The REEL Box Office Buzz!

Two new major films take to the screen this weekend - Hancock starring Will Smith and Kit Kitredge: An American Girl starring an all-star cast of many. 

Hancock has an interesting twist to it.  It’s a story about a…get this…alcoholic super hero.  Is that an oxymoron or what?  The thought perplexes me so much that it’s the storyline that’s peaked my interest…well that and the fact that Will Smith stars in it.  Most Smith movies are really very good and he has a track record for movies released around holidays so I’m sure it will get the draw that is expected.

Kittredge on the other hand is the polar opposite - a fun family movie based on the popular American Girl children’s book series.  Executive Produced by Julia Roberts and her sister, Marisa Yeres, and starring the likes of Stanley Tucci, Jane Krakowski, Julia Ormond, Joan Cusack, Chris O’Donnell, and Abigail Breslin in the title role, this movie should prove as a hit with families over the holiday weekend.

Are there any movies you’re planning to see?  I hear the humidity is on its way back.  Might be a good time to take in a flick! 

Maybe I’ll see YOU at the movies,

Lisa

So here I am on I-95 heading north in Virginia on my way to Massachusetts for the weekend.  Yeah, I know - CRAZY!  The trip will take us about 12-14 hours up…and 12-14 hours back.  At the very least, it’s taken 11 1/2 hours or at the most, 16 hours.  Crazy.  But, my headin’ home to see the fam for a very special occasion will be worth it in the end.

Anyway, so I got to thinking about movies about road trips.  I did some research and while I couldn’t come up with a “Top 10″ list, I did come up with a “Top 5″, of course it’s all only in my humble opinion.  Take a gander at my list and leave a comment about your favorite road trippin’ movies.

#5 Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

The Steve Martin/John Candy comedy about traveling cross country for Thanksgiving.  It’s hillariously funny and stupid all at the same time.  Need a good laugh?  Pop this one in your DVD player.

#4 Thelma & Louise (1991)

A waitress and an Arkansas housewife both bored to tears with their lives decide to hop in their ‘66 Thunderbird and hit the road.  What starts off as a liberation turns into a flight for their lives.  A chick flick ’til the end, Thelma and Louise stars Susan Sarandon and Gina Davis with Brad Pitt in his cinematic debut. 

#3 Road Trip (2000)

Remember being a teenager in love only when you graduate, you head off to separate colleges promising to be together forever?  Well, you know how that goes.  Boy meets new girl.  Boy and new girl have sex.  They make a tape but boy needs to send another tape to boy’s college girlfriend in ANOTHER state.  There’s a mix up.  Whoopsie! Quick - get in the car and head off to intercept the wrong tape before it gets into the wrong hands.  Very cute movie with some very funny moments, Road Trip stars Breckin Meyer, Sean William Scott, and Amy Smart.

#2 The Muppet Movie (1979)

Kermit and his friends decide to make the LONG trek across America in the hopes of finding success in Hollywood.  It was cute!  What more can I say?

BUT, my #1 favorite road trippin’ film won a total of 4 Oscars -

Rain Man (1988)

Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for his portrayal of an autistic-savant in this heartwarming film about discovery.  Also starring Tom Cruise, the film takes two brothers on what starts out as a pseudo kidnapping (Cruise’s character kidnaps Hoffman’s in order to get a hold of a $3M inheritance) turns into a cross country journey about the two brothers discovering each other.

One of my favorite repeated lines, “I’m an excellent driver.” (Raymond)

Let’s hope I am and I make it to and from Massachusetts in one piece.

Until next time, see YOU at the movies!

Lisa

No, it’s not “my two front teeth” (Well, maybe they need to be straightened or something.  ).  My favorite movie from the summer just came out on DVD yesterday - The Bourne Ultimatum starring People’s SEXIEST Man Alive for 2007, Matt Damon.  If you are a follower of the Bourne series,  you were probably one of the fans that eagerly anticipated the release of the film.  I know I was….and it didn’t disappoint either!  It’s chock full of action, drama, and some kick-butt fight scenes too.  (Santa, I have been good.  I really have.  Can I please have the DVD of Ultimatum for Christmas?)

There’s also a collection of Christmas Television Favorites that has been released.  The collection includes such classics as “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, and many others.  You can get the video at Wal-Mart as well as other department stores and video stores everywhere.  (Santa, I can I have that too!) 

One more that I wouldn’t mind if Santa brought to me - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, also released this past summer and a HUGE hit!  I enjoyed that one more than the second installment in the series.  (Please, Santa, only one more….)

Happy Holiday shopping!  Until next time -

See YOU at the movies!

Lisa

It’s Saturday night and while there are several options on TV - the Hurricanes game, a few holiday movies, etc. - my husband and I decide to watch the 2005 theatrical release, Bewitched starring Will Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and Shirley MacLaine.  Neither of us had seen it.  We had thought about seeing it when it was released but the critics gave it such horrible reviews that we said we’d wait.  It just so happened to be on Saturday night and after a long day of cleaning house (me) and selling Christmas trees (the hubby), we decided then was as good a time as any.

I am happy to say we BOTH enjoyed it!  It was corny but cute (when is corny not cute?).  Of course, both of us like Will Farrell movies (most of them anyway) and with Shirley MacLaine as Endora, Samantha’s mother, well, it had to be good!  That’s a perfect part for Ms. MacLane. 

Bewitched is about a fledling film star, Jack Wyatt (Will Farrell), and his need to improve his career.  He decides he wants to be the star of a newer version of the original Bewitched.  When I say “the star” I mean “THE star”.  So, he hires an unknown actress to play Samantha (enter Nicole Kidman as Isabel Bigelow).  At the local book store he notices a woman with a similar nose twitch to Samantha and he follows her to a coffee shop where she sits and reads her new book.  He introduces himself to her and before you know it, she’s auditioning (and winning) the part of Samantha.  The film follows the pair as they discover who they each are as individuals and together.  The egocentric Jack becomes the caring Jack and Isabel finds her place in mortal society.

I definitely give this movie -

Until next time…

See YOU at the movies!

Lisa

…in WIDE release - The Golden Compass with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.  Compass is alternate world meets reality with souls that manifest themselves into animals alongside a 12 year-old girl who tries to save her friend and ends up on her way to saving our world as well.  The movie also stars such Hollywood heavyweights as Sam Elliot, Ian McKellan, Kathy Bates, Kristin Scott Thomas, and young star Dakota Blue Richards.

Compass comes with some controversy.  There’s even an email blast circulating telling its receipients not to see it.  If you ask me why, I can’t tell you because I inadvertently deleted the email.  However, I would venture to say that it has an underlying negativity about it…or perhaps it has to do with the reviews of sloppy storytelling in favor of special effects?  This isn’t the kind of movie that I care to see BUT because of the mixed reviews, I just might have to go and see for myself.  I’ll let you know what my thoughts are.  I promise!

Until next time, see YOU at the movies!

Lisa