New This Weekend

Premium Rush (PG-13)

In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city  (IMDb).

I must confess, when I saw this trailer in theaters, my first reaction was not positive.  It felt like a writer pitched this one saying, "So, it's like a car chase movie, but not at all, because those are over done and this movie is unique.  You see, they aren't in cars, wait for it... they're on bikes, being chased by cars!"  All I can say is, good luck to the guy on the bike.

The Apparition (PG-13)

A couple are haunted by a supernatural presence that is unleashed during a college experiment (IMDb).

I don't watch horror, but this one seems pretty interesting.  The concept that paranormal events happen because the human mind wills them into existence isn't new, on the contrary it is the most popular rationalization for ghost sightings and anything that "isn't real."  This film takes a literal interpretation of that and runs with it.  The monster comes alive and feeds off the belief of humans.  "Once you believe, you die."  In case you need a cherry on top, Tom Felton is in it.  As a geeky science guy.  'Nuff said.

Hit and Run (R)

Former getaway driver Charlie Bronson jeopardizes his Witness Protection Plan identity in order to help his girlfriend get to Los Angeles. The feds and Charlie's former gang chase them on the road (IMDb).

In case bike chases aren't exciting enough for you, here is a car chase flick!  Judging from the trailer, it is car chase film, meets witness protection film, meets raunchy comedy.

That's all that is coming out on wide release, here are the limited release titles.

Sleepwalk With Me (NR)

A burgeoning stand-up comedian struggles with the stress of a stalled career, a stale relationship, and the wild spurts of severe sleepwalking he is desperate to ignore (IMDb).

General Education (PG-13)

Levi Collins is set to go to the local University on a tennis scholarship, but he forgot to tell his parents one thing - he didn't graduate. As a result, he must take summer school before his mom and dad discover he's failed senior science. At school, Levi falls in love with his classmate, Katie, and learns that he has to make a choice between playing tennis and receiving a proper education. General Education is a quirky comedy about a family learning to grow together (IMDb).

This film is also available for download on iTunes.

What's New in the Box Office

Hello, everyone!  There are a lot of new releases in the box office this week, so I hope there is something out there that meets your fancy.

The Expendables (R)

Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat (IMDb).

This film's cast is practically a roll call of the most popular action flick actors.  Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, and more unite to make this sequel to the 2010 original, entitled The Expendables.

ParaNorman (PG)

 A misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead, takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse (IMDb).

ParaNorman hails from the same production company that presented Corpse Bride and Coraline, Laika Studios.  It promises to have the same darkly humorous feel of those two films, in a style that I can best describe a Burton-esque.

Sparkle (PG-13)

Set in the 1960s, three sisters form girl group and soon become Motown sensations, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart (IMDb).

Sparkle is gaining notoriety because it is Whitney Houston's final film after her death February this year at the age of 48.  This will no doubt give a film that may have flown under the radar more attention.  Houston recorded two songs for the sound track, though I am not sure if they are included in the film.  I only hope that  Sparkle a swan song fitting for one of such talent and voice as Whitney Houston.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (PG)

A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears (IMDb).

I am really excited for this one!  It seems like a warm and fuzzy, family-friendly film.  The premise is interesting, and hopefully the writing will realize its potential.  Trailers say it is about slowing down appreciating every day moments.  Who doesn't need a message like that?

That is it for wide release.  Here is what is out on limited release this week.

Cosmopolis (R)

Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo in order to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager's day devolves into an odyssey with a cast of characters that start to tear his world apart (IMDb).

Compliance (R)

When a prank caller convinces a fast food restaurant manager to interrogate an innocent young employee, no-one is left unharmed. Based on true events (IMDb).

Robot and Frank (PG-13)

Set in the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team (IMDb).

Why Stop Now (NR)

When a college piano prodigy tries to check his mother into rehab, he is taken hostage by her drug dealer and swept along on a wild adventure.

What's New in the Box Office!

Hello everyone!  Don't worry, Victoria and I are still breathing and we are sorry for our hiatus, but life sort of ran away with us.  The weekly release update it back with what you can look for in box offices this weekend.

Total Recall (PG-13)

Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid, even though he's got a beautiful wife who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen, the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter to find the head of the underground resistance and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate. (Yahoo! Movies)

This is a reboot of the 1990 film, also entitled Total Recall, in which the lead takes a virtual vacation to Mars via memory-meddling.  Just as in this film, his escape doesn't go quite as well as he had hoped.  I think both of these films seem intriguing, if done well.  Toeing the line between dream and reality becomes tricky business.  Perhaps this could be turned into a double-feature weekend?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid:  Dog Days (PG)

During his summer vacation, "Wimpy Kid" Greg Heffley, the hero of the phenomenally successful book series, hatches a plan to pretend he has a job at a ritzy country club -- which fails to keep him away from the season's dog days, including embarrassing mishaps at a public pool and a camping trip that goes horribly wrong. (Yahoo! Movies)

This is the third film adaptation from the popular children's book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  I saw the first film, released in 2010 while babysitting.  The kids, two elementary-age girls, loved it.  I thought Greg Heffley's struggles to fit in at his middle school, while greatly exaggerated, was a comedy of errors.  It was by no means sophisticated or particularly plot-driven, but it was okay.  If this film follows suit, it will go over well with the kids; parents will have to resist the temptation to face-palm every so often, but they will get a few laughs out of it, too.

Here are the films out on limited release:

Celeste and Jesse Forever (R)

A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people (IMDb).

Am I the only one who thinks that several sitcoms have already explored this topic, Old Christine and Reba to name a few.  The difference here is that they are still BFFs!  It rates a 77% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, so it may be worth a chance if it is playing near you.

The Babymakers (R)

After trying everything to get his wife Audrey pregnant, Tommy Macklin realizes to his horror that he may be "shooting blanks." Terrified that his marriage may fall apart, Tommy recruits his friends to rob a spermbank where he made a deposit years ago. As with any half-baked scheme, everything can and does go wrong, testing the limits of Tommy and Audrey's relationship and showing how far one couple will go in hopes of getting pregnant (Yahoo! Movies).

The Rotten Tomatoes rating for this one it painfully low at 7%.  Reviews say it fails in the attempt to blend raunchiness with romantic comedy.

Mosquita y Mari (NR)

In a fast-paced immigrant community where dreams are often lost to economic survival, two young Chicanas contemplate life when they stir unexpected desires in each other (Yahoo! Movies).

Craigslist Joe (NR)

In a time when America'’s economy and sense of community were crumbling, one guy left everything behind - to see if he could survive solely on the support of the 21st century's new town square: Craigslist. It was in this climate that 29-year-old Joseph Garner cut himself off from everyone he knew and everything he owned, to embark on a bold adventure. Armed with only a laptop, cell phone, toothbrush, and the clothes on his back - alongside the hope that community was not gone but just had shifted - Joseph began his journey. For 31 December days and nights, everything in his life would come from the Craigslist website. From transportation to food, from shelter to companionship, Joe would depend on the generosity of people who had never seen him and whose sole connection to him was a giant virtual swap meet. Would America help Joe? Could he survive with nothing, apart from the goodwill of others (Yahoo! Movies)?

A Second Opinion: Brave falls short of former Pixar favorites

I am happy to introduce a guest blogger for this review, Shannon.  Shannon is a good friend of Victoria's and mine and is a contributing writer for our college's newspaper.  We are both very happy to have her write her opinion on Brave, and I hope you all do as well.

-Katelyn

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Note: This review contains spoilers.

Brave, Disney/Pixar’s newest film, is a courageous attempt to live up to the renowned names of Pixar classics like Toy Story and Finding Nemo, but this attempt falls sadly short of the aforementioned childhood classics.

Merida, the young protagonist, is a Scottish princess who doesn’t meet the princess standards of her mother, Elinor. One thing her mother truly can’t stand is a princess shooting archery. In Hollywood female characters shooting bow and arrow are gaining popularity—Queen Susan and Katniss Everdeen, anyone?—and tragically, Disney joins the bandwagon.

This movie contains several tense moments. After Merida gives her mother a cake holding a spell, her mother begins experiencing internal bodily issues. She stumbles, becomes queasy, and frantically questions her daughter on the sweet’s contents. Following a minute of uneasiness, Merida is horrified to discover she has turned her mother into a bear.

To right her wrongs, Merida is given a riddle to solve, and she comes to the conclusion she must fix a physical tear she made out of anger. What she doesn’t realize is she really needs to mend the broken relationship with Elinor.

Her mother, as a pathetic bear, never makes any obvious realization she is partly at fault and never directly apologizes to Merida. No apparent attempts are made on Elinor’s behalf to mend the relationship. The creators barely mention the riddle’s second half, leading one to wonder if this was accidentally looked-over. Merida keeps repeating she must mend the tear, but doesn’t seem to remember it was “torn by pride.” Both mother and daughter made grave errors because of their pride but neither confesses nor apologizes. It is only when Merida thinks she is too late to save her mother that she gives a sobbing apology—but not for her prideful actions. Even when Elinor transforms back into a human, she doesn’t apologize to Merida, suggesting either the filmmakers didn’t notice the omission of the riddle’s second half, or they thought the ending was satisfactory without the lesson of pride’s dangers.

On the positive side, the Celtic sounds are haunting and the scenery is beautiful beyond belief. For an animated film, the forests and mountains of Scotland look real and breathtaking—even without 3D—and make the audience look to see the sights in person. Another great work of art is Merida’s steed. The broad black stallion is lifelike and majestic. Every characteristic, including his rolling white eyes and pawing hooves, is reminiscent of the real creature.

Brave does have some moments of laughter and jolliness, but for the most part, the film had a depressing feel to it, complete with some tears. Most of the laughs come from Merida’s younger brothers, thanks to the prankster threesome’s crazy antics. Even as bear cubs, the trio stirs up audience laughter by terrorizing castle occupants.

Overall, I felt this movie is not up to par with former Disney/Pixar makes. The creators tried nobly, but their attempts just can’t measure up to the standard that Pixar set when they made Toy Story. Brave is not a terrible movie, but I don’t think it’s really a child’s film due to some of the tense and sad scenes. It seems to better for older children and adults, if only it would have been more consistent on the issue of pride. Regardless of my personal pet peeves, Brave deserves a B-.

-Shannon

Brave

Brave (PG)

Brave's princess Meirda is not your average Disney Princess.  Both of her parents are alive and well.  She  does not break into songs at random moments or carry on conversations with woodland creatures.  Most shocking of all, she does not have a prince.  The suitors serve mainly as comic relief.  Meirda is refreshingly strong and independent, and prefers archery and riding with her hair free over pretty dresses and princes, much to the chagrin of her mother.  She may be Pixar's first female lead character, but she is an excellent start.


Brave is the latest release by the Disney and Pixar partnership.  The film features the breath-taking animation that viewers have come to expect from a Pixar film and the heart-warming (and tear-jerking) tale that viewer expect from both of them.  This film breaks the Pixar mold in several ways.  It is the first period piece they have undertaken.  The wonderful musical styling of Pixar's usual composer, Randy Newman, were noticeably absent from this film.  Instead, the delightful score was written by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire composer Patrick Doyle (of whom, until now, Victoria did not at ALL approve).  This was also the first Pixar film to have two directors.

No matter what the trailer says about having the courage to change your fate, at its heart, Brave is a mother-daughter story.  Get your tissues ready; I cried more in this movie than I did in Toy Story 3.  However, I think Meirda's character had more potential than the plot allowed. Her peak moment came early in the film at the archery competition.  Then, there was a bit of a muddle in the middle that could have had a stronger plot and followed the sense of an angsty teenager.  In my opinion, writers relied too heavily on the (incorrect) use will o' wisps to make the plot move forward.  It didn't bother me much because screenwriters clearly defined what they meant for the film early on, I just happen to be a stickler for correct mythology.  Will o' wisps = doom in a boggy grave NOT fate.  That's all I'm going to say.  The middle of the film did offer some cute mother/daughter moments that caused a few laughs and kept it interesting and lively.  I am a firm believer that a bit of fluff never hurt anyone, especially in a kid's film, and it never lost the trademark Disney/Pixar whimsy (and moralizing attitude).  The story redeemed itself with an emotional and action-packed climax.  As a warning, small children may be frightened by some of the more intense sequences.  Several wee ones started to cry at some points, but others got through just fine.  Judge the mettle of your children for yourself.


While we are on parental warnings, perhaps I should throw in the nudity/sexual content warnings.  I never thought I would have to do that for a Disney movie!  There are two different scenes where we see male bottoms.  There is a moment where one of the boys go after a key hidden in the shirt of an extremely buxom serving woman.  The king either slaps or pinches the queen on the bottom, but it is easy to miss.  Though the queen remains covered at all times, she does make reference to being naked beneath a tapestry.  All of these are to humorous effect and are not too graphic.


Now to discuss the animation!  Stunning, like any Pixar film!  The setting of the Scottish Highlands made a beautiful back drop with rich greens, streams, and rolling hills.  I think the best piece of animation was Meirda's hair, and not just because I am partial to red hair.  Her wild curls had natural movement and definition.  When she pulled her bow on to her shoulder, the hair fell around the bow and the string like real hair would.  Close ups allow viewers to appreciate high and low lights.  On closer inspection, that fiery red hair is actually a natural blend of reds, browns, and blonds with well defined shadows at the neck and around the curls.  I cannot imagine how long someone-or a team of someones-worked on that hair!  It is so refreshing to see a princess whose hair is not perfectly coiffed and frozen in place for 99 percent of the movie!  I did not like the animation on the will o' the wisps.  They seemed out of place with the rest of the animation and reminded me of the Heartless in the Kingdom Hearts video game.

Despite my small quibbles, Victoria and I really enjoyed this movie!  It was one of those movies where you just sit in the dark theater and watch the credits roll by.  By the way, if you do wait for the end, you will be rewarded by a short, funny mini-scene.  I watched it again a couple of days ago, and it still did not lose its charm.  It is not the best Pixar film made, but it was still very enjoyable.  I recommend this film to families and kids at heart!

I give this film a B.  Victoria gives it a C+.

Katelyn

Hugo

The animation of Hugo was easily the best I have ever seen.  I am so in awe of the awesomeness of Hugo that I can not even decide what to say.  I will begin by saying that there were times Victoria and I forgot it was not a live action film because the animation looked so real and the characters were animated to look like their voice actors.  If for no other reason, watch this movie to glory in the artistic value of the images.

The story was sweet, and while the movie is geared towards children, it still had the power to engage adults.  It was not particularly exciting, but it was comfortable, for lack of a better word.  Victoria also recommends the book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is a lovely combination of storytelling and pictures.  She says the film was decently faithful to the book, and only sacrificed what would not translate to film well.

The score did not necessarily stand out, but it was a good score.  It complemented the film well.  It was there when it needed to be and backed off when it did not.

As a bonus, the film shows re-made scenes from the early film A Trip to the Moon and a look at how some of the scenes were made.  It is worth mentioning that Georges Melies, the character, is different than Georges Melies, the man.  This early film was a pioneer in the movie industry, but very few people come in contact with it.  Seeing it in this film was a real treat.

Do not let the brevity of this review fool you.  This was one of our favorites so far.  It was so good, in fact, that we are a bit lost for words.  What the film lacked in story lines, it made up for in stunning animation.  It truly deserved its Oscars.  We give this film an A+.

Coming...RIGHT NOW! June 29

Hello, folks!  I apologize for the tardiness of this post, but I have recently had internet trouble (to put it lightly), and so now you can read about this weekend's new releases, most of which probably premiered last night or this morning.  So let's get started!!

Today marks the release of the latest film designed to bring hordes of women flocking to their nearest RMP: Magic Mike.

 
As this movie poster suggests, this film is about a male stripper called Magic Mike (Channing Tatem), who is teaching the newbie on the block (Alex Pettyfer) all about the life and times of this particular branch of the entertainment business.  IMDB summarizes the plot: "A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money."  The film stars Channing Tatem, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew McConaughey, so I think it's safe to say that the target audience is predominantly women 18 and over.  Though the short summary seems to imply a film without much plot development, the longer synopsis suggests a character journey and a choice between the fantastic and glamorized world of male strippers or the real life world where true love may await.  Yeah, I know it sounds cheesy, but it really does seem to have the potential to both be a good film.  I'd suggest leaving the kids at home first, and maybe even the hubby.  This would probably be a "girl's night out" kinda film.  It's rated R for "pervasive sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use."  The parental guidance section on IMDB says that the film contains much male and female nudity and tons of sexual scenes/references.  Interesting fun fact: the film was supposedly inspired by Channing Tatem's life as a male stripper before he made it as an actor.


Every child has wished at some point that his or her favorite toy would come to life (where do you think the idea for Toy Story came from?).  This week's new release, Ted, explores that possibility in a new way: what if your childhood wish came true, and that toy stayed with you into adulthood?

IMDB summarizes: "As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddy bear, Ted, came to life and has been by John's side ever since - a friendship that's tested when Lori, John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship."  It stars Mark Wahlbery, Mila Kunis, and Seth MacFarlane (as the voice of Ted the Teddy Bear).  While on the surface, the summary might make the film sound like something the kids would enjoy, this film is rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, and some drug use.  There also seems to be a little female nudity in it as well.  Ted the Teddy Bear is not as innocent as he first seems (as evidenced by the beer bottle in his hand on the film's poster).  However, if you do enjoy the crude type of humor often found in comedies these days, this might be the film for you!  While the first film seems to be a girl's night out kind of film, this seems to be more of a guy's film.  After all, it's from the creator of Family Guy, so I'm sure it will be at least a modest success.


Here are some of the less-advertised films for the weekend:

People Like Us
IMDB summary: "While settling his recently deceased father's estate, a salesman discovers he has a sister whom he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examine their perceptions about family and life choices."  Finally, we come to a film I might actually be willing to see (I actually lived a slightly similar situation: I discovered I had an older brother when I was 8 years old).  It sounds like a nice, heartfelt film to watch with the family or some close friends.  Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Jon Favreau, and Michelle Pfeiffer, I think it might be wise to bring a couple extra tissues with you to see this film.  Rated PG-13 for language, some drug use and brief sexuality.

Madea's Witness Protection
I'm sure by this point, everyone has at least heard of Tyler Perry's Madea films.  I personally have only seen Madea's Family Reunion, which was a lovely blend of serious drama and hilarious comedy.  I have heard that the other films have not necessarily followed suit.  However, I'm sure Madea's new adventure will have some people rolling with laughter.  IMDB summary: "A Wall Street investment banker who has been set up as the linchpin of his company's mob-backed Ponzi scheme is relocated with his family to Aunt Madea's southern home."  If you didn't want to pay to see this film in theaters, it may be worth catching on DVD or Netflix at some point.
Rated PG-13 for some crude sexual remarks and brief drug references.


Limited Release this Weekend:
Take This Waltz
IMDB Summary: "A happily married woman falls for the artist who lives across the street."  There isn't much more information available about this film, but it looks like a promising emotional comedy.  It's rated R for language, some strong sexual content and graphic nudity.

Unforgivable
IMDB Summary: "A crime writer living in Venice while working on his new novel meets and soon marries his real-estate agent. Relocated to a remote house on Torcello Island, his obsession with his wife's daily whereabouts takes a dark turn."  Seems to be an interesting take on the tale of love turning sour with suspicion and paranoia.  The tagline "You can't escape the sins of your past." promises a dark and perhaps horrific film.  This film is French, though I'm not sure if it will be in English or if it will have subtitles.  It is unrated.


So that's the lineup for this weekend!!  Hope you have a film you're planning to see, whether it be one of these new releases or one that's been in theaters for a while now.  Enjoy the movie :).

~Victoria

PS: Katelyn and I are currently working on our review of Brave!  Look for it in the next week or so!