Zodiac, Black Snake or Wild Hogs?

I really don't think I'm much of an elitist. Or, if I am, I'm not a very good one, because as anyone who's been here before knows, I see a heck of a lot of movies.

That said, the trailer for "Wild Hogs" has just about all I need to see, I think. John Travolta getting smacked in the face by a bird, and possibly bird feces? Yes, the first time you see that, it's funny. But once is enough. When you have four stars in a movie and I just can't stand two of them (Travolta and Tim Allen), the odds are already against you in my book. I have a lot more time for William H. Macy and Martin Lawrence (when he's not in drag and a fat suit), but I'll wait for them to be in better movies.

With "Zodiac," on the other hand, count me as definitely in. That said, however, David Fincher is the exact place where I fail the geek test. Although I like his movies OK, I simply don't understand the reverence that geeks have for him. What I do admire is his attention to detail and the care with which he constructs his stories. And with the Zodiac killer, knowing how the case impacted his childhood, he seems to have his best story yet (plus Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr., both pluses in my book.)

And I'm in for "Black Snake Moan" too. Craig Brewer's "Hustle & Flow" has already entered that category of movies I pop in when I've had an extremely long day. You know the kind. Movies like "Office Space" or "Dazed and Confused." Movies that just make me feel good. And Brewer's tale of the pimp who just wants to be rap star works for me every time.

With "Black Snake Moan," however, it seems he's tested the limits just about as far as he can go, with only his second movie. From the reviews I've seen so far, it seems that despite its rather lurid subject matter, the final product is actually rather sweet and tame. I like what he does with music and how he takes on and breaks down stereotypes, and I can watch Christina Ricci and Samuel L. Jackson do just about anything, so I say bring it on.

I should have reviews of each, one by Sunday and one by Monday, so please feel free to come back and check them out, and have an entirely enjoyable weekend.

And, since it's Friday, as a bonus, here's a photo I cribbed from Rob Zombie's Myspace page which comes from the trailer he made for the middle of "Grindhouse." It's called "Werewolf Women of the SS," and I think that's probably about all you need to know.