CINEMA
[ New Releases ]
Even though the blockbuster season is winding down at the theaters, all those big summer hits are starting to show up on DVD and Blu-Ray. So be sure to check out these new releases as they are released if you happened to miss them while they were on the big screen.
August 3 Kick-Ass (Marv Films) This has been one “kick ass” season for the comic book Matt movies at the cinema. Kick-Ass is the type of movie Hotz Contributor that has an enduring quality because it breaks so many boundaries and pushes the envelope of what a superhero movie is, or what people think it should be. Dave Lizewski is an average teenage boy who has no superpowers whatsoever. But when he decides to take it upon himself to fight crime in his city, he becomes the hero known as Kick-Ass. Teaming up with Hit Girl and her father Big Daddy, they must face off against the most dangerous villains in the city: Red Mist and his father Frank D’Amico. Director Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Layer Cake) has created a movie that will be discussed for many years to come because it has everything a superhero/action comedy needs in order to be successful: a great cast, a well thought out plot, a balance of action scenes and comedic cutaways, and a high level of believability. Keep in mind, this movie is not for everyone and has quite a bit of profanity and violence, and if those things bother you, I advise you to steer clear of this film. On the other hand, if you are looking for a superhero movie that will satisfy all of your fanboy needs, then pick this up and enjoy.
crowds. The film is a safe bet for families as it contains no foul language or sexual innuendos and fans of Kinney’s work will appreciate the stick figure animations that are taken from his original work.
August 3 Spike (Maverick Entertainment) If you were to take Beauty and the Beast and amp up the gore factor a few notches, cover the beast’s body in long protruding spikes and dump him in the woods, you would come to find that Spike is the movie that is churned out. This film does a fairly decent job of setting an eerie, surrealistic view of the world from the perspective of a misunderstood monster. Spike was a low budget independent film, but despite those setbacks, the filmmakers have done a decent job of crafting a film that is filled with both its fair share of sex and violence as well as deeply authentic emotions. It is a must see for anyone who enjoys a well done gothic romance which makes us examine human frailty as well as the complexity of human emotions and relationships.
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August 3 Diary of a Wimpy Kid (20th Century Fox) Adapting from Jeff Kinney’s wildly popular series of novels, Diary of a Wimpy Kid makes a decent effort at being an entertaining comedy. It works on some levels, but for more mature audiences it misses the mark slightly. As stated, this film had a lot of potential and was stylistically similar to the classic film A Christmas Story as Zachary Gordon recalls entering into a new school, determined to be his sixth grade teacher’s new class favorite. There were a lot of moments in the movie in which it seemed to almost achieve its goal of being hilarious, but it just did not do it for me. Zachary is a wise cracking student and so has many jokes which I am sure appeal to younger
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Date Night (20th Century Fox) Have you ever had one of those nights where all you want is to spend time out on the town with your significant other and you get mistaken for a couple of crooks which turns your quiet night out into something much more exciting and dangerous? Well if it never has, then I suggest you pick up a copy of Date Night, starring Steve Carrell (Evan Almighty, Little Miss Sunshine) and Tina Fey (Baby Mama, Ponyo) as the unwitting couple trying to breathe some romance back into their boring marriage. However, a case of mistaken identity leads to have more excitement on their date than they had ever planned. This comedy has a lot of heart and sincere laughs. As the couple embarks on their urban odyssey, they encounter gangbangers, cops and a muscled up Mark Wahlberg. Carrell and Fey are both talented comedians whose on screen chemistry is quite evident and they are allowed to improvise much of the dialogue which only adds to the hilarity of the film. In the midst of the slew of other romantic comedies we have had to endure this summer, Date Night is a refreshing breath of fresh air. www.News4UOnline.com • August 2010