Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gif Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Cinematical Seven: Overlooked Gems from the Top Half of '08http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/cinematical-seven-overlooked-gems-from-the-top-half-of-08/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/cinematical-seven-overlooked-gems-from-the-top-half-of-08/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/cinematical-seven-overlooked-gems-from-the-top-half-of-08/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Yesterday, Scott posted a terrific month-by-month report card looking back the 2008 movie scene from the halfway point. With the interval between theatrical and DVD release dates shrinking steadily, a lot of the movies from January through June are either already available on DVD, or soon will be. For your consideration, here are what I consider to be seven underseen, underexposed, and/or unfairly overlooked gems from the year to date. Something to consider next time you log on to Netflix.

In no particular order:

1. Charlie Bartlett - I'll clamber out on a limb and call Charlie Bartlett the most valuable movie for young teenagers this decade (despite its R rating). Most films for kids and teens unthinkingly implore them not to worry about being popular -- do your own thing! Don't worry about what your peers think of you! Good advice in the abstract, maybe, but completely detached from reality for most school-age kids, who have to, you know, go to school, and eat in the cafeteria. Charlie Bartlett is smart enough to realize this. Rather than imploring kids to "be themselves," it wants to say something about what the ones who are actually popular should do with their popularity. For once, it's a movie with a message aimed not at the misfits but at the leaders: the kids who are smart, charismatic and capable; the schoolyard trendsetters and tastemakers. It powerfully suggests the importance of using that influence for good instead of evil. Oh, and it's bright, sincere, and very funny, with a downright miraculous performance by Anton Yelchin.

Continue reading Cinematical Seven: Overlooked Gems from the Top Half of '08

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]]>charlie bartlettCharlieBartlettchop shopChopShopcinematical sevenCinematicalSevengunnin for that 1 spotGunninForThat1Spotpathologypenelopethe other boleyn girlthe promotionTheOtherBoleynGirlThePromotionEugene NovikovTue, 08 Jul 2008 22:02:00 ESTDiscuss: Do Sacha Baron Cohen's Antics Bother You?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/discuss-do-sacha-baron-cohens-antics-bother-you/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/discuss-do-sacha-baron-cohens-antics-bother-you/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/discuss-do-sacha-baron-cohens-antics-bother-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Call it performance art, savage prank behavior or audacious social satire. Call it whatever you want, but there's no question Sacha Baron Cohen is at it again. As Erik reported back in March, the Borat star began surfacing as his Bruno alter-ego in a variety of absurd situations likely intended for the movie starring the effeminate European character. Wearing chains at a Kansas church? Check. Weirding out Ben Affleck? Check. Airport dancing? Yep. Now, bizarre reports of a cage match in Arkansas, where attendees paid for admission expecting to watch a fight and instead witnessed two men get naked and lock lips, suggests Cohen is still at it, more than three months down the line. Not only that, but he appears to have pulled the stunt twice: First on June 5 at the Four States Fair Grounds in Texarkana, then again at Fort Smith's convention center, where a character named "Straight Dave" apparently selected a planted audience member to challenge him.

Whether or not you agree with Cohen's brash style -- he claims to take inspiration from Michael Moore's stunts --
the actor definitely constructs his gags with very specific ideas in mind. Borat took a stab at American stereotypes of foreign cultures, but Bruno looks like it's geared more towards attacking homophobia -- specifically as it manifests in middle America. However, it's hard to say whether or not such excessive spectacles will manage to correct misinformed perspectives or reinforce them.

Continue reading Discuss: Do Sacha Baron Cohen's Antics Bother You?

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]]>arkansasboratbrunoeric kohnEricKohnfeaturedhomosexualhomosexualitykansasmichael mooreMichaelMooreperformance artperformance artistPerformanceArtPerformanceArtistsacha baron cohenSachaBaronCohensatiresocial satireSocialSatiretwentieth century foxTwentiethCenturyFoxEric KohnTue, 08 Jul 2008 21:02:00 EST'Frontrunners,' NYC Teen Election Doc, Acquired by Beastie Boyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/frontrunners-nyc-teen-election-doc-acquired-by-beastie-boy/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/frontrunners-nyc-teen-election-doc-acquired-by-beastie-boy/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/frontrunners-nyc-teen-election-doc-acquired-by-beastie-boy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

School may be out for the summer, but documentaries about teens may become a hot topic anyway. Nanette Burstein's American Teen, focusing on seniors at a small town in Indiana, was a smash at Sundance and will hit theaters on July 25. Caroline Suh's Frontrunners, about four teens running for elective office at a prestigious high school in New York City, had its world premiere at South by Southwest and has just been picked up for distribution by Oscilloscope Pictures, according to indieWIRE.

Distributor Paramount Vantage has been promoting American Teen like crazy over the past couple of months, so marketing Frontrunners as something different and worthwhile will be the challenge for Oscilloscope, which is the distribution arm of Oscilloscope Laboratories. The company was founded by Adam Yauch, who's best known as one of the Beastie Boys. Frontrunners will be just their third release (after Gunning For That #1 Spot and Flow); Yauch said in a statement: "I was taken by its Rushmore meets Spellbound meets Election quality."

Frontrunners will open at New York's Film Forum on October 15, well-timed to capitalize on election fever, followed by a national theatrical release before hitting DVD next year. Kim Voynar saw the film at SXSW and compared it unfavorably with American Teen, though she says she enjoyed the film overall despite her frustrations. We'll see how audiences react in three months. Until then, the official site has a trailer and more information.

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]]>adam yauchAdamYauchamerican teenAmericanTeenfrontrunnersStuyvesant High SchoolPeter MartinTue, 08 Jul 2008 20:32:00 ESTRemember 'Kinky Boots'? No? Well, It's Going to Be a Broadway Musicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/remember-kinky-boots-no-well-its-going-to-be-a-broadway-mu/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/remember-kinky-boots-no-well-its-going-to-be-a-broadway-mu/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/remember-kinky-boots-no-well-its-going-to-be-a-broadway-mu/#commentsFiled under:

Broadway producers have been mining the Hollywood archives for new material for several years now, and it would seem they're beginning to scrape if not the bottom of the barrel, at least the sides of it. The latest movie to get the song-and-dance treatment: Kinky Boots.

Remember Kinky Boots? It belongs to the genre of Movies in Which British People Band Together to Do Something Odd in Order to Raise Money. Other examples include The Full Monty (schlubby guys perform a strip show) and Calendar Girls (old ladies make a nude calendar). Kinky Boots, mostly nudity-free, is about a small-town shoe factory that's struggling to stay afloat until it hits on a niche market: high-heeled boots for drag queens. The drag queen who provides the inspiration is played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. (Yes, that's him in the picture. No, it's not Jackée Harry from 227.)

The film isn't terribly original or clever, and it made less than $2 million during its limited U.S. run in 2006. But it made another $8 million in the U.K. and elsewhere, suggesting it has its admirers -- and, more importantly, it lends itself readily to a stage treatment. It ends with a climactic production number (a fashion show launching the new line of boots), it's saucy without being raunchy, and it's a feel-good, upbeat kind of story.

Continue reading Remember 'Kinky Boots'? No? Well, It's Going to Be a Broadway Musical

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]]>Eric D. SniderTue, 08 Jul 2008 20:02:00 ESTCast Coming Together for 'Beer in Hell' Adaptationhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/cast-coming-together-for-beer-in-hell-adaptation/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/cast-coming-together-for-beer-in-hell-adaptation/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/cast-coming-together-for-beer-in-hell-adaptation/#commentsFiled under: ,

What do you get when you mix a dude who dined and dated Rory Gilmore (and tricked Logan Echolls), with another who once hacked the planet, and another who got holy with 7th Heaven? You get carnal, beer-drinking hell.

The Hollywood Reporter posts that Matt Czuchry, Jesse Bradford, and Geoff Stults have signed onto Bob Gosse's adaptation of Tucker Max's I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. Like earlier this year, when I spoke of the original deal, I can't do better than the intro to describe this flick: "My name is Tucker Max, and I am an a**hole. I get excessively drunk at inappropriate times, disregard social norms, indulge every whim, ignore the consequences of my actions, mock idiots and posers, sleep with more women than is safe or reasonable, and just generally act like a raging dickhead. But, I do contribute to humanity in one very important way: I share my adventures with the world."

In this particular story, he goes to a bachelor party, threatens the wedding, and gets banned from the nuptials. Czuchry gets the jerky honor of playing Tucker Max, while the other two actors play his best friends. Also added is some female flavor with Keri Lynn Pratt and Denise Quinones.

The flick begins shooting later this month in Louisiana. Are you ready for jerky hell?

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]]>Bob GosseBobGosseCinematicalDenise QuinonesDeniseQuinonesGeoff StultsGeoffStultsI Hope They Serve Beer in HellIHopeTheyServeBeerInHellJesse BradfordJesseBradfordKeri Lynn PrattKeriLynnPrattMatt CzuchryMattCzuchryTucker MaxTuckerMaxMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 19:32:00 ESTNew 'Metropolis' Blu-ray and DVD Will Include Missing Footagehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-metropolis-blu-ray-and-dvd-will-include-missing-footage/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-metropolis-blu-ray-and-dvd-will-include-missing-footage/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-metropolis-blu-ray-and-dvd-will-include-missing-footage/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While researching my post on the Metropolis missing footage that's been discovered in Argentina, I missed a vital tidbit of information. (My brain is still leaking, sorry.) The tidbit? Kino International officially confirmed to The Digital Bits that their upcoming Blu-ray of Metropolis will include the newly-discovered footage, and that a standard definition DVD would also be released. Ta-da!

One of our readers, Eric, noted that Kino's Restored and Authorized Edition DVD, released in 2003, "actually makes sense," plot-wise, and recommended it highly. (Thanks, Eric! I've already ordered my copy.) By coincidence, Kino announced in May that they would begin offering their titles in Blu-ray in 2009, and then said that Metropolis would be their first title offered in the high-definition format, per High-Def Digest, though they did not provide details on a release date, technical specifications, or supplements.

In the UK, Eureka released a Region 2 DVD edition in 2005. DVD Beaver did a detailed comparison between Kino and Eureka and found the Eureka release to be superior: "This appears to be a classic example of PAL-NTSC ghosting derived from improper conversion." If you know what that means, you'll want to read their entire article before making a purchase decision -- and note, of course, that you'll need a region-free DVD player for the Eureka version. Film critic Glenn Kenney recommends the Eureka edition, by the way.

Others will choose to wait for Blu-ray, but whatever your decision, now would be a good time to get caught up with Metropolis so you can fully appreciate the new missing footage. If you need any more convincing, check out the clips and trailer at Kino's site.

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]]>blu-rayfritz langFritzLangMetropolisrestored footageRestoredFootagePeter MartinTue, 08 Jul 2008 19:02:00 ESTAsian Cinema Scene: Did 'Panda' Teach China?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/asian-cinema-scene-did-panda-teach-china/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/asian-cinema-scene-did-panda-teach-china/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/asian-cinema-scene-did-panda-teach-china/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Could a cute children's movie about an adorable furry animal ignite change in a country noted for its official cultural restraints? Kung Fu Panda has enjoyed robust returns at the Chinese box office, which prompted a top cultural advisor to bemoan: "Why didn't we make such a film?"

As reported by Variety, Wu Jiang, a key member of the CPPCC Standing Committee, noted: "The film's protagonist is China's national treasure and all the elements are Chinese." The committee recommended that the government "relax its control in order to accelerate the reform and opening up of the cultural market and to enhance China's cultural influence in the world."

Though China produces hundreds of movies every year, most have been described as "stodgy propaganda pics" -- check out a recent post by Grady Hendrix at Kaiju Shakedown to see a few examples -- and only a select few achieve visibility at international festivals. Director Lu Chuan (Kekexili: Mountain Patrol and the upcoming Nanking Nanking) says the problem lies with the government itself, which stifles the creativity of Chinese filmmakers. He wrote in China Daily that he tried to make an animated film for next month's Olympics in Beijing but finally gave up: "I kept receiving directions and orders on how the movie should be like. The fun and joy from doing something interesting left us, together with our imagination and creativity."

Will the Chinese government be making any changes soon? Don't count on it. Sun Zhonghuan, another member of the CPPCC Standing Committee, says that Hollywoood studios have another big advantage: Kung Fu Panda's $130 million budget is nearly 100 times the cost for an average Chinese film. "We might have the ideas," he said, "but we lack the structure to realize them."

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]]>asian cinema sceneAsianCinemaScenechinese governmentChineseGovernmentkung fu pandaKungFuPandaPeter MartinTue, 08 Jul 2008 18:32:00 ESTStars in Rewind: Seth Rogen Auditions for 'Freaks and Geeks'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/stars-in-rewind-seth-rogen-auditions-for-freaks-and-geeks/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/stars-in-rewind-seth-rogen-auditions-for-freaks-and-geeks/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/stars-in-rewind-seth-rogen-auditions-for-freaks-and-geeks/#commentsFiled under: , ,



I sure hope that by now, you've not only seen Seth Rogen in comedies like Superbad, Knocked Up, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but also his television work on Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared. But ... have you seen him before he got his first role as Ken Miller?

Above you can check him out during his Freaks and Geeks audition, where he talks about his career options, and just how he would run a grow house where "the pot would make me happy." It's pretty much the Rogen we know and love today, just a tad younger.

But there's also another oldie, where he popped up on Dawson's Creek as a loser that Busy Philipps' Audrey sleeps with (the scenes also feature pre-Cruise mom Katie and Kate Hudson's brother). You can check that out after the jump.

Last Rewind Answer: Sorry folks! A whopping 63% of you said that the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad are also the names of the enemies of G.I. Joe. They are the names of enemies of Captain America.

View Poll

Continue reading Stars in Rewind: Seth Rogen Auditions for 'Freaks and Geeks'

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]]>CinematicalDawsons CreekDawsonsCreekFreaks and GeeksFreaksAndGeeksSeth RogenSethRogenMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 18:02:00 EST'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' Photo Gallery!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-photo-gallery/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-photo-gallery/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-photo-gallery/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



Finally! This is the day you've all been waiting for (well, maybe not all of you -- but I'm sure there's a few of you, if not one or two of you ... or maybe a few imaginary readers too). Our friends over at Warner Bros. sent over a whole group of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince photos so that we can strap them all together and show them off in a big, bright shiny gallery. So, it is with great joy that I introduce you to Cinematical's official Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince photo gallery!

(I'll let you catch your breath from screaming so loud ....)

Done? Good. Below you'll find 16 gorgeous images from the film, all of which feature your favorite characters from the Potter universe. Me? All I want is a pair of those Luna Lovegood sunglasses. What's up with those? Maybe Warners will hand them out at Comic Con so I can run around, freaking people out. So trippy. So cool. Me want. Check out the gallery below.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince arrives in theaters on November 21.

Gallery: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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]]>cinematicalharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeharry potter and the half-blood prince movie photosHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceMoviePhotosErik DavisTue, 08 Jul 2008 17:32:00 ESTDVD Review: Stop Losshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/dvd-review-stop-loss/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/dvd-review-stop-loss/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/dvd-review-stop-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



When Kimberly Peirce gave us Boys Don't Cry, it was a critical explosion. She came, she moved us, and Hilary Swank came out of it with an Oscar. The film raised our expectations, and they rested there as Peirce moved out of the spotlight and worked behind the camera. The wait lasted almost a decade, but after nine years, she was finally back with Stop Loss -- another film in the cinematic, Iraq War whirlwind. While it was destined to fall under the weight of Iraq apathy, it was another example of Peirce's commitment to personal stories.

Stop Loss is the fictional account of a real problem: over a hundred thousand soldiers have been denied release when their time in Iraq is up. Instead of best wishes, they're sent back to Iraq, and life beyond the war's struggles becomes a distant, vague hope, rather than a present reality. Ryan Phillipe stars as Sgt. Brandon King, a man who is headed towards the end of his time in Iraq, or so he thinks. First, his unit is tricked and attacked. He loses some of his men, and struggles with the realities of warfare -- dead friends, and the fact that no matter how hard you try, innocent people will fall in the fight.

Continue reading DVD Review: Stop Loss

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]]>Channing TatumChanningTatumCinematicalJoseph Gordon LevittJosephGordonLevittKimberly PeirceKimberlyPeirceRyan PhillippeRyanPhillippeStop LossStopLossMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 17:02:00 ESTGet Ready for a Massive 'Dragon' Talehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/get-ready-for-a-massive-dragon-tale/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/get-ready-for-a-massive-dragon-tale/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/get-ready-for-a-massive-dragon-tale/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I don't mean to sound like a grumpy old critic, but sometimes the movies do get a bit carried away with technology. Luckily for me, I haven't succumbed to my inner-curmudgeon, and I'm going to give Flight of the Dragon a fighting chance. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Super 78 productions has green lit the IMAX fantasy film, with the added bonus that it will shoot in '4K'. What is 4K? Well, the short version is that it uses four times the amount of picture information used in digital-cinema production. The technique has been used sparingly in the past, but Dragon is touting that it will be one of the first films to use it exclusively.

Dragon was written by Super 78's Brent Young, who will also direct, and is described as "a hybrid documentary and fantasy that tells the story of a young boy's desire to discover China from the sky while flying with a mystical dragon over exotic and mysterious landscapes." Principal photography is already scheduled to begin in mainland China this September with Sean MacLeod Phillips (Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D) as director of photography, and Peter J. McKernan (Land of the Lost) serving as the aerial coordinator.

4K might be the future of filmmaking, but I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that Flight of the Dragon isn't going to turn into a hi-res Dragonheart.

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]]>4kBrent YoungBrentYoungFlight of the DragonFlightOfTheDragonSuper 78Super78Jessica BarnesTue, 08 Jul 2008 16:35:00 ESTInterview: Kimberly Peirce, Director of 'Stop Loss'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/interview-kimberly-peirce-director-of-stop-loss/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/interview-kimberly-peirce-director-of-stop-loss/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/interview-kimberly-peirce-director-of-stop-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



After an explosive entry to the cinematic world with the hard-hitting, Academy Award-winning Boys Don't Cry, Kimberly Peirce backed away from the movie spotlight. However, it wasn't a vacation. During her hiatus, she worked on a project that came to be Stop Loss, which hits DVD shelves today. Last week, Cinematical got the chance to talk to the director about the film, how she approaches filmmaking, and what her plans for the future are. It's a great discussion about how her life influences her work, and vice versa, and it's quite interesting when she discusses casting with a military metaphor.

However, her work's not done in the world of stop loss. While the movie is out to audiences, she continues to champion the soldiers suffering due to this practice. She's speaking in Washington, D.C. on the matter, and helping the cause through stoplossmovie.com -- where you can check out a collection of videos made by soldiers and their families.

Continue reading Interview: Kimberly Peirce, Director of 'Stop Loss'

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]]>CinematicalfeaturedKimberly PeirceKimberlyPeirceStop LossStopLossMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 16:02:00 ESTSeth Rogen Talks More Pineapples, Hornets, and Untitled Projectshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/seth-rogen-talks-more-pineapples-hornets-and-untitled-projects/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/seth-rogen-talks-more-pineapples-hornets-and-untitled-projects/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/seth-rogen-talks-more-pineapples-hornets-and-untitled-projects/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yeah, he's been around the Judd Apatow world for a while now, between Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared, but I think it was The 40-Year-Old Virgin that really solidified Seth Rogen's stock. He stole pretty much every scene he was in, and now he's hotter than hot. In a recent discussion with Moviehole, Rogen talked up all those projects we've been hearing about for a while.

At the top of the current buzz is The Pineapple Express, so of course, thoughts are already spinning about a sequel. Rogen mentioned refusing to put a "2" at the end of Superbad, but says of the drug movie: "But this one, it's not a precious coming-of-age story like Superbad, it's a weed action movie and if it did well, and they gave us like $50 million (as opposed to the $26 million we got for this one) we could benefit from that." More Huey Lewis? Sign me up!

As for The Green Hornet, they're currently on the hunt for a director, to start shooting early next year, and to be released in 2010. Funny enough, he also didn't seem to know until he started working on the film that Kevin Smith had taken a stab at the story.

But then there's that untitled project with Judd Apatow, which is now called Funny People. He discussed adding Eric Bana to the mix, which Eugene discussed here. As an added perk -- Cinema Blend got a peek at a small part of the script, if you're curious.

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]]>CinematicalFunny PeopleFunnyPeopleSeth RogenSethRogenThe Green HornetThe Pineapple ExpressThe Pineapple Express 2TheGreenHornetThePineappleExpressThePineappleExpress2Monika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 15:34:00 ESTDiscuss: Movie Songs Stuck in Your Headhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/discuss-movie-songs-stuck-in-your-head/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/discuss-movie-songs-stuck-in-your-head/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/discuss-movie-songs-stuck-in-your-head/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Strangers are staring at me. No, I'm not paranoid, and I'm not a beautiful person. But ever since I saw Linda Linda Linda, a sweet yet perceptive film about the dreams and aspirations of high school girl musicians, the title song has been stuck in my head. The toughest part? It's sung in Japanese. So now I find myself singing "Linda Linda. Linda Linda Linda" and humming the insistently memorable tune over and over again. It's just so darn catchy. (Check out the clip from the movie.)

I don't really mind, though, because I loved the movie, which follows three Japanese girls who recruit a Korean exchange student to become their singer so they can perform at an important school function. And I'm not alone in loving the song, which was originally recorded by the seminal punk band The Blue Hearts in the 1980s. (Watch this clip for evidence.) Japanese pop culture expert Patrick Macias says on the DVD that the song is still a karaoke favorite and that learning all the words makes foreigners instantly cool (or words to that effect).

Songs from movies have gotten stuck in my head before. Way back when, I found myself constantly singing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and then I became a John Williams freak, humming and tapping my fingers to music from Jaws, Star Wars, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I hated disco, so I worked very hard to keep all those songs from Saturday Night Fever out of my head.

Continue reading Discuss: Movie Songs Stuck in Your Head

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]]>featuredlinda linda lindaLindaLindaLindamemorable movie songsMemorableMovieSongsthe blue heartsTheBlueHeartsPeter MartinTue, 08 Jul 2008 15:02:00 ESTNew 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' Pics!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-pics/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-pics/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-pics/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Well, nothing is quite as cool as Luna Lovegood in her Spectrespecs, but there are a few more images from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince floating around the net (these are courtesy of Ace Showbiz). You can check out Rupert Grint's head-protected Quidditch getup at the dining table with Harry and Hermione above... (Can anyone tell me why he doesn't free his head while he eats? Does he fear that he'll lose his helmet?) And the other pic at AS has got Harry having a pow-wow with Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), who is sporting an affably devilish facial expression.

This time around, Harry is in his 6th year at Hogwarts, and he finds "a potion book signed by the self-titled half-blood prince." There'll be scares for sure, as well as wackiness, and what you can see above -- some good rounds of Quidditch. This will all hit the screen November 21.

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]]>CinematicalHarry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceJim BroadbentJimBroadbentRupert GrintRupertGrintMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 14:34:00 ESTSD Comic Con: Thursday Schedule Online Now!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/sd-comic-con-thursday-schedule-online-now/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/sd-comic-con-thursday-schedule-online-now/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/sd-comic-con-thursday-schedule-online-now/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Though we're still a couple weeks away, you can't deny a certain level of excitement in the air right now. It kinda smells like chicken ... with a twist of kick ass! The 2008 San Diego Comic Con will slowly release their schedule over the next couple days, and up first is Thursday. We'll run through a few special, must-see events, and you can see the film-related schedule after the jump and the entire Thursday sched on the official Con website.

Thursday, July 24:

  • 10:00-11:00 Masters of the Web-For the second year in a row the biggest genre and movie websites are coming together to discuss how new media have affected movie making, what it takes to run a popular site, and much more in a panel discussion and Q&A session. Participants include Robert Sanchez (IESB.net), Garth Franklin (Darkhorizons.com), Mike Sampson (Joblo.com), Erik Davis (Cinematical.com), John Campea (TheMovieBlog.com), Brad Miska (Bloody-Disgusting.com), Eric "Quint" Vespe (Aintitcool.com), Devin Faraci (CHUD.com), Paul Christensen (Movieweb.com), and Kellvin Chavez (Latinoreview.com). Moderated by directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank 2, The Game). Room 32AB
  • 11:30-1:00 20th Century Fox: The Day The Earth Stood Still and Max Payne- Stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, plus director Scott Derrickson and producer Erwin Stoff, present an exclusive look at The Day The Earth Stood Still, Fox's contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. "Max Payne" himself-Mark Wahlberg-will be on hand with Mila Kunis, Ludacris, and director John Moore to discuss turning the game's noirish, hard-hitting, and complex world and characters into a movie event.
  • 1:15-2:45 Summit Pictures-Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of exclusive footage of some of its upcoming major film releases: Push (Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Djimon Hounsou, Camilla Belle and director Paul McGuigan), Knowing (Alex Proyas), Twilight (Director Catherine Hardwicke, author Stephenie Meyer, and the cast-including Robert Pattinson (Edward), Kristen Stewart (Bella), Cam Gigandet (James), Rachelle LaFevre (Victoria), Edi Gathegi (Laurant), and Taylor Lautner (Jacob))
  • 2:00-3:00 Red Sonja: One-on-One-Robert Rodriguez (Sin City), Rose McGowan (Grindhouse), Doug Aarniokoski (2nd unit director, Resident Evil 3) and David White.
So much more after the jump ...

Continue reading SD Comic Con: Thursday Schedule Online Now!

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]]>2008 san diego comic con schedule2008SanDiegoComicConSchedulecinematicalcomic con scheduleComicConSchedulefeaturedsan diego comic conSanDiegoComicConErik DavisTue, 08 Jul 2008 13:57:00 ESTIt's Official! The 'Watchmen' Trailer Will Play Before 'The Dark Knight'!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/its-official-the-watchmen-trailer-will-play-before-the-dark/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/its-official-the-watchmen-trailer-will-play-before-the-dark/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/its-official-the-watchmen-trailer-will-play-before-the-dark/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Zack Snyder wouldn't confirm it last month when he talked to Collider, but Coming Soon has now scored confirmation about which trailers Warner Brothers Pictures is tacking on to the next Batman installment when it hits next week on July 18.

Wonderfully and most importantly, is Watchmen. I can only hope that it shows some action, and a good look at the heroes (including Doc Manhattan), rather than a teaser that lays on more anticipatory torment. The next in the list is, fittingly, Terminator Salvation, which will give us a taste of Bale in the future, before the trailers end and he slips into the batsuit. Finally, there's Ridley Scott's Body of Lies.

Does this affect your moviegoing plans in any way? When I bought my midnight screening tickets for The Dark Knight a week or two ago, my friend and I had a whole discussion about screens -- do we see Batman in IMAX with no Watchmen, or see it on a normal screen and finally delight in the first teaser. We opted to skip the IMAX experience this time, but what about you? Do these trailers change your plans at all? Will you now see the film on a certain screen, or check out the movie earlier to see Snyder's eagerly anticipated trailer?

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]]>Body of LiesBodyOfLiesCinematicalTerminator SalvationTerminatorSalvationThe Dark KnightTheDarkKnighttrailersWatchmenMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 13:34:00 ESTThe Geek Beat: Solo Supervillainshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/the-geek-beat-solo-supervillains/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/the-geek-beat-solo-supervillains/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/the-geek-beat-solo-supervillains/#commentsFiled under: , , ,




Happy day! Today, we get to talk about the Master of Magnetism and his origin movie! Or, at least, we get to discuss it via the script reviews, as two have popped up online, courtesy of Sal's Scripts and the Coventry Telegraph. A special thanks goes out to io9 for alerting me, and for their ever interesting commenters who spurred me into writing.

You see, without getting into the spoilery aspects of the script reviews, a few people took issue with X-Men's archvillain being made sympathetic. To make a long review short and spoiler-free, Magneto's origin story will center on his time in Auschwitz. Once free, he spends his adulthood hunting down the Nazis who tortured and experimented on him. The movie will be less about Magneto's issues with homo sapiens, and more about his quest for justice. Professor Xavier pops up in it as a friend, but it doesn't look like this film will delve into their break or diverging philosophies.

Continue reading The Geek Beat: Solo Supervillains

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedmagnetomagneto script reviewMagnetoScriptReviewthe x-menTheX-menwolverinex-men origins magnetoX-menOriginsMagnetoElisabeth RappeTue, 08 Jul 2008 13:02:00 EST'Hellboy II' Goes Unscriptedhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/hellboy-ii-goes-unscripted/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/hellboy-ii-goes-unscripted/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/hellboy-ii-goes-unscripted/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In the dust of the last Unscripted chat, which featured Hancock stars Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Jason Bateman, we've got something even more otherworldly -- Hellboy II: The Golden Army director Guillermo del Toro chatting with two of his stars, Ron Perlman and Selma Blair, in the latest round of Unscripted.

The trio were feeling a bit frisky when they entered Moviefone land to record the interview, and they discuss favorite movies and monsters, poke some fun at James Lipton, and delight in some low-brow humor. Watching del Toro in this clip, I can only hope that his future includes more of the humor present in the clips. There's a lot more to this man than creepy creatures.

And there's one additional, cut clip above, tossed to us scavengers here at Cinematical. Check them all out, and be sure to hit the theaters and see Hellboy II this Friday.

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]]>CinematicalGuillermo del ToroGuillermoDelToroHellboy 2Hellboy 2 The Golden ArmyHellboy2Hellboy2TheGoldenArmyRon PErlmanRonPerlmanSelma BlairSelmaBlairMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 12:34:00 ESTNew DVD Picks of the Week: 'Gotham Knight' & 'Batman Begins'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-gotham-knight-and-batman-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-gotham-knight-and-batman-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/08/new-dvd-picks-of-the-week-gotham-knight-and-batman-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Batman: Gotham Knight
Like the Animatrix, Batman: Gotham Knight is a collection of filler stories. Created by the hands of different writers and animators, Gotham Knight was made to bridge the gap between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. But it's not just a collection of adventure stories -- these blips into Gotham take the story from all sides -- the villains that wreak havoc, the police whose work is interfered with, the kids who spot him in action, and even Bruce Wayne working with Lucius Fox on gadgetry. Be prepared for the look to be different -- this isn't your ordinary looking Batman -- but there are also nods to the past. Kevin Conroy voices Batman in this collection, just like he has for many years now on the animated series.

Of course, no true special release can be free of features, and Gotham Knight is no exception for this 2-disc release. On the first, you get a disc-wide commentary with Kevin Conroy, Dennis O'Neil, and Gregory Noveck (it pours through each episode) and a good preview of the upcoming animated Wonder Woman. On the second, you also get a long documentary called "A Mirror for the Bat" that discusses the character and the villains he fights, another called "Batman and Me, a Devotion to Destiny: The Bob Kane Story," and some final extras that focus on Batman: The Animated Series.

Further information on this release can be found, in-depth, at DVDTalk.

Buy the DVD

Continue reading New DVD Picks of the Week: 'Gotham Knight' & 'Batman Begins'

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]]>Batman BeginsBatman Begins DVDBatman Gotham KnightBatman Gotham Knight DVDBatmanBeginsBatmanBeginsDvdBatmanGothamKnightBatmanGothamKnightDvdCinematicalGotham KnightGothamKnightMonika BartyzelTue, 08 Jul 2008 12:02:00 EST