Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr.)
Following the theme of opening movies on Wednesday instead of Friday, Tropic Thunder opened on Wednesday and brought in a respectable $7 million in box office revenues. Co-written and directed by Ben Stiller himself, this action/comedy has been favorably received by critics alike (83% positive and 7.2/10 score on Rotten Tomatoes along with 72/100 & 7.0/10 review scores at Metacritic) and although it has attracted calls of boycotts and controversy, I think it’s going to be the movie that knocks off The Dark Knight from the #1 spot. I hope to see this movie next week.

Mirrors (Kiefer Sutherland, Amy Smart)
I have heard nothing about this film nor have I seen the trailer. The IMDB description says it’s about an ex-cop and his family (Sutherland) that are tormented by demonic forces that use mirrors as a gateway into their home. Nowadays, I don’t pay big money to see horror movies, partly because my wife hates them, but mostly because I haven’t seen anything new or original come out in the last decade in the form of horror. It has typically always used the same formulaic approach to scaring the audience.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson)
There are a lot of die hard Star Wars fan boys who are lining up as we speak to see this movie, and then there are kids like my 10yr. old step-brother who can’t wait to see this movie as well. But everyone in between, the “typical movie-goer”, has not shown any interest in it. From early reports, it’s being touted as a glorified video game, and basically an hour and a half pilot episode introducing the 100 episode TV series to debut this fall. For me, Star Wars is over. I don’t want to nor will I get excited about any further editions unless it’s live action and a continuation of the story with all of the actors reprising their roles.

Which movie will you see this weekend? I will be gone all weekend at the lake so I will be out of pocket until Monday. Enjoy!

I apologize for the lack of posts on ToC and the absence of “Friday Flicks” but my wife and I are in the middle of trying to secure a new home for the next season in our life and it’s taking up a lot of my time that I would normally devote to ToC. Fear not, for I am back in the saddle and starting the “ToC Resurgence” with Friday Flicks for August 8, 2008. This week we have only a couple of wide release movies to choose from so pay close attention.

Pineapple Express (Seth Rogen, James Franco)
This is another Judd Apatow movie (Superbad, 40yr Old Virgin) starring his beloved Seth Rogen and former Freaks and Geeks star James Franco as two stoners who must go on the run after one of them witnesses a murder. I haven’t seen one Apatow movie yet and so I don’t see myself going to the theater and ruining my streak with this one. From what I have heard, it is more of an action/comedy with a lot of drugs, than the typical Apatow-sex-comedy he usually delivers. I know I am in the minority here when it comes to his movies, but I just feel that there has to be a way to make a funny movie, his kind of comedy, without the overly sexual or overly raunchy material that keeps me away. Is it a cheap way to garnish viewers? I know the majority don’t care about that kind of stuff, but to me it’s important and not worth wasting my time to see a movie that will probably offend me most of the way through.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, Blake Lively)
My wife was given this movie by my mom for Christmas and she really liked it, but I don’t have any interest in seeing the first one, yet alone paying good money to see its sequel that I would have for sure guessed was far from being made. I’m just not into a movie about four “young-teenageish-girls” going off into the world to find themselves, and I am DEFINITELY not into a movie like that in which the girls all bond around a pair of pants!! What?! A pair of pants that fit all of them? That’s the unending and unbreakable symbol of their friendship? A $30 pair of designer jeans that magically fit all 4 differently shaped girls??? AND THEY MADE 2 MOVIES FROM THAT CONCEPT???

If you’re not in the mood for either of those movies, there is also a limited release movie starring Chris Pine and the great Alan Rickman called Bottle Shock that’s picking up a lot of positive reviews. It’s a story of the early days of California wine making centered around the great blind Paris wine tasting of 1976, known as the “Judgment of Paris.” Check your local listings to see where it’s playing around you.

What movie will you go see this weekend?

The Incredible Hulk (Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth)
There has been a lot reported on about The Incredible Hulk, much of the news coming straight from ToC’s Movie News Headquarters, and there are a lot of people hoping this movie will be great. Some fans still have the bad taste in their mouth left from the previous Hulk movie, and they are a bit jaded towards this new installment.

What Critics Say: The collective opinion from most of the movie critics, both online and in print, is that this Hulk movie is definitely better than the 2003 version in that its story is more accurately balanced and clear combined with a lot of good summer action, but that it’s not a “blow-you-away” superhero movie like Ironman or Batman Begins was. It’s most assuredly not a dud like a lot of people were expecting, but it’s not as revolutionary or mind-blowing as the two films I just mentioned.

What ToC Says: I think with how bad the previous film was and how much hostility there is towards it that the filmmakers of this installment went for a more “safe-summer-blockbuster” action movie to just kind of get their foot back in the door of the fans. I am definitely going to go see it and am not expecting an Ironman-movie, but I am expecting to be entertained and I want to see Edward Norton and how he handles the load of trying to restart a much-loved franchise. Don’t let the old movie ruin this one for you. Look at it this way, can it really get any worse?

The Happening (Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo)
If you remember my Summer Movie Preview, I ended my preview of this movie with “You will not be disappointed” and I think after what I am hearing that I may have mislead you. There has been lots of reports and posts about M. Night and his rocky history with Hollywood studios and his films and how they have steadily spiraled downwards in their success.

What Critics Say: To quote my friend Garth over at Dark Horizons, “Shyamalan’s eco-thriller can fairly be called his worst movie yet.” Anywhere you go, paper, online, CNN, you are going to find negative reviews and opinions about this movie. The critics do not like this movie and they are letting you know.

What ToC Says: People, this is M. Night Shyamalan!! Don’t let anyone persuade you (well, besides ToC of course) to not see this movie based on past experiences, and besides, it’s his first ever main stream R-rated movie and that to me says something. I am excited about seeing this movie and revisiting the world of M. Night Shyamalan.

Enjoy this weekend and if you see any of these 2 movies, please let me know what you thought in the comments.

Sex and the City (Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon)
This movie has longed been rumored to be in production and ever since the TV show ended, talks of turning it into a movie have been running wild…well, the wait is over! I will not nor do I want to see this movie as I never saw nor did I like the TV show. Any movie or TV show with the title “Sex and the City” doesn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination. If you ever watched or liked the TV show, I’m sure you will be lining up to see this one…but I will be at the other theater watching Indiana Jones!

The Strangers (Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman)
There aren’t many scary movies that surprise me in its premise or story, as most of them over-gore you to death and involve very predictable sequences of teenagers making stupid decisions, but this movie is different. I have watched the teaser trailer and I am genuinely terrified of this movie. First of all, any movie that revolves around a simple looking house in the middle of the night while you are home alone, frightens me to my core!! The buzz around this movie is looking like it’s going to be one of the scariest of this year, people talking about how it’s more creepy and suspenseful, rather than violent and horrific. I won’t see this, no, you can’t make me nor could you pay me enough. But, it will make money and most likely scare the crap out of a lot of people.

Alright, that’s what you got for the mainstream releases….take your pick.

Baby Mama (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear)
From first-time-helmer Michael McCullers comes a tale about 2 unlikely women becoming friends through pregnancy and motherhood. I really like Tina Fey and think 30 Rock is one of the most underrated comedies on TV right now, but I don’t know if she’s strong enough to lead an entire movie…thankfully, she has the great Amy Poehler to back her up. This movie has a handful of SNL alumni in it, as you of course would guess, and probably contains a lot of witty one-liners and physical comedy, but from what I have heard, it also manages to honestly present a touching story about motherhood and surrogacy. I don’t think it’s worth seeing on the big screen, but I might see it if it comes out in the $1 theater.
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a drug reference.

Deception (Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams)
Ewan McGregor plays a lonely nerdy accountant who meets a wild lawyer, played by Hugh Jackman, and gets somehow introduced into an unknown and dangerous sex club. There is nothing about this movie that intrigues me. Everything about it screams predictable. Even down to the trailer, I know what’s going to happen. With the strong sexual content, I am definitely warning you, it’s going to be a very rough movie to watch. This is not one I am going to see. Plain and simple. Hugh Jackman does look good playing the “likable villain” though, which I think he should play more of.
Rated R for sexual content, language, brief violence and some drug use.

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (John Cho, Kal Penn)
I don’t know what this movie is about. I have never seen any of these movies, and from what I can tell, I am the better for it. I think it’s about 2 guys, maybe modern day Cheech & Chong’s, who might be trying to escape from Guantanamo Bay, and throughout it all they might encounter girls, pot heads, and other crazy weird characters. I might need someone to enlighten me about these guys because I don’t feel like I can honestly report to you anything about this movie…anyone?
Rated R for strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language and drug use.

What will you guys see this weekend?

88 Minutes (Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski)
A thriller about a college professor (Pacino) who, while moonlighting as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI, receives a death threat telling him that he has only 88 minutes to live. In narrowing down possible suspects, he frantically seeks to communicate with a problem student, an ex-girlfriend, and a serial killer on death row. Sources tell me that Pacino is the only positive thing about this movie. If you like Al Pacino, then I’m sure you’ll love this movie. As for me, it may make my Netflix queue sometime down the line, but don’t count on it.
Rated R for disturbing violent content, brief nudity and language.

The Forbidden Kingdom (Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano)
Though I don’t normally get too excited about martial arts movies starring Jet Li, I do get excited when it’s the first movie that Jet Li AND Jackie Chan are in together! Put aside the plot, the direction, the story, come on, it’s Jet Li and Jackie Chan! We’re talking about high-flying martial arts, insane crazy fight sequences (more like choreographed dances with violence), and many many Asian jokes. Oh, and get this, Jackie Chan has DREADLOCKS throughout this entire movie…if that doesn’t inspire you, then I don’t know what will. If you’re wondering if this is all a big sarcastic rant about how much I am NOT going to see this movie….you’re probably right.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of martial arts action and some violence.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis)
If you’re into debauchery, nudity, overt and perverse sexual humor, then this film is for you. From the much-praised (not from ToC) creators of 40 Yr. Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Superbad, comes another movie that hints at a real story but in the end just litters the screen with nudity, sex, and perverse jokes that I’m sure will bring in millions this weekend…sadly. What’s so unfortunate about Judd Apatow’s movies is that from what I’ve heard, they are really funny and clever and smart, but all of that is derived from sex…if he could come up with a way to make a movie that was funny, clever, and smart but that did NOT revolve around sex, I’d be the first in line.
Rated R for sexual content, language and some graphic nudity.

What will you see this weekend?

Prom Night (Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup)
Prom Night is about a girl who goes to prom expecting the best night of her life yet finds out that an obsessed killer from her past is stalking her. Doesn’t that just sound like the most entertaining plot line you’ve ever heard? This movie stars a lot of unknowns and follows very closely to the cookie-cutter-teeny-slasher movie pattern that is so hot today. If you really enjoyed Scream, then you might enjoy this. My opinion: don’t take this too seriously or waste your money.
Rated PG-13 for violence and terror, some sexual material, underage drinking, and language.

Street Kings (Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie)
Street Kings follows Keanu Reeves as a cop who is living and trying to cope with the death of his wife while going on a personal vendetta-rampage through the gang-infested streets of Los Angeles to avenge his partners death, whom the Internal Affairs department thinks he was a part of. This movie looks fast paced and action packed with all of the twists and turns and backstabbing you would come to expect from a cop drama. I don’t think I will see this one with my wife, but this definitely looks like a great guy-action movie! It’s good to see Keanu back on the big screen shooting people and causing mayhem, like he did back in the good ole’ “Speed” days.
Rated R for strong violence and pervasive language.

Smart People (Dennis Quaid, Ellen Page, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Hayden Church)
Smart People is a neat little indie flick from the Sundance Festival that has received a lot of praise. It’s essentially the anti-Little Miss Sunshine film that stars awesomely-bearded Dennis Quaid as a widowed professor trying to raise his amazingly smart and socially-awkward daughter, played by “Juno’s” own Ellen Page, while trying to start a new relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker and deal with his ignorant yet wise-when-he-needs-to-be adopted brother, Thomas Hayden Church. This film’s honesty and gloom I think will translate into an enjoyable date with a dysfunctional family that’s a lot like our arguably functional ones. This is one of those films that you’ll miss at the theaters, but one that packs a very smart and poignant punch.
Rated R for language, brief teen drug and alcohol use, and for some sexuality.

What will you see this weekend?

Leatherheads (George Clooney, John Krasinski, Renee Zellweger)
This movie has been heavily advertised since its trailer inception last year. With the movie toting a heavy star-load, the likes of Clooney, “Jim” from the Office, and Renee Zellweger, you can’t help but think this will be movie gold. When I first saw the trailer and heard the NFL Films guy’s voice, I was intrigued. Set back in the early 1920’s you can expect a lot of slapstick comedy combined with some good ole’ physical humor involving big tough football goofs. The fact that Clooney directed this movie adds another layer of expectation for me since I truly value his work. I’m not sure how “Jim” from The Office will fair on the big screen, but if he’s as lovable and down-to-earth as he is as “Jim,” then I’m sure he’ll do fine. Don’t expect an award-winning movie, but definitely expect to have some fun.
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Nim’s Island (Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler)
Anything can happen on Nim’s Island, a magical place ruled by a young girl’s imagination. It is an existence that mirrors that of her favorite literary character, Alex Rover- the world’s greatest adventurer. But Alexandra, the author of the Rover books, leads a reclusive life in the big city. When Nim’s father goes missing from their island, a twist of fate brings her together with Alexandra. Now, they must draw courage from their fictional hero, Alex Rover, and find strength in one another to conquer Nim’s Island. I don’t know how I can say it any better than, “I WANT TO SEE THIS MOVIE!” First of all, it has my favorite young female actress in it, Abigail Breslin, second of all, it’s a fantasy movie from the studio who brought you (and will be bringing you) “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and third of all, it also stars my current #1 guy crush…Gerard Butler! Bottom line: GO SEE IT!
Rated PG for mild adventure action and brief language.

The Ruins (Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone)
So, you’ve got some teenagers on vacation in Mexico and they naively begin an archaeological dig among some old ancient ruins…that happen to be housing something evil that I’m sure will slowly kill off all but one of the teens. It does sound very atypical to the type of teeny-horror movies we have seen over the last few years, but the odd difference about this one is that it’s actually based on an actual novel, Scott Smith’s “The Ruins.” It does look very creepy and scary and not a movie I am going to see. These kinds of movies make me wonder how much MTV-themed-scary-movies can they keep making. It’s all the same! Teens get together somewhere out in the middle of nowhere, get sexual with each other, and then one-by-one they are taken out by someone or something…until one of them mistakenly and accidentally kills the “bad guy” and gets out alive. Take it from me, avoid this one.
Rated R for strong violence and gruesome images, language, some sexuality and nudity.

Armed with that information, what movie will you see this weekend?

21 (Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne)
21 is based on Ben Mezrich’s nonfiction bestseller “Bringing Down the House,” about six M.I.T. students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. From the trailers I have seen, this movie looks really exciting and fast paced. I am always intrigued by movies that are based in part on true life stories, and of course, with movies that have Kevin Spacey in them as well. Up-and-coming actor Jim Sturgess, Jude from Across the Universe, leads a young, but formidable cast, into the crazy and at times shady world of Vegas casinos. Aussie film director Robert Luketic, who is best known for more bubbly, girl-centered, romantic movies, (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law, Win a Date with Ted Hamilton) tries his hand at an action thriller that in my opinion will pay off big!
Rated PG-13 for some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity.

Run, Fat Boy, Run (Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria)
Run, Fat Boy, Run is another movie from the down-to-earth Scottish comedian Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead fame. He plays “Dennis”, who is a clueless and slightly overweight guy, who left his pregnant fiancée five years earlier. Every day, he tries to persuade the woman he loves to accept him back into his life, but everyday he fails. When he discovers that “Libby” (Thanide Newton), his love, has found a partner in the form of American “Whit” (Hank Azaria), frustration grows, and he vows, that for once in his life, he will finish something. This something ends up being a Nike River-run in London. With his friends by his side, Dennis begins training for the marathon he must finish. I’ve never seen 1 movie that Pegg has done and I think I regret that. Everyone that has seen him in a movie has recalled to me how funny he is. There’s something humbling about his comedic approach. What makes this movie more appealing to me is that this is the directorial debut of David Schwimmer (Friends). Pre-screenings have audiences laughing out loud and claiming this movie to be the funniest comedy of 2008. I am really looking forward to seeing this one with my buddies here soon.
Rated PG-13 for some rude and sexual humor, nudity, language and smoking.

Stop Loss (Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
Stop Loss is about a decorated Iraq war hero, Sgt. Brandon King (Phillippe), who makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind. Then, against his will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor. This is one of those movies I am sure will cause some controversy once the public starts seeing it and writing about it. I can really see this movie hitting home with a lot of people, especially concerning our current war situation. I typically enjoy war films for the most part, and at first glance I wanted to see this, but I don’t think I would be able to handle it. I can’t even understand the feelings and emotions that families go through when they have to send their son or daughter out to war, so I don’t EVEN think I could withstand watching a movie about someone who has to go BACK after serving. Depending on your feelings of the war, this movie may be enjoyable, or it might add to the already fuming rage you have over the war.
Rated R for graphic violence and pervasive language. (re-rating; originally also some strong sexuality)

Superhero Movie (Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Leslie Nielsen)
A parody of superhero films, from Batman Begins to Fantastic Four. Anytime you see that Leslie Nielsen is in a movie with Pamela Anderson, you automatically know what it’s going to be: a big loss. Following in the long unfortunate line of “Scary Movie #” and any movie where Eddie Murphy plays more than 1 character comes another movie that should never have been made. Though I do give it a 1/2 pt for being original in that it’s seemingly the first superhero parody movie we’ve seen, I don’t give it much chance in the box office. I mean, when you have a Nickelodeon star as your male lead, how strong do you think it’ll be? Take it from me, don’t waste your time.
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, comic violence, drug references and language.

Well, I hope that helps you out in your pursuit to pick a movie. If you have any disputes to what I said or have any additional details to add, please feel free to engage in discussion by leaving a comment below.