Category: Film Previews
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Trailer Watch: Austenland
A Jane Austen “amusement park.” Sounds like a disaster. Austenland Plot Summary: From IMDb: “Obsessed with the BBC production of “Pride and Prejudice”, a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman.” Release Date: August 16, 2013 Poster Trailer Rating: D- Commentary: Among the worst designs of recent years.…
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Trailer Watch: 47 Ronin
46 Ronin and Keanu Reeves…boy did they get ripped off. 47 Ronin Plot Summary: From IMDb: “A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun.” Release Date: December 25, 2013 Poster Trailer Rating: D+ Commentary: One of several “character” posters that all…
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Trailer Watch: We’re the Millers
And I’m the Muffin Man. Pleasure to meet you. We’re the Millers Plot Summary: From IMDb: “A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico.” Release Date: August 7, 2013 Poster Trailer Rating: C+ Commentary: Cute and fitting, but…
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Looking at the Weekend: Aug. 2-4, 2013
It was so popular when it released in 2011 that they brought The Smurfs back for a sequel. They had so little confidence in the film in its predecessor’s winter berth that they’ve pushed it into the lackluster month of August. We’ll see how that works out for them. Individual Commentaries Wesley Lovell: It’s rare…
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Trailer Watch: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, trailer #2, poster #2
I’ve been burning to see this since the first one…I’ve already caught the fire. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, trailer #2, poster #2 Plot Summary: From IMDb: “As Katniss and Peeta embark on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts, Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control…
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Trailer Watch: Gravity
I almost feel bad that the song from Wicked (“Defying Gravity”) is running through my head right now…almost. Gravity Plot Summary: From IMDb: “A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.” Release Date: October 4, 2013 Poster Trailer Rating: B+ Commentary: It’s not surprising that…
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Film Preview: Gravity (2013)
Poster Trailer Link Release Date: October 4, 2013 Synopsis: From IMDb: “A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.” Poster: B Review: It’s not surprising that the poster design reminds me a great deal of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I’m sure the similarities are not…
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Weekend Preview: Aug. 2-4, 2013
Below are eight previews for films opening next weekend.
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Film Preview: 47 Ronin (2013)
Poster Additional posters can be found below. Trailer Link Release Date: December 25, 2013 Synopsis: From IMDb: “A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun.” Poster: C / D+ (4) / C+ / B / C+ Review: (poster #1) It’s nothing…
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Trailer Watch: 33 Postcards
I think I’ll write the studio a postcard and tell them I’m not interested. 33 Postcards Plot Summary: From IMDb: “Dean Randall has sponsored a young Chinese orphan Mei Mei for many years, when she arrives in Sydney out of the blue to thank him, their lives are changed forever.” Release Date: May 17, 2013…
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Trailer Watch: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Can it really be called “how to train your dragon” when he’s already done training his dragon? How to Train Your Dragon 2 Plot Summary: From IMDb: “It’s been five years since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snoutlout and the rest of the gang are…
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Trailer Watch: The Counselor
The secret is: it’s all about his mother. The Counselor Plot Summary: From IMDb: “A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking.” Release Date: October 25, 2013 Poster Trailer Rating: None Commentary: Poster was a placeholder at the time this post was written. Rating: C+ Commentary: If you…
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Looking at the Weekend: Jul. 26-28, 2013
There’s only one new release this weekend and after all the major releases last weekend that ultimately flopped, The Wolverine promises to be a nice jolt in the arm. The franchise has been popular even if the films have not and Hugh Jackman’s antihero draws people in. And with The Conjuring facing the standard 55%+…
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2013 Summer Preview: August
There are no two bigger months at theaters. While the Summer may provide box office swing, both box office and Oscars dominate the final two months of the year with November likely the biggest of them all. This year, a number of top notch films will compete for audience dollars and critics’ appreciation going into…
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Trailer Watch: The Fifth Estate
Freedom of the press is being eroded. Can the internet save us now? The Fifth Estate Plot Summary: From IMDb: “A look at the relationship between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his early supporter and eventual colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg, and how the website’s growth and influence led to an irreparable rift between the two friends.”…
