Movies

Weak-ass weekend for Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass almost got its ass kicked by a four-week-old dragon. The R-rated superhero movie based on the Mark Millar comic failed to reach even the $20 million-mark in its opening weekend, a massive disappointment considering the hype and positive reviews. Still, it managed to eek out How to Train Your Dragon by fewer than $200,000, meaning for the second straight week, the film predicted to win the box office on Sunday ended up not making the most money when the final total came in.

Zombieland Review

What’s most admirable about this most recent zombie-crushing comedy is that it knows exactly what zombies are meant for: killing. Funny, creative and most of all low-budget killing. Rookie director Ruben Fleischer and Columbia Pictures capture that essence in the quick but fun Zombieland, a post-Zombie infection apocalypse action comedy with a small cast and a whole lot of make-up-covered stunt people.

Top 10 Comic Book Movie Adaptations

2008 was a great year for comic-book adaptations and Iron Man started it off. It was everything you would expect from a comic book adaptation: action-packed with a good amount of drama and comedy. Jon Favreau was able to keep a quirky, independent spirit throughout and had a cast of talented actors to work with. Robert Downey Jr. has become an unexpected action star. This is a film that shows what a summer blockbuster should be, entertaining and good quality storytelling.

The Avengers recruit Joss Whedon

Just when it seems Marvel rolls out of favor with geekdom and fanboyhood, it swims right back in it. Deadline writes that beloved sci-fi writer, director and producer Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly) is said to be in the final stages of negotiating for creative control over 2012’s highly anticipated Avengers movie, which will bring together Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and in all likelihood many more for superhero epic-ness.

Whedon’s greatest success has been with television. “Buffy” was obviously a phenomenon and it spawned a spin-off, Dark Angel, while Firefly was the most successful sci-fi series that didn’t last very long but led to the enjoyable film version, Serenity. Whedon also piloted Internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog which helped make Neil Patrick Harris a household name once again.

Sherlock Holmes Review

The grandfather of the mystery genre — and film’s most adapted character — is none other than the great detective Sherlock Holmes, so if one were to apply Holmes’ own deductive reasoning skills, a modern reinvention was a matter of time. English Director Guy Ritchie (Snatch, RocknRolla) applies his witty and gritty crime thriller style to the first mainstream 21st Century version of Holmes, one that will likely appeal to a younger crowd and those less familiar with previous incarnations of the iconic sleuth.

District 9 Review

Alien invasion stories can often seem a bit far-fetched, but making a great action movie with a compelling story for just $30 million shouldn’t. With its big box office number and Oscar nominations, maybe it will finally drive home to Hollywood that eternal message that great films come from great stories. District 9 is a sci-fi movie that takes a fantastic concept and runs with it behind committed visionaries who believe in what they’re doing.

DVD/Blu-ray DISCussion (New for 4.13.10)

With movies accessible at our fingertips, when is it worth buying a movie? Sure, if you loved it in theaters it’s a no-brainer, but if you didn’t, what even makes it worth renting? What about Blu-ray: should you buy one of those?

Ah, life’s mysteries. That’s why you have us – to tell you what’s worth your cash or your time or whatever it is that you will spend on movies outside of the theater. That’s the goal of what will become our weekly DVD/Blu-ray DISCussion.