movies: news • premieres • awards • star birthdays • new to DVD • coming soon
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Most Recent Movie Reviews:
review archive: 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008
(click a poster to purchase a poster)
Movie Review of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) [PG-13] 124 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.50
On the heels of the success of what most believed would be the ending chapter of the 'ginormously' successful Indiana Jones trilogy, rumors and speculation began to circulate that producer / director Steven Spielberg and Indy Jones production partner George Lucas would be open to a fourth film. Yet, as time wore on and no news was not good news, a time clock was added to the mix suggesting they'd better make the film ASAP to ensure participation by Sean Connery. Well, the wait for the fourth film is now over, the speculation laid to rest, the rumor sites all quiet (except for speculation of a 5th film of course), and a detail that should be spoiled, Sean Connery appears only in a photograph on Henry Jones's desk despite being alive and well, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull roars on to the big screen at last with beguiling force and rampant nostalgia. Filmed to look and feel like the next chapter in the saga, it works in every way but one. How many books have you read where three chapters take place around the same approximate time continuum and then jump ahead some 20 years in the next without making any attempt, however small, to fill in the gap with something about what's been going on in the lives of those in the continuum? Well, it's a jolting lurch forward in this David Koepp screenplay right smack into the thick of a new Indiana Jones adventure. …continued…or read the spoiler points…
Movie Review of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) [PG] 147 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $12.75
Co-writer / director / and co-producer Andrew Adamson has been said to have described his second installment in the Walt Disney Pictures / Walden Media adaptations of C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series as a darker, more grown-up, summer film. He's correct on all three counts. In fact, there's probably a need to remind parents and guardians of young children that despite the plethora of toys and product tie-ins no doubt pitched at little kids, the Chronicles of Narnia and the two recent films are not really. These are battle-driven films with lots of scenes of kids in peril or fighting at advanced levels with swords and daggers. Granted, care has been taken in ways that are quite obvious and significant to downplay the violence rather than glorify it, but it is there nonetheless. Some have said the film is to be appreciated most by the 'tweens' (those children in the age between little kids and teenagers sort of the 10-12 range) and above. Certainly, that is the case insofar as the 10-12 year-old in your family can differentiate real from fantasy violence and mayhem.
…continued…or read the spoiler points…
Movie Review of Frontier(s) (2008) [NC-17] 108 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $4.25
If there were any doubt in any USAers' minds that only USAers can produce shockingly grisly, pointlessly horrifying films like The Hills Have Eyes and The Hills Have Eyes II (the remakes), Hostel and Hostel: Part II, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, let them fall to rest as Frenchman Xavier Gens has certainly proven that, indeed, other nations can stoop as low. Xavier Gens directed and wrote Frontière(s) in the same vein as these others but managed to take it a step further by employing a cartel of left-over Nazis instead of radiated inbred country folk like Wes Craven or high class Euro monsters like Eli Roth. You be the judge as to which works best for you. Oh, and it just wouldn't be a French film if it were not for the requisite mentions to civil unrest and rioting against the government would it; so, of course, Mr. Gens starts his film out with a bank robbery during the rioting by a gang of hoodlums who would simply shoot you dead to prove their manhood. Four men and a young pregnant woman among them they flee the police with tragic consequences for one.…continued…or read the spoiler points…
Movie Review of What Happens in Vegas (2008) [PG-13] 99 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $12.75
While the trailer gives away too many of the funny parts it gives away nothing at all when it comes to What Happens in Vegas's tender moments. So far, 2008, has not been extremely kind to fans of romantic comedies. Most have been neither very romantic nor very comedic. Recall back on Fool's Gold and 27 Dresses for example. Well, Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz restore faith in the genre readily, moreover, they put the horrible, though somewhat similar, Jennifer Aniston / Vince Vaughn vehicle, The Break-Up out of mind once and for all. The story here concerns a couple of late 20-somethings: him, Jack Fuller(Kutcher), recently fired by his own father (Treat Williams) for being completely irresponsible at work; and Joy McNally (Diaz), a Wall Street type A who gets dumped by her long-time boyfriend during his surprise birthday party, who then coincidentally meet due to a hotel room mix-up in Las Vegas. After charming Joy out of charging him and his buddy Hater (Rob Corddry) with trespassing and turning the evening into one of pure, unadulterated fun like only Las Vegas can deliver, Jack and Joy awaken the next morning to find themselves newlyweds.…continued…or read the spoiler points…
Movie Review of Speed Racer (2008) [PG] 129 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.25
Definitely NOT a movie for everyone, The Wachowski Bros. nonetheless, with Speed Racer the movie, have created an occasionally motion sickness inducing, either 200% cheesy or 200% quotable, but always psychedelic tribute to a cult-classic cartoon show which forces viewers into the future of filmmaking and the cinematic experience itself much as George Lucas's Star Wars redefined expectations when it came to special effects in film back in the late 1970s.…continued…or read the spoiler points…
Other Recent Reviews:
Made of Honor (2008) [PG-13] 101 minutes WIP™ Scale: $10.75
Iron Man (2008) [PG-13] 126 minutes WIP™ Scale: $14.00
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) [R] 102 minutesWIP™ Scale: $3.00
Baby Mama (2008) [PG-13] 96 minutes WIP™ Scale: $11.25
Deception (2008) [R] 108 minutes WIP™ Scale: $11.00
The Wackness (2008) [R] 108 minutes WIP™ Scale: $12.50
88 Minutes (2008) [R] 108 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.00
The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) [PG-13] 113 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Street Kings (2008) [R] 109 minutes WIP™ Scale: $12.25
The Ruins (2008) [R] 91 minutes WIP™ Scale: $4.75
Nim's Island (2008) [PG] 95 minutes WIP™ Scale: $8.25
Leatherheads (2008) [PG-13] 114 minutes WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Superhero Movie (2008) [PG-13] 85 minutes WIP™ Scale: $5.50
Film Premiere and Award Photo Sets
archive: 2008 • 2007 | Videos from the Latest Premieres
Listed in Order of Publication in the mEd database not necessarily chronologically...
Film Premiere Photo Sets
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Premiere • What Happens in Vegas Premiere • Made of Honor Premiere • Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Premiere • Forgetting Sarah Marshall Premiere • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Premiere • Speed Racer Premiere • Iron Man Premiere • Baby Mama Premiere • Street Kings Premiere • Prom Night Premiere • 88 Minutes Premiere • The Ruins Premiere • Leatherheads Premiere • (continued)
Brand New Movie Posters Just In:
New Movie Poster Archive: 2007 • 2008 | TV Posters: 2005 • 2006 • 2007
New as of 25-May-08
Recent Movie Star Birthdays:
birthdays: last month / this month / next month / by month / alphabetically
[click star names to see tribute pages]
| 25-May | 24-May | 22-May | ||||
| Ian McKellen | Kristin Scott Thomas | Ginnifer Goodwin | ||||
(click poster to purchase) | (click poster to purchase) | |||||
| Also: Cillian Murphy | ||||||
| 21-May | 20-May | 19-May | ||||
| Judge Reinhold | Cher | Nora Ephron | ||||
(click poster to purchase) |
| (click poster to purchase) | ||||
| Also: Tony Goldwyn | ||||||
| 18-May | ||||||
| Spencer Breslin | Related DVDs | Related DVDs | ||||
(click poster to purchase) | ||||||
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Movies Now on DVD and Download:
DVD releases: Archive / This Week / Next Week
(click poster to purchase)
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) [PG]-- W.I.P. Scale™ Rating: $11.75
Review-lite: Jon Turteltaub's National Treasure: Book of Secrets begins with an accusation that treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) actually is the descendant of the man who planned the assassination of Abraham Lincoln forcing him to reassemble his team of treasure hunters: Abigail Chase (Dian Kruger), Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), and his dad (Jon Voight) for a trans-Atlantic hunt for clues to prove his great grandfather's innocence. Unfortunately, as well as being less 'magical' than the original, this film suffers from some inexplicable elements in the plot that are never resolved and too much time spent trying to replicate the original film--nearly always the recipe for a bland, mostly forgettable sequel. Despite Producer Jerry Bruckheimer's Midas touch and the addition of Helen Mirren to the cast as Ben's mother, National Treasure: Book of Secrets could definitely be saved for the DVD or Download wish list at this time. (click for full details and complete review) • (click to purchase National Treasure: Book of Secrets)
Also This Week:
none
Previously or Recently Announced Available for Pre-Order:
10,000 B.C. • August • The Bank Job • The Bucket List • Cassandra's Dream • Charlie Bartlett • College Road Trip • Definitely, Maybe • Doomsday • Drillbit Taylor • The Eye • Fool's Gold • Grace is Gone • Hannah Montana And Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert • In Bruges • Jumper • Meet Bill • Meet the Browns • Meet the Spartans • Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day • Never Back Down • Rambo • Semi-Pro • Sex and Death 101 • The Spiderwick Chronicles • Step Up 2 The Streets • Vantage Point • War, Inc. • Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins • Witless Protection
Movies Coming Soon:
Dynamic Calendar Jan 2007 - Jun 2009 with links to official sites, trailers, reviews & more
Plain Calendars: 2006 • 2007 • 2008-09
Thursday, 22 May 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Friday, 23 May 2008
Postal
in limited release only: War, Inc.
Friday, 30 May 2008
The Foot Fist Way • Sex and the City: The Movie • The Strangers
in limited release only: Bigger, Stronger, Faster • Savage Grace • The Unknown Woman
Top 10 Hottest-Selling Movie Posters:
(source: our friends at
| #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |
| The Dark Knight | Iron Man | Sex and the City | Hancock |
| #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 |
| Wall-E | Indiana Jones 4 | Harold and Kumar 2 | Speed Racer |
| #9 | #10 | ||
| Chronicles of Narnia 2 | Quantum of Solace |
Movie Poster Extravaganzas:
archive
Here we honor the George Lucas / Steven Speilberg collaboration, the Indiana Jones Quadrilogy. movie poster extravaganza.
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