Reel News
Exclusive Trailer 'Season of the Witch'
Remember that Donovan song?
Well, this trailer is a whole lot creepier. Check out Nicolas Cage as a witch-stalking medieval bad boy in "Season of the Witch."
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-20-2009 10:42 PM…
Well, this trailer is a whole lot creepier. Check out Nicolas Cage as a witch-stalking medieval bad boy in "Season of the Witch."
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-20-2009 10:42 PM…
Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:27:33 GMT | SaraC
Ticket or Click It? Megan and Robert Meet Again
Unless you get trampled by a horde of vampire-crazy girls, this is a good weekend for watching a flick. There are lots of choices, whether you’re curling up on your sofa watching a movie On Demand or braving a trip to the theater. Ticket or Click it is here to help you sort out the options.What’s On Demand?
Bruno
I keep seeing these images in my dreams. And not in a good way. Sacha Baron Cohen revisits his over-the-top mockumentary style with the story of Bruno, a gay Austrian model, and his travels through America.
Our Take: Hilarious and disgusting. Which, in Sacha Baron Cohen’s world, is high praise.
My Sister’s Keeper
You know, it’s really hard to say something snarky about childhood cancer. Cameron Diaz stars in this tear-jerker about a sick girl with cancer and her sister who was conceived to save her sister’s life.
Our Take: Raises some interesting ethical questions in this age of medical magic, but dissolves into melodrama and tears. Not that that’s a bad thing. Just be sure to bring Kleenex.
Thirst
Finally a vampire movie for grown-ups. Hey, where are you going? Off to see ‘New Moon’? Any grown-ups here? Anyone? A priest falls victim to a bad blood transfusion and ends up one of the undead. He finds himself beset by desires he cannot control. All of them.
Our Take: If you like your vampire stories less about dreamboats and more about dark desires and black comedy, skip “New Moon” and check out “Thirst.”
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
They Transformed all the way to the bank. Good, kind, and brave Autobots, like technological angels, fight to save humanity and themselves from the evil Decepticons. This second “Transformers” movie from Michael Bay stars Megan Fox, Megan Fox’s body, and some robots. Also, Shia LaBeouf.
Our Take: Part action-packed explosion-fest and part morality tale, this film was reviled and panned by short-sighted critics. Emphatically. Personally, I liked it. At $402 million, it’s the highest grossing movie of 2009. Take that, silly critics.
Year One
Is Michael Cera capable of playing more than one character? I mean, I like the goofy-sweet awkward kid, but I’d like another flavor. Jack Black and Michael Cera fart and bumble their way through Biblical history and the ancient world. Which sounds like it could be funny. But it’s not.
Our Take: This movie was also panned and reviled by critics, which shows that perhaps they do have some relevance in today’s world. Did I mention it’s not funny?
What’s in Theaters?
The Blind Side
Think Peyton Manning would let me adopt him? I’ll give him his own room and go easy on the chores. A sassy, brassy, white Southern woman sees a large, black high school youth shivering in the cold and takes him home, which leads to a few nights of shelter, which leads to him joining the family. The young man grows up to be Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher, and this is a true story of loss, humor, and love.
Our Take: This movie was a complete surprise: less sappiness and more laughs than you’d expect. It’s a joy to watch. Sandra Bullock makes the mother character pop, which only makes the throat-lump moments all that much more throat-lumpier.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Kristen Stewart has that soulful, fluttery eye thing down, I’ll give her that. Bella loves Edward the beautiful vampire. Edward loves Bella. Jacob the beautiful werewolf also loves Bella. Edward leaves. Will Bella find love with Jacob? Both vampire and werewolf take their shirts off a lot and everyone emotes.
Our Take: This film does what it sets out to do, which is make “Twilight” fans swoon. For those of us who don’t have the “Twilight” gene, it’s long, angst-ridden and melodramatic. But what we say doesn’t matter as you’re shoving us out of your way to buy your ticket for your third showing.
Planet 51
This planet really needs a Fonzie. An American astronaut lands on a planet occupied by a culture of green aliens stuck in the 1950s in this animated kids’ flick.
Our Take: The problem with this movie is that it doesn’t like its characters. The ’50s are apparently ruled by fear and narrow vision. The American is stupid and boorish. There’s not much to root for. Plus, I’m not sure kids’ flicks and suppository jokes go together.
Ticket or Click it?
Ticket! "The Blind Side" is a must-see. C’mon. You could use a little inspiration and a few laughs.
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-20-2009 05:04 PM…
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:58:11 GMT | SaraC
Exclusive: Volturi Weigh in on Tony Blair vs. Jacob Black
“New Moon’s” most dictatorial vampires sat down to chat about their roles in the “Twilight” saga and dished on everything from potential wrestling matches to weirdest fan tributes.
Find out who is most like their character.
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-19-2009 06:08 PM…
Find out who is most like their character.
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-19-2009 06:08 PM…
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:06:59 GMT | SaraC
Exclusive: 'New Moon' Director Chris Weitz Is Really Quite Girly
The 'New Moon' director dishes on getting dumped and bringing Stephanie Meyer's wolves to life.
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-19-2009 06:07 PM…
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-19-2009 06:07 PM…
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:51:01 GMT | SaraC
‘New Moon’ Volturi Vamps Simple Boys at Heart?
Just a couple of farm boys, Daniel Cudmore and Charlie Bewley are the newest members of the “Twilight Saga.” They play Felix and Demetri, respectively, who are part of an ancient vampire clan known as the Volturi, enforcers of the vampire community laws and rockers of the classic vampire aesthetic.
But, Daniel and Charlie were never ones for vampire geek-dom.
“They just didn’t do it for me,” Charlie explained when I sat down with the two actors during their Hot Topic press tour. “The whole interpretation of what vampires were, these creepy guys … It just didn’t really appeal to me, but what’s great about the series -- the vampire is being brought very much into a contemporary context -- very appealing whilst harboring this danger. That’s why there’s been this huge following from teenage girls. They’re very accessible yet at the same time dangerous.”
The actors never even went through a Goth period. Although, it can be argued that they are about to enter it, being on tour with Hot Topic and all. Oh, and playing sardonic centuries-old vampires, sporting pale skin and black velvet cloaks.
“Obviously vampires are kind of a cool character, but like Charlie said, I didn’t watch every single vampire thing,” the more-than-a-little-bit intimidating Daniel said. At 6-foot-7 (or so) he plays the Volturi “muscle,” who has a bit of fun smashing up ancient Italian marble with our tortured hero Edward’s head.
“You know I didn’t go through my Goth period at all … I think some of the movies that have been done about vampires have been really good movies and that’s what I enjoyed about it.”
They also can’t really relate to the female perspective in the “Twilight” series, but they do understand Jacob. Perhaps a little too well …
“If there’s one other guy in this film I would like to play, it’s Jacob,” Charlie said. “Personally, I was someone who was brought up on a farm. I am raw and a very primal person … aggressive sometimes. And I have red rage that I’ve learned to put a cap on ... There have been times when I probably look more like a werewolf than a person.”
Yikes.
Charlie’s less frenetic co-star chalks his love of Jacob up to being a country boy at heart.
“I grew up in the Pacific Northwest outside of Vancouver in a house where my backyard went for hundreds of miles in the woods," Daniel said. "So I was outside on 50-year-old logging roads riding dirt bikes up and down all day long. Climbing trees as a kid and sitting on top of 60-ft-tall trees and freaking my mom out.”
While Daniel has been in a few films, including the action-packed “X-Men” series as Colossus, this is Charlie’s first major role. Both actors seem to be taking the fame and fans in stride. In fact, they scoff when I ask them if the constant scrutiny freaks them out.
“I am the person I am. I got here because of the person I am …,” Charlie said. “If you keep being truthful to yourself, then the truth is always there. It’s very easy and accessible and that allows you to be freer.”
Daniel concurred.
“You don’t ever want to change who you are just to impress people you don’t know,” he chimed in. “I’m just going to keep being who I am and if someone accepts that and they enjoy it I’m, like, cool. It’ s the easiest way to go because the other way you get confused and you don’t know who you are all of a sudden, you’re going to have some wild freak out all of a sudden and run down Hollywood Boulevard with no pants on.”
An interesting mental image and no doubt some fans would love to see it in action. Speaking of fans, have they been enjoying the attention, even a little bit?
“I’ve gotten whole photo albums put together with photos that people have just caught of me ... a photo album that maybe your girlfriend would give you of you and her, but it’s, like, you and fans,” Daniel said letting out an uncomfortable laugh. “But, no, it’s great, they put the time into it and I appreciate it.”
In keeping with their favorite member of the “Twilight” saga, Charlie’s fans have been a bit more aggressive.
“I got a guide of how to survive 'Twilight' hysteria made for me by some Aussie girls, who really are the beacons of my fandom," Charlie said. "They’re called Team Bewley International. They are overseeing my fandom and telling people off. They go in and they’re, like, 'look he wears that t-shirt all the time because he likes it!'"
What’s the best way to survive the “Twilight” hysteria, according to his uber fans?
“The number one way is just to embrace it and go with it and don’t resist it,” Charlie said. “This experience – there’s no price on it. “
Actually, there is, and we’ll find out that number at midnight tonight. As of now we know that “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” has broken all the records in advanced ticket sales, beating out 2005’s “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.”
But I appreciate the sentiment.
Buy tickets for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” here.
Watch our exclusive interviews with RPattz, Kristen and Taylor here.
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-20-2009 04:54 PM…
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:23:55 GMT | SaraC
Exclusive: The Cullen Family Gets in on the Action
I sat down with the best-looking (and oldest) family in Hollywood to talk about "New Moon" and I found out some surprising tidbits.
Kellan Lutz still feels bad about punching Jackson Rathbone, but he swears it was an accident. And one family member doesn't know how to entertain the fans.
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-19-2009 01:00 PM…
Kellan Lutz still feels bad about punching Jackson Rathbone, but he swears it was an accident. And one family member doesn't know how to entertain the fans.
Message Edited by SaraC on 11-19-2009 01:00 PM…
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:55:06 GMT | SaraC
