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First Look: 10 Minutes Of New ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ Footage Reviewed!

traviswoods — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:57:36 +0000

Warning! Some spoilers!!

OK, Spider-Man fans, have I got some news for you: after having just left a screening of the new Amazing Spider-Man trailer (check it out) as well as about 10 minutes of new footage, I can say this: any doubts or fears about this reboot not living up to the potential, heart and scope of the first two Sam Raimi Spidey-ficks can now be dispelled. Amazing, indeed.

Given, the special screening (held worldwide in various theaters, from here in L.A. to New York, London, Rio, Tokyo and more) wasn’t of the whole film, and so a complete and total opinion cannot yet be formed. That said, we were given several extended glimpses into the lives of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, Dr. Connors/Lizard, and more, and despite all the flashy special effects (some of which were not completed, some of which were breathtaking), what really caught hold were the performances and moments between characters. The upcoming film seems to be—again, judging by the footage seen today—not just a Marvel cash-in on a popular name brand, but also a genuine attempt to translate the Spider-Man franchise into a more “realistic” and human series of films than the previous three.

Complaints? If there were any, it was that once again we seem to be watching Spider-Man fighting a good scientist whose experiments have driven him mad. Beyond that, nada. Spoilers? Well, it seems that Peter Parker’s father, and possibly his untimely death, are tied into the early history of Doc Connors; Gwen Stacy’s dead unmasks Spider-Man in front of an armed police squad in the middle of a busy city street; and we get to see Pete construct his web-slingers, as featured in the comics.

In all, it seemed as if director Mark Webb has attempted to wed the epic and dramatic heft of the wonderfully grandiose and operatic first two Spider-Man films with gritty realism of a certain Christopher Nolan franchise that has now become the yardstick for “realistic” comic book films, making The Amazing Spider-Man shoot up from a film I was mildly curious about and into a movie I cannot wait to see.

PS: The Lizard in 3-D? Gotta admit, it was the coolest thing I’ve seen on the big screen in quite awhile.

What do you think of the Spider-Man news?

‘The Hunger Games’ Giveaway — Win 2 Tickets To The L.A. Premiere!

traviswoods — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:01:14 +0000

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately—or maybe you’ve just been forced to participate in a post-apocalyptic game show in which you and 11 other teenagers battle each other to the death for the entertainment of the masses –you’ve heard of The Hunger Games, the film adaptation of the Suzanne Collins novel in which, well, see above. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, a teen who takes part in the brutal games, and is set for release on March 23^rd via Lionsgate Films.

Would like to see The Hunger Games earlier than that? Perhaps at the Los Angeles premiere, in fact? See after the jump for details on how!

Here’s how it works—in the comments wall below, tell us who your favorite character from The Hunger Games series is, and why. The writer of best response will win two tickets to the Los Angeles Hunger Games premiere on March 12, 2012! Be sure to submit your entry no later than February 22, and to include a valid email address. The winner will be announced on February 29th!

Also, be sure to swing by The Hunger Games’ Facebook page, where you can RSVP now for the Advance Ticketing Date reminder to score even more tickets to the film! Good luck to all, and we hope to see you at the premiere!

Who is your favorite Hunger Games character, and why? Be sure to enter a valid email address (we promise–no spam!)

**Winners must provide transportation to The Hunger Games premiere.

Sundance 2012: Red Hook Summer – Movie Review

Brendan Walsh — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:41:21 +0000

Spike Lee is back! He premiered his latest joint, Red Hook Summer this week at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival to a sold out crowd of 1300, and it has become one of the most talked about films of the festival. In a return to form (and Brooklyn), Lee brings back the colorful visual and storytelling style (and even a few characters!), that made him famous with Do The Right Thing. As usual, he doesn’t pull any punches, and left audiences with a lot to discuss. Check out the rest of the review after the jump…

The Players

Director: Spike Lee
Screenwriters: Spike Lee, James McBride
Starring: Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith, Nate Parker, James Ransone, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Spike Lee

Synopsis:

Flick (Brown), a 12 year old boy from Atlanta, is made to spend the summer with his Grandfather Enoch (Peters), a Baptist Bishop in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Removed from his cushy, suburban trappings for the first time, Flick gets a strong dose of urban life, and an even stronger dose of his Grandfather’s spirituality. As he acclimates to his new surroundings, Flick learns about friendship, young love, and his mysterious family history.

The Good:

Welcome Back, Spike - This film feels much closer to Lee’s earlier works, like, She’s Gotta Have It, Do The Right Thing, and Crooklyn. In fact, he even brings back Mookie, the pizza delivery man he played in Do The Right Thing for a couple of key moments. But the film’s richly colored look (Shot digitally on the Sony F-3 as well as an iPad 2), quick editing (by an NYU grad-student of Lee’s), and large cast of diverse characters, makes for an engaging story. Lee insisted, though, that this film is not a sequel to Do The Right Thing, but just a chapter in his “Brooklyn Chronicles.” Somehow, it’s nice to know that all these stories take place in the same universe.
Clarke Peters - Peters might be the most soulful actor working today. Between HBO’s The Wire and Treme, as well as his numerous supporting roles, Peters has a winning track record as far as solemn, sincere performances go. His gravitas and authority allow him to dominate the film whenever he is featured on screen. His sermon scenes are energetic and powerful, and the struggle that is rife within him is clear and dynamic. Though the story is told through the children’s eyes, the film belongs entirely to him.
More Wire Actors – Though they’re only briefly featured, Red Hook Summer also features James Ransone, who played Ziggy Sabotka in the 2nd season of The Wire, as well as Isiah Whitlock Jr., who played Clay Davis on the show. Ransone gives a particularly charming performance, in the brief scenes in which he’s featured, and Whitlock gets to deliver his trademarked line: “Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiit.” This is of no real consequence to the film…I’m just a giant fan.

The Bad:

The Kids – Now, this is not to say that the kids are bad performers, but it is to say that they’re handed a little more than they can manage. Both children have a few meaty monologues that are written so distinctly in other peoples voices, that it is clear they’re struggling to achieve their speeches’ true meanings. In fact…
The Voices – I certainly can’t fault Spike Lee for having a distinct and unique voice among other filmmakers. However, at a certain point, it sounds like almost every character is speaking as him. If he wanted to postulate in his own timbre, he could have simply left it up to his self portrayed character, Mookie (which he does, more than a couple of times). The characters all have separate traits & characteristics, but verbally, are almost indistinguishable.
Twisty 3rd Act – Now this is something that I don’t actually consider to be bad, but it seems to be the most divisive aspect of the film among audiences here at Sundance. Without divulging too much, the movie takes a hard left turn towards the end that changes the tone of the film entirely. Others seemed to find it inconsistent with the rest of the story, and that difference seems to have driven a lot of the controversy surrounding this film. But for the record, I actually enjoyed it, and don’t count it as a negative when tallying up my final score for this film.

Overall:

Spike Lee has always been an unflinching filmmaker, who makes exactly the film he wants to make. If this story were in the hands of anyone but his, it would have turned out to be a chore. However, Red Hook Summer has a strong energy and enjoyable characters that keep the story clipping along from beginning to end. As a unique coming of age story, ultimately Red Hook Summer turns out to be a film that will provoke the discussion of whether or not religion is a force that compels people to be decent to each other, or enables them to hide from their own truths.

Rating: 8/10

Sundance 2012: Celeste and Jesse Forever – Movie Review

Brendan Walsh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:37:58 +0000

The Sundance Film Festival is full of emotional relationship dramadies, but so many of them feel like writers and directors working out their emotional issues from their own relationships. By using their movies as a cathartic opportunity to whine about their breakups, they miss the chance to connect with audiences and speak to the human condition and shared experiences. But that is not the case with Lee Toland Krieger’s Celeste and Jesse Forever. The film, which stars The Office‘s Rashida Jones and SNL’s Andy Samberg, is not about the pain of ending a long, substantial relationship, but about the way we’re forced to move on and grow as a result. Check out the rest of the review, after the jump…

UPDATE: Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh review Celeste and Jesse Forever.

Celeste And Jesse Forever

Director: Lee Toland-Krieger
Screenwriters: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack
Players: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Will McCormack, Emma Roberts, Elijah Wood, Chris Messina

Synopsis:

Celeste and Jesse are the perfect couple, except for one thing: They’re divorced. Months after their break-up, they’re still best friends and living with each other. But when they realize that it’s time to move on, their lives are thrown into upheaval, and the two must reevaluate the way they view each other and themselves.

The Good:

Chemistry - Samberg and Jones are adorable together. Their comedic backgrounds allow for a quick repartee, and a natural back and forth that makes it easy to believe them as more than a couple, but great friends. But their dramatic scenes are especially strong. The way they argue never feels like a forced shouting match, but as if the two are more disappointed in what they find in the circumstance, resulting in real heartbreak. Rashida Jones has displayed broad emotional range in her TV career, but with the scope of a whole feature film her to breathe as an actress, she drives the films story and emotions with her performance.
Samberg?! – I normally can’t stand Andy Samberg. I don’t like his smug persona or his over the top, clumsy acting style. However, in this film, he is positively disarming. He is rarely playing for laughs, and turns in a shockingly natural performance. His dramatic scenes are reserved and quiet, accenting the internal confusion towards the state his character suddenly finds himself in.
Cinematography - Director of photography David Lanzenberg shot the film on the Arri Alexa, which is a high latitude digital format, allowing for great detail in high and low light situations (think Drive), and it is employed nicely. Backlit, early morning shots are evenly shaded, and dark nighttime shots are full of rich facial details. The filmmakers really took advantage of the capabilities of their camera system.

The Bad:

Subplots - There are a couple of subplots that are in fact essential to the story, but in the moment feel superfluous or unresolved. Particularly when Jones’ brand designer character tries to get back on her feet in the dating world, and when she establishes a new friendship with a combative, pop star client. Though ultimately relevant to the story, leading Jones’ character to where she needs to be, they feel a little clunky in the moment.

Overall:

Celeste and Jesse Forever ultimately stands as a testament to the benchmark relationships that define who we become as adults. Most people seem to have one especially substantial relationship before finding their true loves, and this is a story about that and the process of moving on. It has great performances from talented comedic actors (Elijah Wood’s performance as Jones’ gay assistant is especially well tempered and fun), and stands apart from the generic romantic comedies churned out by studios, as well as distinguishes itself from the pretentious, overwrought relationship dramas commonly attributed to Sundance.

Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh review Celeste and Jesse Forever:

Rating: 7.5/10

Sundance 2012: Wish You Were Here – Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:05:05 +0000

Wish You Were Here was absolutely perfect way to kick-off Sundance Film Festival 2012! It’s innovative, well made, beautifully acted and like all the best Sundance films, there’s really no way to explain it to those who haven’t seen it without ruining it. But, I will do my best to tell you about the wonders of Wish You Were Here without destroying any of this amazing film!

Too lazy to read? That’s okay! Watch my video review at the bottom of the post!

The Players:

Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith
Writer: Kieran Darcy-Smith and Felicity Price
Actor: Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Felicity Price, Antony Starr
Producer: Angie Fielder
Cinematographer: Jules O’Loughlin

The Good:

Cinematography: There is something about Australian films that have a raw, colorful, emotionally layered look to them that is perfect for indie films. Whether it’s the natural setting around them that gives them the inspiration or something in the water, this film was the perfect balance between beautiful art house and studio filmmaking — it looks great, without being overly clean, and has depth and intrigue that’s easy to watch and perfect for the story.
Writing Against the Cliches/ Surprises: Though there are a few moments that could be seen as cliched, but the way that the actors respond and the way that they reveal those moments are so new and innovative that it really gives a fresh perspectives to many old ideas.
Acting: Joel Edgarton continues to impress with film after film, and his performance in this work just shows yet another layer of his talent. Felicity Price gives a truly stunning performance and is able to capture the heart and destructive nature of her character in powerful yet small moments and reactions.
Directing: From working with child actors to the locations, to the beautiful subtitles in the relationships and complex time-line, Keiran has proved what a force he is as a director. This film had a lot of different aspects to it, and without much effort (that could be seen by the audience) was able to bring them all together beautifully.
No Superfluous Information: Everything adds up to something, there’s no extra information in this film. The mundane tasks and the small moments that at first confuse and possibly leave you thinking not much is happening, all add up to one huge finale that makes the entire journey well worth it.

The Bad:

Slow Start/Chops to Come: There were a few montages towards the start of the film that could be shut down.
Teresa Palmer’s Character: Would have liked to understand her dynamic with her sister a touch more and see her story answered just a touch more.

The Overall:

This is a hard film to advertise and the film may have some trouble making its way out into the world because of that. But something tells me, that with time and buzz, this will be one of those films that will sneak into theaters, stay there for a long time and finally end up with a number of awards to show for it.

Rating: 8.5/10 (unlike what I said in the video below)

Sundance 2012: Brendan’s Top Five Films to See

Brendan Walsh — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:05:30 +0000

Alright! It’s 2012, which means this could be the last Sundance Film Festival ever, so we’d better make the most of it! With over 100 feature narrative & documentary films being screened, as well as short film programs, panel discussions, art installations, music performances, and industry parties, it’s next to impossible to decide how to spend our time here! However, I’ve managed to whittle down the top 5 films I’m absolutely determined to see, so whatever happens beyond that will be pure gravy. Check out the rest of the article after the jump, to see what my top 5 anticipated films of this year’s fest are, and be sure to check out Mali’s Top Five Films To See At Sundance 2012 as well!

UPDATE: Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

5. Celeste & Jesse Forever

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Screenwriters: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack

Starring: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Chris Messina, Ari Graynor, Emma Roberts, Elijah Wood

Ever since I first saw her on David Kelly’s Boston Public, I’ve had a goofy crush on Rashida Jones, which has only grown as she’s developed and refined her career. She has a serene sincerity to her performance which often grounds the silliness of the comedies in which she tends to co-star. Now, she’s co-written a film about a “perfect” marriage coming to an end, and I’m truly curious to see her express herself as a storyteller, rather than a performer. I’m also very interested to see Andy Samberg, whose smug puss I usually can barely stand to even look at, playing a true character rather than a caricature.

4. We’re Not Broke

Directors: Karin Hayes, Victoria Bruce

Editor: Cindy Lee

Socially-conscious documentaries are a forte of Sundance, with such films as Restrepo, 8: The Mormon Proposition, and Waiting for Superman. But while many documentaries this year seem to focus on the human condition within the national climate, We’re Not Broke appears to be the most pointedly political. With the continued presence of the #Occupy movement, there is still a great deal of confusion and misinformation about the goals and opinions of those who count themselves among it. With any luck, this documentary will illuminate and clarify some of these points, and reveal some of the reasons behind the inequity among American economic classes.

3. Red Hook Summer

Director: Spike Lee

Screenwriters: James McBride, Spike Lee

Starring: Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith, Nate Parker, James Ransone, Thomas Jefferson Byrd

My favorite Spike Lee film is usually whichever one I’ve seen most recently. And while I’m excited to hear that he’s slated to direct the upcoming American remake of Oldboy, I’m more excited to see him going back to his roots with a Brooklyn based family story. Also, the film stars Clarke Peters and James Ransome, two of the most gifted alumni of HBO’s prolific The Wire, adding to the film’s already prestigious pedigree.

2. The Raid

Director/Screenwriter/Editor: Gareth Huw Evans

With all the high minded melodrama, and exploration of the human condition of the typical Sundance films, it’s a pleasant surprise to see a stylized action film thrown in the mix. Showcasing the Indonesian martial art Silat, The Raid appears to be a mix between Elite Squad and Attack the Block. It’s a story of an elite SWAT team storming a tenement building run by a ruthless crime lord. With the singular setting and intense action, it should provide a welcome respite from the heavy emotional themes of the rest of the festival.

1. Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie

Directors/Screenwriters: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim

Starring: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Zach Galifianakis, Will Forte

Sundance has long prided itself on nurturing and developing the careers of independent filmmakers, and while the titular Tim and Eric have had successful careers in their own rights up to this point (Adult Swim’s Tom Goes to the Mayor and Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job), this film seems to be the culmination of their cult icon status. They can only branch out and become more legitimate from here. In fact, they are both starring in another film, The Comedy, which may be a sign of things to come. But first, I plan to see this, and expect it to be better than Avatar.

So there you have it! I’m certain we’ll get to lots more movies than these, and am looking forward to dozens of other films, including narratives Filly Brown, The Surrogate, Your Sister’s Sister, Sleep Walk With Me, Black Rock, Excision, John Dies at the End, and documentaries The House I Live In, Teddy Bear, Detropia, West of Memphis, Finding North, and Shut Up and Play the Hits.

Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

Stay tuned for more highlights from this year’s Sundance Film Festival!

Sundance 2012: Mali’s Top Five Films to See

Mali Elfman — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:40:26 +0000

ScreenCrave is back at Sundance Film Festival again with Brendan Walsh, Christie Ko and myself covering, in the somewhat freezing cold to bring your some of the best indie films of 2012. The schedule is packed with what looks like numerous amazing films with phenomenal filmmakers. One of our favorite Sundance veterans is Mark Duplass (Cyrus – 2010, Humpday – 2009, Puffy Chair – 2005) who is here with four, count ‘um, four films this year and there are many newcomers that I’m sure we’ll be saying “are the REAL filmmakers” in a week’s time.

So, to break it down, I’ve picked the top 5 films that I’m excited for this Sundance 2012, which was extremely challenging. Check out the list below… and be sure to check out Brendan’s Top Five Films To See At Sundance 2012 as well!

UPDATE: Watch Mali Elfman and Brandan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

5. Chasing Ice

Director: Jeff Orlowski
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe
Producers: Jeff Orlowski, Paula DuPré Pesmen, Jerry Aronson
Cinematographer: Jeff Orlowski

Synopsis: In this breathtakingly beautiful documentary, filmmaker Jeff Orlowski follows National Geographic photographer James Balog as he brings to life the Extreme Ice Survey (EIS)—a massive photography project that placed 30 cameras across three continents to gather visual evidence of the Earth’s melting ice.

Why I Like it: Paula DuPre Pressman, who produced the award winning documentary The Cove, is back with another poignant and important film.

4. Wish You Were Here

Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith
Screenwriter: Kieran Darcy-Smith and Felicity Price
Producers: Angie Fielder
Cinematographer: Jules O’Loughlin
Actors: Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Felicity Price, Antony Starr

Synopsis: Two expectant parents join their younger sister, Steph, and her new boyfriend, on an impromptu tropical getaway in Cambodia that goes terribly wrong when one of them disappears. After, the survivors attempt to return to their normal lives in Sydney, but their recovery begins to fall apart when a stinging truth about their time in Cambodia is revealed.

Why I Like it: Every year at Sundance I’m blown away by what up and coming Australian filmmakers bring to the table. They have a way of presenting raw, colorful, vibrant and emotional films from interesting perspectives, unlike filmmakers from almost anywhere else in the world. That joined with an amazing. The director, Kieran Darcy-Smith, who is more known for his acting in Animal Kingdom and The Cave, is premiering as a feature film director with a stunning cast. Can’t wait to see what they come up with!

3. Robot and Frank

Director: Jake Schreier
Screenwriter: Christopher Ford
Producers: Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord
Cinematographer: Matthew Lloyd
Actors: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Peter Saarsgard

Synopsis: Set sometime in the future, Robot & Frank is a delightful dramatic comedy, a buddy picture, and, for good measure, a heist film. Curmudgeonly old Frank lives by himself. His routine involves daily visits to his local library, where he has a twinkle in his eye for the librarian. His grown children are concerned about their father’s well-being and buy him a caretaker robot. Initially resistant to the idea, Frank soon appreciates the benefits of robotic support—like nutritious meals and a clean house—and eventually begins to treat his robot like a true companion.

Why I Like it: First time feature filmmaker with a high concept idea, a character driven plot and one hell of a cast! Bit of comedy, bit of emotions, if done well, what’s not to be excited for?

2. Safety Not Guaranteed

Director: Colin Trevorrow
Screenwriter: Derek Connolly
Producers: Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Stephanie Langhoff, Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly
Cinematographer: Benjamin Kasulke
Actors: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni

Synopsis: Three magazine employees are sent to investigate a personal advertisement placed in the newspaper: guy seeking partner for time travel. They venture to the coast and set up a haphazard surveillance. Darius is recruited as the shill; her dry wit and cynical nature are perfectly suited to trap this enigmatic oddball, Kenneth, and get a good story. But it is she who first sees past the paranoid loner façade to the compelling person inside. The drawback? This still doesn’t rule out the possibility that he just might be crazy.

Why I Like it: Again, a high concept idea that revolves around character, but this time based on an actual true event that you may have seen sent to you in a mass e-mail a couple of years back. Plaza and Duplass, are both great comedians, with a subtle yet extremely effective delivery. I’ll likely see all of Duplass’ films and I didn’t want to put him on the list more than once, but it’ll be great to see him in his numerous films at the festival!

1. Red Lights

Director: Rodrigo Cortés
Screenwriter: Rodrigo Cortés
Producers: Adrián Guerra, Rodrigo Cortés
Cinematographer: Xavi Giménez
Actors: Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones, Leonardo Sbaraglia

Synopsis: Two investigators of paranormal hoaxes, the veteran Dr. Margaret Matheson and her young assistant, Tom Buckley, study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origins. Simon Silver, a legendary blind psychic, reappears after an enigmatic absence of 30 years to become the greatest international challenge to both orthodox science and professional sceptics.

Why I Like it: Time to get dark and dramatic! This is what Sundance is all about! One of my favorite, memories from Sundance 2010 was Rodrigo Cortes film Buried. He’s a phenomenal director, with a great eye for detail. It’s a shame he didn’t use his old cinematographer Eduard Grau, but I’m sure Xavi Giménez, best known for The Machinist will be able to capture Cortes vision.

That all coupled with Cillian Murphy leading the film with a phenomenal supporting cast including Elizabeth Olsen who blew audiences away with her performance last year in Martha Marcy May Marlene and I think we may have a winning combination!

Other Must See Films:

The Comedy
For Ellen
Nobody Walks
I’m Not a Hipster
Goats
Finding North
The Last Elvis

Watch Mali Elfman and Brandan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

Check back soon for reviews and more!

The Top 10 Most Berserk Computers In Film

traviswoods — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:50:33 +0000

Computers. As is the case with sentient robots, cinema has warned us repeatedly that the instant we give our Macs, iPads, X-Boxes and missile defense systems the ability to think on their own, that’s pretty much the end of humanity as we know it. Film after film, from sci-fi warnings to horror fantasias to action adventures, self-aware computers have been portrayed as instantly godlike beings who quickly recognize the obsolescence of human beings, and become hell-bent on our destruction (often sending California governors back in time to assassinate our teenage saviors). In fact, there have been so many berserker computers in cinema that we were able to cull together a list of our favorites—in the insane-computer-genre, these baddies rank as the best.

10. The Ultimate Computer (Superman III, 1983)

Ok, usually, in the berserk computer genre, it’s the computer that’s totally insane. There are, however, exceptions—such as the case in Superman III, in which it is the film itself that is, for lack of a better term, nuts. Imagine this: Supes foils new villain Ross Webster’s plans to control the world’s coffee bean supply (seriously, it gets even better). In a rage, Webster hires tech wiz Richard Pryor (really) to generate some Kryptonite, which accidentally splits Superman into two men—a “good” Supes and a bad “Supes.” Pryor then builds the Ultimate Computer, a device which should be able to zap both Supermen with a Kryptonite ray and kill them (deep breath, this is only half the madness). Pryor then changes his mind at the last minute and destroys the Ultimate Computer’s Kryptonite ray, and so the computer does the only logical thing—it eats Ross Webster’s sister and spits her out as a killer cyborg in the film’s most deranged scene. Yes, you read that right—ate her, and digested her as a cyborg. You just can’t top that.

9. ARIA (Eagle Eye,2008)

Let’s be honest—Eagle Eye is pretty overwhelmingly terrible. Its ridiculously convoluted story would take up about half this post, what with it’s tale of ARIA (that’s Autonomous Reconnaissance Intelligence Integration Analyst, to you), a self-aware missile defense system that can control any networked device in the world (from cell phones to automated construction cranes) that decides to wipe out the entire executive branch of the U.S. government because the president willfully bombed civilians in the middle east. What makes ARIA a keeper, then? Her ultimate goal (for reasons too confusing to go into here) includes the murder of Shia Labeouf and his twin brother. Two dead Shias for the price of one movie? Bless you, ARIA, bless you.

8. Queeg 500 (Red Dwarf, 1988)

In the oddball sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, we watch the cast and crew of the Red Dwarf starship get by with their “intelligent computer,” Holly. However, when Holly’s inefficiency (due to “computer senility”) puts the crew in danger, the back-up computer system, Queeg 500, kicks in to bring some efficiency to the RD. However, Queeg’s style leaves a little to be desired—he forces the crew to scrub the ship before any food will become available, and morning workouts become mandatory. After seemingly killing Holly, Queeg disappeares—turns out he was just a prank pulled by Holly, who wanted to teach the Red Dwarf crew a lesson about appreciating a slightly less efficient (but much less insane) computer.

7. Master Control Program (Tron, 1982)

Come on—it’s the original Tron. And it’s the villain, which is also cool. And it’s voiced by David Warner, which is even cooler. And it decides to—of course—take over the world because it can run things “900 to 1,200 times better than any human.” And it’s a giant spinning red face! So, to recap the MCP: Tron, bad guy, David Warner, world domination, big weird spinning head. How awesome is that?

6. Proteus IV (Demon Seed, 1977)

Scientist creates Proteus IV self-aware computer system to cure leukemia. Proteus IV grows and learns at an exponential rate. Proteus IV kidnaps scientist’s wife. Proteus IV (deep breath) impregnates scientist’s wife. Seriously, you just have to see it to believe it. Oh, and you’ll probably want to take about 50 showers afterwards.

5. “The Machines” (The Matrix franchise, 1999 – 2003)

There’s no real name for the collective of self-aware machine baddies who, after a prolonged war with humanity, eventually succeed and begin harvesting humans for the energy our bodies naturally generate. They did give a name for our prison, however—The Matrix, an artificial reality that keeps humans under control by allowing them to believe that they are living out their lives in the late 1990s. We see a few faces of the enemy throughout the franchise—from the evil, insane Agent Smith (who goes from policing the Matrix to attempting to control it) to the arrogant and pompous Architect (the program which designed the Matrix itself). And while the last couple of films in the series were major fumbles, the original Matrix—and the ominous, mysterious artificial intelligence that was behind it—remain high-water marks of sci-fi cinema.

4. WOPR/ Joshua (WarGames, 1983)

In WarGames, early ’80s teen hacker Matthew Broderick hacks into a computer system that he thinks is related to the video game industry, and begins playing several of the games, including one called Global Thermonuclear War. One problem, however: Broderick didn’t hack a gaming company, he contacted a self-aware system belonging to the U.S. military called WOPR (War Operation Plan Response), and WOPR isn’t playing any game—Global Thermonuclear War is a real program, and WOPR thinks that it is now at war with Russia. Broderick must then convince the entire U.S. military, along with the WOPR’s creator (who refers to it as “Joshua”) of what has happened, as well as convince WOPR/Joshua that it kinda sorta isn’t really totally necessary to go and start World War III, and to pretty please not obliterate Russia. An instant 80s classic.

3. V’Ger/ Voyager 6 (Star Trek: The Motion Picture, 1979)

In what is probably the most fascinating back story in this list, V’ger began life as Voyager 6, a 20^th century NASA probe. One day, Voyager 6 flew into a massive black hole and ended up on the other side of the universe, where it encountered a planet populated only by “living machines.” Assuming that the primitive probe was some kind of kindred spirit, the machines programmed Voyager 6 (which they called V’ger, as the “oya” in Voyager was obscured by space-dust) to “learn all that was learnable,” and, once that was accomplished, “return to its creator.” So V’ger spends a few hundred years with an infinite storage capacity learning everything there is to know about the universe, becomes self-aware, and generates a forcefield cloud around itself the size of half our solar system. Then it decided to return to Earth to find its creator, which V’ger assumes is God. Instead, V’ger finds William Shatner’s hairpiece and Leonard Nimoy’s fake ears and decides to wipe out the Earth in a rage. All of which is yet another reason why we probably shouldn’t let our PCs get too religious, apparently.

2. SkyNet (The Terminator franchise, 1984 – 2009)

Really, Arnie said it best in Terminator 2:

In three years, Cyberdyne will become the largest supplier of military computer systems. All stealth bombers are upgraded with Cyberdyne computers, becoming fully unmanned. Afterwards, they fly with a perfect operational record. The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes online on August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware 2:14 AM, Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug.

After that, SkyNet nukes, well, the whole planet, and deals with pesky resistance leader John Conner by sending cyborgs in the past to murder him as both a fetus and a teenage boy. Then SkyNet decided the best way to torture and destroy humanity would be by releasing some of the most awful sequels to great films ever, Terminator3 : Rise of the Machines, and Terminator: Salvation. Humanity has yet to recover.

1. HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968)

Come on—you knew Hal would be No. 1 on this list. An AI computer onboard a spaceship bound for Jupiter in a mission which may lead to the discovery of extraterrestrial life, Hal runs the day-to-day operations of the vessel. When the crew discover there may be a flaw in Hal’s circuitry, the smooth-talking computer does what any living would try to do—protect itself. However, Hal goes the extreme route, and decides killing the entire crew would be the smart way to go, before he begins to go a bit insane. But hey, when he finally does get shut down, he shuts down in style, singing a showtune as he slowly powers down. Both sympathetic and disturbing, Hal is king of the crazy computers.

What is your favorite out of control computer in cinema?

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A Very ScreenCrave Holiday/ Year-End Roundup

traviswoods — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:34 +0000

Well, gang, it’s just about time to call it quits for 2010, as Christmas is just around the corner, with a New Year soon to follow. But, before we slip off to gorge ourselves on eggnog, we thought we’d take a moment to recap not only our myriad of Christmas lists and coverage, but the most popular ScreenCrave posts of the year, as well. With that in mind, after the jump we’ll list the links to all of our holiday stories and lists, as well as our top stories, reviews, and interviews of 2011. It’s been a pretty good year, and we’re looking forward to seeing you in 2012 (assuming the apocalypse doesn’t hit—we think there was maybe a movie about this).

Merry, Merry X-mas: Christmas/ Year-End Lists

Top Reviews of 2011

Top Interviews of 2011

Top News/ Lists of 2011

What were your favorite ScreenCrave moments of 2011?

The Best Oddball Christmas Films To Watch During The Holidays

traviswoods — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:00:45 +0000

Christmas. It’s a time in which families huddle together around the warm, bustling glow of the fireplace, with the mantle framed with rows of stockings the TV set as we nod off from half a gallon of eggnog and some turkey. And, in keeping with that tradition, we here at ScreenCrave have cobbled together a list of our favorite unusual Christmas films—not A Christmas Story or It’s a Wonderful Life or any other of the more obvious picks; rather, it’s our favorite oddball X-mas movies, the films that somehow catch our attention every single year, even if they aren’t exactly the most appropriate holiday fare.

So, with that in mind, dig our list after the jump, and get your Tivo ready to line these up for some Christmas Eve viewing (also, and perhaps it’s a generational thing, or maybe it was the impressive amounts of blow Hollywood execs were inhaling back then, but all of the best weirdo Christmas movies came from the 1980s. Go figure).

5. Trading Places (1983)

Taking us back to those halcyon days when Eddie Murphy was actually brilliantly funny, and when Dan Aykroyd was letting us all know he was still alive, John Landis dropped the comedy masterpiece Trading Places on an unsuspecting world. Taking place over the holiday season in 1980s Philadelphia, the film is a witty, decadent, hilarious and charmingly vulgar update of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, in which hotshot brokerage director Danny Aykroyd is forced to switch places with homeless street hustler Eddie Murphy, and both must survive as a fish out of water in the other man’s life. As Aykroyd becomes suicidal and driven into the arms of a hooker with a heart of gold, and Murphy goes from being a ribald street thug to a slick power player, it may not sound like a family classic, but Trading Places is one of the funniest flicks you’ll catch on TV all Christmas long.

4. Scrooged (1988)

A modern, semi-meta take on A Christmas Carol, Scrooged finds Bill Murray as a black-hearted TV exec at the height of his cynical, soulless career, during the rehearsals for his live TV adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. And, just like in that Dickens classic, Murray is visited by three ghosts who show him where his life went off track, and how he sacrificed true love for material wealth. But just in case that sounds a little too typical of Christmas schmaltz for you, don’t worry—Murray is in his full-on 80s smartass mode, all while being chased around by rotting corpses, insanely violent pixies, and Death itself, as he simultaneously struggles to staple some fake antlers onto a mouse’s head for his TV special and avoid network TV censors. Dark, wacky Christmas fun.

3. Christmas Vacation (1989)

Probably as much of a Christmas tradition in suburbia as opening presents on December 25th, viewing Christmas Vacation during the holidays has become a kind of unavoidable yuletide habit. The story of a brutally inept and occasionally foulmouthed father (Chevy Chase in a slightly smarter Homer Simpson mode) trying to survive the ultimate staycation as his parents, his in-laws, his children, his bitchy yuppie neighbors, his idiot cousin, a monstrous dog, a berserk squirrel and a full-on SWAT team converge upon his house over Christmas, Vacation is nothing short of a holiday classic. Sure the language is risqué, and it’s probably the only holiday classic to feature electrocuted cats and exploding sewage lines, but hey—that’s what surviving Christmas with a giant family feels like.

2. Gremlins (1984)

It doesn’t get much better than this—Joe Dante directing a Steven Spielberg-produced, Chris Columbus-penned gem about Gizmo, the most adorable little pet ever… and the truly horrifying, reptilian and murderous gremlins that Gizmo accidentally gives birth to. Playing like a live action episode of Looney Tunes (except all the cartoon characters are determined to murder you with household items before taking in a showing of Snow White), Gremlins truly is an utterly insane film. It’s also a classic that, inexplicably, the whole family can somehow enjoy—and when a film’s comic highlight is a played-totally-straight monologue about a child who discovers her dead father dressed as Santa and wedged in the chimney, that’s really saying something.

1. Die Hard (1988)

The recipe: It’s Christmas in Los Angeles. Hard-headed NYPD cop John McClane is visiting his estranged wife at the Nakatomi Plaza corporate high rise. German terrorists take over the building to raid its vaults, and manage to take everyone but McClane hostage. McClane runs around over broken glass with no shoes and a machine gun, and one seriously bad attitude.

As good as full-on ‘80s action films get, Die Hard is both an instant action and holiday classic. Coasting on the sheer charm of Bruce Willis as McClane and Alan Rickman as his smooth-talking nemesis, Die Hard has everything you could want from a Christmas film: Bruce Willis tossing bad guys from a high rise roof, blowing up public property, pissing just about everyone off, and letting loose with some stellar one liners (“Yippee kai yay, mother f*****,” anyone?). You’ll spend all of Christmas morning repeating “Now I have a machine gun. HO-HO-HO,” to as many relatives as you can after watching this holiday winner.

What’s your favorite odd holiday film?

ScreenCrave’s Top 20 Films of 2011

Mali Elfman — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:00:58 +0000

2011 was the year of the indie. The majority of adaptations and blockbusters all fell completely flat, and numerous big studio dramas were missing that something special. Normally I’m one to say that every year is a great year, but this is no There Will be Blood Vs. No Country for Old Men, or even Moon Vs. Inglourious Bastards. That being said, the end of this year has been packed with award-worthy films and Sundance seemed to produce a number of films that made it big throughout 2011.

20. Ides of March – Dir. George Clooney

This film had such potential to be a top 5 film, but sadly, just barely made the list. The film itself was good, but lacked in depth and complexity. That being said, there are some moments in this film, far superior to the others on this list, including one hell of a monologue-off between Ryan Gosling and George Clooney towards the end of the film. Luckily when these two guys go to steal the show, they do it well.

Read Ides of March Review

19. Trust – Dir. David Schwimmer

Who knew Schwimmer had it in him? This was one of those films that few people really wanted to go see, because of the subject matter, but it was actually extremely relevant, timely and interesting. It not only discussed rape, but also the effects that it has on an entire family, and the unexpected responses that it draws out of people. Truly a fascinating piece of filmmaking if you can stomach it, with many stunning performances.

18. Contagion – Dir. Steven Soderbergh

Don’t touch anything! Few films can’t illicit such a strong response from its audience as this one. It was hard not to run from the theater because of all the germs around you, while at the same time, they’re dying to see what’s next (hopefully not literally). This was Soderbergh playing fast and lose, and it was fun to go on the ride. Thankfully he had Matt Damon to anchor down the film, and really give it the heart that took it from thrill ride to a meaningful piece of filmmaking.

Read Contagion Review

17. Moneyball – Dir. Bennett Miller

This was the film that brought in the Fall and reminded us all that films aren’t only made to entertain us, sometimes there’s that little something more that warms our heart and possibly even teaches us a thing or two. This was one of the first meaningful films of the year, that was finely made and an easy pick for everyone.

16. Shame – Dir. Steve McQueen

Provocative, innovative and starsring Michael Fassbender, a man who has three films on this list. He must be a lucky charm of some sort. The film is by far the most scandalous on the list, mainly due to its subject matter, NC-17 rating, and a whole lot of nudity. That being said, the film is poignant, strong and undoubtedly has paved the way for other films to talk about “sex addiction.”

Read Shame Review

15. Bridesmaids – Dir. Paul Feig

Wait, women can be funny too? Let’s face it, there were a lot of bad comedies this year, especially within the studio released arena. Not only was this the best broad comedy of the year but it also helped remind us of comedic female power. And that there are more funny women out there than just Tina Fey!

Read Bridesmaids Review

14. X-Men: First Class – Dir. Matthew Vaughn

Out of the many half-assed blockbusters this summer, this was the only one that really stood out as a quality film, with fine acting, interweaving subplots and a story-line that actually added up to something. This was one of the only comic book adaptations that really felt like a film instead of just a wash of special effects.

Read X-Men: First Class Review

13. My Week with Marilyn – Dir. Simon Curtis

It’s hard not to just see this film as an Oscar device for Michelle Williams, but if it was, she played the game well. The film did what any good bio-pic does, it showed us the Monroe that we didn’t know, the one that made her reach for the stars and eventually perish too young. Williams was amazing, but even more amazing was the stellar supporting cast that really brought this film to life.

Read My Week With Marilyn Review

12. Beginners – Dir. Mike Mills

This was a small film, that seemed to get over-looked for the most part, but really deserved some attention. Visually and conceptually, the film took a number of creative risks and dealt with a number of heavy topics with a sense of meaningful levity. It was meaningful and yet not overtly dark. It definitely is a “small” but great film.

Read Beginners Review

11. Buck – Dir. Cindy Meehel

Another Sundance darling that was so popular at the festival that Buck himself had to give up his own seat. Buck’s dedicated his life to helping horses and healing people. This a film where you will not only be transported into a life that is likely not anything like your own, but much like Buck, it has a subtle and unpretentious way of teaching you a thing or two about your own life while watching it.

Read Buck Review

10. Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil

I saw this film at Sundance two years ago and was waiting for its release for years, only to see it never get the attention it fully deserved. This is the best comedy of the year, highly underrated, but well worth your time in theaters. It plays on stereotypes in a new way and will have you laughing the whole way through.

Read Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil Review

9. Midnight in Paris – Dir. Woody Allen

Here is a filmmaker who loves making film and you can literally smell it on the screen. This is Woody Allen at his best, playing with a fun idea and really indulging in the art of cinema. From the music, to the settings, to the colors and the concept, this was a brilliantly made film all around.

Read Midnight in Paris Review

8. Red State – Dir. Kevin Smith

The indie film that pushed all the boundaries and said fuck you to the system. Not only was it a film worth remembering, but the film itself it a story worth following. With its mix of graphic violence and witty one-liners, this film gets both big laughs and big jolts. It walks that magical line of horror and comedy and does it well. Plus, Michael Parks gives probably one of the best performances of the year.

Read Red State Review

7. Senna

I hate car racing and sports, I just don’t get them, and yet I loved Senna. They were able to beautifully capture the heart-ache, stress and drama that goes into car racing in a way I never thought possible. They do a wonderful job at always keeping the story balanced and somehow managed to give a pulse to stock footage like I’ve never seen before — impressive.

6. Take Shelter – Dir. Jeff Nichols

This is one of the best examples of how to take a high concept and run with it. This is quite possibly, the most beautiful film of the year. The way they managed to not only capture the scenery in a beautifully informative way, but also visually portray the psyche of a man on the verge is nothing short of stunning. This is one of those films that seems near impossible to portray on the big screen, and yet with the right vision, it’s breathtaking.

Read Take Shelter Review

5. Win Win – Dir. Thomas McCarthy

Sweet. Simple. Truly wonderful filmmaking here. Extremely well written, acted and executed. This film sets the bar for all other comedic dramas out there. Win Win is simple but not dumbed down and smart without being preachy. The film perfectly walks the line of drama and comedy without ever losing momentum and most importantly doesn’t rely on any romantic undertones or cliches to help it! It’s a high class Rom-Com!

Read Win Win Review

4. The Guard

Some of the best dialogue of the year. You don’t need to go big to be remembered, sometimes you just need a simple story and to tell it well. This is a definite must-see film, packed with action, comedy, suspense, and proper macho charisma. Brendan Gleeson’s character completely absorbs you from beginning to end and leaves you wanting more. And it’s sure to leave you with numerous one-liners to quote for some time!

Read The Guard Review

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Yes it’s a remake, but it’s also David Fincher, who is able to take just about any source material and put his own finger print on it. It’s edgy, risky, and at the end of it, you’ll know you just saw something worth remembering.

2. A Dangerous Method

Now this is a FILM in the true sense of the word with beautiful sets, an immersive story, and Viggo Mortenson at his absolute best. It’s one thing to talk about indie filmmaking, it’s a whole other thing to watch the masters at work. Though Keira Knightley pushes a bit much at the start, this is a great film, that leaves you knowing you just saw something worth remembering. And this marks Fassbender’s third time on the list.

Read A Dangerous Method Review

1. Martha Marcy May Marlene

The little indie for the win! Yes it has fine acting, filmmaking, the whole package, but the reason it’s my #1 pick, is because it sticks with you long after it’s over and leads you into so many interesting debates with others. It’s one of the must stressful watches of the year, that literally will have your stomach churning from start to finish, but it’s also one of the most intense and interesting films that’s come out.

Honorable Mentions: Project Nim, Submarine, Tree of Life, Anonymous, Hesher, Beautiful Boy, Born to be Wild, Source Code, Another Earth, We Need to Talk about Kevin
Haven’t Seen (but heard were amazing!): Young Adult, I Saw the Devil, The Skin I Live In, Hugo, Real Steel, Descendants, Certified Copy, Margaret

So that’s it for the year! Let us know which films you loved in the comments below!

The Adventures of Tintin – Movie Review

Damon Houx — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:00:22 +0000

With The Adventures of Tintin, Steven Spielberg has finally decided to play with some of the newest toys of cinema, and in his first motion capture film, he revolutionizes the format. Moreso than Avatar, here Spielberg is let loose to play with the camera as he sees fit, and you can see an invigorated director who’s able to stage sequences in ways that would be unimaginable in live action. And that’s enough to make it a must-see.

The Players:

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Steven Moffatt, Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish
Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Music: John Williams

The Plot:

After purchasing a antique minature ship, Tintin (Bell) is targeted by Ivanovich Sakharine (Craig) and his minions. The ship holds a secret and Tintin uncovers it with just enough time to be kidnapped and put to sea. There he meets Captain Haddock (Serkis) a drunk with a connection to that mystery. It seems if three pieces of a puzzle are put together, a treasure will be revealed. And it turns out that Ivanovich and Haddock’s family have a long standing grudge.

The Good:

Spielberg’s Camera: Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest working directors, and the man has always been one of the most technically proficient filmmakers in the history of cinema. Here, unmoored from having a practical camera, he’s able to do things that just aren’t humanly possible in live action. From a spectacular one-shot action sequence, to how he moves a camera on a boat, it’s like watching a maestro given everything he’s ever wanted. But even the introduction of Tintin via his famous hair is a delight. The man is just that good.
Andy Serkis: Though Jamie Bell’s Tintin is more avatar than action star, Serkis’s Captain Haddock is a delightful character who goes from fall down drunk to avenger of a family legacy. It’s a fun role, and he makes the best impression of the cast, though Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are charming as the bumbling Thompson twins (yes, the band was named after them).
That One Shot: Seriously, there is no better action sequence this or any other year than the one shot of Tintin and Haddock trying to get a scrap of paper as a broken dam sends water flooding down on them, and bad guys are chasing them. Spielberg’s sense of action in films like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has never left the master, and it’s one of those shots that left me cackling in delight.
Sense of Adventure: It’s easy to say that this is better than the last Indiana Jones film. But it’s also fair to say that it’s better than the last two Indiana Jones films.

The Bad:

Tintin, Kinda Boring: If there’s a problem with the film it’s that as an adult this doesn’t have the sort of lead that’s exceptional. Tintin is a young reporter who’s not a total blank, but is meant to be an audience surrogate for the children in the audience. The script does what they can with the character, and it’s a fun movie and story regardless, but if the film has one drawback, it’s that the main character is a bit of a blank.
Sequels: The film treats a follow-up like a an afterthought, and though the film works on its own merits, it’s still the shortest theatrical film Spielberg has ever made. It’s nice that the film’s reasonably tight, but the ending undercuts some goodwill by insisting there will be more.

Overall:

Robert Zemeckis blanched at the idea that Motion-Capture movies are animated films, but if they are, then Tintin is easily the best animated film of the year. It’s a ridiculously entertaining film that never outstays its welcome.

Rating: 8.8/10

The Adventures of Tintin hits theaters December 21.

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20. Ides of March – Dir. George Clooney

19. Trust – Dir. David Schwimmer

18. Contagion – Dir. Steven Soderbergh

17. Moneyball – Dir. Bennett Miller

16. Shame – Dir. Steve McQueen

15. Bridesmaids – Dir. Paul Feig

14. X-Men: First Class – Dir. Matthew Vaughn

13. My Week with Marilyn – Dir. Simon Curtis

12. Beginners – Dir. Mike Mills

11. Buck – Dir. Cindy Meehel

10. Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil

9. Midnight in Paris – Dir. Woody Allen