Superman Week

/ / Film News & Trailers

It’s Superman Week boys and girls.  For the next couple days we’ll take a look at the big blue boyscout, the man of tomorrow, the last son of Krypton – Superman – all cumulating in our reviews for the new film directed by Bryan Singer and staring Brandon Routh this Wednesday.  Of course that’s not the only movie getting released this week.  Check inside for the full list.

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more, just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look, just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

Opening Wednesday:

Superman Returns

Bryan Singer’s remake/sequel involves the quick retelling of the Superman origin and then Superman’s return from space after a five year absence following the events of Superman II.  Richard Donner’s vision, Christopher Reeves’ Clark Kent, and Hackman’s Lex Luthor and more are all lovingly recreated here.  Unknown Brandon Routh takes on the role of the last son of Krypton, beach babe Kate Bosworth is Lois Lane, and Kevin Spacey goes bald as the new Lex Luthor.  A little too long, and a little too familiar, but it’s heart is in the right place and has quite a few nice nods that Superman fans will recognize.  Check back Wednesday for our review.

Who Killed the Electric Car (New York and Los Angeles)

The new documentary by Chris Paine examines the mysterious destruction of what was one of the most efficient, cleanest (it produced no dangerous emissions), fastest, AMERICAN built cars ever made, whose invention should have transformed the auto industry and how it disappeared overnight.  Martin Sheen provides the narration as the film documents the odd story of the car that might have, and should have, been.  Included are interviews and clips from various celebrities including Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson, Peter Horton, and former Baywatch babe Alexandra Paul.

Opening Friday:

The Devil Wears Prada

Young nobody Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) moves to New York and lands a job as an assistant to the ruthless fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Maryl Steep).  The film was adapted by Aline Brosh McKenna (Laws of Attraction, Three to Tango) from the novel by Lauren Weisberger.  Close’s character is based on Vogue editor Anna Wintour who was less than pleased with the portrayal or film and rumors of her attempting to keep the cast from shooting in fashion locations have received more interest than the film itself.  After her work in more grown-up roles (Brokeback Mountain, Havoc) Hathaway retuns to yet another of her sweet and innocent bread and butter roles.

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Remote Failure

/ / Movie Reviews

So, does anyone out there realize how full of schlock Adam Sandler’s movies are?  It seems obvious to me that the scripts about learning a “valuable life lesson” that take the writing ability of a freshman in High School just recycle the same boring themes, but The Longest Yard grossed $158 million.  I guess either I’m to critical on the guy or America has a rather large idiot count.

Click
1 Star

It’s been nearly 13 months since the innovatively not innovative Adam Sandler graced us with his presence on the big-screen, which is obviously far too long.  On average of once a year, Sandler pops out another flick guaranteed to gross north of $100 million to the delight of middle schoolers and the spite of people who know what quality cinema is.  Sandler continues the tradition with Click, a rehash of It’s a Wonderful Life, with more fart and dog-humping jokes to satisfy Sandler’s fan-base.

Sandler plays Michael, a guy who’s working a mile a minute without taking a time-out to spend with his pint-sized kids or his wife (Kate Beckinsale).  I’d go ahead and describe him to you some more, but you’ve already seen the father figure torn between working and spending time with his family a few dozen times too many in other movies as it is.

Michael’s on the verge of a breakdown until he wanders into Christopher Walken, in the back of a Bed Bath & Beyond in the hunt for a universal remote.  Walken, who I’m starting to believe doesn’t act anymore as much as just memorize lines and recite them through his bouncy dialect, gives him a remote that brings more to the coffee table than Michael bargained for, though – the remote somehow controls life outside of the tube.  That’s right, now Sandler can pause, mute or skip all of those crappy movies he puts out.

At first it’s wonderful, even though Michael decides not to take advantage of avoiding the aforementioned feature.  Instead, he uses the remote to fast-forward through important matters such as arguing with his wife and working – anything important he just skips.  You’d think that by now, Sandler would have figured out not to take the easy way out from all of his dull comedies that teach the longer road is more worthwhile; but the guy just seems unable to learn.

And so, to further the plot, the remote begins to automatically fast-forward through all of Michael’s life.  It becomes rather convenient for teaching life lessons, but overall it’s a pretty damn stupid contingency.

One catch of the film is that as Michael’s remote fast-forwards, we’re taken to that mysterious far-off place called the future, specifically the 2020s.  With this comes all sort of wacky hairdos, bright colors and walls that work as TVs.  If the script weren’t so dully put together, the film’s failure would have been promised with this idea of the years to come you might see at Tomorrowland in DisneyWorld a few decades ago.

The film’s one area of success is the casting of Henry Winkler.  Maybe it’s just this writer’s fond memories of seeing the veteran actor on Happy Days and Arrested Development, but the guy is heartbreaking as the father that Michael forgets.  It manages to give the film – dare I use such a cheesy word – heart?

Sandler has talent.  He lets himself out of his cage a couple of coveted times in the movie to make us laugh, and he proved in Punch-Drunk Love that he can act too.  But the guy just doesn’t care enough to push himself, Click is just another Sandler flick shoved into cinemas to make a fortune and then be forgotten.

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Movies We Want to See

/ / Film News & Trailers

We see tons of films and get to discussing them from time to time and often wax nostalgic on films we would rather see made than what we’ve just witnessed.  I’m a big fan of Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise and the sequel made a decade later Before Sunset.  I’ve wondered why other great romances aren’t given a second look a few years down the line.  The one I’d most like to see would be a sequel to my favorite Cameron Crowe film of all time about a kickboxer and princess…

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1989’s Say Anything… remains one of my favorite films.  The tale of opposites attracting has never been more memorable, more engaging, more fun, or more sweet. 

I enjoyed Linklater reuniting Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy’s characters from Before Sunrise to let us see those same characters years later in Before Sunset (read that review here).  I would love to see Cameron Crowe do the same and reunite the kickboxing Lloyd with the brainy Diane.

What happened to those two young lovebirds when the plane touched down in London?  Are they together or apart?  Let these two reunite and bring all of us along for the ride!  We’ve been smashed from all sides with recent ridiculous and horrific pseudo-romantic-comedies and I for one would like something a little more meaningful.  I’ve been critical of Crowe’s last two films (Vanilla Sky and Elizabethtown) which lack the heart of these characters, but I wish he’d revisit these two and see where they would take us.

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New on DVD

/ / Home Video

We’re here to keep you informed on hot choices for renting or buying new DVD releases. Released this week: Syriana, Eight Below, Night Watch, The Hills Have Eyes, Charlie Chan Collection Volume 1, The Omen 2-Disc Collector’s Edition, Justice League Season Two, Superman The Animated Serious Volume Three, Lois & Clark The New Adventures of Superman Third Season, News Radion Fourth Season and The King of Queens The Fifth Season.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

Syriana – Syriana, while not based on any specific events, gives a chillingly accurate portrait of the many pressures brought to bear on the Middle East oil concerns.  Multiple storylines (each intrinsically tied together) converge to show how poverty, politics, reform, and economic opportunity work against each other, creating unintended consequences for all.  People who don’t follow politics might get lost among the multiple storylines, but in reality each scene impacts every other, even if it’s not readily apparent.  Top notch performances from all the leads, with particular notice going to the excellent Jeffery Wright, as a lawyer who slowly gives in to corruption. Check out a more detailed version of Aaron’s review or Alan’s.

Eight Below – Have a box of tissue ready for this one, it’s a tear jerker. You will cry in happiness and sorrow as these 8 dogs make it on their own for over 6 months during storm season in Antarctic. Everybody will want to go out and buy a Husky after watching Eight Below. Based on true events of sleigh dogs and their frontier explorers, this film is great for the family. Hey the actors are good too, especially that American Pie guy, Jason Biggs; ya, I didn’t know he was in it either. Get a detailed review from Alan.

Night Watch – Russia’s, Nochnoy Dozor (Night Watch), is a monster/gore-fest that looks like it was loosely based on a darker (very dark and very German, with out a sexy hero or heroine) version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Moscow is split up between good and evil, day and night, supernatural humans with a truce with the evil/vampire versions roaming the night and the good in the day. The vampires are forced to stay within their realm by a “Night Watch” who controls their temperaments through light forces.

The Hills Have Eyes – Close to Wes Craven’s version from 1977, an A-typical American family find themselves broke down out in the middle of nowhere and being chased by crazy ass psychos who like to torture and murder innocents just for kicks. This group of freaks stayed around for the government nuclear testing during the 50’s and certainly messed with their physical and mental being. Some of the families fight back and escape, very similar to a Chainsaw Massacre feel. I have to wonder, with films like The Hills Have Eyes and Silent Hill exactly why Rob Zombie had such a hard time getting anybody to produce House of a 1,000 Corpses.

Special Edition or Series Release:

The Omen (2-Disc Collector’s Edition) – Next to the original Exorcist, The Omen is a close second to leaving you with that odd uneasy feeling of something evil lurking beneath our souls. Now, we get even more of being scared of possessed children (most are already) in this 2 disc special edition of The Omen.

Animation:

Justice League – Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection) – Here is a 4-disc, 26 episode animated collection that includes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and The Flash, all using there super powers to fight evil and save the world and beyond.

Superman – The Animated Series, Volume Three (DC Comics Classic Collection) – A 2-disc, 18 episode Superman animated adventure. Aliens come to town to destroy the world and Superman is no match for Darkseid. The evil warlord takes control of Superman and makes him take over the planet to help Darkseid to rule the world; no worries, everything works itself out in the end.

TV:

Lois & Clark – The New Adventures of Superman – The Complete Third Season – It’s looks like Superman week this week with DVD releases. Lois & Clark is a TV version with a younger Man of Steel and a much younger and more beautiful Lois; saving the world one super power moment at a time and falling in love.

News Radio – The Complete Fourth Season – The 4th season of the politically incorrect sitcom full of humor, office politics, a loony boss and a bit of romance. What boast a wonderful comedian like Phil Hartman can’t be all that bad! Dave Foley, Stephen Root, Andy Dick, Jon Lovitz plus many more made up the cast of News Radio, all set on one stage and very funny.

The King of Queens – The Complete Fifth Season

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