Worthwhile (And Not) 9/29/2006

THE GUARDIAN, OPEN SEASON and SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS are averaging ** by the national reviewers which means nothing is a "must see". I thought THE GUARDIAN was a little better than that and doubt you'll be too disappointed if you choose to see it.

FACING THE GIANTS is a little more difficult to pigeonhole. It apparently hasn't been screened for the national media. From what I can tell this is a very low budget film made by a church as part of their outreach program. Nothing wrong with that as long as you understand it up front. I don't think you'll find anything objectionable in this film but I suspect it's enjoyability will depend mostly on your religious persuasion.

THE GUARDIAN ***

This is another film (it's becoming more common) that would have been better if they hadn't added so much. As it is the pic is over two hours and it would have been much better, and easily possible, if it were 90 minutes.

The plot is the familiar: young buck meets older/wiser teacher and the two learn from each other, then work together to achieve the difficult. So far, so good. In fact the action scenes are very good and are the saving grace of the film. But in an effort (I suppose) to attract the ladies the director has added a couple of love subplots and a bonding sequence that seemed prefectly superfluous. There is also a second ending that seemed unneeded to me but some may find moving. Costner does a good job with his role but the real surprise is Kutcher, whose portrayal of the young cadet is very good and far better than what I've seen him do before.

With some trimming this could have been a ***½ action film but even with the unnecessary footage it will be enjoyed by most.

Opening 9/29/2006

FACING THE GIANTS [PG] 1 hr, 50 min. Drama. Cast: James Blackwell, Bailey Cave, Shannen Fields, Tracy Goode, Alex Kendrick, Jim McBride, Tommy McBride, Jason McLeod, Steve Williams, Chris Willis, Ray Wood. Plot: drama about a Christian high school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure. NR, WE, WW

THE GUARDIAN [PG-13] 2 hr, 5 min. Action/Drama. Cast: Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Neal McDonough, Melissa Sagemiller, Clancy Brown, Brian Geraghty, Sela Ward. Plot: after losing his crew in a fatal crash, a legendary Rescue Swimmer is sent to teach at "A" School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. DP, NR, MM, SD, WE, WO, WW

MONTY PYTHON DOUBLE FEATURE [R] 3 hr, 30 min. Comedy. Reissue of LIFE OF BRIAN and MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. PP

OPEN SEASON [PG] Animated Family Adventure. Voices Of: Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Gary Sinise, Debra Messing, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Patrick Warburton, Jane Krakowski, Gordon Tootoosis, Georgia Engel. Plot: a grizzly bear with no survival skills, has his perfect world turned upside-down when he meets a scrawny, fast-talking wild mule deer. DP, NR, MM, SD, WE, WW

SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS [PG-13] Comedy. Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Sarah Silverman, David Cross, Horatio Sanz, Matt Walsh. Plot: a beleaguered New York City meter maid, plagued by anxiety and low self-esteem, enrolls in a top-secret confidence-building class. DP, NR, MM, WE, WO, WW

Leaving 9/28/2006

Derby Cinema - Step Up, How To Eat Fried Worms, Invincible
Movie Machine - Everyone's Hero, Gridiron Gang, The Covenant
Northrock 14 - Little Miss Sunshine, The Wicker Man, Crank, The Black Dahlia, The Protector
Palace West - Pulse, Miami Vice, You, Me And Dupree, The Lake House, Lady In The Water
Premiere Palace - Monster House, Trust The Man, Who Killed The Electric Car, Feast
Starlite Drive-In - Barnyard, Monster House, The Wicker Man, Beer Fest
Warren East - The Last Kiss, Everyone's Hero, Barnyard, The Protector, Crank. Accepted, The Wicker Man
Warren Old Town - The Last Kiss, Invincible
Warren West - The Last Kiss, Step Up, The Protector, Talledega Nights, Accepted, Gridiron Gang

Leaving 9/28/2006

Derby Cinema - Step Up, How To Eat Fried Worms, Invincible
Movie Machine - Everyone's Hero, Gridiron Gang, The Covenant
Northrock 14 - Little Miss Sunshine, The Wicker Man, Crank, The Black Dahlia, The Protector
Palace West - Pulse, Miami Vice, You, Me And Dupree, The Lake House, Lady In The Water
Premiere Palace - Monster House, Trust The Man, Who Killed The Electric Car, Feast
Starlite Drive-In - Crank
Warren East - The Last Kiss, Everyone's Hero, Barnyard, The Protector, Crank. Accepted, The Wicker Man
Warren Old Town - The Last Kiss, Invincible
Warren West - The Last Kiss, Step Up, The Protector, Talledega Nights, Accepted, Gridiron Gang

FLYBOYS **

Some judicious editing and a half hour of film on the cutting room floor could have easily turned this feature into one I could recommend. Sadly, what we get instead is a turgid plot with several subplots that could easily have been removed. The cast does fine and the production values are top notch. The aerial action scenes, and there are several, are exciting and save this production from being a disaster.

The story is about a mixed bag of Americans who fought as pilots for the French in the years before the United States entered WWI. While the setting is supposed to be in France, the production was centered in England and on a British soundstage.

To get the impact of the action scenes you need to see this on a big screen with top notch surround sound. Anything less and you've got a real snoozer.

Worthwhile (And Not) 9/22/2006

The best reviewed film from this week's selection is ONLY HUMAN. That doesn't mean it will attract much of a crowd but those who do go should be pleased. Next on the list in a virtual tie are JET LI'S FEARLESS and JACKASS NUMBER 2 (which are earning **½). I frankly don't understand that last one since I could only sit through half the first JACKASS and absolutely nothing could entice me to attend another. The crowd (and there probably will be one) will be dominated by teenage boys. That takes care of the WORTHWHILE entries for this week.

Next in the eyes of the reviewers is FLYBOYS which is averaging **. That's about right as you can read in my review. Coming in on the bottom (*½) are FEAST (which is being released as a midnight show in many parts of the country and is being released on DVD next month) followed by TRUST THE MAN. According to the consensus of the critics the worst film this week is ALL THE KING'S MEN, which is being slammed by almost everyone.

In case you missed it earlier, you can read the info about all these films in the Tuesday OPENING blog entry (right below).

Opening 9/22/2006

ALL THE KING'S MEN [PG-13] 2 hrs. 20 min. Drama. Cast: Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson, Anthony Hopkins. Plot:based on Robert Penn Warren's 1946 Pulitzer Prize winning novel about an idealist's rise to power in the world of Louisiana politics and the corruption that leads to his ultimate downfall. WE, WW

FEAST [R] 1hr. 30 min. Horror. Cast: Navi Rawat, Krista Allen, Balthazar Getty. Plot: a motley crew of strangers find themselves trapped in an isolated tavern and must band together in a battle for survival against a family of flesh-hungry creatures. PP

FLYBOYS [PG-13] 2 hrs. 20 min. Action/Drama. Cast: James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jean Reno, Jennifer Decker, David Ellison, Mac McDonald, Ian Rose. Plot: World War I aviation film inspired by the American young men who became known as the Lafayette Escadrille. NR, MM, WE, WW

JACKASS: NUMBER TWO [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Stupid comedy. Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Steve-O, Jason "Wee Man" Acuña, Chris Pontius, Preston Lacy, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey. Plot: a mess of absurdity as the cast and crew participate in extremely crude and dangerous stunts. NR, WE, WO, WW

JET LI'S FEARLESS [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Cast: Jet Li, Sun Li, Dong Yong, Nakamura Shidou, Nathan Jones. Plot: Li portrays martial arts legend Huo Yuanjia, who became the most famous fighter in all of China at the turn of the 20th Century. NR, WE, WW

ONLY HUMAN [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Comedy. Cast: Norma Aleandro, Guillermo Toledo, Maria Botto. Plot: when Leni comes home to introduce her fiancé to her Jewish family, everything goes smoothly until the lovers belatedly reveal that he is Palestinian. PP

TRUST THE MAN [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy. Cast: Billy Crudup, David Duchovny, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julianne Moore, Eva Mendes, James LeGros. Plot: a sophisticated comedy about the challenges of love and marriage among modern day New Yorkers. PP

Saturday Sneak Preview

SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy. Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Sarah Silverman, David Cross, Horatio Sanz, Matt Walsh. Plot: a beleaguered New York City meter maid, plagued by anxiety and low self-esteem, enrolls in a top-secret confidence-building class. NR (7:05), WE (7:15), WW (7:30)

Leaving 9/21/2006

Derby Cinema - The Wicker Man
Movie Machine - Accepted
Northrock 14 - Crossover, Idewild, Invincible, World Trade Center
Palace West - Clerks 2, John Tucker Must Die, RV
Premiere Palace - Snakes On A Plane, Click, Miami Vice, The Ant Bully, Step Up, War Tapes, Prairie Home Companion
Starlite Drive-In - Crank
Warren East - How To Eat Fried Worms, World Trade Center, Talledega Nights, P.O.T.C.:Dead Man's Chest
Warren Old Town - The Wicker Man
Warren West - The Wicker Man, Crank, Barnyard, World Trade Center

Costner Finally Has A *** Winner

I haven't been all that impressed with Costner's films lately but THE GUARDIAN is pretty good entertainment. It sneaks tonight at the Northrock, Warren East and Warren West. For some reason the Warrens aren't showing up in the show schedules on the left but it is showing in each of those theatres at 7:00 tonight. The first evening showing of INVINCIBLE is being dropped in each theatre to make room for the sneak. I'll wait until the film oficially opens on September 29th before I write a full review but I'm giving it ***. You'll want to see this in a theatre on a wide screen and with good surround sound. The average home TV isn't going to be nearly as effective with the storm sequences as a big theatre can be.

GRIDIRON GANG *½

I'm not a football fan so I'm probably not the best person to review this film. But I don't think that's going to make much difference since this is more about jerking your emotional strings than football. The acting is as good as it needs to be and The Rock doesn't embarrass himself although I doubt he'll ever achieve "thespian" status. Production values are also fine.

But the plot is strictly FORMULA. You've seen this film before, probably many times. It's designed to provide some action, a few laughs and even some tears. But you will have forgotten all about it in half an hour.

Unless you're just really fond of cookie-cutter plots, my advice is to rent THE LONGEST YARD and save your money. The plot is virtually the same so you can use your savings for lots of Milk Duds and giant cold drinks and still have plenty left over.

Review Summary: 9/15-21/2006

This week is easy. WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? is the clear favorite of the reviewers with a three star average. While I don't think that's going to help any at the local boxoffice I've read enough about this film and its subect matter to want to see it. All the rest of this week's pics are averaging two stars so the reviews aren't going to help you make a choice. At least you have some variety since there's a film noir, a family animated feature, an action pic and a comedy/romance film in addition to the documentary. THE GUARDIAN doesn't have any reviews yet but check this blog on Saturday as I may have an early review for you.

Opening 9/15/2006

THE BLACK DAHLIA, [R], 2hrs. 5 min. Thriller. Stars: Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank. Plot: A fictionalized tale of obsession, love, corruption, greed and depravity around the true story of the brutal murder of a fledgling Hollywood starlet that shocked and fascinated the nation in 1947 and remains unsolved today. NR, WE, WW, WO

EVERYONE'S HERO, [G], 1hr. 30 min. Adventure/Animation/Comedy. Voices of: William H. Macy, Rob Reiner, Brian Dennehy. Plot: A boy and some off-the-wall sidekicks embark on a sometimes perilous, often funny, cross-country quest. DC, NR, MM, WE, WW

GRIDIRON GANG, [PG-13], 2hrs. 5 min. Drama. Stars: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Xzibit, Kevin Dunn, Leon Rippy. Plot: Gritty and powerfully emotional story of a juvenile detention camp probation officer, who, along with another officer, turns a group of hard core teenage felons into a high school football team in four weeks. DC, NR, MM, WE, WO, WW

THE LAST KISS, [R], 1hr. 45 min. Comedy/Drama. Cast: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Rachel Bilson, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson, Lauren Lee Smith, Marley Shelton. Plot: A contemporary comedy-drama about life, love, infidelity, forgiveness, marriage, friendship... and coming to grips with turning 30. WE, WO, WW

WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? [PG], 1hr. 30 min. Documentary. Plot: It was among the fastest, most efficient production cars ever built. It ran on electricity, produced no emissions and catapulted American technology to the forefront of the automotive industry. The lucky few who drove it never wanted to give it up. So why did General Motors crush its fleet of EV1 electric vehicles in the Arizona desert? (Think Big Oil and the politicians they own.) Showing exclusively at the Premiere Palace. PP

Sneaking On Saturday:

THE GUARDIAN [PG] 2hrs. 5 min. Action/Drama. Cast: Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Neal McDonough, Melissa Sagemiller. Plot: After losing his crew in a fatal crash, a legendary Rescue Swimmer is sent to teach at "A" School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. NR, WE, WW

Leaving 9/14/2006

Quite a few films leaving this week but you've got a few days before they do.

Derby Cinema - Accepted, World Trade Center
Movie Machine - The Wicker Man, Talledega Nights
Northrock 14 - Talladega Nights, Barnyard, Beerfest, Everyone's Hero, How To Eat Fried Worms, Snakes On A Plane
Palace West - Nacho Libre
Premiere Palace - Idelwild, Crossover, The Quiet
Starlite Drive-In - Step Up, Talledega Nights, World Trade Center, Accepted
Warren East - Step Up, The Devil Wears Prada, Beerfest
Warren Old Town - Beerfest, World Trade Center, Talledaga Nights
Warren West - How To Eat Fried Worms, Snakes On A Plane, Beerfest

THE COVENANT **

There is no reason why a film company would screen this in advance. It's not the kind of film that will receive good reviews. And that won't hurt because it's aimed at the teen crowd that doesn't read reviews.

The production values are good and the cast is competent (although completely unknown to me). The director's gone a little overboard with the atmospherics. It's almost always raining, with numerous flashes of lightning and ever present fog. Not only that, but the college doesn't appear to have had any new construction since 1700. The campus is so creepy I can't imagine anyone going there. The one exception is the dorm rooms. I only wish I'd had a room that size when I was in college.

The plot is reasonable, as long as you buy the whole witchcraft thing, and it holds your attention for the duration. Think of this as CHARMED, only with male witches and a lot more computerized special effects.The ending clearly sets up a sequel so if enough of you go see this we can talk about it again next year at this time.

Review Summary: 9/8-14/2006

There's nothing really spectacular this week but there's something fairly good for everyone, unless you're looking for a romantic comedy.

The best reviews go to THE WAR TAPES, which looks to be a 3½-4 star film. It is a documentary and not meant to be entertaining, and it's only showing in one theatre (Premiere Palace) but if you're interested in what Iraq is like from a soldier's point of view, this is your film. Apparently it's neither pro nor anti Bush so your prejudices should be intact after it's over.

HOLLYWOODLAND is averaging 2½-3½ stars. Most of the comments indicate the cast is excellent but the plot isn't going to give you any definitive answers. If you liked L.A.CONFIDENTIAL or CHINATOWN you should enjoy this one.

THE PROTECTOR is strictly for martial arts fans. It's averaging about 2 stars. Made in Thailand, there are apparently some minor dubbing problems but when the action starts you're in for real action, not the stunt man or computerized kind.

THE COVENANT is the only one not screened in advance for reviewers so you know what Sony thought about it. I saw this one and if you like horror/thriller films you won't be too disappointed. I'll go into more detail in my review.

Opening 9/8-14/2006

For those who have been waiting for years for the inside scoop on George Reeves, there's HOLLYWOODLAND. If you think a year-old Thai film about a man searching for his elephant sounds good, you're in luck since THE PROTECTOR (Tom yum goong) is arriving. Director Renny Harlin has a new horror/thriller film called THE COVENANT. Finally, for those interested in a view of the Iraq war from the soldier's perspective, THE WAR TAPES is the first war movie filmed by soldiers themselves.

Leaving 9/7/2006

Derby Cinema - Nothing
Movie Machine - How To Eat Fried Worms, Beerfest
Northrock 14 - Talladega Nights
Palace West - My Super Ex-Girlfriend, X-Men:The Last Stand
Premiere Palace - Shadowboxer, Sketches of Frank Gehry, The Descent, Wordplay
Starlite Drive-In - Snakes On A Plane
Warren East - Idewild, Snakes On A Plane, Cars, Pulse, Material Girls
Warren Old Town - Nothing
Warren West - Material Girls, Pulse, Ant Bully

THE WICKER MAN **

THE WICKER MAN is basically a B movie plot with an A cast which means some starpower is being wasted. The TV previews might lead you to believe this is a horror film but there's scarcely a scare in it. It's about witches who live a pagan lifestyle on their private island and whom an intelligent person would avoid. The direction the plot is taking becomes pretty evident before the film is half over which also detracts from its impact.

Cage tries to add some intensity to what is a bland story but comes across as shrill instead. Burstyn has hardly anything to do and Sobieski is completely wasted.

The most interesting thing about this film is trying to discern what the story was all about before they rather ham-handedly edited it. There are several scenes throughout which have obviously been cut short. I suppose you'll have to wait for the director's cut DVD to find out what they were and if they might really have added anything.

You should wait for DVD or cable or discount for this.

Review Summary: 9/1-6/2006

Of the three wide release films for this week, CRANK and THE WICKER MAN were not reviewed in advance. As always, that doesn't bode well for the quality of a film. CROSSOVER was reviewed but those aren't particularly good, averaging 2 stars. Unless you just never miss a basketball film with unknown actors this is probably one to wait for or miss altogether. Jason Statham stars in CRANK and I've always liked his pictures. I would have watched it if I hadn't had a conflict. It probably won't get good reviews but will be a resonably good action film I do intend to watch, soon. I have seen THE WICKER MAN and will post a separate entry with my opinion of it.

Of the two remaining films opening this week, SHADOWBOXER does not have good reviews while THE ILLUSIONIST has excellent reviews. Of all the films opening in Wichita this week THE ILLUSIONIST appears to have the best reviews.