Top 10 Biggest Box Office Headlines of 2010

Taking a careful look at each ledger, tally sheet and budgetary report to come out of Hollywood, NextMovie comes up with the top 10 biggest box office headlines of 2010:  http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/biggest-box-office-news-2010/

10 Best Movie Quotes of 2010

The most memorable movie lines require three things: They must sound like something a real person would, you know, actually say; they must be smarter, funnier and snappier than what a real person would actually say (this sounds like it would contradict the first point, but it doesn't); and they must have a great actor to give them a great delivery.

Check out this article on MTV Movies for the 10 best movie quotes of 2010:

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/12/30/best-movie-quotes-2010/

Note: "Black Swan"

"Black Swan" review is now up on http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-black-swan/ It will be posted on the blog next week.

"Tron: Legacy"

While I've never seen the original "Tron" (1982) and I don't play video games, my interest in "Tron: Legacy" was piqued after I attended the experimentally interactive panel at Comic-Con this past summer.

During the panel, Skywalker Sound was on hand. We were instructed to recite certain words (DE-REZ, RIN-ZLER) that appeared on the screen and stomp our feet. These noises from 6,000 plus audience in Hall H were recorded live to hopefully be used later as the chants of the spectator crowds circling the glassy gladiator arena.

In "Tron: Legacy," Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a direction-less and daredevil son of former Encom software engineer and CEO Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), receives startling news from Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), his father’s old partner. Alan has been paged from a disconnected number located in the long-closed video game arcade where his father used to work 20 years ago. While skeptical, Sam stops by the dust-covered arcade to investigate and gets transported into the virtual world that his missing father has engineered and discovers his entrapment.

Kevin's vision to create an ideal utopia has backfired; there's no such thing as perfection in the "real world". His doppelganger Clu (a digitized, younger version of Jeff Bridges), assisted by his right-hand soldier, Rinzler (Anis Cheurfa), takes control and builds an army of programs with the intention of getting out and moving into our world. The "real" Kevin now resides mountains away in a sterile shelter within the grid. Reunited with his son and aided by a cyber warrior named Quorra (Olivia Wilde), Sam and Kevin plot for an escape. Michael Sheen makes a cameo as a caricature club owner (Zuse), whose motive is soon known.

I'm not sure how some could compare "Tron: Legacy" with groundbreaking "Avatar."  For me there's no comparison; "Avatar" has the whole package. In another universe, last year's "Star Trek" excels on its storytelling and characterizations. In "Tron: Legacy," the philosophical-technical babbles are not easily understood. And the lack of human elements makes the frigid atmosphere even harsher. Bridges is the only one who manages to instill warmth into his character.

After a while, the ever-glowing splash of neon colors against the dark and whitewashed background become monotonous and tire the eyes. The races and battles turn into somewhat of a blur. The closing sight of natural sunlight off the grid is truly welcoming to sore eyes. "Tron: Legacy" is technically 'trontastic,' but nothing else.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-tron-legacy/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/28zc3tv

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/26pgv7g

Upcoming Movies: January 2011

[Note: "Black Swan" review will be up soon]

1/14 - "The Green Hornet" (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thegreenhornet/)

1/21 - "The Company Men" (http://www.thecompanymenfilm.com/)
1/28 - "The Mechanic" (http://www.themechanicmovie.com/)

Just For Fun: Christmas Favorite

Your favorite Christmas cartoon special can say a lot about you. Santa or Grinch, Frosty or Rudolph - who you like defines your personality in some ways. 

Check out this article on Newsweek:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/12/06/frosty-vs-rudolph-what-christmas-specials-say.html.html

Happy Holidays!

Note: "Tron: Legacy"

"Tron: Legacy" review is now up on http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-tron-legacy/  It will be posted on the blog next week.

Movie Trivia: "Two Roles, One Actor"

[Note: "Tron: Legacy" review will be up on Tuesday]

This year Jeff Bridges play two roles in "Tron: Legacy (Kevin Flynn and 'Clu') and Armie Hammer in "The Social Network" (Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss).  

Check out this article on Yahoo to see movies where actors play against themselves:

http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/collections/gallery/3155/two-roles-one-actor#photo0

"The Tourist"

Angelina Jolie. Johnny Depp. Venice. Va-va-voom, right? Not quite. Billed as a romantic thriller, "The Tourist" fails to ignite the thrill or the romance.

After receiving a note from her unseen lover, Alexander Pearce, Elise Clifton-Ward (Jolie) boards a train from Paris to Venice. She hasn't seen him in two years and meeting him in Venice for a rendezvous. Trouble is, Alexander is a wanted man. Formerly a personal banker to mobster billionaire Reginald Shaw (Steven Berkoff), he has stolen 2.3 billion euros from him and is wanted in 14 countries. The government spends 8 millions in sting operation to recoup 744 millions in back taxes.

On the train, Elise approaches a stranger, Frank Tupelo (Depp) and strikes up a flirtatious conversation. She needs him as decoy to distract the army of men in black, hit men and Interpol alike, in pursuit of her paramour. A brokenhearted math teacher from Wisconsin with the same height and weight as Alexander, he's the perfect cover to be dragged into this trap.

Soon enough, Elise and Frank dodges bullets and evades chases through the Venetian canals - although not for long. Who's going to get to them first? The gangsters or the agents? Are Scotland Yard's Inspector John Acheson (Paul Bettany) and Chief Inspector Jones (Timothy Dalton) running in circles or closing in? Is the mysterious man (Rufus Sewell) leading a trail for capture? When Elise confesses that Frank is part of the plan, which plan is it? And just where is Alexander Pearce?

As Elise, impeccably styled Jolie acts like a porcelain doll and struts like a runway model. She seems to draw glances and whispers from everyone on her path. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that she and Depp have zero chemistry together. It pains me to say that Depp, known for his versatility, is miscast here as the bewildered 'average Joe,' and mismatched with polished Elise. Although toward the end I could see why he's interested in this role.

The dreadful dialogues and plot holes do not help. The bumbling actions are likely intentional, but they appear out of frame compared to those in an over-the-top movie like this year's rambunctious "Red." When the final twist is disclosed, there's no masterful reveal that would induce the kind of gasp as one would expect, which is another blow considering it's written by one of the writers who penned the unusual "The Usual Suspects" (Christopher McQuarrie).

It's not clear whether the movie intends to be a romantic thriller, action spy or caper comedy. It certainly doesn't live up to its potentials. "The Tourist" is pretty to gaze at for its glamorous superstars and setting, but that's pretty much it.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-tourist/ 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/25hjamw

2010: The Year In Films

Golden Globe Nominations & "Best Film"

Golden Globe nominations are out: http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/golden-globe-nominations-2011-announced/

I've been asked what I think about "The Best" film of the year... "The Social Network" (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com/the-social-network). In second place (actually, if I could pick two, they're tied for first place for different reasons), "Inception" (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com/inception-0).

I haven't seen "Black Swan," so that may be rounding up the top three.

As far as the most entertaining movie of the year, it's "Red" (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com/red) for me. In second place is "A-Team" (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com/the-a-team-85). Of course, the 'geek' in me is also leaning toward "Iron Man 2" (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com/iron-man-2-514)

[Side note: if you read the blog, the reviews are in their original versions. They're reviewed by an editor before being published on the San Diego Entertainer Magazine, so occasionally they may be very slightly different].
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***HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY*** http://themoviemaven.posterous.com/holiday-giveaway

Note: "The Tourist"

"The Tourist" review is now up on http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-tourist/  It will be posted on the blog next week.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader"

'Narnia: Dawn Treader' is a magical voyage that shows that we have to defeat the "evil" in us - greed; for superficial beauty, wealth and power.

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My fellow columnist at SD Entertainer, child film critic Perry Chen*** specializing in kid-friendly movies, gives 'Dawn Treader' a 3.5 "stafish" rating. Full review is available at: http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-chronicles-narnia-voyage-dawn-treader-exploration-journey/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/232az8w

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***At 10, Perry Chen is the youngest award-winning entertainment critic, TV personality, Annie Awards presenter, filmmaker/animator, and radio host, reviewing movies and entertainment from a child’s perspective. He has been interviewed by Katie Couric (CBS Evening News) and Liane Hansen (NPR). He has interviewed Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera, director & producer of Pixar's "Up." Perry is currently partnering with an Oscar-nominated animator, Bill Plympton, in a new animation about the Holocaust (2011 release).

Holiday Giveaway

CSN Stores Group (http://www.csnstores.com/) is going to offer one reader of this blog a $35 gift certificate in time for the holidays. From cookware & serveware, bed & bath, briefcase & suitcase, furniture & fixture, home & garden, to travel accessories, CSN Stores has 200+ stores online with a convenient checkout.

In addition, a second reader will receive a FREE movie pass from UltraStar Theaters.
Entry requirement: Post a link to The MovieMaven blog (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com) on your Facebook OR Twitter OR blog (your choice) with a quick (1-2 lines) blurb, OR tell a friend to subscribe and send an e-mail (indotransserv@gmail.com).

Deadline is December 16, 2010, 11:59 p.m. PST.

"The Next Three Days"

If you believe the unbelievable turn of Russell Crowe's mild-mannered professor-turned-expert criminal character and just-in-time luck, "The Next Three Days" is an awesome "prison break" movie!

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/2bsxqa6

"Hemingway's Garden of Eden"

"Hemingway's Garden of Eden" is not on my original list of December movies, but I'll be attending the press screening.

Based on a novel by Ernest Hemingway:

"Set in the jazz age years, prior to the depression, the story follows a successful young American writer, David Bourne (Jack Huston), and his beautiful new wife, Catherine (Mena Suvari), on their extended honeymoon in Europe. Catherine soon becomes restless and starts to tests her husband's devotion, pushing him to the limits of her imagination. Already unsure of the games his wife is playing, David is both uncomfortable and curious when she brings a sultry Italian girl, Marita (Caterina Murino), to spice things up. As the erotic game reaches new levels, the events that follow will change their lives forever."

"Hemingway's Garden of Eden" opens on limited release on December 10, 2010.