Showing posts with label new theatrical releases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new theatrical releases. Show all posts

Friday, April 12, 2013

NOW PLAYING: SCARY MOVIE 5 & ANTIVIRAL

Before I begin to talk about one movie you probably won't be able to see, and another you shouldn't, allow me to apologize for now doing a "NOW PLAYING" blog post last week. I was caught up in the EVIL DEAD madness and was spent after reviewing the film and arguing about it with others all last weekend. To do a quick recap, last week saw the releases of EVIL DEAD, 6 SOULS [limited release], EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL [limited release], and JURASSIC PARK 3D!

With that out of the way, here are the newest theatrical offerings you can see on the big screen this weekend. First up is SCARY MOVIE 5:


If you sat through that entire trailer and didn't crack a grin, chuckle to yourself, or laugh out loud... then you are in intelligent human being. Egads this one looks awful; I'm pretty amazed this franchise hasn't been banished to direct-to-DVD hell by now. Boasting a cast full of actors and actresses who are no longer relevant, and chock full of tired jokes that have already been done by other awful spoofs, this seems like a recipe for disaster. But I KNOW that somehow, this piece of shit movie is going to end up in the top ten. You know what? Forget it exists and go see "42" this weekend instead, or keep EVIL DEAD in the number one spot for one more week. Heck, give the completely unnecessary 3D conversion of JURASSIC PARK a go. JUST DON'T GO SEE SCARY MOVIE 5 FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

The only other genre film to hit (select) screens this weekend is ANTIVIRAL:


Oof... it looks like an awful AMERICAN PSCYHO rip-off with a terrible dub-step soundtrack. This is a movie I'd miss out on, if only because of the trailer. Upon further inspection though, this film was directed by Brandon "son of David" Cronenberg. The story involves some dude that becomes infected with a mysterious virus that kills a supermodel. It's one of those "race against time" thrillers that looks to offer up some artsy blood and guts, so it may be interesting. ANTIVIRAL is only getting a limited release, so it's only playing in a handful of theaters across the country. If you see it, feel free to share your thoughts below.

Monday, April 1, 2013

NOW PLAYING: G.I. JOE - RETALIATION

Sorry for the late post gang. It being a holiday weekend and all, I found a lot to do on my time off, like yardwork, Easter dinner, the season finale of Walking Dead, the season opener for Game of Thrones, and being sick. Plus, funds are still tight so I didn't bother hitting up the cineplex this weekend, but that's fine by me since there was only one flick I "kinda sorta" wanted to see, namely GI JOE RETALIATION:


The fans were poisonous to the first live-action G.I. Joe flick, even picking apart the most minute of details, like the fact that ice was sinking at the climactic underwater battle in the Arctic. Me? I thought it was dumb fun and didn't tarnish the good name of Hasbro's famous toyline. After leaving the theater I felt content, but my buddy Ryan (owner of Charging Star Comics) did not feel the same way, and went on a twenty-minute tirade about the film on that fateful night. Needless to say, he is passionate about the toys and cartoons of his youth, and felt that a disservice was done to the G.I. Joe brand.

Now along comes a sequel that looks like it's better than the first (Cobra Commander looks like Cobra Commander now, and there's a buttload of ninjas!) and people are still bitchin'! Hahaha. But, that's to be expected; fans of anything get up in arms when Hollywood attempts to cash in on anything from their youth. (e.g. There's a ton of hate out there for the EVIL DEAD remake hitting screens this Friday. Luckily, there's also a ton of love for it too! Expectations are high!)

Personally I want to see this followup to the maligned G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It looks like more dumb fun, but with a little more attention to detail. If anything, I want to see it for the awesome ninja action it promises (and apparently delivers on).

That's all that's new this (past) weekend, but check back on Friday for a complete listing of all the new movies you can see on the big screen, because knowing is half the battle! [G I JOooooooeeeeeee]

Sunday, March 24, 2013

NOW PLAYING: COME OUT AND PLAY, THE CROODS, & OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN!

It's a good weekend (or was) to hit the theaters, because you can watch a decent action/thriller, an animated caveman comedy that the whole family can enjoy, and a CHILDREN OF THE CORN knock-off set in a tropical locale. Let's take a closer look at what's new! First up is COME OUT AND PLAY:


Yep, this is totally CHILDREN OF THE CORN set on a tropical isle (though it seems to be lacking the whole supernatural/religious aspect). When a vacationing couple arrives on a glorious island paradise and finds it nearly deserted, they soon discover that the adult residents of said island have been butchered by all of their children. After exposition from a lone survivor, they try to escape, but can they? I guess it all comes down to how many 5-year olds they can take in a fight. While I could probably take on my fair share of killer ankle-biters, my moral compass would drag me down a bit apparently, allowing me to only survive the onslaught of twenty or so. As for the movie, it doesn't look like anything special, but I always get a kick out a film that a.) has creepy kids murdering adults and b.) has the adults murdering them right back in order to survive. There's something very wrong with me....

20

Next up we have THE CROODS, a new animated comedy from DreamWorks Animation. A family of cavepeople wander around and go on adventures and ... stuff. I wasn't blown away by the first trailer I saw, and I'm personally surprised by how well it is doing in the box office. (Then again, I'm not so surprised because it's the first legit kids film to come out this year.) Let's check out the trailer, shall we?


 Ok, I'd watch this. It's no WRECK-IT RALPH, but it looks fun and almost makes me wish I had a son or daughter to go see it with. (Key word here is ALMOST. Haha!) I like Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone, and Nicholas Cage, who (though stricken with a malady that gives him a complete inability to turn down a role, and typically causes him to chew the hell out of the scenery) seems rather restrained here. If you've got young'uns this is def the best movie to take them to see this weekend.

Finally, if you don't live in a city that's playing COME OUT AND PLAY and you're planning on going out and leaving the kids with a babysitter, why not watch Gerard Butler reenact DIE HARD in the White House? Your final new major release for this week is OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN:


Oh MAN, how formulaic could you get?! Asian terrorists (probably North Korean because China's a major economic power in this world now and it'd be wrong to make them the villain in a movie. See also: RED DAWN remake.) easily invade the White House and capture the president, and its up to an ex-special forces/ex-Secret Service agent who happens to be stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time, to kill the bad guys single-handedly and rescue the prez.

This is screenwriting at its laziest, but damn it, I'd gladly give it a look. It's Rated R, has Gerard Butler doing what he was made to do (i.e. being an action star, not a frequent leading man in numerous retardedly formulaic chick flicks), and blows up several of Washington D.C.'s most notable landmarks! (I haven't seen this much destruction in our nation's capital since EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS! Well, except for INDEPENDENCE DAY that is!)

If you caught any of these new flicks on the big screen this weekend, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

NOW PLAYING: THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE, THE CALL, & UPSIDE DOWN.

Hey cinemagoers! Yours truly hasn't seen a movie on the big screen in a few weeks because cash is tight, but that won't stop me blogging about all the new stuff hitting theaters! This weekend you can check out Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi as a pair of washed-up magicians who have to combat the street-magic of Jim Carrey in order to reignite their careers, or you could watch Halle Berry get someone killed thanks to a 911 callback, which haunts her until she can finally avenge the victim and bring the killer to justice, OR you could be lucky enough to catch a limited theatrical release for UPSIDE DOWN which is a sci-fi, fantasy, romance! Watch some trailers below and make up your mind on what you'll catch before the weekend is through. First up is THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE:


It's probably terrible, but I just can't help but want to check out this new comedy. Carell and Buscemi look like a low rent version of Sigfried and Roy, and Alan Arkin knocks it out of the park as a washed up old school magician. Also, Olivia Wilde is never hard on the eyes, and Jim Carrey seems to be giving a funny and rather subdued performance. It's cliched as all hell, but dammit, I want to see it! (Don't judge me!)


I've heard a few good things about this one, but it looks so damned cliched (even more so than BURT WONDERSTONE), and anything produced by WWE Films makes me leery. (Though I have to admit that SEE NO EVIL and THE MARINE were pretty decent.) Methinks it'll probably be a decent thriller, but will probably fall apart towards the end, when it leads to a one-on-one battle between Halle Berry and the film's villain. I'm skipping it for now but may give it a rental down the road.


Aside from the icky love aspect of it, UPSIDE DOWN looks interesting. Not sure if it's supposed to be Earth or an Earth-like planet, but regardless, there are two mirror worlds with the lower one being normal (though destitute) and the upper one being upside down (and wealthy) and looking down upon it's neighbor. (SYMBOLISM!) No one from below is allowed to communicate with anyone above, but naturally two kids from the opposite landscapes find each other upon a mountain peak and form a bond, that eventually turns into an all out romantical yearning for one another.

Naturally this is frowned upon so lover boy must escape from authorities and somehow find a way to spend his life with Kirstin Dunst, or die trying. This is something that appeals to me on a visual level, but will also keep my fiancee's interest because there's that whole romantic angle. It's not playing anywhere around here, so I'll be waiting for the eventual DVD release to scope it out.

Also, there's a new film from Goro Miyazaki (son of the famous Hayao Miyazaki) called FROM UP ON POPPY HILL in select theaters this weekend. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case you were looking for something good and different.

Friday, March 8, 2013

NOW PLAYING: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, ABCS OF DEATH, and THE SILENCE

Along with the release of JACK THE GIANT SLAYER last week, it seems like we are now at the start of Hollywood's blockbuster season which seems to start earlier and earlier every year. (Remember when all the mega budget blockbuster films came out exclusively in the Summer?) This week, Sam Raimi looks to put a hurting on the box office receipts for Bryan Singer's latest fantasy epic, a foreign murder mystery/thriller gets a limited release, and a new-ish Horror anthology will be popping up at a select theater (probably not) near you. Leading the charge this weekend is OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL:


Admittedly I didn't have high hopes for this one (sorry Sam!) but after seeing this latest trailer, I'm inclined to grab a ticket to scope it out. It is certainly visually appealing to say the least, and from the handful of reviews I've read, it pretty much is style over substance. Plus there's a helluva good chance of seeing Bruce Campbell in a cameo appearance here, so I may just head out to see it next week!

Up next is a film I'm more than familiar with, namely THE ABCS OF DEATH (read my review for it HERE):


It kills me that this movie wasn't as good as it should have been. The concept is still pretty cool, and I truthfully want another one, but there's gotta be more quality control the next time around. Also, it seems to me that this would play better as an actual competition between filmmakers (weekly TV format?), with the winners walking away with prize money and a distribution contract. If anything though, I have to admit the advertising campaign for this is really damned good. I just watched the trailer again and was like "Man I want to see this.... oh wait.... I did. Nevermind." Hahaha.

Finally, here's the trailer for a film I've been talking about on this here blog for the past few weeks. THE SILENCE opens in select theaters and will treat you to a moody, murder mystery/thriller that'll keep you guessing until the end(?).


It seems interesting but I don't know if I'd go out of my way to see it on the big screen. This one screams "NetFlix streaming" to me, so I'll just hold off on seeing this for a while.

Are you seeing/have you seen any of these on the big screen this weekend? Drop me a comment below and tell me what you watched and how it was, or share your opinions with me on Facebook or Twitter!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

NOW PLAYING: JACK THE GIANT SLAYER and THE LAST EXORCISM PART II

Spring is nearly here and that's the best news I've got for you because March's lineup of theatrical releases is pretty sparse for all of us wanting any new genre fare. This week features a new Fantasy/Adventure and one of the only Horror flicks you'll see on the big screen in the next thirty days or so.

The main movie to beat this weekend is obviously JACK THE GIANT SLAYER, starring Nicholas Hoult ("R" from WARM BODIES) as the titular hero. Jack accidentally unleashes a horde of giants upon the kingdom he calls home when he unwittingly allows some magic beans to sprout into a giant beanstalk! Soon he and an army of brave knights will duke it out with giants of all shapes and sizes for the fate of their fantasy world. Let's see if the trailer delivers the goods....


So.... I have to admit that while I'm pretty skeptical about the quality of the CGI in this movie... I'm pretty impressed with what I've just seen. I just went from "don't give a damn if I see it" to "Hey, I think I actually want to check this out." Plus, the cast for this flick is pretty outstanding, and boasts the likes if Ian McShane, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, and Warwick Davis! Since next week is devoid of anything worthwhile, I do believe I will check this movie out!

Next up is a film that is competing for DUMBEST MOVIE TITLE EVER (thus far, its main competition is A HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA), namely THE LAST EXORCISM... 2! If there's going to be sequels to a film called THE LAST EXORCISM, then clearly it is misnomered. Perhaps the first one should have been called the SECOND TO LAST EXORCISM? In any case, here's the trailer:


I have to admit, it looks way better than I thought it would, but methinks this is a rental at best. Maybe when it hits DVD I'll have a double feature. Maybe.

6 SOULS now available On Demand + ABCS OF DEATH & THE SILENCE coming to theaters March 8th!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I needed to take a short break to accomplish some things that didn't involve movies, or a computer. Plus, admittedly, I've been goofing around and playing classic RTS games (e.g. Age of Mythology) and a game called Retro City Rampage the past few nights. Sometimes you just need to call a time-out and turn your brain off for a couple of days. In any case, here's some news about three new(ish) flicks that are coming to a theater (or Video on Demand service) near you!

6 SOULS, which I discussed in this post, is now available on various On Demand services including iTUNES and AMAZON.COM! This movie features Julianne Moore as a doctor that's lost her faith in God, but not in SCIENCE! That all begins to change when her latest patient Adam, who is afflicted with multiple personality disorder, begin behaving in ways that science can't explain. Is he possessed? Is he crazy? Or is he just really clever and kind of f*cked up? Guess you'll have to watch the flick to find out!

Next week, on Friday, March 8th, Magnet Releasing will be giving ABCs of Death a limited theatrical release. The film features 26 distinctly unique Horror shorts from 26 different directors from around the world. As you may have ascertained from my review (read it HERE), I was pretty disappointed with the film. If you want to sate your own curiosity about this movie, you can check out ABCS OF DEATH on the big screen next Friday at any of the locations listed HERE.

Also new in select theaters this coming Friday is THE SILENCE, a foreign murder mystery/thriller, in which a teenage girl is abducted in a field of wheat, where another young girl was murdered 23 years prior. Is there a connection between the two crimes? Well.... yeah more than likely. Otherwise, what the hell would be the point of the movie, right? This one is getting a limited release through Music Box Films, and you can find the list of theaters it will be playing at HERE.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

NOW PLAYING: SNITCH and DARK SKIES

This is one of those weekends where you can take a break from the cinema as there isn't much out there worth spending ten+ dollars on. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson delivers another hardcore PG-13 action film that is supposedly based on a true story, and a new PG-13 supernatural/alien abduction type flick looks to make a tiny dent in the weekend box office. (I'm guessing it'll debut in the top five, probably at number two or three. Then again, every new Horror/thriller this year has debuted at number one in the box office, so DARK SKIES may be a surprise hit.)

So here's your first choice if you're really bored and want to take in a flick. "The Rock" goes after some drug dealers to save his kid from getting the proverbial book thrown at him for "unknowingly" delivering some drugs. To save his son from ten years in the pen, "The Rock" agrees to infiltrate a drug cartel and help the feds make arrests. This of course leads to DRAMA, EXPLOSIONS, HEARTFELT YELLING, ANGRY YELLING, and GUNFIGHTS! If anything, it looks like a solid rental; check out the trailer below and judge for yourself:




The other latest theatrical release is DARK SKIES, the tale of a family that is experiencing all sorts of strange phenomena, like legions of suicidal birds, the sudden appearance of strange tattoos, horrifying yawning, and uncontrollable head-banging. It seems like they are trying to push this as a supernatural thriller, but it's clearly an alien abduction movie. Haven't made up my mind about it, but if I do watch it, I'll be renting the DVD five months from now. Behold the trailer:



If you see either flick, feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts. Were they good? Bad? Worth a rental later on down the road? Let us all know!

Friday, February 15, 2013

NOW PLAYING: A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, and ESCAPE FROM EARTH!

This week's theatrical offerings include a new animated sci-fi/comedy, a new entry in a tired(?) action franchise, and the flagship film of a new franchise aimed at women (and tweens). There's something for everyone, so let's take a look at what you take your significant other (and kids) to see this weekend.

A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD
Bruce Willis returns as John McClane. But this time, it's not Christmas, none of Hans Gruber's family is involved, William Sadler's not around to do naked tai-chi, there's no ridiculous battles with fighter jets, and now his secret agent son is tossed into the mix. Reviews have been venomous towards this new installment in the continuing (DIE HARD 6 has been confirmed) franchise, but I'm still psyched to see it.


YIPPIE KI YAY MOTHER RUSSIA INDEED!


BEAUTIFUL CREATURES
With TWILIGHT finished (for the time being... shudder) it is time for another love story involving supernatural beings to take the throne. Cue BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, which features a love story involving a girl that's coming of age and about to become either a good witch or a bad one. It's a tweener CGI-fest that at the very least looks more interesting than the constantly staring/emotionally abusive vampires from the TWILIGHT "saga."


How about the girl gets really annoyed with the witches (errr.... casters) on both sides trying to turn her to good or evil, and just wipes them all out, then takes her own life? Bam! Series is over, let's move on! What's that? The books don't end that way and you want to milk this for all it is worth? Shit.... alright.... FINE! Have it your way Hollywood!


ESCAPE FROM EARTH
No, sadly it isn't a sequel to ESCAPE FROM L.A., but a new animated film from Weinstein company. When extraterrestrial hero Scorch Supernova attempts to rescue an alien being from Earth, he's captured by an evil, misguided military, leaving only his brother and a ragtag group of incarcerated alien creatures in charge of saving the day. It's nothing we haven't seen before and should be a cute timewaster for your kids.


I like how it's all cutesy and goofy even though the main villain wants to commit multiple holocausts in space!

So that's what you have to look forward to in cinemas this weekend folks! If you see any of these flicks, feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments section, or over at Facebook or Twitter!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

NOW PLAYING: IDENTITY THIEF, SIDE EFFECTS, & TOP GUN 3D!

Sorry gang, but there's absolutely no new genre flicks for us b/cult movie fans this week. With that said, you CAN see Jason Bateman engage in fisticuffs with a plump ginger that stole his identity and rang up some huge credit card charges, or watch Rooney Mara get all sexy with Channing Tatum while Jude Law gets sued by Catherine Zeta Jones... I think, OR you could relive the homoeroticism of TOP GUN in 3D! Truthfully, out of the three choices, I'd go with shirtless dudes playing volleyball on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Here's some trailers to help you make up your mind.... to see something from last week, like WARM BODIES or BULLET TO THE HEAD:


Is it me, or does that woman (Melissa McCarthy) kind of look like a really chubby Reba McEntire?


You think this much sex, violence, and intrigue occurs any time a new drug is about to hit market? I'd like to think so.


Aside from the handful of moments that take place up in the sky in fighter jets, what's the point of making this a 3D film again?

So yeah, it's a crap week at the movies (though I have actually heard good things about Soderbergh's SIDE EFFECTS), but fear not, for next week brings us a big dumb action extravaganza! Yippie Ki Yay Mother Russia indeed!

Friday, February 1, 2013

NOW PLAYING: WARM BODIES, BULLET TO THE HEAD, & HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2

We did it! We survived January 2013's parade of mediocre theatrical releases! Last month saw Horror movies reign supreme at the box office (TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, MAMA, and HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS all took the number one spot on their opening weekends), and saw several action films fail miserably (PARKER and THE LAST STAND flopped big time; GANGSTER SQUAD is still limping along with $40 million).

But now it's February: Punxsutawney Phil will see his damned shadow tomorrow, dooming us to more Winter. Valentine's Day will happen in two weeks; love will be discovered; hearts will be crushed; oh yes, there will be drama! It's also Black History Month (ever notice that it takes place on the shortest month of the year? I'm surprised no one's complained yet.) so students will be learning about Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and the dozens of others who fought for equal rights.

That's fine and all, but what why not expand the curriculum to include black actors, actresses, and filmmakers? I think that at least a full week in Black History Month should be dedicated to the blaxploitation genre! (Kids should know who Richard Roundtree, Jim Brown, Pam Grier, and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson are!) Finally, February is now also "Women in Horror Recognition Month," where little seen, and unknown women in the Horror genre (particularly those working in independent film) try to get more exposure (other than going topless) and promote themselves. Read more about it here.

Anyway, February, like its predecessor, is usually another month where studios drop the films they don't consider to be Summer blockbuster material. Luckily we're getting plenty of decent-looking flicks to choose from at the cinema this weekend. First up is WARM BODIES:


At first I had written this off as a goofy "Twilight" type zombie flick, but after seeing the trailer(s) for it, I've changed my tune and am in fact, going to see it today! It gives us the usual zombie stuff (shoot them in the head to kill them; they crave the flesh of the living), but then goes in an entirely different direction. Aside from "My Boyfriend's Back," "Fido," and "Deadheads," there really aren't a lot of romantic "zombedies" out there, and it is rare for any zombie-themed film to try something different.

Note: I saw "Warm Bodies" earlier today and it was (for sake of a better word) cute. It's relatively bloodless, and is essentially a modern day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, with a post-apocalyptic zombie twist. My fiancee liked it quite a bit, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it myself. THIS is the romantic comedy to take your ladies to this (or next) weekend guys!

Next up, here's a little something for the menfolk! Enjoy the trailer for BULLET TO THE HEAD!


Stallone plays aging hitman James Bonobo (a.k.a. Jimmy Bobo) that teams up with a Washington D.C. cop when both of their partners get iced by Keegan (Jason Momoa), a kill-crazy mercenary. The movie looks action packed and has the two main protagonists exchanging insults while beating down / murdering some henchmen. It is good to see Walter Hill back in the director's eat I tell ya!

Note: Just saw this tonight as well. It was pretty good, but it seems like a lot of the Stallone and Sung Kang banter was left on the cutting room floor. The movie certainly lives up to its title (there are a lot of bullets fired into a lot of heads), and though the main baddie is a bore (his plot is to buy up property and convert it into CONDOS! GASP!), his main henchman played by Momoa is a lot of fun to watch. I enjoyed this one, and I'd readily recommend a matinee viewing of it!

Finally here's the trailer for a film that I've already posted about recently, namely A HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA:


I've already discussed the asinine title of the film (which TAKES PLACE IN GEORGIA, NOT CONNECTICUT!) but I'll admit that it looks like a solid rental. It's playing in limited theaters at the moment but will probably expand into the video on demand market soon.

Aside from several documentaries that are getting a small release, these three are your best bets in theaters this weekend, and I can totally vouch for two of them! But if none of these strike your fancy, you can always try STAND UP GUYS which stars Christopher Walken, Al Pacino, and Alan Arkin.

Friday, January 25, 2013

NOW PLAYING - HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS and JOHN DIES AT THE END.

January is the month where all the major studios dump their wretched refuse; this is the time of year where films go to theaters to die. The tradition continues with the release of HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS. This gritty retelling of the classic fairy tale has the two famous children growing up to become professional witch hunters, which makes sense since they were nearly eaten by one in their youth. Using anachronistic weaponry (I don't think they had shotguns and Gatling guns back then), the two siblings deal out justice to those who would dabble in dark magics and ride on brooms. Check out the trailer below:


It looks like dumb fun, and part of me kind of wants to throw down $8 to $10 to see it. It's a cool concept, Gemma Arterton is hot (I've had a crush on her since the shitty Clash of the Titans remake - read my review for that here), the witch designs are interesting (it would seem no two witches are exactly alike... unless they are conjoined twins), there's explosions, and Jeremy Renner as medieval Hawkeye. (Much like Chris Hemsworth was "medieval Thor with an axe" in "Snow White and the Huntsman.") However, I'm tight on money at the moment, so I'll just patiently wait for the DVD release later this year.

Also out now is a film I've already seen and was totally perplexed by (I rented it off of Amazon last month). I've never read the novel that the film is based on, but apparently I should have according to most sources. JOHN DIES IN THE END is currently playing in limited theaters (most likely New York, Los Angeles, and a few other big cities). The trailer will definitely entice you to check it out:


The film follows two buddies named John and Dave who get caught in the middle of an interdimensional invasion. Along the way they have to deal with the dead, the undead, meat monsters, hallucinogenic drugs, alternate timelines, and gateways to other worlds. The movie is pretty crazy, but is an engaging piece of cinema that boasts a colorful cast, which includes Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, and Doug Jones. Plus, it was directed by Don Coscarelli, who really needs to get on the ball and get "Phantasm 5" in the can before Angus Scrimm (who makes a cameo in "John Dies in the End") is too damned old to chase people and toss coffins into the back of a hearse!

I sort of "got" the movie, but apparently it meshes together a lot better if you've read the book. If you haven't, order it at Amazon.com, and give it a look. Got a Kindle? Then get the Kindle Edition.

That's pretty much all that's worth noting this week. If you're not up for either of these and are in the mood for cheesy/violent action flicks, there are plenty to choose from at the moment. Schwarzengger is back in action in "The Last Stand" (which won't be in theaters much longer since it flopped), Jason Statham is doing his usual thing in "Parker," and Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling (among others) gun down gangsters by the dozen in "Gangster Squad."

If you hit up the theaters this weekend, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the movie(s) you saw. Was it good? Was it bad? Were there any good trailers before the film? Let us all know!