FilmCrunch 051: Neil Reviews Blockbuster Total Access
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, DVD Reviews, Short FilmCrunch, Videocasts,
In the episode, Neil Estep gives his detailed thoughts on Blockbuster Total Access, Blockbuster’s hopeful DVD rental Netflix killer. Find out what he thinks about what Blockbuster is doing right, what they are doing wrong, and why Netflix still reigns supreme.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
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Box Office Breakdown: Rabid Zombies Barely Get A Bite
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign Language, Horror, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Compared to it’s record-breaking debut ($150 million), Spider-Man 3‘s recent weekend take ($58 million) may seem like a dramatic fall. But when your worst is still six times higher than your closest competitor’s best, who cares??
The biggest surprise this week? Not the ho-hum performances of 28 Weeks Later or Georgia Rule. After weeks and weeks in the Top 10, Blades of Glory and Are We Done Yet? have finally left the building!
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Rabid Zombies Barely Get A Bite
Lawsuit Claims ‘Brokeback Mountain’ Caused Psychological Distress
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Drama, Romance,
Now I’ve had friends who thought the critically acclaimed movie, Brokeback Mountain, was a bit overrated, but I’ve never been told that it forced them to seek counseling….
The Chicago Board of Education is currently facing a lawsuit filed by the grandparents of a 12-year-old girl because of the movie that was shown in her class. A substitute teacher for some reason felt it was okay to play the R-rated film without any permission from the students’ parents.
While I admit that the story about a gay relationship between two closeted cowboys is inappropriate material for an 8th grade classroom—especially given the nudity and sexual content—I’m having a hard time believing that anyone would suffer ‘psychological distress’ after watching it. Nor do I believe that someone should deserve a $500,000 settlement for having to endure the film. Now if the movie forced the girl to become a gay cowboy, then maybe we’d have a story. Unfortunately, I can only imagine that other parents may soon jump on the financial bandwagon.
Note to the (Grand)Parents: If you want to send a message, get the teacher fired. Don’t cripple the school district (and the students overall) by forcing them to pay. Also—teach your granddaughter how to walk out the nearest door the next time she doesn’t like something…
Read More 
| USA Today
Nicolas Cage in Possible Untouchables Prequel
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Noir, Period, Sequels, Casting,
Given my general disdain for prequels and my current indifference toward Nicolas Cage, this next piece of news really caught my attention…especially since it involves one of my all-time favorite movies.
Variety reports that Cage is currently in discussions to star in a prequel to Brian De Palma’s classic The Untouchables. This movie, currently titled The Untouchables: Capone Rising, would focus on the infamous mobster’s rise to power. Nicolas would be playing the role of Capone—a role made legendary by Robert De Niro in the 1987 production. Both the director and the producer from the last project would be returning for this venture.
Although I really shouldn’t care, I will now play the role of Nicolas Cage’s pseudo-agent and give him a few words of advice:
1) You are no Robert De Niro
2) When your career is in a slump—you shouldn’t put yourself in a position to be compared to another actor like De Niro
3) You’ve already proven that working with De Palma (Snake Eyes) does not equate to box office success
4) De Palma’s last movie (The Black Dahlia) was quite honestly the worst thing I saw last year. (If you don’t believe me, watch my previous review)
5) Movies that have colons in the title often belong on the straight-to-video shelf
So I passionately beg of you, Nicolas—please do not make this movie. If there is any chance that you may taint the memory of my beloved classic, I will summon Mephistopheles from Ghost Rider to hunt you down.
Read More | Variety
Georgia to Rule Box Office?
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Universal, Drama, Comedy, Box Office, Casting, New Releases,
When the credits carry Jane Fonda’s name, the movie is bound to be a success, right? Hollywood royalty, Fonda always brings a certain something to any flick. Pair her on screen with vivacious Lindsay Lohan, and it’s hard to go wrong. That’s why the expectations for Georgia Rule are so very high. Normally, a movie about three generations of women would be labeled a “chick flick” and be filled with touchy-feely-fuzzy moments. The reviews are in, and fans are wondering what to expect from Georgia Rule.
Click to continue reading Georgia to Rule Box Office?
Read More | NY Times
FilmCrunch 050: Ghost Rider Review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Columbia Pictures, Action, Adaptation, Thrillers, Short FilmCrunch, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts,
Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Ghost Rider in this episode of FilmCrunch:
Long ago, superstar motorcycle stunt rider Johnny Blaze made a deal with the devil to protect the ones he loved most: his father and his childhood sweetheart, Roxanne. Now, the Devil has come for his due. By day, Johnny is a die-hard stunt rider—but at night in the presence of evil, he becomes the Ghost Rider, a bounty hunter of rogue demons. Forced to do the Devil’s bidding, Johnny is determined to confront his fate and use his curse and powers to defend the innocent.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
Michael Moore Takes On Health Care
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, Weinstein Company, Documentary, Upcoming Releases,
It’s been a while since we’ve had a juicy documentary to talk about—one that would send everyone back to their partisan corners.
The waiting may soon be over when Michael Moore’s latest film, Sicko, arrives in theaters this summer. His other works (obviously) include Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. The twist? This film may not be as polarizing as his previous works.
Sicko is Moore’s take on the health-care industry. An issue that people across party lines can find head-shaking.
Make an appointment to see the documentary when it rolls out on June 29th.
Read More | Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Viewers Get Caught Up In A Sticky Web
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Disney, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Let’s see if it’s possible for me to say something terribly surprising…
Spider-Man 3 scored the largest domestic debut for a movie ever ($59.8 million on Friday). Two days later, it broke the box office record for the highest grossing weekend ever ($151 million). Both records were previously set by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
With no strong competitors next week, Spidey is bound to stay on top. But all things could change in just a matter of weeks when Shrek rolls into town (May 18th). And let’s not forget about that Captain Jack Sparrow. May 25th could be the day that the third Pirates installment sails in to reclaim the box office booty.
1. Spider-Man 3, Sony, $151,116,516
2. Disturbia, Paramount, $5,844,363
3. Fracture, New Line, $3,696,060
4. The Invisible, Disney, $3,261,374
5. Next, Paramount, $2,892,335
6. Lucky You, Warner Bros., $2,710,445
7. Meet the Robinsons, Disney, $2,619,654
8. Blades of Glory, Paramount, $2,409,106
9. Hot Fuzz, Focus, $2,219,346
10. Are We Done Yet?, Sony, $1,744,619
FilmCrunch 049: The Queen DVD Review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Miramax, Drama, Foreign, DVD Reviews, Short FilmCrunch, Videocasts,
Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review the DVD release of The Queen in this episode of FilmCrunch:
A revealing, witty portrait of the British royal family in crisis immediately following the death of Princess Diana. The setting for this fictional account of real events is no less than the private chambers of the Royal Family and the British government in the wake of the sudden death of Princess Diana in August of 1997. In the immediate aftermath of the Princess’s passing, the tightly contained, tradition-bound world of the Queen of England clashes with the slick modernity of the country’s brand new, image-conscious Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The result is an intimate, yet thematically epic, battle between private and public, responsibility and emotion, custom and action - as a grieving nation waits to see what its leaders will do.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
FilmCrunch 048: Blades of Glory, Children of Men, Volver
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Paramount, Sony, Universal, Adaptation, Drama, Foreign, Period, Science Fiction, Comedy, Sports, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts,
In this episode of FilmCrunch, Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Blades of Glory, Children of Men, and Volver. Also, Veronica gives her take on Blockbuster Total Access.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
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