Movie Friday

Drag Me To Hell
Release Date: In theaters
Critic Reviews: FIRE…93% on RT
Fan Buzz: Dece
WKFTB Opinion: I know this movie has been out for a week or so now, but I just wanted to shed some light on it. It’s marketed as a straight horror movie – mostly to attract the young dating audience – but it’s really a horror/comedy. Have you ever seen the Evil Dead trilogy? It’s from the same dude, Sam Raimi, who also weirdly did Spiderman. The reviews are crazy good – perfect mix of scares and over-top-antics that result in laughs. I’ll end up renting this.



Land of the Lost
Release Date: Today
Critic Reviews: Bad
Fan Buzz: So-so
WKFTB Opinion: I know because it’s Will Farrell, this trailer has been blasted everywhere, but this one is a little different, so it’s worth checking out. I hate to say it because he is a legitimate comedic genius and influence an entire generation’s sense of humor, but I sort of over Will Farrell at this point, at least his movies. How does everyone feel about him? I mean, there’s a 0 chance I would see this movie. Rent it? Yes, just to check it out. But I’d never go see it. It’s a remake of an old corny Saturday morning show. I guess if you’re a little older, you probably appreciate it more.



GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra
Release Date: August 7
Critic Reviews: Too early
Fan Buzz: Pumped
WKFTB Opinion: I dunno, I sort of hate the trailer to me honest. But, c’mon, you know I’m seeing this. Childhood memories? Yep. Sick action? Uhuh. Bigness designed to be seen in a theatre? Def. Gotta see this regardless of if it’s good or not. If it turns out to be decent, then that’s just a bonus.



District 9
Release Date: August 14
Critic Reviews: Too early
Fan Buzz: None really…too underground
WKFTB Opinion: Saw this teaser trailer last week before Terminator and was perplexed. I had never heard of this before. Since then I’ve been seeing little viral clips of it online. They are doing a viral campaign similar to another alien themes movie I loved, Cloverfield. I love this shit. Go to http://www.d-9.com/ and check it out. Secret alien stuff where we have no idea what happens in the movie. Works on me every time. I’d see this movie tomorrow. Even though it says “Peter Jackson presents” (whatever that means), the director is Neill Blomkamp, who was in charge of the much-maligned Halo movie, which fell apart after budget problems.




-None of the five big films of the year thus far is one pace to break $300 million. In fact, neither Wolverine, Terminator, Angels and Demons, Star Trek nor Night at the Museum 2 broke $90 million in the first week. Last year, three movies broke $300, including Indiana Jones ($317), Iron Man ($318) and Dark Knight ($533, woo). Critics say the only hope to break $300 lies in Harry Potter, Transformers and Avatar. The last year there wasn’t a $300+ movie? In 200, when The Grinch was tops at $260 million.

-Eminem’s album was the No. 1 seller in his first week out, selling 608,000 copies, the biggest opening week so far in 2009. Remember the days when people (Em, Brit, N’Sync, Backstreet) would go platinum or multi-platinum in the first week?

-Entourage begins July 12. Guest appearances include Tom Brady and Lil Wayne. Woo. Can’t wait.

-24 began shooting its eighth and final season last week. They did so, of course, with star Kiefer Sutherland, who at a NYC party on May 5 was charged with assault after head butting fashion designer Will McCollough. Real life Bauer? Keifer has an important court date on June 22, which will determine if he violated his probation instituted after a DUI conviction sent him to jail for 48 days in 2007.

-When Kumar (Kal Penn) is done with his gig in the White House, he’ll be teaming with Harold (John Cho) once again for a third installment in the Harold and Kumar series.

-Revolutionary Road and He’s Just Not That Into You came out this Tuesday.