Pop Culture Buzz

1.) 30 Days of Night $16,000,000 / $16,000,000

2.) Why Did I Get Married? $12,096,000 / $38,861,000

3.) The Game Plan $8,122,000 / $69,150,000

4.) Michael Clayton $7,100,000 / $21,986,000

5.) Gone Baby Gone $6,000,000 / $6,000,000

6.) The Comebacks $5,850,000 / $5,850,000

7.) We Own the Night $5,500,000 / $19,784,00

8.) The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D $5,145,000 / $5,145,000

9.) Rendition $4,170,000 / $4,170,000

10.) The Heartbreak Kid $3,900,000 / $32,111,000

GRADE: C+

I rented “Evan Almighty” expecting the most expensive comedy ever made to be a massive train wreck, much like how the reviews described it. When the movie was over I wasn’t exactly impressed, but I didn’t have the visceral negative reaction most critics had when the film was released this past summer. While watching “Evan Almighty” it was obvious to see where all of that money was spent. The creature effects and CGI were flawless. The spotty screenplay and corny set up may be too saccharine sweet for some viewers but I thought that this film was a great film for family viewing.

Let’s not forget that this movie is made for kids. Much like the over blown “A Night At The Museum”, this film won’t connect with adults but it will reach a much younger audience. This movie is harmless and not such a mess as I have heard it to be. Sure it has the corny plot and all of the religious references but it doesn’t get preachy. The movie centers on the family unit and doesn’t spend much time bible thumping the point. If I was ten years old I would have loved this film, as an adult it may try some viewers patience with it’s outlandish set up.

Evan Baxter was a hilarious character in the hit prequel “Bruce almighty” starring Jim Carrey. Maybe there was no need for a spin off but I enjoyed Steve Carell’s performance and sweet nature in this movie. The flaws are numerous, but if you let yourself go and give into the movies silliness you may find yourself chuckling at Carrell’s interactions with the various animals. I recommend this film for families with small kids, it’s harmless enough and non-offensive. This film could have been much better, but really what do you expect from a family comedy with a biblical premise..really?

Nearly fifteen years after he ended it, Kurt Cobain’s life is beginning its journey to theaters. Variety magazine reports that Universal Pictures has hired David Benioff to adapt “Heavier Than Heaven”, the Kurt Cobain biography written by Charles Cross. The as-yet untitled biopic will be co-produced by Working Title and Ben Silverman’s Reveille imprint, with Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love, taking an executive production credit with her lawyer, Howard Weitzman.

The article says it’s unclear whether the studio has acquired music rights for the picture, but Cobain’s last albums were released on Geffen, a Universal Music Group label, so in theory, that shouldn’t be a point of concern. Variety also says the producers and studio haven’t commented on “the nature of the story they are trying to tell,” but with Love’s involvement, it seems a safe bet that the film will be on the positive side.

This whole idea just has a bad vibe to it. Will fans support a film produced by Courtney Love? This movie could easily be shunned by resentful hardcore “Nirvana” fans who are tired of Miss Love’s antics.

The long-threatened remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” is on its way, and Michael Bay is still involved. Yes the same Michael Bay who helped bring “the Transformers” to the big screen is attempting to butcher a classic. Bay will be in the producer’s chair for the new “Birds”; as Variety reports: “Michale Bay and Universal will be filming a “reimagining” of the Daphne du Maurier short story that inspired Hitchcock’s 1963 classic film.

Naomi Watts has agreed to star in the film, and Martin Campbell (the director of “Casino Royale”) is in talks to direct the remake. The great news is that Naomi Watt’s is set to star in the role that Tippi Hedren made so famous. “The Birds” is in my top ten horror films of all time and is a movie that really doesn’t need a remake, but I am curious to see how this film turns out. If this movie uses the subtle techniques that Hitcock used it could be a surprise hit, I guess we’ll see in a couple of years!

GRADE: B+

You all have heard me say it before, I love zombies movies. No really, I LOVE zombie movies. When the double feature “Grindhouse” movies were released this past summer they were met with a luke warm reception by movie fans. Movie geeks and critics had nothing but great things to say about this new format. Quentin Tarantino directed “Death Proof” the companion piece to Robert Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror”. “Death Proof” is my favorite movie of 2007 so far, hands down. Unfortunately, as much as I was entertained, “Planet Terror” doesn’t match “Death Proof’s” flawless writing and edge of your seat action.

Now that said, “Planet Terror” is an exhilarating exercise of over the top gore and it is a great homage to the “zombie genre”. I must admit some of the zombie death scenes are pretty gruesome and not for the squeamish. The movie is about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit. The set up and plot are irrelevant, what you will get a kick out of is the funny dialog and non stop carnage. “Planet Terror” doesn’t waste time with sentimentality, it gets to the point and fast.

Rose McGowan is a great choice for these type of campy main characters. Even after she has her leg amputated and replaced with a machine gun she still remains to be the pinnacle of sexy. Newcomer Marley Shelton (from “Sin City”, another Rodriguez movie) does a bang up job as the adulteress doctor’s wife who’s love of needles backfires on her. Her scenes simply kick ass in “Planet Terror”.

Some of the movie’s gimmicks fall flat for me, like the “lost reel” scene. I love the nuances of the “Grindhouse” films but I didn’t care for this cutesy little bit of cinematic improvisation. The cinematography and editing give the film that real “grindhouse” campy feel, but at times it took away from the action in “Planet Terror”. That said, this movie is pretty entertaining, very gross and worth a rental or purchase for those big fans of gore, zombies and campy films.

The much-anticipated X-Men prequel, starring Hugh Jackman in his return to the role of the cigar-chomping costumed superhero, will give fans a peek at Wolverine’s back story. The movie explores the claw-wielding character Wolverine’s violent and romantic past as well as his encounters with other mutants. The film will be directed by Gavin Hood.

I kinda liked “X-Men” and loved “X2″ but I thought the third movie was just plain horrible. I think the mis-casting of Halle Berry as storm was the first thing about these films that struck me wrong. Bryan Singer’s direction and love for the characters made the first two films worth watching. The third film completely lost all of the momentum of the series thanks to Brett Ratner. Will the “Wolverine” pictures make up for a faltering franchise? Let’s hope so!

Kirsten Dunst recently confirmed to be playing “Blondie” frontwoman Deborah Harry in Michel Gondry’s forthcoming biopic about the band, she was approved for the role by none other than Harry herself. The article refers to the Blondie film as being “still in the planning stages” but in a recent interview, Harry backed up Dunst’s assertion that “Debbie chose me for this role,” saying:

“She’s a really sweet person…I’ve met with her a couple of times and hung out with her socially. She’s just a sweetie.”

I for one am not sure how to handle the news. I think Harry and Dunst kind of look similar, but with movie magic who knows how this will turn out. I don’t know the “Blondie” story enough to know if this film will pack the same punch as “Ray” or “Walk the Line”. Michel Gondry has proven he is up for the task with such great films under his belt like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. In any event this film will most likely divide fans and cause a stir when it is released.

1.) NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD / DAWN OF THE DEAD

Zombie movies are my favorite horror film genre. This is why it was hard for me to choose which is my favorite. I love the current zombie films that have come out (like “Fido”, “28 Days Later” and “Planet Terror”) but the original 1968 black and white film is still timeless. The closest film that comes next is the “Dawn of the Dead” remake from 2004. Both films balance social commentary with over the top gore that is sure to make any weak stomach get sick.

2.) JEEPERS CREEPERS 2

This movie has it all; gore, laughs, scares and soft core gay porn. Yes, you heard me right, this movie has so many gay subtleties it is fun to pick them out. Mostly though this movie offers up some seriously scary moments with a great balance of bloody gore. This movie is the best teen horror I have seen. Forget “Scream”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and any other teen oriented scary movie, this movie delivers a lot more blood and creepy chills.

3.) THE HILLS HAVE EYES (2006)

This movie has to be one of the most revolting and cringe inducing films on this list. The unrelenting horrific images and ghastly death scenes will have you pressing the pause button a lot. Never before has the demise of one family been so horrific and violent. If you have issues with cruel and mean horror films, stay away from this movie!

4.) HOSTEL

Speaking of cruel nasty images of torture, “Hostel” is the movie that started the trend. The “Saw” movies are child’s play compared to this over the top masterpiece of horrific cinema. This film has a distinctly slow set up with a second half that will disgust many viewers, but it delivers on the non-stop action and grotesque images of torture. After you watch “Hostel” you will think twice about back packing across Europe.

5.) THE DEVIL’S REJECTS

Rob Zombie is a great film maker. I didn’t hate his latest movie which was a re-make of “Halloween” but I didn’t love it as much as I did “Devil’s Rejects” that’s for sure. “The Devil’s Rejects” follows a murderous clan of psychopaths on the run from the law as they leave a trail of blood in their wake. The ending of this film may have some people crying “over kill” but I think it is a perfectly choreographed scene with bloody terrific results.

6.) CARRIE

This film haunted my childhood. I must have seen “Carrie” more than any other movie on this list growing up. Even now when I see it on t.v. for free I will stop and watch it. Maybe it was how much I related to the socially unaccepted teenager that had me fascinated with this movie as a young kid. No matter how much I see this movie though the last 20 minutes never fail to send shivers up my spine each and every time.

7.) EVIL DEAD 2

I chose the bloodier and more creepy of the two “Evil Dead” movies because the second is just more gory. This movie started the whole comic element in horror movies. Also, Sam Raimi created one of the most popular horror film heroes of all time with Bruce Campbell’s “Ash”. Still to this day the slapstick parts in this movie do nothing to hide the fact that this movie is scary and almost too gruesome to watch.

8.) HELLRAISER

“Hellraiser” raised the bar for creature effects and gory images in films when it was released in 1997. This movie has some really disgusting death scenes that will be etched into your mind long after watching it. Pinhead (and his crew from the depths of hell) are in the process of returning to the big screen with a new remake in the works. If the new film is as gory and mean as the first was, then it will be a huge hit.

9.) THE CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2

Why not choose the first movie you may ask? This movie is way more bloody and has a great female hero worth cheering for. Some images in this movie will have people screaming in horror, there are just to many to pick one out. Nothing is more scarier than the image of someone being chased by a chainsaw and this movie goes even further than that. This movie is for the brave fans of gore who want to pushed to the limits of fear.

10.) THE THING

This Sci-fi horror has a terrific premise with a great cast including Kurt Russell. The alien effects in this movie are at times too real. The key scene in this movie will leave most people turning away and cringing. The morbid and messy death scenes only heighten the claustrophobic tension in the film which takes place on the North pole. “The Thing” is not only a smart thriller but it is also an effective gory horror film.

RUNNERS UP: “Event Horizon”, “Scanners”, “Nightmare on Elm St. 3: Dream Warriors”, “An American Werewolf In London”, “Slither”, “Brain Dead”, “Cabin Fever”, “Friday the 13th”, “Creepshow 2″, “Sleepaway Camp”.

The Eye is an upcoming film starring Jessica Alba. It is a remake of a 2002 Hong Kong film of the same name. It’s corny tag line is “Don’t hide what you can see”. I hope this film is much better than the last two Alba outings “Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer” and “Good Luck Chuck”. Her comedies and her miscasting in “Fantastic 4″ leave a lot to be desired as a film fan.

POSTER FOR THE HONG KONG FILM “THE EYE”

Wikipedia describes the film’s plot as this:

Sydney Wells (Jessica Alba) is an accomplished concert violinist who has been blind since a childhood tragedy. Sydney undergoes a double corneal transplant, and her sight is restored. But Sydney’s happiness is short-lived as unexplainable shadowy and frightening images start to haunt her.

I am hoping this movie doesn’t come off as another tired “Ring” rip off. The premise is creepy enough but will Alba’s terrible acting ruin an otherwise great horror movie? If her track record is any indication this movie could just be a flash in the pan like the rest of her critical dud/finacial hits.

WATCH “THE EYE” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW

If you liked the 1987 original “Hellraiser” and its seven sequels then here is some good news for you! Clive Barker and Dimension Films are bringing “Hellraiser” back to the big screen. Read the article from RottenTomatoes.com below:

Variety reports that Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo have been hired to write and direct a Hellraiser remake, to be produced by Barker. The article mentions Rob Zombie’s Halloween reboot as a catalyst for the new film, which Maury and Bustillo have previously described as less of a true remake than a reimagining featuring a new story and a new Pinhead.

“HELLRAISER’S” VILLAIN “PINHEAD”

Pinhead, if you were living under a rock (or, sigh, weren’t yet born) in the ’80s, is the series’ iconic villain, so named for the dozens of pins jutting out of his hairless skull. Variety summarizes the franchise’s first installment thusly:

The original film revolved around a couple who move into an old house inhabited by the man’s eviscerated half-brother, who escaped hellish torture from the Cenobites but returned shorn of his skin. The Cenobites, who are triggered by a Rubik’s Cube-like puzzle device that unlocks the gates of hell, would like another meeting with the man.

The original “Hellraiser” movie was gruesome, extreme and shocked many people when it was released. I for one loved “Hellraiser” 1, 2 and 3 and thought they were ahead of their time. The creature effects and the gore in this movie makes it stand alone within the horror genre.

Pinhead is one of the best horror villains ever created. Out and proud gay author and movie producer (”God & Monstrers”) Clive Barker helped bring the original to the screen so his involvement in this announced remake is great news for fans of his books and films.

This song is one catchy track I must admit. This song shot up the U.K. singles track from out of nowhere this week. And for good reason, this video is cutesy and the song is fun and smart.

THE HOOSIERS

These guys could have some cross over potential with this single if American’s give it a chance. I love these guys sense of humor and the piano hook on this song is pretty creative as well. This video and single are worthy of any top ten list in the U.S. in my opinion.

WATCH THE “GOODBYE MR. A” MUSIC VIDEO BELOW

1.) Why Did I Get Married? $21,500,000 / $21,500,000

2.) The Game Plan $11,506,000 / $59,447,000

3.) Michael Clayton $11,010,000 / $12,087,000

4.) We Own the Night $11,000,000 / $11,000,000

5.) The Heartbreak Kid $7,425,000 / $26,001,000

6.) Elizabeth: The Golden Age $6,183,000 / $6,183,000

7.) The Kingdom $4,566,000 / $39,954,000

8.) Across the Universe $4,000,000 / $12,900,000

9.) Resident Evil: Extinction $2,650,000 / $48,067,000

10.) The Seeker: The Dark is Rising $2,150,000 / $7,104,000

GRADE: C-

Ben Stiller has been making hit after hit recently, until now. I personally loathed the bloated mess from last Christmas called “A Night At The Museum”. The announcement of a sequel just shows that Stiller will do pretty much anything for a check these days. Although he has worked with the Farrelly Brothers before with “There’s Something About Mary”, this time around they don’t break new ground they just go for the easy poop jokes.

The Heartbreak Kid is a remake of the 1972 film of the same name starring Charles Grodin. Single aging Eddie (Ben Stiller) begins dating the incredibly sexy (Malin Akerman) who he believes may be the woman of his dreams. Upon the urging of his father (Jerry Stiller) and best friend (Rob Corddry), Eddie proposes to her after only six weeks, fearing this may be his last chance at love, marriage, and happiness. However, while on their honeymoon in sunny Mexico, Lila reveals her true beyond-awful nature and Eddie meets Miranda (the gorgeous Michelle Monaghan), the woman he realizes to be his actual soul mate. Eddie must keep his new, increasingly horrid wife at bay as he attempts to woo the girl of his dreams.

I am a huge fan of the Farrelly Brothers, they do sweet, sincere gross out comedies that show the ugly side of life with a charming twist. Most of the Farrelly’s main characters have visible flaws but Stiller’s character just ends up being a jerk in this film. Granted his new wife is insufferable and just plain grating in the movie but after a while watching these two fools create one misunderstanding after another is like watching an episode of “Three’s Company” where everything could be resolved if just one conversation took place.

The last 20 minutes of this movie tried way too hard to shock and to go for the gross out factor. I did laugh during many parts of this film but couldn’t help but feel I had seen this all before. Any movie that uses Carlos Mencia in it has to be bad news, and Mencia has a big part in this film. “The Heartbreak Kid” is not the worst film from the Farrelly’s nor is it one of the worst films of the year. It just lacks the heart and fun of many R rated comedy classics like this years “Superbad”. This is a hard genre to get right, and this time around the Farrelly’s missed the mark.

Here is another disco diva trying to make her mark, but she seems to have completely missed the mark in the fashion department. This video left me scratching my head in confusion. Roisin may be a pop vixen but she is a bit too weird for me (which explains here presence on the U.K. singles chart).

Only in the U.K. can this kind of fluffy dance pop make it big. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a pop oddity like anyone but some music in Europe is just too cheesy for my taste. Case in point; a remake of “Barbie Girl” by two tween aged twin girls is currently rising up the charts as well, ewwww!!

I am a huge fan of Doug Liman’s past films; “Go”, “The Bourne Identity” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”. His latest movie “Jumper” looks like a fun head trip of a ride that is sure to entertain. Samuel L. Jackson looks awesome in this role.

The only red flag is the stone faced “Star Wars” curse Hayden Christiansen in the lead role. I hope his bad acting doesn’t show through in this high concept film, it could hurt it’s chances.