Written by Mitch Cyrus

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And as we're in the boring month of February, it's time to add a new feature.  The Mini Movie Review will be a (very) short review of movies I've either seen at the theater that I don't think warrant a full review, or recent DVD releases that I had previously missed (and perhaps shouldn't have).

Mini-Review - "Edge of Darkness"

Mel Gibson returns to acting for the first time in seven years as a tough Boston detective whose 24 year old daughter is gunned down in front of him.  Initially thinking the attack was meant for him, he quickly becomes involved in a conspiracy tale of some very bad people who were actually targeting his daughter.

Gibson does a great job as Thomas Craven.  He projects the despair of a father in grief very well, and he doesn't shy away from the fact that he is no longer a young man.  Ray Winstone is also exceptional as a shady operative with completely unclear motives.  Is he trying to hinder Craven's investigation or help?  It is all deftly handled by director Martin Campbell, showing that his work on "Casino Royale" was no fluke.

 

What hurts this movie is a script that makes the recent events on "24" look almost realistic and plausible in comparison.  Other than the top two actors, the rest of the cast is nothing but stock stereotypes, especially Danny Huston as the evil CEO.  Very, very predictable with numerous "you've got to be kidding me" moments.

An ultimately forgettable movie that is nonetheless watchable and worth a rental when it comes out due to the great action sequences and the performances from Gibson and Winstone.

My Rating - Kelly Holcomb (2 footballs)

News and Rumors

~ This news came out last Friday after the Crystal Ball went to press, but it is so stupid as to have me still shaking my head a week later.  They are going to make a movie of "Stretch Armstrong", staring "Twilight" werewolf Taylor Lautner.  Really?  What's next?  A full length real life adaptation of "The Cabbage Patch Kids"?

~ I think that a few months back I wrote of a rumor of a "Lone Ranger" movie.  Looks like it's true, and it has a strange pedigree.  It will be written by "Revolutionary Road" screenwriter Justin Haythe, and produced by blockbuster maker Jerry Bruckheimer.  Oh, yeah...and it will be starring Johnny Depp.  As Tonto.  You heard me right.  I'm not sure if this means that the focus will be on Tonto or if it's just a supporting role Depp will do as a favor to the man who created Capt. Jack Sparrow.  Stay tuned.

~ Kevin Costner is still making movies?  Evidently so, and now he will direct and star in a WWII time frame action-adventure called "A Little War of Our Own".  Evidently, Costner plays a local sheriff who is dealing with a damaged, but not helpless German U-boat coming into the bay of his little fiefdom.  Not sure that this sounds like a winner.

~ Looks like the Terminator franchise isn't quite dead.  Deadline Hollywood has an exclusive interview with the executive producer of the franchise, who says he is hoping to do two more movies to conclude the series.  They would involve time travel twists that could have Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese interacting beyond their brief encounter in the first film.  The final film hopes to also include a substantial role for Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will be completed with his final term as the Governator by then.  The other good news about this franchise?  Word is they won't even think about bringing back McG to direct it after the abomination that was "Terminator: Salvation".

~ And now we find out that a la Harry Potter, the final book of the Twilight series, "Breaking Dawn" will be split into two movies.  Which I'm sure makes my sister and my niece very happy, but bores me to tears.

~ And finally, a found and sad farewell to Captain Phil Harris from the popular Discover Channel series "Deadliest Catch", who passed away this week from complications of a massive stroke.  The 53 year old, tattooed and gruff Harris was a fan favorite who had battled health issues over the past two seasons.  The show and the fans will miss him.

Stupid Remakes and Sequels

~ Look for a "Sherlock Holmes" type of updated "reboot" of The Three Musketeers. Looks like Hollywood wants to make a hip action-adventure aimed at a younger audience.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they already do that in 1993 when they put under-30 year olds Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen in a remake of the old tale?

~ Vin Diesel is going to be making another "Riddick" movie.  I guess all he has left is this and continued "Fast and Furious" movies.  Maybe The Rock had the right idea by just switching over to Disney kiddie movies.

~ Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are looking to reprise their National Lampoon's Vacation character for THREE more movies in the series.  The mind boggles.

This week's new movie releases: 

The Wolfman

Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving

Plot: A Nobleman returns to his ancestral homeland, where his brother has gone missing and villagers are being killed by a nightmarish beast. The search reunites him with his estranged father and draws him near to his brother's fiancée, however, his larger concern is the discovery of a side to himself which he never could have imagined existed.

View Trailer

The BeerBuzz: This movie was pushed back and pushed back, amidst rumors that they were doing numerous re-shoots due to it stinking.  If so, I'm not sure they re-shot enough, as this is not getting very good early reviews.  The consensus seems to be that it is high on gore, but low on suspense and scares.

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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Starring: Logan Lerman, Kevin McKidd, Steve Coogan

Plot:  Life changes in an instant for troubled 12-year-old Percy Jackson when he learns his birth father is the god Poseidon and he's looped in on a cross-country mission to settle a feud between his dad, Zeus, and Hades.

View Trailer

The BeerBuzz: The latest in the attempts to find "the next Harry Potter".  Sorry...that's just not going to happen, but it does look like this film has a chance for some success on its own.  Having Chris Columbus, the director of the first two Harry Potter movies, behind the camera was a wise decision.  I expect this movie to score well with the 8 - 14 year old set.  I really like the adults cast in this, with Sean Bean as Zeus, Kevin McKidd as Poseidon, Steve Coogan as Hades, and Uma Thurman as Medusa.

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Valentine's Day

Starring: Half of Hollywood

Plot: Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine's Day.

View Trailer

The BeerBuzz: This mess of a film is getting rightfully slaughtered by the critics.  Way too many "stars" means that there is zero depth to any character, just a bunch of skits that may or may not have anything to do with the rest of the film.  The worst part?  The studio's decision to completely ignore the "gayness" of one relationship.  Bradley Cooper and Eric Dane are supposed to play a gay couple, but you wouldn't know it from the commercials showing Cooper "flirting" with Jennifer Garner.

Every year, I take my wife to a movie of her choice over Valentine's Day weekend, with the promise being that I won't review it.  What I'm most grateful for this year?  She doesn't want to see this mess...she wants to see Percy Jackson.  Whew.

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February 16^th DVD Releases:

Law Abiding Citizen- Is it because it's Valentine's Day weekend that only ONE major movie is coming out this week?  Not sure...but at least it's an entertaining one, with Gerard Butler as a one-man vengeance wreaking crew after his family is killed.  Even after he is sent to prison, the bodies keep piling up.  Jamie Foxx co-stars as the lawman trying to make sense of it all.

Calendar Watch  

Next Week, Shutter Island

Upcoming Biggies (click on the hyperlink to view the available trailers).

Alice in Wonderland - March 5 - Tim Burton and Johnny Depp in a film that seems meant for them.  A 3D acid-trip about Alice's return to Wonderland at age 19 to fight the Red Queen.

Green Zone - March 12 - Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon team up again in a Bourne-like film about an Army officer going rouge in Iraq while looking for weapons of mass destruction.

Repo Men - March 19 - Jude Law and Forest Whitaker as men specializing in repossessing human organs from people who can't make their payments..until Law's character becomes the hunted.

Clash of the Titans - March 26 - Re-imaging of the campy Harry Hamlin sword-and-sandals film from the 80s.  The trailer looks intriguing, at least

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps - April 23 - Oliver Stone brings Michael Douglass back as Gordon Gecko, teaming him with Shia LaBeouf in a film that looks to be quite different in tone than the last one.

Nightmare on Elm Street - April 30 - Jack Earle Haley ("Watchmen") takes over the Freddy Krueger role.

Iron Man 2 - May 7 - Downey Jr. is back, this time dealing with Whiplash (Mickey Rourke) and Black Widow (Scarlet Johannson).

Robin Hood - May 14 - Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe in what is supposed to be a more "historic" account of the legendary hero.

Shrek Forever After - May 21 - 3D entry into the series that is seemingly the only way Michael Myers or Eddie Murphy can make any money

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - May 28 - Might this finally be the first video game that translates to a huge hit at the box office?  Depends on whether or not you can buy Jake Gyllenhaal as an action hero.  Why not?  It worked for Tobey Maguire, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr.

The A-Team - June 11 - Based on the campy TV series...but the makers of this film are trying to sell it more as an action film with no camp.  With Liam Neeson playing Hannibal Smith as their leader, they may have a chance.

Toy Story 3D - June 18 -  It looks like a big year for 3D films in 2010.  In this one, Buzz, Woody, and the rest of the toys are dumped into a day care after Andy grows up and goes to college.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - July 2 - More Wussy Vampires!  I can't wait! (sorry...sarcasmectomy isn't scheduled for a few months yet).

Inception - July 16 - Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page in a Christopher Nolan sci-fi mind bender that looks to be in the mode of "Momento"

The Sorcerer's Apprentice - July 16 - Live action remake of the Disney classic short, starring Nicolas Cage.

Salt - July 18 - Angelina Jolie as a CIA operative accused of being a Russian spy.