Month: December 2010
-
Does Jack Black Need a New Direction?
I wrote up a review of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ over at Reel Life With Jane, and gave it 3 out of 5 Reels. Not totally awful, but not one of the best movies of 2010 either. I’m starting to wonder whether Jack Black might need a new direction. I’ve loved his particular brand of goofy humor…
-
Tron: Legacy: 2010 Blockbuster or Over-Hyped Sequel?
I wrote up a review of ‘Tron: Legacy’ over at Reel Life With Jane, and I’ve been thinking about how much I’d looked forward to this film – and how it underwhelmed me. It’s not a bad film. The special effects are very cool, and I really want one of those light-cycles that creates itself…
-
Five Cool Things About the Rango Trailer
It’s always encouraging when a trailer is so hilarious you want to watch it over and over again – and the movie is three months away. I just hope that 1) I don’t get so sick of it that I won’t want to see the movie when it comes out; and 2) the movie lives…
-
Happy Holidays from Film Gecko and Dancing Hugh Grant
I saw one of my favorite movies — ‘Love Actually‘ — at the State Theatre in downtown Traverse City last night. Came home and searched for the video of Hugh Grant dancing to the Pointer Sisters’ ‘Jump (For My Love)’. What a great scene! It just makes me smile no matter how many times I…
-
Family Movie Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Movie: ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ In Theaters: Dec. 10, 2010 Director: Michael Apted Runtime: 115 minutes MPAA Rating: PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action Gecko Rating: One of the things I love most about the ‘Narnia’ movies is hearing Liam Neeson’s voice come out of…
-
New Movie Friday: Narnia! The Tourist! The Fighter! Watch the Trailers
I haven’t been this excited about New Movie Friday in weeks! There really hasn’t been a plethora of new movies in the past couple weeks, but that all changes today. Here’s the rundown: ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ – Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace…
-
Wow, Guys Really Treated Girls Badly in the Original Ocean’s 11
It’s always amazing to watch movies and TV shows from prior eras and see how different the male-female relationships were. Or in other words, ain’t that a kick in the head? In ‘Mad Men,’ Joan and Peggy probably have it pretty good as far as work is concerned. We think of them as go-getters in…
-
Dear Blue Valentine People: Just Change the Scene
The Interwebs are all abuzz over the NC-17 rating on ‘Blue Valentine,’ the romantic drama starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling as a married couple in crisis. The Derek Cianfrance-directed film scored the rating because of an oral sex scene, and Gosling is none too happy about it. “There’s plenty of oral sex scenes in…
-
Cate Blanchett Returns to Middle Earth for The Hobbit
Despite plenty of drama in the development and production of ‘The Hobbit’ – check out my story over at PopEater – the cast and crew continue to forge merrily ahead. The latest person returning to Middle Earth is Cate Blanchett, who played Galadriel in the previous films and whom Frodo encountered on his journey to…
-
Family Movie Review: Burlesque
Movie: ‘Burlesque’ In Theaters: Nov. 24, 2010 Director: Steven Antin Runtime: 119 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, including several suggestive dance routines, partial nudity, language and some thematic material Gecko Rating: There’s a pivotal scene in the ‘Burlesque’ trailer where tiny Christina Aguilera takes the stage and releases a powerhouse voice, at which…
-
Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Movie: ‘The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest’ In Theaters: Oct. 29, 2010 Director: Daniel Alfredson Runtime: 147 min. MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, some sexual material, and brief language Gecko Rating: This weekend, I finally saw ‘The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,’ the third film in Stieg Larsson’s ‘Dragon Tattoo’ trilogy. What…
-
Would You Watch ’24’ for 85 Hours in a Row?
One of the running jokes in our house is that one day my son and I will sit down and watch the entire ’24’ series from start to finish. I’ll have to call the school and say tensely, “I’ll have my son back in school in 43 hours, 19 minutes and 16 seconds!” and they’ll…