Who Wins in a Fight: Aliens or Predator?

In respect to the new Aliens vs Predator: Requiem movie, I thought I'd offer up a little analysis as to who I think would win in a fight. I'd also like your output as to who would win, especially from fans of the series! I have yet to see the new movie, but after reading this review over at Film School Rejects, I think I'm going to take some time out to see it!

Alright, lets set some background on our two ferocious foes, listing advantages and disadvantages for each.. then let the battle begin!

Aliens (Xenomorph)

Advantages:

• Whip-like bladed tail, good extension in close combat.
• Sharp claws and second jaw very useful in close ranged combat.
• Can incapacitate from above due to height (7 feet+). Can run along walls and ceilings.
  
• Acidic "Blood" can deal damage even if the Alien is hurt.
• Very Stealthy.
• Can spit acid (rarely shown)

Disadvantages:

• Lack of technology
• Can be distracted by green light, as shown in the novelization of the first Aliens movie.
• Vulnerable to quick climate changes.
• Vulnerable to small caliber weaponry.

It looks like we have a pretty formidable beast here, though it does have its weaknesses. My suggestion for a strategy for the Alien would be to use speed and agility to the best of its ability, trying to incapacitate the weaponry of the Predator (ie cut off his hands). Try sneaking around the walls and ceiling to somehow get behind it and get a headshot in using the second jaw or spit acid. The Alien could also use the tail to try to cut off some limbs or impale quickly, before the Predator has a chance to react. Make the Predator come into close range combat, where the advantage lies for the Alien.

Now onto our second competitor.

Predator

Advantages:

• Extremely resilient, massive trauma may not phase them much at all.
• Highly resilient against small arms fire and stabbing weapons (Uh Oh Alien Claws)
• Very strong, quite agile and fast.
• Ability to see in various modes, such as infrared. This could help in the detection of the Xenomorphs.
• Advanced plasma blasters on their shoulders... great for long range targeting of prey.
• Cloaking device. Need I say more?

Weaknesses

• Vulnerable to prolonged exposure to our atmosphere. (See Below)
  
• Infrared vision may not be extremely useful in our environment. (This might not be a weakness depending on where the battle is fought.)
• Removal of mask makes vision much worse, as well as losing exposure to the atmosphere they are used to. The masks may also contain pain killers and adrenaline like substances, accounting for their high energy stores.

So it really looks like the Predator is pretty stacked. However, the Xenomorph, if it can remove the Predator's mask, still does stand a pretty good chance. But, it still needs to be very careful because of the large amount of weaponry that a Predator may carry. Predator, on the other hand, must be careful not to lose all of its weapons, as many are vulnerable to the Xenomorph blood. If they lose them all inflicting damage, it is possible for the Xenomorph to mount a comeback.

So who do I pick to win this fight?

I'm goin with my Boy. Predator for the win.


Of course, like I said, he still needs to be very careful, as a simple misstep can lead to disaster. It has been proven in Aliens v. Predator that Xenomorphs can take down Predators. Who do you think would win in a fight? Are there any advantages/disadvantages that I've missed? Feel free to comment!

3 Things you Want in a Movie Theatre

I've been thinking about this, and I think that it could make a great movie idea... well maybe not great but it's something that I would like to see as a documentary. If I had enough money to just do whatever I wanted and not have to work for a living (wouldn't we all love this), I'd like to build my own movie theatre. I'd document all the steps that were involved in design, picking a location, all the equipment, and everything else involved. While I do run a theatre now, the decisions are not so much up to me as the corporation as a whole!!

I know that a lot of people are frustrated with their experiences at the movies, and there's not a whole lot you can do as an individual except try to provide the best service. If I had my own movie theatre, I'd try to address a lot of these things. Not having to worry about money would play a big part in this, as it would be difficult to provide everything people want and maintain a budget! Trust me, I know. I budget all the time and it is very difficult to stay within that.

What kinda things would I have in my theatre? I'd like to have couches for seats, for one. They'd be on steps to provide stadium style seating, but with a comfortable couch to watch on instead of a theatre seat. That way you could cuddle up, stretch out, and watch the movie in pretty much any position you wanted to! Of course there is no hanky panky. I can't believe I just typed Hanky Panky. I'll try not to do that again.

I'd also serve better food. I'd stick with the traditional popcorn, soda, nachos.. but I'd try to add some other stuff too. I'm a coffee fiend, so I'd definitely have a cafe there. I'd also like to include ice cream. How about a home cooked meal? That could also be an option. There's a lot to try, of course, but it would be a lot of fun to be able to experiment with a menu.... maybe I've been watching a bit too much Kitchen Nightmares though.

Finally, I'd like to have personal screening rooms! For an extra charge, of course, you can choose to screen your own movie in an extremely private setting. Now you could do this at home, but I'd find some way to make it unique. Wouldn't you like to be able to watch a movie with a loved one or your family in private, with no one to bother you at all? Ok, so maybe that one isn't as feasable, seeing as you can already do it at home, but it would be something to experiment with, and I already said that I wouldn't have to worry about money. :-P

I personally feel that a theatre experience is a great thing to do. I'm pretty biased though, working in the industry. How about no commercials... I know that there are a lot of people out there who would LOVE that one. No commercials at my theatre... no sireee bob. I'm not the best one to decide what should go in a really people friendly theatre. That's you guys! What are three things you would like to have in a movie theatre?

Movies This Weekend!

Hey, we've finally got a slew of movies coming out, a couple of which I am actually interested in! This is a bit late, but I fell asleep, so please forgive me. Let's see... where do we start...

Edit: I can't seem to get an internet connection... so this is later than planned.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Alvin and his buddies make their live action debut with the help of CGI. They help cause mischief in the life of their guardian, Dave Seville (Jason Lee). What better than a bunch of talking chipmunks??

How I think it will do - This one definitely appeals to the kid in me. I just can't wait to hear 'ALLLLVIIIIIN' screamed about on the big screen. And they did a really good job integrating the CGI chipmunks. This movie looks to be really cute. Let's just hope that it does better than Garfield, right? I'm giving this one second this weekend, but it should do ok through the holidays!

I Am Legend - Will Smith plays a brilliant scientist who cannot stop a deadly virus that has either mutated or killed most of mankind. Somehow immune, he is the last living person that he has seen for the past 3 years, and must work to find a cure for the disease using his own immune blood.

How I think it will do - This one is my pick for tops this weekend. There is so much hype behind this movie, and who kicks butt on aliens or mutants better than Will Smith? With some good reviews already behind it, let's just hope that Will Smith ruining the ending doesn't affect its performance at the box office. I don't think that it should, but hey, some people are really picky about those kinds of things. My top choice movie this weekend.

Perfect Christmas - A feel good movie about Christmas, this one stars Gabrielle Union as a single mother of three, who is so busy raising her kids she forgets to take care of herself. Determined to have a good Christmas, she brings her kids to meet Santa. One of her kids is determined to make her mom happy again, and tells Santa that all she wanted was a compliment from a man. Santa turns out to be an office supply worker who provides Union's character with that, and much more.

How I think it will do - This is like I said, a feel good Christmas movie. It will appeal to the african american crowd as its aimed, and also to those looking for a christmas movie. Think Diary of a Mad Black Woman but at christmastime! :-)

Of course there are other movies opening this weekend. Once again we've got a large slew of limited releases.


Half Moon
Look
The Kite Runner
Goodbye Bafana
Youth without Youth
Arranged
Changing the Odds
Shotgun Stories
Nanking

My Top 5 Reasons for Working at the Movies

Some of you may be wondering why I love working at the movies. I have another job that pays pretty well, and if you haven't noticed recently, it takes time away from my blogging. However, I think it's worth it for many reasons! I've been working there for about 6 years now, and while it can be a drag sometimes, here are few reasons why I continue to do it:

1. Free Movies - This has got to be my favorite! I get to see pretty much every movie that comes out, granted I take the time to go out and see it, or stay late to screen it on a thursday night. It's that feeling of exclusivity that comes with a private screening that makes it all worth it. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Just kidding, but it does mean that I can write about a movie before it comes out generally.
2. Great Friends - I have made so many great friends over the year. I've met someone who can tell me just about any sports fact relating to Boston Sports. I've met people who have provided me with my other job. And most importantly, I've met the girl of my dreams there. Who would've thought you could meet so many people at the movies?
3. Life Experiences - Now you might think that this one is bit crazy, but I can tell you its true. You experience a ton of things, such as being so busy you think you might collapse, to historical events, like the world premiere of Fever Pitch. It's not often you get to hang with the Red Sox after they won the world series!
4. It's not that hard - While sometimes you want to rip your hair out, the job's not all that difficult. You come to work to enjoy yourself, and to make other people happy. Hopefully you can succeed at that without someone yelling at ya, but that's not always the case. In any case, it's not that hard to do. You do your job, and you will be fine.
5. You've always got a story to tell - Something is always happening at the movies! Without it, how would I be able to write about some of the stuff that I write about here? It's also got me stores that can crack people out, and others that will just shock or gross someone out!

Well, there it is, my top 5 reasons for still working at the movies. I don't know how much longer I will be doing it, but as long as I am, I'll enjoy it. I hope to see you all at the movies soon!

I'll get the action rolling again soon.. just been really busy lately!

I love LAMB!

I love LAMB. Really I do. And by LAMB, I am talking about the Large Association of Movie Blogs! My good friend over at Blog Cabins has started up this great community for all of us movie bloggers out there. It's just another great way to get your blog out there in the world, and also to make a lot of friends in the blogosphere.

I know that I'll be heading over there to check out some of the blogs there on a regular basis. Mine is the most recent one on there, and boy am I glad I was added! There is so much potential over there. I've got some ideas which I'll probably bounce over to Fletch, the creator, to help promote the place.

It's gonna be big. And you movie bloggers out there don't want to miss out on this opportunity. I just can't believe I didn't think of it myself! Congrats to my buddy Fletch!

Anyway, what are you waiting for! Head on over to the LAMB and sign up. You won't regret it!

Movies This Weekend!

Lots of movies opening this week! So much to write about! After such a huge summer though it's been a very disappointing fall season so far. I mean.. have you found anything that has really piqued your interest yet? Maybe this is the week! Here we go:


Michael Clayton - Michael Clayton is a "fixer" at one of the biggest corporate law firms in New York. Unhappy with his job, his mounting debt, failed business and pending divorce leave him tied to the company. In the meantime, one of U/North's lawyers has her career riding on a multimillion dollar settlement, a case that Clayton's firm is leading to conclusion. However, when the case is sabotaged, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his life, fixing the case, and putting his life on the line.

How I think it will do - This film has excellent hype heading into its release, and having George Clooney as the lead only helps it. A compelling story will help catapult this one to big numbers at the box office. I'm predicting a number 1 finish this weekend. Rotten Tomatoes has this one as a limited release, but my theatre is getting it, so I'm inclined to think that it is a wide release. My projections change if it is limited release, even though I think it will still do well.




We Own the Night - Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) is a manager of a popular Russian nightclub, having turned his back on the family business. He has changed his name, hiding his connection to a family line of distinguished New York cops. Green has built himself a successful life, and every night is a party to him. However, a Russian drug dealer being targeted by the New York police begins operating from his nightclub, bringing conflict between Bobby and his family. His dad is the legendary police deputy, and his brother is an up and coming officer in the force. Family ties are tested as the police hunt down the drug dealer.

How I think it will do - Plenty of star power in this one, and it looks decently interesting. Robert Duvall has a way of making a movie better, I like almost everything I've seen with him in it. The #1 this week if Michael Clayton is not opening wide. I'm a pretty big Marky Mark fan, as he is from around here. Gonna try to get out and see this one this weekend. Will it be ok with the girl though....




Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married - A big screen adaptation of the Tyler Perry stage play of the same name, it tells the story of the difficulties in maintaining a loving relationship in modern times. On a seven day getaway in Colorado, 8 college friends discover the infidelity of one couple. Secrets are revealed, and the couples begin reconsidering the strength of their relationships.

How I think it will do - All of Tyler Perry's movies have been decently successful, and have appealed to a certain niche. I think that this will be the same as the others, having a strong showing at the box office. Always able to tell a good story with a good amount of laughs, this will please those who go out to see it. I don't think it will do as well as Diary of a Mad Black Woman though.






Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Reprising the roles that helped them get nominated for 7 Academy Awards, Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchette star in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Telling the tale of the bloodlust and betrayal for the throne of Elizabeth I. In the changing times, Elizabeth finds her throne challenged by the King of Spain. Preparing to go to war to defend her people, she struggles between her royal duties and her new fondness of Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). Meanwhile, her trusted adviser, played by Rush, discovers an assasination attempt that could topple the throne, unknowingly setting up England for destruction.

How I think it will do - Haven't seen a historical drama in a while, but I haven't really heard much about this until I wrote this piece on it. I don't think many will be out to see this one, despite the success of the first installment. It has potential, with the star power, but unfortunately many who are heading out to theatres are looking for something they couldn't see on this History channel.



The Final Season - A story of a small time baseball team from Norway, Iowa. This small town is known for one thing: baseball. After winning their 19th state championship, the 20th is a foregone conclusion. However, when the team is merged with the team from a neighboring city, jealousy and conspiracy come into play, potentially robbing the city of its championship.

How I think it will do - A feel good sports movie, eh? This one doesn't have any hype behind it, but I love baseball and wouldn't mind seeing this one. One that parents won't mind bringing their kids to or seeing as a family. It should break into the top 10.






Limited Releases this week:

Across the Universe
Lars and the Real Girl
Sleuth
Terror's Advocate
Canvas
Bool Buhlaiyaa
King Corn
Naked Boys Singing
Control
Golda's Balcony
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag - Journey of a Woman

Phew, that's a lot! Anyway, I'm going to be trying to rearrange a few things around here and clean up the ol blog. So there will be some minor changes. Look for another post about some fun customers coming soon!

Review: The Heartbreak Kid

The perfect wedding photo, right? Sure looks like it. Of course, if this were the perfect wedding, there would be no movie, and that just can't happen! I saw The Heartbreak Kid last night, and I have to say that I enjoyed it. It wasn't too over the top like Good Luck Chuck was, and was generally a lot of fun.

The Heartbreak Kid stars Ben Stiller as Ed Cantrow, a guy just can't settle down. He was actually engaged for 5 years, but didn't want to break his routine, and so the engagement didn't work out. Of course, his ex ends up getting married, and Cantrow just HAS to go to the wedding, where he ends at the singles table. Not only that, he gets humiliated by his friend Mac... you'll see that if you watch the movie.

After a ton of pressure from his friends and Dad (played by Stiller's real life dad Jerry Stiller) Cantrow hooks up with and marries Lila(Malin Akerman, aka Freakshow's wife in Harold and Kumar go to White Castle), a woman who he tried to save from being mugged (unsuccessfully). Once they are married, Lila changes in Cantrow's eyes... not quite the girl he married. You can see where this is going, and I don't want to spoil anything! Anyway, after a bad sunburn incident, Cantrow has a lot of alone time on his honeymoon, and meets a girl he actually loves, Miranda (Michelle Mognahan). Oh yeah, I forgot I told Matt I'd mention Mississippi in this post. Miranda's family comes from Mississippi. This is the fourth time I've republished this post.

Also, this movie does have Carlos Mencia in it, who is carving out a nice niche playing the funny Mexican, Uncle Tito. He does some things that just make you stop for a sec, then laugh out loud. The movie also has some fun with a deviated septum... but again, you'll have to see it to know what happens!

The movie did have some flaws in that it did move slowly at some points, but overall, you don't really think too much of it. Let's just say that this is a fun comedy, with romantic comedy elements built into it. A remake of the 1972 comedy starring Charles Grodin and Cybil Sheperd (Thanks Tarametblog!), this is a solid movie. The Farrelly brothers are reminding us of some of the success they had with There's Something About Mary. The movie this most reminded me of was Wedding Crashers. Rated R for a reason... not quite for the kids, but I'm sure the adults will enjoy this one!

I'm giving it a 7.5 out of 10, if you see it, let me know what you think!

Movies this Weekend!

Haven't you been worried about the product that Hollywood has been coming out with recently? I mean, I've enjoyed some of the movies that have been released recently, but there's nothing that's been particularly spectacular. I haven't even SEEN a movie in over a week, and that's unheard of! This week doesn't look too promising, but who knows, you might see something you like, so here goes!

Love Hurts - A Farrelly Brother's movie, starring Ben Stiller and Michelle Mognahan. Stiller plays Eddie Cantrow, a man terrified of commitment. When he finally decides to take the plunge and get married, his seemingly normal wife turns out to be significantly more "interesting". (Read: crazy) Thing begin to turn ugly, and during their honeymoon, Cantrow finds another woman who might just be his true love.

How I think it will do - Well, these guys did make There's Something About Mary so there might be some merit behind this one. This will probably be my screening movie on Thursday, so I'll be sure to let you know how it pans out. From the commercials and synopses I've read, I think it will be ok... the movie to see this week most likely. It's sure to have its funny moments, but I think Stiller might be past his prime. He even looks a little old in the previews, has anyone else noticed that? Well, it's also got an 80% rating on the tomatometer, so hey, check it out if you're goin to the movies! Just noticed that it's rated R too, so that adds to it!



The Seeker - Based on the bestselling novel The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. Will Stanton has just found out he is the last in a line of warriors who have spent their lives fighting the forces of the dark. Blessed with the ability to travel through time, among other powers, Will uncovers clues that lead him into battle against the rising forces of the Dark.

How I think it will do - I've said before that I'm a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, so this one does have some intrigue for me. I don't think it will perform particularly well at the box office, but it is probably well suited for anyone who likes a good fantasy movie. I don't see this one cracking the top 10, but it should be a decent fantasy movie. Reminds me of Eragon a bit.







Feel the Noise - An aspiring rapper from Harlem, after a run in with some local thugs, runs to a place and father he never knew. He discovers Reggaton, and along with his half brother Javi, begins to realize a dream of becoming a Reggaton star. Along with their dancer C.C. they learn about being true to themselves and each other, culminating in a performance at the New York City Puerto Rican Festival.

How I think it will do - Phew. I don't even know what to say about this one. I know the girl wants to see it but I have a feeling it's going to be pretty... mediocre at best. Omarion's first foray into movies, along with a lot of hip hop artists recently, I don't see this one doing any business at all. It's very crowd oriented, so it will appeal to some people, but not enough to be a hit.



Well, that's it for this week, except for the limited releases. For that, we've got :


My Kid Could Paint That
Michael Clayton
For the Bible Told Me So
Finishing the Game
The Night
Deal
Weirdsville
Desert Bayou
Lake of Fire (Oct. 3)
Kurt Cobain About a Son (Oct. 3)
Broken (Oct. 3)

In something not movie related, House has been removed from Apple's iTunes store. I personally don't buy shows from iTunes, but I think this is a pretty big loss for Apple and NBC. Oh well, not my loss, but theirs! :-P Anyway, House is on tonight, so anyone who doesn't have anything to watch, go check it out!

25th Anniversary of Poltergeist!

I'm probably not the first one to report this, but this coming Thursday, October 4th, Poltergeist is returning to theatres for ONE NIGHT ONLY!!! One of the great American classic horror movies!

I saw this movie for the first time as a midnight movie the year I moved into college. Or maybe it was the second year. Anyway, I had never seen it before, and it had a subtle kind of horror At first I thought it was a little weird, but I would be interested in seeing it again. I don't think I'm gonna get the chance to, though. However, this is your chance to go out and see this movie again!

Is anyone interested in seeing this? Have you seen it? If you did, what did you think about it? Anyway, this is just a reminder for anyone who might have been thinking about seeing this movie. Hard to believe it came out for the first time in 1982! What else happened in 1982 in the movies?

The Top 5 Grossing Movies were:

1. ET: The Extraterrestrial
2. Tootsie
3. Porky's
4. An Officer and a Gentleman
5. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

#6 was Poltergeist! Not bad huh? It grossed about 75 million, which is pretty ridiculous considering the year it was released! ET shattered things with over 450 million though. That's all for now, apologies about the lack of posting this weekend!

This video below is for my babe, you don't have to watch it if you don't want to, but it's pretty funny. (Probably NSFW)

Halo: The Movie (with Trailer)

According to IMDB, a Halo Movie is scheduled for release in 2009. According to Rotten Tomatoes, however, it could be 2008. Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings Trilogy) will be serving as executive director to the film, in an joint video game/movie venture with Microsoft (from Rotten Tomatoes). The movie is set to be directed by visual effects veteran Neill Blomkamp, who is responsible for the effects for shows such as Stargate SG-1 and Smallville. The movie adaptation of the extremely popular video game franchise is highly anticipated, especially with the recent release of the 3rd installment. (Halo 3) Jackson's special effects studio, WETA, will be working on the project. The estimated budget is $100 Million.

The hype for this movie will only grow as the months go along, with much speculation as to who will be casted for the role of Master Chief. Many fan made trailers have also been produced. Because of the high budget, the film will likely be rated PG-13. However, Jackson is apparently pushing for an R-rated version for the DVD release, and for the hardcore fans of the gaming franchise.

I suspect that this film will perform better than the recent Resident Evil film adaptations, especially with Jackson on the project. He has already started working with it, releasing a semi-live action trailer called "Arms Race" promoting both the movie and the game release. You can check it out below:



Enjoy! Are there any other video games you'd like to see made into a movie?

Movies this Weekend!

Finally got through that fiasco of what happened with my blog earlier. Just in time to get this post. Three major releases this week, and a few limited releases that are pretty highly touted. Without further ado, here we go!

The Kingdom - When a terrorist bomb goes off in a western housing compound in Saudi Arabia, an international incident is ignited. While the diplomats are slow to work, FBI Agent Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx) and his team (Chris Cooper and Jennifer Garner) attempts a secret trip behind enemy lines to find the people behind the bombing. Upon their arrival, they find the Saudis to be unwelcoming to them, as they consider it an internal issue. The Saudis want to find the terrorist themselves, without the FBI's help. However, with the help of a Saudi Colonel, they weave through the politics and find themselves in a deadly confrontation with the killer.

How I think it will do - Pretty major star power behind this one, and everyone I've spoken to is excited about this movie. I think it's going to be great, the number one movie this weekend. It's a powerful topic, which will only help it at the box office. Reminds me of Black Hawk Down, which I also really enjoyed.





The Game Plan - The "greatest quarterback of all time" Joe Kingman has it all. A great career, a great home...... and a new daughter?!? A family comedy showing the antics of a man who might not be ready to be the father to a girl who claims to be his daughter.

How I think it will do - Like Vin Diesel in "The Pacifier", this is The Rock's foray into family comedy. Having a great sense of humor, I think he can make this movie succeed. The previews are decent, though I am afraid it may have shown all the funny parts. However, he does play for the Boston Rebels, and Boston is awesome. So this movie will do well.








Feast of Love - A modern version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, starring Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Selma Blair, and more. Local professor Harry Stevensen watches as love causes mischief among the people of the town. All of their stories intertwine into one romantic tale. From acclaimed director Robert Benton.

How I think it will do - I think this one could do ok. From the synopsis I've read, it reminds me most of Love Actually. Without the holiday theme though, I don't know how well this one will do. I don't think it will do as well as Love Actually. My prediction is #3 for the major releases.






In addition to these movies, the Darjeeling Limited is opening. Also opening is the controversial Lust, Caution. From director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain), this one scored an NC-17 rating, which means that it won't show up at most theatres. If anyone does see it, let me know how it is, and I will even post your review here. Another highly anticipated film opening limited is In the Valley of Elah, which stars Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and is directed by Paul Haggis.

Well, that's all for now! I'm going to continue trying to recover the lost elements of my blog.. and try to catch up on reading! See you all at the movies!

Review: Good Luck Chuck

Two movies in one week, really livin on the edge now! This time it was Good Luck Chuck. Have to say that I did enjoy this one, it reminded me a bit of 40 year old Virgin, but with Jessica Alba and Dane Cook. And we all know that Jessica is nice to look at. :-)

The basic premise is that our pal Chuck Logan (Dane Cook) is cursed. Any girl he goes to do the deed with will end up finding true happiness.... with the next guy she finds. Soon enough, the ladies are lining up to get their hands on him, so that they can find that next guy. Chuck, however, wants to find real love, but his curse prevents him from doing that.

Not gonna spoil it for anybody planning on seeing it, but I think you can predict what happens. There are some slight twists, but nothing too crazy. Alba is delightfully klutzy and her character is easy to like. I think Cook overacted at some points, but that might have been what the director wanted. And you can't have one of these without a foul mouthed sidekick, and that was Chuck's pal Stu (Dan Fogler). Being rated R, this movie also had its fair share of nudity for people looking for that, and no, Alba does not.

Overall your typical romantic comedy. It has a good premise, and delivered what I wanted. Seeing Cook and Fogel's characters as children was hilarious! Having Alba in this film certainly helped, and the crowd was roaring with laughter at some points. Not extremely vulgar and potentially offensive like Superbad, this is one people should enjoy! It should also make you think differently about grapefruit.

I forgot to mention, the homemade tape at the end is really cute! :-P

Re-releasing Transformers... in IMAX!

Transformers is coming back to theatres.. in IMAX! I'm sure some of you know about this. I, unfortunately did not get a chance to see Transformers. (And I work in a movie theatre, I know, I know.) That being said, I'm pretty excited about it, and thinking about how I can convince the girl to go see it with me!

Re-releasing movies has been been a pretty popular thing to do, though it doesn't always get done on the scale that Transformers is. Crash, for example, was re-released after its upset win at the Oscars. However, there are always hinderences to doing this, as some movie companies will not play movies that are available on DVD, as it states here in Variety.

This re-release of transformers is different though. They're opening it up to a different format, where viewers will really be able to take advantage of the special effects on a monstrous screen. There is also going to be additional footage not included in the original release. It would've been cool if they could've done some of the movie, or perhaps all of it in 3-D, like Harry Potter 5. Regardless, I do like how they are putting this movie in IMAX now, after the original run is just about over. Transformers did very well, having grossed over $300 million in the US alone. It will be interesting to see what this re-release will do, as Transformers grossed a paltry $605,328 (USA) on 607 Screens two weeks ago, and a pending DVD release (Oct 16). I expect the IMAX version will be accepted quite well and perform.

Transformers in IMAX opens today! Do you plan on seeing it? I'm lookin forward to seeing these guys on the BIG screen:

Green Lantern: The Movie?

There have been a ton of Superhero movies coming out recently. Superman, the Spiderman Franchise, Fantastic Four, and the upcoming Iron Man movie. There is one franchise that has been hotly discussed and debated online, even though many have yet to consider it as a potential movie: Green Lantern. Jack Black is reported to be very interested in this franchise.

From this forum, it appears that there is potential for a movie to be made by 2009. While it has not been cast yet, there are many potential candidates to play the various Green Lanterns, and the obvious Justice League characters that would be present in the film.

So who could possibly play the Green Lantern? There is a lot of speculation about this. Personally, I could see Ioan Gruffudd playing him. You might remember Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic from Fantastic Four. So he's got an advantage there in that he's already done the whole superhero thing. But there have been more than one Green Lantern. I see Gruffudd as Kyle Rayner. So how about the other two?



I think Chris Evans (from Fantastic Four as well) looks like a good Guy Gardner. What do you think?

How about for John Stewart? I was thinking maybe Laurence Fishburne, but then that wasn't it. I can't quite think of the name, but I've seen him in some movies before. Maybe you can check out the image below and help me out....
If you can think of someone, let me know and I'll add it in, and give you credit for it!








I really think this is a great idea, and so do many others. Are you hearing this Hollywood? We want a Green Lantern movie! Hopefully you'll deliver by 2009 as predicted.

Now I'm not an expert on the Green Lantern, and I know there are plenty of other people out there who are bigger fans than I am, but you can't disagree that this could be the next big superhero movie... it's just got to get made! If we can get the word out there, then maybe hollywood will listen! Who knows, stranger things have happened before right? Well, if you agree, feel free to pass the word along, either on your own blog or by any other means you can think of.

For anyone looking for a trailer... here's what we have so far....

Movies this Weekend!

Again, we have quite a plethora of movies opening this weekend. I've always wanted to use that word in writing. Plethora. Anyway, hope I haven't kept you waiting too long for a movie post here.. don't forget to vote on my poll! (Scroll down two posts to see it) Also, I was mistaken on the opening of Eastern Promises. It opened in limited release last weekend, and is going wide this weekend. Please check out my Movies this Weekend post last week for a synopsis and how I think it will do. Sorry if I confused anyone! I'll try to be as accurate as possible this time around.


Sydney White - Starring Amanda Bynes. A college comedy about acceptance, and adjusting to the cutthroat atmosphere of sororities. Sydney White (Bynes) has come to Southern Atlantic University, ready to pledge for her mother's esteemed sorority. While making it through the pledging class, White finds that the sorority life is not what she expected it to be, and ends up kicked out. Finding her way to a condemned house on Greek Row, she links up with a group of misfits, and organizes them to revolutionize "the system".


How I think it will do - I think this one will do fairly well. This is a very Amanda Bynes movie, and if you enjoyed She's the Man I'm pretty sure you will enjoy this one. It'll have some decent laughs, and some eye candy for both sexes. This'll be the one to bring the younger crowd to, and also the one people that are trying to sneak into movies will buy tickets for. The younger "date movie". :-)




Resident Evil: Extinction - The final part of the Resident Evil Trilogy. Starting off where the last one ended, Alice (Milla Jovovich) joins forces again with Carlos Olivera and other survivors in the Nevada desert as they try to eliminate the virus that is turning mankind into zombies. After being captured by the Umbrella Corporation, and experimented on, Alice now has superhuman strengths, senses and agility. She will need all this and more to destroy the virus and seek justice.

How I think it will do - Resident evil fans have been widely disappointed by the first parts of the trilogy. (Right DP?) Having seen the trailer for this one I'm actually looking forward to it. This one is going to try to satisfy all the people looking for a good horror/action flick. The curiosity factor as to how they're finishing out this series and the extensive marketing campaign should push it to decent success.





Good Luck Chuck - Starring Jessica Alba and Dane Cook. Charlie Logan (Dane Cook) is cursed. As a child, he refused to kiss a demented goth girl while playing spin the bottle, who in turn cursed him. This curse has carried on to his adult life, where even as a successful dentist, he can't find the girl of his dreams. Logan discovers that strangely enough, every woman he sleeps with finds true love.... with the next man they meet. Before long, word of his "power" spreads and women are lining up to be with him. But this is not what Charlie Logan wants. When he discovers Cam (Alba), a hopelessly klutzy penguin specialist, he knows he has to find a way to break the curse as they develop a true romance.

How I think it will do - I think this is going to be the date movie for the older crowd this week. With stunning Jessica Alba and funnyman Dane Cook anchoring this one, I think it has a decent shot at being #1 at the box office. It's definitely my pick for it. I don't know which date movie I'll be seeing though.... Being rated R, this one is sure to bring some laughs.

Well, those are our major releases for this week. Opening in limited release are The Assassination of Jesse James by that Coward Robert Ford, Into the Wild, Antonia, The Jane Austen Book Club, The Last Winter, and Trade. Lots of selection this week! Again, be sure to vote in the poll (two posts down)! I'll see you at the movies!

Halloween 2007: An Experience

I'm sure of many of you have at least heard of Rob Zombie's remake of the horror classic, Halloween. We've all got our own opinions of it, and whether you think its great or terrible is really up to you. If you have seen it, I would like to know what you thought of it. I've seen about half of it myself, and it was definitely a gore-fest.. not particularly scary, but definitely really messed up.

Digging around, I stumbled upon The Last Psychiatrist. In his blog entry, he's basically telling about his experience when he saw Halloween. He too, thought that the movie was quite messed up, not really staying true to spirit of the Halloween franchise. However, it was not the movie that was the scariest thing he saw in there. What he did see I might consider even worse than what was being shown on the screen. Children in the theatre. And we're not talking 12-13 year olds here. He said they looked 3 and 5. Now I'm no judge of parenting, but that could really mess up your kids. Leave them at home for those movies... they disrupt the people in there if they cry and you are really messing with their heads.

Now as you guys know I've had to deal with people sneaking into the movies, and that can be an annoyance, but its nothing like what we recently had a complaint about. A guest and her boyfriend recently came to my theatre to see Halloween. However, they had to leave because of the style of filming. It made them motion sick. That's fine with me, I can understand that shaky filmwork can be sickening at some point, and added to the gore and other stuff in that movie.. it can really make sense.

However, she couldn't leave it at just that. She stated that as a company, we should be responsible for posting warnings about movies that may cause motion sickness. She also stated that we refused her refund (untrue) AND asked for more money back than her tickets were worth!! That just pushes the limit! We will not refuse a refund unless you have seen more than half the movie, and even then we will probably offer passes. In addition, how are we supposed to know what will make people motion sick? If we posted warnings like that people might buy less tickets, and what incentive is there in that? We can't know what will make you motion sick.. its not like an Omni theatre where you're surrounded and can get overwhelmed.

It makes me a little angry that she would say we are responsible for her experiencing motion sickness. And to ask for more money than you paid is unreasonable. Some people just love to complain. I'm sorry that she got sick during the movie, but don't put the blame on us, all we were doing is showing a movie.

Let's be reasonable folks.

Review: Mr. Woodcock

If you're looking for a quick, feel good comedy then Mr. Woodcock might just hit the spot. As I said before, I wasn't particularly looking forward to this, and I think that really helped me enjoy this movie for what it was.

John Farley was tormented by his P.E. Teacher when he was a child. Farley wasn't exactly the smallest kid on the block, and Mr. Woodcock let him know that. He always pushed Farley hard, and it haunted him as he grew up. However, John managed to get past it and become a successful writer and motivational speaker.

Returning to his hometown in Nebraska, John finds that his mom (Susan Sarandon) is engaged to Mr. Woodcock, his childhood nightmare. Not wanting to allow this marriage to happen, Farley does everything he can to break them up. He digs up dirt on Woodcock's ex wife, tries to humiliate him, even tries to talk him out of marrying his mom. Of course, you'll have to watch the movie to see the results of his efforts! In addition to the main characters, Amy Poehler does a great job as Farley's agent. I always liked her on SNL, and she did well in her role here.

This movie did have some points that I didn't like. It was a little disjointed, and didn't flow as well as it could have. The ending was also rather abrupt. I felt like they were just trying to reach an ending as quickly as they could. Overall I was slightly more impressed than I thought I would be. It's a "cute" comedy, and Billy Bob really delivers his role as Mr. Woodcock quite well. It was kinda weird seeing Stifler act like he did in this movie, but I guess that's because SWS's reputation precedes him!

This one gets a 6.5 out of 10. If you're looking for something fun, go out and see it!

Movies this Weekend!

Alright, apologies for the lateness of this entry.. I know everyone looks forward to knowing what movies come out on Tuesday! Couldn't pass up the Red Sox game though! Lots of choices this week, so lets get started.

The Brave One - For Erica Bain (Jodie Foster) the streets of New York are her home and what she lives for, as the host of a radio show, "Street Walk". However, when she and her husband are caught in a violent attack which leaves him dead and her close to it, everything changes. Driven by fear and devastation from her loss, the streets are no longer welcoming. Armed with a gun, she kills first for self defense, but that changes as she tries to reclaim what she lost. As stories of her killings arise, the NYPD begins to go after her. Bain must decide if her quest for vengeance is what she really wants.

How I think it will do - Receiving an 80 on the tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes always helps. This movie really reminds me of a recent one, Death Sentence, except with Jodie Foster instead of Kevin Bacon. That being said, I think it will do ok. It doesn't interest me as much, but I think it will be better than expected.



Mr Woodcock - What do you do when your most hated gym teacher starts going out with your mom? Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton) specializes in the mental and physical humiliation of his students. Nothing can protect the students from his wrath, running gym more like boot camp than PE. Having overcome the mental and physical abuse of Mr. Woodcock, John Farley (Seann William Scott) has become a national bestselling writer and motivational speaker. Upon returning home to receive his town's prestigious corn cob key, Farley finds his mom has fallen in love with the bane of his childhood. Forced to spend time with him, Farley begins regressing to the insecurities of his childhood. Against the recommendation of his publicist, he extends his stay at home to try to break up the pending nuptials.

How I think it will do - This movie looks funny, but will it actually deliver? It has a chance, but I don't think it will. The cast seems a bit thrown together, and even the poster isn't that appealing to me. I'll probably end up seeing it, but won't be expecting much. That could help this film, the less you expect, the more it could end up being. Superbad will still be better than this one.

Eastern Promises - Starring Viggo Mortensen, and from the director of "A History of Violence", these two once again team up to explore the nature and psyche of their main character Nikolai Luzhin (Mortensen). A driver for one of London's most famous crime organizations/families, Luzhin carefully controlled life begins to fall apart when he meets Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), a midwife at a London Hospital. Khitrova is deeply affected by the death of a young teenager during childbirth, and delves into the history of the young girl through her journal. Khitrova's uncle urges her caution as the story is unraveled and the Vory come after her. Caught in the middle, Luzhin finds his loyalties divided, not knowing who to believe.

How I think it will do - A History of Violence was an excellent movie, and director David Cronenburg would be hard pressed to duplicate it. Receiving a 77 on the Tomatometer, it looks like he has, at least to some extent. I don't think that this will match his previous work, but it will do well. Word of mouth will help this one out if it lives up to its predecessor. Probably #2 at the box office this weekend (in my predictions).

Dragon Wars - A fantasy/sci-fi film starring Amanda Brooks and Jason Behr. A young woman is blessed with the power to transform a legendary giant serpent into a dragon who can only ascend with her ultimate sacrifice. However, the forces of darkness are out to claim her for their own. Her reincarnated lover and his mentor stand in their way.

How I think it will do - The commercials for this movie look pretty cheesy, with dragons taking out modern day war machines. I am a fan of fantasy/sci fi movies though, so this might make it to my viewing list. A couple of points to note are that it's already raked in $70 million overseas, and it being the most expensive Korean production yet. It may have a Godzilla effect over here.. but I doubt it. Probably gonna end up more like Godzilla 2000.




Opening in limited release:

In the Valley of Elah
Silk
Fierce People
December Boys
Ira and Abby
Angels in the Dust
Moving McAllister
Across the Universe

Of these, I might go see Silk, because Keira Knightley is one of my favorite actresses. Not my usual type of movie, I think it could still be decent. Of the movies that come out this week, I want to see Eastern Promises, followed by The Brave One, then Dragon Wars. Mr Woodcock could be a screening movie, as I'm not expecting much, but we'll see! More later tonight, I've gotta make up for my lack of posting!

Review: Death Sentence

A nice unplanned visit to see the girl today. Where did we end up? Why at the movies! :) Actually went to go visit the old theatre, guess they're really paranoid about their jobs cuz they wanted us to pay. C'mon, I worked there for 3 years! And the girl for 7! Luckily we had passes, though Regal decided to be uncool and go against their policy to accept all competitor coupons at this particular location. Actually, that might make a good consumerist article. They're afraid of competition, since 70% of the passes they were getting were from AMC. But they've ALWAYS taken all passes, so why take it back now that the competition is hitting hard? Oh well.

Anyway the girl decided she wanted to see Death Sentence today. I have to admit this movie surprised me. It was surprisingly emotional, and kept me on the edge of my seat several times. The much coveted single camera scene in the parking lot was excellent. Kevin Bacon delivered as the main character, though I think his transition from caring parent to ruthless killer was somewhat abrupt.

Directed by the maker of Saw, Death Sentence did not leave out the violence. Plenty of shootings and action scenes to go around. Bacon's character, in a word, was bad@$$. The action was not realistic, but the movie did convey its' message, that revenge is not always the best solution. There was also an unexpected twist in the movie... right when I thought it was over, it continued on. It caught me off guard a bit, gave me the "did that just happen?" feeling.

Again, this film is not recommended for the weak stomach. It has its share of blood and violence. However, it did surprisingly hit a nerve with me and got me a bit emotionally. There was a definite way to understand the anguish Bacon's character was going through. I won't spoil what causes it, but it made me feel like I would never put my family in that situation, when I do end up having one.

I thought this was a pretty good movie. Out of 10, I'd give it a 7. Go to see it if you're looking for a good action flick that hits close to home. Well, as close as a war with a gang that is trying to kill your family would get.

Movies This Weekend!

All right folks, its time for another edition of Movies this Weekend! It's a special weekend though, since its my birthday weekend. Let's see what Hollywood has to offer us! It better be good.

Three "major" movie openings this week, and quite a few smaller openings. This post will focus on the more major releases, but feel free to discuss or ask me about the others! You can also check out IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes for information, as well as my buddy over at Blog Cabins!

3:10 to Yuma - I've been seeing a lot of ads for this movie (on this blog anyway!) and its been getting a bit of hype. This film nearly got the axe when everyone's favorite Scientologist, Tom Cruise, dropped out. However, with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale stepping in, it finally got off its back. This movie takes place in Arizona in the 1800s. Civil War Vet Dan Evans (Bale) trying to survive through a terrible drought, agrees to deliver the recently captured outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) to the train by the same name as the title, which will bring him to trial. Through the dangerous journey to the rendezvous, the men gain each other's respect, and tackle what may end up being an impossible journey together.

How I think it will do - Receiving an 88% on the Tomatometer, the market has been craving a good western. The last one I remember being good was Open Range. This could satisfy that craving. Looks to be a real strong performace for the two. Some are saying that it could be the movie of the year. I think this movie will do well, especially with such rave reviews. It's different than a lot that's come out recently, so that will set it apart. It's going to compete for the top spot this weekend.

Shoot 'Em Up - An action thriller starring Clive Owen, Monica Belluci, and Paul Giamatti. Caught in the middle of a gunfight, Owen's character helps to deliver a baby. Forming an ally with Belluci's character, he is forced to help protect the baby he delivered from the gunmen who are trying to kill it, and the crime boss (Giamatti) who hunts them throughout the city.

How I think it will do - This movie also performed well on the tomatometer, receiving a 70. Another shoot-em up (as the name states) coming to the market, this movie could drive it home where War did not (Even though I liked War!) The star power in this movie is better, though I don't know how believable Giamatti will be as a crime boss. On the flip side, I really like movies with Monica Belluci in them, and she's in this one, so that is a plus for me. I think that this will make a strong showing, and is the only other candidate to go for #1 at the box office this weekend.




The Brothers Solomon - A comedy about two good hearted but romatically challenged brother, and their dream to fulfill their dying father's last wish: to have a grandchild. However, having been home schooled by their father in the remote arctic, their social skills are .... lacking. Hilarity ensues as their attempts to find a fit mother go disastrously wrong.

How I think it will do - This one follows on the coattails of Superbad and Knocked Up. I think that its a little too late, and the premise reminds me of Stuck on You. That movie fell short of predictions, and though I liked it, it didn't perform very well. I think that its going to be a valiant effort, but people looking for a comedy may find themselves disappointed. The star power is not there to drive a comedy like this.

Wow.. this post took forever to write. Unfortunately my internet access has been less than desirable lately. C'mon neighbors, don't you want to support my blogging effort! I guess with more support, this blog will be able to support my own addiction to the internet. Hehe, hopefully that will be in the future for this. I've been trying various things, though I can't seem to get Kontera links to work. Does anyone have any information on that one? EDIT: They work now :-)

That's all for now, what are you going to see this weekend?