Home Alone 5: Alone in the Dark? NO NO NO NO NO!

Facepalm.

Words cannot describe how upset I am with this movie.  But in an attempt to give these feelings words, here goes nothing...

WHY, Fox, why?!?!

Set to be a TV movie, this film is an attempt to strike what Home Alone 4 didn't: a deal for a TV spin-off series.  But before we get into the technical nitty-gritty, let's talk about why this is so wrong, and look back at the previous films.

Home Alone

What's great about this movie:

An original plot. Great characters. Great actors. And let's not forget "Angels with Filthy Souls". Home Alone had it all.

Despite being made a year before I was born, as a kid I LOVED this movie. We all did.  And I still do today.  While there are a bunch of movies I liked as a kid that have dropped a few pegs on my list (some falling many, many pegs), there are a few that have stayed where they were on my all-time awesome list, this being one of them.  Watching an 8-year-old transform his house into a giant trap for burglars was is amazing.  (Sometimes I wonder how a current 30-year-old Kevin McCallister would set up his house in the event of zombies...)  And watching Harry and Marv fall into his traps is always entertaining. Yes, somethings are a little over-the-top and would do more damage than shown, (I don't recommend taking a blow-torch to the top of your head)

Actually a boy, dressed as a girl. John Hughes felt too bad, otherwise.

If there is one movie that gets me in the Christmas spirit, it is this one.  And it has so many quotes to be taken from it, that my house sounds like the McCallister's around the holidays.  Trust me, if anyone makes a mistake doing something, someone somewhere says "Look what ya did, ya little jerk!"  Even with being deemed "a Christmas movie", I could watch this on any day, simply because it is THAT AWESOME! 



Fun Fact: Home Alone was nominated for 2 Oscars in music, for Best Original Song and Best Score.  Which is understandable considering John Williams was behind it. 

What's bad about this movie:

The fact that I can quote basically the entire thing.  Other than that there's not much wrong with it.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

What's good about this movie:

A great new chapter with the same great characters and actors.  And, yes, Angels with Filthier Souls.

This was a great addition to the franchise.  With a nice change in venue to New York City, we are once again brought to see what a Christmas is like with our favorite McCallister.  Through in Tim Curry and a young Rob Schneider, and keep the cast from the original, and you have set your self up for success.

What's bad about this movie:

Once again, there are a few many unrealistic traps.  But they are easy to overlook and still enjoy the movie. 

Home Alone 3

What's good about this movie:

Let's not forget Alex's hot, older sister...

Okay, here is where the franchise began to take a downward turn.  While it can't compare to the first two, I still do, however, enjoy this as a guilty pleasure.  Rather than simply offering a new actor, we are given an entirely new kid: there's nothing worse than replacing the main actor in a movie for the same character.  We get two more villains for twice the amount of chaos, plus a nice, squawking bird to add a little bit of humor.  And here's where we begin our dip into 'dislike'.  

What's bad about this movie:

Home Alone 3 gives us our most unrealistic events stunts yet, not to mention a plot based around A MISSILE CHIP IN AN RC CAR!  Also, HA3 dips out of the Christmas time frame.  And while we now have four bad guys (well, three bad guys and one bad girl), they are definitely weaker than Harry and Marv.  Also, there is Dorris, Alex's beady-eyed mouse... what happened to the main character wielding dangerous animals, like Buzz's tarantula?  This movie fell and rolled a little ways from the Home Alone tree...

Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House

What's good about the movie:

The return of Christmas, the McCallister family and Marv!... wait a minute...

What's bad about this movie:

Yes, they returned characters from the original two films, but in doing so they made a few more changes. For the worst, I might add. They replaced Culkin with a no-namer, made Kevin McCallister's character younger, replaced Harry with Marv's girlfriend, replaced  Daniel Stern with French Stewart as Marv, and made Kevin's mom and dad get in a divorce, characters who are played by different actors as well.  This made-for-TV movie was dripping with disappointment to the point I wouldn't and won't touch it.  Take a look at the trailer yourself...

Bad. Just bad.

Which brings us to Home Alone 5...

So far Home Alone 5 looks like it will be a different character, rather than favorite, Kevin McCallister.  Fox is trying to get a few extra bucks out of the series and possibly get the TV show they couldn't get with Home Alone 4.  And in bringing this back, they are doing it for all the wrong reasons.  Yes, ultimately companies make movies for money and the possibility of more money.  Meanwhile, they should be putting out movies that people want to see. 

If Fox was smart, they would scrap this idea and bring back original cast for a new film, one that both parents and kids could enjoy. 

If Fox was dumb, well.... they'd keep on turning out bad Home Alone movies, further shaming a once great franchise.

The Dark Knight Rises: The Most Anticipated Summer Movie

July 20, 2012

This summer is shaping up to be one impressive season of movies, but with everything out there, The Dark Knight Rises easily takes the role of my "Most Anticipated Film".  While The Avengers has already taken the summer by storm, breaking records and setting the bar high, and Ridley Scott makes his return to sci-fi flicks in June's Prometheus, the Cape and Cowl get a little more attention, simply because there are more of an attachment factor to this film. Here's a rundown of why the new Batman installment gets my prestigious title.

1. My Favorite Superhero

Batman Beyond: a younger Batman, who also has dead parents

Growing up, two of my favorite cartoons involved superheros: Spider-Man and Batman: The Animated Series. Being in the early 90's, these are probably some of my earliest memories with comic book characters.  In the years that followed, these shows had re-runs and then branched out, with straight-to-VHS movies and spin-off series.  1997 gave us The New Batman Adventures, where Nightwing was introduced on TV.  1999 brought our generation Batman Beyond, the futuristic Gotham City under protection from an old Bruce Wayne and a new, younger Batman.  Recently, I have found 4 volumes of Batman: The Animated Series on DVD.  But it wasn't the cartoons alone that made Batman stand out over Spider-man: Batman had live-action movies to back him up.

Batsuits: Now featuring nipples.

Around the same time frame that I'd have my grubby hands snatching the remote to tune into to Batman on TV, my family bought the VHS that would help shape my Batman-loving future: Batman & Robin.  Now, before you start thinking, "Wait, wasn't that movie absolutely horrible?" hear me out.  (And for those who are saying, "Hey! That movie was so good, they should turn it into a musical!", it has already been done. )  Being that we owned it, I was able to watch Batman & Robin over and over again and every time I would get to the end of the movie, where they all run out in front of the Bat Signal, I would wish they made "Batman & Robin & Batgirl". (I was six years old when it came out. I didn't know about commas.) Yes, Bane was turned into something everyone hated.  Even my mom remembered him as "the big green guy who was a henchmen", something Bane should never be considered.  Mr. Freeze was... well, the two links above describe his part, and this movie, best.  Looking back, it deserves the 3.6/10 it received on IMDb.  But the fact was, it was a live-action superhero!  As a kid, I ate up all the cheesy fight scenes and the un-realistic ice weapons, and I LOVED the fact that Freeze's goons played hockey.  But more importantly, the movie franchise, despite progressively getting worse, brought Batman to life.  It would be 5 more years until we got Spider-Man on the big screen, and Sam Raimi did a great job with Peter Parker before the hiccup known as Spider-Man 3.  But eight years after the "wonderful" Batman & Robin came out, Christopher Nolan would change the way I saw the World's Greatest Detective.

2. Christopher Nolan

"I know if it was a dream or not."

While Batman Begins renewed my passion for the Caped Crusader, I had also discovered a brilliant man behind the piece of art.  After Batman Begins came out, The Prestige was released a year later and boasted the same director from the last Batman film.  Intrigued, I checked it out, and found it was exceptional.  In the 2 years that passed before we would get The Dark Knight, I found other movies he had made, in Memento and Insomnia.  After watching these movies, I discovered the man couldn't make a bad movie if he tried.  After The Dark Knight came out in 2008, which I saw twice in theaters, I knew that he was the best thing to come along to the Batman franchise since creator Bob Kane.  Rather than just making action movies, he was storytelling with the best of them.  More importantly, he was making my favorite superhero more realistic.  Well, as realistic as a story about a boy who has his parents killed and inherits a multi-million dollar company can be. Two years after he set box office records with TDK, he came out with Inception.   While it could just be some fanboy love for the director, all of his films listed other than Insomnia are featured on IMDb's list of Top 250 movies of all time, two making the Top 20.

3. My Day With Bane

Last August, I had plans to go to Cedar Point with some friends. One of my friends had found a link to a website that talked about being on the set of The Dark Knight Rises and being in the movie. As sketchy as the site looked, we signed up and got our passes to go out to Pittsburgh.  Upon arrival, we did, in fact, sign up to be in The Dark Knight Rises and not some shady scam.  The scene we were set to be in was a football scene.  The same football scene featuring Hines Ward and a bunch of guys blowing up in the trailer.  The whole experience was awesome as we got to scream and cheer on the Gotham City Rogues.  Of course, it is August and unbelievably hot out, and the scene is supposed to be set in the winter, so we will see how that turns out, but still it was awesome.  Later on, Bane came out for an appearance and even did some of the raffle drawings we had.  Here's a little behind the scenes from the day: 

Field prior to explosions...

Field after explosions...

Tom Hardy doing raffle drawings, decked out as Bane.

The man behind it all: Chris Nolan.

Two Villains: one of Bane's army and the lady sitting next to us.

And with less than two months until The Dark Knight Rises, I couldn't be more excited to see it.  This film is the fruition of years of watching and waiting for the ultimate Batman experience, and on July 20th, it's here. When you see the movie, because everyone needs to, be sure to look for the guy wearing a construction vest and helmet, cheering on the Rogues. 

While other movies this summer like The Avengers or The Bourne Legacy will satisfy people's desires for action movies, this is the movie that everyone needs to see.  Or better yet...

Not the movie we deserve, but the movie we need.

The Avengers Smashes Box Office Records

Ho-lee-crap!

Marvel's The Avengers has opened up the summer of blockbusters with a (HULK!) smash. The film brought in $207.4 million in its first weekend, beating out Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2's "amazing" $169.2 million for the lead.  Now, I know you have been asked before, "If everyone was jumping off bridges would you do it?" but this is one time where everyone is doing something and you absolutely need to join them.
 

If you are cinematically stupid, The Avengers have "grown up", starting with Jon Favreau's Iron Man in 2008.  Here is where we first got a hint that an Avengers movie was in the works, when a post-credit scene introduces us to Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.  From here on out we had post-credit scenes, all giving us hints at future movies.  2008 also gave us a rebooted look at the green giant, The Incredible Hulk. Iron Man 2 followed this in 2010, and gave us a sneek-peek at 2011's Thor.  Finally, Captain America: The First Avenger gave us our final superhero and our first trailer for this years The Avengers.

The Avengers tells the story of Asgardian prince (once king), Loki, and his search for the tesseract and control of the earth.  Backed by an alien army, Loki has only one thing standing between him and world domination: the Avengers.  Brought together from all over, the Avengers must work together and overcome their problems to protect the earth.

Everything about this movie was great: the character development, the cinemetography, visual effects, and everything else you might want.  The fact that this movie had a five movie set-up allows us to jump right into the plot and not have to focus on understanding this world or characters, and add to what we already know as we move along. 

Mark Ruffalo

The character development was outstanding, as you would imagine with each Avenger showcasing their character in a previous film.  The humor was on-par for what was featured before, as well.  What was nice, though, was picking up where they left off (and thinking about where they will go from here).  Captain America was just brought into this unfamiliar world. Thor goes from thinking his brother is dead to finding him trying to take over Earth. The freshest aspect in character was Dr. Bruce Banner.  Edward Norton did a good job of making us like him, but Mark Ruffalo showed the awkward, geeky side I wanted to see in the character.

Looks just like Ruffalo, right?

And while there were som many visual effects to be impressed with, my favorite aspect of the Marvel movie was their work with the Hulk.  Previously in the Hulk and Incredible Hulk, the CGI characters were transformations from Dr. Banner, yet had no resemblance to them.  In this go round, Ruffalo did motion capture for the film, and they were able to nail down a monster that looked like it should.  Not to mention having THE BEST Hulk transformation to-date.


 Simply enough, this is a movie made for the big screen. Not just your normal theater, either. This movie calls out for the IMAX theater (trust me, I have seen the movie now in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D). While I think the 3D is a cool aspect, the biggest benefit of IMAX is the sound.  Seeing explosions and Iron Man's pulsar blasts is cool, but hearing it with that much quality is amazing.

I can't wait to see where they take these characters in Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor 2 (2013) and Captain America 2 (2014), but I know whatever they do with them, I will be there to watch them in their individual movies, and when they re-assemble for the Avengers sequel that Disney just announced (If you are wondering, yes, there is an after credit scene. Two to be exact, both awesome).

Director Joss Whedon did a fantastic job with the reigns of the biggest comic book movie to date.  While it will be interesting to see how my love for Christopher Nolan and Batman play out later this summer (and Joss Whedon is wondering the same thing), The Avengers currently holds the box office opening weekend record and the title of "Tim's Favorite Superhero Movie".

The Avengers' grade?

 

April 6 & April 13: What to See, Wait, and Pass On

Rather than give a whole overview of the month, we are gonna switch it up and give a look at everything that's coming out, not just the movies I am excited for.  So without further to do, let's take a look at the beginning of April.

Week of April 6

Titanic 3D: Go See

7.5 out of 10 on IMDb

The re-release of Titanic in 3D comes riding in on the wave of 3D movies.  This year brought back Beauty & the Beast, Star Wars Episode I, and will release Finding Nemo in 3D later on. The epic tale now is featured in 3D and is sure to have some stunning visuals. 

In addition to the fact it's in 3D, it also comes at a special time: the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  On TV, I'm sure you can find specials that are incredibly interesting about the event on channels like Nation Geographic or Discovery, which I would highly recommend viewing.  Director James Cameron has made 33 explorations of the wreck, and continues to check it out.

The other reason to go see it is simply the fact that when it came out, people my age were most likely not allowed to see it in theaters. Silly nudity scenes! But now that we are all grown up, it's okay to go out and see it (assuming you are mature enough to handle it) to view the movie how it was supposed to be seen: on a gi-normous screen. So, be sure to catch it while it's in theaters!

American Reunion: Wait

7.7 out of 10 on IMDb

I get it. "Another American Pie movie with the original cast!" Cool. I'm sure it'll be funny to see where the guys from the original American Pie Trilogy will be years after Jim's wedding, and I'm sure there will be a decent amount of nudity in this installment as well, but what's the point of going out and spending around $10 for the movie.

So far I have heard only good things about the movie, primarily that it is extremely funny.  But, unless you are headed to the movies and desperate to see a comedy, there isn't any reason for me to HAVE to go out to see it. I don't doubt it'll be enjoyable, but this one can wait for rent for me.  And for the people looking for something raunchy in this sequel, I can't see it lacking in the crude/ sexual references, as well as nudity.  But these movies always come out with the un-rated version on their DVD/Blu-Ray releases... Just wait either way on this one.

Moving on to the April 13 releases--

Three Stooges: Pass On It

42% Fresh on RottenTomatoes

Sigh........

Let's rewind, for a second here.  Clear your mind. Okay. Now, what if I told you that Jim Carrey, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and the guys behind Dumb & Dumber and There's Something About Mary were revamping an old-time favorite? You'd be interested, right?  And what if I told you they were bringing back the comedy trio of The Three Stooges? With a group like that, you would have high hopes. Just like I did...

Well, when people start abandoning ship left and right, and the original three cast members are no longer attached to the project, it gets a little disheartening.  First, if was Sean Penn.  Then it was announced Jim Carrey would no longer have a part in the film... Slowly, it whittled down to Sean Hayes who hasn't been relevant since Will & Grace, Will Sasso who hasn't been relevant (if you could call it that) since Mad TV, and Chris Diamantopoulos who hasn't been relevant... at all.

Clearly, the Farrelly Brothers have lost their gusto over the last 13 years of trying to bring this project to life.  Not saying they are making bad movies (Hall Pass had some lols in it, and Dumb & Dumber 2 is lined up)  but clearly this is a pothole in the road of their career.  If you are trying to get rid of some money, see it. But if you are looking for a film to see in theaters, I suggest you look elsewhere. I'm sure that suggestion will still be relevant when it comes out on DVD...

Lockout: Go See It/ Wait

6.8 out of 10 on IMDb

This movie is on my original list of must see movies in 2012.  But like I said before, that list is always changing and being added to, while some movies need asterisks next to their titles and explained.  This is one of those asterisks...

There are action movies that men absolutely love to see.  The hot damsel in distress, the deadly, crazy antagonist, and the bad-ass toting guns saving the day/country/world. This is one of those action movies.

The storyline revolves around a supermax prison that is in space, where all the craziest, deadly people are sent.  I wouldn't imagine visiting loved ones is an option in this case, if so, I'm sure it costs a little more than driving to Colorado or Texas.  Anyways, the prisoners revolt and gain control over the entire space station prison. Oh yeah, and the President's daughter is on board and must be saved.  With the crazies threatening to run the station into the Earth, the US (because of course, it HAS to be America going in to save the day) is left with no choice but to send in one man who has been convicted of espionage against the US to save the world, and regain his freedom.

I first heard of this movie via trailer in the theaters.  Three names attracted me to this film: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, and Peter Stormare.  Guy Pearce (Memento, LA Confidential) has packed on the muscle for this role, and man, does he look like he's about to tear stuff up.  Maggie Grace, most recognizable as the daughter from Taken, looks to have a larger role and is looking better than ever.  And lastly, Peter Stormare (Fargo, Armageddon) will be adding some quality acting to the mix.

But while I am excited and ready for this movie that is perfect for Guy's Night Out, I am starting to get a little hesitant to see it in theaters.  This movie reminds me of the people who partake in one-up-manship as a sport, always trying to out due others.  "So, we have a supermax prison. But wait its in SPACE. And they take control of it with the President's daughter. AND THEY ARE GOING TO CRASH INTO THE EARTH!" As long as this remains an enjoyable action movie, I have no problem giving it my critical grace. But if it turns into a poorly done action movie, like Gamer, it could be one to wait a little bit on...


The Cabin in the Woods: Go See It

7.7 out of 10 on IMDb

First off, I'm not a huge fan of horror movies. Stuff that makes me jump out of my seat, mainly doesn't provide me with any entertainment.  But if I hear there is a must see movie, regardless of the genre, I will attempt to see it sooner-or-later. 

This film follows a group of five friends who are staying in a cabin in the woods. Cue the killer with some messed up motivation/background and let the terror ensue, right? Wrong. Although the deviation from the typical horror movie is boasted in their trailers.  And this is what peaked my interest.

And let's talk about who is involved in this project: Chris Hemsworth and Joss Whedon. Chris Hemsworth is easily most known for his role as Thor in last summer's action movie and in this years Avengers. He is an awesome actor and I'm interested in what he will bring to the table.  Joss Whedon, on the other hand, is the man behind the TV shows Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as The Avengers.  If the creativity that has gone into any of his other projects is present in this film, it is sure to be awesome.  And from everything I have heard, it is.  Be sure to see this game changer in theaters.

Check back for the rest of the movies coming out in April.

Wanna read up on the movies that came out earlier this year? Be sure to read the posts on January, February and March.

2012 in Film: Movies Out Now- March

March is over and done with, but here are the movies you should have checked out and should look for in theaters.  As I mentioned in my original list, these are movies I am pumped for, and think make 2012 one of the best years in film. Be sure to check out my January and February lists as well.  So, let's get this party started.

First off the list:

7.0 out of 10 on IMDb

John Carter tells the story of an American Civil Wer vet who finds himself on Mars in a chaotic new world.  The movie is based on the 11-part series, Barsoom. 

This movie is an interesting case for me: I never read the series, and from the previews, you would think it was another Prince of Persia mistake by Dinsey (in fact, the movie has a net loss of $166 million and is considered the biggest box office bomb of all time) yet I'm still intrigued by the film.


The reviews I have read have been spread out across the board, while family and friends' thoughts on the movie have been nothing but good (with the exception of my sister-in-law, but we can just disregard her, right?).  This looks to be Disney's attempt at an action-packed 3D adventure, but unfortunately people are getting caught up on the previews and aren't that interested. 


Two things can come out of me seeing this movie: I thoroughly enjoy the movie and walk out satisfied, or I see a sub par movie and say I have seen the movie with the largest deficit ever.

Next up:

7.7 out of 10 on IMDb

21 Jump Street bring the 80's TV drama that gave Johnny Depp his thrust into stardom back to life in a comedic fashion.  Just like the series, the film follows a pair of police officers, sent undercover to a local high school to bring down a drug ring.  Only instead of the young, handsome Johnny Depp, we are given the young (and now thin!) Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum (and a cameo from much older Johnny Depp).

Words can not describe how much I dislike Channing Tatum.  Yes, ladies, I get it: he's a hunk.  But he hasn't been in anything outside of Coach Carter that I enjoyed (and he wasn't that good in the role, to be honest) up till now plus he helped make GI Joe a ticking timebomb.  HOWEVER, Jonah Hill looks to be the man who, when paired with Tatum, will change my outlook. 

I first saw a preview for the film when seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in theaters, and I loved it.  In its opening weekend, 21 Jump Street brought in $35 million and grabbed the top of the box office.  Also, Jonah Hill is proving himself as an actor lately and showing he isn't just "the funny fat guy from Superbad and Accepted".  He was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Moneyball, and is showing he can handle big time roles. 

The movie has received great buzz and its success at the box office has already hooked Sony for a sequel.  Go out and see it before its too late! 

Next up:

7.8 out of 10 on IMDb

The Hunger Games tells the futuristic story of teens battling it out till the death on national TV.  The first film to be made from the Hunger Games trilogy is out and is PHENOMENAL.  In the book and film, we follow Katniss Everdeen who volunteers to take her sister's place in the games.  But regardless if you read the book or not, it is sure to please.

With the film there have been two large complaints, one logical, one irrational.  The main complaint with the film has been the shaky-camera technique used in the film.  In addition to the action scenes, there are parts shot handheld that people say made them feel nauseous.  While I agree, in some scenes it went a little overboard, most times I thought it did the story justice.  The story is set in a world were we offer up 24 teenagers to fight it out to the death.  And with the film following Katniss around, it makes sense that everything is shaky because IT IS NERVE-RACKING!  The shaking should make people feel tense and on the edge of their seat. Yes, it might get annoying but just enjoy the movie and story for what it is until you go out and make your own movie.

The last complaint is the worst: some fans have been upset in the casting selection of the characters.  The characters in question are played by black actors/actresses, however, in the book they are even described as having darker skin.  So, beware of all the racist critics that will complain about the turn of events.

With the way the first movie turned out, I can't wait until the second book, Catching Fire, comes to film.  Until then, I might just have to go pick up the books and start this "reading" thing.

Last, but certainly not least:

8.4 out of 10 on IMDb

The Raid: Redemption is an action packed movie about 20 cops trapped in a 30 story building with tons of bad guys.  Its Die Hard meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.  Not interested? Watch the trailer...

In addition to the package of delicious action that has been delivered to us, I'm looking forward to the score of the film, made by Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda.  I grew up listening to them and think it will be great to see what he can do.  In fact, musicians that crossover and compose for film usually work out great (see LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy or Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor).

That's it for this month.  Be sure to check back for the movies coming out in April!  Until then, go out and watch some good movies.

2012 in Film: Movies You Might Have Missed- February

2012 is probably the best year for movies.  If you haven't read the initial post or my post about January films, be sure to check those out as well, as they offer incite into how I view this year's cinema.  There are some pretty amazing movies coming out in 2012 and some have already come and passed through theaters.  Here's a list of must-see movies that debuted in February.

First up:

7.4 out of 10 on IMDb

Before you judge Chronicle, I'd just like to say I think the concept is awesome, plus the delivery is an interesting, but fitting, choice. The story depicts three high school students who gain super powers after making a discovery.  With their new abilities, they are pushed to the edge and begin to embrace the dark unknowns that come with the discovery.

I am the first to bash the found-footage/ documentary genre, especially when it is done wrong.  And believe me, they are easy to find.  But there are times where these styles of film making are executed perfectly (see District 9 for documentary).  Lately, horror movies have been frequenting the found-footage format and making me vomit a little every time a new one comes out.  My hatred in general for this style may stem from the fact that people are stupid enough to believe these movies actually happened ("Based on a true story" used to mean a nice, steady foundation in an event, not just one small detail) and Hollywood doesn't mind making a quick buck off these people.  But that is a story for another time.

Chronicle has a great storyline for a found footage movie and presents something that is a novel concept.  Growing up, we always see superhero stories that focus on the good side and how they endure through their problems.  The Dark Knight tested the waters and showed us how Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent both struggled and had different outcomes, but it didn't show us Batman reach into his dark place.  Plus, Batman technically doesn't have superpowers other than being super BA, but that's getting off topic. 

Seeing these kids deal with their superpowers and the dark abilities of them is an interesting story that is perfect for the found-footage style and hooked me from the first trailer on.  Recommendation: catch it on Blu-Ray.

Side note: Fox has hired Max Landis, the master behind the screenplay, to begin writing a script for Chronicle 2.  If it's good enough for a sequel, it has to be good, right?


Next up:

6.8 out of 10 on IMDb

Harry Potter and the Woman in Black, wait no, just, The Woman in Black offers us two things: a nice horror/thriller about a haunted house, and Daniel Radcliffe's first post-Potter film; two things I am crazy excited for. 

Let's start with the story:  A lawyer (without the aid of his two best friends) heads to a remote village to deal with the deed of a house.  The house is haunted by the woman in black. You get the point.  But what sounds like a stereotypical horror movie presents it in an interesting way: the titular character isn't shown for the majority of the movie.  That's right, the story about the woman in black and she isn't even seen for awhile? Dats crazy, yo.  From everything I heard (hey, I can't see every movie known to man), the story is great and provides us with a solid horror movie in an age with too many found-footage horrors and exorcism movies.  I don't know what I would do if they ever made a movie like that...

Most intriguing aspect for me though has to be Radcliffe outside of Harry Potter.  We know he can act just fine, especially in comparison to other movies tweens might grow attached to, cough* Twilight* cough. Radcliffe picked a great movie to start his post-wizard phase of movies.  I'll be looking to see what else he can provide.  Please, just don't start making a bunch of Romantic Comedies, Mr. Radcliffe.


Next up:

7.0 out of 10 on IMDb

Safe House reminds me a lot of Training Day: a young law enforcement officer and Denzel Washington being awesome.  Mix in a plot similar to 16 Blocks and Assault on Precinct 13 and its sure to be an action thriller you can't take your eyes off of.  The story follows a young CIA operative (Ryan Reynolds) put in charge of protecting a deadly fugitive (Washington) when the safe house in which they are staying comes under attack and they are forced to move.

I like Denzel Washington, I like Ryan Reynolds, and I like gunfight, actiony-movies.  Of course I am going to want to see this.  And more than Denzel Washington, I like bad Denzel Washington.  I think he has his best performances in his nitty-gritty roles.  Ryan Reynolds on the other hand, hasn't had too many roles to show his serious acting, outside of Smokin' Aces.

 Regardless, it's an action packed thriller we all should be able to enjoy (minus kids- I wouldn't imagine it to be too kid-friendly).  Try to grab that before its taken out of theaters, or just wait until it comes out on Blu-Ray/DVD

Last, but certainly not least:

6.4 out of 10 on IMDb

Star Wars: Episode I in 3D is one of the early 3D re-releases coming out this year, and by far the most action-packed.  If you are interested, the list includes Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, and Titanic.  So yeah, there's that...

But back to Star Wars in 3D.  Last Fall, the complete series was release on Blu-Ray for the first time, packaged by their trilogy.  If you thought lightsaber duels were great in High-Def, wait till you see Darth Maul get sliced in half in 3D (and don't even say "ohhh! Spoiler Alert, Brah!" That movie came out over a decade ago and if you didn't realize, he's not advertised for Episode II at all... except for the Clone Wars stuff on Cartoon Network, but let's just all disregard that.)

Now that everyone knows the Prequel Trilogy couldn't stand up next to IV, V, and VII, its okay to go and enjoy this one on the big screen again, along with podracing in 3D and the wonderful Jar Jar Binks. 

If you missed it, well there's always Titanic you can go see in 3D later....

That's it for February!  If you missed my selection for January movies, be sure to go check that out, and be sure to read the original post for a full list of my highly-anticipated 2012 films.