BuzzSugar

Movie Preview: The Losers

BuzzSugar — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:00:07 PST

Avatar has boosted the career of more than just Sam Worthington - Zoe Saldana, the Na'vi's Neytiri, has also seen her career rise thanks to her blue person stint (not to mention her turn in this Summer's Star Trek). Next, she'll be in another action flick, The Losers, alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, and Chris Evans. Based on a DC Comics work, the movie revolves around former members of a black ops team who seek revenge on those who tried to have them killed.

The trailer has lots of fast-paced action and humor, but it doesn't seem too far off from the looks and premise of The A-Team, whose trailer also recently debuted. Still, I wonder if Saldana's newfound familiarity will entice her new fans to see this one.

To check it out, just

read more. <a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&from=sp&fg=MsnEntertainment_MoviesTrailersGP2_a&vid=1b9d070f-aff2-47f6-8a86-9b2b44ec4fc6" onclick="trackOutboundLink('###CATEGORY###', 'video.msn.com/', '###LABEL###')" target="_new" title="'The Losers' Exclusive Look">Video: 'The Losers' Exclusive Look</a>

Movie Preview: Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock

BuzzSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:30:59 PDT

You might see the word "Woodstock" and feel like we've seen enough about the famous music festival, but this trailer for Ang Lee's first English-language film since Brokeback Mountain actually looks like it might have something new to add to the story. Taking Woodstock is kind of hilariously hard to figure out: In the lead role there's comedian Demetri Martin (who you may know from his TV show Important Things With Demetri Martin) - and then people like Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, and Eugene Levy pop up throughout the trailer and it's like, whaaa?

The movie is based on a memoir about a motel owner and his parents who are instrumental in helping the hippies pull off the seminal 1969 rock concert. This description from the book makes the movie all the more fascinating: "Hounded by the guilt that he can't live up to his parents' standards and riven by his own covert homosexuality, Tiber pokes fun at what he calls the Teichberg Curse, a scourge that won't allow the family to escape financial ruin." I wonder if that stuff is explored in the movie? We'll have to wait until Aug. 14 to find out.

I'm still wrapping my head around this trailer, but I'm optimistic. To see for yourself,

Watchmen: Fun For Fans

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:30:33 PST

It's obviously difficult to adapt a beloved written (and, in this case, drawn) work for the big screen - and it’s downright impossible to make an adaptation that satisfies every viewer (or certainly every megafan). I truly enjoyed reading the comic book series Watchmen by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore, and having seen the film adaptation, I don't dislike it. It's probably the best we could have asked for as far as adaptations go. And I know it's useless now to say that the work should never have been brought to film in the first place (though I do feel that way), so now that it has been made into a movie, is it any good? From a fan's perspective I say, sure, it's fine. But I don't have any other perspective to go by.

I have no idea how this movie comes across to someone who has never read the comic book series. I can't even pretend to be unbiased about this - as a fan, just seeing these characters come to life is incredibly exciting. But as a standalone movie, I can admit that it's probably not great. Essentially, it's made for the fanboys (and fangirls) and other viewers may not understand or like it. It's campy, sometimes resembling a silly soap opera, and truthfully I am hard-pressed to remember any distinct images or scenes from the movie, just a few days after seeing it. It's certainly temporary entertainment, and for some it may be frustrating to watch. For more about the movie and my take,

read more. The opening credits (which I got to see at Wondercon, awesomely) are perhaps my favorite part of the whole thing as we hear Bob Dylan's "The Times, They Are A-Changing" and go through a series of slow-motion images of what's been happening politically over the Cold War years, along with images depicting the rise and fall of masked vigilantes in the US. Originally revered as society's helpers, by the 1980s masked crime-fighters have become hated, and people want their good ol' police officers back protecting them. One "mask" is the dark outlaw Rorschach, who still wears a mask of ever-shifting ink blots over his face. Now in 1985 New York City, Rorschach notices that someone has been murdering former masked avengers one by one and he becomes determined to get to the bottom of it. Meanwhile, tensions between the US and the Soviet Union are reaching a boil and nuclear war seems imminent. The movie strings together several different stories of the various former crime-fighters while simultaneously increasing the threat of nuclear destruction within the US-Soviet conflict. Director Zack Snyder is very faithful to the written work (though he makes some decisions to make certain scenes bigger or smaller, like a particular sex scene that seems to go on for approximately forever). So any real issues one has with the story of Watchmen or with the characters are probably issues with the source material itself and not so much with Snyder's adaptation. That said, even having read the series, the movie is way more violent than I thought it would be. At times it's that cartoonish violence that's easy to take, but some of the gore is startling. In movie form it's just gruesome. Despite this faithfulness to the material, though, there's a weightiness and a complexity to the written work that doesn't quite come through, leaving many of the scenes to fall flat and empty. The written work is expansive and complicated and multilayered - to pare it all down to a storyline people can understand (even in the lengthy running time of approximately 162 minutes) is an insanely massive task to take on. And in attempting to do so, some parts of the book simply don’t translate well. Dr. Manhattan (a physicist who has an accident in his lab, resulting in his becoming an all-powerful blue, glowy giant being), for example, comes across as just silly and in fact, I found myself at times bored or annoyed with him. His scenes with Laurie are even more tiresome. Perhaps unsurprisingly (but no less satisfyingly), the best moments come from Rorschach. Aside from being a fan favorite in general, Jackie Earle Haley does a marvelous job making us care about Rorschach and see him as a disturbed man with a strong sense of right and wrong. He's pitiable and a little bit frightening, too. It's easy to root for Rorschach; it's easy for the audience to want to be on his side. We know that he's a bit messed up but somehow all the more likable because of it. And the dark electricity Haley brings to the screen in each of his scenes sets the character of Rorschach apart from the rest. And maybe I'm easily amused, but the ever-shifting mask he wears is unendingly cool to watch. See, that's the thing. As a fan, I forgive so much. I don't know how to recommend this movie to the uninitiated - I have no idea what it looks like, or if it's worth the nearly three hours in a movie theater. But as a fan I was going to go anyway, and short of total disaster, I was probably always going to think what I think: that it's cool-looking and super satisfying to see these characters come to life.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

The Watchmen and Women Know How to Draw a Crowd

PopSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:30:11 PST

The highly anticipated Watchmen finally hits theaters this weekend and lots of stars came out to the LA premiere last night. The ensemble cast is getting down to business promoting it, which included a stop at Wondercon this weekend. Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Billy Crudup smiled and posed together while their costars Malin Akerman and Carla Gugino showed off their long gowns. Even Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens joined in on the fun - get Vanessa's flirty look here. Now that the movie is finally ready for the world, be sure to check back with Buzz later this week to see if she thinks the film will satisfy all the fans.

To see more photos including Emmanuelle Chriqui, Abbie Cornish, Jon Voight, and others, just read more.

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Images include: Abbie Cornish, Billy Crudup, Carla Gugino, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron, Jesse Metcalfe, Masi Oka, Jon Voight, Adam Duritz Source

BuzzSugar at WonderCon: Watchmen Takes the Stage!

BuzzSugar — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:30:07 PST

Saturday at WonderCon started with a bang: Watchmen director Zack Snyder appeared before an extremely packed house along with his cast to reveal about 20 minutes of footage from the movie, including the opening credits.

The conversation was lively and the footage very exciting. Of course, I can't give my final opinion till I've seen the movie start to finish, but based on what I saw this weekend, it's hard for me to imagine this film stumbling too hard. I'm a huge fan of the graphic novel, so I may be a wee bit biased - though it's hard to tell if that would make me easier or harder on the film. I guess I'll know soon, but to see my thoughts on the panel and more details about the clips,

Buzz News Roundup, 2/20

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:30:32 PST

Sandra Bullock will star in football drama-comedy The Blindside, based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game. - Variety
Project Runway filmed its season six finale today, even though it's unclear if or when season six will air. - AP
In the latest pilot casting news, Jenna Elfman will play a movie critic, Amy Smart will play a future presidential contender, and Jason Clarke will play a federal prosecutor. - The Hollywood Reporter
There's a new museum in Hollis, Queens, devoted to hip-hop - and it serves cheap hamburgers. - AP
Chiwetel Ejiofor has signed on for and Liev Schreiber is in talks to star opposite Angelina Jolie in the spy thriller Salt (also known as Edwin A. Salt). - ComingSoon
Robert De Niro, Tina Fey, and Cameron Diaz are among Jimmy Fallon's first Late Night guests. - NBC
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is in negotiations to topline an adaptation of the DC-Vertigo comic book The Losers. - Variety
The ABC Family show The Middleman will continue in comic book form. - TV Guide

Source and Source

Denny Supports Izzie's Love Life in Reality Too

PopSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:30:54 PST

Katherine Heigl dressed in bright colors to watch Josh Kelley perform in LA earlier this week with her costar Jeffrey Dean Morgan joining in on the fun. In Grey's world, Izzie and Denny's relationship took a big turn last night, and it looks like we're getting closer to finding out what's going on with Izzie and her visions of Denny. With the Grey's/Private Practice crossover coming up next, it might be a few weeks before we get Izzie's situation resolved, but hopefully some of the fans turned off by her arc this season will return once it's all figured out.

To see more photos of Katherine, Josh, and Jeffrey just read more.

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Pacific Coast News Online

Grey's Anatomy Rundown: Episode 13, "Stairway to Heaven"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:30:16 PST

On this week's Thursday night horror movie - OK, it was an episode of Grey's Anatomy, but with all the creepy music and quick camera angles and ghosts, didn't it feel a little like a horror movie? - a lot of our continuing plotlines come to their conclusions, with Meredith dealing with the serial killer and Izzie calling out Denny for sticking around. There's a little comic relief with Lexie and Mark, but most of the episode is pretty heavy. Ready to chat? Just

read more. Finally. Finally, finally, finally, Izzie Stevens realizes that seeing her dead ex-fiancé - and kissing him, and having sex with him, and talking to him in public places even though nobody else can see him - is not OK. Finally, Izzie knows something's wrong with her. And it scares her, of course, to know that she's sick, but it doesn't seem as scary as the possibility that Denny's just going to be around forever, creepily saying "I'm here for you." Of course, it took Izzie a ridiculously long time to wise up and act like a scientist (or like the doctor she supposedly is) to even think that maybe it was an illness causing her to see and hear Denny all the time. Even in this episode, she suggests that maybe the crazy part of her was the part that thought Denny was dead in the first place. Regardless, it's finally happened: Seeing Izzie again may be Denny's heaven, but it would be Izzie's hell, and she's not done living yet. It's not like we actually see her tell anyone she's sick; I figure that'll be strung out a while longer. But at least there's some kind of explanation of what's been going on. Meanwhile, the resolution to the serial killer story is actually a lot more complex than what I was predicting last week, when it seemed certain that Jackson would get the killer's organs. It does look for much of this episode like that's how things will end, with Meredith content to let William die and Bailey knowing that's wrong but letting her love for Jackson to get in the way. The twist that William was just playing Meredith so he'd have a friendly face at his execution seemed bizarre, but that aside, I liked the big moments here: Derek saying it's up to Bailey to decide whether he's a surgeon or an executioner; Jackson opening his eyes when it seemed all hope was lost. The execution scene itself is hard to watch, but it does take care of another problem: the Meredith/Cristina fight. When Mere is at her lowest, there's only one person who can help, and Derek will never be able to fill in. When she's inconsolable, she needs Cristina, and I'm glad that Cristina could put their rift behind her and step in for comfort. Meanwhile:

Lexie breaks Mark's, er, "bone." 'Scuse me, what? I guess it provides both our comic relief for the evening and our "Oh, Mark can be kind of a sensitive guy sometimes" moment, and it did crack me up when Lexie volunteers to stroke his hair and he looks at her with crazy eyes, but it mostly feels out of step with the rest of the episode.
Nice that Lexie and Sadie are still friends, even though it does require thinking about Sadie's "Twist and Shout move."
Owen admits to Cristina that he's got a lot of issues to work through, but she wants to date him anyway. They're one screwed-up couple, but I like that they know it.
George O'Malley had what, three lines?
Did the Denny narration catch anyone else off-guard? At first I wasn't sure if it was Denny or Alex.

Your thoughts? Glad that Izzie's had an epiphany about her illness, or dreading what comes next? Pleased with how the serial killer story wrapped up? Freaked out that what happened to Mark can apparently actually happen? Sound off below! Photos copyright 2009 ABC, Inc.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown: Episode 12, "Sympathy For the Devil"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:15:00 PST

This week's episode of Grey's Anatomy continues along the same path as last week's, and really, there doesn't seem to be a lot of newness, or resolution, to any of the storylines. It feels a little like the second film in a trilogy - but that's not all bad. We do get to meet Derek's mother (played by the delightful Tyne Daly) during her visit to Seattle Grace, which adds some variety, as well as a little comic relief. To talk about it (and about that gift she gave Derek!),

read more. Before we get to the doctors, let's talk a bit about the patients . . . The Patients

Eric Stoltz returns as the creepy serial killer, and this week I felt a little sorry for him. He seems to have a heart (well, you know, as far as serial killers go). But what I find incredibly irritating is that last week's episode was all about the doctors not wanting to give him proper care, while this week's episode is all about how they wouldn't let him die. Pick a lane. And, yeah, wow, that last scene was intense.
Which leads us to the little boy who needs a new liver and a new intestine. If the serial killer wants to give him his organs and they're a match, shouldn't this be easier? Apparently not. But, in true Grey's fashion, I'm sure next week the boy will miraculously pull through with his new organs courtesy of Mr. Stoltz.
The short-guy storyline seems a little like fluff. Sure, Callie is able to equate this guy's, um, shortcomings to her dating life, or lack thereof, but overall I would've been fine without it.

The Doctors

First up, Meredith gets to meet Derek's mother Carolyn. Overall their scenes together aren't as awkward as they could've been (although, how awesome is the scrunchie subplot?), but I did like that Meredith is able to lose her false facade and be herself around her. And clearly Carolyn is impressed as she gives Derek a ring to propose to Meredith with! Thoughts?
The Izzie/Denny ghost story seems almost absent in this episode, for which I was very thankful. Of course, it pops up a bit, but the end might be near as the two broke up (and how, exactly, do you break up with a ghost? I'm not really sure).
Arizona and Bailey continue to fight this week over the little boy's surgery. Nothing new to report but, as I said last week, she's a welcome addition to the cast.
Owen finally asks Cristina out on a date, and then shows up drunk. Sure, we're supposed to feel bad when he reveals a traumatic moment from the past (which, I guess, explains his inebriation), but it makes me dislike him a little bit.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown: Episode 11, "Wish You Were Here"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:30:08 PST

As seems to be the case these days, this week's Grey's Anatomy had a bunch of things that worked and then a few major things that just did not. In the first category, we have some sweet Alex moments, the introduction of a new character who might actually make some sense, and Bailey being awesome. In the second, we have - well, you know. Ghosts. To talk about it, just