True Grit Review

"The wicked flee when none pursueth."
Proverbs 28:1
It seems the Coen Brothers are back in the saddle again with the remake of True Grit. Sure, I like some of their films, but I was never much of a Coen fan. However, after this movie, that has all changed. I’ve been on a Jeff Bridges kick for a sometime now and couldn’t wait to see this movie. He’s one of those extremely talented silent Hollywood types. He’s a truly gifted actor, so I knew if Bridges was staring in it, it was bound to be good. I was impressed with everything this film had to offer. The dialog alone was enough to rope me in. Joel and Ethan Coen's beautifully witty dialogue, some of it lifted from Charles Portis' novel and some cooked up by the Coens' s themselves, provided a fresh and zesty fun ride from beginning to end.

Our story begins with a 14 year old headstrong little girl named Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld). She has come to town to retrieve the body of her recently deceased father, who was shot by the cowardly Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). During her stay, she ends up seeking a U.S. marshal to help her avenge her father’s untimely death. It’s there that she learns about the "meanest" and most "pitiless" of them all and swiftly tracks him down. When given a choice between hiring the best tracker in town, the meanest marshal in town or the best man, period, she settles for the mean one - Cogburn. "I am told you are a man with true grit," she says. Although she wears her hair in schoolgirl braids ("Congratulations, Cogburn. You've graduated from mercenary to wet nurse," Damon's bounty hunter character teases), Mattie proves to be a handy trail mate for Cogburn and eventually they become quite the pair.

Everyone gives superb performances. Bridges, who’s larger-than life, embodies Cogburn’s character to another level and stands high against the memory of John Wayne, and Matt Damon cleverly manages to convey the Taxes ranger’s combination of arrogance and courage, while Brolin (who’s barely in the film), does wonders as the dim-witted, murderous villain. But the one who impressed me the most was Hailee Steinfeld. It's impossible not to fall in love with Steinfeld's Mattie. She’s quick on her feet, smart and undeniably delightful. By no means is she out for blood, it’s justice she seeks. But it's clear that if blood is shed, she will not shy away from it.

With breathtaking scenic shots, crackerjack wordplay and top-notch performances all around, the Coen brothers once again find themselves at the top of their game. This old Western remake is a wonderful tribute to the John Wayne classic. The Duke would be proud. The Coens should be, too.RATING: B

What did you think?

Have Yourself A Merry Movie Montage Christmas!

Earlier this month I posted my Top 10 Best Christmas Movies! And even though those picks are my favorite, there are so many other great Christmas flicks out there and this movie montage does a fantastic job capturing most of them, including great TV specials. And since Christmas is the season of giving and sharing, I thought I'd share with you this fun Christmas Movie Montage. Enjoy!

May the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with warmth and love, joy and happiness.

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Green Band Trailer For 'Your Highness'

Source: Apple

"This quest sucks!"

Last month I featured the red band trailer for 'Your Highness', which had me crrrracking up. Here's a new, cleaner version of the same movie for David Gordon Green's medieval stoner comedy. Natalie Portman obviously has CGI undies on this time around and there's no foul language or great quotes like "with magic… motherf***ker!" But it still looks just as funny and I can not wait to see it. This also stars the talented James Franco, Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel, Toby Jones and Justin Theroux as the evil wizard Leezar. It definitely looks like one medieval ride from beginning to end. Enjoy!

Your Highness is a hilarious new fantasy movie about an arrogant, lazy prince (Danny McBride) and his more heroic brother (James Franco) who must complete a quest in order to save their father's kingdom.

Your Highness is directed by filmmaker David Gordon Green, who started indie with George Washington, All the Real Girls and Snow Angels, then went comedic with Pineapple Express (one of my favorite comedies) and hasn't turned back (he's also currently shooting The Sitter). The screenplay was written by Danny McBride and "Eastbound & Down" creator Ben Best. Universal is bringing this hilarious movie to theaters everywhere on April 8th, 2011.

Who's with me?

127 Hours Review

I normally just write reviews for the films I see opening weekend, however, after seeing this masterpiece I couldn't wait to get home and write about it. At first glance I wondered how they were going to make this incredible true story silver screen worthy, but with Danny Boyle heading the project I figured it was bound to be good. And good doesn't even cut it (no pun intended). 127 Hours is a triumphant. This film is one of those amazing survival stories and easily one of the most inspirational films you will ever see.

Aron Ralston (James Franco) is an outdoorsy, adrenaline junkie who doesn't give a second thought when heading out into the deserts of Utah by himself for a little fun and exploring. One afternoon, well into his hiking, he slips and inadvertently pulls down a large boulder with him. It wedges between the walls of the canyon, pinning his lower arm to one side, thus trapping him there. Yelling for help is no good as no one is near by and after accessing his situation he tries to finagle a way out. However, his freedom comes with a price.

Danny Boyle does it again. His beautiful, adventurous and sharp angels, his use of color and edgy editing all continued to wow me throughout the entire movie. I was very impressed with Boyles style. As for Franco's performance - he's definitely come a long way from his early Spider-Man days. He is truly one fine actor with never before seen talent. He did such an outstanding job carrying the whole movie on his back. I just love him! I would not be surprised if he was nominated for an Oscar. He definitely earned it with this film. And now on to the inevitable dirty deed - the gore in this film, though brief, isn't pretty. Boyle does not shy away from it, it's extremely realistic. I seriously had to turn away during the 2 minute plus struggle to freedom.

No doubt Aaron was reckless and a little foolish for venturing out on his own without telling a single soul where he was going. But I feel it's his fearlessness that also gave him the balls to do whatever it took to get out of that sticky mess and back home again. I have no idea what I would have done in his shoes. I parrish the thought.

In the end, 127 Hours is about joy rather than agony, it's about victory rather than defeat - a truly inspiring story. Even though it's a powerful, intense movie, I guarantee you will leave the theater feeling illuminated. I loved the music in the end too, I definitely teared up. If you can stomach a little gore, I highly recommend seeing this movie immediately.

RATING: A-

And Your Thoughts?

A Year In Review Part 2: 2010 The Cinescape

Source: YouTube

I truly love these videos! And even though I recently posted a similar movie montage earlier this week, I feel you can't have enough of these, especially when they are edited so well. Matt Shapiro (who started these fantastic montages back in 2006) shares with us his work in 2010: The Cinescape. It's yet another fine piece of work, not nearly as phenomenal as Filmography 2010, but it's still a great movie montage just the same. Shapiro has carefully edited clips from many films including The King's Speech, Black Swan, TRON: Legacy and How to Train Your Dragon. Matt's choice of song "A Dustland Fairytale" by The Killers is a nice touch too. Enjoy this wonderful trip down memory lane.

Feel free to see chronological list of all films featured in the video. There are quite a few. Here's what Shapiro had to say about this year's effort: "I am a huge believer in the notion that while some films may be for adults and others for kids, and while some films may be of higher quality than those aimed at the lowest common denominator, escaping into the world of a film is a universal experience that we all crave, no matter who we are or how greatly our tastes differ. The goal of this video is to at least begin to capture the essence of what that lose-yourself-to-film feeling is like and to show just how many kick-ass movies 2010 gave us (because it’s pretty easy to forget)." I couldn't agree with him more. I LOVE movies!

Share with me some of your favorite 2010 films...

The Fighter Review

Sport movies are essentially all the same. They tend to be a true story where the sad and lonely under-dog scrapes the bottom of the barrel trying desperately to get to the top, and as a rule, fights through everyone's doubts to a glorious victory. On the outside The Fighter is exactly that in a nutshell. However, what makes this sport movie different from most are its superb performances, it's not so much about boxing, but instead a really depressing, drug-drenched melodrama about family, love and devotion. It's those relationships that really crab a hold of you and hug you so darly that you can't help but fall in love with the movie.

We go back in time to 1993 to the blue-collar town that is Lowell, Massachusetts. It's there we meet our main characters - Dicky (Christian Bale) and Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg). This family could not be more dysfunctional. Their mother (Melissa Leo) is one thick-headed lady who tends to show favoritism towards Dicky above anyone else. Dicky’s crack addiction is the subject of an HBO documentary that takes place throughout the entire movie and then there's Micky. Micky has a hard time coming to terms that his hard-headed family, rather than helping him, is actually standing between him and his dream of becoming a championship boxer. The family would rather sit in a pool of denial then move forward. This is when Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams) enters the picture. She's a college dropout working as a bartender, and before long she starts dating Mikey. She ends up clueing him in to the world around him. This, of course, upsets his family. However, with blunt pushes from his dad (Jack McGee) and girlfriend, Mikey's dream becomes more and more achievable.
The authenticity of this movie was phenomenal. Director David O. Russell does a wonderful job making everything so believable. The sets, the costumes, the hair, the makeup (or lack there of) were all done exceptionally well. It was very raw and very real. And if anyone is getting an Oscar this year it's Christian Bale. His performance was so sincere, so gritty that at times you have to remind yourself it's only a movie. He lets loose with an entertaining eye-popping wild-eyed loony, which is in contrast to Mark Wahlberg's brilliantly conceived likable subdued performance. Melissa Leo's loudmouth performance is a winner as well, as the mother from hell, who raises two boys and seven girls (who follow mom around and like a fan club, that was actually really funny btw). I also really enjoyed Amy Adams' strong willed, stand up for yourself character. She definitely adds another great performance to the mix. The troublesome family scenes add a splash of low-life and white trash to the predictable film that shows anything is still possible if you just believe.

The Fighter is definitely one of the best films to come out of 2010, just based on performances alone. It doesn't bring anything new to the genre, but I loved the acting, and I appreciated how good the fight scenes looked and felt. The film's raw, fight-to-the-end quality is what is so likable and at times gripping.
RATING: B+

What did you think?

Tron: Legacy Review

I remember watching the original Tron (1982) with my family when I was a kid and loving every minute of it. At the time, it was a fresh idea, something new. It wasn't a huge hit, but its sequel is bound to be. The story begins when Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) gets sucked into a computer, where, to survive, he has to do battle in video-game-like fashion.

Close to 30 years later Flynn's legacy unravels a new chapter, told through his now much older son, Sam (played by up and coming star, Garrett Hedlund). TRON: Legacy is essentially the same story, but with vastly updated and improved graphics/special effects. Kevin Flynn's (Bridges) whereabouts have been unknown for the past 20 years and once again, tech giant Encom is being run by shameless exploiters. Sam eventually finds himself at his dad's old video game hub where he is sucked into the computer world his dad designed, who has, of course, been trapped in his creation all the while. Kevin has been pushed out of power by his own creation, Clu (Bridges yet again), and lives in retreat as a sort of Zen master. The reunited father and son join forces in order to escape and from there the story takes digital flight.

The entire movie looks and feels incredible. I was completely immersed in the legacy that is Tron. We have our CG friends to thank for that. And after a whole year of movies that squandered the potential of 3-D, this movie actually uses it to its fullest. Make no mistake, it's definitely a movie you want to experience in 3-D fashion. Everything was so beautiful and visually striking and at times even breathtaking. The graphics were off the charts. [I will say, though, I was hoping Clu (Kevin's creation) would look more realistic. Obviously he needs to look just like Bridges back in '82, but the weak CG was a tad distracting.] Daft Punk did an outstanding job with their all-consuming score as well. It's definitely something I want to own. Bridges and Hedlund make a believable father-son duo, and they get great support from the lovely Olivia Wilde as a naive computer program who lives with Kevin. And what a pleasant surprise to see Michael Sheen turn up playing a brilliantly loopy yet twisted rogue who looks like a digital Jack Frost and acts like a corky maniac on death row.

The whole point of a sequel (aside from making more money) is to carry on the story by bringing something new to the table, while staying consistant to the original - Tron: Legacy did just that. The story does a wonderful job reeling you in the for the hook, but half way through you're unfortunately left dangling with nothing to do. While the action sequences are indeed exciting and even thrilling, they quickly dwindle to a slow and steady stop. My only real complaint is that the ending was a little weak and unsatisfying, not nearly enough of a payoff for what came before. I wanted this grand finale, but instead I was left wanting.

All in all, Tron: Legacy is a movie of sci-fi epic proportions for the digital age. It's fun and exciting, and despite the anti-climatic ending, you will definitely be wowed and entertained.

RATING: B-

What did you think?

A Year In Review: Filmography 2010

Source: FirstShowing

It's hard to believe this year is coming to an end. 2010 certainly gave us a run for our money - while some films were definitely worth the $10+, others were, well... not. Anyway, what better way to reminisce the year in film then with a traditional montage of movies from 2010. This is seriously one of the best movie montages I've seen to date. I was extremely impressed! Using clips from big hits like Iron Man 2, Inception and The Social Network, great indies like Never Let Me Go and Catfish, documentaries like Babies and Waiting for 'Superman', this montage has it all. Filmography 2010 has phenomenally edited this piece of work and it does a great job making you want to watch all your favorite movies from 2010 all over again. So sit back and enjoy a trip down memory lane.

What separates this video from the others is the seamless editing between visuals and dialogue as opposed to just finely tuned cuts to different music. Of course, the music creates a perfect tone in each of the themed segments that highlight action, love, spectacle and humor in this 6-minute package. If you're curious about the music used in the video, just check out the YouTube page. And if you're trying to figure out all 270 films included in this montage (which the creator says includes "anything that was either produced or distributed in 2010" by way of this Wikipedia entry) fortunately that's available right here. There will likely be more of these as the year winds down, but this is definitely a one of the best as 2010 wraps up.

What are some of your favorite 2010 movies?

First 'Fast Five' Trailer

Source: Facebook

I want to meet the guy who's job it is to come up with these awesomely ridiculous tag-lines like "New Model. Original Parts" and "Next spring, this model is fully loaded." It's really quite entertaining to say the least. Looks like Vinny-boy is back in action again playing the car-stealin' ninja. Universal has debuted the first trailer for Justin Lin's 'Fast Five', the fifth movie in their insanely successful Fast and the Furious franchise of high speed, high octane, high testosterone, highly horrible (yet wildly entertaining) movies. Vin Diesel premiered the trailer on his own Facebook page and it's definitely packed with plenty of TNA, lots of explosions, and more hot wheels than you can imagine. This suped-up engine also stars the likes of; The Rock Dwayne Johnson, pretty-boy Paul Walker, the lovely Jordana Brewster, the sexy Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris (Ah, I love me some Ludacris). These movies are so bad they're almost good. Ridiculous is definitely riding in the fast lane with this one. Oh, and you can bet I'll be seeing this in theaters. Check it!

Dom (Diesel) and his team of top racers find themselves on the wrong side of the law again as they try to switch lanes between a ruthless drug lord who wants them dead and a relentless federal agent (Johnson).

Fast Five is again directed by Justin Lin, who previously did Better Luck Tomorrow, Spotlighting, Annapolis as well as Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and 2009's last sequel Fast & Furious. The screenplay was written by Chris Morgan, of Cellular, Wanted, Tokyo Drift, Fast & Furious as well as the upcoming 47 Ronin. Universal is bringing this ridiculously run ride theaters everywhere in 3D (say it aint so!!) on April 29th 2011.

Thoughts?

Must Watch: Full Theatrical Trailer for Rango

Source: Yahoo

Adventure has a new name and its name is Rango! Paramount has debuted the second full trailer on Yahoo for Gore Verbinski's upcoming animated comedy starring Johnny Depp as a chameleon named Rango. This movie looks absolutely charming and utterly delightful! More actors providing voices in this include: Bill Nighy, Timothy Olyphant, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina and Ray Winstone. The animation, the story, the Fear & Loathing-ness of Depp's character, it all looks great, I truly can't wait to see it. I have a feeling it could be next years How to Train Your Dragon. Check out it!

Rango is being directed by filmmaker Gore Verbinski, of The Mexican, The Ring, The Weather Man, and all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The script was written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Last Samurai, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd) based on a story by Verbinski and James Ward Byrkit. ILM is animating using "cutting edge techniques" that "allow them to capture and translate every aspect of Johnny's performance, using it to drive the computer-generated character in a way that has yet to be seen." Paramount is bringing this delightful movie to theaters on March 4th, 2011. Visit the official website as well: RangoMovie.com.

Who's with me?

Must Watch: POTC: On Stranger Tides Teaser-Trailer

Source: Yahoo

Captain Jack Sparrow is back, baby, and looking better than ever! Disney just debuted their very first trailer to Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth installment to this incredibly popular pirating adventure series. This time around it is being directed by Rob Marshall. As expected, Johnny Depp is back as everyone's favorite pirate - Captain Jack Sparrow. The star-studded cast also includes the likes of Geoffrey Rush, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Stephen Graham, Judi Dench and Gemma Ward. Pirates, Mermaids, Zombies, Keith Richards? What's not to love?! This actually looks like it could be quite good - a definite return to form. I'm not dying to see it, but I am looking forward to it. Watch and enjoy!

Jack Sparrow (Depp) and Barbossa (Rush) embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth hinted at the end of At World's End, only to learn that Blackbeard (McShane) and his daughter are after it, too.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is directed by Oscar nominated director Rob Marshall, whose only previous directing credits are Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha and Nine. The screenplay was once again written by franchise regulars Terry Rossio & Ted Elliott, based on Tim Power's book On Stranger Tides. Disney is bringing this movie theaters in 3D on May 20th 2011.

Who's with me?

The Tourist Review

I was pleasantly surprised at how fun The Tourist ended up being. Of course I'm a huge fan of Johnny Depp, so I knew if the movie sank, I'd at least get to look at him for 1 hour and 43 minutes. It's a win win. I know this movie didn't receive great reviews, but I still enjoyed it for what it was - a playful cat and mouse blockbuster with big stars in exotic settings. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, (say that ten times twice) directs this 2005 French thriller remake that went unreleased in the UK and the US. Depp stars as maths teacher Frank Tupelo, an American tourist who meets a beautiful British woman, Elise (Angelina Jolie) on a train to Venice and soon finds himself targeted by Interpol agent (Paul Bettany who I adore btw), and a vicious gangster (Steven Berkoff). Elise is acting under the orders of Alexander, her mysterious, fugitive lover, who instructed her to board a train and pick someone of similar height and build in order to throw Interpol off. However, as the pair zip around Venice dodging gangsters and staying one step ahead of the cops. It's during this time the two fall unexpectedly in love with each other. The film spends the first hour gradually drawing us into the relationship of Elise and Frank. It does a fun job leaving the viewer to decide the true motivation behind the pairing as the action heats up near the end in Venice, (although, I guessed the ending right from the start). For a brief shining moment, the film is all fun and games mixed in with a little flirtations. Depp is not nearly so lovely in this movie as he's been in the past - he resembled the heck out of Eddie Vedder. It was a little disappointing, but over all I found it refreshing to see him play such a timid unsure-of-himself role. I thoroughly adored the sad quality he gave to his character. As for Jolie, she was quite lovely in this film, a real feline if you will. Her elegance was breathtaking, engaging in an English accent and wearing some of the finest threads in town. I do have to question her hair stylist though. Throughout the entire movie her hair was highly and disappointingly desecrating. I don't know what they were thinking. I’ve had better. The Tourist is enjoyable, but definitely light on substance. The plot is a little weak but it was fun and for a little under two hours or so you'll enjoy this touristy movie for it is. RATING: C-

What did you think?

Black Swan Review

Black Swan is a tantalizing, low budget ballet thriller that is for sure one of the best films to come out of 2010. I will be extremely shocked if it's not nominated for Best Picture. And if anyone is nominated for Best Actress this year, it's Natalie Portman. She blew me away with her thrilling, power house performance.

The story follows Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Nina's greatest nemesis is her obsession for perfection. To quote author Michael Gellert: "Striving for perfection is often confused with the quest for fulfillment: we think that if we can become perfect or create perfect things or situations, we will be happy." I was impressed with director Darren Aronofsky's vision. He combined the grace and beauty of ballet with the exhilaration and terror of a classic tale.

-->It's visually striking, frightening and at times breath taking, it does a good job reeling you in for the hook.

The story, the acting, the dancing, the special effects were all done flawlessly. I would have liked a little more resolution at the end, but I guess that's just not Aronofsky's style. Even still, I enjoyed the film with great delight. I'm a huge fan of this ballet, the music, the story, the undying love, it's what dreams are made of.
RATING: B-

What was your take on it?

First Official Trailer for Marvel's Thor!

Source: Yahoo

The first thing that pops into my head when I think of Thor is Sarah Anderson's obsession with him in Adventures in Babysitting, and it makes me laugh. But after seeing this trailer the laughs are put to rest with "aw." This movie looks awesome! Paramount finally debuted their first official trailer for Marvel's Thor, directed by Kenneith Baranagh, and starring up and coming actor, Chris Hemsworth as the God of Thunder. You might recognize him as George Kirk in 2009's Star Trek. The trailer is a must watch, even if you're not familiar with this superhero. I'm sure it will be another epic comic-book hit too. The star-studded cast also includes the likes of: Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Anthony Hopkins (who I love btw) as Odin, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgård, Ray Stevenson, Rene Russo (she hasn't been in anything in a while) and Tom Hiddleston as the mysterious Loki (LOVE Loki!). Enjoy!

The powerful but arrogant immortal warrior Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he quickly becomes one of their finest defenders.

Marvel's Thor is directed by British actor/director Kenneth Branagh, who previously directed Shakespeare adaptations like Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, as well as the films Love's Labour's Lost, The Magic Flute and Sleuth. The script was written by Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz (Agent Cody Banks, "Fringe") and Don Payne (My Super Ex-Girlfriend, 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer) from a story by J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich. Paramount is bringing Marvel's Thor to theaters in 3D on May 6th, 2011. This summer is heating up with some great summer blockbuster. Can't wait! Let the age of gods reign with glorious thunder.

You interested?

First Teaser Trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon!

Source: Apple

Paramount has released their first teaser-trailer for Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon, courtesy of Apple. Not so sure I like that title, it's too close to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. This will be the third installment in Hasbro's epic franchise, which left many unsatisfied two years ago with the release of Revenge of the Fallen. I actually enjoyed the film, but there was just too many things going on at once to love it. Someone needs to remind Bay how important simplicity really is. Even though I'm annoyed they are not bringing back my girl-crush, Megan Fox, they are adding a couple more cool peeps to the mix - John Malkovich and Patrick Dempsey. The new female lead will be Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. I have to wonder why they fashioned this teaser-trailer after the first movie's teaser back in 2007. Couldn't they think of something new, something better? I'm not that impressed with it, but I'm sure hoping the movie will be. I'm a huge fan of the franchise. Take a look!

The Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a perilous space race between the U.S. and Russia, and once again Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) must help his robot friends defeat enemies like Shockwave.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is again directed by everyone's favorite explosive director, Michael Bay, of the previous two Transformers movies as well as Bad Boys I and II, The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor and The Island. The screenplay was written by Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote the Revenge of the Fallen script but went solo this time, and also worked on The Ring, The Skeleton Key and Brothers Grimm screenplays. Paramount is releasing this bound to be a huge blockbuster movie to theaters everywhere in 3D (that could actually be pretty sweet) starting July 1st, 2011. Next summer it's starting too look pretty good.

What do you think?

New Photos for POTC: On Stranger Tides

Source: USA Today & HitFix

I know some are kind of turned off by the idea of another POTC, but after seeing these photos hopefully the tides will change. USA Today debuted new photos, including a first look at Penélope Cruz. "What's most interesting about Pirates 4 is you don't have to connect the dots for these subplots and sub-characters," Depp told the paper. "It felt like a fresh, clean slate." This definitely seems like it might be a very strong return to form. That's exactly what I'm hoping for.

And for those who don't know, they are continuing the very successful POTC series by adding a 5th and 6th installment. HitFix reports Disney has been quietly telling cast and crew to save a big chunk of their time in the near future to shoot the sequels. This isn't surprising since the second and third sequels were filmed in the same fashion, but honestly, I thought the latter sequels suffered the same lack of substance as the Matrix sequels did.

There are two fantastic articles about On Stranger Tides to go along with these - read them here and here.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides stars Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow again as well as Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane as Blackbeard, Geoffrey Rush and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mermaid. "These mermaids are ferocious," Bruckheimer explains. "On the surface they're beautiful, but once you get them underwater, they turn pretty scary." That sounds like a lot of fun! The story was based on Tim Powers' book, which focuses heavily on the "Fountain of Youth" that was hinted at the end of At World's End. Chicago & Nine director Rob Marshall is helming this fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film and has been directing at various locations the last few months. This is supposedly being shot in 3D. If that's the case I'm definitely going to shell out a few more bucks to see that. This movie will hit theaters on May 20th, 2011 next summer.

Who's with me?

Top 10 Best Christmas Movies!

Tis the season to be jolly,... and sit by the warm fire while sipping hot cocoa, while watching your favorite Christmas movie. I love a good Christmas movie! So what if they tend to be a bit cheesy? They warm our hearts, restore our faith in humanity and generally bring joy to the world. And they can definitely hold a lot of fun memories as well. Below you will find some of my all time favorite big-screen Christmas flicks (sorry 'Charlie Brown' lovers, no TV specials here). Some are definitely traditional picks, while others are (pause) not so traditional. Counting down the list, I give to you my top 10 best Christmas movies ever.



10. Ghostbusters II (1989)
New York may be one of the most romantic cities during Christmastime, but the Ghostbusters manage to make it the slimiest, as well. In this family favorite, the gang is back with more laughs and, well, more ghost-busting. It doesn't surpass the original, but it is pretty funny. Merry Christmas!

9. Die Hard (1988)
There's no better way to get in the Christmas spirit than watching a wife-beater-clad Bruce Willis single-handedly destroy terrorists on Christmas Eve. The classic one liners, the genius use of a Run-DMC holiday tune - it's like a gift from Santa himself. "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf***."

8. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Does Santa really exist? In this ageless flick, a department store Santa Claus challenges the city of New York to believe in the magic of Christmas. The 1994 remake is just as touching as the original. If you haven’t seen either the original or the remake of this movie you really are missing out.

7. Scrooged (1988)
Only Bill Murray can so expertly walk the fine line between shame and amusement, as he does playing TV exec Frank Cross. Complete with a taxi-driving Ghost of Christmas Past and a (literally) ball-busting Ghost of Christmas Present, this Dickens send-up is so offbeat and fun, Yule just love it!

6. Elf (2003)
Frank Ricard. Ron Burgundy. Ricky Bobby. They're all unforgettable Will Ferrell personas, but the role he might be remembered for most in 50 years is Buddy the Elf from 2003's instant holiday classic. “What's your favorite color?” The non-stop laughter that you'll experience by watching this movie live on for years.

5. Christmas Vacation (1989)
Chevy Chase is at the top of his game in this hilarious, unforgettably quoteable homage to the love/hate event that is the family Christmas. Where, besides this list, is there a place big enough for a movie with laughs this great? As Clark Griswold would say, "Bend over and I'll show you."

4. A Christmas Story (1983)
There's not a scene to forget in this near-perfect nostalgic look at Christmas time in the 40’s. The story of a young boy's epic quest to get his hands on a Red Ryder BB gun provides the hilarious backdrop for a timeless tale rampant with family fun, frozen tongues and, of course, sex-oozing leg lamps. This movie will forever be one of the best classics around.

3. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
A tale of depression and almost-suicide doesn't exactly scream "Christmas classic" - which is probably why Frank Capra's flick flopped at the box office. But more than 30 years later, it endures as a beloved testament to everything Christmas embodies: family, friends and the joy of life.

2. Home Alone (1990)
It made Macaulay Culkin the biggest child star on the planet, reigned at the box office for 12 straight weeks and grossed $533 million worldwide, but the best thing about this holiday staple is watching an 8-year-old kid toss burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern a good old-fashioned Christmas beat-down. I grew up on this movie, so it holds a lot of fun, golden memories.

1. Love Actually (2003)
One of the best written romantic comedies in decades happens to have a Christmas theme, as well has hold my #1 spot on the list. Eight storylines collide in this touching, funny, and highly entertaining look at love, lust, loss, and relationships. Starring Hugh Grant as the British Prime Minister, Keira Knightley as a new bride, Liam Neeson as a newly widowed father, and Bill Nighy as an over-the-top aging rock star, Love Actually has a lot of heart and a lot of engaging characters to get into. I simply LOVE this movie. Merry Christmas!

I know the end of the year is usually a busy time and that it's tough to put aside a few hours to relax in front of the TV (is it really that tough though?). But if you do have a couple of hours to spare, any of these Christmas-themed movies will help lift your spirits and put you in the holiday mood.

What are your favorite Christmas movies?

Universal Continues the Series with 'Fast Five'

Source: IMDb

If you were thinking it was ridiculous they even made a fourth Fast and Furious (2009), you would be correct. But for those who were worried that this vroom-vroom, bang-bang extravaganza was over, you're in luck. It makes me laugh to say Universal Studios is actually continuing this over-the-top series with number five, titled Fast Five, no less. I believe this series will never run out of gas (Movies That Just Won't Quit!). The first one is actually a Guilty Pleasure of mine (hey, we've all got 'em) and I'm not going to lie, I'm most likely going to see this (horribly fun) movie when it hits theaters April 29th, 2011. The point of ridiculousness is long gone. There isn't a trailer out yet, but stay tuned.

The Pitch:
Former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law. Since Brian and Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first.

Rio better bring it! This film is directed by Justin Lin (Annapolis, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast & Furious previously) and is written by Chris Morgan (Cellular, Wanted, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast and Furious previously). Along with its original cast members including Dwayne Johnson, Fast Five is bringing back Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris into the mix. Come April 29th, 2011, prepare yourself for more hot wheels, sexy dames and lots of macho men.

I've got to know your thoughts on this...