- Entertainment
- Movie Insider
Recently in Favorites Category
They recently announced that they were replacing relative unknown Rachelle Lefevre with Bryce Dallas Howard for the third Twilight movie (the second is due out in the fall) due to a "scheduling conflict." What possible "conflict" could a young actor have that they couldn't be in this megahit series? Sounds like Lefevre got shown the door because her villainess Victoria wasn't evil enough. But we'd love it if more of these people suddenly had conflicts, and they suddenly had to recast most of the roles in the film with some big-name actors. It might make us a whole lot more excited for the Eclipse.
Continue reading this entry on The Moviefile .
New Moon on Tuesday - so okay, it's a day too late to capitalize on the title of one of my fave Duran Duran songs, but it's a giant picture of Rob Pattinson, so let's not quibble. And here it is, the new one-sheet poster for the Nov. 20 Twilight sequel, The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Yummy, right?
And the movie's official publicity description: "Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested."
More new New Moon news: Fans will get an exclusive first look at the movie on May 31, during the Andy Samberg-hosted MTV Movie Awards.
Excited much?
Yes, I read Marley & Me before seeing the movie, so I knew what was coming. But if you think that eliminates the need for a whole handful of tissues when you-know-what happens, oh, how wrong you would be.
But the tearjerking is worth it, because really, who doesn't love a good dog flick? The answer: Only people who have no souls. So, in the spirit of Marley and other good recent pooch flicks, here's a list of 10 must-see doggie DVDs ...
1. Marley & Me (Fox Home Entertainment) - Go ahead, resist the rambunctious, ornery Marley's charms, even when he's destroying furniture and flunking out of obedience school (in a hilarious way). Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson and Kathleen Turner are funny sidekicks, but it's all about the many adorable yellow labs in this movie, which is funny, sweet and, like most doggie DVDs, a great excuse for gathering the whole fam together around the TV.
I personally enjoyed Transformers, and am looking forward to the sequel this summer, but director Michael Bay has his detractors, like the writer of this (hilarious) Onion story on the fake news that Bay has signed a deal to direct a movie version of another 'toon, ThunderCats. Or, as The Onion puts it ...
"Michael Bay Signs $50M Deal To Fuck Up ThunderCats"
Hi-larious. And just one of the many Onion stories that so gleefully pokes fun at Hollywood. A few of my other favorites (warning: reading them while sitting in front of the computer and drinking a can of Coke Zero can be hazardous to your computer monitor):
That got your attention, right? Our motto is that free always tastes better (and never more so than in our current economy), so we're steering every movie fan we know to Film Metro.com, a Website that lists free movie screenings in cities all across the country.
FREE, people!
It's almost that time of year again - March Madness and the NCAA basketball tournament. This year's tourney kicks off on March 17 at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, and to get in the mood for three weeks of fast-paced hoops fun, I've been perusing Genius Products' NCAA March Madness: The Greatest Moments of the NCAA Tournament.
Below, but a few of the tidbits of Oscar trivia you'll learn in Robert Osborne's 80 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards (Abbeville Press), the newest edition of the movie critic and Turner Classic Movies network host's official guide to all things Oscar. The gorgeous coffee table tome checks in at an impressive - and hefty! - 440 pages, with more than 700 photos, and is a must-have for any Hollywood buff:
Just as award season is being kicked off with the Golden Globes this Sunday, where they feed and give drinks to the Hollywood elite (oh, and praise the best of the best in movies and TV -- sometimes I forget that they do that, too), the rest of us get to enjoy a certain amount of schadenfreude with the announcement of The 29th Annual Razzies, highlighting the somewhat more prevalent worst of the worst in Hollywood. While I don't necessarily agree with every single movie The Razzies nominate, the awards do tend to validate my taste, particularly this year, when I can state with pride that I did not see a single one of the films nominated for Worst Picture.Feeling no need to stick with those other awards shows set precedent of nominating only five films per category, The Razzies nominate whatever films or actors they feel deserve it. This year's nominees:
Continue reading this entry on The Moviefile .
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
The Caped Crusader!
The Dark Knight on Blu-ray
What makes it such a nifty gifty: It's one of the best movies of the year - and not just one of the best comic book movies of the year, one of the best movies of the year, period. Though it's still up in the air whether or not the late Heath Ledger will receive a posthumous, and well-deserved, Oscar nomination for his incredible performance as The Joker (he received a Golden Globe nod this week), the DVD has already sold three million copies since its release on Tuesday. So let it be said, three million Batman fans can't be wrong.
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Everyone in your family, all your friends, all your co-workers (hey, I said it was one of the best movies of the year).
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
TV's most adorkable new spy guy!
Chuck: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray
What makes it such a nifty gifty: Charles Bartowski is your average slacker geek working at the Buy More (think Best Buy), heading up the store's Nerd Herd tech support crew (think Geek Squad), when he finds out that his ex-best friend - a guy who betrayed him and got him kicked out of college - has arranged for Chuck to accidentally download to his brain all the U.S. government's secrets. High concept? Sure. But after that initial plot, what results is an Alias-meets-Psych dramedy with a cool, sensitive, adorable nerd/spy (the endearing Zachary Levi), his goofy pals, the gorgeous female spy handler (Yvonne Strahovski) who wins his heart and the hilariously grumpy other spy handler (Adam Baldwin) who begrudgingly has to protect Chuck. There's also Chuck's sweet, caring sister and her super perfect fiancé, a smart, kind, funny, impossibly attractive guy the gang affectionately calls Captain Awesome. It's the best reason for no longer dreading Monday nights!
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your niece and nephew, your boyfriend, your dad, your uncle, your friend, you co-worker.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
We interrupt this program to annoy you and make things generally irritating!
The Complete Monty Python Flying Circus Collector's Edition Megaset
What makes it such a nifty gifty: The nifty graphics-covered box includes all four seasons of Flying Circus, as well as new documentaries, live performances, deleted scenes, "personal best" collections, a Python dictionary, quizzes and much more. As the title suggests, it's a MEGAset, and a must for any Python devotee. And, though it retails for $159.95, Amazon.com is offering it for 51% off - that's $78.49 for those of us who were promised there would be no math in this gift guide.
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your dad, your brother, your uncle, your best friend, your co-worker.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
It's be-witching!
Charmed: The Complete Series box set
What makes it such a nifty gifty: 49 discs - 49 discs, people! - housed in a sturdy, gothic-y "Book of Shadows" include all eight seasons of the show and loads of special features, covering all the show's main characters, as well as the unaired pilot and a hot "Men of Charmed" feature. Yum!
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your niece, your sister, your best friend, your mom.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
They're ab fab!
Absolutely Fabulous - Absolutely Everything box set
What makes it such a nifty gifty: Sweetie, darling! It's nine discs - all five seasons - plus the Christmas specials and nearly three hours of special features, all packaged in an appropriately blinged out silver, quilted book. And, of course, because it's one of - if not THE - best Britcoms ever.
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your mom, your aunt, your best friend, your sister.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
The new Gilligans!
Lost: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray
What makes it such a nifty gifty: Not many dramas can start out great, lose their way, and in the fourth season, rebound with a year that's almost as good as the first. But Lost did that very thing (let that be a lesson to the powers that be at Heroes ... but I digress), as the fourth season, on the heels of that season three finale game changer with Jack and Kate back to the real world, was shocking, heartbreaking and appointment viewing every week. And Lost on Blu-ray: hey, the show is filmed in Hawaii, and Blu-ray is very kind to Hawaii.
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your best pal, your 'rents, your siblings, your nephew and your co-worker.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
It's the first family of TV gangsters!
The Sopranos: The Complete Series
What makes it such a nifty gifty: If you've caught any of the re-airings of the HBO drama on A&E, you know that, even edited, the show continues to pack a whallop, and on every viewing, you catch more and more of the layered storylines. This killer - pun intended - box set collects all six seasons of the Emmy winner, plus a cool book, hours of bonus features and even a sitdown/dinner roundtable discussion with the show's cast. Bottom line: It's a must have for any serious TV drama fan, and Amazon.com is selling the set for $199.99 with free shipping ... fughetabboudit!
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your mom and dad, your husband or boyfriend, your uncle, your brother and your best friend.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
A DVD box set that's better than Jell-O Pudding Pops!
The Cosby Show: 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
What makes it such a nifty gifty: It includes every episode from all eight seasons of the classic '80s family sitcom The Cosby Show, from Denise's attempt to make Theo a designer shirt (a Gordon Gartrelle) to the marriage of Elvin and Sondra and Denise's wedding to Martin and the somewhat annoying Olivia years. Cosby is one of the rare shows that's every bit as wonderful as you remember it being when you watched it as a kid, and with the handsomely-packaged set available for under $100 at Amazon.com, it's a real bargain for any '80s TV fan. Bonus: The set also includes an all-new interview with Bill Cosby himself, who talks about the show's lasting impact on TV comedies.
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your hubby, your brother and sister and your best friend.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
It's holiday cartoon DVDs, Charlie Brown!
Peanuts Holiday Collection
What makes it such a nifty gifty: It includes remastered versions of the three best Peanuts holiday specials: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas, with making-of featurettes on all three. My fave: Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic, which refers, of course, to Snoopy's infamous "gourmet" Turkey Day feast of jellybeans, popcorn, pretzel sticks and buttered toast.
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your niece or nephew, your brother or sister, a co-worker and Secret Santa swaps where you might not know your giftee very well (who doesn't love the Peanuts gang, after all?).
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
The 2008 Oscar Favorites Box Set
Michael Clayton, There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, Juno and Sweeney Todd
What makes it such a nifty gifty: First, I should point out that this isn't an actual box set ... you have to purchase the DVDs individually. But put 'em together in one of those movie tubs of microwavable popcorn, with a couple of boxes of movie candy (which is always on sale at Walgreens, BTW) and you've got a very nifty gifty, and five great, and very different, flicks from 2007.
George Clooney and Johnny Depp lost the Leading Actor statue, but gave the performances of their careers in Clayton and Sweeney, while Blood will give you the chance to finally see what all the fuss was about with those milkshake jokes (and with Daniel Day-Lewis' Oscar-winning performance). Juno is what can only be called the best feel-good movie about teen pregnancy ever, and No Country for Old Man was the deserving Best Picture winner.
It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your parents, your uncle, your brother, your film-lovin' co-worker and your aspiring filmmaker cousin.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
The First Family of the Modern Stone Age
The Flintstones: The Complete Series
What makes it such a nifty gifty: Flintstones, meet the Flintstones, in this complete series box set that houses the classic cartoon in one of the most ridiculously cool packages of the year.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
The Saga of Half-Pint
Little House on the Prairie - The Complete Television Series
What makes it such a nifty gifty: It's only one of the greatest family dramas ev-er!
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
Super Spy Guys
James Bond Blu-ray Volume 1 and 2 and Casino Royale on Blu-ray
What makes it such a nifty gifty: If you haven't made the decision whether or not to switch to the Blu-ray format, these are great examples of DVDs that might help you make up your mind ... quite simply, they look incredible, with sharp scenes throughout and great sound quality.
Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...
The Ultimate Family Drama
The Godfather - The Coppola Restoration Giftset
What makes it such a nifty gifty: It's not only one of - I'd argue THE - best mobster drama of all time, but it's also one of the best family sagas of all time.
Holy A-list villain, Batman! Well, now that this has been thrown up as a possibility, the next Batman movie can't happen without it: Slashfilm reports that Johnny Depp might sign on to play big Bat baddie The Riddler in The Dark Knight sequel.
Please let it happen … please let it happen … please let it happen …
Not cruise as in Tom, cruise as in news you can surf on over to …
- Christian Bale is going to be one busy dude with two major franchises under his Bat-belt. Have you seen the Terminator Salvation trailer?
- Speaking of the big Bale, about that crazy assault business in London this week … here's hoping it's a family squabble that spiraled out of control. Everyone has someone in the old family tree who can bring out the worst in them, no?
Ever have the experience of seeing a movie and enjoying one actor or actress' performance so much that you decide then and there you will, going forward, see any movie they're in, simply because they're in it? That's me after watching Transsiberian, the new crime thriller that has me permanently ensconced in Camp Emily Mortimer. The movie, which debuted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and will open in limited release on July 18, is a smart, action-packed gem that follows Jessie (Mortimer) and her naïve husband Roy (Woody Harrelson) as they decide to take a trip on the titular Russian train.
You're too old to draw him a picture (trust me) and no one needs another tie (no one's wearing 'em anymore anyway, according to this story) … so what to get your dad for Father's Day? No worries, here's a list of DVDs that should cover everyone on your Daddy's Day gift-buying list …Bonus materials: New introductions for each flick by filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas; storyboards; and featurettes on Indy's women, the beautiful locations that provided the movies' settings and on the "creepy crawlies" littering the films, including Indiana's (Harrison Ford) dreaded snakes.
I'll keep this one short and sweet (though the movie, clocking in with a 135-minute running time, is anything but short): I give the SATC movie two very enthusiastic thumbs up, four stars, an A … whatever grading system you want to use, it was worth the wait.
Confession: Going in, my enthusiasm for the movie had taken a hit, thanks to months and months of rumors about the movie's storyline. Didn't it almost feel like, between trailers, clips, rumors, scores of magazine and TV interviews and rampant spoilers everywhere, that you'd almost heard and seen everything there was to hear and see about the movie?
All of a sudden, the late singing and acting legend is everywhere: Starring on his own new 42-cent U.S. stamp, and popping up as the subject of a rumored Martin Scorsese-directed biopic.
The flurry of activity coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Oscar and Golden Globe winner's death, which Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has marked in a big way with five Sinatra DVD box sets, featuring 22 flicks, 11 of which are hitting DVD for the first time. Among the goodies:
Greatest. Sequel. Ever? Uh, no. Best Indy flick? No. Best action/adventure movie in recent memory? Still no. Best Harrison Ford movie since Air Force One? Okay, I'll give you that one.
Unfortunately, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull didn't live up to any expectations I had going into Sunday's media screenings (save that one about it being the best Ford movie since Air Force One, though that line-up includes duds like Firewall and Hollywood Homicide, so …).
Admission: I didn't grow up loving the Indy flicks, but I was excited to see the new movie, based on the cast, Steven Spielberg directing and the assumption that the Ford/Spielberg/producer George Lucas trio wouldn't keep fans waiting nearly 20 years for another Indy adventure and then deliver, well, this.
When Iron Man opens on May 2, you cannot miss it!
Considering I'm not that into comic books and I hated the last super hero movie (Spider-Man 3), I purely saw Iron Man for business, not pleasure.
Well, within minutes of the movie starting, I was enthralled. I could feel myself starting to love it. (By the end of the movie, I was not only obsessed, but I felt myself clapping.)
First of all, let's discuss Robert Downey Jr. Talk about a comeback story! From drugs and jail to starring in the best super hero movie yet, Robert Downey Jr. is not only back on the scene, but he's a force to be reckoned with. Oh, and he looked ridiculously hot in the movie too. Move over, Tom Selleck, there's a new man with a moustache in town!
Whether you're a comic book junkie, love action movies, think Robert Downey Jr. is sexy, like funny movies, enjoy a good hero, or take pleasure in a high-quality romance, this movie is for you... aka, it's pretty much for everyone.
Iron Man draws you in from the beginning and makes you care about the main character, Tony Stark (Downey Jr.). Not only is Robert Downey Jr. incredibly witty in the role right off the bat, but when he first tries to escape his captors in Afghanistan, the audience falls for him. Why? Partly because he's a genius, yes, but mostly because the scene resembles the one where King Kong gets shot by the planes when he's on top of the Empire State Building. There's something fierce about him, but yet you want to hug him and protect him.
