TRAILER: Hot Tub Time Machine

Soooo I've been observing an extended lazy summer this year and apologize for the lack of postings. However, I have revisited my John Cusack obsession lately and have stumbled upon this gem that's set to come out next year. Titled Hot Tub Time Machine, it features an interesting plot that involves time traveling back to the 80s. And as many of you know, that was an awesome time for many of Cusack's films.

But this movie also features my favorite newcomer Clark Duke, of Sex Drive fame and Craig Robinson from Zack and Miri. It looks like a winner in my book. Let's just hope it's not a big fat fail.

MOVIE REVIEW: Angels & Demons

The truth is not in the texts.



If you are a fan of the book, you won’t like it. But if you’re like me and have never read the book, you’ll probably enjoy it.

Parts of the movie are far-fetched and a stretch of the imagination, but the twists and turns and surprise ending are quite worth it.

At times it felt like I was watching another National Treasure installment, but not enough to make me feel robbed. Angels & Demons is certainly more action-packed than The Da Vinci Code but I’m actually fonder of that film as opposed to this one. I guess because the supporting character running alongside Tom Hanks (played by Ayelet Zurer) isn’t as memorable as Audrey Tautou. I mean Zurer is a decent actress, but her character doesn’t really match-up as well with Hanks as much as I thought she should.

So for fans of the book, do not expect this to be like the original story by any means. Apparently, (according to my fiancé who is a HUGE fan of the book) hardly any of Dan Brown’s original novel has been kept in tact. She started to explain to me the original plot and I have to say that even I felt myself becoming a bit irritated! Though the movie is entertaining, the book seems a lot more captivating!

Again, being that I’ve never read the best-seller, my review is less than judgmental here, so overall, I dug the film adaptation. However, I might do myself a favor sometime and pick up a copy to read as if it is a totally separate film.
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MOVIE REVIEW: Next Day Air



My homegirl Tiara, over at "Reviews You Can Use" just got a chance to check out the new stoner comedy Next Day Air starring Donald Falson & Mike Epps (whoever they are~lol).

Find out what she thought!

TRAILER: The Road

But speaking of zombie-infested post-apocalyptic wastelands (and the like) here is Cormac McCarthy's newest book turned movie The Road. "Who the heck is Cormac McCarthy?" you may be asking. Ah, you may know him by his other book that later became 2008's Best Picture Winner, No Country For Old Men.

So without further adieu, I give you The Road.

TRAILER: Pontypool

Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good zombie film. And here so happens to be one that I came across for the first time this morning. It's an independent Canadian flick titled Pontypool.



Intrigued? So was I. Here are a few actual clips from the movie that shed some light into the mysterious town of Pontypool.









What I find interesting here is the novel concept of the way the virus is spread; through means of communication.

In a panel discussion about the film, the director, Bruce McDonald, stressed that the victims of the virus were not zombies but instead referred to them as "Conversationalists." But even more creepy is the way he described the stages of the disease:

There are three stages to this to this virus. The first stage is you might begin to repeat a word. Something gets stuck. And usually it's words that are terms of endearment like sweetheart or honey. The second stage is your language becomes scrambled and you can't express yourself properly. The third stage you become so distraught at your condition that the only way out situation you feel, as an infected person, is to try and chew your way through the mouth of another person.

Yeah. Very creepy. The film is set for limited release on May 29.
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MOVIE REVIEW: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Not as solid as adamantium, but well-worth the ride.



In the unofficial start to the summer movie season, Hugh Jackman reprises his role as none other than Logan (a.k.a. Wolverine) in a visual treat that is sure to take you by the claws and give you quite a spin.

Overall, it’s certainly a visually stimulating movie, especially in the special effects department (not to mention stimulating for the ladies in the many naked scenes of Jackman). Needless to say, if you’re checking out the unfinished bootleg sans the completed graphics on the net, it’s not going to be very rewarding for you.

As one would expect from the trailer, there are a lot of mutant cameos in this film, but don’t expect to grow attached to them for very long. This flick is definitely about Wolverine as the title obviously suggests, so unfortunately any other minor character that comes across doesn’t have much screen time my fellow fan-boys.

And speaking of the supporting cast, there are quite some interesting characters, but none of the actors playing them even come close to matching Jackman’s superb depiction of the plagued protagonist. Let’s face it folks, he is Wolverine, and he does a kick-ass job of it hands down.

Overall, I can see why most of the critics panned this one. There was so much hype that it might not have achieved the expectations as a result of the bar being raised last summer by such films as The Dark Knight and Iron Man. In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I thought that some of the dialogue was cheesy and parts of the story felt rather rushed.

However, it is a comic movie, and with that I was just happy to see Wolverine in his own film for once. Totally worth checking out, even if the film wasn’t as solid as adamantium.

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TRAILER: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

The new trailer for the sequel to Transformers was just released today. Enjoy fan-boys and girls :)



And here was the first trailer in case you missed it.



Tentative release date for the summer blockbuster is June 24.
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TRAILER: The Hangover



This looks quite promising. I think I might go see this when it comes out on June 5.

Here is the other spot that was released for this film.



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(Advance) MOVIE REVIEW: The Girlfriend Experience



Mi amiga Tiara, over at "Reviews You Can Use" attended the Tribeca Film Festival on Tuesday and was able to catch the premiere of Steven Soderbergh's highly anticipated new flick, The Girlfriend Experience starring Sasha Grey.

Unfortunately she was not impressed. Find out why.

Anyone else eager to see this one when it comes out nationwide on May 22? Or perhaps you were at the festival this year? If so, what did you think? Feel free to leave your comments below!



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TRAILER: Brüno

Here it is...the Brüno trailer. Yowza!



Set to be released July 10.

TRAILER: Where The Wild Things Are



My good friend Tiara, just alerted me to a new movie coming out in October that we should all be excited about...Where The Wild Things Are.

Sound familiar? Well it should! It's based on the beloved children's classic by Maurice Sendak. Check it out!

LINK: Where The Wild Things Be At And Whatnot

TRAILER: Year One



I cannot wait for this movie. (Tentative release date of June 19.) I think it'll be quite funny judging by the new trailer. Michael Cera is one of my favorite newcomers at the moment so you know he'll be good. And who's that I see...Paul Rudd~how ironic!

Here are the other spots that have been released for this film.





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INTERVIEW: I Love You, Man



Hilarious interview with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel talking with National Lampoon's Matt Zaller for the film I Love You, Man. Three minutes of fart noises followed by a minute of "bro-ing" out. It'll give you a hint of what to expect~lol.

(Advance) MOVIE REVIEW: I Love You, Man

The love is mutual.



When I first heard of this movie I was reminded of the snappy new word that has entered into our daily vocabulary and thus become a major selling point of this film. The key slang term of course being “bromance.”

I thought to myself, oh boy this is going to be another one of those lame-o frat guy flicks for sure. Then I saw the trailer and it looked rather promising. Then I actually watched the film. And it totally exceeded my expectations!

I Love You, Man is not just a hilarious movie; it’s actually a decently written one too.

It’s smart, it’s clever, it’s witty…it’s got great dynamic acting on both the parts of Paul Rudd and Jason Segel…it’s just totally worth seeing. Plus it doesn’t rely too heavily on the overly predictable gay jokes one would expect to carry it through either. Not to say they aren’t in there, but there are some scenes that are just downright hysterical because of the performances delivered by these two very funny actors.

I have to admit that I’ve never seen anything prior to this that Rudd or Segel were in, so I don’t know if this is how they usually are, yet the characters they play in this movie have great chemistry and work so well together.

Some of the best lines come from the awkward bits of dialogue shared between the two, especially when Peter Klaven (Rudd’s character) is trying so desperately to fit in and act cool in the hopes of impressing his new friend Sydney (played by Segel).

For instance, Peter will go on and on, interjecting little bits under his breath to try and make up for his blundered “hip talk” of a few moments ago. Compared to the naturally cool Sydney, Peter’s so nervous he just fumbles wherever possible, which makes it so endearing and funny to watch.

Another great comedic moment delivered by Rudd is when he’s doing impressions of foreign accents. (I can totally relate to this.) His character butchers them to the point of non-recognition and ends up sounding so far removed it just sounds silly. Or as Peter’s fiancé (played by Rashida Jones) says, “why are you talking like a leprechaun?”

Unfortunately, the first 20-30 minutes were rather slow for my liking and had me worried that this film would be nothing more than mediocre. But once Jason Segel’s character entered into the mix, it was like the movie got hit with a shot of comedic cocaine and the movie instantly grew ten times more funny, holding on to that humorous high, straight through to the end.

Very funny stuff. Go see it. You’ll love it too…man.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Watchmen

A few things worth watching.



But I would suggest averting your eyes for the plethora of peen presented. Just for those who may not be familiar with the graphic novel, which this film is based on, the story is very dark, violent, and sprinkled with tons of nudity (sorry guys, there’s more male than female nudity in this one).

But fellas, don’t let it deter you, Watchmen really is a decent film, just not one I think I’ll be watching over and over again for two reasons.

One, it’s long (like this review). And two, the ending is bizarre.

Not the worst ending, just unsettling. And not one I was expecting by any means, especially in a genre where good usually triumphs evil no questions asked.

Aside from the big blue dude (AKA Dr. Manhattan) showing off his junk at every turn, the ending definitely took me by surprise and left me with an awkward moment to reflect on what just occurred. I wasn’t sure if I was to be happy or sad really. You’ll understand what I mean if you see it.

Now I never read the book, so experiencing this story was the first time I was subjected to the dark universe of the Watchmen. And dark it was! From what was explained to me from another reader, the book is pretty violently to begin with, but the movie kicks that violence up another notch.

Some pretty brutal scenes are added in that will make you squirm, but all in all the cinematography is quite attractive and can be appreciated in the midst of such a dismal environment.

A perfect example of this great camera work is in the scene where the crime-fighter Rorschach follows the 4-foot tall Big Figure (played by Philly’s own Danny Woodburn) into a prison bathroom stall. The bathroom door swings open and closed as an angry Rorschach slowly backs Big Figure into the corner, yet the swinging entryway only shows glimpses of the little man’s impending doom…the end result you never see.

Kudos to the director, Zack Snyder, for adding in shots like this that weren’t necessarily in the book, but make a great addition to a very cool story.

But speaking of this Rorschach character (played terrifically by Jackie Earle Haley), the way they animated his mask was by far the best special effect in the whole movie I thought. The face constantly evolves into a different image (in the style of the famous Rorschach test) that constantly changes depending on his mood. Very impressive.

So essentially, Watchmen is worth checking out at least once. You may love it enough to watch over and over, especially if you’re a fan of the book. Or you may hate it if you’re a fan of the book. But being just your average movie-goer (yet a fan of comics in general) I enjoyed it for what it was. A different, unique perspective on what it means to be a “hero” or “watchman” in a world that may not necessarily appreciate it.

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(New to DVD) MOVIE REVIEW: Sex Drive

I assure you this is not a porno.



But what it is however, is one of the funniest, most underrated comedies of last year for sure. I’ve seen this film twice already in the theaters, have recommended it to all my friends, and will probably go out and buy it on DVD to watch over and over as well.


I just cannot get enough of this cleverly written and humorously acted story about a high-school graduate named Ian (played by Josh Zuckerman), who desperately wants to lose his virginity to a random girl he meets online, but has to drive cross-country to meet her for his night of passion. Coming along for the ride are his best buds, Felicia and Lance (played by Amanda Crew and Clark Duke).

Of course, the trio encounters various obstacles and events along the way, such as an Amish Rumspringa party with Seth Green playing one of the “plain folk” not to mention Ian’s older asshole brother (played by James Marsden) who also gives him shit just for being alive.

All of the actors do a knock up job in their roles and you can clearly see that they had fun playing them. Especially Marsden.

Yet the biggest surprise I thought, was the character played by the fine young actor, Clark Duke. This guy plays his role so naturally that I was convinced he was in fact Lance in real life! Be on the lookout for this guy in future roles. I can totally see his career taking off like crazy at some point soon. So if you’re reading this Mr. Duke, bravo sir!

So I’ll stop raving about this flick and giving too much away. Just go see it with some friends who might enjoy this type of film. Yes it’s raunchy. Yes it’s crazy. Yes it’s insane. But it’s a hilarious trip you surely won’t forget. Especially if it’s your first time…watching it.

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(New to DVD) MOVIE REVIEW: Zack & Miri Make A Porno

The best porno I have ever seen.



Being a big fan of writer/director Kevin Smith, I had high expectations going to see this film when it was still in the theaters.

Now granted, this is the director who has pushed the envelope quite a bit when it comes to raunchy comedies, so I expected no less. Especially since the title pretty much sums up what one would expect when hopping into bed with this one.


And what was delivered was just that, but with the added bonus of a sweet romantic comedy underneath the covers–much to my surprise.

But first, let’s get to the main reason you’ll want to see this, the comedy part. Which of course, relies heavily upon such a talented pool of actors that you may or may not be familiar with.

Now I don’t care for Seth Rogan all that much, but seeing the character he played left me highly impressed. He was miraculously funny and charming at the same time. Little instances, such as when his character exits a scene quickly, are a perfect example of the endearing quality I’m referring to.

Yet what really makes this film hilarious is the support lent to Rogan from everybody else. I was just as surprised to see how much freedom was given to these actors (Craig Robinson, Jeff Anderson, Justin Long, just to name a few) to just run with their parts and let it all hang out…quite literally when it came to Jason Mewes cameo. This is what simply makes the chemistry all work between them I think.

There is also one pivotal scene between Rogan and the female lead (played by Elizabeth Banks) when she starts to get jealous of him being led astray by Katie Morgan (who’s a real-life porn star if you didn’t know already) while in the midst of their apartment party/celebration.

This scene is one that is directed absolutely beautifully. It truly captures the heart of the main plot point, not the making a porno part, but the notion of trying to separate sex from love from friendship and then realizing that they are all tightly intertwined and inseparable somehow.

So, all in all, go see this movie for the absurdity of the humor, but don’t just focus on that. Try to absorb the underlying parts that truly make this one of Kevin Smith’s best films outside of the View Askewniverse.

It will leave you with a happy ending no doubt.

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(New to DVD) MOVIE REVIEW: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

A ménage à trois of absurdity.



The only reason to go see this film (if there is one) is to see Penélope Cruz and the amazing performance she gives. Everyone else is crap. Yes, even the beloved Scarlett Johansson is crap in this toilet as well.


I thought this film was sorely overrated. Not worth seeing in the least; not even for Scar-Jo making out with Penelope Cruz for cryin' out loud. There were too many weak characters in this one for me to feel attached to any of them. Who are we to root for? The girls? Javier? It seemed like the only point to this movie was to see how many chicks Javier Bardem could get with.

If anything, this movie just helps me come to realize that Woody Allen is clearly not for me nor will he ever be unless you like the kind of movie that bores you with character flaws and monotonous dialogue. They say that the old Woody Allen is much better than the new stuff he's been doing lately, but I wouldn't know, since it's only the new stuff that I've been subjected to.

In fact, I was subjected enough to this film, that yes...I walked out on it.

Heck, I even tried going back into the showing when it was in theaters, just to give it another chance. (Mainly because the film I tried substituting this with sucked just as much for me to leave that as well). But my original decision was further vindicated as this movie was clearly going no where in terms of any direction.

Adios amigos!

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MOVIE REVIEW: Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Nobody wins in this film.



I expected much more from this film...especially since Kevin James co-wrote it. His acting in the movie is quality, but the script he's given leaves him with about as much fun as playing with soggy cereal.

Overall, the story is weak. There's a lot of opportunity for some hilarious comedy in a majority of the scenes, and yet it's never taken advantage of it. The punchlines (or lack thereof) just come across as mediocre.

Although there are a few memorable quotes such as "nobody wins in a head butt" but that's really it.

Also, would someone please explain to me why master criminals who are trained to kill feel the need to ride around on little kid bikes and skateboards in order to pursue a fat man going about 10 mph on a Segway? Couldn't you just take away the Segway and chase him on foot perhaps??

*sigh*

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