UPDATES ARE COMING

I have been real busy seeing many movies and trying to come up with something new heading into the new year.  My Top Movies of 2012 list is updated with every movie I see.  I will try to get some of my newer reviews up in the coming days.  Hopefully, you continue to check out my blog as we begin the new year with a bang.

The Man with the Iron Fists MOVIE REVIEW

This decent kung-fu flick is not so great in the dialogue and acting departments but is definitely entertaining.

The Amazing Spider-Man MOVIE REVIEW

This reboot of the of popular superhero series is much darker this time around and overall much better.

Skyfall MOVIE REVIEW

Much grittier and more personal this time around, Bond may have his best hand he's ever been dealt.

Wreck-It Ralph MOVIE REVIEW

This family film starts off strong with clever writing, but starts to bore during the second half.

Cloud Atlas MOVIE REVIEW

A movie that seems complex, but maybe we're just making this great story more complicated than it actually is.

NEWS: ‘Star Wars’ Returns — ‘Episode 7′ Slated For 2015 And More Movies Planned As Disney Buys Lucasfilm

Disney has just confirmed that it has agreed to acquire George Lucas‘ Lucasfilm Ltd, and that includes rights to the Star Wars franchise that will now continue on.

BOX OFFICE REPORT: Cloud Atlas Disappoints, Argo Weathers the Storm

Four new nationwide releases all underperformed this weekend, which allowed Argo to move up to first place in its third outing.

Ice Age: Continental Drift MOVIE REVIEW

The fourth installment of this family franchise delivers more of the same, but fails to bring the fun.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World MOVIE REVIEW

This dramedy about the end of the world is well written, but the two performances from its lead bring it all home.

Iron Man 3 MOVIE TRAILER

 
Iron Man 3 is in theaters May 3, 2013.
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce
Director: Shane Black


What do I think?? This looks EPIC!! The first Marvel film to follow The Avengers looks to have not lost any steam.  I can't wait to see more of Ben Kingsley's and Guy Pierce's characters.  With Shane Black directing, I have high hopes for this one.  Definitely looks to be the best Iron Man movie to date.  May cannot come sooner.  I WILL BE THERE AT MIDNIGHT...MUST SEE!!

Silent Hill MOVIE REVIEW

 To prepare for the upcoming sequel Silent Hill: Revelation, we are going to

GET IN THE MOOD and review the original Silent Hill (2006).

This video game adaptation does have its problems, but it's not half bad.

Box Office Report: Parnormal Activity 4 and Alex Cross Fail to Impress

Paranormal Activity 4 took first place at the box office this weekend, though its comparatively underwhelming gross suggests audiences are growing tired of the perennial horror franchise. Alex Cross also missed the mark, though overall box office was still up around 10 percent thanks to impressive holdover business from Argo and Hotel Transylvania.

Dr. No MOVIE REVIEW

 To prepare for the upcoming James Bond movie Skyfall, we are going to

GET IN THE MOOD and review Dr. No (1962).

The first Bond movie gets the franchise off to a decent start, with one of the best Bonds and one of the best Bond girls to date.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower MOVIE REVIEW

A coming of age story, with strong performances from its leads, that is very heartfelt and make you care about its characters.

Madea's Witness Protection MOVIE REVIEW

The next chapter in Tyler Perry's series of movies tries to be funny, but it's safer to not watch.

Magic Mike MOVIE REVIEW

We get more than just a movie about male strippers, we get a surprisingly good movie with Tatum at his best.

Alex Cross MOVIE REVIEW

Between miscasting the lead and a terrible script, this attempt at a new action franchise completely misfires.

BOX OFFICE PREVIEW: October 19-21, 2012

This weekend we have 2 new major releases.  First, the fourth installment of a popular horror franchise.  And second, a movie based on a popular series of mystery books written by James Patterson.  Paranormal Activity 4 and Alex Cross.
...AND WE'VE GOT ALL THE INFO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THIS WEEKEND.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted MOVIE REVIEW

In the third installment of this family franchise, the fun is at an all-time high and animation has never looked better.

Jack Reacher MOVIE TRAILER

 
JACK REACHER is in theaters December 21, 2012
Cast: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Robert Duvall, Werner Herzog, Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo, Jai Courtney, Michael Raymond-James, Josh Helman
Director: Christopher McQuarrie


What do I think??  This movie is based on the popular Lee Childs novels so I think this has potential.  And there hasn't been a Tom Cruise movie that I didn't at least enjoy.  It does kind of look like a new Mission Impossible movie, but with more driving and less gadgets.  I think supporting cast in this one looks great.  And the last clip of the trailer was great so as of right now, definitely count me in.

The Avengers MOVIE REVIEW

 

Some of my favorite superheroes team up and deliver possibly the most fun I've ever had watching a movie.

Chernobyl Diaries MOVIE REVIEW

There is nothing exciting about this boring attempt for a horror movie.

That's My Boy MOVIE REVIEW

An over the top comedy that ends up being more crude and less funny.

Zero Dark Thirty MOVIE TRAILER

 
ZERO DARK THIRTY is in theaters December 19, 2012
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Edgar Ramirez, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong, Chris Pratt, Jason Clarke, Fares Fares, Frank Grillo, Jennifer Ehle, Nash Edgerton, Harold Perrineau, Jr.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow


What do I think?? This movie looks like it could be a major contender come Oscar season.  This is Kathryn Bigelow's follow-up to the 2010 Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker.  The cast lead by Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, and Joel Edgerton looks fantastic.  This movie follows the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the Navy SEAL team responsible for his death all leading up to bin Laden's final days.  It looks controversial and I can't wait.  This looks like a MUST-SEE!!

Box Office Report: Taken 2 Holds Off Argo

Ben Affleck learned not to mess with Liam Neeson this past weekend as Taken 2 held onto the box office title for the second weekend in a row, keeping Argo and several other new releases at bay. The sequel dropped 55% to earn another $22 million, while Argo pulled in approximately $20 mil. Scott Derrickson’s Sinister also had a solid opening for a low budget horror flick with $18 million, although it may drop considerably next weekend going up against Paranormal Activity 4. Hotel Transylvania and Here Comes the Boom rounded out the top 5. Elsewhere, Seven Psychopaths opened in ninth place with a pretty lacklustre $4.2 million, while moviegoers shrugged over Atlas Shrugged: Part II, leaving it with just $1.7 million on over 1000 screens. I guess all the Ayn Rand supporters were too busy campaigning for Mitt Romney?

Updated Monday Numbers

1. Taken 2 — $21.9M
2. Argo — $19.5M
3. Sinister — $18M
4. Hotel Transylvania — $17.2M
5. Here Comes the Boom — $11.8M
6. Pitch Perfect — $9.27M
7. Frankenweenie — $7.05M
8. Looper — $6.2M
9. Seven Psychopaths — $4.17M
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower — $2.15M

 Source: Film Junk

Paranormal Activty 3 MOVIE REVIEW

To prepare for the Halloween season and the upcoming Paranormal Activity 4, we are going to GET IN THE MOOD and review Paranormal Activity 3 (2011).

The third chapter in this popular franchise brings lots of the same to the table, and still manages to keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Argo MOVIE REVIEW

As a director, Ben Affleck is now 3 for 3 with this not so "little movie".

Gangster Squad MOVIE TRAILER

GANGSTER SQUAD is in theaters January 11, 2013.
Cast: Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Michael Peña, Anthony Mackie, Emma Stone, Holt McCallany, Robert Patrick, Mireille Enos, Nick Nolte, Troy Garity
Director: Ruben Fleischer


What do I think?? This movie looks amazing.  Originally scheduled to be released in October 2012, it was pushed back til January for re shoots following a certain shooting in Colorado.  What a shame....but still cannot wait.  This looks like a MUST-SEE!!

BOX OFFICE PREVIEW: October 12-14, 2012

This weekend we have 4 new major releases; a thriller based on a true story that is directed and starring Ben Affleck, a comedy about a teacher literally fighting to raise money in order to save after school programs for the high school where he works, a crime comedy with an all-star cast, and a supernatural horror film.  Argo, Here Comes The Boom, Seven Psychopaths, and Sinister.
WE'VE GOT ALL THE INFO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THIS WEEKEND.

Taken 2 MOVIE REVIEW

An unnecessary sequel that doesn't match the intensity or originality of the first installment.

People Like Us MOVIE REVIEW

It's a movie that could have had everything resolved everything in 15 minutes, but adds a little charm and heart to keep me entertained.

BOX OFFICE REPORT: Taken 2 Tops, Frankenweenie Flops

It was a big weekend at the box office for Liam Neeson as Taken 2 had one of the strongest October openings ever. Bad reviews did not seem to have any effect on the sequel as it cruised to a spectacular $50 million debut — more than twice than what the original made in its first weekend. Hotel Transylvania also had a strong second weekend, adding another $27.1 million to its total, while Pitch Perfect jumped to #3 after a nationwide expansion and Rian Johnson’s Looper dropped to #4. Meanwhile, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie earned just $11.4 million, which is even less than ParaNorman made a couple of months ago. Not only does this continue the streak of disappointments for stop motion animated films but it’s also another tough break for Disney who have had a pretty rough year. Will Wreck-It Ralph be their only saving grace next month?


Updated Monday Numbers

1. Taken 2 — $49.5M
2. Hotel Transylvania — $27.1M
3. Pitch Perfect — $14.8M
4. Looper — $12.1M
5. Frankenweenie — $11.4M
6. End of Watch — $4M
7. Trouble with the Curve — $3.83M
8. House at the End of the Street — $3.76M
9. The Master — $1.86M
10. Finding Nemo — $1.62M

Source: Film Junk

Dredd 3D MOVIE REVIEW

A fun B-rated action flick that accomplishes everything it set out to and more.

Looper MOVIE REVIEW

It's been a while since we've had a good time travel movie, but the genre looks like it has found it's way back.

The Master MOVIE REVIEW

A very smart movie with equally strong performances makes this one a gem that deserves more than one viewing.

BOX OFFICE REPORT: Hotel Transylvania Opens Big

It was a huge weekend for Sony as their animated film Hotel Transylvania had a record-breaking debut. The movie earned approximately $43 million, which makes it the biggest opening in September ever. It still wasn’t quite at the level of movies like Ice Age: Continental Drift, Madagascar 3 or The Lorax, but it was the best debut for a Sony Pictures Animation movie to date and further proof that these CG family films are always a force to be reckoned with. Elsewhere, Rian Johnson’s Looper was pretty solid in second place with $21 million, and although it did not exceed expectations, it is projected to make even more than that in China, believe it or not. Pitch Perfect also opened strong in select theatres and will build on that when it expands next week, but Won’t Back Down bombed big time ending up in 10th place. Not a big surprise considering I haven’t seen a single piece of marketing for this movie. Next weekend Taken 2 and Frankenweenie will make the competition even more fierce.


Updated Monday Numbers

1. Hotel Transylvania — $42.5M
2. Looper — $20.8M
3. End of Watch — $7.81M
4. Trouble with the Curve — $7.27M
5. House at the End of the Street — $7.12M
6. Pitch Perfect — $5.14M
7. Finding Nemo — $4.03M
8. Resident Evil: Retribution — $2.98M
9. The Master — $2.68M
10. Won’t Back Down — $2.6M

Source: Box Office Mojo

The Possession MOVIE REVIEW

Good performances help make this PG-13 horror movie watchable, but it is still missing something to make it anything special.

Lincoln MOVIE TRAILER

LINCOLN is in limited theaters November 9th, 2012 and is nationwide November 16, 2012
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Hal Holbrook, James Spader, John Hawkes, Jared Harris, Tim Blake Nelson, David Strathairn, Jeremy Strong, Bruce McGill, Lee Pace, Jackie Earle Haley, Joseph Cross
Director: Steven Spielberg


What do I think?? This movie has everything to be a great movie; the director, the cast, a historical figure.  But something about this trailer doesn't have me jumping out of my seat to run and see it.  I'm definitely seeing this either way, but hopefully a second trailer can make me want to see it opening day.

BOX OFFICE REPORT: "The Possession" Tops Worst Box Office in Over a Decade

"The Possession" occupied the top spot at a nearly comatose box office.

The fright flick with Kyra Sedgwick and Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing the parents of a girl possessed by a demon earned $9.5 million in its second outing, the lowest grossing weekend for the box office this year and one of the worst weekends at the box office in a decade. It marked the first time since 2008 that no film managed to crack the $10 million mark.

The weekend after Labor Day is typically the slowest of the year, but this weekend's grosses were down 20 percent over last year when "Contagion" opened in first place with $22.4 million. Total box office revenues are estimated at $67 million, which would make this the worst weekend at the box office since the weekend after 9/11 when revenues were $59.7 million.

"There just wasn't a strong opener," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "We came off a summer that ended with a whimper. There wasn't any momentum. It just comes down to the movies and the marketplace. There's wasn't some extraneous force keeping people out of the theaters. This crop of movies just didn't have that solid draw."

The bootlegging tale "Lawless" starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jessica Chastain kept a lock on the No. 2 position in its second weekend with $6 million, bringing its total haul to $23.5 million, while "The Words" featuring Bradley Cooper as an aspiring writer and Zoe Saldana as his girlfriend debuted in third place with $5 million.

A pair of action sequels rounded out the top five films. The ensemble flick "The Expendables 2" earned $4.7 million in its fourth weekend, while "The Bourne Legacy" captured $4 million in its fifth outing at the box office. "Expendables 2" also won $14 million internationally in 23 territories, and "Bourne Legacy" nabbed $13 million in 49 territories.

"2016: Obama's America," a conservative film exploring the roots of President Barack Obama's political views, raised its total to $26 million in its ninth week of release, earning another $3.3 million this weekend. That now makes "2016" the second highest grossing political documentary of all time behind director Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which holds the top spot with  $119.1 million.

"The Cold Light of Day," the weekend's only other new major release, wasn't able to see the light of the top 10. The drama starring Henry Cavill and Bruce Willis earned just $1.8 million in the No. 13 spot.

Below "The Cold Light of Day," an IMAX re-release of 1981's "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" collected $1.7 million in the No. 14 position. The film starring Harrison Ford as the iconic archaeologist is playing a limited engagement in 267 theaters.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.


Updated Monday Numbers

1. The Possession — $9.32M
2. Lawless — $6.01M
3. The Expendables 2 — $4.95M
4. The Words — $4.75M
5. ParaNorman — $4.2M
6. The Bourne Legacy — $3.97M
7. The Odd Life of Timothy Green — $3.65M
8. The Campaign — $3.38M
9. 2016: Obama’s America — $3.28M
10. The Dark Knight Rises — $3.22M 

Source: TooFab

The Raid: Redemption MOVIE REVIEW

The great fight sequences has me putting this one with the likes some of the best martial arts movies ever made.

Premium Rush MOVIE REVIEW

It's a simple concept, but this movie is original and is more fun than the majority of the summer blockbusters this year.

BOX OFFICE REPORT: 'The Possession' Takes Hold, 'Oogieloves' Bomb Big Time

The Labor Day weekend is not usually all that busy at multiplexes and this year it was no different. That being said, the Sam Raimi-produced horror flick The Possession still managed to drum up a decent debut all things considered, pulling in $17 million and proving that exorcism flicks still have significant appeal. John Hillcoat’s Lawless, however, was not quite as lucky, earning just $9 million ($11 million if you count Wednesday and Thursday) despite a solid cast. It was still enough to stay ahead of The Expendables 2, which fell to third, while The Bourne Legacy and ParaNorman rounded out the top 5. As for Oogieloves In The Big Balloon Adventure, it broke the record for worst opening ever for a movie in wide release (which was previously held by Delgo). Not a huge surprise considering that many of us hadn’t even heard of it prior to this weekend, but apparently their target audience didn’t know it existed either.

1. The Possession — $17.7M
2. Lawless — $9.67M
3. The Expendables 2 — $8.8M
4. The Bourne Legacy — $7.25M
5. ParaNorman — $6.55M
6. The Odd Life of Timothy Green — $6.1M
7. The Dark Knight Rises — $5.88M
8. The Campaign — $5.45M
9. 2016: Obama’s America — $5.1M
10. Hope Springs — $4.7M

Source: BoxOfficeMojo

Lawless MOVIE REVIEW

An amazing cast along with a great villain help make this film one of the best dramas of the year.

"The Hobbit 3" Gets Title and Release Date

Warner Bros and director Peter Jackson recently revealed that they will turn "The Hobbit" in a trilogy, which means that a third film will be added. Now comes word that it's set for a July 18th, 2014 release.

The studio also swapped some titles around. The first film is still called "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and is still set for December 14th. The sequel is now called "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" and will hit theaters on December 13th, 2013. The third film is called "The Hobbit: There and Back Again," which was the title of the second installment.

Looking at the release dates, the second film will come an entire year after the first film. But the third installment will come only seven months after the second one. "We wanted to have a shorter gap between the second and third films," said Warners. "Opening in July affords us not only the perfect summer tentpole, but fans will have less time to wait for the finale of this epic adventure."

Source: WorstPreviews

Marvel's ABC TV Series Greenlit, Titled S.H.I.E.L.D; Joss Whedon Co-Writing & May Direct

First announced with Joss Whedon officially signing on to write and direct The Avengers highly-anticipated sequel, details for Marvel's mystery ABC spin-off series have finally been revealed. The ever-reliable Deadline has learned not only what the live-action show will be about, but also Whedon's role(s) in its development.

The infamous site reveals that the live-action series has been greenlit, and will revolve around the fictional peacekeeping organization that's been well-established in the Marvel cinematic universe as the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division; better known as S.H.I.E.L.D.

In addition, the report adds that Joss Whedon will pen the pilot with his brother, Jed Whedon & his wife Maurissa Tancharoen. And set to start immediately, Whedon may also direct the pilot if his schedule allows it. The aforementioned writing team will also executive produce the pilot with Jeffrey Bell and Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb.

UPDATE

News broke only hours ago that ABC are green-lighting a live-action TV series based on Marvel's peacekeeping organization, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the first details have been revealed via the pilot's co-writer & prospective director Joss Whedon. Moderating the Writers Guild Theater today, Variety quotes the filmmaker saying:

“The storyline for the proposed series will be largely "autonomous" from the "Avengers" sequel feature. The series will revolve around the activities of the SHIELD org governing body for the superheroes featured in "Avengers.”


Source: ComicBookMovie