Curiously enough, Chernobyl Diaries may mark the first non-found footage found footage film. While constructed using mostly a straight narrative approach, there’s a nagging sense that this cautionary horror jaunt (penned and backed by Paranormal Activity mastermind Oren Peli) may have actually benefited from more fully embracing the tricky conceit; it’s shot like a found footage movie, it’s crafted like a found footage movie, it scares like a found footage movie, and the title’s reference to “diaries” naturally leads us to conclude that someone, somewhere, came across the footage we’re watching by unhappy accident. But those eponymous documents are nowhere to be found in an hour and a half of story. Chernobyl Diaries bases…
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G-S-T Review…Moonrise Kingdom
Wes Anderson films aren’t for everyone as he’s definitley an acquired taste. However, those that get his films, kind of like David Cronenberg (only way more accessible), really dig his work. Regardless of whether you are a fan of Bottle Rocket, Rushmore or The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson, with help from co-writer Roman Coppola, crafts an adorable and endearing film about young lovers who cast off the rules and opinions of others. This story is almost an on-screen representation of just who Anderson is. As a film maker, he does what he wants, how he wants it and most times the stories are better for it. So too are the young characters who are ultimately the…
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Pixar Family Favorites Returning To AMC THEATRES For Memorial Day Weekend
With the summer movie season heating up, four popular Disney•Pixar movies are returning exclusively to AMC Theatres for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. From May 25 through May 28, Toy Story 3, Ratatouille, Up and WALL•E will be featured at AMC locations around the country. Theater goers will get a special treat for coming out to the cinema. Each film will be accompanied by a classic Pixar short film and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming movie, Brave. Sounds good to me! “There are some great films coming out Memorial Day weekend but nothing specifically for families and young children,” said Sun Dee Larson, vice president of Film Marketing at AMC. “We’re…
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Ohhh, Look…Ginormous Banners for 'The Dark Knight Rises' – UPDATED
If you didn’t already have 100 reasons to see the other biggest comic book film of the year then here are four more to add to your list. These HUGE banners for The Dark Knight Rises have hit the web and they look stunningly epic. I don’t think it’s worth saying anything else for right now other than stop whatever you’re doing and look at these AWESOME banners… Click on any image to see the HUGE and hi-rez version UPDATED – Annnd here’s 2 more international banners… Wow, those banners make you feel like you’re in the movie, don’t they? Now think of how awesome this is going to be on…
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“The CineMagic 8-Ball” – In Theaters 5/25/12
When so many movies are released each weekend and trailers often seem better than the movie itself, what should one do? In this precarious situation, we consult the The CineMagic 8-Ball (TM) to help us see through the nebulous marketing haze. Doing so just might save us all a disheartening trip to the cinema and spare us unnecessarily springing for $7 popcorn. See what the 8-Ball says about this week’s releases… ——————————————————————————————————————————————- CHERNOBYL DIARIES A group of six young tourists who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an “extreme tour” guide. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon finds themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone.…
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Sweet Trailer…'The Great Gatsby'
Baz Luhrmann’s latest adaptation of a literary classic comes in the form of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. We all know that Luhrman is comfortable with a big budget/ensemble cast but this looks to put his previous efforts to shame. Grabbing an all-star cast we’ll see Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton offer their talents to this rather splendid looking period piece (which is in 3D for some reason). It didn’t sound too appealing at first but get a load of this trailer… Fans of The Great Gatsby should feel at ease with Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet) at the helm. Not only is he directing…
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Wes Anderson’s Next Feature To Shoot In Europe; Owen Wilson To Star
Wes Anderson’s debut of Moonrise Kingdom has gone over extremely well at the Cannes Film Festival but he’s already got his sights set on his next feature. It’s probably fitting that the announcement came which Moonrise is playing in France because Anderson has stated that his as-yet untitled next project is to be “a film I want to make in Europe, a Euro movie,”. Having finished the script not long ago he goes on to say that the new film is, in a way, inspired by the time he spends living in Paris each year. “Well, I think I got more of the French sensibility in my work from watching French movies, probably, than living…
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Ohhh, Look…Bill Murray Gives Comical Tour of 'Moonrise Kingdom' Set
Wes Anderson’s newest film Moonrise Kingdom premiered in France last week and has been making waves at the Cannes Film Festival. Those of you anxious to see it (or anything from Wes Anderson) who didn’t make the Fest don’t have to wait long until it hits stateside. Anderson’s cute and endearing coming-of-age film is scheduled to start its lmited release this Friday. To help get you excited for Moonrise Kingdom comes this decidedly quirky (and tipsy) walkthrough of the film with Bill Murray. He comes off equally lackadaisical and confused by the material but Murray gives a fun and quirky account of his time on set. Have a look and enjoy… Leave it to Murray…
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Off the Shelf…’The Secret World of Arrietty’
From the world-renowned Studio Ghibli comes this entirely delightful and fascinating feature based on Mary Norton’s novel The Borrowers. Ghibli films are a wonderful mix of immensely detailed worlds and great storytelling and in this adaptation, director Hiromasa Yonebayashi shows us that we don’t have to go very far from our own bedroom to find an imaginative and rousing tale. Sure there is a small touch of special Ghibli magic and otherworldly themes to The Secret World of Arrietty but it’s easy to believe in a story like this when it comes across so realistic and grounded…like right under your floor boards grounded. Arrietty is a real treat that simply shines on this stunningly beautiful Blu-Ray transfer. Right…
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Michael Giacchino – Live At The Meyerson Symphony Center
Oscar-winning film composer Michael Giacchino has won hearts around the world with his themes to Up, Star Trek, Lost among many others. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra invited Michael to conduct a retrospective concert this past weekend and it was an experience to say the least. His already thrilling music became even more vibrant as it echoed off every surface in the majestic hall of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. That plus the amazing contributions from the University of Texas at Arlington Festival choir helped make the themes you thought you knew and loved even more colorful on the evenings of May 18th – 20th. The air in the symphony hall before Michael…
