Category Archives: Trailers

Super Dudes Power Show, Ep. 40: Louisville Battletoads

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE…or on iTUNES!

Super Dudes Power Show, Ep. 40: Louisville Battletoads

Covering everything from Star Wars logic and upcoming films to the CMA awards and the NCAA championship game, this milestone episode is dressed to impress…so be impressed!

Also! Check out SEINFELD QUIZZO Wednesday 4/10/13 at Raven Lounge (1718 Sansom Street, Philly) 7PM

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April 9, 2013 · 11:19 pm

Watson’s Review of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”

The problem with “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” — and it’s a problem many fans have likely foreseen — is that it follows in the Middle-earth-shattering footsteps of a giant. Peter Jackson’s masterfully assembled “Lord of the Rings” films, based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy book series, arguably made for the greatest trilogy to have ever graced the silver screen: staggeringly epic, meticulous in its world-building, showered in Academy Awards and instantly amassing a legion of hardcore enthusiasts, it was a crowning achievement that, for some, was the true “Star Wars” of the noughties. By sheer comparison, this first entry in a three-part adaptation of Tolkien’s more kiddy-friendly “The Hobbit,” while boasting its own thrills and charms, comes up a little short — it’s a hobbit pitted against a giant it couldn’t possibly outmatch.

It’s a comparison that might have been uncalled for if it weren’t for the direct connections Jackson makes between this new prequel trilogy and the earlier films: a wholly unnecessary prologue finds Ian Holm’s Bilbo Baggins and Elijah Wood’s Frodo having a chat in the former’s humble home, while Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Christopher Lee briefly return in a visit to the opulent Elven outpost Rivendell. Even some of the musical cues are the same: the re-introduction of the Shire is soundtracked by Howard Shore’s whimsical piece “Concerning Hobbits,” and the appearance of the one true “precious” ring is greeted with that ominous string melody from “The Prophecy.” (Continue Reading…)

HotDog7

For more from Stephen Watson, visit Just Another Movie Blog!

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Watson’s Review of “Life of Pi”

It is as remarkable a culture clash as I can recall. In a small, wooden lifeboat straddling the waves of the vast Pacific Ocean sits an Indian teenage boy named Pi and a fully-grown Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Victims of a shipwreck, they sit at opposite ends of the 27-foot boat, watching the horizon in search of land, food and rescue. Together as man and beast, they drift across the deep blue sea for 227 days, embarking on a death-defying voyage so magnificent and so moving its telling is said to have made many believe in God. While “Life of Pi” did nothing to alter my faith (or lack thereof), it did much to confirm my beliefs in the power of cinema and the miraculous possibilities of storytelling.

The director is Ang Lee, the Oscar-winning Taiwanese filmmaker who gave us the ground-breaking “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” in 2000 and the heart-wrenching “Brokeback Mountain” in 2005. It is based on the worldwide bestseller by Yann Martel, published to much acclaim in 2001 and arguably something of a modern classic. With its countless metaphysical elements and physical near-impossibilities, Martel’s spiritually rich novel was, like “Watchmen” and “Cloud Atlas,” popularly deemed “unfilmable.” But when one sees the story unfolding on-screen with such fluidity and grandness under the firm grasp of Lee, one struggles to recall why a faithful and elegant transition from page to screen was considered so unassailable and unthinkable. (Continue Reading…)

HotDog10For more from Stephen Watson, visit Just Another Movie Blog!

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Center City Comedy and SuperDPS present HOT CHICK COP (3 Trailers)

#HCC


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Hot Chick Cop (coming Fall 2012)

In a city full of crooked cops, she’s coming to clean up the streets. Feel the heat, this Fall. “Hot Chick Cop” the new drama from Center City Comedy and SuperDPS presents the adventures of Homicide Detective, Juggz Titzgy.

Featuring Sonia Zambrana, H. Foley, Kevin Ryan, David Temple, Chris Cotton, Ryan Shaner, Reggie Conquest, Brian Finnell, and LUMP

Filmed and Edited by Alex Gross

http://www.superdps.com
http://www.centercitycomedy.com

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Top Ten Worst Films of 2011

Yesterday evening, I posted a list of what I believe to be the top 25 best films of 2011; now it’s time to look at the opposite end of the spectrum. Listed below are the ten films I believe to be the worst of the worst of 2011 – yes, these are the cinema releases that most made me want to vomit and gag and peel the flesh from my face. While 2011 certainly offered us some enchanting, intelligent and inspiring pieces of cinema, it unfortunately also produced a wide array of calamitous clunkers that numbed the mind and churned the stomach. Some had cross-dressing, some had fart gags, some had nose-picking and one had a human centipede. So, let’s brace ourselves and take a look back at the top ten worst films of 2011 – be smug, happy and bright-eyed if you’ve managed to avoid any of these.
10. “Apollo 18”

 

On a scale of “Plan 9 from Outer Space” to “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Apollo 18” probably sits at about the same level as that “Lost in Space” film starring Joey from “Friends.” It’s a science-fiction film set on the moon – this immediately brings to mind Duncan Jones’ masterful sci-fi thriller “Moon,” a comparison which is never going to work in “Apollo 18”’s favour. Unlike “Moon,” however, “Apollo 18” is a horror film and is presented to us as found footage, a la “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity,” though to even less convincing effect. Its footage is of a supposed Apollo 18 mission to the moon that NASA launched in 1974. The mission goes horribly wrong when the astronauts land on the moon’s surface and discover that there are vicious little crab-like creatures lurking about outside their craft. On paper, this may sound like a perfectly interesting premise, but I assure you that in practice, “Apollo 18” is anything but interesting. It is in fact a dull, boring and tedious piece of space horror that takes what seems like forever to get going and feels overlong even at a length of 90 minutes. Zero gravity? More like zero effort.
9. “Sucker Punch”

 

Unlike the rest of the films on this list, all of which I watched knowing damn well they’d be utterly terrible, I walked into “Sucker Punch” expecting a genuinely decent movie. I took the film’s overwhelmingly negative reviews with a pinch of salt and walked into the film with the general idea that I was about to experience a supremely awesome time at the cinema. Instead, “Sucker Punch” turned out to be something entirely different:  a mind-numbing disaster of a film that discarded narrative coherency in favour of lovely visuals. The film is a fantasy actioner co-written and directed by Zack “300” Snyder. It stars Emily Browning as Babydoll, a young lady who is placed inside a mental asylum by her sadistic rapist of a stepfather. For some strange reason, the asylum swiftly transforms into a brothel where Babydoll must dance for perverted male clients. Even stranger, every time Babydoll starts dancing she is transported to a fantasy world where she, along with the asylum/brothel’s inmates/dancers, must battle supernatural creatures. Umm, yeah. Like Snyder’s previous efforts (most of which I genuinely liked), “Sucker Punch” has plenty of visual magnificence, but it’s in every other area that the film suffers. Sure, it’s an ambitious and original effort, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s an arse-numbing, headache-inducing 110 minutes of unrelenting tedium that succeeds in being entertaining only in brief, unsatisfying spurts – I expect more from a film involving zombie Nazis, gun-toting cyborgs and fire-breathing dragons.
8. “Abduction”

 

If anyone out there is unsure as to whether or not Taylor Lautner is nothing more than a glorified porn actor, then “Abduction” will settle your mind: yes, he is. Directed by the once-talented John Singleton, “Abduction” saw Lautner in his first proper leading role, and it’s almost hilarious – actually, it is very hilarious – just how much he managed to screw it up. Lautner stars as Nathan Harper, a hunky teen who, after seeing a picture of himself on a missing person’s website, discovers that his parents are not in fact his parents. Soon after this shocking discovery that was revealed in the trailers, Nathan’s parents are murdered by assassins, forcing Nathan to go on the run with pointless love interest Karen (played by Lily Collins), all the while trying to figure out his true identity. With sloppy direction, laughable dialogue and a cardboard cut-out of a leading man, “Abduction” is a half-assed and ham-fisted excuse for an action picture; I’d say it’s taking a few too many pages from the “Bourne” trilogy’s book, but I honestly don’t think this film can read.
7. “New Year’s Eve”

 

Perhaps the most shocking thing about “New Year’s Eve” is that it attracted the interest of three highly respected Oscar-winning actors (Hilary Swank, Halle Berry and Robert De Niro); it’s also of note that it attracted the interest of a few Teen Choice Award-winners and -nominees (Ashton Kutcher and Zac Efron, among others), though that is significantly less shocking. The film is essentially a semi-sequel to the tedious 2010 rom-com ensemble piece “Valentine’s Day;” it has the same director (Garry Marshall), the same writer (Katherine Fugate), the same general premise and some of the same actors (though all playing slightly different characters). It takes place on (duh) New Year’s Eve and follows a convoluted band of ridiculously good-looking New York couples and singletons as they experience drama, romance and other deeply uninteresting trials and tribulations. Meanwhile, the whole world waits impatiently for the drop of the big ball in Times Square that will mark the very beginning of 2012. Sounds positively riveting, does it not? Blandly written and ceaselessly dull, the sickeningly syrupy “New Year’s Eve” is a two-hour endurance test featuring unfunny comedy, undramatic drama and unbearable characters; some of the more respectable A-listers do appear to put some effort into their roles, but it’s a struggle to shake the feeling that they’re just picking up a quick paycheck.
6. “Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son”

 

Adding to the ever-growing list of “sequels nobody asked for” was the third instalment of the much-derided “Big Momma” franchise – yes, somehow we’ve let it get this far. This insipid threequel sees a desperate Martin Lawrence dressing up as a big fat old lady again, a joke that grew wearisome halfway through the first movie. This time, Malcolm Turner the cross-dressing cop must go into hiding at an all-girls performing arts school along with his teenage stepson, Trent (played by Brandon T. Jackson), after Trent witnesses a murder; Malcolm (or Big Momma) gets a job as the house mother, while Trent (or Charmaine) becomes a student of the school. So, we’re inevitably presented with a wide array of unfunny fat jokes, unfunny awkward situations, unfunny Martin Lawrence and, for some inexplicable reason, a random musical number. And it’s all ever so chucklesome because this time there’s not only one Big Momma, but two Big Mommas! Ha ha! Oh lawdy lawd. Surprisingly though, “Big Momma 3” wasn’t the worst cross-dressing comedy of 2011; we shall come to that winner/loser soon.
5. “Something Borrowed”

 

It’s almost unbelievable how unmemorable of a film “Something Borrowed” really is. In fact, it’s a film so unmemorable that when I looked at the “worst films of 2011” notes I’ve been jotting down since the summer, I saw the film’s title and actually had to google the film to remember what the hell it was – even after remembering that I’d watched and reviewed the film, my memory of it was still astonishingly vague. Anyway, “Something Borrowed” is a romantic comedy – I remember that much. As Wikipedia reminds me, it was based on Emily Giffin’s “chick lit” novel of the same name and starred Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel, a single thirtysomething attorney who sleeps with her best friend’s fiancé. This starts an intricate web of lies and deceit as these pair of deeply immoral, horny douchebags continue sleeping together behind the best friend’s back. Look, I hardly even remember watching this useless piece of shit, let alone reviewing the damn thing, but what I do remember is being freakishly uninterested in every single plot point and character it contained, so much so that it appears I have turned the film into a repressed memory – put that on your poster, Warner Bros.
4. “The Roommate”

 

One film I do remember sitting through, however, is “The Roommate,” which easily takes the gong for the single most boring film of 2011. This is a fact that is made all the more surprising when one remembers that “The Roommate” was intended to be a thriller – y’know, a film that’s meant to thrill. Instead, “The Roommate” is more likely to bore you to tears than get your heart racing as it intended – indeed, your heart may very well keel over halfway through this uninspired load of old tosh. The film, which is directed by hilariously named filmmaker Christian Christiansen, stars Minka Kelly as Sara Matthews, a girl who has just started her freshman year at college. Her roommate is Rebecca (played by Leighton Meester), who soon turns out to be a crazy psycho-bitch who quickly develops an unhealthy obsession with the unsuspecting Sara. Essentially a cheap knock-off of the far superior “Single White Female,” this drab and coma-inducing stalker-thriller arouses one’s interest only in a scene where a sweet little pussycat is placed inside a tumble dryer – it surely aroused interest from the RSPCA too.
3. “Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World”

 

It is positively mortifying that writer-director Robert Rodriguez decided to film “Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World” instead of going ahead with the hotly anticipated sequel to his untouchable neo-noir masterpiece, “Sin City;” why Rodriguez believes the world needed another instalment in the “Spy Kids” franchise I don’t know, but what I do know is this: I want “Sin City 2,” and I want it here, and I want it now. Nevertheless, filming “Spy Kids 4” is exactly what Rodriguez did, and the result is arguably the worst film of the American filmmaker’s hit-or-miss career – yes, it’s right down there with kid-friendly 3D train wreck “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl.” Essentially acting as an unwanted reboot of the “Spy Kids” franchise, “All the Time in the World” (which was released in 4D, aka smell-o-vision) replaced series regulars Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega with Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook, two annoying youngsters who, in the film, discover that their mother (played by Jessica Alba) is a spy. With the help of their robot dog (voiced by Ricky Gervais), these personality-free whippersnappers go up against the villainous Time Keeper, a masked maniac who plans on stealing the world’s time (don’t ask me to explain because I really don’t know). Chock-a-block with an unbearable amount of time-related puns and disturbingly unfunny jokes (most of which involve boogers and poop), “Spy Kids 4” was every bit as dumb as “Spy Kids 3D” and every bit as stale as its 4D gimmick – seriously, Rodriguez, you are better than this.
2. “The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)”

 

Director Tom Six promised moviegoers the world over that no one would walk out of the sequel to his cult horror hit “The Human Centipede” complaining that Six hadn’t gone far enough with the violence. Well, Six achieved this: “The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)” is every bit as depraved and grisly as the Dutch filmmaker proudly promised it would be. The only problem is that Six seemed to have either completely forgotten or completely ignored every other aspect that goes into making a movie; making sure it’s watchable, for example. This gore-tastic torture-porn sequel saw Laurence R. Harvey starring as Martin, an obsessive fan of the original “The Human Centipede.” Martin, who doesn’t utter a single word throughout the entire film, bravely and stupidly aspires to recreate the medical experiments depicted in his favourite film, but this time with twelve victims sewn ass-to-mouth instead of three. Oh, did I say sewn? Sorry, I meant stapled. Smothered in blood, poop and sick (although mercifully filmed in black-and-white), this revolting showcase of pitiful desperation is as pathetic and incompetent as they come. Y’know, someone really should staple Tom Six’s lips to his own asshole – maybe that will appease the self-adoring moron.
1. “Jack and Jill”

 

And in the number one spot is hack director Dennis Dugan’s mind-numbing 90-minute Dunkin’ Donuts commercial starring Adam Sandler as (get this, right) his own sister. Yes, running on a grand total of two jokes (the other being that the sister is very annoying), the endlessly excruciating and mind-bogglingly beastly “Jack and Jill” is already worn-out before it reaches the ten minute mark – still, it powers through, bafflingly hitting lower and lower lows, eventually ending with Al Pacino dancing and singing about how much he loves Dunkin’ Donuts (I am not fucking kidding). The story, loose as the film’s screw, has Sandler playing Jack, an ad executive whose obnoxious twin sister, Jill (Sandler in drag), stays over for Thanksgiving and never leaves. Cue a lazy display of dreadfully unfunny jokes revolving around Jill’s social idiocy and cultural ignorance, which stretches from accidentally crushing a Shetland pony’s legs to loudly yelling into her phone in a movie theatre (ha ha, she so grating). Witless, plotless, monotonous and mindless, “Jack and Jill” is a film so bad that one suspects Sandler is attempting career suicide – and if he’s not, then God help his sanity.

Endnote: The rules for films eligible for inclusion on this list are exactly the same as stated in the Best of 2011 list.

(For more from Stephen Watson, visit his site: Just Another Movie Blog)

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Must See in 2012 (of the Moment)

from FarDarrigTrailers. This trailer for the 2012 film Chronicle surfaced on the Internets this week, and I am stoked. This film looks incredible. The description of “three boys gain super powers and eventually discover the dark side,” seems kind of played out, but the effects, the cinematography, everything looks pretty fucking spot-on. I’ll be shocked if this movie turns out to be terrible. For you classic anime fans, some of the scenes toward the end of the trailer make me wonder why an Akira movie was never put into production…oh well, I’ll settle for this.

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Seeing Double: Top Ten Movie Clones Released Cheek-to-Cheek

Originality can be a rarity within the sparkly streets of Tinseltown, its cinematic offerings tending to consist of remakes, reboots, copycats and sequels which consistently dominate the worldwide box office. Just this week, Hollywood is presenting the US with Will Gluck’s “Friends with Benefits,” a rom-com about two long-time pals who decide to have casual sex with each other, no strings attached. Sound familiar? Well, just six months ago came Ivan Reitman’s “No Strings Attached,” the storyline of which is exactly the same as “Friends with Benefits,” the only difference being that that one starred Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, and this new one stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. Their similarities can be seen in the video below.

To mark this baffling coincidence (or is it?!?!), I’ve compiled a list of the top ten times this happened before in Hollywood, i.e. two movies that were released close together and carry striking resemblances to each other. Happenstance or a result of studio eavesdropping? Rip-off or pure coincidence? Let’s compare these movie clones.

(Note: The films are presented in chronological order, and the worldwide box office takings provided include figures from the US.)

(1993-1994) “Tombstone” and “Wyatt Earp”

What’s the Resemblance?
Aside from the fact that they are both very much gunslinging westerns, “Wyatt Earp” and “Tombstone” are on this list because they share the same well-known, real-life protagonist: Wyatt Earp, historical lawman of the wild West.

Which Came First?
“Tombstone” rode into town on Christmas Day, 1993, with “Wyatt Earp” hot on its trail, released 24 June, 1994.

Which Made the Most Cash?
“Tombstone” lassoed in $56 million domestically, while “Wyatt Earp” was less successful, earning only $25 million domestically on its $63 million budget.

What Sets Them Apart?
“Wyatt Earp” is a serious biopic of the eponymous lawman (played by Kevin Costner), taking us from his adolescence to his later years, showing us the good times and the bad times of the historical figure’s life in the West. “Tombstone,” on the other hand, (with Kurt Russell in the lead role) is slightly less stern and focuses only on the events leading up to the infamous shootout at the O.K. Corral.

What’s the Better Movie?
Audiences seemed to take much more of a shine to “Tombstone,” what with its action-packed plot and spaghetti western stylisation, as opposed to the realism of the biographical “Wyatt Earp;” I’m sure the latter’s three hour runtime did little to resolve this.

(1995) “Gordy” and “Babe”

What’s the Resemblance? 
Live-action family films of the “animals can talk” fare, “Babe” and “Gordy” both star a lively piglet who can converse with the other animals of his homely farm, though us humans of course only hear nonsensical oinking.

Which Came First?
“Gordy” trotted about on 12 May, while “Babe” played in the mud on 4 August.

Which Made the Most Cash?
“Gordy” was a bit of a flop, making only $4 million domestically, while “Babe” squealed all the way to the bank with over $66 million in the US alone and $240 million worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart?
While “Babe” stuck to its humble setting of a farm in the country, “Gordy” saw its curly-tailed protagonist travelling across America to find his family, resulting in all sorts of silly, stupid and insufferable shenanigans.

What’s the Better Movie?
“Babe” by a long shot; it was met with critical acclaim, proved much more popular with audiences than “Gordy,” was nominated for Best Picture by the Academy Awards and is something of a Disney classic. Meanwhile, the obnoxious “Gordy” thankfully faded into long-forgotten obscurity.

(1997) “Dante’s Peak” and “Volcano”

What’s the Resemblance?
“Dante’s Peak” and “Volcano” are both mindless ’90s disaster movies revolving around volcanoes that have violently erupted without much warning, putting their protagonists in quite a bit of peril.

Which Came First?
“Dante’s Peak” erupted first, released on 7 February, and “Volcano” spilled its lava on 25 April.

Which Made the Most Cash?
Both movies made very middling amounts of cash given their sizable budgets, with “Dante’s Peak” earning over $67 million domestically and $178 million worldwide, and “Volcano” grossing $49 million domestically and $122 million worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart?
“Dante’s Peak” takes place in a fictional town by the countryside, as compared to “Volcano,” which showcases a (surprise, surprise) volcano that unexpectedly rises up from the streets of Los Angeles.

What’s the Better Movie?
Neither are particularly good, but I’d say “Volcano” is superior, if only for the stupefying corniness of it all (a volcano in Los Angeles? Really?). “Dante’s Peak,” on the other hand, isn’t very exciting and doesn’t contain Tommy Lee Jones outrunning a collapsing skyscraper.

(1998) “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon”

What’s the Resemblance?
A gigantic asteroid is hurtling through the vastness of space in the direction of our lovely planet, and is set to destroy every living thing on Earth; it’s up to us to stop it before the population of the globe is reduced to zero.

Which Came First?
“Deep Impact” crashed into cinemas on 8 May, while “Armageddon” made its impact on 1 July.

Which Made the Most Cash?
Both surprisingly managed to make a boatload at the box office, with “Armageddon” receiving over $200 million domestically and $550 million worldwide, and “Deep Impact” raking in $140 million domestically and $350 million worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart?
One stars Bruce Willis and the other stars Morgan Freeman. One is more of an actioner and the other is more of a drama. While “Armageddon” goes down the Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckheimer big-explosion route, “Deep Impact” takes a more dramatic approach, looking at how us human beings would react given the news that a big space rock’s about to kill us all.

What’s the Better Movie?
As thrilling as the last 90 minutes of “Armageddon” are, I’d have to say “Deep Impact” is the better film. The former suffers from director Michael Bay’s complete and utter incompetence with scenes that aren’t action-oriented, while the latter is a much more solid and noble watch, albeit lacking in adrenaline-fuelled thrills.

(1998) “Antz” and “A Bug’s Life”

What’s the Resemblance?
In a highly populated ant colony, one misfit ant attempts to free his fellow insects from an unflinching higher power, discovering throughout the course of the film that he is much braver than he ever thought before.

Which Came First?
“Antz” crawled onto the big screen on 2 October, and “A Bug’s Life” followed on 25 November.

Which Made the Most Cash?
“Antz” did fairly well, receiving $90 million domestically and $171 million worldwide, while “A Bug’s Life” was just a little bit gigantic, earning $162 million in the US and $363 million globally.

What Sets Them Apart?
“Antz” is notably grittier than “A Bug’s Life,” it even including a scene where a newly decapitated head talks to our neurotic main character. “A Bug’s Life,” on the other hand, is a more family-friendly animation, most of the insect characters animated to appear cute and cuddly.

What’s the Better Movie?
One is Pixar and the other is DreamWorks, two movie studios seemingly always in battle with each other. Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” is a bit of a childhood favourite of mine, so I of course personally prefer it to Dreamworks’ “Antz,” though I know many prefer the boldness of the latter (I do love the casting of Woody Allen).

(2000) “Mission to Mars” and “Red Planet”

What’s the Resemblance?
A couple of sci-fi tales which see a group of astronauts venturing out of our atmosphere in a big rocket and landing on the fourth planet from our sun, Mars, where things unfortunately take a turn for the worst.

Which Came First?
First to land was “Mission to Mars” on 10 March, while “Red Planet” blasted off on 10 November.

Which Made the Most Cash?
While “Mission to Mars” earned a fair amount at the box office with $60 million in the US and $110 million worldwide, “Red Planet” couldn’t even make back half of its production budget of $80 million, taking in only $33 million from international audiences.

What Sets Them Apart?
Where the differences lie are in the intentions of the space-travelling characters. In “Mission to Mars,” they’re a rescue team sent to the red planet to find out what happened to the previous team who ventured there, and in “Red Planet,” they’ve come to Mars to find resources to bring back to a dying Earth.

What’s the Better Movie?
That’s a bit like asking someone to tell you which serving of excrement tastes less shitty. Neither are what you’d call the next “2001: A Space Odyssey,” both as bland as a pod person, though I’d say “Mission to Mars” stinks slightly less, what with Brian De Palma in the director’s chair.

(2003-2004) “Finding Nemo” and “Shark Tale”

What’s the Resemblance?
Two movies set in the watery depths of the seven seas, “Finding Nemo” and “Shark Tale” saw Pixar and DreamWorks in fierce competition yet again, both making computer-animated family flicks starring a plethora of fishy characters.

Which Came First?
“Finding Nemo” was a 2003 release, floating to the surface on 30 May, while “Shark Tale” surfaced on 1 October, 2004.

Which Made the Most Cash?
Both movies were kings of the box office ocean, with “Shark Tale” making a splash with $160 million domestically and $367 million worldwide, and “Finding Nemo” swimming in a pile of dough, making $339 million domestically and $867 million worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart?
The biggest difference would be the storylines, one of which is more emotional, the other having entertainment solely in mind. “Finding Nemo” tells the story of a clown fish who swims all the way across the ocean to find his missing son, while “Shark Tale” is about a bluestreak cleaner wrasse who receives local fame when he pretends to be a professional killer of sharks.

Which is the Better Movie?
There is no competition here; “Finding Nemo” received mass acclaim from both critics and audiences alike, left filmgoers everywhere teary eyed in the cinema and is still heralded as one of Pixar’s very best. And “Shark Tale,” while maybe not too bad, was much less ambitious, feeling more like a quick paycheck for the cluster of A-list actors providing their vocal talents.

(2005) “Red Eye” and “Flightplan”

What’s the Resemblance?
Both “Red Eye” and “Flightplan” are very tense thrillers with female heroes and male villains, involve terrorism and kidnapping, and take place primarily within the aisles of flying aeroplanes.

Which Came First?
Landing first was “Red Eye” on 19 August, while “Flightplan” landed on 23 September.

Which Made the Most Cash?
“Red Eye” was a modest success, receiving $57 million domestically and $95 million worldwide, while “Flightplan” was quite the hit, taking in $89 million domestically and $223 million worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart?
“Red Eye” has a woman being seated beside a charming man on a plane who turns out to be a rather nasty individual, ordering her to phone the hotel she works for and change the room in which the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security resides so that he may be assassinated. “Flightplan” has a woman boarding a plane with her daughter, falling asleep and waking up to find her daughter gone, with no record of her ever having boarded the plane.

What’s the Better Movie?
In my opinion, these are both great slices of entertainment, but my personal preference lies with “Red Eye,” mainly due to Cillian Murphy’s incredibly intimidating performance as the menacing villain. “Flightplan,” while definitely a fun and mysterious ride, is a little too far-fetched for its own good.

(2005-2006) “Capote” and “Infamous”

What’s the Resemblance?
“Capote” and “Infamous” together tell the exact same story. What is this story? It is of Truman Capote, the famed author of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” both fact-based films revolving around the man as he researches his new book, “In Cold Blood,” and becomes obsessively involved with the the imprisoned murderer who is the subject of his upcoming novel.

Which Came First?
Initially hitting the silver screen in 2005 was “Capote,” given a limited release in the US on 30 September, then a wider release on 3 February, 2006. “Infamous” followed with a limited release on 13 October, 2006.

Which Made the Most Cash?
“Capote” made the most money by a long shot, it earning $28 million domestically and $49 million worldwide. “Infamous,” due to its limited release, made only $1.5 million domestically and $2.6 million worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart?
The only notable difference between the two is in terms of tone. “Capote” has a very cold and almost unsettling ambience about itself, while “Infamous” is much warmer; indeed, you can see this even in the two posters above.

What’s the Better Movie?
It’s unfortunate that “Infamous” was so overshadowed by the success of “Capote,” as it is a very good movie in its own right, but I do believe that “Capote” is superior; how could you not just love Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Oscar-winning performance as the effeminately-voiced eccentric? You could hardly even recognise the man.

(2006) “The Illusionist” and “The Prestige”

What’s the resemblance? 
Both “The Illusionist” and “The Prestige” are set at the turn of the 20th Century, with stage performers in the leading roles. What do they perform? Magic and illusions, shows of trickery and deception, which it turns out they use off-stage as well.

Which Came First?
“The Illusionist” waved its wand first on 18 August with a limited released then a wider release on 1 September, followed by the wizardry of “The Prestige” on 20 October.

Which Made the Most Cash?
“The Illusionist” pulled $39 million out of its hat domestically and $87 million worldwide, while “The Prestige” conjured up $53 million domestically and $109 million worldwide.

What Sets Them Apart?
“The Illusionist” is a love story, while “The Prestige” is a mystery thriller. “The Illusionist” sees its magician protagonist falling for a woman who is out of his reach, while “The Prestige” tells the story of two co-performers who end up in an intense, violent rivalry. Also, “The Prestige” contains actual magic, while “The Illusionist” does not.

What’s the Better Movie?
“The Prestige” is a slightly more intriguing movie than “The Illusionist,” which is nonetheless wonderfully directed and beautifully acted. Under the direction of Christopher “The Dark Knight” Nolan, “The Prestige” is dark and absorbing, crammed full of twists, turns and sleights of hand that the audience never sees coming; it also contains David Bowie, which is always a plus.

Honourable Mentions: (1996) “Independence Day” and “Mars Attacks”; (1998) “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Thin Red Line”; (2005-2006) “Æon Flux” and “Ultraviolet”; (2009) “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” and “Observe and Report”

Watson

(for more content from Stephen Watson, visit I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours)

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Trailers of the Weak–May 2011

The Muppets

It took a while for everyone to truly appreciate the Muppets for what they were. The ball’s in your court, Segel.

50/50

This may be the most depressing thing Seth Rogen’s done since The Green Hornet. But this might actually be good.

Shark Night 3D

From the people who brought you Hostel and Texas Chainsaw Massacre comes another formulaic shitfest that only people who hate money will see.

Happy Feet Two (in 3D)

It’s hard to be too critical of stupid kids movies because they’re not trying to get my money. And they basically only serve so that Spanish families can drop their kids off in a G while they sneak off to a hard R.

YellowBrickRoad

I was actually hoping this would be a Wizard of Oz with a horror spin…and that’s because I’m an idiot. I may watch this one though, in a week, when it’s on Netflix.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

I would say this movie has all the ingredients for a multi-million dollar suckfest, but where’s Megan Fox?

The Adventures of Tintin

Though the real-looking computer animation is still far from not-creepy, I’m excited about this one. All the right pieces are in place. So, let’s just hope there’s not a user error.

Alex G

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I Love Movies, But I Hate Yours: Thor

Kicking off 2011’s summer of big-budget blockbusters is superhero flick “Thor,” probably one of the most challenging stories for Marvel Studios to adapt onto the silver screen from the pages of a comic book. This is not necessarily because of the arguably second-rate awareness of the eponymous character himself, but because creating “Thor” requires one to create a fantasy world, another dimension which must convince and adequately intrigue general movie-goers. Unlike the company’s recent cinematic triumphs such as “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk,” “Thor” takes place partially in a realm separate from our own, one with its own rich history and logic, and to build this calls for an ambience of epicness, which director Kenneth Branagh has thankfully relished in.

This world of which I speak is Asgard, which is located in a magical dimension that is certainly not our own. Its design is of polished gold, its grand kingdom furnished specifically for a noble king. This king is Odin (Anthony Hopkins, “The Wolfman”), a white-bearded god with a metallic eye patch covering his right peeper. He has a wife, Frigga (Rene Russo, “Yours, Mine and Ours”), and two sons, Thor (Chris Hemsworth, “Star Trek”) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston, “Archipelago”).

Thor is the eldest of the two brothers, and is thus heir to the powerful thrown. As pointed out by his father, he is arrogant, vain, greedy and cruel. He wears a red cape and wields a powerful hammer called Mjolnir, a mighty mallet that can cause more damage than when a packet of Mentos is dropped into a bottle of Diet Coke. Seriously, that combination can take an eye out.

After a breach in Asgard’s security almost leads to the theft of a sacred artefact, Thor decides to take matters into his own massive hands, and (despite his father’s insistence that it would do no good) attempts revenge on the evil Frost Giants (just go with it). Following his defiance, Thor is banished from Asgard for the trouble he has caused and the war he has resparked, stripped of his armour and his beloved power-giving hammer.

He winds up on Earth, in the New Mexico desert to be exact, and meets mortal scientists Jane Foster (Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”), Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård, “Mamma Mia!”) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings, “Defendor”). Assuming the rambling Norse god is a deluded drunk, they zap him with a tazer and take him to the hospital, where he inflicts some unprovoked violence on the unsuspecting staff. From here on, the trio are stuck with a man they believe to be a schizophrenic nutcase, but become more and more convinced by his claims that he is indeed Thor, god of thunder and son of Odin, as he tries to get back into Asgard and hold his enormous tool in his hand once again. I can hear you sniggering.

Meanwhile, in Thor’s homely kingdom, Loki sees his chance to become ruler of Asgard, what with dad’s favourite son being cast down to Earth. He is determined that his overshadowing brother never returns from his exile, while the god of mischief plots to take over the reigning role of his elderly father. Maybe he got bored of taking over Jim Carrey’s body and dancing to jazz music with Cameron Diaz. SSSMOKIN’!

“Thor” is high camp, with Norse gods marching about in glistening armour and horned helmets that look neck-crushingly heavy, yelling at each other in perfectly stated Shakespearean English. The scenes in the grandiose kingdom of Asgard may have run the risk of being pretty darn laughable, but there’s an unexpected sternness to them that counteracts any possible corniness. If anything, the scenes on Earth are cheesier than that of the alien realm. Also, it’s difficult to not get caught up in what is ultimately a very fascinating world unlike our own, all rendered in beautiful CGI.

In true blockbuster fashion, the film is a special-effect spectacle that’s bursting at the seems with computerised trickery, all showcased in post-converted 3D (which I should add is barely noticeable after a while). This is not only utilised to create the fantasy world of Asgard, but also the menacing robotic Destroyer, guardian of a sacred Asgardian artifact, his head opening up to blast out a raging fireball that roasts any nearby enemies. There’s also the cold-as-ice Frost Giants, a whole species of monsters who live in a land made of ice (Jotunheim, not Iceland). Their skin is chilled blue, and their eyes are as red as the cheeks of a schoolboy who’s just had his trousers yanked down to his ankles in the playground. These creatures will chill you to the bone. Literally.

Our godly hero is played stunningly by hunky Hemsworth, bringing a knowing sense of cheek and swagger to the hammer-thumping role. The Australian actor, standing at 6’3″ tall, is a mammoth of a man, bound in muscles and oozing with genuine on-screen charisma, making for an enthralling and amusing protagonist for us to root for. When he dons his helmet, swings his hammer and yells at the top of his lungs, you know this man means serious business.

There’s also Hopkins and Hiddleston as a father and son who struggle to connect with each other, the father always having favoured his older boy. Hopkins is not as hammy as usual, his character’s status as a god fulfilled by the sheer gravitas of Mr. Hannibal Lecter’s performance. Hiddleston manages to get across a sense of jealousy over the attention Thor receives, which raises his ambitions to show ‘em all what he’s made of and rule the whole of Asgard all by himself, while yearning to impress his father.

Given that this is English director Kenneth Branagh’s first real venture outside of Shakespeare adaptations and period dramas, “Thor” is ruddy impressive. He gives a full sense of a truly epic scope, perfectly balancing moments of fantastical absurdity with moments of lighthearted fish-out-of-water humour (like when Thor charges into a pet store and demands to be given a horse). The film is also tantalising when the action kick-starts and the hammers fly, the more adrenaline-pumped sequences suitably thrilling. I wasn’t sure if Branagh could handle it all, but by Odin’s beard, he does. He should calm down on all the Dutch tilts, though; they damn near gave me a headache.

In the run-up to next year’s massively anticipated “The Avengers,” “Thor” gives more promise to the mouth-watering prospect of the on-screen team-up of Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk and Thor. However, the film doesn’t feel like one big advertisement (ahem, “Iron Man 2″) for the big event, instead simply taking on the role of a magnificent, technically-impressive comic-book fantasy that excites, enchants and thoroughly entertains. You’re up next, Captain America. Don’t disappoint us.

Nine Outta Ten

-Watson

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