Results tagged “simonpegg”

              

On many Tuesdays, the pickings are slim among the new crop of DVDs. And then there are days like today where the bounty is almost too rich. Where better to start than with JJ Abrams' re-start of the Star Trek franchise. Did anyone not like this movie? You know, except for those people who automatically don't like things because they're popular. In other news, there may not have been a funnier movie this year than Humpday. There definitely wasn't a funnier scene than the dinner table revelation between Josh Leonard and Alycia Delmore. Is the number one rule about the Fight Club Blu-Ray DVD that we don't talk about it? That wouldn't make sense. Sure, Bruno wasn't as funny as Borat but the swinging dick scene was priceless.

J.J. Abrams' reboot of the Star Trek franchise soared past expectations to bring in a huge $76.5M this weekend at the box office. Early tracking had pegged a $50-60M haul, but the well-reviewed film blew past those estimates. Last week's champ, Wolverine, endured an expected, precipitous drop but still managed to bring in $27M ($129.6M). The awful Ghosts of Girls Matthew McConaughey Used to Bang held up fairly well in its second week to score $10.4M ($30.2M) while Obsessed gathered an additional $6.6M ($56.2M).

The early word has been so good on Star Trek that I'm actually starting to get a little nervous that my expectations are too high. Despite the great reviews for Star Trek, however, I have no doubt that Outrage is the best film opening this week (LAist review here). If Atom Egoyan makes a film, I go see it. Simple as that. Adoration is his latest work, starring the very underrated Rachel Blanchard. Loved Mos Def in Be Kind Rewind; love Donald Faison always, but not sure I'll care for Next Day Air. Seems a little...broad.

Presaging the imminent arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, ($5M/$5.5M).

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist looks like an ideal date movie for confused and annoying teens. The presence of the awesomely talented Michael Cera, however, insures my aged presence. Beverly Hills Chihuahua looks so awful that it will probably be hilarious. Stoned. I don't much like Bill Maher, but I do like that Bill Maher exists and has a platform on which to vent his spleen. That said, Religulous feels an awful lot like fishing with dynamite. I mean, making fun of the devoutly religious? Is this really cutting edge material?

While the new DVD set of may have been the worst movie of the year. Poor, brilliant Michelle.

Brutal Massacre: A Comedy

Even though the book on which it was based was infinitely better than the resulting movie, the quasi-racist 21 still managed to dominate the weekend box office in its debut. It pulled in a healthy $23.7M, easily outdistancing the resilient ($5.8M/$20.2M).

Ten years from now we may look back at 300 as the movie that heralded the final shift away from the star-driven, mega-budget blockbuster paradigm. In an increasingly risk-managed world, why not spend 60 million dollars on a whole movie instead of 25 million on Tom Cruise or one of the Wills? Hot Fuzz signals the definite arrival of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg that was so strongly hinted at in Shaun of the Dead. Ray Harryhausen fans should be stoked about the new release of the legend's 20 Million Miles to Earth. Paulo Costanzo fans should feel likewise about Everything's Gone Green. Maybe. Me? I'm all about The Archie Show.

Hot Fuzz - The guys who made the brilliant zombie spoof Shaun of the Dead, writer/director Edgar Wright and co-writer/star Simon Pegg, reteam for Hot Fuzz, what looks to be a hilarious spoof on the police thriller. Jealous colleagues have London's best cop (Simon Pegg) transferred to the peaceful village of Sandford, where he is partnered with an enthusiastic but witless police officer (Nick Frost) who longs for gunfights and car chases to break up the monotony of small-town policing. When the pair stumble upon a series of suspicious accidents, it looks like Sandford may not be such an idyllic burg after all.