Oz: The Great and Powerful

Sam Raimi has officially committed to directing Disney’s Oz: The Great and Powerful, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. This basis of the movie will be “an origin story about the infamous Wizard of Oz” and will be “following his story from the time he was a circus wrangler on earth to his crazy fantastical journey via a tornado to Oz.” Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to be playing the Wizard of Oz, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. The film is set to be released in 2013 in 3-D.

I really hope they do this well. The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite movies, and I’d love to see a good prequel for once.

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Now Playing: September

This is super delayed. Oops.

Kick-Ass
My rating: B+.
Kick-Ass
was so, well, kick-ass. I was skeptical going into this, but I’m glad I watched it.  I’m usually not one for action and what not, but Kick-Ass was tasteful enough to enjoy. All the characters were cast great, and it doesn’t hurt that Aaron Johnson is adorable. I laughed numerous time during the movie, and I thought there was a perfect mix of seriousness, humor, and action. If you haven’t seen this yet, watch it. If you have watched it, let me know your opinion on it!

The Jerk
My rating: C+.
It was funny, but I wasn’t dying the entire time. There were definitely hilarious scenes, and I think Steve Martin was perfectly cast, but I’ve seen funnier. Maybe I need to pay more attention if I watch it again, but I think I am fairly hard to please when it comes to comedies.

No Impact Man
My rating: B-.
This was a pretty solid documentary. The whole idea was a pretty big undertaking, and I thought they stuck to it pretty darn well. A lot of people say they’re doing things to lessen their impact, but it was nice to see a whole family actually go a year without making an impact on the environment. For anyone wanting to catch a glimpse into what life could be like if we weren’t so dependent on plastic, electricity, and automobiles, I’d recommend watching this.

Easy A
My rating: B.
I actually really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was pretty darn funny, as well as clever enough to not be another run-of-the-mill teenage comedy. Olive’s parents are downright hilarious, and overall it was an entertaining movie. It doesn’t hurt that Penn Badgley and Cam Gigandet were in it either…



Now Playing: August

Enchanted
My rating: C+.
I really can’t remember why I watched this movie, and I honestly don’t remember a whole lot about it, but I remember it being somewhat funny and cute. I love James Marsden and Patrick Dempsey, so that helped. I also absoutely adore Idina Menzel. I might have to watch this again, because I really don’t even remember enough to fairly critique this movie.

Shutter Island
My rating: A.
I absolutely loved this movie. Huge mind-trick/twist, and it worked really well. I have part of the ending figured out about halfway through, but it definitely didn’t ruin it for me one bit. I was enthralled from start to finish and I will definitely be purchasing this once I have enough money for the Blu-Ray version [$$$].  I am still majorly debating with myself about the ending [I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet]. If you haven’t seen this yet, please do yourself a favor and watch it.

Date Night
My rating: C-.
I was pretty disappointed in this movie. I think Steve Carell and Fey are hilarious, so I though I would really enough it–wrong. I chuckled a few times, but it definitely wasn’t as funny as I thought it was going to be, at all. The film had its funny moments, but overall it wouldn’t be my “go-to” movie to laugh. Maybe if I watch it again when I am in a “comedy” mood I will react to it differently, who knows.

The Bounty Hunter
My rating: D.
Again, super disappointed. I love Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, but I actually fell asleep on numerous occasions during the course of the movie. It had its “funny moments”, “cute moments” and “serious moments”, but overall I wasn’t impressed and I probably won’t give it a second shot. I think I am slowly easing out of the “lame rom-com” phase of my life.

Inception
My rating: A/A+.
I swear to James Franco, this movie is simply fantastic. I finally saw it on June 25th for $1 due to a great Fandango deal, but I would have happily paid full price to see it. I don’t think I can fully explain what I like about the movie without giving too much away, but my gosh, if you haven’t seen it, go see it now! Don’t watch it illegally online, it’s too good for that. Pay the $8-$12 and go see it, now. The effects were amazing, the acting was exquisite, and the casting was superb. I definitely laughed a few times, I was confused, I was upset, I was on the edge of my seat, and I was in love. I will definitely be purchasing this the day it hits shelves. I’ve been reading around online and it seems there are quite a few people who didn’t like the movie at all, which makes no sense. I think when people rant about how terrible movies like Inception or Shutter Island are, they’re solidifying that the film went over their heads.

Wall-E
My rating: A-.
Absolutely loved this film as well. Pixar has never failed to amaze me. I laughed, I gasped, I shed tears, and I felt like I was connected to the movie in numerous ways. I thought it was a definite “realization” as far as the future state of Earth is concerned. Hopefully people took mental notes and changed their lifestyles to save our beautiful planet. I thought Wall-E was the most adorable robot ever, and I loved how all the characters interacted with each other, and I loved how real it felt. It was definitely an adorable, funny, serious, and endearing film.

Whip it
My rating: B+.
I totally dug this movie. It was bad-ass without being over-the-top. Landon Pigg is absolutely adorable, and I will marry him eventually. I thought was movie was fun, serious, relatable on some levels, and entertaining overall. I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a movie to watch. I think it was cast pretty darn well, and all the actors did wonderful in their roles. Granted, I haven’t read the book so I cannot vouch for how well it depicted the novel, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Youth In Revolt
My rating: C.
I was rather disappointed after watching this. I am secretly over Michael Cera playing roles where his characters whole goal of the film is to get laid, it’s getting old. There were some funny parts, and overall it was cast very well. I enjoyed all the characters, and it was definitely entertaining for the most part, but I thought I was going to like it a lot more than I did. As with lame rom-coms, I think I am leaving my “trying to be a funny/dark indie film” phase.

Say Anything…
My rating: A-.
I am a sucker for 80′s “teen” movies like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty In Pink, and this was definitely no exception. Anymore, I’m a little tired of the same old “happy ending” with movies, but this was a bit different. The film depicted a rather normal relationship, with it’s good times, bad times, and everything in between. I really liked the chemistry between Lloyd and Diane, it was realistic without losing the appeal. I don’t know why I waited so long to watch this movie, but it was definitely worth it.

Rush Hour 3
My rating: D.
I started watching the movie because my brother was watching it and I had nothing to do. It was entertaining, at least. Chris Tucker is pretty funny, but overall the movie didn’t impress me, but I wasn’t expecting much. I haven’t seen #1 or #2, so I cannot vouch for how this compared, but I probably won’t be watching it again. It had it’s funny moments, but that’s about it.

In Her Shoes
My rating: B+.
I really enjoyed this film. It was another one of those “I’m bored, let’s watch this” movies, but I’m glad I did. I think the whole story-line could be very relatable for many viewers, or at least many people can see a bit of themselves in the film. I love the chemistry between Toni and Cameron, they played great sisters [again, who were relatable, real, and fantastic]. I laughed during the movie, and probably came close to tears. Nothing was too over-the-top in terms of believability, which I think is so key in movies other than, say, Avatar and Inception. Overall, I enjoyed the movie and would definitely watch it again!



Now Playing: July

The Crazies
My rating: C.
I didn’t hate this movie, but I also didn’t love it. It didn’t really do much of anything for me. I was expecting to be really scared, but I ended up dozing off a couple times instead. I may have to watch it again, but I probably won’t. Honestly, I don’t remember much of anything about the movie aside from there is a mysterious gas that is taking over the town and turning everyone crazy? I think.

She’s Out Of My League
My rating: C.
Again, I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. It definitely had its funny moments, mostly due to T.J. Miller who played the ever-so-funny Marmaduke on the short-lived comedy “Carpoolers”. It was surprisingly believable most of the time, and I laughed quite often. But, it was just another romantic-comedy that lacked a whole lot of originality.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year
My rating: B-.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the High School Musical movies, and I wasn’t disappointed with this one. I think this was a great way to end the saga, and my eyes may have even became a bit teary at the end. I think the transition to small screen to big screen was done flawlessly, and I really enjoyed the “theatricality” of it all. Of course, it had all the cheese of the first two, but I still really enjoyed it.

Stranger Than Fiction
My rating: B+/A-.
I really liked this film. I love the whole cast, and I think they worked great together. The film was a wonderful story about the writing process and human nature, and the two meshed flawlessly together. I don’t think there is a whole lot I can say about this film expect that you should watch it. Now.

It was a slow month for new movie watching-ness.



First ‘Virgin Produced’ Film

Richard Branson has his hands in everything–he now has his own film and TV production company, Virgin Produced. The first film slated to be released is currently untitled, but boasts some pretty big names:

Richard Gere
Anton Yelchin
Gerard Butler
Naomi Watts
Hugh Jackman
Kate Winslet
Anna
Faris
Johnny Knoxville
Julianne Moore
Liev Schreiber
Elizabeth Banks
Kristen Bell
Kate Bosworth
Josh Duhamel
Justin Long
Seann William Scott
Emma Stone
Jack McBrayer
Chloe Moretz
Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Uma Thurman

According to sources, the film will consist of 19 segments [a la Valentine's Day, Love Actually, New York, I Love You and He's Just Not That Into You], with each segment directed by different directors:

Steve Brill
Steve Carr
James Gunn
Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Brett Ratner
Banks and Griffin Dunne

Supposedly this film is called “Movie 43″ currently, but I sense a title-change coming soon enough, since it is set to hit theaters later this year/early next year.

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Who Will Play The Riddler?

Rumors have been swirling about who will star in the next installment in the Batman series [slated to open in 2012]. I did some research, and it seems that these actors are up for [or have expressed interested in] the role  of The Riddler:

Leonardo DiCaprio
Tom Hardy
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Johnny Depp
Robin Williams

Opinions? Can anyone confirm or deny any of these?
Personally, I’d love to see Joseph Gordo-Levitt or Johnny Depp play The Riddler.



Minimalist Posters

I’m a huge fan of movies and graphic design, so it was awesome to come across these minimalist posters that were created by Shoot The Glass:






Saw Goes 3D

I always get so much crap for it, but I love the Saw movies. I think they successfully mix suspense, gore, and psychological aspects. Wonderful look into the human mind and what people will do to stay alive.

Anyways, I will definitely be seeing this when it hits theaters on October 29th.



Now Playing: June

I feel like I watched a ton of movies this month, especially in the last two weeks.

Couples Retreat
My rating: D.
Ugh, terrible.
I didn’t hear any raving reviews about it before watching it, quite the opposite is true. I went into it with a fairly open mind, but I wasn’t amused. There were very few parts that were actually funny, and I think the only reason this didn’t get a lower rating is because of Jason Bateman. I love Mr. Bateman. I usually love Vince Vaughn and Kristin Davis, but even in this movie I couldn’t get myself to enjoy them. All in all, not a good movie. I laughed a few times, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

The Ugly Truth
My rating: C.
I am a bit biased because I think Gerard Butler is fabulous, but I still didn’t really enjoy this movie. It definitely had its funny parts and I found myself relating my life to a few bits and pieces here and there, but overall I was pretty disappointed. I was expecting the Butler-Heigl pairing to be phenomenal, and although they worked great together, it still fell short for me. Maybe I’m sick of seeing the same story line time and time again, who knows. If you want a quick laugh go ahead and watch it, but if
you’re looking for anything new or clever, find something else.

The Edge of Darkness
My rating: C+.
Solid movie, but I had it all figured out about a quarter of the way through. I won’t give anything away, but I knew about the daughters “secret”, and so on. The film had its intense moments, and the acting was pretty good, but I was left wanting something more.  Maybe it’s because I’m not a fan of Mel Gibson, but I’m pretty sure even if they had cast someone else, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it a whole lot.

Zombieland
My rating:
A-.
First off, the casting was absolutely brilliant. I think Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin all played their parts extremely well. They each had their moment of hilarity, and overall I think the movie was hilarious. I loved the rules of surviving Zombieland, I thought the “Ghostbusters” scene was beyond funny, and overall I really, really, really enjoyed the movie. I definitely think it will become a cult-classic, because I know people who absolutely hated it, as well as people who absolutely loved it.

New York, I Love You
My rating: A-.
Loved it. Loved. Loved. Loved. The cast blew my mind, I loved the individuals stories. Did I mention I loved the cast? I did. The cinematography was divine. It followed the same concept as Love Actually, He’s Just Not That Into You, and Valentine’s Day, but it was so different, at least to me. There was less humor and more of the dark and interesting sides of relationships and life. Overall, I dig this movie so much.

Lords of Dogtown
My rating: A-.
Loved. this. movie. I wouldn’t consider myself a huge fan of skateboarding, but I love learning about the lives of people who participate in activities that I don’t. I think this film did a wonderful job of doing that. I loved the cast, of course. I mean, how can you go wrong with Emile Hirsch and Heath Ledger?
You can’t. I also think everyone else was very-well cast. No, I haven’t seen the documentary yet, so I can’t say how accurate everything is, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I would definitely recommend it.

Sleepy Hollow
My rating: B+.
This rating is probably ridiculously biased because I am a huge fan of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, but I think a B+ rating is rightly deserved. I was pretty hooked the entire film, and my mind was thrown a few times concerning who was behind everything. I’ll definitely be watching this come Halloween-time.

Definitely, Maybe
My rating: B+.
Again, I am biased because I love the cast, especially Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin. Aside from the cast, I really liked the plot, it was new to me. I was rooting for different women the entire movie as their stories were told, and I felt real emotion at certain points in the film. Overall, it was  a romantic-comedy-drama was the executed very well.

The Men Who Stare At Goats
My rating: B-.
Another solid film. George Clooney is great, and the movie was overall pretty funny. I was a bit disappointed with the ending, but maybe the confusion was due to my drifting in and out of stage 1 sleep. I didn’t think it was overly hilarious or genius by any means, but it was definitely entertaining.

Up In The Air
My rating: A-.
I loved this movie, a lot.
I haven’t read the book yet, so I cannot comment on how well the transition was executed, but the movie was fabulous. I enjoyed the story, the casting directors were spot on with their choices, and I [as lame as this sounds] loved the font used to transition to each different city. Ha. Well, I was pleasantly surprised and I definitely recommend the film, especially if you’re not looking for a run-of-the-mill romance-drama film. One thing that really surprised me was the fact that [most of] the employees who were fired in the movie actually lost their jobs before filming, so their reactions are totally authentic. Oh, and the music was great as well.

Remember Me
My rating: A-.
I may get a ton of flack for this rating, but I absolutely adored this film. I think a lot of people go into it with their own opinions of Robert Pattinson, but I think he played his role superbly well. This film showed that he can actually act when given substance [as opposed to the sad excuse of a saga, Twilight/New Moon/Eclipse].
I loved Emilie de Ravin, but I may be biased because I am a HUGE Lost fan. Although many people say the end was offensive in one way or another, I didn’t see it. I thought the ending perfectly concluded the story line. The whole movie was about [at least to me] death and the effect it has on those around you that you leave behind. This can be seen in numerous characters story lines throughout the film. I won’t give away the ending, but I don’t think it was rude, offensive, or out-of-place. It leaves viewers with the idea that your life can end at any point, and you need to appreciate every single minute you’re on this Earth [a minor example of this is when Ally talks about ordering dessert first]. Anyways, I will stop defending the movie and say that I highly recommend this film.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated
My rating: B.
I thought this film was really pretty interesting. Seeing how the MPAA rates movies is interesting, and it still ruffles my feathers that movies which contain sexual content are given R or NC-17 ratings over movies which show intense violence. I don’t understand, America! Anyways, I learned quite a bit about the rating-system and I definitely will be giving films I watch my own rating from now on.



Glee: The Movie


Supposedly Lea Michele [Rachel], Cory Monteith [Finn], Dianna Argon [Quinn], and Mark Salling [Puck], along with other regular actors, signed on for up to three films based on the hit TV show when they signed their contracts.

Here is the wording from the contract:
“[The actor] hereby grants Fox three exclusive, irrevocable options to engage [the actor] in up to, respectively, three feature-length motion pictures.”

I really hope they decide not to do movies. I definitely think it would ruin the appeal of the show.

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