Another Earth - Coming July 20, 2011

Director
Mike Cahill

Main Characters
Rhoda Williams - Brit Darling
John Burroughs - William Mapother

While this movie has already premiered to high praise at the Sundance Film Festival, it will open in the US at large on July 20.

When a duplicate earth is discovered, a young woman sees the possibility of a new start, after something terrible that she did.

Its kind of a succinct plot line, but this doesn't diminish my interest in this movie at all. It looks like its going to be a beautiful, emotional journey that explores the choices we make, how we deal with them, and the possibilities that could be if we really could wipe the slate completely clean and start over.

Colombiana - Coming September 2, 2011

Director - Olivier Megaton

Main Characters
Cataleya Restrepo - Zoe Saldana

Of course there are other characters in this movie besides Cataleya, but its pretty easy to see from watching the trailer that this story is all about her.

At 9 years of age, Cataleya Restrepo, the adult version of whom is played by Zoe Saldana, witnesses the murder of her parents, and grows up to be a 'stone-cold assassin.' The trailer doesn't tell you a whole ton about the plot, I suspect because, 1) its pretty easy to figure out, and 2) I think this movie is going to be all about the butt kicking action, and a lot less about plot. Seems to me, this broken young woman has a pretty obvious vendetta, revenge.

I first saw Saldana in Stomp the Yard which is one of my favourite movies, but to be honest, I've yet to see her in anything that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. We got to see a great comedic side of the 33 year old actresses side in Death at a Funeral. However, in looking at her more recent projects, it is very easy to see that Zoe Saldana really likes to play bad ass chicks. In Avatar, The Losers, and even her less physical role in Star Trek, she loves to play a strong woman, and good on her!

If the trailer is any indication, this movie is going to kick some serious butt, but I`m also looking forward to seeing Cataleya`s emotional journey, showing the softer, more veunerable side of Saldana`s acting chops.

Melancholia Update

Someone posted a comment on my original post for Melancholia that it was going to be released on May 26th. Now, according to imdb.com, this movie will, in fact be released in Denmark on May 26th, and in several other cities in Europe in the following weeks and months. However, I have not yet found any definitive date for the North American release of this end of the world drama.

One site I looked at did indeed say that Melancholia is scheduled for a limited US release on May 26th, but two other sites say that the release will not be until November 4th.

I'm personally skeptical that after acquiring the rights for Melancholia back in February, that Magnolia Pictures is going to be releasing the movie State side at the same time the it opens in its first city in Europe.

If the person that left the comment that it was going to be released May 26th in the US can confirm his or her source, that would be great. But for now, I don't have a definite answer for the North American release date for this movie.

The Conspirator - Coming April 15, 2011

Director - Robert Redford

Main Characters
Frederick Aiken - James McAvoy
Anna Surratt - Evan Rachel Wood
Sarah Weston - Alexis Bledel
Marry Surratt - Robin Wright
Reverdy Johnson - Tom Wilkinson

The Lincoln Assassination is one of those historic events that will always live in infamy, but like so many other events like this, most don't know the entire story. The Conspirator is a movie that will tell one such story.

After the assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested, charged with plotting to kill the President, Vice-President and the Secretary of State. 42 year-old Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), the only woman charged owns a boarding house where the John Wilkes Booth and the others met and planned the attacks. These events take place just after the US Civil War, an ominous time in US history. New lawyer, Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) a 28 year-old Civil War hero reluctantly becomes Surratt's lawyer at the military tribunal.

From the trailer, it seems pretty obvious that at the beginning, Aiken believes, whole-heartedly that his client is guilty, and deserves whatever is coming to her, but as the trial goes on, he begins to think that his client may just be innocent. And not only is she innocent, but the proscecution is using her as bait to try and catch the one conspirator who got away, Mary Surratt's own son John Surratt.

Other names to note in this movie are Evan Rachel Wood as Anna Surratt and Alexis Bledel as Sarah Weston, who appears might be Aiken's love interest. The cast of this movie leaves absolutely nothing to be desired, and I'm looking forward to some great performances.

It will be very interesting to see just where this story goes, especially since its true. I think its going to be a great court room drama, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing it.

Thor - The God of thunder

Saw the midnight showing of Thor last night, and I'm not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed.

When you look at the other Marvel movies, especially those leading up to the Avengers movie, Thor just fell a bit flat for me. It seems to me that rather than make a really, really great movie, the entire point of Thor was to introduce the character for the Avengers project.

The story line was predictable, and lacked depth. Sibling rivalry, arrogant young heir that needs the be taught a lesson, learning that lesson in the last place he really wanted to be. I mean, come on Marvel. After awesome movies like The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man, I expected a lot more from Thor.

Not to say there weren't some good things about it. I thought Chris Hemsworth's performance as Thor was really great, and no, not just because he's smokin' hot. His range of emotion was really something, and completely believable. Arrogance, pride, disappointment, disbelief, courage, gallantry, love and affection. But in true Thor form, never fear, and every second of it, effortless. I think Chris Hemsworth has a ton of talent that we're just seeing a tiny glimpse of in this movie. He has two more movies coming out this year, and I'm hoping that when I go to do the research on them, I find that they are more meaty, complicated roles. I have no doubt that he can more than handle it.

Natalie Portman is always a superb actress, but I'm not sure she was the right choice for this role. I mean, it was interesting to see her as a kind of, love struck, giggling girl in the face of Thor's charm, but to be honest, there wasn't a ton of depth in the character, and I can't help but wonder if the role might have been a little to easy for an actress of her abilities.

As I suspected, Asgard was beautiful, opulent and rich in detail. From the wide shots of the realm as a whole, to the interiors of the buildings, to the cinematography, Asgard was everything I hoped it would be. Absolutely stunning. What amazing places that can be created with green screen.

Before the Avengers movie comes out, we have Captain America to consider, and my opinion, after seeing Thor, is that its going to have to be a hell of a lot better to keep my interest in the Avengers movie high.

Oh, and again, if you're don't already know from the previous Marvel movies, stay until after the credits!

Fast Five

So, although my boyfriend and I went to see the midnight screening of Fast Five opening night, my computer's been a bit on the fritz, so I'm borrowing a friend's computer until I can get a new one, so I can get this blog back on the move.

To say they out did themselves with Fast Five would be an understatement, as far as I'm concerned. The explosions were bigger, the chases more difficult and the story line at least a little stronger.

There seemed to be a lot more depth with this movie than the previous Fast movies, but on further reflection, I don't think it was so much about being  a better script, as it was the fact that there were just so many characters. The banter between the old friends, and new acquaintances was hilarious, especially Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Ludacris).

I felt that the story line had a little taste of The Italian Job in it, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  The ultimate plan of how they made off with the money was very clever.

As expected, the fight scene between Dominic (Vin Diesel) and Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) was bone crackingly awesome. The entire dynamics of the relationship between the two was very interesting.

I noticed quite a number of women in the theatre when I went to see Fast Five and I would say that we females were just as into the movie as our male counterparts.

Some movies are challenging to blog about when you are not willing to give anything away. What I can say to you is this, if you haven't seen it yet, STAY AFTER THE CREDITS! In the very short scene the plays after the credits roll, there are not one, but two twists that there was absolutely no way I could have seen coming, and they are good!

This is easily my favourite movie in the Fast franchise, however, for those of you who are interested in seeing Fast Five and haven't seen the other four movies, I would say that you're definitely not going to enjoy it as much. The vast majority of the humour in the movie will go completely over your head if you're not familiar with the relationships between the characters.

So, in short, it was a great movie in relation to all the others, and definitely the strongest for me, but I don't think its great on its own. Enjoyable? most definitely, but not great without its predecessors.