movieEVERYday.com Capsule No. 99


movies: news / premieres / awards / star birthdays / new to DVD / coming soon
posters: just in / hottest selling / extravaganzas | capsules: previous / next
Most Recent Movie Reviews:
review archive: 200520062007

(click a poster to purchase)


Movie Review of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) [R] 117 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $14.25
If Tim Burton was planning a sequel to Edward Scissorhands to reunite Johnny Depp with blades, he sort of got his wish in his direction of the translation of the acclaimed Stephen Sondheim musical "Sweeney Todd" to film. Not every stage musical adjusts well to the motion picture medium, and some would say none do except those which one has not scene on stage first. Partly because of the surprisingly seductive portrayal of the leading venge-meister by Johnny Depp and partly because of the keen eye for dark scale of Tim Burton, the transition amounts to something nearly quite as spectacular as it is sinister.…continued…or read the spoiler points

Movie Review of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007) [R] 96 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $14.25
Do you know how hard it is to write a review of a movie that mocks the tragic death of Johnny Cash's older brother in a saw accident, pokes you in the face several sassy times with the fully frontal Monty, contains the anti-politically correct anthem "Mama You Got to Love Your Negro Man", and has ever-escalating drug use with ghost hands? Come on, you've got to write hard to top the innuendo of the riskiest satirists of our time, Jake Kasdan and Judd Apatow. Only if you've been living under a rock hard would you not know Judd Apatow…or…maybe you've not been reading the tops of movie posters. Some people never knew him until the 40-Year Old Virgin or maybe Anchorman, but his career began long, long ago as a high school student disc jockey who interviewed the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno and Garry Shandling. After a career most of us would not consider a failure, but most of us are not trying to be Hollywood movie moguls, he went on to mostly produce and variously write or direct sometimes: "The Ben Stiller Show", The Cable Guy, "The Larry Sanders Show", "Freaks and Geeks", North Hollywood (tv movie), The Zero Effect (tv movie), "Undeclared", Anchorman, Kicking and Screaming, The 40 Year Old Virgin, American Storage, The TV Set, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, 2007's: Knocked Up, Superbad, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and not to worry, a whole string of other movies coming soon including: Drillbit Taylor, Pineapple Express, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Step Brothers, I Love You, Man; and Year One…whew! So, while it's true that a lot of his films have been great, it's been a rocky road for the comedian turned writer turned producer turned actor turned director turned executive producer turned song-writer. As for Jake Kasdan, he's not done too badly himself rising up from production assistant on Grand Canyon and archivist on Wyatt Earp to working alongside Apatow. Putting their talents together to write what they would probably not call a raunchy parody of overly redundant, self-congratulatory, morally conflicted musician biopics, but rather a straight-forward, adult, comedic satire, they have concocted Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.…continued…or read the spoiler points

Movie Review of Charlie Wilson's War (2007) [R] 97 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $14.50
Some news reports of the fall of 2007 have indicated that USAers have had no appetite for war films leading to dismal box office results for most of the anti-Iraqi war movies and documentaries. Would they have an appetite for a sort of different sort of war film about a wealthy socialite with a cause, a charming yet philandering Texas congressman, and an angry CIA agent who come together to properly arm Afghan rebels against the invading, mighty Soviet Army? The answer, while not simple, would be "no" if the assertion of the news stories, as most lean to try to suggest, is that either USAers are 'sick' of war-related media, or they support the Iraqi efforts and are showing this by avoiding films that offer alternatives to their opinions. Why would they not appreciate a light comedy about how 'good' people took up an honest cause to help under-funded formerly free people under siege by our formerly biggest enemy, the Soviet Union and communism?…continued…or read the spoiler points

Movie Review of National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) [PG] 124 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $11.75
The good news about National Treasure: Book of Secrets is that it's somewhat humorous, somewhat lively, and possesses most of the basic elements that made the first National Treasure a surprise hit. The bad news is that the trailer editors, if you have seen their work, gave away too many of the most magical elements of the film (so if you don't like spoilers don't watch it); there's not quite as much ingenuity to the treasure-hunting and clue finding as it seemed like there was in the original; maybe there's a good reason Nicholas Cage has never done a sequel before; and the film, at least when it was presented at the mid-night preview, was preceded by a dreadful "Goofy" cartoon about his dysfunctional installation of a home theatre system that set neither the proper tone nor mood for the film that followed. In other words, despite the Midas touch of Jerry Bruckheimer and the addition of Academy Award®-winning Helen Mirren to the cast, this installment (no 'for sure' word on a third film just a vague teaser pre-credits) adds fodder to the "don't make sequels" rather than the "see Superman II was even better than the original" lists.…continued…or read the spoiler points

Movie Review of Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) [PG] 90 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $12.25
For over 50 years, Ross Bagdasarian's singing chipmunks have been delighting children and adults alike. For fans of the original Simon, Alvin, and The-o-dore, rest assured that Mr. Bagdasarian was a producer on this new CGI update of the three famous, festive furballs. Using a mixture of life action with the CGI animated chipmunks makes Dave, finally, a real live person, who looks an awful lot like Jason Lee. Jason Lee's physical comedy abilities go along way in carrying a film that, though it breaks one's heart to think about it, is really nearly 90 minutes of him talking to himself. When you dissect his role that way, which is hard to do once you've seen the film and really fall in love with the animated little guys, he deserves a lot of credit. It's one thing to act in a few scenes in a movie with a CGI character or monster or effects, and another to play an entire film opposite three non-existent, little characters. Obviously, he does such a good job and the animation is so well done, that, as indicated previously, upon exiting the theatre it is just right to accept what you've seen as actually having happened. Thus is the magic of the CGI effects wizardry of today.…continued…or read the spoiler points



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Other Recent Reviews:
I Am Legend (2007) [PG-13] 101 minutes WIP™ Scale: $14.00
Atonement (2007) [R] 130 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.50
My Kid Could Paint That (2007) [PG-13] 82 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.75
The Golden Compass (2007) [PG-13] 113 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.00
No Country for Old Men (2007) [R] 122 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.50
Awake (2007) [R] 78 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.00
I'm Not There (2007) [R] 135 minutes WIP™ Scale: $11.50
Lust, Caution (2007) [NC-17] 157 minutes WIP™ Scale: $14.25
The Mist (2007) [R] 127 minutes WIP™ Scale: $11.75
Enchanted (2007) [PG] 107 minutes WIP™ Scale: $12.25
August Rush (2007) [PG] 104 minutes WIP™ Scale: $12.50
This Christmas (2007) [PG-13] 117 minutes WIP™ Scale: $9.00
Hitman (2007) [R] 100 minutes WIP™ Scale: $14.00
Crazy Eights (2007) [R] 80 minutes WIP™ Scale: $9.50
Nightmare Man (2007) [R] 94 minutes WIP™ Scale: $4.25
Love in the time of Cholera (2007) [R] 138 minutes WIP™ Scale: $14.25
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) [G] 93 minutes WIP™ Scale: $11.00
Beowulf (2007) [PG-13] 113 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.25
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) [R] 117 minutes WIP™ Scale: $12.75
The Deaths of Ian Stone (2007) [R] 88 minutes WIP™ Scale: $11.75
Juno (2007) [PG-13] 96 minutes WIP™ Scale: $12.75



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Film Premiere and Award Photo Sets
archive: 2007


Listed in Order of Publication in the mEd database not necessarily chronologically...


Film-Related Awards, Galas, and Celebrity Event Photo Sets
2nd Annual Anniversary Gala For Charity: Water Disney High School Musical Family NightEin Herz fuer Kinder GalaUPI Entertainment Photos of the Year4th Dubai International Film Festival65th annual Golden Globe Awards Nominations13th Annual Critics' Choice Award NominationsWill Smith Cement Ceremony at Grauman's Chinese TheatreJules Verne Adventure Film Festival Special Awards Presentation (2007)Five Women in Film and Television Awards (2007)Theatregoers' Choice Awards (2007)AFI Awards (2007)AFI Industry Awards (2007)Hollywood Reporter's 16th Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast(continued)

Film Premiere Photo Sets
Cassandra's Dream (Premiere) • No End in Sight Special Screening Photos - NYC (Premiere) • Orphanage, The (Premiere) • Bucket List, The (Premiere) • Charlie Wilson's War (Premiere) • I Am Legend (Premiere) • Great Debaters, The (Premiere) • Juno (Premiere) • National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Premiere) • Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Premiere) • In the Land of Women (Premiere) • My Kid Could Paint That (Premiere) • St. Trinian's (Premiere) • Superbad (Premiere) • There Will Be Blood (Premiere) • Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, The (Premiere) • P.S. I Love You (Premiere) • Control (Premiere) • Jumper Trailer (Premiere) • Youth Without Youth (Premiere) • Kite Runner, The (Premiere) • (continued)

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Brand New Movie Posters Just In:
New Movie Poster Archive: 2007 | TV Posters: 2006 / 2007
New as of 17-December-07
2 Fast 2 Furious (version E) • Alvin and the Chipmunks (version C) • AVP Requiem (version C) • Be Kind Rewind • Beowulf (version E) • Beowulf (version F) • Beowulf (version G) • Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (version Video) • First Sunday • Fracture (version B) • Great Debaters, The • Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (version B) • Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (version A) • Hitman (version C) • In the Name of the King • Mad Money • Made of Honor • Orphanage, The • Sleepwalking • Superbad (version B) • The Dark Knight (version A) • The Proposition (version C) • The Proposition (version D) • The Proposition (version E) • The Savages • Wall-E (version B)

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Recent Movie Star Birthdays:
birthdays: last month / this month / next month / by month / alphabetically
23-Dec22-Dec21-Dec
Corey HaimRalph FiennesKiefer Sutherland
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Corey Haim
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Ralph Fiennes
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Buy at Art.com
Kiefer Sutherland
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Also:
Jane Fonda
Samuel L. Jackson
20-Dec19-Dec18-Dec
Jonah HillJennifer BealsCasper Van Dien

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purchase from
MovieGoods.com
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Jennifer Beals
Buy From Art.com
Buy at Art.com
Casper Van Dien
Buy From Art.com
Also:
Joel Gretsch
Also:
Jake Gyllenhaal
Also:
Katie Holmes
Ray Liotta
Brad Pitt
17-Dec
Milla JovovichRelated DVDsRelated DVDs
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Milla Jovovich
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Also:
Ernie Hudson
Bill Pullman
Giovanni Ribisi
Apple iTunes
Netflix, Inc.




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Movies Now on DVD and Download:
DVD releases: Archive / This Week / Next Week

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Movie Review of The Simpsons (2007) [PG-13] -- W.I.P. Scale™ Rating: $12.75
Review-lite: Arguably, one of the obvious problems with the film is that they waited too long to make a "Simpsons" movie. The edge has dulled over time, and the former first family of tv social satire has been upstaged by "South Park" etc. Nonetheless, The Simpsons Movie is still a lot of fun, hilarious, full of good satire even if the main focus has been rendered nearly passé. This story finally forces Homer to grow up, and this is long, long overdue. It's a good film, but not quite the overall event probably most people were expecting. (click for full details and complete review)(click to purchase The Simpsons Movie)

Also This Week:

(click posters to purchase posters)

Balls of FuryHalloween (2007)HatchetIllegal TenderLast Legion, TheOnceStardustUnderdog

Previously Announced Available for Pre-Order:

3:10 to YumaBlack IrishBrothers Solomon, TheDeath SentenceDragon WarsEastern PromisesGood Luck ChuckIra & AbbyJoshuaLadrón que roba a ladrónMr. WoodcockResident Evil: ExtinctionRush Hour 3Shoot 'Em UpSunshineThe CombacksThe InvasionThe TenTradeWar

Download a surprise rental movie for 99c or less (M-Th)!


New films same day as DVD-$14.99


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Movies Coming Soon:
Dynamic Calendar Jan 07 - Jun 09 with links to official sites, trailers, and reviews
Plain Calendars: 2006 / 2007 / 2008-09

Friday, 21 December

Charlie Wilson's War • National Treasure: Book of Secrets • P.S. I Love You • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street • Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
in limited release only: Flakes

Tuesday, 25 December


Alien Vs. Predator Requiem • The Great Debaters • Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep
in limited release only: The Bucket List • Persepolis • There Will Be Blood

*note: Studios constantly change release dates for films. Please be advised that the information on the coming soon page is updated often, but may not be exact.


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Top 10 Hottest-Selling Movie Posters:
(source: our friends at MovieGoods®—one of the biggest movie poster supply companies)
(click any poster to purchase)
#1#2#3#4
Across the UniverseNational Treasure:
Book of Secrets
The Golden CompassThe Dark Knight
#5#6#7#8
Sweeney ToddEnchantedI Am LegendCloverfield
#9#10
Iron ManHarold and Kumar 2
(accurate as of 19-Dec-2007)


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Movie Poster Extravaganzas:

archive

Saw fans can rejoice in celebrating the film franchise status for their beloved horror films about malevolent traps being sprung on people with a devious purpose. Here, as is tradition, the franchise is honored with its own movie poster extravaganza.

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movieEVERYday.com Record:
On 5 November 2007 1:59 pm MT 23 people were visiting mEd.com at the same time!


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