Gummo

Talk about a fucked up flick. After all, the guy who directed this, Harmony Korine, wrote the script for Kids.

Merry Christmas Eve

In honor of my favorite movie of all time...

Movie Review: Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder

Rated R

Directed by Ben Stiller

Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr.
0 out of 5

Analysis: This is that movie. And by that movie, I mean the worst movie of all time. Hell, Lord of the Rings made this piece of shit look good. Stiller and the crew tried a bit too hard to make the audience laugh. Of course, several incompetents fell for his shenigans and chuckled. The best part of the movie had to be the ending credits because at that point I knew I could escape from this theatre version of hell. As of right now, the movie has a rating of 8.1 on IMDB. That's definitely some sort of sick joke.

Pineapple Express review

Pineapple Express
Rated R
Directed by David Gordon Green
Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Danny R. McBride
***2/3 out of five
Want a movie with lots of profanity, shooting, stabbing, and fire? How about a story of crime that examines the war on drugs - just got Glen and DeCarlo's attention - and resultant black market? You get all of this and more in the highly entertaining Scarface Pineapple Express.
"Comedy" is too narrow a label for this movie. Look at that poster. See those guns?
Pineapple Express has enough action and violence to make The Dark Knight look PG-13. The profane dialogue and pot-centric plot helped get it an R, but the three leads in the poster are the only people in the movie who seem to know that it's a comedy. Gary Cole and Rosie Perez appear to think they're in a Brian DePalma movie.

But no, this is another gem from co-writer and co-producer Judd Apatow, whose formula - get funny people, have them improvise, shoot it - has yet to get old. Sure, the movie has its low points - a slow beginning, the cliché swearing grandma - but once it gets going, the laughs just keep coming. Perhaps the movie's highest point is a zany fist fight between the three leads that recalls classic violent cartoons.
You don't have to smoke as much weed as the main characters to appreciate Pineapple Express. It's an action-packed, violent farce that can appeal to plenty of demographics. Before viewing, take Timothy Leary's advice: Turn on, tune in, drop out.

W. - An Oliver Stone Movie

Looks like it has potential...

PBS's Controversial Documentary

Abraham didn't exist? The Exodus didn't happen?

The Bible's Buried Secrets, a new PBS documentary, is likely to cause a furor.

"It challenges the Bible's stories if you want to read them literally, and that will disturb many people," says archaeologist William Dever, who specializes in Israel's history. "But it explains how and why these stories ever came to be told in the first place, and how and why they were written down."

The Nova program will premiere Nov. 18. PBS presented a clip and a panel discussion at the summer tour of the Television Critics Association.

The program says the Bible was written in the sixth century BC and that hundreds of authors contributed.

"At least the first five books of the Bible come together during the Babylonian exile," says producer Gary Glassman.

The program challenges long-held beliefs. Abraham, Sarah and their offspring probably didn't exist, says Carol Meyers, a religion professor at Duke University.

"These stories are unlikely to represent real historical events, but rather there's some kernel of ancient experience in there which has survived and which helps give identity to the people at the time the Bible finally took shape centuries and centuries later," Meyers says. - Orlando Sentinel

This, to say the least, is going to definitely cause a stir in Judeo-Christian communities. I don't blame folks for being outraged.

Guess who saw The Dark Knight?

I don't have a big, "formal" review. You know why? I'll do that the second time I see this movie. In a theater, where it must be seen. This movie is even better than one would expect...and expectations are pretty freaking high.

Globe reviews Dark Knight

Two hours and 32 minutes long, "The Dark Knight" is grimly magisterial.

And that's exactly how Batman should be.

Hancock Movie Review

What superhero shall I vanquish this week? "Hancock" stars Will Smith as the eponymous headliner in what is being promoted as a revisionist bam-pow epic. But what is so new these days about a superhero who doesn't wear the mantle of heroism lightly? From "Iron Man" to "The Incredible Hulk" to "Wanted" – and this is just a culling from the past few months – the comic-book action stars have all been unwilling custodians of their powers. The true revisionism would be if a superhero actually enjoyed being a superhero.

This is emphatically not the case with Hancock, who is so bummed out about his prowess that he zooms around on his rescue missions half-inebriated. More often than not, he creates as many problems as he solves. (His public boos him.) He is, inevitably, based in Los Angeles, where image is all, and his image desperately needs a makeover. - Christian Science Monitor; Read the rest: http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0704/p25s03-almo.html

The consensus seems to be saying "Don't go see this movie"...Ben?

What Does Marsellus Wallace Look Like?

Props to Matt Hurton for this one.

Blockbluster

In a not-so-stunning announcement last night, Blockbuster announced that it has withdrawn its bid for Circuit City due to concerns over the viability of the big box retailer.

"Based on market conditions and the completion of our initial due diligence process, we have determined that it is not in the best interest of Blockbuster's shareholders to proceed with an acquisition of Circuit City," said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. "We continue to believe in the strategic merits of a consumer retail proposition that would bring media content and electronic devices together under one brand. We will pursue this strategy through our Blockbuster stores as a way to diversify the business and better serve the entertainment retail segment."

Ever since this deal was announced, I've said it would never happen and was one of the few that said it wasn't worth the trouble. First off, Blockbuster didn't even have the funds to acquire Circuit City, and secondly, I simply didn't understand why a company with its own financial woes would want to be involved with another facing extreme pressure. - CNET

You know what surprised me? Blockbuster closed in Greenwood after so many prosperous years.

The Happening review

The Happening

Rated R

1/2 out of 5

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel.

The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan's latest offering, is an apocalyptic film that follows the trend set by the more recent work of the iconic horror director. In other words, It wasn't very good at all. The plot, to say the least, is ridiculous. People in New York City's Central Park start committing suicide for an unknown reason. Minutes later, people outside the park start jumping from tall buildings, shooting themselves, and partaking in various other acts of self-destruction.
The film's main character, Elliot (Wahlberg), a Philadelphia teacher, hears about this mass-suicide, and hops on a train to western PA with his wife Alma (Deschanel), his friend Julian (John Leguizamo), and his daughter. What happens after that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the movie. The plot gets more and more ridiculous with every minute, the dialogue seems unnatural and forced for the entire film. If I could say one thing to Wahlberg after seeing this, I would say something like, "Please Marky Mark, is this the best you can do?"
On one good note however, this movie contained what is perhaps the funniest scene in the history of film. Our protagonists run like the wind from...well...the wind! My God, that scene was wicked funny. I laughed through most of the gorier parts too, because hey, I'm a guy!
Overall, I'd have to say that this is one of the worst movies that I have ever seen, ever. Please, for the love of God and all that is holy, do not waste ten of your hard earned dollars buying a ticket to see this disappointing movie.

Manufacturing Consent

This a trailer for none other than 1992's Manufacturing Consent:The Mass Media and Noam Chomsky, based on the novel Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky; published in 1988. Both works are amazing, however the book is much better. It stands as one of the finest oppositions to the mass media you will find out there. Ben, I seriously recommend that you (a journalism major) read it. Or, if not, watch the film based on it(well really just portions of the text,but also Noam's life). And I encourage anyone and everyone else to do the same! Enjoy!
P.S. the film was directed by Mark Achbar, amongst others, but Achbar also directed The Corporation. For any of you Corporation fans out there. For the nay sayers, just give this doc a chance!

Kung Fu Panda review

Kung Fu Panda
Rated PG
****1/3 out of five
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
Starring the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, and Angelina Jolie
Kung Fu Panda isn't just another stupid C.G.I. movie for the kids. It's an homage to kung fu and the great movies about it, with plenty of action and comedy to entertain all ages. Think of it as a Jackie Chan movie that happens to star a bunch of animated animals.
In fact, the man himself has a cameo, lending the film some kung fu credibility. So does the film's inclusion of the real-life kung fu salute and different martial arts styles, along with Kung Fu's James Hong as Mr. Ping. I suppose I can mention Lucy Liu's portrayal of Master Viper as well...she was in Kill Bill, a more adult homage to action movies.
Jack Black portrays the heroic, likable underdog of a title character, and the filmmakers give him plenty of room to be himself. Our generation's clown is apt for the role of Po, showing the same enthusiasm for kung fu as his other roles had towards rock and roll. Black was always a little chubby, but his character is the movie's biggest. Get ready for lots of fat jokes.
However, Po's giant appetite also serves as a key plot point. Head Master Shifu, voiced by Hoffman, realizes that he can't train the giant panda the usual way, and instead motivates him with snacks. This unconventional training proves effective, and Po becomes a warrior you don't want to mess with.
It doesn't matter how old you are. Kung Fu Panda is a fun movie, perfect for the summer. Catch it on the big screen while you can.

Harvey Korman dies

The world has lost a great comedian.

LOS ANGELES, California -- Comic actor Harvey Korman has died at 81, according to the UCLA Medical Center.

Rest in peace, Mr. Korman. I'll be sure to catch Blazing Saddles for the millionth time next time it's on.

So, I finally saw Across the Universe...

I, the world's greatest movie critic, as well as the world's biggest Beatles fan, along with being the world's most modest person, approve. Not a great movie, but the good outweighs the bad. The movie makes no sense, like any work of true psychedelia. The fact that all the songs were written by the Beatles helps. I might not have liked the movie so much otherwise.

Iron Man review

Iron Man
Rated PG-13
****1/4 out of five
Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges
Without giving too much away, I will tell you all that this movie ends with the biggest explosion I have ever seen in a film. If that doesn't sell you, what will? Oh, there's lots of other good things about the movie, too.
Every great movie starts with a great script, and Iron Man's has great characters, a nice fast pace, surprises, and a good sense of humor. It ingeniously avoids the long, boring exposition of non-sequel superhero movies by telling us all about Downey's title character, Tony Stark, in a quick video montage right at the beginning. The rest of the movie is, in short, Robert Downey Jr. being awesome.
Anyone who uses his billions of dollars and engineering genius to turn himself into a terrorist-fighting superhero is cool in my book. Perhaps even more so than aforementioned explosion, Downey sells this flick with his charming performance. He starts the movie as a likable jerk, but after a nearly successful assassination attempt and life-saving surgery, his admirable, heroic heart quickly begins to shine in more ways than one. Hint, hint.
This is one of those movies you have to see in the theater. Surround sound and amplification of the superb camera work will beget full appreciation of Favreau and company's work. Not to mention the fantastic C.G.I. that blends in seamlessly with shots of actual suits.
Iron Man is a different kind of superhero movie, but such originality is what truly makes it worth a ticket or two. With its smart script, superb acting, and impressive effects, it's just a great movie all around. Oh, and it ends with a huge explosion. Come on.

Speed Racer review

Speed Racer
Rated PG
** out of five
Written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski
Starring Emile Hirsch, John Goodman, and Christina Ricci
Put your hand in front of your eyes. Put your other hand behind that hand, but so that you can see both. Now, without moving your hands, focus on one. Good. Now focus on the other, but, again, no moving the hands.
Now, go over to the Wachowski brothers and use your hands to bash their heads together for making this movie that displays that, in many more ways than the one described in the first paragraph, they have lost focus. If you're going to spend $100 million making a movie, you better have that focus. You better know what you're doing.
Otherwise, you'll just spend that $100 million making a mess. You'll get so excited over the fact that you have a new high definition camera that can focus on every single element of the shot all at once, completely forgetting that staring at such camera work for 135 minutes straight will give the audience a headache. Wait, isn't that what filmmakers should AVOID doing?
Just about everything about this movie made my head hurt. From the overly colorful visuals, to the overabundance of unrealistic digital paintings, to the confusion over whether this movie wants to be long or short, animated or live action, a tribute to the old TV show or a parody of it. It's a cheesy, fun romp for the kids! Oh, wait, a character just swore! It's for an older crowd! Oh, wait, it's too juvenile for anyone over 10 to appreciate! Which demographic is this movie FOR?
Your best bet is for you and your loved ones to stay clear of this terrible movie, unless you and your loved ones like hurting yourselves. Andy, Larry, leave the family movie making to Disney and Pixar, and stick to what you're good at - making R-rated classics like The Matrix and V for Vendetta. Only an older crowd could handle movies like that - Speed Racer proves that if you show a Wachowski movie to the younger ones, it'll only make their heads hurt.

American Drug War: The Last White Hope

This is just a trailer of Kevin Booth's groundbreaking documentary on our Drug War; I highly recommend everyone to check it out.

Dedham's Showcase Cinemas closes

Tonight Richard Juskewicz will climb the stairs to the projection booth at Dedham's Showcase Cinemas for the last time.

Theaters suck. I see most of my movies on DVD. Only a few movies are truly worth going to the theater for.