Your Highness

Not good.

I'm not going to spend a ton of time on this. It is just not funny. You would think if it was written by Ben Best and Danny McBride that there would be something comedic in this film. There is not. The special effects look pretty good. So, they must have gotten a good budget for them. It is shot with shaky cam but there are some comprehensible action scenes. But nothing works. Three people walked out of the screening. A rare miss, sadly. Better luck next time.
Did you enjoy it?
No.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Luckily yesterday was it's last day in most theaters.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
...No.

Fast & Furious Blackhawks

Two of my recent posts were very timely and are now defunct. I have seen Fast Five and the Blackhawks lost in OT last night.

First off: Fast Five, pretty good. Again, I haven't seen the other ones so I missed some of the call back jokes (the only reason I know they exist is because other people laughed). The two things that are great about Fast Five. It's not in 3D (YAY) and there isn't a lot of CGI. They destroy a lot of cars in this movie. And I can appreciate that. Otherwise, anyone who's been missing the Bad Boys movies, rest assured, they're alive and well with the F&F series. Soooooo ridiculous. But fun.

Secondly: I am, at best, a casual Blackhawks fan. I don't watch the games on TV until the playoffs. I am the fill in when my friends can't find anyone to go with them to the games at the United Center. That being said, I am sad to see them bow out in the first series. It was a great comeback story coming from 0-3 to force a game seven. And even then, to force it to OT in game seven. Better luck next year.

Game Seven: Blackhawks

After going down 0-3 in the first round it looked like the 2010 Stanley Cup champions were going to be out of the playoffs (after barely getting in). But now the series is tied and tonight's game decides who goes home.

Go Hawks!

Lineupalosers

Lolla announced the bands for this year's festival. If the full schedule lines up accordingly, I might actually attend for the first time in a long time. Some videos below:

1. WEEN

2. The Cars

3. Beirut

4. Big Audio Dynamite? Nice.

5. Explosions in the Sky. Not my fave to put on at home, but I've heard their live show is amazing.

6. Ratatat. Diddo.

Fast Five

Since I haven't seen the other four movies (besides some clips and trailers) I figured I might as well review the movie before I see it on Tuesday. Here goes:

Vin Diesel returns as Johnny Fast with his partner Paul Walker (aka Billy Furious). This time they have to steal a safe full of 100 million dollars. They're going to need help. So they bring back everyone else who's been in the other movies. But wait, Dwayne "Five" Johnson is an FBI agent on their tail. And thus begins the story of a manhunt. Will people die? Will people betray each other? Will there be fast cars?

I do recognize the anomaly that each progressive sequel has actually made me more interested in seeing these movies. The first one was about underground street races. Then they did it again. Then they went to Tokyo to drift (who knows?). Then they came back to steal gas tanks. Now they're stealing money. I like heist movies. Moving away from street racing while keeping the fast cars is actually a good move. The titles are ridiculous ever since the second one was called Too Fast Too Furious (I stared at those bus stop ads every day for like 6 months). I hope the next one is just called Faaaaaast (6 a's).

Will you enjoy it?
Maybe.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Oh, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Would you buy it?
Lord No.

Would you rent it?
Unlikely.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
If the first 4 are any indication, No.

It's Friday Friday Friday Friday

The Music Box Theatre is having a free midnight movie because they hit 10k fans on Bookface.  Details below:

"You guys are awesome. You really are.


Thank you for becoming fans of the Music Box Theatre on Facebook. Thanks for getting us past the 10,000 mark. Thanks for interacting with us, sharing our films with your friends, being in the know, being with it... all that.


This screening is going to be awesome, or at least, we hope it will be. See, we have 750 seats to give away, and right now, we've only given away 200.


We will start seating at about 11:30pm, but people can start lining up at 10:30pm. Free tickets will only be given to those on the list.... others can be admitted if they pay for the tickets like normal--- $9.25.


So, keep helping us out. Send this email on to your friends, tweet about it, share the info on Facebook, whatever it takes, because it would be awesome to 500+ people in our theatre tomorrow night at midnight watching a film which features martial arts, funk, blaxploitation, disco and recording star (and former Prince protégé) Vanity.


So, here's the info on our blog: (Yeah, our new blog has been doing a slow hidden roll out all week, it's really starting to take off) http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/blog/free-midnight-tickets-this-friday-for-the-last-dragon


Here's the event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144395638964165


See you Friday night, and make sure your friends RSVP!"

Super

Super is a great movie. And surprisingly personal. James Gunn's last film was 2006's Slither starring Nathan Fillion. It was a box office bomb that was very funny and gory. You people missed out. But since Slither, James Gunn has made a bunch of web movies and gotten divorced from Jenna Fischer (Pam from The Office). You can tell his inspiration was from what he went through in his divorce.

Rainn Wilson (also from The Office) plays Frank. He's such a loser. Seriously. Big time. His hot wife just left him (Liv Tyler) and the audience is left to wonder how he got her in the first place. The plot around how these two got together in the first place is actually quite believable. Anyways, one night he is flipping channels when he finds the Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion). That night he's touched by the hand of God (literally) and begins his quest to stop all crime, big (pedophiles) and small (butting in movie lines).

The movie is funny and witty and the soundtrack kicks ass. But it is also super violent and gory (for your average movie going audience, not me). Its sad to see a movie like this get released only in art house theaters and not playing at the big chains. It's got what so many other movies are missing, a great story.

Rainn Wilson does an amazing job as the shlub pushed too far. Ellen Page is psychotic as the bored comic book clerk. Of course the regular group of Gunn players are here too (Rooker, Gregg Henry and Fillion). I can't stress enough that if you're looking for offbeat humor and violence, this is your ticket.
Did you enjoy it?
Ab-so-lutely.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Yes.

Would you buy it?
Maybe. To lend out to friends.

Would you rent it?
Yes.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Wedding Bell Blues

Tomorrow marks the official 4 month countdown until I am a married nugget. Let's recap what's been done so far...

Twelve hours after we were engaged I had an email with links to places to get married from my new fiance's mom. Actually, we need to go back further. My mother-in-law started going to different churches in downtown Chicago in July 2010 "just in case" we wanted to get married at one of them. This was very smart because Holy Name requires you to be a member for four months before being able to book a wedding. Kismet.

A year ago I was given my mother's engagement ring from my father. I had to ask my sister first, but she gave me her blessing to have it. Then I spent the next year saving money for a new diamond.  I replaced the stone in the band and had it dipped in platinum (originally yellow gold). Once she said yes we were off to the races.

Back to November, we visited just about every venue downtown.
Drake Hotel (its like a labyrinth to navigate from ballroom to ballroom)
Knickerbocker Hotel (have to use a service door to go from cocktail reception to dining hall)
Union League Club (cocktails on 2nd floor, reception on 6th with one elevator)
University Club (too Harry Potter?)
The Wit (cocktails on Roof down to Reception Hall on two with one elevator)
Blackstone Hotel (mom did not like the decor)
The James Hotel (too small)
The J.W. Marriott (very nice mix of old and new, too expensive)
On our way home from a venue visit we popped in the Intercontinental. Papa said it was too "convention center" but I wanted to see it just because I hadn't been in there. We saw two rooms both having their own floor to themselves. Originally a Shriner building, it has a bunch of 1920's ornate architecture. After some deliberation we decided it was the best place.

Although I wasn't a part of the process, the wedding gown was found on the first try. Did some extra shopping and found it again at Macy's. Done in early December.

Started looking for rehearsal dinner spaces in December and January. Wanted to be in River North / Streeterville area. Tried our best to do Heaven on Seven but just didn't have enough space. We could have sat everyone, but no room to mingle / maneuver. Checked places like Mia Francesca, La Madia, Weber Grill, Maggiano's, Osteria, Quartino. Again, just for fun we stopped at Rock Bottom. I wasn't too excited about a chain, especially since there was one in Des Moines, IA. But their space was perfect. AV equipment, ipod doc, good menu, reasonable price. Plus since they expanded their sit down side and changed it to RB Grille, we can tell people our rehearsal dinner is at RB's (say it out loud). Locked it down.

Again, without me, the ladies visited some florists. Found a good one, I've been told.

After the holidays, we asked our wedding party. They all said yes (there is a lot of that going around). The girls went to try on some bridesmaid dresses. Color scheme was decided (charcoal with red flowers).

We met with a couple of referred photographers. We ended up going with Meatball's photographer. Great personality, great photos.

Next came the big decision, MUSIC! I was in charge. There was some back and forth about a band versus a DJ. I declared a wish to hear my favorite songs, not cover versions of songs that the band knows (although I'm sure their version of Bell Biv Devoe's Poison would have been adequate, ha). We met with three people off the recommended list from IC and picked the best one. We considered putting a playlist together and letting a laptop run, but after the drunken mispronunciation by the last MC, that wasn't going to be an option. We'll give them must play songs, do not play songs, but other than that, it's in the DJ's capable hands.

April. Wedding band ordered and purchased (classic yellow gold band). We took the original diamond in my mother's ring and turned it into a necklace to wear on our wedding day. Tuxedos rented (ivory for me, grey/black for the other dudes).

The Best Man has done a great job of blocking off a weekend in July and getting a location (undisclosed to you, dear readers) for the festivities. I can't wait for a Century Club playlist full of Bone Thugs and Harmony!

Next up is the menu tastings. Rehearsal tasting scheduled for May, cake and reception scheduled for June.

Four months to go, no decisions left to make...but full details at http://www.emileeandjeff.com/

"Woof" Anyone Who Saw Scream 4

If you have any intention of seeing this movie it would be wise to skip this post. This is mostly because I want to actually talk about the plot.

*SPOILER ALERT FROM THIS POINT ON*

So you know how Scream movies always start with a kill. Fifteen years ago it was very interesting and baffling (to me, I was so perplexed) to kill someone famous off the bat. Well, now it has been done 3 times by this movie series alone. That's not to mention all the rip off films it spawned in it's wake. So instead we get "Stab 6" intro. Haha, the writers fooled you, you're not watching Scream. Turns out two characters are watching a movie. Oh wait, they do it again. Someone is watching "Stab 7". What is this, Inception? It sounds stupid on paper but I think it was the best part of the movie (especially looking back on the whole thing when it's over).

We get our final two pre-credit kills and we're off and running. Man alive I was hoping that they were going to kill Sidney, Dewey or Gale. All three would have been epic, two would have been great, one would have been okay. Or make one of them the killer. Nope. They will wait for the call to star in 5cream (you know, like SCRE4M). The plot, not much of what is there, is that Sidney wrote a self help book. She's helping people not be a victim. I guess that means she can't play the victim. Too bad the last stop on the book tour is her hometown of Woodsboro. Also, her little niece is the killer. And one of the movie geeks (a Culkin, not sure which one).

The opening is very good. The dialog between the kids is actually pretty good. It was written by Kevin Williamson, and I guess that means I've missed his take on kid's dialog since Dawson's Creek ended. The problem is the main cast. The original three. They're given nothing to do. They have no plot drive. Big time yawns. You either needed to make the movie about Sidney not being able to relate to new kids that were her age 15 years ago, or make it about the kids and how helpless they are without Sidney's help.

Great opening and by great I mean funny. It does not make up for the tacked on super long ending. It was like watching Return of the King. There were some good nods to the first film. Like other slasher films they make fun of, you don't care about people. Too littered with garbage killing machine fodder. Actually well written teen parts (by Kevin Williamson). You think they're all suspects. They all act like suspects.

Did you enjoy it?
Some parts. Not as a whole.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Nope.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Only if it was the first few minutes of the movie.

"This movie is a drama." Jodie Foster (Q&A)

The Beaver

The reason this post is started with that quote is because the advertising around this movie may be a little misleading. Heck, even the poster conveys light comedy. But take it from me, the movie is a serious drama. Yes, there is levity to be found in the film, but it also is frank and honest about depression.

Mel Gibson is the other elephant in the room. Yes, his true life drama has been out of the spotlight for a while now (thanks, Charlie) but sadly still relevant. Although never explicitly mentioned, his recent behavior is the reason the movie was delayed from release.

Overall, I think this is a very good movie. It never pretends that "the beaver" is alive. Most of the interaction between Mel and the puppet are done in a wide shot. You always see his lips moving. He didn't magically become a ventriloquist. He also didn't suddenly develop a multiple personality disorder. This is a man at the end of his rope trying to cope by any means necessary.

Again, I said this movie is not a comedy. That being said, the movie is almost derailed by the comedy of errors that befalls Walter when he reaches the end of his rope early in the film. It struggles to regain tone and has to work hard the rest of the second act to do so. I also have issues with the whole business end of the movie. Not the business of making the movie, but Walter's business. It's almost an afterthought and since it is so slight I could almost seeing it getting cut out and having the film be better for it.

In summation, it is a good movie. I am one who can remove the "Celebrity" from the actor and still enjoy their work. A lot of people will skip this because of the lead actor. I think that would be a mistake. Of course, beware that this movie has tone issues and is all over the place. In spite of that, there are great actors giving great performances here. They are worth checking out.

Jodie Foster was on hand for a Question and Answer session after the film. She was about 10 minutes late, so we had to wait around. No big deal. She mentioned this script was previously on the "Black List" which is a list of the best unproduced screenplays. At one time it was being worked on by Steve Carell and director Jay Roach. They said it was too hard to make so they went to make "Dinner for Schmucks" instead. Jodie Foster was not originally going to play the wife. They were looking for actors when she decided to do it herself. The best part of the night was when the Q & A was over, two security guards swooped in and escorted her out of the theater immediately. I have never seen someone exit so quickly. You would have thought they were taking the president out of there.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Probably not. Maybe.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
Netflix Instant.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Your Highness name drops KRULL repeatedly

Happy Friday, Nuggeteers!

Although I have not seen Your Highness yet (planning a trip to the brew and view in a few weeks) I felt obligated to put up the links to all the movie publicity that talks about Krull.

Devin Faraci talks with Danny McBride
http://www.badassdigest.com/2011/04/08/the-badass-interview-danny-mcbride-on-your-highness-krull-kenny-powers-and-selling-out#

Mr. Beaks at AICN also talks with Danny McBride
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/49163

A weird (unrelated) article about how Krull was almost a Dungeons & Dragons movie
http://www.badassdigest.com/2011/04/05/the-original-dungeons-dragons-movie-wasnt-dungeons-dragons#

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-kim/rethink-review-your-highn_b_845940.html

...and of course the world renowned Toronto Sun
http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/movies/2011/04/07/17907436.html

Mystery Screening aka Mark hates Ron

Last weekend I was invited to a test screening. Some of the movie's special effects were not complete yet. Keeping that in mind, let's talk about what we saw.

The movie was a sequel. It was actually the second half of the last sequel. It's also the 8th movie. Its the final leg of a fantastical adventure that started 10 years ago. You see, this guy has broken his soul into eight pieces and hidden the pieces in objects. He's the bad guy. The good guy was attacked by the bad guy when he was a baby. His mother protected him but died herself. Basically, its a family friendly revenge tale.

The movie was great. It was a fitting end to a great series. I think it was a great decision to split the last film into to separate movies. Yes, the studio gets to make more money, but it also gives the fans a chance to see more of the story. I think that one of the hardest decisions that the screenwriter has had to do was decide what to keep and what to lose, story wise.

After the film, we were asked to participate in a focus group. In it, Mark was asked what could be done to get his rating of "very good" up to an "excellent". He first asked if any actors were in the theater right now, and then very simply said "Ron is terrible. Get rid of Ron." Ha.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
I'm going to have to so I can see the final effects.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Hanna

A child raised in the woods and trained as a killer. Eric Bana looking grizly. Soundtrack by the Chemical Brothers. This would be a great movie, right? Ehhh.

There are a lot of good ideas and themes that make this an "almost" good movie. Saoirse Ronan does a great job playing a fish out of water. She's never heard music (why dad can't sing to her in the woods is beyond me).

The Chemical Brothers soundtrack is a Chemical Brothers soundtrack. I don't think they're going to win an Oscar like Trent Reznor did this year. It was cool the way the score sometimes tied into what was going on in the movie (phone ringing, lights humming). But at other times, it is jarring and takes you out of the movie.

There are some twists that end up not that exciting. Also, you start to think that another twist is coming but turns out it's a red herring. The movie is much more straight forward than you might expect from the trailer.

Did you enjoy it?
Sure.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Maybe.