This week’s releases include: the tale of upwardly mobile young man; a stunning but draining picture; an action-adventure that takes you from hell and back; a sci-fi series based on a master’s work; and the most recent happenings in Bon Temps. (more…)
Archive for May, 2011
Series Scoped: Pirates of the Caribbean
Posted: May 26, 2011 in SoapboxTags: Geoffrey Rush, Gore Verbinski, Ian McShane, Jack Davenport, Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Penelope Cruz, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Rob Marshall
**Spoiler alert**
There are basically two reasons we flock to theatres by the thousands each time a new Pirates of the Caribbean is released: Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow and the entertaining action sequences (choreographed to that now unmistakable theme music). The first Pirates film set up these expectations and spawned a successful franchise; however, if the fourth film — a reboot — was the first, I don’t think they would have made another. The fact that we can expect at least two more pictures from this cash cow ($90 million at the opening weekend box office for film #4) only leaves me to hope they learn from the many errors committed in the most recent instalment and deliver an improved chapter next round. (more…)
New on DVD & Blu-ray: May 24, 2011
Posted: May 24, 2011 in DVD & Blu-ray ReviewsTags: All Good Things, Charlie Sheen, Colin Farrell, Emily Blunt, Formula 1, Frank Langella, Gnomeo & Juliet, Grand Prix, James McAvoy, jason statham, Joel Schumacher, Johnny Depp, Keith David, Kirsten Dunst, Matthew Davis, Michael Caine, Oliver Stone, Ozzy Osbourne, Platoon, Robert Durst, Ryan Gosling, Tigerland, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe
This week’s releases include: a true story extrapolated; a first-person point of view tale of speed; a twist on a classic love story of star-crossed lovers; a powerful look at a soldier’s life in 1967; and a contrasting glimpse of life in one of the toughest army training camps. (more…)
Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Posted: May 20, 2011 in Film ReviewsTags: Blackbeard, fountain of youth, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Rob Marshall
After the complex story lines in the previous chapter, the goal for the fourth instalment was to keep it simple. In that it is successful — maybe too successful. The two-plus hours of the film weighs heavily on its viewing experience because so little happens for so much of the movie. In a pirate flick, the adventure of traveling from A to B should be better than a trip to White Castle. (more…)
New on DVD & Blu-ray: May 17, 2011
Posted: May 17, 2011 in DVD & Blu-ray ReviewsTags: Anthony Hopkins, Ben Foster, Brad Anderson, Colin O’Donoghue, Daydream Nation, Donald Sutherland, Down Terrace, hayden christensen, jason statham, John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, Kat Dennings, Reece Thompson, Thandie Newton, The Mechanic, The Rite, Vanishing on 7th Street
This week’s releases include: the confused tale of a confused teenage girl; a mafia family being torn apart by mistrust; the remake of a Charles Bronson film about an assassin; a true tale of exorcism and faith; and a validated fear of being swallowed up by the nothingness. (more…)
Review: Meet Monica Velour
Posted: May 14, 2011 in Film ReviewsTags: Brian Dennehy, Dustin Ingram, Keith Bearden, Keith David, Kim Cattrall, Meet Monica Velour
Stars Kim Cattrall and Dustin Ingram, and writer/director Keith Bearden were in Toronto for the red carpet premiere of Meet Monica Velour. “I’m so happy to bring this film to Canada,” said Canadian-raised Cattrall. Ingram added, “If I was going to break it down in nerd terms, the U.S. is a PC and Canada is a Mac.” (more…)
Review: Bridesmaids
Posted: May 13, 2011 in Film ReviewsTags: Bridesmaids, Chris O'Dowd, Ellie Kemper, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Paul Feig, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey
It’s not often an in-your-face comedy is created specifically for women. We are usually meant to settle for romantic comedies or dramas alleviated by humour – it almost always has to have a more serious narrative as the dominant factor versus just relating a string of jokes to which women can relate. These types of movies have been produced for men for decades, but ladies get ready to flock to the theatre because it’s finally playing a comedy made just for you. (more…)
