Charlie Bartlett (2008)

Directed by: Jon Poll

Starring:
Anton Yelchin as Charlie Bartlett
Robert Downey Jr. as Principal Nathan Gardner
Hope Davis as Marilyn Bartlett
Kat Dennings as Susan Gardner

Genre: Comedy | Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 97 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: DVD (Netflix rental)
Rating: 6/10

Young at Heart (2008)

Directed by: Stephen Walker

Genre: Documentary | Music
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 107 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: DVD (Netflix rental)
Rating: 7.5/10

Son of Rambow (2008)

Directed by: Garth Jennings

Starring:
Bill Milner as Will Proudfoot
Will Poulter as Lee Carter

Genre: Comedy | Drama | Family
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 96 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: DVD (Netflix rental)
Rating: 7.5/10

The Incredibles (2004)

Directed by: Brad Bird

Starring:
Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible (voice)
Holly Hunter as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Best / Frozone (voice)
Jason Lee as Buddy Pine / Syndrome (voice)

Genre: Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 115 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 10/10

The Crow (1994)

Directed by: Alex Proyas

Starring:
Brandon Lee as Eric Draven
Rochelle Davis as Sarah
Ernie Hudson as Sergeant Albrecht
Michael Wincott as Top Dollar

Genre: Action | Crime | Fantasy | Horror | Romance | Thriller
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 102 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 8/10

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Starring:
Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Thomas Haden Church as Sandman / Flint Marko
Topher Grace as Venom / Eddie Brock
Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson
James Franco as Harry Osborn

Genre: Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 139 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 7/10

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Starring:
Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Alfred Molina as Doc Ock / Dr. Otto Octavius
Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson
James Franco as Harry Osborn

Genre: Action | Crime | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 127 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 8.5/10

Spider-Man (2002)

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Starring:
Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson
James Franco as Harry Osborn

Genre: Action | Crime | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 121 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 8/10

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Directed by: Brett Ratner

Starring:
Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine
Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier
Ian McKellen as Eric Lensherr / Magneto
Famke Janssen as Jean Grey / Phoenix

Genre: Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 104 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 6/10

X2: X-Men United (2003)

Directed by: Bryan Singer

Starring:
Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine
Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier
Ian McKellen as Eric Lensherr / Magneto
Famke Janssen as Jean Grey

Genre: Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 133 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 8/10

X-Men (2000)

Directed by: Bryan Singer

Starring:
Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine
Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier
Ian McKellen as Eric Lensherr / Magneto
Famke Janssen as Jean Grey

Genre: Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 104 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (owned)
Rating: 7.5/10

Starman (1984)

Starman is John Carpenter’s take on the overused storyline of a friendly alien visitor meeting resistance from the government/military and getting assistance from the unlikeliest of sources to reach a destination while being chased to their destination. This time, it’s us humans that send out a beacon of peace and invitation to whomever or whatever receives the message, via a Voyager probe containing a gold phonographic record containing the message in various languages. Remind anyone else of Star Trek: The Motion Picture? Well, the outcome is a bit different here, with the aliens getting the message, translating it, and sending a probe to see what the human race is all about. The probe, expecting to be greated will open arms, instead gets a missile up it’s afterburner and is shot down.

Carpenter takes a more adult view on the typical storyline that had just a couple of years earlier, garnered all kinds of acclaim and accolades (and tons of $$$$) for director Stephen Spielberg with E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial. In E.T., the relationship was between a cuddly looking alien with a glowing finger that only wanted to phone home, but in Starman, the alien mimics a grieving widow’s husband and in turn, learns about the good and the bad of humanity, including love, sex, and pie) through his adventures in attemping to reach a pickup spot and hitch a ride home. Similar to E.T. and another club viewing, Iron Giant, the government is the obvious antagonist of the story, hunting down the alien visitor thinking it’s a threat instead of a friend.

Jeff Bridges’ portrayal of an alien entity being molded into a human from his interactions with mankind is stiff and unbearable at times, but I guess that was the point. The good-guy scientist (SETI scientist Mark Shermin) was played servicably by Charles Martin Smith, but the true show stealer was the lovely Karen Allen, playing the female lead role of teacher, widow, and companion to our Starman, Jenny Hayden. She is the reason I keep coming back to this film, despite it’s lack of punch that other great Carpenter Sci-Fi romps The Thing and Escape From New York. However, it still appeals to me more than E.T.

NOTE: One of the most famous scenes of the film was the transformation from orb to infant to child to man early in the movie. For it’s day, this was a great feat in special effects. The team was helmed by the recently deceased legend of SFX, Stan Winston. The team also included other legends Rick Baker and Dick Smith.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Directed by: Patrick Tatopoulos

Starring:
Michael Sheen as Lucian
Bill Nighy as Viktor
Rhona Mitra as Sonja

Genre: Action | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 92 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: The Big Screen
Rating: 5/10

City of Ember (2008)

Directed by: Gil Kenan

Starring:
Harry Treadaway as Doon Harrow
Saoirse Ronan as Lina Mayfleet
Bill Murray as Mayor Cole
Tim Robbins as Loris Harrow

Genre: Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 95 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: DVD (Netflix rental)
Rating: 6/10

The Wrestler (2008)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Starring:
Mickey Rourke as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson
Marisa Tomei as Cassidy
Evan Rachel Wood as Stephanie Robinson

Genre: Drama | Sport
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 115 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: The Big Screen
Rating: 9/10

Edward James Almos (Adama) discusses Mid-Season Premiere Revelations

WARNING: MASSIVE SPOILERS BE AHEAD!!! If you have not seen last week's mid-season premiere, do not watch the video below...

Watchmen: 10 Years of Dr. Manhatten

Now that the lawsuit has been settled, Warner Brothers has kicked into high gear with it's viral marketing campaign for Watchmen. First, they launched this website which profiles each of the main characters. Now they are leaking some videos to setup the March 6th release starting with the video below mimicing a '70s Nightly News feature on 10 years of Dr. Manhatten. Very cool...check it out!

Tokyo Gore Police (2008)

Directed by: Yoshihiro Nishimura

Starring:
Eihi Shiina as Ruka

Genre: Action | Horror | Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: N/A
Running Time: 110 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: DVD (Netflix rental)
Rating: 5.5/10

Starman (1984)

Directed by: John Carpenter

Starring:
Jeff Bridges as Starman
Karen Allen as Jenny Hayden

Genre: Adventure | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 115 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: DVD (Netflix rental)
Rating: 7/10

Recount (2008)

Directed by: Jay Roach

Starring:
Kevin Spacey as Ron Klain
Bob Balaban as Ben Ginsberg
Ed Begley Jr. as David Boies
Laura Dern as Katherine Harris

Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 116 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: DVD (Netflix rental)
Rating: 6.5/10

Righteous Kill (2008)

Directed by: Jon Avnet

Starring:
Robert De Niro as Turk
Al Pacino as Rooster

Genre: Crime | Drama | Mystery
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 101 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: Blu-Ray (Netflix rental)
Rating: 5.5/10

Interview with PIXAR Producers Jim Morris and Lindsey Collins

Collider.com writer Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub had a chance to interview PIXAR Producers Jim Morris and Lindsey Collins at the Los Angeles Film Critics Awards about Wall-E, Up, upcoming Blu-Ray and Theatrical releases, possibilities of sequels, and more. Very interesting...

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Directed by: Andrew Adamson

Starring:
Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie
Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie

Genre: Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 150 mins
First Time Viewed: Yes
Watched on: Blu-Ray (Netflix rental)
Rating: 6.5/10

Top 10 Movie Posters of 2008

The following list definitely isn't the 10 best movies of 2008, but rather the top 10 movie posters of the year. This is such a subjective thing, just as it is with top 10 movies of the year, so if you agree or disagree, have other suggestions I might not have thought of, feel free to leave a comment below.

10. Rambo


9. The Guitar


8. The Wrestler


7. Doubt


6. My Blueberry Nights


5. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK


4. Man on Wire


3. Blindness


2. Burn After Reading


1. The Dark Knight

NOTE: These are all US Movie Posters. Thanks to Movie Poster Database and IMP Awards for providing online poster databases.

A Discussion with Boyle, Aronofsky, Eastwood, Howard, Van Sant & Zwick

The Hollywood Reporter recently held a roundtable discussion with the six of this year’s Best Director hopefuls: Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Gus Van Sant (Milk), Ed Zwick (Defiance), Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler), Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) and Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino). David Fincher and Christopher Nolan apparently weren’t available for the sit down. Below are some of the clips from the interviews:

The Directors


Directors on Ideas


Danny Boyle on Bollywood


Mickey Rourke

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen

Starring:
Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh
Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss
Tommy Lee Jones as Ed Tom Bell

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 122 mins
First Time Viewed: No
Watched on: Blu-Ray (owned)
Rating: 9/10

Coming soon...My year in review

Normally, now is the time when everyone posts their favorite films of the previous year, and I would love to do the same. However, there are SO many films from 2008 that I have yet to watch (and I'm patiently waiting for them to be released on DVD or Blu-Ray) that to do a list would be imprudent at this time. Rest assured, when the time comes, I will post my thoughts on 2008 and I'll be the only one doing it...in March or April! lol

For now, here's the working list of my favorite moments in film in 2008 in chronological order:

1. Robert Downey, Jr. totally pwning the role of Tony Stark in Iron Man. For such a middle of the road comic book character, Downey, Jr. and director Jon Favreau nailed everything that was good about the character and made what could have been an awful movie a real treat to get me through the putridity that was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the whatsitsname and M. Knight's The Crappening until TDK made it's way to the big screen.

2. There were several good jokes and pokes at the comic book and TV series, but the best of the bunch to come from The Incredible Hulk was when Banner (Edward Norton) was cornered by a group of Brazilian thugs and he's trying to get them to back off...in Portuguese, the phrase that has become infamous with the character over the years, but it goes horribly wrong as his grasp of the language isn't the best. Instead of the typical phrase, we get "Don't make me...hungry. You wouldn't like me when I'm...hungry. " Too funny!

3. Overall, the entire performance given by Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight, but moreso there were two moments in particular, the first being the disappearing pencil trick and the second being his reaction to the initial failed destruction of the hospital. Oh, and the second time I watched it was my first IMAX experience. WOW!!

4. Overall, I was disappointed by Tropic Thunder, but there were some hilarious moments, the tops being Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) running across the bridge being chased by the Vietnamese drug army with a child on his back stabbing him relentlessly. Of course, the only thing Tugg could do was toss the child like a rag doll over the side of the bridge and into the river below.

5. Similar to Tropic Thunder, the Coen brothers follow-up to the greatness that was 2007's best film, No Country for Old Men, was a bit of a disappointment. Burn After Reading had it's moments though, including the revelation of what Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) was building. Also, Brad Pitt ruled all as the clueless Chad Feldheimer!

6. Even though Kevin Smith's latest attempt at breaking away from his Clerks universe wasn't close to being as good as some of his past work, Zack and Miri Make a Porno was MUCH better than Jersey Girl and had several memorable moments. Amongst them were two scenes in particular, including one very unfortunate cameraman (Jeff Anderson) in the wrong place at the wrong time as a bodily function went horribly, HORRIBLY wrong! The other was the introduction to the movie-going world of the term "Dutch Rudder" by Jason Mewes' character, Lester.

7. My first ever attendance of a free preview screening of a film. I've been told that most times, free screeners are for not-so-good films, but in my case, it happened to be one of the best films of the year (so far) in Slumdog Millionaire!

8. The tour de force that was Frank Langella's portrayal of one of the most infamous men in United States political history, Richard Nixon, in the film Frost/Nixon.

9. The absolute radiance of Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I know, I know...most of it was due to whatever technique they were using to make she and Brad Pitt look younger or older using CGI and other special effects, but I don't remember Blanchett looking as good as she did in this film and that's saying a lot! I guess this makes up for Spielberg and Lucas ruining a film that had Blanchett playing a Russian dominatrix...

10. The absolute and utter giddiness that was listening to uncomfortable silences and awkward groans of a theater full of senior citizens at a noon showing of what turned out to be a softcore porno for the first thirty to forty-five minutes of The Reader.

Again, I still do plan to post a comprehensive "Year In Review" once I've muddled through what's left of the films I still want to see from 2008. I hope this satiates your hunger until that moment arrives...

The Year in Film 2008 - A Video Montage

With 2008 having come to a close, it's time to look back at the year that was in the cinema. Matt Shapiro created a nice little video that gives us a look back. Enjoy...

Now, let's hope we have an even better year in 2009...which is automatically possible with no new Indy (Indiana Jones, not Independent) movie!