Category: Science Fiction

Alien 40th Anniversary Launches March 29th With Six New Video Shorts

Alien Day is right around the corner. Before April 26th arrives, 20th Century Fox has released news that six new terrifying tales will debut over the next few weeks.

From the first heart-racing Chestburster scene to the last horrifying Xenomorph attack, ALIEN has terrified audiences around the world for decades, building a loyal fanbase with its unforgettable moments of jump-scare suspense, acid-bleeding Aliens, and strong female heroines.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of this groundbreaking sci-fi horror film, Twentieth Century Fox Film partnered with global creative community Tongal to offer die-hard fans an opportunity to develop and produce wholly original shorts set in the world of ALIEN.

After reviewing over 550 pitches from filmmakers, six final stories were chosen. The filmmakers were given unprecedented access to the franchise, including storytelling elements, creatures, and characters, to bring a new, terrifying experience to life for audiences.  Each of the six shorts brings forth an exciting new narrative for fans while paying homage to the original film.

Rollout of the six shorts will begin this week, with exclusive fan screenings of the first four at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle on Friday, March 15th, followed by C2E2 in Chicago on Saturday, March 23rd.  The final two shorts, both helmed by female filmmakers, will screen exclusively for fans at WonderCon on Saturday, March 30th, followed by a moderated panel with the directors.  The shorts will be released weekly on IGN, starting on March 29th.  Then, beginning May 3rd, they will be available on the official @AlienAnthology social channels and AlienUniverse.com, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

ALIEN: 40th Anniversary Shorts Synopses:

ALIEN: Alone – Hope, an abandoned crew member aboard the derelict chemical hauler Otranto, has spent a year trying to keep her ship and herself alive as both slowly fall apart. After discovering hidden cargo, she risks it all to power up the broken ship in search of human life.  Written and Directed by Noah Miller

ALIEN: Containment – Four survivors find themselves stranded aboard a small escape pod in deep space. Trying to piece together the details around the outbreak that led to their ship’s destruction, they find themselves unsure to trust whether or not one of them might be infected.  Written and Directed by Chris Reading

ALIEN: Harvest – The surviving crew of a damaged deep-space harvester have minutes to reach the emergency evacuation shuttle. A motion sensor is their only navigation tool leading them to safety while a creature in the shadows terrorizes the crew. However, the greatest threat might have been hiding in plain sight all along.  Directed by Benjamin Howdeshell

ALIEN: Night Shift – When a missing space trucker is discovered hungover and disoriented, his co-worker suggests a nightcap as a remedy. Near closing time, they are reluctantly allowed inside the colony supply depot where the trucker’s condition worsens, leaving a young supply worker alone to take matters into her own hands.  Written and Directed by Aidan Breznick

ALIEN: Ore – As a hard-working miner of a planet mining colony, Lorraine longs to make a better life for her daughter and grandchildren. When her shift uncovers the death of a fellow miner under mysterious circumstances, Lorraine is forced to choose between escape or defying management orders and facing her fears to fight for the safety of her family.  Written and Directed by the Spear Sisters

ALIEN: Specimen – It’s the night shift in a colony greenhouse, and Julie, a botanist, does her best to contain suspicious soil samples that have triggered her sensitive lab dog. Despite her best efforts the lab unexpectedly goes into full shutdown and she is trapped inside. Little does she know, an alien specimen has escaped the mysterious cargo, and a game of cat and mouse ensues as the creature searches for a host. Directed by Kelsey Taylor

In addition to the shorts series, Fox has launched several other exciting initiatives around the 40thAnniversary of the premiere of the original ALIEN film. The USC School of Cinematic Arts is currently hosting a special exhibit of elements from all six films in the ALIEN franchise, including concept art by Academy Award winner H.R. Giger, plus costumes, props, memorabilia, and fan art.

Everything ALIEN will culminate in a 24-hour, worldwide celebration on ALIEN DAY, Friday, April 26th.

Join the conversation and follow @AlienAnthology on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, and dive deeper into the terrifying world of ALIEN on AlienUniverse.com.

Watch New INTERSTELLAR Trailer & TV Spot With Unseen Footage; Special IMAX Release On Nov. 5

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A heart-stopping fourth trailer, with unseen footage, has come online for Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine.

Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that the highly anticipated INTERSTELLAR from Christopher Nolan will be released in 70mm IMAX film, 70mm film and 35mm film formats on Wednesday, November 5th, two days ahead of its nationwide release. The advance showings will play in select theaters in more than 225 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

“To see Christopher Nolan’s ‘INTERSTELLAR’ on the big screen is an unforgettable movie going experience,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures. “From IMAX to traditional film and digital projection, we are pleased that audiences will have the opportunity to see this awe-inspiring film in a wide variety of formats and we are very excited to be making the film available 2-days early for moviegoers.”

INTERSTELLAR was shot using a combination of 35mm anamorphic film and 65mm IMAX film to maximize the crispness and clarity of the image and give the audience a truly cinematic and immersive experience. These advance engagements highlight those theaters presenting INTERSTELLAR in its native formats.

INTERSTELLAR

On Wednesday, November 5th, 2014, INTERSTELLAR opens in the following film formats:

– Select IMAX theaters will be offering The IMAX Experience® featuring 15 perf/70mm film projection which combines the brightest, clearest images at almost 10 times the resolution of standard projection formats, with powerful, laser-aligned digital sound and customized theatre geometry to create the world’s most immersive movie experience. Select sequences will expand to fill the entire screen and will deliver unprecedented crispness and clarity.

– INTERSTELLAR in the 70mm film format offers brighter, clearer image, with three times the resolution of standard projection formats, using the process of projecting light through celluloid to deliver clear images in rich analog color with state-of-the-art digital sound.

– The 35mm film presentations project light through the 35mm frame to deliver clear, high resolution images with rich analog color combined with state-of-the-art digital sound in most locations.

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Tickets for these advance showings on November 5th are available today at interstellar.withgoogle.com and at participating theater box offices. Tickets are also available for the nationwide release on Friday, November 7th, 2014, when “INTERSTELLAR” opens in theaters everywhere including its digital engagements:

– IMAX digital projection uses dual projectors with sub-pixel alignment to produce clear, high contrast images with powerful, laser-aligned digital sound and customized theatre geometry, creating the world’s most immersive digital movie experience. Select sequences will expand to fill the entire screen.

– The film in 4K digital projection produces a clear, bright, high resolution image with absolute stability and cleanliness, combined with uncompressed digital sound for a powerful movie-going experience.

– Digital projection presents a clear, bright, stable image that never degrades in terms of cleanliness or fidelity and uses uncompressed digital sound for a powerful movie-going experience.

INTERSTELLAR stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow and Michael Caine. With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history; traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. Directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, and produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Lynda Obst.

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Explore the Interstellar Google Space Hunt to unlock exclusive new materials
interstellar.withgoogle.com

Explore the World of Interstellar in the New App – Create, Explore, and Endure.

Now available on iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id792959268

INTERSTELLAR New Pics

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Check out the latest set of official stills for Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine.

With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history: traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.

INTERSTELLAR stars Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Oscar winner Anne Hathaway (“Les Miserables”), Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”), Bill Irwin (“Rachel Getting Married”), Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn (“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”), and Oscar winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”). The main cast also includes Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck, David Gyasi, Mackenzie Foy and Topher Grace.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film is written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan. Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Lynda Obst produced INTERSTELLAR, with Jordan Goldberg, Jake Myers, Kip Thorne and Thomas Tull serving as executive producers.

Nolan’s behind-the-scenes creative team was led by director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema (“Her”), Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley (“The Dark Knight”), Oscar-nominated editor Lee Smith (“The Dark Knight”), and Oscar-nominated costume designer Mary Zophres (“True Grit”). The score was composed by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer (“The Dark Knight” trilogy, “The Lion King”).

Anne Hathaway

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Jessica Chastain

Explore the World of Interstellar in the New App – Create, Explore, and Endure.

Now available on iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id792959268

PLAY ONLINE NOW: game.interstellarmovie.com

DOWNLOAD FROM GOOGLE PLAY: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paramount.interstellar

INSTALL THE GOOGLE CHROME APP: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/interstellar/kackgkhdbldcojljaeoaghlhfbbldkil

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INTERSTELLAR launches in cinemas on November 7.

For those in the UK, keep up to date with the latest  #INTERSTELLAR news and information:

Interstellar on Twitter | Interstellar on Facebook

http://www.interstellarmovie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/InterstellarMovie

https://twitter.com/Interstellar

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CLOUD ATLAS – The Review

THE MATRIX trilogy may be their most recognizable work, but I would contend that CLOUD ATLAS is Andy and Lana Wachowski‘s most profound, accomplished film to date. Co-directed with Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN) and based upon David Mitchell‘s award-winning novel of the same name, this science-fiction film addresses how individual lives can affect others’ lives in the past, present and future. The film contains multiples stories spanning many eras in human history, from centuries ago to centuries into the future, where the setting is a post-apocalyptic society.

CLOUD ATLAS features a line-up of talented stars rarely seen in one film. Leading the cast are Tom Hanks (CASTAWAY) and Halle Berry (MONSTER’S BALL), whose roles form the primary storyline throughout time, but are not the sole focal point of the film. Hugh Grant (ABOUT A BOY) delivers performances far outside his normal wheelhouse, delivering some truly unlikeable characters in addition to the enjoyably villainous characters delivered by Hugo Weaving (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER). Weaving, who you may remember as the relentless Agent Smith from THE MATRIX, is much more accustomed to these roles, but seeing Hugh Grant take on this new type of role is refreshing, especially given how well he adapts.

The cast also features veterans performing alongside relatively new faces. Jim Broadbent (THE IRON LADY) is splendid and Susan Sarandon (THE LOVELY BONES), while not prevalent in the film, still adds some seasoned texture to the overall film. Newer talent includes Jim Sturgess (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE) and Doona Bae (THE HOST) amongst others, most of whom provide varied performances for multiple characters in different stories set in different stages of time. Not only is this an impressive undertaking, its also impressively effective, if not dauntingly complex.

CLOUD ATLAS is immeasurably satisfying and uplifting, although few are likely to leave the theater having fully understood the massive scope of this enigmatic cinematic puzzle. David Mitchell’s novel followed six story lines through time, but the film takes it further, following several more story lines, attempting to connect many more lives throughout time than the book. The structure of the film jumps forward and backward in time, as does the tone and the genre, making this a truly unique and original work of daring filmmaking.

CLOUD ATLAS can be an intimidating film to take on, but only on the surface. Once engaged, the film flows surprisingly well, leaping in time from one life to another, setting the viewer up to discover one connection after the other. The whole of the film is tied together by a number of things, one being the actors playing multiple roles. I specifically refuse to point out who plays the individual roles, as part of the experience of watching this film is making those discoveries and connections on your own. The other significant element that serves as the most intoxicating adhesive is the original score from Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek and especially Tom Tykwer for his Cloud Atlas title piece of classically-inspired music.

For a film that cost an estimated $100 million to make, with such an enormous star-studded cast and as much high-quality CGI special effects work as CLOUD ATLAS, the fact that this is independently produced should compel even more interest. The Wachowski’s and Tykwer have created a philosophical playground on screen. The viewer’s eyes and ears will relish the feast that is CLOUD ATLAS and what the viewer witnesses is likely to stay with them indefinitely, resonating with an endless amount of food for thought as connections continually get made beyond the initial viewing.

For me, the most compelling story line takes place in the distant future, set in the post-apocalyptic society with a hint of BLADE RUNNER meets THE MATRIX, but the most engaging performances come from Tom Hanks, Jim Broadbent and Halle Berry, which should help refuel the fire in her recently faltering career. As much as I am drawn to go on for a few thousand more words, describing every last detail of the film, attempting to convey all the various themes and ideas, I would not be doing justice to CLOUD ATLAS, as much an enlightening event as it is an enjoyable film.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

CLOUD ATLAS opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, October 26th, 2012.

ROBOT & FRANK – The Review

Here’s a flick that opened with little fanfare. It may be tough to find, but it’s certainly worth the effort. I mentioned it to some friends, and I could almost hear their eyes roll when I told them the title over the phone, ” Yeah, that’s right. It’s called ROBOT & FRANK . No, really.”. I’m sure they imagined a zany, hi-tech buddy movie. Summing up the plot probably didn’t change their minds. But it’s a surprisingly moving, warm little character study with a top-notch performance at its center. Basically it’s perfect little film to watch on a rainy day. Or any kind of day, really. I just hope it gets a little love from the year-end best lists and award nominations.

As the film opens, we’re told it’s the near future ( not the far future like TV’s ” The Jetsons ” with their flying cars ). Frank ( Frank Langella ) is an ex-con ( did  a couple stretches for burglary ) living alone in his old two-story country house in the woods of New York state. His marriage ended long ago and his kids, Hunter ( James Marsden ) and Madison ( Liv Tyler ) have grown and left the nest. But Hunter is concerned because Frank is losing the battle against senility ( or perhaps Alzheimer’s ). Frank doesn’t keep the place clean or eat right. The only exercise he gets is from strolling into town to flirt with the pretty librarian Jennifer ( Susan Sarandon ). So, there’s no way that he’s gonna move out and live in one of those assisted care places. So, Hunter presents Frank with the gift of a service robot, a VGC-6OL ( performed by Rachael Ma, voiced by Peter Sarsgaard ). The little bot cleans, cooks, and nags Frank ( ” It is time to get up.” ” Let’s start a garden” ). Frank’s annoyed til he realizes that the bot is the perfect accomplice. He’ll convince the bot that it would be great therapy and exercise to do a ” job ” . Seems that Frank has some new yuppie neighbors with a taste for jewelry. At last, Frank is back in ” the game”!

Has it really been 35 years since Langella made the ladies swoon as the cape-twirling immortal Count on Broadway ( and then starring on the screen in 1979’s DRACULA ) ? At an age when most actors are eyeing retirement, he’s doing some of his best screen work ( FROST / NIXON ). Now add his addled, cat burglar to his list of recent triumphs. This guy is not going gently into that good night. He’s regretful, bored, but mostly angry at the hand fate has dealt him. You can see the confusion on his face as he realizes that his brain has failed him yet again. He longs for his outlaw days, even using phrases straight from a 1930’s Warner Brothers gangster flick ( ” Crackerjack! ” ” What a maroon! ” ). We can’t help but root for him as he decides to go for one last big score. He’s briefly lifted out of the fog by this mechanical Felix Ungar.  And Frank develops real affection for the squirt. Langella’s skill brings out the best in all the actors that share the screen with him. There’s a couple of TV stars that have great bits with the cantankerous con ( won’t name them, so you’ll also be delightfully surprised ). This is Marsden’s second film as Langella’s son ( 2006’s SUPERMAN RETURNS ) and the two have a great rapport. He’s frustrated with his old man, but still has a lot of affection for the stubborn cuss. Tyler also has a great time with Langella as Frank’s globe-trotting Daddy’s girl. And Sarandon is her usual charming self as the local gal enjoying ( and encouraging ) Frank’s flirtations. There’s no big flashy CGI effects that detract from this film’s simple laid-back charms ( a weird car, clear picture phones, etc. ). ROBOT & FRANK is a film that warms the heart and tickles the funny bone. If Frank can warm up to this household tech aid, then maybe the future ( or near future ) will be a pretty nice place.

4.5 Out of 5

BRANDED ( 2012 ) – The Review

BRANDED slithered ( like the flick’s CGI beasties ) last Friday with very, very little fanfare. Kind of appropriate since it’s a film about the evil of marketing…and advertising…and consumerism…the list trudges on and on. And it wants to be a satire / mind-blowing thriller, perhaps like the original ROBOCOP. I doubt if that classic’s director, Paul Verhoeven, could have done anything with this garbled mess of a script. Well, believe it or not, BRANDED had two directors! The best thing I can say about this new flick is that it’s something that Edward D. Wood, Jr. might have had a hand in making if he were still around. That may not be a fair comparison since Wood’s Grade-Z flicks are still pretty entertaining, while BRANDED is a real cinematic endurance test.

The bulk of the film is set in the new Russia. But first we start with a flashback to the 1980’s and the evil ole’ USSR. Young lad Misha is waiting in one of those long, winding lines we always heard about ( usually for one roll of bathroom tissue ), when he’s struck by lightning! Cut to a Polynesian island retreat where the legendary old Marketing Guru ( Max Von Sydow ) meets the heads of the world’s fast food chains. Seems the eateries are floundering and they need the master’s help. Jump to present day Russia where adult Misha ( Ed Stoppard ) is an award-winning advertising wiz working alongside American Bob Gibbons ( Jeffrey Tambor ), who just might be an intelligence agent. Misha catches the eye of Bob’s ambitious niece, Abby ( Leelee Sobieski ). They join forces ( in business and the bedroom ) to produce a big makeover reality TV show. When things go horribly wrong, the Guru swoops in with his master plan while Misha and Abby are separated when he’s thrown in the slammer. Years later she tracks him down. After doing his time, Misha  now tends to a herd of cattle far, far from the urban sprawl. After a ritual involving a red cow ( ?! ), he returns to the big city. Seems that now Misha can see things other folks can’t. The desires for products create weird monsters that threaten civilization. Can Misha stop these consumer critters before they destroy all mankind?

Or something like that. It’s all so pompous and ludicrous. The monsters seen in the poster art and a few TV spots are bulbous, floating amoebas and snails with elements of several artist styles, a bit of Dr. Seuss, Ralph Steadman, and the Chiodo Brothers ( one prominent floatie has a big red nose and a white face like those alien killer clowns ). And they don’t do much besides bounce into each other and burst apart or form bigger, uglier mutant parade-type balloons. An attack from green dragons doesn’t liven things up any. And you’ve got to slog through an hour of heavy-handed satire of burger chains and reality TV before you see them! What did these actors get from this script? My affection for Tambor was truly tested, but his lifetime pass thanks to TV’s ” The Larry Sanders Show ” and ” Arrested Development ” remains intact. Von Sydow has a couple of scenes, but he’s basically doing an extended cameo as he wears different track suits while he lectures in front of some tacky green screen effects. Sobieski is a wild-eyed sexpot ( nearly bursting out of her wardrobe ) for the first half and has strained scenes with a badly dubbed child actor in the second half. For most of his screen time, Stoppard alternates between bored and hysterical. A scene on the dance floor with Sobieski looming over Stoppard overwhelmed the dialogue ( something about how Lenin was a good marketer ).  hmmm, maybe that was a good thing. All the while the film makers are hammering their themes. Yeah, we know fast food’s not good for us! And we shouldn’t trust ads! Mad magazine’s been saying that for nearly 60 years. BRANDED is a colossal, pretentious train wreck of a film that will test any bad movie aficionado. I should just be grateful I didn’t have to pony up a few extra bucks to see the evil marketing monsters in the miracle of 3D! Now if this had been a remake of the classic Chuck Conners TV western, well…

.5 Out of 5 Stars

TOTAL RECALL ( 2012 ) – The Review

Well Mr. Farrell, is this going to be an annual Summertime event ? I’m talking about his starring in big budget remakes. And not of films from Hollywood’s Golden Age. These are from the last 30 years or so ( I saw them in theatres in the original release, so thanks for making me feel even older Mr. F! ). Last year he was in the remake of 1985’s FRIGHT NIGHT taking on Chris Sarandon’s suburban vamp Jerry Brewster ( I prefer the original for Roddy McDowell and the lack of murky, dim 3D ). This time he’s got much bigger shoes to fill. Farrell’s got the Arnold Schwarzenegger role in the remake of TOTAL RECALL. The first version came out in 1990 inbetween the Austrian Oak’s comedies KINDERGARTEN COP and TWINS, well before he returned as our favorite cinema cyborg. This was also director Paul Verhoeven’s follow-up to ROBOCOP ( which is about to be rebooted soon ). Now Len Wiseman ( perhaps best known for starting the UNDERWORLD series ) is behind the reins. Can he replace our memories of a butt-kickin’ Sharon Stone and those misshapen Mars mutants with this new SF head trip?

It’s pretty much the same set-up as before. Doug Quaid ( Farrell ) is a working drone living in the “Colony”. Seems that in the far off future the only parts of Earth that are still inhabitable are England ( now the United Federation of Britain where all the swells reside in luxury ) and an island across the globe ( probably Australia ) called ” The Colony”. It’s not so nice. You could say that it’s Gotham City to UFB’s Metropolis ( for you comics fans ). Every morning Doug leaves his gorgeous wife Lori ( Kate Beckinsale ) and joins pal Harry ( Bookem Woodbine ) in a massive commuter tube ( called ” the Drop”, or ” the Fall”, or something ominous like that ) that shoots them through the Earth’s core to UFB where they work at a factory producing robots ( or “Synthoids ” ) used as military back-up. Seems a revolutionary group lead by Matthias ( Bill Nighy ), which is trying to liberate the colonists, is causing UFB leader Cohaagen ( Bryan Cranston ) no end of headaches. Speaking of the old noggin, Doug’s not been sleeping well because of some dreams where he’s fighting UFB forces alongside gorgeous warrior Melina ( Jessica Biel ). These visions along with some job fatigue inspire Doug to walk into the local “Rekall” shop ( despite Harry’s warnings ). ” Rekall ” plants new memories into your brain via a high-tech brain-chair. But something goes haywire and a switch is tripped inside Doug. Seems that everything he knows is a lie! ( Cue David Byrne, ” This is not my beautiful wife..” ). Can he get to the bottom of things and learn the truth about his past? And how does he fit into the big global battles? Just who is he and what side is he on?

So does this version work better in the era of CGI effects? Well, Farrell is more believable as a working stiff than Ah-nold. And Mr. F handles the action stuff very well. But, for wont of a better word, the 1990 model is a whole lot more fun. I mean gooey-cheesy fun! There are a few nods to the original, but I miss those over-the-top make-up effects from Rob Bottin and company. And the new version is repetitious almost to the point of boredom. It’s chase, leap, shoot, chase, exposition…., shoot, chase, explosion, leap, plot…., chase, etc. The film plays out more like a video game with dull dialogue between levels. And all the running and chasing. Makes you realize why Chuck Jones’s Road Runner cartoons are so great! They’re only seven minutes, not stretched-out over two hours! I wish I could at least praise the art direction, but the ” Colony ” is pure BLADE RUNNER meets Venice ( with the crowded neon-lit streets and constant rain ) and AFB is THE FIFTH ELEMENT with the massive, stacked skyscrapers and magnetic hover-cars ( a nod to STAR WARS EP. II there ). As for the actors, Beckinsale looks to be relishing a rare bad-girl role ( greatly expanded from Stone’s role in 1990 ). She’s a sexy future version of the unstoppable Bond hench…er…person. At least she’s having some fun!  Biel and Nighy are woefully underused as the rebels while Cranston is playing a more vicious balck-hatted villain version of the oily politico we saw a few weeks ago in ROCK OF AGES. The whole flick is exhausting and overdone. Not that the original is full of subtlety. After viewing this you may wish that you got your ” a** to Mars”, or to your local video store to see the original. I bet that talking chest-head thingy looks mighty fine on Blu!

Overall Rating: 2 Out of 5 Stars

THE WATCH – The Review

Seems like pesky real life can really get in the way of selling a movie. That’s what the folks at Fox must have thought several months ago when the Trayvon Martin case was making headlines. They’d already sent out teaser posters for their wacky Summer comedy ” Neighborhood Watch”. Well that title wouldn’t bring smiles to anyone’s faces after the Florida story. So, now it’s in theatres with a new title THE WATCH. Can one word really distance it from the tragedy? That’s what the marketing executives are hoping. But you what movie comedy are hoping? We hope this ” Avengers-like” teaming of comedy heroes will deliver the yucks! They’ve all got a pretty impressive track record, so…will this take our minds off the nasty news headlines?

The movie plunks us down on a quiet, nice suburban street in Ohio. Life’s good for nice guy Evan ( Ben Stiller ). He’s the manager of the local Costco warehouse store. He’s got a lovely home and a lovely wife, Abby ( Rosemarie DeWitt ). Oh, and they’re really trying to have a child. All’s well until a brutal crime at his work shakes up Evan. The local police, led by obnoxious Sgt. Bressman ( Will Forte ), aren’t making much progress in finding the culprit, so Evan takes matters into his own hands and announces during halftime at the high school football game that he’s forming a neighborhood watch patrol. He’s mocked by the folks in the stands ( and Bressman ), but three neighbors show up at Evan’s home for the first meeting. There’s the motor-mouthed, gregarious Bob ( Vince Vaughn ), who thinks the watch is just a good way for the guys to hang out away from their wives. Much more enthused about the watch is Franklin ( Jonah Hill ), a twenty-something high school dropout still living at home who’s irked that he didn’t pass the police entrance exams. Rounding out the foursome is transplanted Brit Jamarcus ( Richard Ayoade ) who’s eager to help ( and eager to hook up with those desperate housewives he’s heard about ). Soon the guys discover that these criminals are not of this world. How are they going to convince the authorities? And are some of these nasty aliens living in disguise right next door?

Yup, four, count em’, four comedy heavyweights in this flick. So I wondered why the film felt so, flat. It seems to run out of steam ( or momentum ) about the halfway point. The fellas are really trying, although they seemed to be trying too hard in certain scenes ( I smell improv! ). Stiller’s in his put-upon nice guy role that netted big returns as Greg Focker and that museum guard, but he doesn’t really get much of a chance to bust out as he’s done in supporting roles in DODGEBALL : A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY. I really miss Mr. Furious! Vaughn’s Bob is a lot of fun until he starts channeling Tony Danza In SHE’S OUT OF CONTROL and froths at the mouth as he tries to protect his teen daughter’s purity. More disturbing than funny. Hill’s Franklin is pretty disturbing also as he brandishes his knife constantly. His cop-wannabe character seems a bit too close to the neighborhood watchman on trial in Florida.  At other times, he’s a more cuddly version of co-screenwriter Seth Rogan In OBSERVE AND REPORT. The real discovery here is Ayoade, who scores big laughs with his smooth low key delivery. I’ve only known him as the maker of last year’s excellent SUBMARINE and as a co-star of the very funny British TV show ” Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace “. But even his considerable talents can’t rescue this film when it hits a speed bump. The same goes for DeWitt, so wonderful in the recent YOUR SISTER’S SISTER, is regulated  here to the exasperated missus. Summer flick MVP Forte ( he brightened up the dismal ROCK OF AGES and THAT’S MY BOY ), but neither he nor two great character actors playing odd neighbors can right this train once it leaves the tracks. Perhaps Akiva Schaffer ( HOT ROD and countless SNL Viral Videos ) could’ve tightened up the pacing. I think the problem may just be an unwieldy script. The brutal beating of a main character  at mid-point seems to bring the laughs to a dead halt, as does a verbal fight meant to split the team that comes off as a forced conflict. While many films have mixed genres ( SHAUN OF THE DEAD immediately springs to mind ), the bouncy CGI aliens ( like the SUPER 8 beastie from a yaer ago ) never really mesh with these suburban goofballs. It’s especially upsetting when they grab firearms from Franklin’s hidden massive arsenal ( pretty creepy after last week’s horrors ). I was rooting for this flick because of my great affection for these actors and their past projects. I hope that if they team again, they’ll leave the mayhem to the secret agents and super heroes of Summertime. Ben, Jonah, Vince, and Richard are much more entertaining when they share a couple of beers and shoot the breeze ( instead of  EFX gargoyles ).

Overall Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION New Milla Jovovich Images

Ada Wong (Li Bing Bing, LEFT) and Alice (Milla Jovovich) walk down the NY Street in these new photos from Screen Gems’ action horror RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION.

The wildly successful film franchise adaptation that has grossed nearly $700 million worldwide to the popular video game series, Resident Evil, returns in its highly anticipated fifth installment, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, in state-of-the art 3D.

The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, ALICE (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

The film stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory, Kevin Durand, Shawn Roberts, Colin Salmon, Johann Urb, with Boris Kodjoe and Li Bing Bing. RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION will be in theaters September 14, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.residentevil-movie.com/

“Like” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResidentEvilMovie

Follow on Twitter: @ResidentEvil  #ResidentEvil

Get Recruited: http://www.umbrellacorporation.net/index.php

PROMETHEUS Movie World Premiere In London; 12:01 IMAX Poster Giveaway; Four Spoiler-Filled Clips

All who attend the IMAX 3D midnight show of PROMETHEUS on June 8th (the evening of June 7th) will receive a limited edition IMAX print exclusive to the 12:01 show! Find a list of participating theatres below and get your tickets here.

In case you missed it, the cast and crew of PROMETHEUS walked the “Blue” carpet at the Prometheus World Premiere on Thursday in London.

With PROMETHEUS already making its landing this weekend in British cinemas, have a look at four revealing clips from the film and see why The Sun calls it “Intelligent, creepy and utterly compelling.”

Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. The film stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Guy Pearce.

Presented by Twentieth Century Fox, PROMETHEUS opens in theatres next weekend June 8.

Visit the official site:  http://www.projectprometheus.com/
“Like” it on Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/prometheus
Follow the film on Twitter:  @PrometheusMovie
YouTube:  www.youtube.com/Prometheus6812