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Hanx vs. Robots this week at the box office [AtMPS]

Garret — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:32:04 +0000

The looming July 4th weekend can only mean one thing: there will be a film debuting in theaters that is ninety percent explosions. 2011 stays true to form with this model, and brings us the third – and hopefully last – giant-talking-robot-Laboof movie. Also, there’s Hanx on a moped.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson

Against the backdrop of the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, the alliance between Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) and Optimus Prime is put to the test against a common enemy: Shockwave.

Larry Crowne

Director: Tom Hanks
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts

Unclear of his next steps after losing his job at a big-box retailer, Larry Crowne (Hanks) enrolls at his local college, where he finds a niche among the school’s community of outcasts, and a connection with a teacher (Roberts) who has lost her passion for life.

Garret: The Transformers films define the term “popcorn movie,” and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I feel as though it is almost my duty as a “I’m too good for this film” filmgoer to stick my nose up in the air upon the sheer mention of the name. That said, if we end up having to see the film I won’t be too upset, although I know that Joe will go crazy. Explosions are fun, I suppose, and after this week we will finally be rid of the trailers for this film that have shown before EVERY MOVIE in the last year.

One thing I didn’t know about Larry Crowne before today is that it was both written and directed by the Hanx himself and produced by his production studio. Where before I had assumed that the film would be just a fairly simple run-of-the-mill romance comedy, if Mr. Hanks has put so much effort behind it there may be more quality baked in than what comes off on first blush.

Joe: You are right Garret, I will go crazy. but I will see it none the less. The Transformers movies are abysmal and it pains me to see that they keep getting made. Never the less, As I just said, if that is the film that wins the vote, I will see it and just bitch really loud later. To be fair, Larry Crowne doesn’t look like my kind of movie either, but I would be more willing to see it just because of what it is up against. All in all, I must say that this is a weird collection of films for the 4th of July weekend. It will be interesting to see the box office results when all is said and done.

Film synopses from IMDB.

Penguins and green dudes to vote on this week [AtMPS]

Garret — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:09:46 +0000

We have seen a few weeks pass where there have been films so good that they terrorize smaller, weaker films into submission, causing us to not have to think twice about which movie we would be seeing at the end of the week. Well no more! This week we get to vote on penguins and some dude who is scared of the color yellow.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Director: Mark Waters
Starring: Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury

After businessman Mr. Popper (Carrey) receives a penguin as a gift, he soon finds himself the caretaker of five more of the seabirds, and he subsequently changes his life and home to accommodate his new charges.

Green Lantern

Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard

When he’s granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, test pilot Hal Jordan (Reynolds) becomes the first human to earn membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe. His mission: to combat an enemy called Parallax, which threatens to destroy the universe’s balance of power.

Garret: I have had my reservations on this Green Lantern business for a bit. Not that the idea of putting the character to screen can’t work, but what we have been presented thus far in trailers has yet to grab me like the other superhero films of the summer. With that said, however, Mr. Popper’s Penguins pulls even less interest from me, so there you go.

Joe: I think it goes without saying that I am all for Green Lantern this week, although, that said, I am a bit hesitant to say that it is going to be a good one. I really hope it is, but the trailers have been leaving me with a weird taste in my mouth. Any week that I don’t have to see Jim Carrey running around after flightless birds, however, is a good one, so make the right decision.

Film info from IMDB

No voting this week because no one wants to go up against X-Men.

Garret — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:34:17 +0000

Normally, early in the week we would post something regarding voting on what film we should see during the following weekend. Not this week. It turns out that other films are too scared of what comes out this weekend to even try and compete. There certainly are a few limited release films showing in more fancy cities than my own, but for wide release it’s only one: X-Men: First Class I just shook my 8-ball to see what the headlines about the film will be come next week, and it came back with: “It’s a juggernaut, bitch!”

Here are a couple of refreshers for you in case you haven’t been to the theater in a while:

Get excited!

I have some cautious optimism for this film. I want it to be really good, but I have to steel my emotions until after seeing it. Hopefully it is devoid of any lines about toads getting struck by lightning.

Comedies for all this week [AtMPS]

Garret — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:08:06 +0000

Come this “day of Frige” we will be tasked with viewing a film from the end result of a few day’s worth of voting. It’s all up to you now, precious reader, to decide which of these comedic films we shall see.

The Hangover Part II

Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helmes

Right after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil (Cooper), Stu (Helms), Alan (Galifianakis), and Doug (Bartha) jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding. Stu’s plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Director: Jennifer Yuh
Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan

Po (voice of Black) and the Furious Five venture to China to battle a villain and uncover the secrets of Po’s mysterious origins.

I (Garret) may very well be in the minority here, but I think I might side with Kung Fu Panda 2 on this one. It may end up being a fairly standard kid’s film, but I feel like The Hangover Part II will exemplify the exact thing Joe and I discussed in episode 123 about recent comedies. There’s only so many drug induced hallucination films a man can take!

Also, I guess it’s probably not super accurate to describe Kung Fu Panda as a “comedy,” but you will just have to deal with it.

Joe here. While I agree with Garret that The Hangover 2 will more than likely be more of the same, I must say that I was very surprised with the quality of the first film despite the content being far from original. I also saw Kung-Fu Panda and while it isn’t horrible, I wasn’t begging for more when it was over. This is an odd week, but I think my vote has to go with Hangover 2.

A priest and a bridesmaid [AtMPS]

Garret — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:55:33 +0000

Only two films rear their ugly heads this week. You have a 50/50 chance of choosing the right one.

Bridesmaids

Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne

Picked as her best friend’s maid of honor, lovelorn and broke Annie (Wiig) looks to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals with an oddball group of bridesmaids.

Priest

Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Starring: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q

A priest (Bettany) disobeys church law to track down the vampires who kidnapped his niece.

And there you have it. If you vote this week you get a free puppy!*

Movie info from IMDB.

*Puppies only available in American Somoa

Let’s vote on Thor [AtMPS]

Garret — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:16:46 +0000

Back again with another round of voting, this week we have three films to choose from, but only one will be the one you want to choose. I’m not trying to push you in any direction, but just vote for Thor. Just do it.

Thor

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman

The warrior Thor (Hemsworth) is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard by his father Odin (Hopkins) for his arrogance and sent to Earth to live among humans. Falling in love with scientist Jane Foster (Portman) teaches Thor much-needed lessons, and his new-found strength comes into play as a villain from his homeland sends dark forces toward Earth.

Something Borrowed

Director: Luke Greenfield
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield

Friendships are trusted and secrets come to the surface when terminally single Rachel (Goodwin) falls for Dex (Egglesfield), her best friend Darcy’s (Hudson) fiancé.

Jumping the Broom

Director: Salim Akil
Starring: Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Angela Bassett

The wedding of Sabrina (Patton) and Jason (Alonso) brings together her uptown family and his downtown folks over a revealing weekend in Martha’s Vineyard.

Your choice is clear folks.

Film information from IMDB.

A film series that won’t die and some blue bird [AtMPS]

Garret — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:08:44 +0000

When movie studios look for a quick buck, bringing up an old franchise from the dead seems like a great idea. “People remember this name. It’ll make money!” It’s unfortunate when they choose the wrong things to resurrect (did we really need Indie IV?). Why can’t we have good films come back to us? Where’s my The Saint 2: Colder Fusion or The Return of Gladiator: Zombimus Maximus?

This week we might be revisiting a world where Neve Campbell exists, and also there’s also some film about a blue bird who can’t fly.

Scream 4

Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette

Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott (Campbell), who has put herself back together thanks in part to the self-help book she authored, returns to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. Reconnecting with her family and friends, her appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface…

Rio

Director: Carlos Saldanha
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez

When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with this bird of his dreams.

Here’s the good news, Alison Brie is in Scream 4. That’s really all I need to, at least, not hurt myself when being forced to see the film. As for Rio, there’s no telling.

Plot information from IMDB.com

So much crap is coming out this week [AtMPS]

Garret — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:01:20 +0000

Alright April, you have come in an attempt to make us all fools, but it is us that have fooled YOU. We all have no shame, so there really isn’t anything that you could have done to make us feel bad. Now it’s time to vote for way too many movies.

Your Highness

Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel, James Franco

Thadeous (McBride) is a lazy, hedonistic prince forced into embarking on his first quest: to aid his valiant older brother Fabious (Franco) on a daring rescue attempt to free his beloved Belladonna (Deschanel) from an evil wizard’s lair. Joining their mission is Isbael (Portman), a determined warrior with her own agenda.

Hanna

Director: Joe Wright
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana

16-year-old Hanna (Ronan) is a trained assassin who was raised in the wilds of North Finland by her father, Erik (Bana), a former CIA man. Separated from her father for the first time, Hanna’s first mission brings her face to face with Marissa Wiegler (Blanchett), an intelligence operative with secrets that tie her to Hanna and Erik.

Arthur

Director: Jason Winer
Starring: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner

Carefree billionaire Arthur Bach (Brand) is given an ultimatum by the family business: shape up and marry the “right” woman (Garner) or lose your inheritance. Complicating his situation are his feelings for Naomi (Gerwig), an NYC tour guide. Can his faithful nanny Hobson (Mirren) help him stand up for what he wants?

Born to be Wild

Director: David Lickley
Starring: Birute Galdikas, Daphne Sheldrick, Morgan Freeman

A documentary about orphaned orangutans and elephants and the people who rescue and raise them.

Soul Surfer

Director: Sean McNamara
Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt

Based on a true story, young surfer Bethany Hamilton (Robb) summons the courage to return to the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack.

Tons of movies to choose from this week, but Hanna and Your Highness seem to be the front runners here, although monkey documentaries are always pretty awesome. We are actually not sure if all of these are going to be available in our area, so we shall see what happens.

Plot summaries from imdb.

Government demon superhero bunnies [AtMPS]

Garret — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:34:07 +0000

Voting is back, and although this coming Friday is April Fools’ Day, it is fairly certain that these films will all be showing. It might be nice for one of them to not exist, but we are afraid it does actually exist. Don’t be mean to us.

Source Code

Director: Duncan Jones
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga

An experimental government program sends soldier Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) back in time, where he wakes up in the body of a commuter who witnesses a train bombing. Presented with just 8 minutes to figure out who is responsible, his mission is further complicated by his feelings for a fellow passenger (Monaghan).

Insidious

Director: James Wan
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins

A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.

Super

Director: James Gunn
Starring: Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler

An everyday guy (Wilson) transforms himself into wannabe superhero the Crimson Bolt after his wife leaves him for Jacques (Bacon), a suave drug-dealer. Joined by teen-sidekick Libby (Page), the duo engage in war against crime and look to take down Jacques and his empire.

Hop

Director: Tim Hill
Starring: Russel Brand, James Marsden, Elizabeth Perkins

E.B. (voice of Brand), the Easter Bunny’s teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock ‘n’ roll band. In LA, he’s taken in by Fred (Marsden) after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. with his car.

Plot summaries from imdb.

Look, here’s the deal about the films this week [AtMPS]

Garret — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:20:06 +0000

Garret here. This week I am going to pull rank so hard that it might upset those who like to force us to see films that we otherwise never even consider unless we had small children, but here we go: this week for the film we will be seeing Sucker Punch. There. Done. I apologize for any voting inconvenience, but every so often we just have to take a stand for what’s right and just. For those of you who are curious, the only other nationally released film for this week is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. The poll would have resulted in a 50/50 chance for one or the other, and that simply was too terrifying an option.

Director: Zach Snyder
Starring: Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish

After Babydoll (Browning) is institutionalized by her wicked stepfather, she creates a dream world that helps her cope with her harsh reality. Determined to free herself, she invites Rocket (Malone), Sweet Pea (Cornish), Blondie (Hudgens), and Amber (Chung) to join her in a fight against their captors.

Sometimes you just have to go with your gut on these things.