The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review

Source: Box Office Mojo

Uh oh, The Twilight Saga: New Moon finally hit theaters this weekend to an estimated $140.7 million total, putting it in 3rd place behind The Dark Knight ($158.4 million) and Spider-Man 3 ($151.1 million) on the opening weekend box office chart. It was also the first to set the midnight record earning some $26.3 million on Thursday night as well as setting the biggest Friday one-day box office record, which raked in some $72.7 million on that day alone. But then all the Twihards decided to get some sleep and it died off to settle in 3rd place just below two other big blockbusters for the weekend overall. Phew! That's just really annoying if you ask me. But I suppose I should never underestimate those Twihards, right.

I'm a huge fan of the books and the images in my head while reading them were/are so much better/cooler than the movies. Of course the source material is super cheesy to begin with (there's no doubt about that), but it still made for a captivating/fun read. Now the movies are a different story all together. I'm still utterly annoyed with the cast and their lack of talent, but whatever. New Moon is definitely better than its predecessor. However, that's not to say it's a great movie though. Let's remember the bar for Twilight was set pretty low (try the ground), so naturally this human/vampire love saga, New Moon has no where else to go from here except up.

Under the more assured hand of director Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass, About a Boy), who took over the reigns from Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke (thank goodness), the film can at least boast the gloss and shine of a real Hollywood movie and not some straight-to-video hack job. Better visual effects, more accomplished camerawork, improved production design and a more seasoned cast all add up to a vast improvement in production values for New Moon.

Plot:
Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost claimed her life in Twilight, she looks to celebrate her 18th birthday with Edward and his family. However, a minor accident during the festivities results in Bella's blood being shed, a sight that proves too intense for the Cullens. Edward, along with his family decide to leave the town of Forks, WA for Bella's sake. Initially heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living as well as in her best friend Jacob Black which comes close to filling the void that was left by Edward.

The Good, The Bad, and the Bottom Line:
Let's start with the bad. Though I call Meyer's lovey-dovey talk cheesy, I still missed the romantic scenes as she wrote them in the book. One of my favorites:

I’m here, and I love you. I have always loved you, and I will always love you. I was thinking of you, seeing your face in my mind, every second that I was away. When I told you that I didn’t want you, it was the very blackest kind of blasphemy."
-Edward Cullen

And what was with the CGI wolf effects? Did you see District 9 this summer? If so, you know it's possible to create fascinating, realistic CGI characters on a minimal budget. The wolves in New Moon are totally laughable. They look fake, move fake, and jarred me completely. The people in the theater, myself included, laughed at the dramatic scenes that were unintentionally funny, i.e. the first appearances of the CGI wolves. Hardly any of the Twilight fans clapped at the end and I overheard more than one person expressing their dislike for the way the movie wrapped up.

The Good? The acting was a tad bit better this time around. Michael Sheen, of course, steals any scene he's in, Anna Kendrick is the best of the young group as the snotty, fake friend of Bella's, and Taylor Lautner handles the lead far better than you'd expect. I felt the onscreen chemistry was better between Kristen Stewart and Lautner than it was between Stewart and Pattinson. We can just blame the Twilight director for that though. Also better this time around are the make-up jobs done on the Cullen family. The vampires don't look as pasty and weird in New Moon as they did in Twilight, although I wish someone would have chosen a different wig for Jasper. What the heck was that all about? It was ridiculous! And the fight scenes are shot better giving it a more threatening and realist vibe to New Moon as compared to the big fight scene between Edward and James in Twilight.

With that being said, if you liked Twilight (barf, vomit, puke), you'll definitely be happy with New Moon. I felt Weitz and writer Rosenberg did a fairly good job retaining the spirit of Meyer's second book without suffocating it to death. Yes there were a lot of cheesy scenes in the film but as a whole it was fun and entertaining. I didn't hate it like I did Twilight, so that was a plus. Would I see it again? I don't care.

RATING: C

How would you rate New Moon?

Cult Classic Movies

I grew up in a family where movies were watched quite frequently. We grew up quoting movies and still do on a regular basis. It was easy for us to have a movie memorized after only watching it once (not that that's a great accomplishment or anything). But I have to say, if movies = math & science I would be the smartest girl alive! haha Some of my all time favorite movies growing up are now considered cult classics.

What is a cult classic movie?

I define a cult classic movie by it's limited but very special appeal. They are usually strange, quirky, offbeat, eccentric, oddball, or surreal movies, with outrageous, weird and unique plots and decorative sets. Many of these cult classics did not do so well at the box office when first shown, but years later achieved cult movie status, developing a loyal fan base over time and often through word-of-mouth recommendations. They are often poorly made and/or ridiculous, yet still enjoyable and appreciated. They tend to follow no rules or patterns either. And some of them are only popular among certain limited groups of audiences friends or family. Below is a list of my top five favorite cult classic movies.

Caveman (1981)

Plot:
A caveman seeks revenge on a much larger competitor for the hand of a beautiful cavewoman

Why We Love It:
This is definitely a cult classic in my family. Some movies are to be taken seriously, this is not one of them. It's a comical look at prehistoric life. It's not supposed to be accurate in historic detail, it's supposed to make you laugh and this movie does just that. It's wildly funny. Ringo Starr is great as the unlikely hero Atouk and his wife at the time, Barbara Bach plays the sexy prehistoric temptress wonderfully. Watch for scenes with Shelley Long and Dennis Quaid and you get a glimpse of their early careers.

Favorite Quote
"Atouk Aluna Lana."

Flash Gordon (1980)

Plot:
A football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyrant, Ming the Merciless, to save Earth.

Why We Love It:
This is an absolutely insane movie. Flash Gordon should be a total disaster, but it's not. For unknown reasons it just works. The set designs are remarkable, as are the costume designs (my personal favorite is Princess Auro's pink satin dress), and it has a pounding rock soundtrack provided by Queen. Personally I love this movie. Sure it has plenty of weaknesses, but more than all these things it is incredibly fun to watch! Sing it with me now – `FLASH! AH-AH! HE'LL SAVE EVERYONE OF US!'

Favorite Quote:
"Go Flash Go!"

Clash of the Titans (1981)

Plot:
A film adaption of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save the Princess Andromeda.

Why We Love It:
Most people talk about how hokey and cheesy this movie is. The visual effects are not cutting edge. There’s not a drop of contemporary cynicism in the entire movie, giving it a weak look and feel to it. There's simple hand drawn animation and stop-motion effects. But that’s why we love it. It takes balls to be Buddy Holly in an era of punk.

The remake of this film is set for release March 2010. Click here to view the trailer: Must Watch: First Glorious Clash of the Titans Tea...

Favorite Quote:
"A titan against a titan!"

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Plot:
Two seemingly dumb teens struggle to prepare a historical presentation with the help of a time machine.

Why We Love It:
This movie is most definitely just that - one excellent adventure! This is just an all around FUN movie! The plot is far from anything serious, but deep down there are some good morals and such things to take from this film. "Be Excellent To Each Other" That is some good advice, is it not? And it has to be said, Kaenu Reeves will never be able to live this role down.

Favorite Quote:
"Ted, you and I have witnessed many things, but nothing as bodacious as what just happened. Besides, we told ourselves to listen to this guy."

The Goonies (1985)
Plot:
A group of kids embark on a wild adventure after finding a pirate treasure map.

Why We Love It:
One word - Chunk. He seriously made this movie. The truffle-shuffle, spilling his guts to the Fratelli's, breaking things etc. I just love him! This movie had everything you could want, from thrills, spills, pirates, booty, adventure, freaks and bad guys. I wanted to be a Goonie or go on a Goonie style adventure when I was little. Even the place where they lived was cool. A big old house in a picturesque bay town. This movie will forever be a favorite cult classic among the masses.

Favorite Quote:
"But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life."

What are some of your favorite Cult Classic Movies?

*New Sexy Nine Trailer*

Source: Yahoo & Firstshowing

If there is one movie I'm looking forward to seeing the most this year this is definitely it. Nine is directed by Italian filmmaker Rob Marshall, and is a musical based on the original musical of the same name. This second trailer is just as fun as the first (Nine Trailer). It's vivacious, full of singing, dancing and scantily clad women including the prominently featured Kate Hudson, and the laughable appearance of Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson who plays the slutty, crazy, dancing character Saraghina. Now all that remains to be seen is if Daniel Day-Lewis can really sing.

Famous Italian director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.

Nine is directed by Rob Marshall, of the Oscar winning musical Chicago previously as well as Memoirs of a Geisha most recently. The screenplay was adapted by the late great Anthony Minghella and Michael Tolkin, of The Rapture, Deep Impact, and Changing Lanes. The film is based onFederico Fellini's masterpiece 8 1/2. The Weinstein Company will debut Nine in theaters everywhere this December.

Will you be seeing this movie in theaters?

Awesome New Clash of the Titans Posters

Source: Ain't It Cool News

Warner Brothers is preparing to unleash the first of their marketing for Clash of the Titans by the end of the year. Check out these eight new character posters and teaser posters for Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans remake, due out March 26, 2010. We've already seen the first teaser-trailer, (which is pretty bad-ass, my friend Jason and I can't stop watching it, we're obsessed), but we haven't seen anything like these posters and it has to be said, being a huge fan of original, these posters really kick-ass! I'm very excited for this, I love the style and intensity, I love everything about it.

(click on picture to enlarge)

This is my personal favorite. It's super intense!

Which one is your favorite?...

Must Watch: First Glorious Clash of the Titans Teaser Trailer!

Source: Yahoo & Firstshowing

Warner Bros has debuted the official trailer for Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans remake starring Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and plenty of other great actors. This is a very short teaser trailer, but it really packs a punch. No wait, scratch that, this packs more than a friggin punch, WOW! It looks so epic and awesome it's insane. I seriously think I peed myself a little bit. haha I really loved the 1981 version growing up and I have been wanting Hollywood to remake this movie for years and years. I'm so excited! Sure, they've gone CGI a little bit, but it still looks good. This is exactly what I wanted the Clash of the Titans remake to look and feel like. At first I wasn't a fan of the rock song playing in the background, but after watching it a few more times I have grown to love it. This is exactly what a movie trailer should be like - less dialogue, more intensity. This movie is going to be RAD!!

Follows Perseus and his quest to battle Medusa and the Kraken in order to save the Princess Andromeda.

Clash of the Titans is directed by French filmmaker Louis Leterrier, of Unleashed, Transporter 2, and The Incredible Hulk previously. The screenplay was originally written by Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark) then later revised by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (both of Crazy/Beautiful, The Tuxedo, Aeon Flux). This is a remake of Desmond Davis' original 1981 classic movie of the same name. Warner Brothers will be bringing Clash of the Titans to theaters everywhere starting on March 26, 2010.

How can you not be excited?!...

Happy 35th Leo!!

Leonardo DiCaprio has seriously become one of my all time favorite actors. He sure has come a long way from that little kid on Growing Pains. You can just tell he puts a lot of heart and soul into his craft. I think he is extremely talented and I have to say most of his movies, as of late, are amazing. My personal favorite is The Departed (which won Best Picture in 2007). He definitely has an amazing career filled with a long list of eclectic movies to show for. Below is a short montage of some of them. Enjoy!



Hope you have a GREAT day, Leo!



Below are two previews for DiCaprio's upcoming movies.

The story of two U.S. marshals, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), who are summoned to a remote and barren island off the cost of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island's fortress-like mental hospital for the criminally insane. Look for this movie early next year, February 19, 2010.

A thriller set within the architecture of the mind about a CEO who is involved in a blackmailing scandal. Look for this movie next summer, July 16, 2010.

P.S. Word has it that DiCaprio will be in the remake of The Neverending Story. That sounds interesting.

The Box Review

Is a strangers life worth a million dollars? This is the movies ultimate question. Taking place in the 70's the movie begins by introducing us to the main characters, Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur Lewis (James Marsden), a suburban couple with a young child.

In the early hours of the morning the family receives a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal consequences. A mysterious stranger (Frank Langella), delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the simple press of a button. Easy enough... or is it? Because by doing so someone, somewhere in the world, who they do not know, will simultaneously die. Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a moral dilemma. The couple soon find out the true and ugly nature of their humanity. A million dollars would be nice indeed, but can they live with themselves knowing that it cost them another human beings life?

Of course the story is intriguing and has its eerie moments, but Donnie Darko (excellent movie btw) director Richard Kelly's sci-fi thriller proves to be nothing out of the box. I felt the story lacked in a lot of ways. The script (written by Richard Kelly from the short story called Button, Button) becomes sillier the longer the story draged on. Obvious questions aren't asked, and there's lots of window dressing about the NASA space program that doesn't pay off dramatically in the end and there's also a weird water scene that confirms the silliness of the story.

The moral questions raised and answered by the film are straight-forward enough but they needed elements in Kelly's film to make the experience worth recommending. I found myself confused and wanting throughout the film. It was an interesting premise, however the story didn't grab me like I had hoped it would. I didn't hate the film, nor did I love it and I think it's safe to say I will forget about this film in a couple weeks.

RATING: C

So my question to you is: If given the same opportunity here, would you press the button?

Digital Short: Firelight

Another day another parody. Not too sure how many Twilight parodies there are in the world, but you can bet there's more than TOO MANY (rolls eyes). Although, I do get a kick out of this one: Twilight Fans... Enjoy!. Anyway, I have really grown to love Taylor Swift over the past few months and after seeing this digital short on SNL last weekend I couldn't resist sharing it with you. Yes, it's pretty dumb, but I also think it's pretty cute as well. Enjoy!

Is it just me or does anyone else agree that this movie franchise has become super annoying?...

Volturi Featurette from The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Don't get me wrong, the movie will most likely suck (no pun intended). I mean it can't be any worse than the first movie - Twilight (puke, barf, vomit) - right? Anyway, aside from that I think this is a pretty cool featurette and wanted to share it with you. I just love anything dealing with vampires. I'm also a big fan of Michael Sheen's work and I think he will portray Aro very well in the series.

To learn more about the Volturi click here:
http://twilightsaga.wikia.com/wiki/Volturi

Will you be seeing this movie in theaters?

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time First Trailer

Source: MySpace

Disney has finally debuted the first trailer for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, based on the video game of the same name, on MySpace. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Prince Dastan alongside with Gemma Arterton as Tamina and Ben Kingsley as Alfred Molina. I've heard about this movie for a while now but have only seen posters for it... until now. All I have to say is, this movie looks like it could be friggin' rad! I have always loved these type of epic adventures movies. Even though I'm not too sure about Gyllenhaal taking the lead role, it still looks pretty great. Enjoy!



Follows a prince who must stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is directed by English director Mike Newell, of Donnie Brasco, Mona Lisa Smile, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire previously. The screenplay was co-written by Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard (The Uninvited, The Sorcerer's Apprentice) and the story was developed by Jordan Mechner, one of the original creators of the video game. Disney will be bringing this film to theaters everywhere come May 28, 2010.

Will you be seeing this?