Friday, March 23, 2007

What - if anything - to see?

I can't remember the last time we had this many movies - six- opening out here in my little corner of the world. Unfortunately, I can't manage to get terribly excited about any of them.

I'm tempted to just write off the rest of March as a lost cause - especially with Sunshine being pushed back in the U.S. - but I'll probably break down and go see one or two flicks this weekend. If you have seen any of these, or know of a reason I should or shouldn't, please feel more than free to sound off in the comments.

1. Shooter
If I do go to the movies this weekend, it will be for this one first. I don't have much time at all for Antoine Fuqua, but this one is based on a novel by Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter and had my favorite critic, Roger Moore, almost apologizing for enjoying a movie that so romanticizes the lone gunman. I like Mark Wahlberg, so hopefully this will just be a good popcorn movie.

2. Pride
I'm not sure Bernie Mac and Terrence Howard, for whom I have nothing but love, will be enough to make me watch what looks like yet another sports underdog movie. It's a genre I usually get jazzed for, but can you really build up drama for the big swim meet?

3. Reign Over Me
I once played a game of pool with Adam Sandler, when he was still on SNL and came to play a show at Catholic University, but I'm still not sure I want to watch him philosophize about the impact of 9/11 in a goofy wig. Don Cheadle is always a welcome sight, but according to a good friend of this blog, Nell Minow - coincidentally, also Yahoo's Movie Mom - he is oddly lit throughout this flick.

4. The Last Mimzy
I was wondering just what the hell this might be about, but I never expected the answer to be buddhism. How it inspires the two gifted kids who just happen to be the offspring of Dwight Shute is something I'll probably never find out.

5. TMNT
The turtles were never much more than a minor diversion for me, and they really look bizarre in the footage I've seen of this latest adventure. And, as my cubicle mate Dan Maley pointed out, it's hard to tell them apart when they look exactly the same except for the different colors of their masks.

6. The Hills Have Eyes 2
I have absolutely nothing to say about this one. See it at your own peril.

And there you have it. I'll most likely be going to see Shooter and posting a review Sunday, and maybe Pride. If I've got this wrong, or if you've seen either one and they're simply awful, please feel free to let me know.

Wonder Woman cast?

Without Joss Whedon on board, this one officially resides in the "I don't care" folder, but being a man of the people I'll share the news anyway.

According to the always reliable Film Ick blog, Cobie Smulders (great name) has been cast as our heroine. I had to go to the IMDB to find out she's apparently the star of the show "How I Met Your Mother," which I have never seen. All I can tell you, therefore, is that she does indeed seem to have the requisite hotness for the part.

So, there you have it. Joel Silver still has no director or script for this project, but he apparently does have his star. Interestingly, according to Film Ick, Smulders was Whedon's choice too, so at least they kept one thing he wanted.

Oh well. Enjoy your trainwreck, Ms. Smulders.

26 comments:

Terence Towles Canote said...

I have to agree. It amazes me with as many movies coming out this weekend how there is not one I want to see. I was going to finally go see Zodiac, but sadly it has left our part of the country....

I can't say the Wonder Woman project interests me much since Whedon left it, but casting Cobie Smulders could be a step in the right direction. I've only seen How I Met Your Mother a few times, but I have to say she at least looks the part.

Reel Fanatic said...

She definitely does at that ... The former rumored leading candidate, Rachel Bilson, while an extremely attractive woman, would have been awful

Lori said...

Uh-oh...Joel Silver's producing Wonder Woman? After the huge mess I heard became of The Reaping, which I also hear is just awful...I'd hate to see what kind of bunged-up production WW will turn into.

bill said...

FYI, Mimzy is based on a wonderful science fiction short story, Mimsy were the Borogoves, by "Lewis Padgett."

I'd found a link to it online, but it's been taken down in the last week or so. Looks like there's a new collection of Kuttner stories.

Also probably available in the library/bookstore of your choice is The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume I. Take 15-20 minutes and read the original story. One of my favorites.

On the otherhand, because the movie looks like a major rewriting of the story, maybe you want to see the movie first and appreciate it on its own terms.

Reel Fanatic said...

That's good to know, Bill ... I think I'll check out the book first and wait to watch the movie on DVD, because from what I've read, they've taken big liberties with it ... And you're definitely right, Lori; Silver producing Wonder Woman is definitely a recipe for disaster, with his first big mistake being already having fired Joss Whedon

Chris said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chris said...

I've seen five of the six. My reviews are, as usual, here.

Eaglewing said...

My pick would be Shooter, since I really liked the book. But in an interview I read, it seems they have "updated" quite a bit of it (that can't be good), and some of the clips have a Bourne Identity copycat feel to it. I'm not holding out much hope it'll be as good as the book, but I'm always up for an action flick that's not a CGI fest.

I lost what little interest in WW I had after Whedon left, and this casting news just has me going "who?" She looks the part, I guess, but can she act and carry a franchise role? Of course, if this slips into general Silver produced territory, it may not be a requirement...

Reel Fanatic said...

Thanks for the warning, Eaglewing .. I still think I'm gonna give "Shooter" a chance first this weekend, but once I get time I'll be reading your five reviews later today and getting a better idea ... Without checking yet, I'm assuming Hills 2 was the one you didn't get to see, but that never would have made my viewing slate anyway

Amy Reads said...

Hi Reel Fanatic,
We're definitely Behind The Times re: movies over here, as we just (just!) saw Zodiac last night, and are going to see 300 this weekend. Shooter fluctuates between Looking Great and Looking Awful for me. Let us know how it is and whether it's worth seeing in theater, or Netflixing!
Ciao,
Amy

Anonymous said...

Great little rundown and though I agree with most of it, TMNT is the one I'm most looking forward to.More for nostalgia sake than anything else but it looks like fun.

Reel Fanatic said...

It could definitely be fun, Marina ... Like I said, I'm not sure how, but I somehow just missed out on the turtles at the beginning, so never really got into them ... Let me know if I'm just wrong about this one

Neel Mehta said...

I'll join Chris in providing a positive review of The Last Mimzy. But it'll totally get lost in the shuffle this weekend.

After the parade of rumored names for Wonder Woman, Cobie Smulders is a surprisingly good choice. I'm surprised Whedon wanted her, because she weighs more than 85 pounds.

Reel Fanatic said...

To be fair to Joss, Neel, Sarah Michelle Gellar was a lot less skinny when she signed on to play Buffy then she is now .. After he picked Summer Glau for River Phoenix, however, I know what you mean about him liking waifs

Jim Marquis said...

I ran into Mark Wahlberg up in Whistler, Canada last summer and shook hands with him in a restaurant. Seemed like a nice guy.

The two Seattle papers split on the Adam Sandler movie. One gave it a B+ and the other a C. But that reviewer said he didn't like Sandler in any dramatic roles.

Reel Fanatic said...

Lest anyone call me out for it, that previous comment from me should have read "River Tam," obviously, not the late River Phoenix

Jim said...

If we see anything, it'll probably be Shooter, but to be honest Reign looks interesting to me...

And if we take my daughter anywhere, I guess it'll be Mimzy.

Reel Fanatic said...

From the people who've commented here Jim, all of whom I trust, I've learned that the source material for Mimzy, at least, is solid, so the movie might be better than I anticipated .. I just got back from Shooter, and I mostly enjoyed it, but the ending is simply ludicrous ... Still not enough to ruin the whole movie, but it came pretty darn close

BostonMaggie said...

I'm tossing the coin to decide between "Shooter" and "Reign"

Reel Fanatic said...

I mostly enjoyed Shooter, Maggie, but not having seen Reign, I can't say for sure which is better

Divinity said...

We're going to see "Sharkwater" tonight. Is that even running anywhere else?

Reel Fanatic said...

I have to admit I have no idea what that is, divinity, so I guess the answer would have to be no ... I had to go to the IMDB to find out, and it does sound intriguing .. It appears to only be playing in Canada for now

Divinity said...

The message was better than the medium but I enjoyed it. Rob Stewart has had an exciting time of it and he is incredibly talented as a photographer and diver but his film-making needs focus and his scripts need editing. Still, sounds better than Shooter was for you. The website for Sharkwater is quite informational and the clips are pretty. www.sharkwater.com

Reel Fanatic said...

I can dig most nature documentaries, Divinity, even if it does sound like this one is a little rough around the edges ... I'll definitely check it out on DVD

Anonymous said...

Cobie S will be a good choice I think. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is a great show and lots of laughs. You're welcome to borrow Season 1 from me anytime!

Reel Fanatic said...

I think I'll take you up on that, Stephanie, especially since I'll be giving you the Buffy comic in a couple of days