Tag: AMC

Tribeca 2012 Daily Recap: April 25th

It is close to 2 am and I need to be out of my house before 8 to make my first screening tomorrow so I will try to make this quick. Rather than kick things off with a trip to the press lounge this morning, I went straight to the AMC Village 7 Theater for the first time this year.

Partially inspired by my Tribeca experience, I made a comment on Twitter the other night that the only comedies festivals seem to program are “authentic” dramedies about “real-world relationships” that tend to go nowhere. That is a fairly accurate description of YOUR SISTER’S SISTER except for one major exception; the film actually takes you on a bit of an emotional journey and it is quite a fun trip. I was surprised by how much I loved the film. This was a public screening and easily the most packed I had seen any theater at the festival thus far. I had not even planned to see this film but heard such good things from other press that I added it to my list. I’m so glad I did. This smart, funny and expertly crafted flick is easily one of the best films at Tribeca.

Following the screening, I checked into the film via GetGlue just like I’m programmed to do after constantly watching the ads telling us to share our Tribeca experience via the wonders of social media. I received a response on Twitter from @ConradHotels asking about my #TFF screening schedule. After a few tweets, they told me they’d have a surprise for me after my last screening of the day. Intrigued, I began my hike to the Clearview Cinemas Chelsea. Of course there were a few stops along the way: Best Buy for Blu-Rays I don’t really need, Press lounge for water & ice cream and a lunch break at 2 Bros. for $1 pizza slices! Tired, full and a little curious, I made it with plenty of time to spare to my second (and final) screening of the day.

THE GIANT MECHNICAL MAN was a bit of a letdown for me. While enjoyable as is, the film never lives up to its full comedic potential. It works best when dealing with the rom-com aspects of the story but falters a little with mostly unnecessary dramatic beats that feel too repetitive. I can’t help but feel like this film would have been far more entertaining if all the main characters were not so damn depressed. At least Topher Grace was spot on as a cocky motivational speaker.

The post-screening Q & A was equally disappointing. Not because Jenna Fischer wasn’t there (although that did suck) but because only a handful of fairly boring questions were thrown at writer/director Lee Kirk who seemed to have a lot more to say. On my way out, I received yet another tweet from @ConradHotels alerting me they’d be at the theater in less than 20 minutes. I waited outside for just a few before being met by the 2 lovely ladies I had apparently been tweeting with. And they came bearing gifts!

Courtesy of Conrad Hotels & the Pop-Up Conrad Concierge, I received a $100 gift card and a Mophie Juice Pack Plus iphone case. This was truly awesome and incredibly useful for many reasons. Whether you are at the festival or not, I suggest you follow @ConradHotels since they seem to be giving away a lot of cool stuff. (Please note: This is NOT an official endorsement on behalf of WAMG) They took a video of the entire thing which I will link to in a future update if they post it.

With my backpack a little fuller, I decided to stop by the filmmaker lounge for an Industry Cocktail party prior to hopping the bus home. Just like last  time, a few minutes turned into 3 hours chatting with people like Alan LaFave (Festival Director of Hell’s Half Mile Film + Music Festival), Aaron Moorhead (co-director of RESOLUTION), and Matt Watkajtys & Jeff Hodges of Izkara distribution. Filling my backpack just a little bit more with free Smart water, I finally made my way home. And now I will finally get to bed!

Jerry Cavallaro – @GetStuck – JerryCavallaro.com

Blu Monday: March 8, 2011

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray

Not a huge week for new Blu-Ray releases, but there are certainly a few of significant noteworthiness… and, Triple H is not one of them. Sorry, to all the wrestling fans out there. Resurrected from the 80’s are the slasher flick THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD and John Boorman’s EXCALIBUR, an under-appreciated telling of the times of Kign Arthur.

*Perhaps the best documentary of 2010, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP is an intriguing film about art and artist, and the personality in between, but it’s also an adventure into a world with which few of us have any experience. Charles Ferguson’s INSIDE JOB is a documentary about the recent financial meltdown.

*Indicated that I actually feel it IS the best, but am attempting to be impartial.

Writer/director Jeong-beom Lee’s THE MAN FROM NOWHERE is yet another fine example of the quality filmmaking emerging from South Korea. FOUR LIONS is a dramedy about a man who forms a small terrorist cell, a film Time Magazine has placed on it’s Top Ten Films of 2010 list. Finally, and I know it’s not a “movie” but, AMC’s television series THE WALKING DEAD (based on the graphic novels) is so good, it’s worth mentioning. Plus, the first season was directed by Frank Darabont (SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE MIST) so, that counts… right?

Blu-Ray for Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

  1. Triple H drives the bus in THE CHAPERONE (2011)
  2. THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD (1982)
  3. Liev Schreiber & Carla Gugino in EVERY DAY (2010)
  4. John Boorman’s exquisite EXCALIBUR (1981)
  5. Bansky & More in EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (2010)
  6. Terrorism gets “funny” in FOUR LIONS (2010)
  7. Financial Crisis Documentary INSIDE JOB (2010)
  8. Hilariously Painful JACKASS 3D (2010)
  9. THE MAN FROM NOWHERE (2010)
  10. Harrison Ford in MORNING GLORY (2010)
  11. Russell Crowe in THE NEXT THREE DAYS (2010)
  12. AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete First Season (2010)

DVD for Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

  1. ABDUCTED (2011)
  2. APHRODISIAC: THE SEXUAL SECRET OF MARIJUANA
  3. AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN (2011)
  4. BRENDA STARR, REPORTER – Serial (1945)
  5. COLIN & BRAD: TWO MAN GROUP (2010)
  6. EVERY DAY (2010)
  7. FOUR LIONS (2010)
  8. HELENA FROM THE WEDDING (2010)
  9. INSIDE JOB (2010)
  10. JACKASS: Two-Disc Edition w/ 3D (2010)
  11. LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB (2009)
  12. THE MAN FROM NOWHERE (2010)
  13. THE NEXT THREE DAYS (2010)
  14. RAGE [Rabia] (2011)
  15. THE SHRIVEN (2010)
  16. SON OF TERROR (2011)
  17. THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete First Season (2010)
  18. THE ZOMBIE FARM (2009)

AMC Theaters Exclusive 25th Anniversary Rerelease Of BACK TO THE FUTURE

Great Scott! AMC Theatres has some big news on the rerelease of the biggest movie of 1985 – BACK TO THE FUTURE.

Join us for an AMC exclusive event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of an iconic family movie, Back To The Future. Don’t miss your chance to relive the journey at these two showings:

  • Saturday, October 23 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Monday, October 25 – 7:00 p.m.
    Exactly 25 years since the night Marty McFly traveled back in time.

All guests will receive a full-sized poster commemorating the 25th Anniversary limited-release of the movie with their ticket purchase, while supplies last. 

Each theatre will also have special movie-related giveaways prior to the movie as a part of the experience. We’re excited to bring this digitally remastered film back for a new generation to see the film as it was intended – up on the big screen. Bring your family to experience a film that stands the test of time. Or, flash back with friends and recreate your original experience with new digital technology – before it fades away.

Click here to find a participating AMC theatre near you!

For more info, check out AMC Theatres on Facebook.

TV Review: THE PRISONER

the prisoner

THE PRISONER was a cult classic TV show from the 1960s about a spy who knew just a little too much and was sent to a resort like prison called “The Village” after he resigned. We never knew his name, but he was designated as Number 6.

This time around he wave a much more surreal version of the story where The Village is in a desert filled with people of all walks of life. Everyone has a number, and everyone has a job. Nobody believes that there is anything outside of the Village, except for 6 (Jim Caviezel). In charge of everything is Number 2 (Ian McKellen), a very strange old man who seems to have some kind of scheme up his sleeve but we never really get a good glimpse as to what it is.

To be frank, I’m not a huge fan of the original series. It only lasted seventeen episodes and remains a cult classic, but it’s from decades before I was born. I understand why it’s loved, but I have no love for it myself. I say that because I need to state that I’m not some purist fan boy when I tell you that I absolutely HATE the new version of THE PRISONER.

My loathing for this convoluted, confusing, messy, boring, mini-series knows no bounds. The general structure of each episode of the series takes on the form of a regular TV show, but with the end coming only six episodes in, it all feels like a lot of time wasting. There are entire episodes dedicated to characters that die off and don’t matter at all, as well as plot lines that don’t affect the over arching story whatsoever. The episode about therapy made absolutely no sense and it’s narrative was sloppy and contrived, and didn’t matter in the long run at all, the same can be said about the episode where 6 starts teaching in a school.

Much of the first two episodes revolve around 6 not believing what he’s told and he keeps running out into the desert surrounding The Village in hopes of finding a way out. Over and over he does this, to the point that it got very boring. It’s like he can’t learn his lesson at all.

Maybe the worst factor of THE PRISONER is that 6 isn’t a character that’s easy to follow or care about. The first few episodes are judging whether or not 6 is really from The Village or if he had a life on the outside, some where else. This plot thread is dropped and instead we get a version of 6 that starts to just accept the world around him and stumble through it’s insane moments, and the episode where there are two versions of 6 battling it out in his mind make the last episode even more annoying when you learn the truth behind the entire village.

I won’t give away what the big twist is, but it’s akin to what every one was saying about LOST in the first season. It’s like some one saw LOST, saw the parallels to THE PRISONER (which was noted years ago when LOST started,) and thought that a reboot would be a good idea. They even go as far as to have flash backs to 6’s previous life before the village, but they only compound the confusing nature of the show, and make it’s story that much harder to follow.

THE PRISONER is a mess with an unsatisfying ending that wants to be the next Lost but ends up being annoyingly bad. Even Ian McKellen as 2 is just going through the motions here and plays a very uninteresting adversary for 6. Steer clear of this show at all costs. It gets a 1 out of 5.