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Highest Rated Reviews:
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June 20th, 2006
 Tag Line: Inspired by the true story of Vince Papale
Release Date: August 25, 2006
Synopsis: Based on the true story of Vince Papale, a Eagles fan and bartender in Philly. This movie follows his ascension from super fan to Eagles player when the Eagles open the stadium for tryouts.
Trailer Review: A typical “nobody” makes good film from Disney set to tug at your heart strings. The trailer has a gritty feel to it that captures the essence of the setting. We are quickly shown a personal side of Vince and can empathize with his desire to play for the Eagles. The plot is totally handed away in the trailer which hurts the overall effect.
The Trailer Verdict: Go rent this on DVD or catch it in the second run theatre. At o fault of his own Mark Walhberg’s latest flick is predictable and edging into stale. I definitely recommend seeing this film somewhere outside of a $10 ticket because Mark Wahlberg does put together a good performance and the story is sure to have some great moments. Thinking of football movies, go rent Any Given Sunday!
Plugs: 1 Disney
Trailer: Invincible Trailer
Movie Verdict: Coming Soon!
[tags]Invincible, Disney, Mark Wahlberg[/tags]
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June 15th, 2006
A few days ago my esteemed colleague published a review of Snakes On A Plane for Previewpundit.com. While Jake normally has impeccable taste in movies I will have to take a highly opposing role on this one. I mean the man hasn’t even seen Pulp Fiction, seriously get on that one.
Snakes On A Plane is set to be a cult hit that does well in the theatre, is that even a possibility. I mean, how can you not go see Samuel L. Jackson on a plane with snakes. Samuel L. Jackson sums it up greatly with the following quote, “I’ve had it with these mother fucking snakes on this mother fucking plane!” Can’t you feel the rage and vindication in the quote? This summer you need to go see Snakes On A Plane!
Jake, I Quadruple Dog Dare you to go see this movie! Can you really turn down the Quadruple Dog Dare! Readers, sound off, Snakes On A Plane, smash hit or blockbuster bellyflop? Let us know in the comments!
[tags]Snakes On A Plane, Quadruple Dog Dare[/tags]
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June 12th, 2006
Review by Jake
Release Date: August 18th, 2006
 Tagline: Relax. They’re first class fliers.
Synopsis: On board a flight over the Pacific Ocean, an assassin, bent on killing a passenger who’s a witness in protective custody, lets loose a crate full of deadly snakes.
Trailer Review: Umm…well, since there isn’t much in the movie, there really isn’t much to show. The official preview is a black screen with white letters that says “the summer blockbusters…are all missing one thing…Snakes on a Plane.” Then there is 10 seconds of plot where they show CGI snakes going after passengers, Samuel L. Jackson has a gun on the plane (red flag! red flag!), and the pilot, along with 90% of the passengers, get biten and probably die. The trailer does not divulge any other plot or why there are Snakes on a Plane. It is far too short, and should be seen as a warning sign as to why NOT to see this movie.
Trailer Verdict: Stay away from this movie. I can’t believe that Hollywood is so out of ideas that Snakes actually got made. If an assassin wants to kill someone, he should do it himself! 1.) If you want to survive yourself, don’t put the snakes where they can kill you too. Which I will bet $100 is how the movie ends. The plane lands, everyone who survives thinks all is well, the assassin jumps out to kill the target himself, and a giant snake that he loosed will be his end. And I haven’t even seen the movie! 2.) If you want to survive, don’t let the snakes get to the pilot! Hello!! That is a no-win situation. 3.) I can’t believe an assassin can get a crate full of snakes on a plane, but can’t get a make-shift gun or a tooth floss container to strangle the target with on board. 4.) Even the most deadly, aggressive snake on the planet is not going to come out of a hiding place that is dark and quiet (like the cargo hold) to go into a place that is bright and full of people (the passenger compartment), and it certainly isn’t going to work together with snakes of different species. In the preview they show 20 different snake types creating mischief together. I don’t think so. 5.) The tagline is the dumbest tagline of any movie ever made. EVER. EVER!!
Movie Verdict: Stay away from this movie. I can not stress that enough. Don’t see it, even if someone else pays for your ticket. Even if someone else DARES you to go, resist the temptation and do something constructive for the next 2 hours, because if you watch this movie, do not come asking for 2 hours of your life back because I warned you and you wasted it anyways.
Plugs: 0
Trailer: Snakes On A Plane
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June 9th, 2006
Release Date: June 23rd
Review by Jake
 Tagline: How far will we go in the name of security?
Synopsis: Part drama, part documentary, The Road to Guantánamo focuses on the Tipton Three, a trio of British Muslims who were held in Guantanamo Bay for two years until they were released without charge.
Trailer Review: For a second I thought this was a Michael Moore film. Cuts from interviews with political leaders, immediately into shots of contradicting evidence…oh wait, these are actors and this is a movie. This isn’t real, documentary footage. This is what two guys think it was like there. I haven’t been their either to disprove what is being said, but when making a “mockumentary”, it gives you liberties with the truth.
Trailer Verdict: This is a call to all Amnesty International members, all liberal leftists, and all communists. This is your movie. I am not abdicating the treatment that is used, if in fact it is consistent with this film. But remember the 3000 Americans (thats right Americans) that were killed innocently on 9/11/2001. I am not going to get on my soapbox or anything, but if nothing gets done, which is what the directors and fan base of this movie want to happen, then we are going to be subject to another attack. Its time someone made a movie that supports America, the country that gives you the freedom to be a decentor, instead of tearing it down.
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June 7th, 2006
 Release Date: July 7th Limited
Tag Line: Everything is not going to be ok
Synopsis: Set in a future world where America has lost the war on drugs, an undercover cop, Fred, is one of many agents hooked on the popular drug Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities. Fred, for instance, is also Bob, a notorious drug dealer. Along with his superior officers, Fred sets up an elaborate scheme to catch Bob and tear down his operation. Movies.Yahoo.com
Trailer Review: A Scanner Darkly appears at first sight to be a visually alluring film that stars Keanu Reeves, after you get past the God is Keanu in another alternate reality matrixesque film; you see that it looks amazing. A Scanner Darkly is well drawn, yep drawn the movie is in a cartoon form, a grown up cartoon form. The plot is not revealed in whole but enough is put out there to tease the audience. The movie is predictable in the same sense that the Da Vinci Code was predictable. See the film is based off of a book written in the late 70’s by Philip K. Dick. Keanu along with Robert Downey Jr, Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder deliver a killer performance that is guaranteed to entertain.
The Trailer Verdict: Go see this movie, travel to a nearby town hitchhike to New York, it doesn’t matter how far you need to travel. This is the must see film of the summer. The trailer leaves plenty of gaps in the plot but delivers just enough to get me interested in seeing this flick.
Plugs: 1 Warner Independent Pictures
Trailer: A Scanner Darkly Trailer Apple.com
Soundtrack: A Scanner Darkly Soundtrack
Showtimes: Limited Release
Movie Verdict: Coming Soon!
Want to Fund this Review? $10 will allow you to advertise on this post, and the followup review of “MOVIE NAME”.
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June 1st, 2006
Review by Jake
 Release Date: July 28th
Tagline: No Rules (wow. Original AND descriptive. How did we get so lucky?)
Synopsis: Vice detectives James Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs take on the Florida drug world. (IMDb.com)
Trailer Review: Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx play undercover detectives who infiltrate a drug ring to try and take it down. Or to try and take it over, I don’t know for sure. The trailer suggests that Crockett (Farrell) takes “it” too far, so far in fact that his superiors wonder if he is still a police officer or a drug cartel leader with a badge. He and Tubbs (Foxx) fight, shoot, car chase, and airplane chase (a first I think) their way to the top (of the preview), but the preview doesn’t tell you where the movie ends. Do they remain cops and take down the drug ring, or does it take a twist and they turn evil for the long haul. Or does the movie really end here or is their a sequel in the works (probably). When a trailer is vague, I always wonder if there is something the movie creators do not want you to know; either an incredible twist that makes the movie, or that their movie is terrible.
Trailer Verdict: The trailer its self was a vague descriptor of the movie. No shown real story line except that they are cops and they are undercover in a drug ring. No known (specific) conflict, nor any hints that the drug dealers know they are cops, which usually is a good conflict in a movie. I think the movie is trying to be sold by name power (everyone knows the name Miami Vice), cast power, director power, and nystalgic 80’s lovers who miss the show and want to see the movie.
Movie Verdict: I don’t see a real reason to see this movie. Ever. I’m not gonna say it is badly acted or directed. What I am saying is that 2 hours after it starts, is there anything I am going to have gained by seeing it? No outstanding action sequences, no original plot, no deeply philisophical moments, no down-right hilarious antics or quotable lines. $20 and 2 hours is asking alot for a remake of a terrible 80’s show that was better off with Don Johnson. Even $1 when it comes out on DVD is too much, says I. Bad Boys (rented for $1 at your local video store or on TBS every weekend) is a better movie to see instead. It brings more to the table (action, comedy, and a decent plot), and is similar in so many ways; two cops in Miami fighting a drug cartel, car chases, etc.
Trailer: www.Apple.com
Plugs: 2 From Director Michael Mann, who brought you “Collateral” and “Heat” (10 years ago).
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May 29th, 2006
 Release Date: February 16th 2007
Tag Line: None Yet?
Synopsis: The Ghost Rider feature film follows superstar motorcycle stunt rider Johnny Blaze as he strikes a deal with the vile Mephistopheles for the most precious of commodities - his immortal soul. Now Johnny Blaze is forever destined to ride night after night as the host to the powerful supernatural entity known as the Ghost Rider. (2k games press release)
Trailer Review: The best Nicholas Cage movie since Face Off. Why you ask because Nicholas cage’s head is replaced with a fiery skull. Back to the merits of the trailer, while I am sure comic con goers will point out the faults in this review the trailer lacks a push for me to see the movie. I mean seriously Nicholas Cage plays a troubled main character, is that anything new? The few transformations that are shown both Cage and his bike look great and the effects are torn form a blockbuster Ghost Rider falls short.
The Trailer Verdict: Ghost Rider can enthrall fans of comic books with Johnny Blaze marauding through the nite on his motorized horse but the film is destined to fall the way of the Hulk and make its way to TBS quicker than Bubble Boy’s ascension to Comedy Central. If the Kristin Johnson(casting) and Mark Steven Johnson(producer) had chosen a newcomer to play the role of Johnny rather than an actor known for corny acting(Con-Air) and for playing a troubled character(too many to list), the movie could have been an early 07 smash. Finally a little more back story to Johnny Blaze would go a long way, and if done right could net the movie a little redemption.
Plugs: 2 Columbia and Marvel
Trailer: Apple.com
Soundtrack: N/A
Showtimes: N/A
Movie Verdict: Coming Soon!
Want to Fund this Review? $10 will allow you to advertise on this post, and the followup review of “MOVIE NAME”.
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May 29th, 2006
Review by Jake
Release Date: June 23rd
 Tagline: His son. His life. His freedom. He’s taking them all back.
Synopsis: An ex-convict (Tyrese) gets tangled up with a gang after his car is hijacked with his son inside. (IMDb.com)
Trailer Review: Interesting story line. Tyrese, whose character name is “(the letter)O2″, is a recent parolee. He gets car jacked, with his son inside the car. His son’s name is, and I am not making this up, Junior. Junior? Seriously. Anyways, a bad guy by the name of Meat (did you expect anything better, I mean look at the other character’s names) gets the kid from the carjacker and ransoms him back to Tyrese for $100k. So Tyrese and a female con artist by the name of Coco (Wow.) rob some banks to get the money. The trailer shows some car chases, a few fights, a few gun fights, and some pretty real life gang war moments. Believe me, its not the Jets and the Sharks squaring off. And don’t even ask if there is any dancing or snapping fingers. More like snapping AK-47s at each other.
Trailer Verdict: I enjoyed the preview. With, of course, the exception of the character names. And the one white guy I saw in the preview. He was portrayed as an idiot, asking the bank robbers for their autographs after calling them the “modern day Bonnie & Clyde.” If I was a white guy working a gas station in the ghetto, and a pair of bank robbers that I recognized from TV came in to my store, I sure wouldn’t point out that I KNOW they are bank robbers, let alone ask for an autograph. I had to double check and make sure Spike Lee wasn’t directing the movie.
Movie Verdict: Not 100% sure. It will either be a decent, see in theaters movie, or it will be a movie not worth unwrapping if given as a gift. I am going to say that it has potential, but it will run against Click, also released June 23. I am always sceptical of any movie that has a Synopsis as short as its Tagline.
Trailer: www.Apple.Com
Plugs: 0 (That is a first)
Posted in Preview Reviews | 1 Comment »
May 25th, 2006
Review by Jake
Release Date: June 9th
 Tagline: Ahhh… it’s got that new movie smell.
Synopsis: Cars is the saga of Lightning McQueen, a hot-shot animated stock-car voiced by actor Owen Wilson. In route to a big race, the cocky McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.
Trailer Review: (**Note: There are a multitude of trailers out there, so I will review the median of information offered in them**) Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), is the best race car out there. And like any true celebrity, he eventually gets tired of the people and things that surround him and becomes jaded to other people (well, cars in this case). He suffers a small accident and lands himself in a 1950’s-esque town called Radiator Springs. Surprising to him, no one has heard of him. During his time there, he learns to value friends and family. He meets a girl. He falls in love. In the end he becomes stronger and faster for what he has learned there.
Trailer Verdict: Maybe its just me. Maybe I am looking for things to knock this movie down. But I can’t help notice that this movie is basically ripping off the plot of “Doc Hollywood”. He was the best young doctor. He has an accident that winds him up in Small Town USA. He meets a girl. He falls in love. In the end he becomes stronger for what he learned there. If at the end of Cars, Lightning McQueen opts to stay in Radiator Springs with his new found friends and the girl, or takes on a show pig as a pet, I would say that the makers of Doc Hollywood have a good lawsuit on their hands.
Movie Verdict: Despite the royalty suit they may encounter, I think this movie should be a worthwhile theater adventure. Even though Vanilla Ice ripped off David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure”, we still loved “Ice Ice Baby,” right? Right?!? Anyways, though the plot may be recycled, the humor is clean, sharp, and up to date. The cast list is also up to date and features some heavy hitters, too (George Carlin, Paul Newman, Larry The Cable Guy, Michael Keaton, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, as well as race car drivers Richard Petty, Michael Waltrip, and announcer Bob Costas). Add that its made by Pixar, who has yet to produce a real flop (and I don’t think this will their first), and it should make for a decent all around movie, on par with some of their other animated adventures. Good for the whole family, too.
Plugs: 2
From the makers of “The Incredibles” and “Finding Nemo.”
Trailer: www.IMDb.com
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May 20th, 2006
Review by Jake
 Tagline: This summer, everything will click.
Synopsis: “Click” focuses on a workaholic architect who finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices. (IMDb)
Trailer Review: When Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) needs to buy a Universal Remote, he heads to Bed, Bath and Beyond. Leading up to the purchase, we see that Newman leads a very hectic life, has a jerk for a boss (David Hasselhoff), has deadlines overlapped by parental responsibilities, a hot wife (Kate Beckinsale), oh, and about 20 things that need put on one remote, including ceiling fans and remote control cars (I don’t get it either). So anyways, he heads to Bed, Bath and Beyond. Why there instead of say Walmart or Best Buy? So the writers could use a “Way Beyond” department logo, of course. Enter Morty (Christopher Walken, who, based on the preview, plays himself - crazy). Morty gives Michael a Universal Remote to “control his universe.” Michael has to point and click, and his universe responds. He shuts his dog up by turning down the volume. He skips a fight with his wife by fast forwarding. But what happens when the remote gets out of control? How can Michael stop his life from passing him by?
Trailer Verdict: Adam Sandler heads up a unique cast list in what should prove to be a very funny, yet philisophically interesting film. Is it better to be happy in the Now, or enjoy life as a Whole, which requires both time and effort, either of which you can’t skip over. Also, this film brings back the “O’Doyle” family from Billy Madison. I wonder what some O’Doyle somewhere did to Adam Sandler to be the brunt of his jokes in all his movies.
Movie Verdict: Worth seeing in theaters. Good date movie. Fantasy for guys for three reasons; 1.) Married to Kate Beckinsale, 2.) Fast forward certain moments in life that are otherwise unbareable, and 3.) Married to Kate Beckinsale.
Movie Release Date: June 23, 2006
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