Hola movie lovers,
You probably watched the AFI Top 10 Top 10 special that was on on Tuesday night. And you probably noticed that a lot of good films we left off the list altogether. I know I was yelling at the TV every now and again and I'm sure you were too.
Here's a recap of my reactions, genre by genre:
1. Animation
First off, why on Earth did Jennifer Love Hewitt host this chunk of the show? She wasn't a voice in any of the movies on this list. I really didn't have too many problems with the ten films chosen for this genre. Though I don't like some of them (Shrek, Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo...), I understand why each and every one of them were selected. I thought Toy Story should have been higher on the list than 6. And it was super predictable that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was going to be #1... since it was the 1st full length animated movie. But is it really the best animated movie ever made? No. But it's historic significance has permanently cemented its spot near the top of any movie list, especially when dealing with animation.
2. Fantasy
So, I was quite bummed that The Princess Bride was omitted from the Top 10 here. Like Snow White, everyone and their mom knew that The Wizard of Oz was going to snag the #1 slot. It was nice to see Field of Dreams make the list (especially since it was on the shortlist for Fantasy *and* Sports films), as well as It's a Wonderful Life. Two Jimmy Stewart made the Fantasy list (It's a Wonderful Life and Harvey), and this began a streak of Stewart films. If I'm not mistaken, he was the most represented actor this year - woot!
3. Sci-Fi
Again, it was pretty much a guarantee that all 10 of these films were going to make the Top 10 for Sci-Fi, but did ET: The Extra Terrestrial really have to be #3? Why does everyone like this movie? I was forced to watch it so many times when I was little that I developed a fear of ET and still have nightmares about him to this day. I can't stand to see his pumpkin head or listen to his alien voice. And why was 2001: A Space Odyssey #1? As a Star Wars fanatic, I was sincerely hoping A New Hope would take the top slot, but alas, we had to settle for silver.
4. Sports
My favorite genre of film... But how the hell did Jerry Maguire make the list and movies like Rudy, Miracle, A League of Their Own and The Natural didn't make it? THE NATURAL! Come on, AFI, Robert Redford playing baseball totally trumps Tom Cruise asking people to "Show me the money!" Sports is not the main plot of that movie, the relationship between psycho Cruise and squinty Zellweger is. I shake my head at whomever was in charge deciding that Jerry Maguire was more worthy of praise than a dozen or so other movies that were sooooo much more worthy. I was glad to see Bull Durham on the list, though at lowly #5. Bull Durham is my favorite sports movie, nay, one of my favorite movies ever, and I'm so happy that lots of people love this movie too. I was a little shocked to see Raging Bull at #1. We all thought it was going to be The Natural, but we were waaaaay wrong. It was cool to see Breaking Away on the list. That's a great film and it takes place from the same city I'm typing this blog from - go Cutters :)
5. Western
I am the first to admit that I haven't seen as many westerns as I should have by now. In fact, I only saw 9 of the 50 westerns on the shortlist... and only 2 of those made the Top 10. I found it quite shady that there were no Clint Eastwood or Jimmy Stewart westerns on this list (Eastwood only directed Unforgiven... so it doesn't count). And how did Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid only make #7?! That is one of the greatest movies of all time - and it made #7? You can't beat the chemistry between Newman and Redford - it's magical. I finally bought this movie on DVD the other day (I had it on video, but it was getting worn out... I watched it a bajillion times when I was in college because I was writing a film paper on it... because it's awesome). My next favorite western, Tombstone, wasn't even on the shortlist... what's up with that? That movie is fan-freakin'-tastic.
6. Gangster
I really wanted The Departed to be on there... I know it only came out 2 years ago, but it was on the shortlist, and it's such a great flick. Of course Godfather II, Goodfellas and Godfather made up the Top 3, but that's only because everyone thinks The Godfather is the end all-be all of Gangster movies. And it kinda is, but I remember the first time I tried to watch it, I fell asleep because I thought it was dragging... a lot. I stayed awake when we watched it in school, because I knew I was going to be tested on it, but I still wasn't impressed. Do people only like this movie because film critics say that we should? I was glad to see Bonnie and Clyde up there at #5 - that's such a brilliant film - "We rob banks!". But where was On the Waterfront?????? For shame, AFI, for shame.
7. Mystery
I'm glad Hitchcock was well represented here - he made some great mysteries. It was also great to see The Usual Suspects make it onto the list at #10... I knew the ending of that film before I saw it, but it still rocked my socks. What a cast! Who would have thought that Kevin Pollack, a young Benicio Del Toro, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Bryne and Kevin Spacey would mesh together so well? See that movie if you haven't already. I was sad that L.A. Confidential didn't make it on the list... that was one of the best films to come out of the 1990s... talk about an amazing ensemble!
8. Romantic-Comedy
I nearly fell out of my chair when they listed When Harry Met Sally... at number 6! That should have at least been in the Top 3. That movie is Rom-Com perfection. And why was Harold and Maude on the list? I haven't seen it yet, but isn't it about an old lady and a young guy? Now, that's not very romantic to me. If When Harry Met Sally... couldn't be #1, then I wanted that honor to go to In Happened One Night, but that was sadly beat out by Annie Hall (Woody Allen - blah) and City Lights. I had forgotten about City Lights... I've seen it 3 times over the years and didn't really think of it as a Rom-Com, but it fits the bill. And Chaplin was a great performer, and still made silent pictures even after they were out of fashion.
9. Courtroom Drama
To me, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington should have been included on this list, even though it takes place in Congress as opposed to in a court. I still need to see a bunch of these films, notably The Verdict, Kramer vs. Kramer, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I love 12 Angry Men, and was so glad it took 2nd... I knew it was going to lose out to Mockingbird, but 12 Angry Men is such a powerful movie. I would have liked to see The Crucible on there, but I know it's not the best or most popular courtroom drama. But I do love me that Daniel Day-Lewis :)
10. Epic
Speaking of DDL, I was hoping The Last of the Mohicans would make it to the Top 10, but alas. It did not. But Reds did! I was so happy that Warren Beatty's masterpiece was included... I just saw it last year for the 1st time and I loved it! I really need to see Lawrence of Arabia... I bought the VHS at an estate sale a few years back, but it turned out I only bought video 2 of 2... and I wasn't about to watch the 2nd half of a film I had never seen before! So, I still need to see it - maybe I'll check it out of the library one of these days. See O'Toole in action!
Well, it'll be another year until the next AFI special. I wonder what the theme will be?
Until then, keep watching movies... I know I will!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day! - movies that make me think of my dad
Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there!
I called my dad this morning to wish him a good one and at the same time, on the History Channel, they were showing "Tombstone" (1994) - one of the movies I always watch with my dad... I took it as a sign. And an excuse to write a blog this fine afternoon :)
When I lived at home, I watched plenty of movies with my dad... we've seen some good ones, we've seen some bad ones, but the point is, we've seen them together.
Here's just a few movies that automatically make me think of my dad (in no particular order):
- Tombstone - "I have two guns, one for each of ya" "Why Ike, whatever do you mean?" "I'm your Huckleberry" And the lists of quotes goes on and on and on - Val Kilmer did the performance of his career playing Doc Holiday in this film, and the rest of the ensemble isn't too shabby either (Kurt Russell makes for a great Wyatt Earp, flanked by his brothers, played by Bill Paxton and Sam Elliot... good times). I remember first seeing this movie at my dad's parents house and we thought it was a fun movie so we bought it on VHS when we got home from vacation. And then we watched it over and over and over again... and I still love it!
- The Big Lebowski - Somebody gave my dad a copy of the DVD with his name taped over John Goodman's on the front cover - though my dad doesn't look like Goodman, nor does he act as crazy as the character of Walter in the movie. We love this movie because we love The Dude and Walter... that scene where Walter shakes out the coffee can full of Donnie's ashes and the wind blows it all over The Dude... PRICELESS. "The Dude abides." Indeed he does... (also, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, as Brandt, makes this face... I believe it's when he's in Lebowski's car... you'll know it when you see it... it's too funny)
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - Two words: ABBA turd
- Tremors - While my dad enjoys all of the Tremors movies, I can only tolerate the first (A Tremors movie with out Kevin Bacon is just not worth watching, in my opinion). Even so, the first Tremors movie is awesome. It's so cheesetastic which makes it that much better. Our favorite scene is where Val and Earl are trying to outrun the Graboid ("We can make it! We can make it!") and they leap across that concrete gully and smash into the other side and then the dialogue that follows is great:
Earl: Knocked itself cold.
Val: Cold my ass. It's dead. We killed it. We killed it! (to the carcass) F**K YOU!
But the line we say most often to each other is "They're under the ground!" (twangy accent and all)
- The Sandlot - This is a movie that everyone in the family likes a lot (You're killing me Smalls!), but the scene that most makes me think of my dad is when the kids are at the carnival and they each take a big piece of chewing tobacco and then hop on that tilting ride and then they all get sick and hurl all over themselves and everyone else on that ride. It makes me laugh just thinking about it :)
- Elf - "I'm here, with my dad, and we never met. And he wants me to sing him a song... I was adopted, but you didn't know I was born. But I'm here now. I found you. Daddy! And, guess what? I love you. I love you. I LOVE YOOOOOOOOOOOOU!"
- any SNL "Best Of" DVD - I saw the "Best of Mike Myers" is on TV tonight... my mom and dad bought me that VHS for my birthday (or was it Christmas?) many, many years ago. "Well you know my name is Simon... and I like to do drawrings" :) My dad got me hooked on SNL when I was in high school and I have been watching faithfully every week ever since. One of my favorite sketches (that my dad also likes) is when the DeMarco brothers (Kattan and Parnell) are auditioning to be backup dancers for Bon Jovi - and they start air guitaring/air keyboarding... too funny! But one of my dad's favorite sketches ever is, you guessed it, the Cowbell sketch. It's not that funny to me, but when I'm watching it with my dad, it becomes one of the funniest things I've ever seen because I get a kick out of him getting a kick out of Walken. :)
Happy Father's Day, Papa Bear. I love you man :)
I called my dad this morning to wish him a good one and at the same time, on the History Channel, they were showing "Tombstone" (1994) - one of the movies I always watch with my dad... I took it as a sign. And an excuse to write a blog this fine afternoon :)
When I lived at home, I watched plenty of movies with my dad... we've seen some good ones, we've seen some bad ones, but the point is, we've seen them together.
Here's just a few movies that automatically make me think of my dad (in no particular order):
- Tombstone - "I have two guns, one for each of ya" "Why Ike, whatever do you mean?" "I'm your Huckleberry" And the lists of quotes goes on and on and on - Val Kilmer did the performance of his career playing Doc Holiday in this film, and the rest of the ensemble isn't too shabby either (Kurt Russell makes for a great Wyatt Earp, flanked by his brothers, played by Bill Paxton and Sam Elliot... good times). I remember first seeing this movie at my dad's parents house and we thought it was a fun movie so we bought it on VHS when we got home from vacation. And then we watched it over and over and over again... and I still love it!
- The Big Lebowski - Somebody gave my dad a copy of the DVD with his name taped over John Goodman's on the front cover - though my dad doesn't look like Goodman, nor does he act as crazy as the character of Walter in the movie. We love this movie because we love The Dude and Walter... that scene where Walter shakes out the coffee can full of Donnie's ashes and the wind blows it all over The Dude... PRICELESS. "The Dude abides." Indeed he does... (also, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, as Brandt, makes this face... I believe it's when he's in Lebowski's car... you'll know it when you see it... it's too funny)
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - Two words: ABBA turd
- Tremors - While my dad enjoys all of the Tremors movies, I can only tolerate the first (A Tremors movie with out Kevin Bacon is just not worth watching, in my opinion). Even so, the first Tremors movie is awesome. It's so cheesetastic which makes it that much better. Our favorite scene is where Val and Earl are trying to outrun the Graboid ("We can make it! We can make it!") and they leap across that concrete gully and smash into the other side and then the dialogue that follows is great:
Earl: Knocked itself cold.
Val: Cold my ass. It's dead. We killed it. We killed it! (to the carcass) F**K YOU!
But the line we say most often to each other is "They're under the ground!" (twangy accent and all)
- The Sandlot - This is a movie that everyone in the family likes a lot (You're killing me Smalls!), but the scene that most makes me think of my dad is when the kids are at the carnival and they each take a big piece of chewing tobacco and then hop on that tilting ride and then they all get sick and hurl all over themselves and everyone else on that ride. It makes me laugh just thinking about it :)
- Elf - "I'm here, with my dad, and we never met. And he wants me to sing him a song... I was adopted, but you didn't know I was born. But I'm here now. I found you. Daddy! And, guess what? I love you. I love you. I LOVE YOOOOOOOOOOOOU!"
- any SNL "Best Of" DVD - I saw the "Best of Mike Myers" is on TV tonight... my mom and dad bought me that VHS for my birthday (or was it Christmas?) many, many years ago. "Well you know my name is Simon... and I like to do drawrings" :) My dad got me hooked on SNL when I was in high school and I have been watching faithfully every week ever since. One of my favorite sketches (that my dad also likes) is when the DeMarco brothers (Kattan and Parnell) are auditioning to be backup dancers for Bon Jovi - and they start air guitaring/air keyboarding... too funny! But one of my dad's favorite sketches ever is, you guessed it, the Cowbell sketch. It's not that funny to me, but when I'm watching it with my dad, it becomes one of the funniest things I've ever seen because I get a kick out of him getting a kick out of Walken. :)
Happy Father's Day, Papa Bear. I love you man :)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Summer 2008 - my picks of what I'll see (or avoid) in the next couple months
Good day fellow movie lovers...
How ya doin'?
Good, good.
It's June now, can you believe it? I should be cleaning my apartment or packing, but instead, I dug out my Summer 2008 Movie Preview issue of EW and I'm flipping through its glorious pages, reminding myself what I'm going to see (or avoid) this summer at the cinema.
Hmmm... let's see:
JUNE
I'll see:
- The Incredible Hulk (June 13th) - If Edward Norton is in a movie, chances are, I'll see it. In fact, I have seen every single one of his films he's ever been in, so I'm not going to stop now. I saw the Ang Lee/Eric Bana version a few years back and that was just not good. This Hulk looks to be more action packed and less like a lame comic book (sorry Ang, stick to romantic epics like Brokeback). While I have a great dislike of William Hurt, I will overlook that and gladly sit and watch Ed Norton kick some ass.
- Wanted (June 27th) - I like that someone had the brilliant idea to cast little James McAvoy as an assassin. While I'm not fans of Jolie or Freeman, I'm looking forward to some sweet shoot 'em up sequences and some great effects. I haven't read the graphic novel, but I hear this movie is pretty much frame for frame (with a little extra added in here and there).
- Finding Amanda (June 27th) - It'll be good to see Matthew Broderick do some real acting and I like Brittany Snow... she's talented and seeing her in a different kind of role than her norm will be refreshing.
I will NOT see even if you paid me:
- You Don't Mee With the Zohan (June 6th) - Adam Sandler needs to just stop making these stupid movies. This isn't the mid/late 90s... he should be moving past his "Happy Gilmore" shtick and be making more films along the lines of "Punch Drunk Love". The trailer for this film makes me shake my head in anger because I know an obscene amount of people are going to spend their hard earned money on this piece of crap movie.
- The Love Guru (June 20th) - Please, boycott this movie with me, folks. Mike Myers is another talented comedian who is cranking out bad movies again and again and again. I loved him on SNL, but can't stand watching just about all of his films because they are the same movie, just with a different title. I'm tired of seeing commercials for this movie. I don't care that Justin Timberlake is in a Speedo in this movie - he's better than that (have you seen him host SNL? It's friggin' hilarious). DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE
- Wall*E (June 27) - First of all, this little robot looks like ET. That alone is enough to turn me away from the theater. Then, I see a new trailer for the movie, and oh look, the little ET robot has fallen in love with another little robot, this one who looks like one of those drug balloons Maria swallows in "Maria Full of Grace". After getting dragged against my will to Ratatouille last summer, I am putting my foot down about this one.
I'm up in the air about:
- The Happening (June 13th) - I love Mark Walhberg and Zooey Deschanel, but M. Night Shymalan has let me down more times than not.
- Get Smart (June 20) - Steve Carell makes me laugh, but the more I see the trailer and commercials, the lamer this looks (which is too bad).
JULY
I'll see:
- The Dark Knight (July 18th) - This is my most anticipated movie of the entire summer. I loved "Batman Begins" (except for Katie Holmes, as she is one of my least favorite actresses of all time), but now that Holmes is replaced by the awesome Maggie Gyllenhaal and we add on the equally awesome Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart as The Joker and Harvey Dent... words cannot describe my excitement. I see the commercials/trailers, I hear The Joker's evil cackle and I get goosebumps. I cannot help but feel sad at the same time, for I know that this upcoming performance by Ledger is one of his last and even though I haven't seen the film yet, I know his Joker will go down in cinema history as iconic.
- Mamma Mia! (July 18th) - This is one musical I haven't seen on stage, but I will gladly sit through the movie. I like ABBA music (my dad got me their Greatest Hits album for Christmas a few years back... we watch Adventures of Priscilla a lot... inside joke, you'd have to be there) and it's going to be fun seeing Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and that girl from "Mean Girls" singing and dancing. I try and support all movie musicals in hopes that they will keep making more... I'm predicting that "Wicked", "Legally Blonde", "The Color Purple" and maybe even "Spring Awakening" will probably hit movie theaters near us in the next decade.
I will NOT see:
- Meet Dave (July 11th) - Like Sandler and Myers, I'm tired of seeing Eddie Murphy in ridiculous comedies. We loved you in "Dreamgirls", Eddie... drama suits you.
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army (July 11th) - Didn't see the first one, don't plan on seeing this one. EVER.
I'm up in the air about:
- Hancock (July 2) - I don't really like Will Smith much, but usually his movies are watchable. And it's got Jason Bateman in it... and I fully support Jason Bateman and his cinematic endeavors.
- Step Brothers (July 25th) - Like Sandler, Myers, and Murphy, I am soooooooooo over Will Ferrell and his comedies. Old School and Anchorman were good, but then his cameo in Wedding Crashers and then Semi Pro were same old, same old. You're better than that, Ferrell! I saw "Stranger Than Fiction" - you can do it! I laughed at the Red Band trailer, though, and I adore John C. Reilly... so I might have to see this.
AUGUST
I'll see:
- Pineapple Express (August 8th) - I have been waiting since Freaks and Geeks to see James Franco in a GOOD movie comedy... and I think this is the vehicle for him. Paired with Seth Rogen, these two are going to literally light up on screen and I will be there opening weekend to laugh so hard I'll want to cry. Yeah, I know I'm hyping this up a lot, but I have faith in Rogen, Franco and Judd Apatow. The Red Band Trailer is so funny... I don't know if this will make me laugh more than "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" or "Superbad", but I am ready for whatever is coming my way. Hopefully this will bring Franco out of his crappy movie slump... he's more talented than his last few movies have shown him to be (yes, I'm talking about YOU, Spider-Man franchise).
- Tropic Thunder (August 15th) - I am willing to lift my "I'm never paying money to see a Tom Cruise movie EVER AGAIN" boycott for this movie and this movie alone. Another one where the Red Band Trailer has made me laugh harder than I thought I would... thanks to one Robert Downey Jr. That man is FUNNY. I'm not a fan of Stiller...like Ferrell et al., he plays the same character in most of his films... I've seen you in better stuff, Stiller, go back to "Your Friends & Neighbors" skills... that was good. "The Heartbreak Kid" was not.
I will NOT see:
- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (August 1) - Really, another Mummy movie? I didn't like the 2nd one much and didn't even bother with "The Scorpion King". And no Rachel Weisz? She took her Oscar and ran... good for her. But why, Maria Bello, why? You are soooo much better than playing second fiddle to "George of the Jungle" (Yeah, I'm talkin' 'bout you, Fraser).
I'm still up in the air about:
- The Rocker (August 1st) - Rainn Wilson and Will Arnett in one movie should be a good time. But can Dwight Schrute carry a movie? We shall see... maybe.
- Swing Vote (August 1st) - Ah, a political comedy. Too bad Fraiser is one of the nominees (though I feel bad he just recently had a heart attack). I loves me some Stanley Tucci and Kevin Costner (oh Costner, I might just have to have a Bull Durham/Tin Cup/Untouchables a-thon in the coming weeks)... so I might check it out.
- The House Bunny (August 22nd) - The premise is kind of dumb, and I don't really like some of the actresses in it... but the trailer made me chuckle. Audibly. Multiple times. Which is still an enigma to me, but I feel like I should support this film, if only because it's a comedy starring women in my age bracket... and they don't make any of those kinds of films.
- Vicky Cristina Barcelona (August 29th) - I will freely admit that I am a movie lover who can't stand Woody Allen. I like a couple of his films, but on a whole, I don't like them/I don't see what's so great about them. I'm not going to follow the herd and bow down to this man... I don't care what you say about Woody Allen, "Scoop" sucked. Like, a lot. But I'm willing to put our differences aside and give him another chance... mostly because I want to see what Javier Bardem is going to bring to this film. I've been a fan of his since "Before Night Falls", so I'm willing to try this out. Burn me again, Allen, and we are done for good.
And there are a whole slew of great looking Independent films that are coming out this summer, but there's no way to tell if they'll open wide enough for all of us who still live in the Midwest!
If you haven't already, go check out "Iron Man" and "Sex and the City".... those were the best movies released in May (yep, notice Indy 4 was not a part of that shortlist...)
Have a good one, and Happy Movie Watching!!
How ya doin'?
Good, good.
It's June now, can you believe it? I should be cleaning my apartment or packing, but instead, I dug out my Summer 2008 Movie Preview issue of EW and I'm flipping through its glorious pages, reminding myself what I'm going to see (or avoid) this summer at the cinema.
Hmmm... let's see:
JUNE
I'll see:
- The Incredible Hulk (June 13th) - If Edward Norton is in a movie, chances are, I'll see it. In fact, I have seen every single one of his films he's ever been in, so I'm not going to stop now. I saw the Ang Lee/Eric Bana version a few years back and that was just not good. This Hulk looks to be more action packed and less like a lame comic book (sorry Ang, stick to romantic epics like Brokeback). While I have a great dislike of William Hurt, I will overlook that and gladly sit and watch Ed Norton kick some ass.
- Wanted (June 27th) - I like that someone had the brilliant idea to cast little James McAvoy as an assassin. While I'm not fans of Jolie or Freeman, I'm looking forward to some sweet shoot 'em up sequences and some great effects. I haven't read the graphic novel, but I hear this movie is pretty much frame for frame (with a little extra added in here and there).
- Finding Amanda (June 27th) - It'll be good to see Matthew Broderick do some real acting and I like Brittany Snow... she's talented and seeing her in a different kind of role than her norm will be refreshing.
I will NOT see even if you paid me:
- You Don't Mee With the Zohan (June 6th) - Adam Sandler needs to just stop making these stupid movies. This isn't the mid/late 90s... he should be moving past his "Happy Gilmore" shtick and be making more films along the lines of "Punch Drunk Love". The trailer for this film makes me shake my head in anger because I know an obscene amount of people are going to spend their hard earned money on this piece of crap movie.
- The Love Guru (June 20th) - Please, boycott this movie with me, folks. Mike Myers is another talented comedian who is cranking out bad movies again and again and again. I loved him on SNL, but can't stand watching just about all of his films because they are the same movie, just with a different title. I'm tired of seeing commercials for this movie. I don't care that Justin Timberlake is in a Speedo in this movie - he's better than that (have you seen him host SNL? It's friggin' hilarious). DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE
- Wall*E (June 27) - First of all, this little robot looks like ET. That alone is enough to turn me away from the theater. Then, I see a new trailer for the movie, and oh look, the little ET robot has fallen in love with another little robot, this one who looks like one of those drug balloons Maria swallows in "Maria Full of Grace". After getting dragged against my will to Ratatouille last summer, I am putting my foot down about this one.
I'm up in the air about:
- The Happening (June 13th) - I love Mark Walhberg and Zooey Deschanel, but M. Night Shymalan has let me down more times than not.
- Get Smart (June 20) - Steve Carell makes me laugh, but the more I see the trailer and commercials, the lamer this looks (which is too bad).
JULY
I'll see:
- The Dark Knight (July 18th) - This is my most anticipated movie of the entire summer. I loved "Batman Begins" (except for Katie Holmes, as she is one of my least favorite actresses of all time), but now that Holmes is replaced by the awesome Maggie Gyllenhaal and we add on the equally awesome Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart as The Joker and Harvey Dent... words cannot describe my excitement. I see the commercials/trailers, I hear The Joker's evil cackle and I get goosebumps. I cannot help but feel sad at the same time, for I know that this upcoming performance by Ledger is one of his last and even though I haven't seen the film yet, I know his Joker will go down in cinema history as iconic.
- Mamma Mia! (July 18th) - This is one musical I haven't seen on stage, but I will gladly sit through the movie. I like ABBA music (my dad got me their Greatest Hits album for Christmas a few years back... we watch Adventures of Priscilla a lot... inside joke, you'd have to be there) and it's going to be fun seeing Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and that girl from "Mean Girls" singing and dancing. I try and support all movie musicals in hopes that they will keep making more... I'm predicting that "Wicked", "Legally Blonde", "The Color Purple" and maybe even "Spring Awakening" will probably hit movie theaters near us in the next decade.
I will NOT see:
- Meet Dave (July 11th) - Like Sandler and Myers, I'm tired of seeing Eddie Murphy in ridiculous comedies. We loved you in "Dreamgirls", Eddie... drama suits you.
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army (July 11th) - Didn't see the first one, don't plan on seeing this one. EVER.
I'm up in the air about:
- Hancock (July 2) - I don't really like Will Smith much, but usually his movies are watchable. And it's got Jason Bateman in it... and I fully support Jason Bateman and his cinematic endeavors.
- Step Brothers (July 25th) - Like Sandler, Myers, and Murphy, I am soooooooooo over Will Ferrell and his comedies. Old School and Anchorman were good, but then his cameo in Wedding Crashers and then Semi Pro were same old, same old. You're better than that, Ferrell! I saw "Stranger Than Fiction" - you can do it! I laughed at the Red Band trailer, though, and I adore John C. Reilly... so I might have to see this.
AUGUST
I'll see:
- Pineapple Express (August 8th) - I have been waiting since Freaks and Geeks to see James Franco in a GOOD movie comedy... and I think this is the vehicle for him. Paired with Seth Rogen, these two are going to literally light up on screen and I will be there opening weekend to laugh so hard I'll want to cry. Yeah, I know I'm hyping this up a lot, but I have faith in Rogen, Franco and Judd Apatow. The Red Band Trailer is so funny... I don't know if this will make me laugh more than "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" or "Superbad", but I am ready for whatever is coming my way. Hopefully this will bring Franco out of his crappy movie slump... he's more talented than his last few movies have shown him to be (yes, I'm talking about YOU, Spider-Man franchise).
- Tropic Thunder (August 15th) - I am willing to lift my "I'm never paying money to see a Tom Cruise movie EVER AGAIN" boycott for this movie and this movie alone. Another one where the Red Band Trailer has made me laugh harder than I thought I would... thanks to one Robert Downey Jr. That man is FUNNY. I'm not a fan of Stiller...like Ferrell et al., he plays the same character in most of his films... I've seen you in better stuff, Stiller, go back to "Your Friends & Neighbors" skills... that was good. "The Heartbreak Kid" was not.
I will NOT see:
- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (August 1) - Really, another Mummy movie? I didn't like the 2nd one much and didn't even bother with "The Scorpion King". And no Rachel Weisz? She took her Oscar and ran... good for her. But why, Maria Bello, why? You are soooo much better than playing second fiddle to "George of the Jungle" (Yeah, I'm talkin' 'bout you, Fraser).
I'm still up in the air about:
- The Rocker (August 1st) - Rainn Wilson and Will Arnett in one movie should be a good time. But can Dwight Schrute carry a movie? We shall see... maybe.
- Swing Vote (August 1st) - Ah, a political comedy. Too bad Fraiser is one of the nominees (though I feel bad he just recently had a heart attack). I loves me some Stanley Tucci and Kevin Costner (oh Costner, I might just have to have a Bull Durham/Tin Cup/Untouchables a-thon in the coming weeks)... so I might check it out.
- The House Bunny (August 22nd) - The premise is kind of dumb, and I don't really like some of the actresses in it... but the trailer made me chuckle. Audibly. Multiple times. Which is still an enigma to me, but I feel like I should support this film, if only because it's a comedy starring women in my age bracket... and they don't make any of those kinds of films.
- Vicky Cristina Barcelona (August 29th) - I will freely admit that I am a movie lover who can't stand Woody Allen. I like a couple of his films, but on a whole, I don't like them/I don't see what's so great about them. I'm not going to follow the herd and bow down to this man... I don't care what you say about Woody Allen, "Scoop" sucked. Like, a lot. But I'm willing to put our differences aside and give him another chance... mostly because I want to see what Javier Bardem is going to bring to this film. I've been a fan of his since "Before Night Falls", so I'm willing to try this out. Burn me again, Allen, and we are done for good.
And there are a whole slew of great looking Independent films that are coming out this summer, but there's no way to tell if they'll open wide enough for all of us who still live in the Midwest!
If you haven't already, go check out "Iron Man" and "Sex and the City".... those were the best movies released in May (yep, notice Indy 4 was not a part of that shortlist...)
Have a good one, and Happy Movie Watching!!
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