is Arthur Christmas, (Nov. 23) which portrays Santa and his elves as tech-savvy CIA types who secretly invade people's homes to leave presents and sneak out before the children wake up. Santa's son Arthur, who dreams of being the great Kris Kringle someday, steals his father's reindeer and sleigh in order to deliver a present to one little girl who was somehow forgotten.

The second is A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. (Nov. 4) Uhhh...I think the title pretty much says it all. In the franchise's third film, the famous stoners not only get into Christmas-themed hijinks, including accidentally shooting Santa Claus, but they also upgrade to the third dimension. This is one of the few films this year that looks like it actually has fun with the 3D technology. A great movie to watch while... well, you know.








Well, that's it for November. Post additional Picks you may have on my Facebook page!

Popcorn Pick- October 2011

Fall is here in full swing. We know this not only from the changing weather outside, but from the changing movies inside. As usual, we have a mixed bag of action movies, remakes, and scary movies. Even the first Oscar bait films are trickling in. And as usual, there's something for everyone, so let's jump right in to this month.

Friday, October 7th
Real Steel

My personal Pick for this week would be the George Clooney film The Ides of March, which looks like a more political (and a more forward-moving) version of Michael Clayton. But alas, who cares about the gray-haired wonder when there's a movie about fighting robots opening the same day?

Real Steel is a combination of Transformers and a Rocky-wannabe. Hugh Jackman plays a former boxer in a future where human boxing is dead and replaced by a sport with robots beating the crap out of one another. He is down on his luck and, with the help of a plucky little kid, is given One Last Chance with an underdog robot. Why bother putting an action star like Jackman in an action film where he is literally on the sidelines? Co-stars Lost's Evangeline Lilly.

Friday, October 14th

Footloose

Everybody cut, everybody cut!
I'm sure more than a few readers will cry foul at my addition of this film, a remake of the classic 1984 musical. But pure curiosity drives me, and the hope that this version will have a kickass soundtrack. Newcomer Kenny Wormald takes over the Kevin Bacon role, as a new kid coming to a country town which has outlawed dancing (talk about your unnecessary laws), and tries to change things. Blake Shelton sings the cover of the title song.

Friday, October 21st
Paranormal Activity 3

The sequel to the smash hit original (and the less successful second film) is actually a prequel. Rewind to 1988, when the sisters are only little kids, and the demon is making its first appearance in their lives. While this film has received a much bigger budget than the original, it still looks like it was made super-cheap, and follows the same found-footage theme. May not measure up to the original (a truly creepy film), but I'm sure it's better than Apollo 18.

Friday, October 28th
In Time

Justin Timberlake as an action hero? Hey, it could happen.

After showing his dramatic acting chops in The Social Network, Timberlake turns to action/sci-fi for In Time. The trippy plot is pulled straight from a Phillip K. Dick novel: in the distant future, people only age 25 years. After that, they must acquire time like they would money. If they run out of time, they just drop dead. The implications for this future world: everyone is young and beautiful; everyone knows exactly when they're going to die; and the rich can literally live forever. Cue Timberlake, who is given the gift of time by a rich man longing to die. But when he is framed for murder, his extra time is meaningless and he must go on the run.

Intrigued or confused? I'm a little bit of both, making this movie a must-see of the month.
Co-stars Amanda Seyfried, Inception's Cillian Murphy, and Olivia Wilde.
Also, the trailer they played in theaters was confusing. Try this version: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1881381913/

Well, those are my Picks. There are plenty of other moving playing this month worth watching, so I'll keep you up to date on all of them.

Popcorn Pick- September 2011

Well, fall is here...sigh.

Not only does this mean that school is back in session and the weather is getting cooler, it means that there's not much playing at the theater. After all, all the big summer movies are now a memory and we're still months away from the big Thanksgiving and Christmas films. To be honest, you'd probably do better to turn on your TV in primetime this fall; you'll get better entertainment and it's way cheaper than a movie ticket.

But Popcorn Pick soldiers on- since I am an expert I pride myself on always knowing what's playing at the multiplex, and what's worth seeing- and what to stay away from. In that spirit I bring you my Picks for the month of September- as you can see, it's not all crap.

Wednesday, August 31st
The Debt

This long-delayed film is a real head-scratcher, as well as an exciting action thriller. (Hopefully.) The story is split in two: one half is in the '60s as three young secret agents go undercover in East Berlin to find and execute a Nazi war criminal. The second half is present day, where the same three agents, now middle-aged, find their pasts have come back to haunt them, in the form of a powerful secret. Of course the advertisements for the film don't reveal what that secret is, so we ultimately don't know what the film is really about. But it still looks like a smart spy caper. The film stars Avatar's Sam Worthington, The Queen's Helen Mirren, and Michael Clayton's Tom Wilkinson.

Friday, September 9th
Warrior

I was treated to a preview screening of this movie and am glad to report it is better than it looks. The true-story sports film follows two estranged brothers, one desperate for cash, the other on the run from his past, competing for a mixed martial arts tournament and the grand prize of five million dollars. It's no spoiler to reveal that they end up fighting each other in the final round. What makes this film work is that it focuses on the characters, not the fights, making those brutal fight scenes even more suspenseful- and painful to watch. Stars newcomer Joel Edgerton and Inception's Tom Hardy.

Friday, September 16th
The Lion King 3D

No, you didn't read that wrong. The classic Disney film is being rereleased in the third dimension. Obviously it's a big publicity stunt for the release of the film on Blu-ray, but who cares? This was my personal favorite film as a kid, and it still strikes the right emotional chords as an adult. I am super-excited to see it on the big screen again.
The Oscar-winning 1994 animated film follows a young lion cub as he flees into exile after his king father's death, and his return years later to fight his treacherous uncle. The dark plot is uplifted by lively and colorful characters and catchy songs (who can't resist Timon and Pumbaa belting out "Hakuna Matata"?). One of Disney's best, even today.

Friday, September 23rd
Moneyball

Possible Oscar buzz swirls around this baseball film starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. (How's that for an odd couple?) The true story of the Oakland A's compiling a team of underdog players that unexpectedly turns into a winning team seems mostly for sports fans, but there might be something for everyone in this film. Seems like they'd have better luck making another movie about the Red Sox.

Friday, September 30th
50/50

A comedy about getting cancer? Seems impossible...but when it's based on true experiences, it just might be the most unexpectedly original film of the year. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the young guy suddenly afflicted with the disease, and Seth Rogen is his best buddy supporting him along the wild ride. Issues such as going to therapy, picking up girls in bars, and the effects of chemo are all explored in this dramedy. There's a scene early in the film in which Gordon-Levitt actually shaves his head on camera! Watch the trailer to find out the meaning of the title.

Hopefully there's something listed here for you. If not, then go to your nearest Blockbuster and rent the summer movies on DVD. See you next month!

Summer Movies Review- 2011

Anyone who's been to the multiplex more than a couple times this summer (and who hasn't?) has undoubtedly thought it to be a busy summer for movies. There were the usual blockbusters, many of them big, dumb, and loud, but a few intelligent ones snuck through. The R-rated comedies both impressed and disappointed us. And of course, there was the usual slew of sequels, prequels, and comic-book adaptations. As expected, another film broke the record for biggest opening weekend (that happens every summer) and at least a couple broke the $1-billion mark in worldwide box office revenue. But there were plenty of surprises as well, including unwelcome ones like the first Pixar movie to disappoint fans. (Why, Pixar, why?)

I don't usually do this, but since I found myself seeing more movies than normal this summer (thank goodness for movie-hopping; tickets are waaay too expensive), I thought I'd go through and review the big summer movies. This is different from my Best and Worst Films of the Year post; that will come at the end of the year as usual.
And as always I appreciate your input, avid moviegoers. Let's jump right in.

Best Movie of the Summer
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Duh. As expected, the long-awaited finale to the eight-film franchise was a creative and commercial triumph, with bigger action, more heart, a compelling story, and (finally) a sense of closure. Harry Potter's fans are numerous, and while it's impossible to please them all, this film came pretty close. Regardless of what you thought of the film's unnecessary epilogue (how about 40-year-old Ron's comb-over and gut? Geez!), there wasn't a dry eye in the house during Snape's extended memory montage or a fan that wasn't smiling after Ron and Hermione's first kiss. The epic action is matched by its equally beautiful music and its ability to improvise from the source material, J.K. Rowling's beloved book.

Whatever Daniel Radcliffe, Ruper Grint, Emma Watson, or even director David Yates do in the future with their careers, they'll always be remembered for the Harry Potter films, and this one in particular. It truly was the best way to end the series.

Will it get some Oscar love? Highly unlikely...although it certainly deserves it.

Best Original Movie of the Summer
Super 8

I feel like giving the best-film award to Harry Potter is kind of a cop-out; since it's the eighth film in the series, we're already emotionally invested and so no other film can really compete with it. So how about the most original film of the summer? Meaning a film that's not a sequel, not based on a novel or a comic book, or is a remake or a spin-off...there aren't many.
Luckily, we got a brilliant film from J.J. Abrams this summer. Not very widely seen, but still a good one about a group of kids in the 70s making a zombie movie who get pulled into a government conspiracy involving an alien loose in their small town. The high concept kept many people away, but those who took a risk got a treat: a funny and scary film reminiscent of E.T.- although this alien isn't friendly.
It's not perfect, though. A couple of plot holes and some admittedly unmemorable action setpieces kept it from being a classic, but an entertaining summer movie doesn't need to be a classic- it just needs to be worth the ungodly price of the ticket. This was one of the few that was.

Best Comedy
Horrible Bosses

Many summer moviegoers tend to focus on the action and sci-fi films, but several comedies come out as well, with big-name stars. These are typically R-rated, since the tentpole films rarely attract adult audiences. While most people expected The Hangover: Part II to be the comedy of the summer, that film was a virtual carbon copy of the original, with the same structure, design, even the same jokes, just set in a different location. As they shook off their deja vu, they found another film that is just as manic but far more original.
Horrible Bosses kind of snuck up on us, not really advertising itself until a few weeks before its release. So what a surprise we got when this star-studded dark comedy came out and we were treated to every working stiff's dream: a comedy where it's okay to kill your boss! The ultimate guy movie with three lovable losers in the leads: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis all convincing us to never become murderers.

Best Comedy- Honorable Mention
Bridesmaids

This was more for the ladies, but guys can enjoy it as well. Kristen Wiig (who also co-wrote the film) gives a hilarious performance as a high-strung woman forced to watch her best friend walk down the aisle. Cruder than most films despite its nearly-all-female cast, this isn't your typical romantic comedy, but by golly it's one hell of a knee-slapper.

Biggest Surprise
Captain America: The First Avenger

I went into this movie expecting it to be cheesy, middling entertainment. After all, it is essentially just a prequel to next summer's The Avengers. But walking out of the theater, I couldn't help admitting to myself that I was wrong. Captain America might just be the best superhero movie of the summer (and we had a lot of them). It was self-serious, not ironic about cheering on the stars and stripes, had a brilliant James Bond-ian villian in Red Skull, a believable Boy Scout-like hero in the Captain, and an intelligent story to boot. Just don't go into it looking for a World War II history lesson.

Biggest Disappointment
Cars 2

The first Pixar sequel that didn't involve talking toys was also the first Pixar film to get a 'rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Many filmgoers didn't even bother; those that did got...the biggest disappointment of the summer.
Why the animation studio juggernaut decided to make a sequel to a film that had already put people to sleep was a question to many, but what they ended up doing with the sequel was the real head-scratcher. While the first Cars was a quiet little ode to American car culture, Cars 2 is a globe-trotting spy thriller, and with few laughs to boot! Pushing hero Lightning McQueen to the sidelines to focus on sidekick Mater was also a mistake, just one of many with this god-awful film from the studio that usually makes the world's best.
The 3-D making your eyes bleed didn't help either.

Biggest 'Meh'
Thor

I expected to really like Thor, but afterwards, I couldn't work up a lot of enthusiasm for it. Nor could I even work up a lot of loathing. It's a well-made film with a likeable hero and an intelligent story; there's not just much for our god of thunder to do. The majority of the movie is him either standing around in his cool-looking suit or yukking it up with a disappointing Natalie Portman. Definitely needed more action.
Let's hope Chris Hemsworth's Thor is better represented in The Avengers.

Best Movie to Wait for the DVD
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

I'll be honest. I didn't see this one.
I didn't like the second film, and was only mildly excited by the first film. This installment seemed more or less the same, so why bother? There was less talk about the robots or the action than there was about the fact that Megan Fox is gone. I still plan to see it; I just don't want to pay for a ticket to do so. Transformers 3 is the perfect movie for a Netflix queue: one that I'm willing to wait six months to see, because I don't really care.

Best Movie for Adults
The Help

You've always gotta have something for adults, especially women. And don't ever underestimate those crowds. The women are currently making this film a hit, just like the book before it.
The story of a white girl revealing the story of the oppressed black maids in the South of the 1960's has moved many people and sparked many debates. The book club favorite has quickly become the movie event of the summer- for everyone over 40.

Most Needless Sequel
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

More of a spin-off than a true sequel, this film has Captain (you can't forget the Captain!) Jack Sparrow returning to search for the fabled Fountain of Youth. Joining him on his voyage is...no one you recognize. Getting rid of nearly all the characters from the original trilogy and moving Jack to the center of the action feels awkward at best and desperate at worst. Why can't Hollywood just let franchises end? This also represents the epitome of unnecessary 3-D in films- hardly any effects that serve just to up the ticket price. If the first three didn't need it, why should this one?
Unfortunately, despite almost universal hatred, the film was a big hit, securing the releases of the fifth and sixth films.
(Also, I was thinking of putting X-Men: First Class down under most needless, but at least that film was good.)

Well, those are my thoughts. I don't know about you, but I can't wait for next summer, when the blockbusters to look forward to include The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. Until then, good luck with those ticket prices! (And watch out for bad 3-D!)