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This Week's PCR Movie Review |
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Summer Movie Preview
Commentary by: | |||
| MOVIE REVIEW Summer Movie Preview by Mike Smith "Sex and the City 2" by Mike Smith | ||
| RETRORAMA Loose in Las Vegas: 2010 by ED Tucker | ||
| THE AUDIO PHILES Album of the Month: The Hold Steady-Heaven Is Whenever by Terence Nuzum | ||
| THE ASIAN APERTURE Zombie Hunter Rika (2008) by Jason Fetters | ||
| LAMPIN' @ THE 6TH BOROUGH Everything New Sucks -- The Remix by John Miller | ||
| MIKE'S RANT Passing On .... Movie Notes .... .... .... .... .... .... .... Mike's Record Shelf by Mike Smith | ||
The days are getting longer and the sun is shining brighter. The first
few signs that summer is upon us. Sign number three is the start of the
summer movie season. . Time to take a look at the movies we’ll hopefully all
be enjoying (though I’m not holding my breath on the new “Twilight”
flick). “Iron Man 2” (****) got the season off to a great start and “Robin
Hood” (**) followed. As always, opening dates are subject to
change due to the whims of the studios. Some synopsis information courtesy
of the Internet Movie Data Base. Enjoy the show (and keep your feet off
the seats!).
JUST OPENED...(May 21)
SHREK FOREVER AFTER Tired of his seemingly boring life, Shrek makes a
deal with Rumpelstiltskin to return to the good old days when he was just a
lowly and feared Ogre. He ends up in a Bizzaro World version of Far Far
Away where Rumpelstiltskin is king, ogres are hunted and he and Fiona have
never met. Kind of like an Ogre’s version of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
MAY 28
MacGRUBER PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME: SEX AND THE CITY 2: JUNE 4
KILLERS MARMADUKE SPLICE JUNE 11
THE A-TEAM THE KARATE KID GET HIM TO THE GREEK JUNE 18
JONAH HEX TOY STORY 3 JUNE 25
GROWN UPS JUNE 30
TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE JULY 2
KNIGHT AND DAY THE LAST AIRBENDER JULY 7
PREDATORS JULY 9
DESPICABLE ME JULY 16
INCEPTION THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE JULY 23
RAMONA AND BEEZUS DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS SALT JULY 30
CATS AND DOGS 2 AUGUST 6
STEP UP 3D THE OTHER GUYS AUGUST 13
EAT, PRAY, LOVE THE EXPENDABLES AUGUST 15
THE LOTTERY TICKET AUGUST 20
TAKERS AUGUST 27
PIRANHA 3D
Starring the voices of: Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy
Yes, it’s another full length film adapted from a “Saturday
Night Live” bit but people who saw it at the SXSW Film Festival say it’s
different then most: it’s actually funny. Will Forte stars alongside Val
Kilmer.
An adventurous prince teams up with
a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that
could destroy the world. Based on what is apparently one of the most
popular video games of all time. I say apparently because I’ve never heard of
it. Stars Jake Gyllenhaal.
Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte find
themselves in Dubai where they encounter heat, camels and John Corbett as Aidan. I
don’t know what’s harder to admit: that I knew the first three
character names or that I had to ask my wife for the fourth one.
While on vacation a woman (Katherine Heigl) meets the man of her
dreams (Ashton Kutcher). Marriage ensues. However the couple’s honeymoon
ends then they discovers that their new neighbors may have been hired to
kill them. It’s like “True Lies” without Arnold and Jamie Lee. And James
Cameron doesn’t direct. Probably no Tom Arnold either. OK, it’s
nothing like “True Lies.” Maybe it’s like “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”
The big dog from the funny papers makes his movie debut. Owen
Wilson voices Marmaduke. Don’t worry buddy, Bill Murray survived “
Garfield.”
Remember the old commercial that ended with the line “It’s not
nice to fool with Mother Nature?” Well in “Splice” the message is “It’s
not nice to fool WITH Mother Nature.” A genetic experiment goes awry and not
in a good way. I’ve already seen it and take my word for it…scary stuff.
Adrien Brody and Sarah Posey star.
Dum-da-dum-dum Dun-dun-dun. Yes, it’s time to welcome back
Hannibal, the Faceman, Howling Mad Murdock and B.A. Barracus. Lots of
explosions ensue. Confirmed cameos from Dirk Bennedict and Dwight Schultz. No
news whether Mr. T shows up. And sadly George Peppard is dead.
Young boy moves to China with his family and realizes
that, in a country of 1.3 billion people, he’s the only one that doesn’t know
how to protect himself. Luckily he meets someone who does. Will Smith
and Jada Pinkett’s little boy Jaden co-stars with Jackie Chan.
Jonah Hill stars as a record company intern who is
charged with ensuring that an out-of-control British rock star, played by
comedian Russell Brand, makes it to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theater.
Josh Brolin stars as the western-themed comic book bounty
hunter in search of the men who took a branding iron to his face. You know
what would have been cool? If they had hired Jonah Hill to play Jonah Hex.
Andy heads off to college so mom gives his toys away to the
local day care. She also sells his baseball cards and keeps the money for
herself. Just kidding. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return while Michael Keaton
voices Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken. In 3D at selected theatres.
When their old high school basketball coach dies, friends and
former teammates gather for the funeral. Stars four very funny people (Adam
Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade) and Rob Schneider.
Seattle finds itself terrorized by a series of brutal
killings Meanwhile, in the sleepy town of Forks, graduation nears and Bella
is forced to choose between vampire Edward or werewolf Jacob. I think
this was also once the plot for an episode of “Saved By the Bell.”
Cameron Diaz stars as a woman meets a mysterious man (Tom
Cruise) and soon finds herself caught up in a worldwide adventure. It’s
like “Killers” without Ashton and Katherine.
When a young successor to a long line of Avatars
learns that he possesses the power to engage the Fire Nation, he hopes he will
be able to end a centuries-old war.
A group of elite warriors find themselves the hunted when they
are captured and sent to a planet full of the title characters. The first
film gave us Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura. I don’t
know if stars Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne have political
aspirations.
Animated film that finds Gru (voiced by Steve Carrel)
plotting to steal the moon until he meets three orphan girls.
The latest from director Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight”
) is a sci-fi/thriller set within the "architecture of the mind" and
centered on a group of business people who can construct a dream world for an
individual and then infiltrate that world to steal their subconscious.
Charged to protect New York City, a master
sorcerer (Nicolas Cage) recruits a seemingly ordinary person (Jay Buruchel)
to assist him. No word on whether Mickey Mouse and the multitude of marching
brooms will show up.
When I was a kid I loved to read books by author
Beverley Clearley featuring Henry Huggins, his dog, Ribsy, and next door
neighbor Ramona Quimby.
When a man (Paul Rudd) gets a promotion at work he
learns that he must bring the biggest idiot he knows to a celebratory
dinner. Steve Carrel IS that idiot.
CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) must fight for her freedom
when a defector labels her a spy.
Remember nine years ago when you were walking out of “Cats and Dogs”
and said to your companion “Man, I wish they’d make a sequel
to this thing.” Guess what? This time the title characters put their
differences aside and join forces to defeat a rogue cat with plans for world
domination.
While in Paris for an international dance competition Moose
(Adam Sevani) misses the flight home. While stranded he discovers the city’s
underground dance competition. In 3D.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg star as two NYC detectives
who step up to emulate the city’s top cops. Hilarity ensues.
While trying to get pregnant, a happily married woman
realizes her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful
divorce she takes off on a round-the-world journey. Julia Roberts and Javier
Bardem co-star in a film directed by “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy.
Have you ever walked out of an action movie and said “Man, that movie would have been great if (pick one) Sly, Arnold or Bruce
would have been in it?” Well your wish has been granted. Writer-director-star
Sylvester Stallone co-stars with fellow bad asses Jason Statham, Jet Li,
Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture and Steve Austin as a group of
mercenaries sent to South America. Special appearances by Arnold and Bruce.
Bow Wow stars as a young man who must survive a
weekend in the projects after neighbors discover he holds a winning lottery
ticket.
A group of bank robbers, led by Hayden Christensen and Paul
Walker, find their plan to steal $20 million interrupted by detective Matt
Dillon.
35 years ago, “Jaws” became the first summer movie event.
The film told the story of a town terrorized by a fish and co-starred
Richard Dreyfuss as a scientist who is called in by the local police chief (Roy
Scheider) to help. The story here: When a town is terrorized by fish, the
local sheriff (Elizabeth Shue) calls in a scientist (Richard Dreyfuss) to
help. Wait a minute….
This week's commentary, "Summer Movie Preview," is ©2010 by Michael A. Smith. All graphics this page are creations of Nolan B. Canova, ©2010, all rights reserved. All contents of "Nolan's Pop Culture Review" are ©2010 by Nolan B. Canova.
