Written by Mitch Cyrus

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Memorial Day Weekend.  My favorite holiday of the year, as it kicks off the start of summer, and all the great things that come with that.

No matter what your plans are this weekend; stay safe, and have fun.

For the box office?  Not so good.  Last week saw two movies that failed to meet expectations, including the mammoth bombing of “MacGruber”…which failed so miserably that it may (finally) spell the end of SNL sketches that are turned into movies.

This week sees two movies coming out that are already being trashed.  And then next week there are four movies being released, none of them appear to be worth seeing at even bargain matinee prices.

Mini Review  - The Road

I saw this at the theater in its very limited release back in January, and caught it again this week on DVD.

It was possibly even more powerful the second time through.

The movie is based on Cormac McCarthy’s popular novel, starring Viggo Mortensen as a man trying to get his 10 year old son further south years after a catastrophe destroyed almost all life on earth.  The cause in the book was ambiguous, but in the movie, it seems a little more obvious that it was manmade, most likely the result of full global nuclear holocaust.

There is not much hope to be found anywhere.  No animals, no crops, and cannibalism being the prominent danger as the pair make their way through the Appalachians, struggling to find food, all the while hiding from roving bands of merciless survivors who would kill them if they found them.

The cast is extraordinary.  Mortensen was robbed by not earning a Best Actor nomination for his brave performance, as it was almost the equal of the splendid job turned in by Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”.  But the real breakout star was young Kodi Smit-McPhee as the son.  His acting would put most “stars” in Hollywood to shame, as he was able to convincingly show fear, desperation, and profound sadness with complete believability.  There is no doubt that he should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Charlize Theron does well with her smaller part in flashbacks as the mother of the boy, as does Robert Duvall as a fellow traveler.

But it is the chemistry between Mortensen and Smit-McPhee that carries this movie.  It will disturb you.  It will make you think.  It will also move you with its humanity, and its ability to nurse out the tiniest sliver of hope in a world where there is none.

My Rating – Brian Sipe (3 ½ footballs)

News and Rumors

~ James McAvoy (“Wanted”) has been cast as the young Charles Xavier in “X-Men: First Class”.  The story will focus on the early years of Professor X and Erik Lensherr, who is better known as Magneto, as the young men first become aware of their powers, and form a strong friendship that is later strained.

~ So here is the current “Short List” of actors being considered to play the part of Peter Parker/Spidey in the reboot of the franchise, which will focus on Peter as a high school student with superpowers.  Jamie Bell (the younger brother in “Defiance”), Andrew Garfield, Arlen Ehrenreich, Josh Hutcherson, and Frank Dillane.  And if you’ve never heard of four of them, you’re not alone, as none of the them have much experience.  The more I hear of this project, the less I like it.

~ Sherlock Holmes 2 will come out in December, 2011.  Robert Downey Jrl, Jude Law, and director Guy Ritchie all returning.  There are rumors that Brad Pitt is being approached to play Holmes’ nemesis Professor Moriarty.

~ There will be another retelling of “The Three Musketeers”, this time in 3-D, as it looks to be a big time action adventure flick.  The cast will be Matthew Macfadyen (“Pride and Prejudice”) as Arthos, Luke Evans (no major credits) as Aramis, Ray Stevenson (Titus Pullo in “Rome”) as Porthos and Logan Lerman, who played the title role in “Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief” as D’Artangan.  Good casting, made even better when you hear the villains: Christopf Walz (“Inglourious Basterds”) as Cardinal Richelieu and Mads Mikkelsen (“Casino Royale”) as Rochefort.

Stupid Remakes and Sequels

~ I think I might have mentioned this almost a year ago, but we’ll revisit it as it’s becoming more of a certainty;  a remake of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.  Cowabunga, dudes…this idea sucks!  Especially when you hear who is behind this:  Michael Bay…possibly the worst director in Hollywood.

This week's new movie releases: 

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arteton, Ben Kingsley

Plot :  Set in medieval Persia, a rogue prince joins a mysterious princess in an effort to prevent a dark force from obtaining an ancient dagger that allows its handler to rule the world.

View Trailer

The BeerBuzz: I have often mentioned how movies based on video games inevitably stink (“Doom”, “Final Destination”, “Max Payne”), but I had hopes that this one might just break the mold.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it, as this is said to be interesting visually, but horrible as a story.  Then there is the predictable and ridiculous whining from the Politically Correct Crowd about having a “white” actor (Gyllenhaal) playing someone from the Middle East.  To which I say “get the hell over yourself”.  I will probably still check this out, as there is nothing coming out next week that excites me.

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Sex and the City 2

Starring: The Menopause Manor

Plot :  More squealing and male-bashing!

View Trailer

The BeerBuzz: Even the people who inexplicably liked the first SATC movie are trashing this one.  I personally send my deepest condolences to any man who has to waste valuable hours of his Memorial Day weekend by getting drug to this piece of crap.

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New DVD Releases for Tuesday, June 1:

Alice In Wonderland  – Tim Burton’s uneven, but imaginative and visually brilliant telling of the story of Alice as if Wonderland was just an extension of the set of any other Tim Burton movie.  Johnny Depp was interesting, if a little too over the top as the Mad Hatter, who is the main character assisting the now 19 year old Alice as she has returned, and must fight to depose the evil Red Queen.  Definitely worth renting

The Wolfman  – This was one of those movies that had unlimited buzz when it was first announced, especially considering the casting of Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro.  Then it kept getting delayed, and rumors started swirling that it wasn’t any good.  Turns out that the rumors were right.

Calendar Watch  

Next Week: Get Him to the Greek, Killers, Marmaduke, Splice

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

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).

The Last Airbender – July 2 – Can M. Knight Shyamalan continue his downward spiral of suck?  Or will this be the start of a redemption for him?

Predators – July 9 – Re-booting of the original Ah-nuld franchise.  Looks to be intriguing.

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 23 – Angelina Jolie as a CIA operative accused of being a Russian spy.

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps – September 24 – 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.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I – November 19 – Part One of the final book about Harry, Hermione, and Ron.  This one (and I’m sure the last one) will be in 3-D.

Tron Legacy – December 17 – Might be the most anticipated Holiday release of this year.