For this week’s edition of Friday Flicks we are going to look at a much hyped and controversial dramedy starring Ben Stiller and Jack Black, a glorified Star Wars video game, and a horror/thriller with Kiefer Sutherland…
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!
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I will probably go see Tropic Thunder as it looks funny but the other 2, I will miss!! I am with you..Star Wars came and went and we need to leave it alone to all of our great memories of them..
I saw Tropic Thunder this weekend. Very vulgar, over the top, and yes, funny.
Lee, is it worth seeing? Can it wait for rental or the $1 theater?
Dan, I dont know about Lee, but I would say renter at best! My take on it was a little different than Lee’s. I would avoid it if I could go back in time. I was excited to see it, but it bombed to me!
But that one man’s opinion!
It can definitely wait. No need to rush. I wouldn’t say I wasted my money, but I would say the hype is all hype and nothing more.
Unrelated. If you want to see a GREAT movie, rent The Diving Bell and The Butterfly. It’s a french movie and one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while.
Thanks for that movie tip Lee! I’ve heard great things about it and it is currently in the top 10 of my Netflix queue.
I just saw Pan’s Labyrinth and am about to post that review.