The first trailer for the powerhouse comedy film of the fall, COUPLES RETREAT has hit the interwebs. Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman and Kristin Davis star in the film which was written by Vaughn and Favreau. With one hell of a cast and creative staff for a comedy not related to Judd Apatow, this film has all the makings of a big hit.
However, although the trailer certainly has its funny moments, I was not blown away in the way that I had hoped. I really wish Vince Vaughn was more than one-dimensional and Malin Akerman could act — but you have to love Favs and Kristin Davis as a married couple. Let’s hope when the film hits theaters in October that it is better than what we see here. Or even hope for a red-band trailer at the end of the summer once Universal has FUNNY PEOPLE out of the way.
In some pretty cool news, ABC has announced that LOST will actually have 18 hours in the sixth and final season, instead of the originally-planned 17. This will also lead to a two-hour premiere and a two-hour finale for the show. Read the rest of this entry »
Yesterday Zack Snyder did some promotion for the Blu-Ray release of WATCHMEN, and it was revealed that his cut of the film will hit select theaters in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and Minneapolis on July 17, just a few days before it hits Blu-Ray on July 21. The director’s cut, which is 25 minutes longer than the March theatrical release, will only run for one week.
Meanwhile, Snyder will do a in-house BD-Live presentation just a few days later at Comic-Con on July 25. The BD-Live feature will allow anyone in North America watch the film along with the CC audience as Snyder gives his thoughts on the film.
I am still wound up by the fact that WATCHMEN only made $107 million in theaters and was met with a lukewarm reception by most critics and fanboys alike. It is still my favorite film of the year. It is surely flawed, complicated and sometimes frustrating, but damn is it ambitious. I hate that it is still bashed for being too faithful to the comics in certain scenes and not faithful enough in others. Make up your freaking minds people. In fact, I want to see it again now just for doing this post. If you haven’t – give the film a chance, and maybe give it a second chance. This is a film you should see a few times.
In a fairly surprising move, the Academy Awards have upped the number of films in the Best Picture category from 5 to 10 films.
This obviously means that the Academy is trying to appeal to the mainstream moviegoer who has trouble caring or having stake in the type of films that usually make it in the Best Pic category [I am looking at you, THE READER]. Although 2009’s ceremony did better with viewers compared to the lows of 2008 and 2003 thanks to the feel-good story of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, it still fell as the third-lowest rated Oscar telecast in 40 years.
But I guess there are two schools of thought on this decision – in one respect, the awards are giving in to the powerful studio pressure that wants their more popular films on the Oscar stage [this is where Hollywood gossip journalist Nikke Finke falls on the topic]. On the other, it’s a good business move because everyone involved should be more interested in the Oscars [where the Academy hopes this goes]. Think about how big the Oscars would have been if THE DARK KNIGHT or WALL-E were nominated in the Best Pic category?
For now, I’m on board with this idea. Though a film could win with only like 15 percent of the vote or something, if more films I have seen, enjoyed or even heard about get nominated, that gives me more incentive to watch – and that’s exactly what they want.
My most anticipated new show coming this fall is FLASHFORWARD – I guess it is one word, meh – and many critics and web sites were given an opportunity to screen the two-hour pilot a few days back. Though they can’t divulge real plot information or actually review the episode, they can post thoughts.
And they’re saying good things. A collection of thoughts about the show, where an event occurs and everyone in the world sees 2 minutes and 17 seconds of their future (about six months into it I believe), after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
I can – and will. The news that Brian Austin Green has been cast for a two-episode arc on SMALLVILLE is the best casting news of the summer. BAG will play Metallo, a mechanical villain that attempts to take out CK and steal Lois’ heart. You can read up on the character on his Wikipedia page.
The ratings for the premiere episode of TRUE BLOOD are in and the news is very good for HBO. Even going up against Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the show hauled in 3.7 million viewers, a staggering 157 percent increase from the season one premiere and a 51 percent increase from the season one finale. And yet another great fact – the episode was HBO’s highest-rated since the SOPRANOS series finale.
Add this with the very, very impressive DVD sales of the first season (almost $31 million in sales and over 800k units moved) and the program’s success in the BitTorrent arena and you have a really succesful show.
But as a person who doesn’t have HBO and isn’t willing to pay $40 for a DVD set of a show that I haven’t at least since one episode, should I really invest my time in TRUE BLOOD? Read the rest of this entry »
We are all very excited about CHUCK being renewed for a third season, and even if we aren’t as happy about the show not debuting until 2010, fans of the show have figured out a way to build buzz and sustain the fervor around the show that began when people were worried about its cancellation.
I was indifferent about the potential of the new RealD 3D technology until I saw February’s “Coraline.” The film was the finest animated work of art since “Spirited Away,” and it had the 3D to thank. Then the new technology’s poster boy, “Monsters vs. Aliens” failed to impress, and I was back to square one. But I’ve always said if anyone could get 3D right, it would be Pixar.
“Up” is Pixar’s tenth film but the first to be made in 3D, and I’ve seen it both ways. Both versions of the film are equally excellent, but while the 2D version simply exists as a great film, the 3D version has some noticeable differences, be they good or bad. Read the rest of this entry »
After I started by 24 re-watch project, I realized that there were a significant number of shows that I had never watched in the first place that should take preference over the exploits of Jack Bauer. One show I’ve been wanting to get into for a while now is BURN NOTICE, and when I saw the first season on sale for 12 bucks at Best Buy I knew it was a sign that it was time for me to get on-board with the show.
June 30th, 2009 by 
Cory Barker
