Who is Watching the Watchmen? We ALL will be in February!
2 comments Published by Jeff on Friday, July 25, 2008Synopsis:
The moving story of a Hungarian mapmaker and his dying memories of the romance that tragically alters his life...No... That was The English Patient.
Watchmen, directed by Zach Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead), is based on the incredibly popular graphic novel of the same name. Set in 1985 (prehistory for some of you, Senior year of high school for me), it is the story of an alternate America where crimefighting superheroes are real. When a retired colleague is murdered, masked vigilante Rorschach discovers a plot to kill or discredit all superheroes. As he rejoins his former crimefighting legion, he discovers a vast conspiracy with links to their pasts and dire consequences for the future.You may notice in the trailer that the World Trade Center is visible in the New York Skyline (right there behind the owl-shaped ship). It's not an error. Remember, I said 1985. I stood on top of one of the damned things in '85. Nice view, but I don't recall seeing any owl-shaped objects flying out of the Hudson. Oh yeah, alternate timeline.
This trailer gave me chills. I have very high hopes for Watchmen. Reports indicate that Snyder has tried to remain faithful to the original material. Regrettably, I never read the graphic novel but I plan to right away. In the mean time I have started viewing the Watchmen Motion Comic, the first issue of which is available for free from iTunes. I'm not sure if the other 11 issues will also be free but it is an easy way to get caught up on the Watchmen mythos before the film is released.
"Their mission is to watch over humanity... but who is watching the Watchmen?"
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Man, was I ever excited to go see Shine a Light. Martin Scorcese doing a documentary about the Rolling Stones with concert footage shot at an intimate concert at the Beacon Theatre in NY shot by a legendary team of cinematographers and directors of photography. All this great footage playing on a huge IMAX screen, could it get any better?
Before we get into that, let's highlight the positive. There will never be a better seat available for a Rolling Stones show for $12.50--ever. Scorcese assembled sixteen 35mm cameras and one HD Genesis camera to capture this unique concert. This front row seat gives you a concert experience that's just not possible in real life. It's a trule awesome concert experience.
The film has gotten a lot of heat for being more of a concert film then a documentary but for me, that makes sense on IMAX. I can watch a documentary on TV and be happy. What Scorcese got right was capturing the on-stage magic and projecting it onto the big screen. The show was documented with total accuracy, at times to it's detriment.
Where the concert worked best is when Buddy Guy took the stage. The energy was so electric it was irresistible. Same goes for some of the classics tunes like Jumping Jack Flash, and Brown Sugar. Unfortunately, for me the show peaked early and the last half of the film dragged a little--more as a result of the concert performance than the editing and cinematography which brings me to what went wrong.
As I mentioned earlier, the concert was shot with sixteen 35mm cameras--not IMAX cameras. The recent trend in bringing Hollywood movies to IMAX is being done using IMAX DMR technology. As wonderful as this may sound, it's no substitute for the real thing. Shots that may be a little soft on 35mm go completely out of focus on IMAX. No matter what the press releases say, the grain of 35mm is much more apparent on IMAX and a little fleck of dust becomes huge and distracting after being blown up to a 60 foot screen.
Obviously, I'm no fan of this process. If you have ever sat too close to a DMR IMAX release, I don't have to tell you how miserable that experience can be. Couple that with highlights that were way too blown out during the first few songs and repeated shots that were completely out of focus and it's hard to believe there was so much talent behind the lens. Of course, when the music is at its best, it's easy to get swept away and be a little more forgiving of the technical faults.
All in all, it's an awesome experience that I definitely recommend. There are very few bands that can rock as hard as the Stones, and I can't imagine any that could rock that hard in their 60s. From a technical standpoint, U2 3D has set the bar so high it will be difficult for any IMAX experience to measure up. Regardless, it's still the best seat in the house for what can only be described as a slice of rock and roll history.
Written by Michael Samstag for KnoxvilleFilms.com
Knoxville Showtimes at Regal Pinnacle.
Related Posts:
Shine a Light on IMAX!
$1 Movie Reviews: U2 3D
$1 Movie Reviews: Iron Man
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Marvel Comics, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Jeff Bridges & Iron Man? This will either be a brilliant fantasy or a nightmare.
I was bored, hanging around the house, Friday and realized that Iron Man had started it's theatrical run. I almost ran to my car to get to the new (well, new to me) Regal Riviera Theater downtown. I ponied up the dough for my ticket, popcorn & coke (or soda, pop, dope - depending on where you live; here, it's all coke). Since I had chosen a matinee, I got a great seat. I was treated to some amazing looking trailers for all of the other superhero movies coming out in the next few months. Then the thrills began.
The opening scene was hilarious, thought-provoking and frightening. Downey seems to adopt the character of Tony Stark effortlessly. Somehow, the idea of a hard-drinking, womanizing industrialist being played by a hard-drinking, womanizing actor doesn't seem that far fetched.
Jeff Bridges portrays Obadiah Stane nearly perfectly. I found myself trying hard to not like the bad guy of this film. He is a great actor, maybe so much so that I will think of "The Dude" every time I see him. Still, a great performance.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays the same sexy, sassy bitch that she seems to attempt in every film. Luckily, she is just cartoonish enough that it sort of works here.
Terrence Howard give a strong performance as Stark's military liaison, Jim Rhodes. I would have liked to have seen his character developed a little more but I am sure we will get a whole lot more of Rhodes in the next installment of the series.
Iron Man is a typical comic book adaptation in a lot of ways. It also breaks the mold in spots. I am DYING to give away the ending but refuse to include spoilers. All I will say is - stay through the credits... it's worth it.
Related:
Iron Man, Knoxville Showtimes
'Iron Man' Trailer To Be Adapted Into Full-Length Film
Iron Man TV Trailer
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First off, let me say on the record that Knoxville Films has been and will continue to be a proud supporter of the Secret City Film festival and that I consider Keith to be a fine documentary filmmaker and a friend. I'll add to this disclosure that I am not a film critic but a documentary filmmaker myself.
That said, I have just finished watching The Clinton 12 on PBS (Tivo to be more specific) and I was moved and inspired by the story. When I went to public schools in Connecticut in the 70's and 80's the schools were completely integrated and despite living in Knoxville for ten years now I had only limited knowledge of Clinton's role in public school integration and the civil rights movement as a whole.
In previous docs, Keith has taken subjects as expansive and complicated as the Manhattan Project and presented them in such a way that historians and laymen alike are able to comprehend and appreciate the enormity of the story and come out richer for the experience. In The Clinton 12 McDaniel's tells his most powerful story to date with powerful first hand accounts accented by a wealth of archival footage.
It's a story of a nation divided and a community united. It's a powerful film that illustrates how the strength of a community can impact an entire nation. Fifty years later it acts as a cautionary tale to show how far we have come and how far we still have to go.
More importantly, in my eyes, it's a great example of how one filmmaker can cast a spotlight on a nearly forgotten but pivotal moment in our nation's history. A story that could only be told by a filmmaker who grew up near that community and refuses to boil the argument down to simple sound bites and allows the story to be told by the people who lived it and were changed by it.
Every day our history is being written and re-written and this revision of history rarely focuses on the hard moments in our past. There's a tendency in our culture to sweep the awkward historical events under the carpet. The United States has never apologized for our history of slavery and the story of civil rights that is taught in our schools does not do credit to the children like those of the Clinton 12. These 12 kids did not choose to make history but were thrust into it by forces that must have seemed incomprehensible and frightening at the time.
The documentary is informative and entertaining without becoming preachy or sentimental. It's a powerful and incisive story that should be required viewing for every student in this country. If you didn't happen to catch the show on PBS, you can purchase the DVD at www.thesecretcitystore.com. By purchasing a DVD you are not only getting a great documentary film, but you are also helping to support a great documentary filmmaker.
Written by Michael Samstag for Knoxville Films
View the trailer:
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This is really a $12.50 Movie Review as that's the price of the new U2 3D movie at Regal. Let me start out by saying that this is the third 3D movie I have seen this week and I can be a little critical of 3D when it's not done right.
Luckily, it was without a doubt a rockin' visual feast and as good of a concert experience as you'll ever have without actually going to see U2 live in concert!
This past weekend I saw the Bug's Life 3D movie at Animal Kingdom and the Muppet's 3D movie at Hollywood Studios. They were both very clever and good, solid entertainment but both tended to use 3D as a gimmick rather than as an art form. The U2 3D IMAX Movie takes IMAX to a new level. Pun intended.
Gone are the 3D effects that appear to reach out and touch your nose. The 3D element was only another way of feeling that you were a part of the performance--that they were actually in front of you live and you had the very best seat in the house. The 3D never distracted from the show and the show was awesome!
If you fancy yourself any kind of U2 fan--you must go see this movie! I was shocked that the theater was nearly empty. I would have guessed there were more people in Knoxville who loved both U2 and Imax. I have seen dozens of Imax Movies and this was one of the best I have even seen. By far, it was the best use of 3D to date. 3D compositing and graphics were used with eye grabbing dramatic results.
Don't trust me? Here's what other critics are saying:
Variety: "...the lensing is so vibrant and the music so buoyant, even nonfans may find their eyes popping and their heads bobbing."
Cinematical: "...a striking up-close-and-personal view of the iconic band running through a greatest hits set list to a raucous outdoor stadium audience..."
NY Times: "...the first Imax movie that deserves to be called a work of art."
Related Posts:
Regal Entertainment Group Offers U2 3D Concert Movie at 16 IMAX Locations
U2 3D IMAX Trailer
Is it an "Action/Adventure"? Yes.
Is it a "Monster Movie"? Sort of.
Is it "Sci-Fi"? Sure.
Is it a "Thriller"? Definitely.
Is it a "Romance"? A little too much.
Is it "Cinema Verite"? blaheeocchh!
J.J. Abrams is reported to have said that "Cloverfield" is "a monster movie for the YouTube generation". I think I would have enjoyed it more in a tiny window on my tiny laptop. During the slow (character exposition) scenes the camera work feels as if Godzilla were attacking "The Office". During the action scenes it can be as gut-wrenching as reviewing footage from day 1 of a community college Video Production Technologies class. Mostly, watching this excessive camera movement on a theater screen made me queazy.
I am trying very hard not to include spoilers in this review. This is going to be hard for me because most of the moments I liked about the film contain pivotal scenes, for which descriptions would give away away valuable plot-points (redeemable for cash and prizes at the Knoxville Films kiosk, coming to a theater near you).
The plot of "Cloverfield" reminds me very much of the little known 1988 film "Miracle Mile" starring Anthony Edwards. With its apocalyptic story-line and Tangerine Dream soundtrack, "Miracle Mile" is a lost 80's classic and should be seen by everyone.
Oh shit, wrong review.
I really do understand the use of the "camera as first person" style of storytelling. Abrams and Co. did a fine job of making intentionally bad camera work blend with sensational CG. I read an IMDB review which said that the monster appears in 90 seconds of this 84 minute film. As a longtime monster lover (please don't tell my mom; the prayer group has enough to do), I was a little disappointed that it didn't get more screentime. When it did appear, it seemed like a guy you wouldn't want to get drunk with.
In the "Monster" genre, "Cloverfield" doesn't rank as high as "Alien" but higher than "King Kong Lives". I can't wait to buy the DVD. I think I could handle watching the camera movement on my home screen. I would welcome the ability to pause and slo-mo the action so as to prolong the antagonist's screen presence. I will probably spend more time in the bonus features, especially the "Making Of" section.
My Recommendation: See it in the theater if you are not prone to motion sickness. If you are, definitely buy the DVD.
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I must admit, I was skeptical walking in to see Cloverfield. Months of insane internet hype and concern over the "Blair Witch' style of shooting had me going in expecting not to like it, at least not like it much.
Wow was I wrong! I can't remember the last time I had so much fun in a movie theater! It was as much of a ride as movie and one that was both suspenseful and funny at times. And all of the hype about the monster--well it was well deserved. It was one hell of a monster.
Anyway, don't take my word for it--here's what some of the big movie blogs and websites are saying about Cloverfield:
/film
Cinematical
Film School Rejects
First Showing
LA Times
NY Times
The Movie Blog
Rolling Stone
USA Today
Variety
Related posts:
Movie News: Cloverfield Opens Today
What is Cloverfield?
Check Out Some of the Viral "Prequel" Promotion For Cloverfield
Movie News: Cloverfield and Harry Potter
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Go see Juno!
As you may know from earlier posts, Juno has started to appear on lots of the "Best of 2007" movie lists and was Roger Ebert's #1 pick of the year. I'm not sure I would go so far as to call it my favorite film of the year (still the Darjeeling Limited) but it's definitely a top contender!
Juno features a wonderful ensemble cast of actors. Ellen Page is irresistible in the lead as Juno. I could go on and on about the fantastic acting but it's really the script and the dialogue that steals the show. It's hard to imagine a hilarious script about a knocked up 16 year-old, but that's exactly what the writers pulled off.
In the end, it's a feel good piece but don't let that keep you from seeing it, it's sweet but not in a Hollywood saccharin sweet way, it's sweet in a chocolate chip cookie that your mom cooked sorta way.
If you only have $8.75 to spend on movies this month--spend it on Juno!
Final verdict: 98-cents out of a possible $1!
What the critics are saying:
Written by Michael Samstag for Knoxville Films.
Showing at Regal Cinemas Downtown West--click here for Fandango show times.
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MOVIE REVIEW - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
7 comments Published by Jeff on Friday, December 28, 2007
I feel I must apologize for the tardiness of this review. It has been a week since I saw the film but with Christmas parties and all, I just haven't found time to post it till now.)
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is the latest addition to an over-the-top, irreverent, sometimes predictable and often hilarious genre which is populated by such films as Anchorman, Old School and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Walk Hard makes use of almost all of the conventions that have made its predecessors so successful.
Throughout the screening, I found myself expecting Will Ferrell to make his entrance. It never happened, but when Dewey (performed colorfully by Ferrell’s NASCAR co-star John C. Riley) discovers PCP and runs down the street in his underwear I felt as if I had seen the gag before. When he then starts throwing mailboxes through storefronts and flipping cars with his bare hands, the potentially tired joke became fresh and funny again.
The stellar cast is populated hilariously with SNL alums Tim Meadows, Kristen Wiig and Chris Parnell. The list of stars playing cameos is a long one. Jack White (of The White Stripes) plays Elvis while Jack Black (Tenacious D), Justin Long (Mac vs. PC), Paul Rudd (Knocked Up) and Jason Schwartzman (The Darjeeling Limited) portray the Beatles. Frankie Muniz (Malcolm In The Middle) appears as Buddy Holly. Jenna Fischer of The Office steals the show as Dewey’s one true love, Darlene Madison.
The film also has more than its share of music stars playing themselves. You will see Eddie Vedder, The Temptations (minus Smokey), Jackson Browne, Ghostface Killah, and Lyle Lovett, among many others.
The film is full of memorable moments and quotes. I suspect that we will be hearing lines of dialogue repeated in the weeks and months to come. Among them will be lines like:
Edith: “It's against the law to be married to two people at the same time!”
Dewey Cox: “What about if, if you're famous?”
and
Doctor: “This was a particularly bad case of somebody being cut in half.”
I found myself amazed at John C. Reilly’s singing chops. On the title track “Walk Hard”, he manages a respectable Johnny Cash. On other tracks he seems to channel Roy Orbison. I even found myself feeling as if I were listening to Porter Wagoner on the song “Let’s Duet”. The songs themselves, while often humorous, are not parodies of famous songs. I have a feeling that one or two of them may take on a life of their own on the popular charts.
While movies of this type will not appeal to everyone, I really enjoyed the experience. If you are over 18 and enjoy screwball comedies and/or musical biopics, I highly recommend “Walk Hard”.
Knoxville showtimes for Walk Hard.
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Movie review: National Treasure 2: Book of Boredom
1 comments Published by MSamstag on Thursday, December 27, 2007
For those of you who have read my previous reviews, you may realize by now that I don't generally hand out many bad reviews. That trend stops today. Let me start by saying that I went to the Regal Pinnacle theatres to see "Charlie Wilson's War" but it was sold-out so we saw NT2 instead. I actually really enjoyed the first National Treasure movie and was eager to see the sequel especially given all the long list of great supporting actors. Well, great actors aside it was a boring, uninspired (though beautifully shot) waste of time. I was fighting to stay awake and considered leaving early. In retrospect... I should have darted earlier!
Bottom line: I give it a ten-cent review out of a possible $1.
Here's what some of the critics are saying:
There's lots of other great movie to go see this month but if you don't believe me and want to suffer through it anyway here's showtimes at the Regal Pinnacle from Fandango: http://www.fandango.com/nationaltreasure:bookofsecrets_102902/movietimes?location=37922&date=
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If Jon Krakauer's book, Into the Wild, were the text of choice for a college class on how to learn about the world, then Sean Penn's adaptation of that book would be the first reference to support the text.
It is, without hesistation, the most significant and accurate adaptation I have ever seen. If you have read the book and are wondering what to expect from the movie, here it is: it is the rest of the story, laid to bare, it is literary and moving. It takes its time when necessary, yet never drags. It is exciting and beautiful.
Like another chapter, it adds layers to the story that you didn't expect and gives way to the accuracy already vested in the written form. Every location was a perfect representation of what my mind's eye had seen when reading through the story.
Chris goes Into the Wild looking to find himself and in this unforgiving setting he finds forgiveness. Emile Hirsch sells himself wonderfully, he gives grace to the words and fills the screen with elegance reminiscent of classic hollywood actors.
I am surely overdramatizing a story that has been told before and sure Chris and his sister Carine may use pretentious language that we've heard somewhere before. Somehow I found it easily forgiveable, remembering that in my youth I thought every new thought I had was an original thought. ("Society? Society! Society?! Society!...)
I get along with my parents, I have my share of material possessions and I am not going on an Alaskan adventure anytime soon, but there were other connections that made me wonder if I was living my life to its fullest. Can we be adventurous and never leave the confines of domestication? Maybe, if this statement were true, "The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences." - McCandless
Hal Holbrook, William Hurt and Vince Vaughn played their respective parts to a "T" never overshadowing, but each working in sync with Emile. The beautiful natural surroundings on the other hand, were often bigger than any of the characters, but I suppose that was the point Chris was trying to make about nature being better than people.
I would be remiss if I did not make mention of Sean Penn's dutiful hand in making this masterpiece. His persistence is what ultimately got this film made and is to be admired. The book was one that I passed to many friends, those who were going on adventures and those who just needed a life lesson about hope and the beauty of living. The movie will likely be much the same.
If you have not seen this film then stop whatever you are doing and go see it.
Scott W Lee
"When you want something in life, you just gotta reach out and grab it." - McCandless
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$1 Movie Reviews: The Simpsons Movie
RATING: 94.5¢ out of a possible $1
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Total Running Time of movie = 87 minutes, $6.50 at Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18 (matinee), + $4.50 for a medium Diet Coke + $.50 medium popcorn (for being a Regal VIP) = $11.50/87 = 13.22¢/minute = A FINE VALUE!
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: For the one person on the planet who is not familiar with the Fox Network's animated series, "The Simpsons" debuted in 1987 as a series of short segments on "The Tracy Ullman Show". In the years that have since ensued, the Simpson family has had 18 years and 400 episodes of adventures. The movie version is filled with the characters that the rest of humanity have come to know and love. This stand-in reviewer enjoyed the film immensely, however I was left wondering why James L. Brooks chose this particular storyline to make into the Simpsons' big screen debut. My conclusion was that it was simply so that Homer could flip unpixelated middle fingers and to give Marge the opportunity to say "goddamn". Otherwise, I would have enjoyed the film just as much on the small screen. Having said that, I am still humming the Spider Pig theme quietly to myself.
PRODUCTION VALUE: While Mr. Brooks and his well seasoned team have served up the populace of Springfield as we know and love them, their environs and, indeed the town itself, have had an extreme CGI makeover. As a great fan of the series, I found myself sometimes looking at the backgrounds of the scenes rather than the characters and storyline.
This is an important film that every American should see... no wait, that was "Sicko". I feel the same way about "The Simpsons Movie" and, like "Sicko", it could be enjoyed just as much on TV.
SHOW TIMES: The Simpsons Movie at Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18
Review by Jeff Reed, Knoxville Films
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BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Total Running time of movie = 110 minutes, $6.50 at Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18 (matinee), + $4.50 for a medium Diet Coke + small FREE popcorn (for being a Regal VIP) = $11.00/110 = 10.00¢/minute = GREAT VALUE!
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Pixar has another instant classic on it's hands. This film is a great love story--and the love is between a rat and his love of food. It's a love story that will hold your attention from the first frame of the movie to the last frame of the credit roll. Don't be foolled by the G rating--this film is as much for grown ups as it is for kids--as always there are lots of funny moments that will go over most kid's heads.
PRODUCTION VALUE: I'm not sure I believe in the idea of perfection but this is a movie that is so beautifully created you will find yourself wondering if they used any real locations or objects (they didn't). Paris plays an important backdrop to the movie and it's a Paris you will never see again. The matte paintings are simply stunning. Watch the way fur and water are rendered and you will swear they used motion capture.
Ratatouille is as perfect of a movie as you are likely to see this summer, or perhaps even this year--go see it!
SHOW TIMES: Ratatouille at Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18
Review by Michael Samstag, Knoxville Films
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RATING: 90¢ out of a possible $1
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Total Running time of movie = 113 minutes, $6.25 at Regal Downtown West (matinee), + $4.50 for a medium Diet Coke + $5.50 for a medium popcorn = $16.25/113 = 14.38¢/minute = GOOD VALUE!
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Michael Moore once again takes on a subject matter that could be depressing, the healthcare industry, and turns it into a funny and even heart warming story. While it is still a one-sided look at the subject matter, I can't imagine many people who would take exception with what the film has to say--why don't we take better care of our own citizens? Why is the system broken and why isn't anybody trying to fix it? Despite this seemingly depressing backdrop, Moore comes up with his most entertaining film to date. A film that every American should see.PRODUCTION VALUE: In the past I would've had to beat Moore up in this department, but this film is well shot, superbly edited, and brilliantly scored. Gone is the blown out shaky cam, intern-shot footage. Add a decent HD transfer and you have a film that actually looks pretty good from start to finish. It's not the best looking doc I've ever seen but it's certainly not the worst either.
All in all, Sicko was a very enjoyable and thought provoking film that I would absolutely recommend to anyone.
SHOW TIMES: Sicko at Regal Downtown West Cinema
Review by Michael Samstag, Knoxville Films
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RATING: 95¢ out of a possible $1
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Total Running time of movie = 117 minutes, $1.50 at the Windsor Carmike Dollar Theater, + $3.75 for a small sprite = $5.25/117 = 4.48¢/minute = DAMN GOOD VALUE!
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Take equal parts, Braveheart, Sin City, and Gladiator, mix to a bloody froth and you have Frank Miller's latest inspiration--300! As a professed movie snob, I am generally the first person to get bored by long battle scenes and lots of blood and guts but 300 kept my attention for the entire 117 minutes. The story is based on the actual battle of Thermopylae from 480BC but don't let that scare you, there's more than enough violence, rock and roll, and sex to hold your interest! All in all, I was expecting to not like this movie and was pleasantly surprised to fully enjoy it.
PRODUCTION VALUE: Every last frame of this movie is quite simply gorgeous. The cinematography, visual effects, and score combine to make a rich pallete the likes of which I have not seen before. The battle scenes are rendered so beautifully that the graphic impact of the blood and gore is minimized and you are left enjoying the spectacle. Once you stop trying to figure out how it was shot and composited, you can sit back and really enjoy the ride.
Show times: 300 at Carmike Movies 7
Review by Michael Samstag, Knoxville Films
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