Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Discuss: So, How Was 'Twilight'?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/discuss-so-how-was-twilight/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/discuss-so-how-was-twilight/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/discuss-so-how-was-twilight/#commentsFiled under: ,



The long wait is finally over, and one of this fall's most talked-about films hits theaters this weekend. Twilight reviews have been all over the board -- with some folks hating the fact that it's a watered-down, lovey-dovey vampire flick, while others feel its fans should be perfectly happy with it. Here are some comments from our readers so far:

"I'm am thoroughly outraged I wasted my money and time last night watching it. If I wasn't with my friends (and had my own car with me) I would have just left after the first 10 minutes. Very bad movie translation for what is a wonderful book." -- Melissa

"Instead of being let down, I got much, MUCH more than I expected. I absolutely loved the movie. It was awesome! I felt that it still held true to the book, without screaming Smeyer in your face." -- Tricia

"Robert Pattison is definitely a front-running contender for "most awkward acting of the year award." His acting made me cringe away in a stiffled laughter throughout the movie." -- Kelly

"Considering this is an attempt to cram a thick book raging with details onto the screen, I give it props. I was impressed!" -- Aly

After all the hoopla, we want to hear from you fans and non-fans: How was Twilight? How could it have been better? And what would you change about the sequel? Sound off below ...

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedtwilightErik DavisFri, 21 Nov 2008 21:02:00 ESTReview: Twilight -- Eric's Takehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/review-twilight-erics-take/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/review-twilight-erics-take/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/review-twilight-erics-take/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Look, I know the drill. If any element of the Twilight movie varies even slightly from the way you pictured it in your head, then it is the worst film ever made and you hate it and Catherine Hardwicke has ruined your childhood. Or, alternatively, you've built up so much anticipation for the movie that you're going to love love LOVE it no matter what, even if it's bad, you don't care, you refuse to listen to any criticisms LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU. I know how it goes.

The book's most devoted fans are seeing the film anyway, so I guess I'm talking to everyone else -- those who haven't read the book, or who (like me) read it, mostly enjoyed it, then didn't give it another thought. Is the Twilight movie of any use to those people? Or, as a friend asked me, does it work purely as a vampire movie?

Oh, heavens, no. Noooooo. This is not a vampire movie. This is a somber teen romance that happens to have some vampires in it. Little attempt is made to establish the mythology of the bloodsuckers, and the supernatural elements are downplayed -- a wise move, since the special effects, when they are necessary, are at about the level you'd expect from a movie that is more focused on romance than sci-fi action.

All of which is in keeping with the tone of Stephenie Meyer's book, which is eight parts romance and two parts action/fantasy. That's why it's been such a phenomenal success with women, and why the male-dominated geek industry -- the Nerderati, if you will -- has been so skeptical of that success. "What?" they scoff. "A super-popular vampire book that we, as men, AREN'T interested in? Inconceivable! It must be terrible, and its popularity is probably being over-reported!"

Continue reading Review: Twilight -- Eric's Take

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]]>kristen stewartKristenStewartrobert pattinsonRobertPattinsonstephenie meyerStephenieMeyertwilightEric D. SniderFri, 21 Nov 2008 12:14:00 ESTReview: Bolthttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/review-bolt/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/review-bolt/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/review-bolt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



I'm trying to muster up some enthusiasm for Disney's latest animated film, Bolt. It's cute. It has funny pigeons. My eight-year-old niece is going to like it, especially since Miley Cyrus is involved. It's the first non-Pixar Disney feature produced by John Lasseter, who directed the Toy Story movies and Cars. It's got Hollywood jokes in it, including a director voiced by James Lipton, and a comically pushy agent. And yet I never thrilled to the story or the characters; I wasn't half as amused as I'd been by Kung Fu Panda, a film for kids I saw earlier this year.

The story should sound familiar to anyone who grew up with Lassie movies or other animal-road-trip films, but with a Hollywood twist. The title character, a cute dog called Bolt (John Travolta), is fiercely attached to "his person," teenage Penny (Miley Cyrus). Bolt saves Penny's life on a regular basis as she and her dad are pursued by the evil Dr. Calico and his nasty cats ... or so he thinks. The truth is that Bolt is the star of a TV series, but the cast and crew are very careful not to let him know that he's not in real-life situations. So he believes he's a genetically engineered dog with laser eyes and amazing strength and a supersonic bark. When Bolt is separated from Penny and ends up halfway across the country on his own, for the first time he's in a world that isn't a soundstage or his trailer. Now, how will he get back to Penny?

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]]>BoltCinematicalfilmjohn lasseterjohn travoltaJohnLasseterJohnTravoltamiley cyrusMileyCyrusmovieJette KernionFri, 21 Nov 2008 10:02:00 ESTIndie Spotlight: New Releases for Thanksgivinghttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-thanksgiving/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-thanksgiving/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/21/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-thanksgiving/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

On a normal weekend, there are usually eight or nine new independent films opening in limited release, compared to three four wide releases. But for Thanksgiving, those numbers switch sides -- the multiplexes will be crowded with Twilights and Bolts and Transporters and Christmases and so forth, while the art houses have only a few new titles arriving.

In other words, there's not much to say in this week's Indie Spotlight, and there won't be any need for a Spotlight next week at all. So enjoy these few limited-release films opening today and next Wednesday: The Betrayal, I Can't Think Straight, Lake City, and Special.

The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
What it is: A documentary about a family that emigrated to the U.S. after the bombings in their native Laos that occurred during the Vietnam War.
What they're saying: Wow -- all 12 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes are positive. "Lyrical, expansive, unbearably beautiful," etc.
Where it's playing: New York City (IFC Center).
More info: The official website has a list of release dates, most of which are several weeks hence.

Lake City
What it is: A drama starring Troy Garity as a man who returns to his Southern home and his mom (Sissy Spacek) after a tragedy separated them for many years.
What they're saying: Lake City is a lovely title, but the critics are saying it's all wet, or some other water-related metaphor. With 11 notices at Rotten Tomatoes, only one is positive, the rest indicating that despite Sissy Spacek's good performance, the movie is too serious, contrived, and banal.
Where it's playing: New York City (Quad Cinema).
More info: I can't find an official site anywhere.

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]]>betrayali cant think straightICantThinkStraightindie spotlightIndieSpotlightlake cityLakeCityspecialEric D. SniderFri, 21 Nov 2008 08:15:00 ESTReview: Twilight -- Peter's Takehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/review-twilight/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/review-twilight/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/review-twilight/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in 'Twilight'

Remarkably faithful to the spirit of its source material, the film version of Twilight crams most of the key episodes from Stephenie Meyer's novel into its breathless, 122-minute running time. Under the direction of Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), Twilight gallops along handsomely, showcasing the cloudy, misty beauty of its gorgeous Pacific Northwest forest locations; you can practically smell the pine trees and feel the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet. Using voice-over narration sparingly, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg trots out all the major (and most of the minor) characters from the book, recounting the story in abbreviated fashion while demonstrating respect for Meyer's novel and its huge, faithful audience.

Twilight may not add up to much more than the sum of its parts, but those parts can be mighty entertaining, especially when handsome Edward (Robert Pattinson, oozing uncertain charm) is whooshing through the woods with plucky Bella (Kristen Stewart, self-assured and determined) on his back. Still, the romance at the heart of the book has been shorn of some of its heart in the translation to the big screen, sacrificed on the altar of a broader demographic. Readers of the book could feel somewhat shortchanged by the relentless emphasis on forward momentum rather than romantic fantasy; the flip side is that newcomers can enjoy the whirlwind pace and the brooding, ominous atmosphere, and everyone can revel in the spectacle of flying vampires playing a pinball version of sandlot baseball.

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]]>billy burkeBillyBurkecatherine hardwickeCatherineHardwickekristen stewartKristenStewartpeter facinelliPeterFacinellirobert pattinsonRobertPattinsonstephenie meyerStephenieMeyertwilighttwilight movieTwilightMoviePeter MartinThu, 20 Nov 2008 21:03:00 ESTGrapple with This: the Trailer for 'The Wrestler'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/grapple-with-this-the-trailer-for-the-wrestler/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/grapple-with-this-the-trailer-for-the-wrestler/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/grapple-with-this-the-trailer-for-the-wrestler/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

There was no hotter ticket at the Toronto International Film Festival in September than The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky's new drama about a washed-up professional body-slammer played by Mickey Rourke. I vividly recall the press screening, where every seat in the fest's largest theater was occupied by eager journalists, many of whom had sworn they'd miss whatever other films they had to as long as they could see this one.

It paid off, too -- the acclaim for the film was nearly universal. (Read Cinematical's James Rocchi's rave review here.) Now, in advance of the film's limited release on Dec. 31 (just in time to qualify for Rourke's inevitable Oscar nomination), Fox Searchlight has released the first trailer. Variety has it, and we've got it here, at the end of this post.

The trailer is good in the sense that it accurately conveys the tone of the film: moody, reflective, and only partially set in the wrestling ring. Bruce Springsteen's theme song is a nice touch. We get a few glimpses of Marisa Tomei, who plays Rourke's stripper friend (you'll catch more than a glimpse of her in the movie itself, if you know what I mean), and Evan Rachel Wood as Rourke's estranged daughter. Their performances are terrific, too, as is Aronofsky's direction -- man, I really hope this gets the Oscar attention that everyone thinks it will. It deserves it.

What do you think of the trailer? Does it make you more or less interested in the film? Let us know in the comments.

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]]>darren aronofskyDarrenAronofskymickey rourkeMickeyRourkewrestlerEric D. SniderThu, 20 Nov 2008 19:51:00 EST'Twilight' Watch: Reviews, Box Office and More!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/twilight-watch-reviews-box-office-and-more/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/twilight-watch-reviews-box-office-and-more/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/20/twilight-watch-reviews-box-office-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It's beginning to look a lot like Twilight ... everywhere you go. Remember the other day when I told you about that so-called review embargo on Twilight? Yeah, well ... nice try. Seems most of the major outlets (mainly newspapers) have published reviews, and they're quite positive, with Entertainment Weekly giving the film a B and Roger Ebert giving it 2.5 out of 4 stars (I imagine that's a sideways thumb?). Cinematical will publish our first review (out of two) later on tonight, but in the meantime here's a whole bunch of Twilight stuff to keep you busy:

  • Moviefone has up a Twilight Beginner's Guide (written by our own Elisabeth Rappe) for those who haven't a clue what Twilight is or was or is about to become. Additionally, this week's Unscripted installment features a candid chat between Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Twilight author Stephanie Meyer. Oh, and feel free to vote in their poll for the sexiest vampire, male and female (um, Becks!).
  • 2000 shows are already sold out this weekend for Twilight, and folks are currently projecting an opening of $45-65 million. Did Summit Entertainment step in sh*t, or what? Here's an entertaining article from the LA Times' Patrick Goldstein on "How the big studios missed the boat on Twilight."
  • Despite what appears to be positive feedback, Twilight is only running at 39% over at Rotten Tomatoes, though it's still early. Here's a quote from Variety's negative review: "A disappointingly anemic tale of forbidden love that should satiate the pre-converted but will bewilder and underwhelm viewers who haven't devoured Stephenie Meyer's bestselling juvie chick-lit franchise."
  • And finally, check out an interview with Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart from this morning's Today Show below.


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]]>cinematicalkristen stewartKristenStewartrobert pattinsonRobertPattinsontwilighttwilight movie reviewsTwilightMovieReviewsErik DavisThu, 20 Nov 2008 13:15:00 ESTMore Independent Films Being Released on Amazonhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/17/more-independent-films-being-released-on-amazon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/17/more-independent-films-being-released-on-amazon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/17/more-independent-films-being-released-on-amazon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Internets are saving independent film again! Often the biggest dilemma for small-time filmmakers is that distributing their movies, whether in theaters or on DVD, costs too much money. So we're seeing more and more films skip theaters, skip DVD, and go straight to the Internet, where movie downloads are becoming increasingly common.

The latest development is that a company called Cinetic Rights Management is releasing its catalog of indie films through Amazon's Video on Demand service and its CreateSpace DVD on Demand system. The arrangement will allow customers to rent or buy digital copies of films that aren't available anywhere else, many of which are just as worthy of being seen as the ones that were lucky enough to get theatrical distribution. (And that often really is the only difference between a movie that makes it to theaters and one that doesn't: luck.)

The new arrangement launches today with the featured title On Broadway (pictured), a gentle comedy about a Boston man who writes and stages a play in the back of his pub. The cast includes Eliza Dushku, Will Arnett, and New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre.

Continue reading More Independent Films Being Released on Amazon

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]]>featuredhappy birthday harris maldenHappyBirthdayHarrisMaldenon broadwayOnBroadwaytimes of harvey milkTimesOfHarveyMilkEric D. SniderMon, 17 Nov 2008 16:45:00 ESTWeekend Box Office: 'Quantum of Solace' Breaks Bond Recordhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/17/weekend-box-office-quantum-of-solace-breaks-bond-record/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/17/weekend-box-office-quantum-of-solace-breaks-bond-record/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/17/weekend-box-office-quantum-of-solace-breaks-bond-record/#commentsFiled under: ,

For a franchise that's more than 45 years old, Bond is on one hell of a kick. Ever since Pierce Brosnan took over in 1995, every James Bond film has grossed more than the last, and that trend will continue with Quantum of Solace. The awkwardly-titled 22nd film in the franchise beat the previous Bond opening weekend record -- held, actually, by Die Another Day, which was eventually passed by Casino Royale later in its release -- by, oh, $23 million. Quantum's $70.4 million bow is also the third highest opening of 2008, behind only Iron Man, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The Dark Knight.

And that, actually, is pretty much all there is to report for the wide releases, since Quantum of Solace scared everyone else off the date. Last weekend's winners, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Role Models both held up well, with the former pulling ahead of Wall-E. The Secret Life of Bees hangs around at #8, proving to be a fall sleeper. Saw V will, as expected, finish just behind its immediate predecessor.

The full list of estimates, after the jump.

Continue reading Weekend Box Office: 'Quantum of Solace' Breaks Bond Record

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]]>boltfeaturedmadagascar escape 2 africaMadagascarEscape2Africaquantum of solaceQuantumOfSolacerole modelsRoleModelssaw VSawVthe secret life of beesTheSecretLifeOfBeestwilightEugene NovikovMon, 17 Nov 2008 08:32:00 ESTFan Rant: Entertainment Weekly's Baffling Assertionshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/15/fan-rant-entertainment-weeklys-baffling-assertions/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/15/fan-rant-entertainment-weeklys-baffling-assertions/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/15/fan-rant-entertainment-weeklys-baffling-assertions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

On page 11 of the current issue of Entertainment Weekly, next to an article about the Oscar race, there is this brief item:

"Earning some of the harshest reviews of the year, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is officially the first Holocaust movie that won't have a shot at winning an Oscar."

What?

First of all, it's not even true. There have been several Holocaust movies that never had a serious chance at an Oscar. Robin Williams' loathsome Jakob the Liar comes to mind. (Whoops, EW liked that one.) But I get that EW is exaggerating for the sake of a joke about how Holocaust movies "always" get Oscar attention. Fair enough.

The more baffling assertion is that The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is "earning some of the harshest reviews of the year." It has gotten a few very scathing reviews, that's true -- but they comprise a very small minority. The film has a 64% Fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 6.2 out of 10. Saying it's earning some of the harshest reviews of the year while failing to mention the overwhelming majority that aren't harsh is like saying "some people" hate ice cream. It might be true, but it's misleading when you're looking at the big picture.

And are the harsh ones really that harsh? I tend to think the fiery excoriations of Disaster Movie and Witless Protection were much harsher, though I guess that's a matter of opinion.

Continue reading Fan Rant: Entertainment Weekly's Baffling Assertions

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]]>entertainment weeklyEntertainmentWeeklyfeaturedthe boy in the striped pajamasTheBoyInTheStripedPajamasEric D. SniderSat, 15 Nov 2008 15:32:00 ESTDiscuss: What Do You Think of the New Harry Potter Trailer?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/discuss-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-harry-potter-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/discuss-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-harry-potter-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/discuss-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-harry-potter-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



That's the new two-minute trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince below, which Warner Bros. is hoping will help stave off death threats from fans who are still resentful that the film was pushed back to next July from its original release date of next week. (Just think! If it weren't for that, you'd be seeing the film less than seven days from now!) We featured it earlier today in Trailer Park, but come on -- a Harry Potter trailer deserves special attention.



One thing that's notable is that there is no reference, not even a hint, to the Big Surprising Terrible Thing that occurs near the end of the book and that presumably also occurs in the movie. (Although it would be funny if it didn't happen in the movie. "Oh, yeah, So-and-So's death? Eh, we cut it. No room. Maybe in the next film.") It's not exactly a well-kept secret anymore -- hard to do that when the book has sold 65 million copies -- but I appreciate that the trailer keeps a lid on it for those who watch the movies but don't read the books.

For those who have read the book, though, the trailer has glimpses of things that surely relate to the Big Surprising Terrible Thing: a shot of Draco Malfoy looking panicked and sickly, a shot of Snape firing his wand, etc. The scenes of Death Eater attacks on London look great, and I hope the film makes full use of how scary that aspect of the story is. (Magical people fighting each other, meh. Magical people fighting each other and harming innocent bystanders, yikes!)

Continue reading Discuss: What Do You Think of the New Harry Potter Trailer?

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]]>harry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceEric D. SniderFri, 14 Nov 2008 17:02:00 ESTIndie Spotlight: New Releases for Nov. 14http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-nov-14/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-nov-14/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/14/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-nov-14/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It's a light weekend at the multiplexes, with just one new wide release to take in. The good news there is that once you're done watching James Bond kill and/or sleep with people, you'll have plenty of time to head to the art houses and see what the independent scene has to offer. The Indie Spotlight is here to round 'em up for you, and there are nine diverse choices opening today: Bohica, A Christmas Tale, Dostana, The Dukes, Faded Memories, House of the Sleeping Beauties, How About You, Slumdog Millionaire, and We Are Wizards.

Here's the lowdown on each of them:

Slumdog Millionaire
What it is: It's the feel-good sensation of the year that has critics raving, that's what! It's about a kid from the streets of Mumbai who somehow makes it to the final round of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" -- and in particular about the events of his life that brought him there.
What they're saying: Cinematical's Kim Voynar called it Danny Boyle's best film to date when she reviewed it at Telluride. It's rocking a 92% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.2 out of 10, making it one of the best-reviewed movies of the year. If this movie doesn't make you feel good it must be because your heart is gnarly and cankered.
Where it's playing: New York City (Angelika, Lincoln Plaza), Los Angeles (The Landmark), Chicago (Landmark Century Centre, Century Evanston 18), San Francsico (Embarcadero).
More info: The official site has a list of when it opens in other cities. Expansion starts next week.

Continue reading Indie Spotlight: New Releases for Nov. 14

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]]>a christmas taleAChristmasTalebohicadostanafaded memoriesFadedMemoriesfeaturedhouse of the sleeping beautiesHouseOfTheSleepingBeautieshow about youHowAboutYouindie spotlightIndieSpotlightslumdog millionaireSlumdogMillionairethe dukesTheDukeswe are wizardsWeAreWizardsEric D. SniderFri, 14 Nov 2008 08:02:00 ESTInterview: 'Slumdog Millionaire' Director Danny Boylehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/interview-slumdog-millionaire-director-danny-boyle/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/interview-slumdog-millionaire-director-danny-boyle/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/interview-slumdog-millionaire-director-danny-boyle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Opening today in select markets is a film I'm sure will carve out a spot on a host of top ten lists at the end of the year (including mine): Slumdog Millionaire. Directed by the spirited and always-versatile Danny Boyle, Slumdog shoots its way into the city of Mumbai (aka the Maximum City) like liquid from a syringe, as it tells the life story of one poor boy from the slums and the girl who always seems to escape his reach.

Directing a film that's both chaotic and beautiful at the same time is not easy, and shooting on location in one of the busiest cities of the world was a task Boyle welcomed with open arms. Cinematical sat down with the director of such films as The Beach, 28 Days Later, Trainspotting and Sunshine to find out what it was like filming with a cast that barely spoke his language, how big a part the real Who Wants to Be a Millionaire actually played, and, among other things, which genre he's itching to take on next ... in America.

(As always, we do have to warn you that this interview might contain movie spoilers.)

Cinematical: Because your last film was this big, expensive sci-fi flick, did you intend to follow it up with something smaller ... which sounds quite silly seeing as Slumdog Millionaire is set in one of the busiest cities in the world?

Danny Boyle: Yeah, it's very funny those words 'big' and 'small', because obviously Sunshine is a big movie in some sense, but then in other ways it's a very tiny movie. You're working in a small studio with just eight actors, and you're there for months and months and it's just so tiny. With India, you've got about a billion people, and they all seem to be in the shot most of the time. It's weird, the biggest thing I thought was the contrast -- the change it was to go from outer space to the heat of this city; what they call the Maximum City. It was just such a refreshing change for me, and I'm so happy I got the opportunity to do it.

Continue reading Interview: 'Slumdog Millionaire' Director Danny Boyle

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]]>cinematicaldanny boyle interviewDannyBoyleInterviewslumdog millionaireSlumdogMillionaireErik DavisWed, 12 Nov 2008 21:15:00 ESTAsian Cinema Scene: John Woo's 'Red Cliff' Big in Japanhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/asian-cinema-scene-john-woos-red-cliff-big-in-japan/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/asian-cinema-scene-john-woos-red-cliff-big-in-japan/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/12/asian-cinema-scene-john-woos-red-cliff-big-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

John Woo's 'Red Cliff'

When Red Cliff (Part 1) rolled out across most of Asia in July, John Woo's historical action epic generated very good box office returns, and its recent release in Japan continues the trend. Topping the charts for the second week in a row, according to Variety, Red Cliff has earned more than $18 million so far.

Part 2 of the four-hour plus Red Cliff is due for January release in Asia, and an international (i.e. short) version is also being prepped for the beginning of the year. Theatrical distribution deals are set in Europe (France, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Norway), with Summit Entertainment (distributor of Twilight and Sex Drive) handling international sales.

Still, no US distribution deal has been announced. What's holding things up? Will Summit take it on? Will North American audiences ever get to set Red Cliff on the big screen, where it clearly belongs? Or are distributors spooked by the prospect of marketing one more foreign-language action epic?

Red Cliff is based on the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms; the title refers to the location of a battle involving more than a million soldiers that brought an end to the Han Dynasty in 208 AD, resulting in the division of China into three kingdoms. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (Lust, Caution), Takeshi Kaneshiro (House of Flying Daggers), Zhang Fengyi (The Emperor and the Assassin), Chang Chen (Blood Brothers), and Lin Chiling (gorgeous Taiwanese model in her acting debut) star.

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]]>asian cinema sceneAsianCinemaScenejohn wooJohnWoored cliffRedClifftakeshi kaneshiroTakeshiKaneshirothe battle of red cliffTheBattleOfRedCliffPeter MartinWed, 12 Nov 2008 18:32:00 ESTReview: Slumdog Millionairehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/11/review-slumdog-millionaire/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/11/review-slumdog-millionaire/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/11/review-slumdog-millionaire/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

(Note: We're rerunning this review from Telluride to coincide with the film's theatrical release tomorrow)

By: Kim Voynar

Fans of director Danny Boyle's work will find much to appreciate in his latest film, Slumdog Millionaire, a sweeping, hopeful story about a boy in the slums of India who becomes an instant celebrity after he wins millions on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. Adapted by Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) off the novel Q &A by Vikas Swarup, the tale is framed within an interesting narrative structure that revolves around the young man, Jamal, being interrogated for fraud by the police, who cannot believe that a "slumdog" orphan could possibly have known the answers to the questions on the show.

Boyle uses this conceit to take us back and forth from the police station, where Jamal (Dev Patel) is tortured to get him to confess how he cheated, to his appearance on the show, to the events throughout his youth that led to him knowing the answers to the game show questions. How did a boy growing up in the slums amid piles of garbage and filth know which US president is on the one hundred dollar bill, or who invented the revolver? Boyle takes us back through Jamal's life story to show us the mean-streets education that led to him knowing the answers, while managing to avoid making the set-up feel contrived.

Continue reading Review: Slumdog Millionaire

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]]>cinematicaldanny boyleDannyBoyleslumdog millionaireSlumdogMillionaireCinematical staffTue, 11 Nov 2008 20:02:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/11http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/11/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-11/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/11/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-11/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/11/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-11/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The red beastie with a penchant for kittens is back. This time, Hellboy must stop an underworld leader bent on awakening an army of unstoppable gizmos created to take over the world. He's got problems with Liz, and new aggravations from Johann (voiced by Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane). You can pick up the regular old simple edition, a big 3-disc set, or if you like collectibles, a boxed collector's set with a statue, poster, and book on regular DVD or Blu-ray. (More info on the DVD right here.) Buy it.

Mister Foe
On the less flashy front, there's the excellent Jamie Bell in Hallam Foe. Another victim of renaming, the film is known as Mister Foe stateside, but still covers Bell as Foe -- a peeping Tom on the streets of Edinburgh after his mother's untimely death. You won't get the mass of goodies that Hellboy has, but there are a few extras to dip into. Rent it.

Sukiyaki Western DjangoUber popular Japanese cult filmmaker Takashi Miike now brings us Sukiyaki Western Django -- riffing on spaghetti westerns, two clans battle for a town's treasure as a gunslinger strolls into town. According to Jeffrey M. Anderson's review: "Miike has managed the best Spaghetti Western knockoff in years." Buy it on DVD or Blu-ray.

Also out: Star Wars: Clone Wars.

Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/11

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]]>CInematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsfeaturedhellboy ii the golden armyHellboyIiTheGoldenArmymister foeMisterFoesukiyaki western djangoSukiyakiWesternDjangoMonika BartyzelTue, 11 Nov 2008 10:40:00 ESTFrom Page to Screen: 'The Reader'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/10/from-page-to-screen-the-reader/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/10/from-page-to-screen-the-reader/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/10/from-page-to-screen-the-reader/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's a common experience to read a book slated for a film adaptation and then approach the movie, if at all, with a trepidation bordering on fear. As an optimist who doesn't get too offended when his favorite stories get changed for a different medium, I generally try to minimize that reaction. Yet that is exactly how I feel about Stephen Daldry's imminent adaptation of Bernhard Schlink's The Reader. A large part of me is convinced that Schlink's lovely, challenging little novel - almost more of an essay than a novel, really - can't possibly survive Daldry's questionable prestige picture instincts. The book demands a small film, melancholy, withdrawn. Can we get that from one of the year's big Oscar hopefuls?

The logline IMDb plot summary [Ed.: corrected upon being informed that this is not the official studio "logline"] is already all wrong: "Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Burk is reunited with his former lover (Winslet) as she defends herself in a war-crime trial." No. I'm loath to give too much away, but "reunited" is not the right word. In fact, the lack of a bona fide reunion between the two is part of what makes the novel so interesting, and the reason for that lack of reunion is at the heart of the moral questions it grapples with.

Continue reading From Page to Screen: 'The Reader'

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]]>bernhardt schlinkBernhardtSchlinkdavid haredavid krossDavidHareDavidKrossfeaturedharvey weinsteinHarveyWeinsteinkate winsletKateWinsletralph fiennesRalphFiennesrevolutionary roadRevolutionaryRoadsam mendesSamMendesscott rudinScottRudinstephen daldryStephenDaldrythe readerTheReaderEugene NovikovMon, 10 Nov 2008 20:02:00 ESTWeekend Box Office: 'Madagascar', 'Role Models' are Hitshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/10/weekend-box-office-madagascar-role-models-are-hits/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/10/weekend-box-office-madagascar-role-models-are-hits/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/10/weekend-box-office-madagascar-role-models-are-hits/#commentsFiled under: ,

When filling out the box office chart that's below the fold, I accidentally mistyped Madagascar as Badagascar. I didn't mean it. Of this decade's slew of random non-Pixar talking-animal cartoons, Madagascar and Happy Feet are far and away the best, so I'm glad that the former, at least, is now a bona fide franchise. (There were rumors of a second Happy Feet, but that project seems to have stalled.) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa opened to a huge $63.5 million this weekend, a $16 million improvement on its 2005 predecessor. Animated films' staying power is unpredictable (though generally stronger than average), but $175 million seems assured and $250 million is not out of the question.

Role Models' $19 million opening is less ginormous, but no less notable. For an R-rated comedy with no real stars and no franchise behind it, that's a major coup. I suspect word-of-mouth will help the film in the weeks to come.

Soul Men, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on the cache of Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac. Black audiences would have turned out in droves for the feel-good comedy. Lionsgate would have gone to town with it.

With last weekend's box office hit on account of Halloween falling on Friday, this weekend's drop figures -- save Saw V's -- looked pretty good across the board. Most notably, people seem to be responding well to Clint Eastwood's Changeling, which held on to fourth place without much of a screen count jump.

The full estimates after the jump.

Continue reading Weekend Box Office: 'Madagascar', 'Role Models' are Hits

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]]>changelingfeaturedhappy feetHappyFeetmadagascar escape 2 africaMadagascarEscape2Africaquantum of solaceQuantumOfSolacerole modelsRoleModelssaw vSawVsoul menSoulMenweekend box officeWeekendBoxOfficeEugene NovikovMon, 10 Nov 2008 09:20:00 ESTDiscuss: Is the World Ready for a Black James Bond?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/09/discuss-is-the-world-ready-for-a-black-james-bond/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/09/discuss-is-the-world-ready-for-a-black-james-bond/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/09/discuss-is-the-world-ready-for-a-black-james-bond/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

After the historic election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, naturally everyone's mind turned to the next logical step: Does this mean a black man could play James Bond, too?

At least that's where current Bond Daniel Craig's mind went. At a Rome press conference for Quantum of Solace, which opens in the U.S. on Friday, Craig said, "After Barack Obama's victory I think we might have reached the moment for a [black]* 007. I think the role could easily be played by a black actor, because the character created by Ian Fleming in the '50s has undergone a great deal of evolution and continues to be updated."

He also joked that the idea of a black 007 might have Fleming spinning in his grave. Fleming was considered by many to be racist -- just Google the words Ian Fleming racist to find plenty of people making that assertion -- and the U.K. Telegraph observes that his Bond novels "were laced with the racial prejudices of his era."

Surely there's nothing specific about the Bond character that couldn't just as easily apply to a black actor. There have been a few black Bond Girls romanced by white Bonds. Race doesn't generally play a part in the stories, at least not in the last several films. Then again, some people freaked out when Daniel Craig was cast solely because he was blond (if you can imagine the heresy). Would a complete makeover totally ruin it for the purists? What do you think? And if they did go with a black 007, who should play him?

*The word he actually used was "coloured," which apparently isn't quite as offensive and outdated in Europe as it is in America, as none of the news outlets covering the press conference expressed surprise over Craig's usage of it. He obviously didn't mean it with racist intent, anyway, so let's not dwell on it, mmkay?

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]]>barack obamaBarackObamadaniel craigDanielCraigian flemingIanFlemingjames bondJamesBondquantum of solaceQuantumOfSolaceEric D. SniderSun, 09 Nov 2008 11:03:00 ESTReview: Soul Menhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/07/review-soul-men/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/07/review-soul-men/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/11/07/review-soul-men/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



No matter what else happens in Soul Men, it's hard not to be moved by the posthumous performances of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, especially when they appear onscreen together, and more so when, in one scene, they leave a room together. At other times, however, Mac is at the top of his comedic game. He has the power to make us forget that anything is wrong in the world, including the fact that it has lost two of its best and brightest.

In Soul Men, Mac plays Floyd Henderson, one third of a legendary 1960s soul music trio. In the 1970s, the group's lead singer Marcus Hooks (played in flashbacks and photos by John Legend) embarked upon a solo career, leaving Floyd and his bandmate Louis Hinds (Samuel L. Jackson) in the lurch. They tried to continue alone, but quickly broke up due to "creative differences," i.e. they fought over a woman. Now Marcus has passed away and Floyd and Louis have been invited to perform in a tribute show at the Apollo. And since Louis doesn't fly, they must drive cross-country, which gives them plenty of time to fight and bicker. (Isaac Hayes appears relatively briefly, as himself, at the tribute.)

Continue reading Review: Soul Men

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]]>bernie macBernieMaccinematicalfilmisaac hayesIsaacHayesmalcolm d. leeMalcolmD.Leemoviesamuel l. jacksonSamuelL.Jacksonsoul menSoulMenJeffrey M. AndersonFri, 07 Nov 2008 11:03:00 EST