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Men Love Love, Too

BuzzSugar — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:18:36 -0800

As Valentine's Day approaches, I've got romantic movies on the brain. Apparently, so do many men! According to a recent U.S. study, men are more fond of romantic movies than originally suspected. Kansas State University psychology professor Richard Harris surveyed 250 men and women, having them watch a romantic film together and rate it from 0 to 7, 7 being the highest. The average score from women was about 6, while men rated the films around 4.8 - much higher than expected. The Reuters article continues:

"Everyone thinks that women like romantic movies and that they drag guys along to them," Harris told Reuters.

He said movie studio executives should put aside stereotypes about "chick flicks" and recognize the fact that there is a moderate interest among men in romantic movies.

"There are a lot of men who go to these romantic movies and enjoy them. I wouldn't write off the male audience just because it is a romantic film. I would suggest marketing to the men in the audience," he said.

I for one am all for getting rid of the term "chick flick," and I'll tell you why if you read more

A label like "chick flick" is an automatic deterrent when couples are trying to choose a movie they'll both enjoy. Also, nowadays "chick flick" implies something insubstantial and silly, which seems to become a comment on women and the kinds of things we find interesting and relevant. Ultimately, movies don't have to have a gender assigned to them. Sometimes a romantic film is just a romantic film.

Movie Preview: Amanda Seyfried in Letters to Juliet

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:33 -0800

Amanda Seyfried's latest film Letters to Juliet looks like a mash up of her other work. First off, her character's name is Sophie, which brings Mamma Mia to mind, as does the romantic foreign locale. But even the title itself made me do a double-take - wait, isn't she already doing a book-turned-film about letters called Dear John?! Still, I'm not writing it off just yet. (No pun intended). I can be a sucker for a love story, even if it's a bit sappy.

The film follows Seyfried as an American tourist who discovers an unanswered "letter to Juliet" while on a trip in Verona, Italy. (The notes are left by visitors asking for help from Shakespeare's famous heroine.) She responds to the plea, and then sets off to find its author (Vanessa Redgrave) and reunite her with the man she left decades before. Of course, there's a triangle in there too, as Sophie begins to question her own relationship with her fiance (Gael Garcia Bernal) and falls for the woman's grandson (Christopher Egan).

The trailer pretty much gives away the whole movie, but this sort of storyline is usually predictable so I'll forgive the studio for it. Bonus for Taylor Swift fans: her "Love Story" is the theme song. The film doesn't arrive in theaters until May, but check it out and tell me what you think when you read more.

New Moon: Better Than Twilight

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:45:00 -0800

Let's be honest: for most of you, it doesn't matter what I - or any critics for that matter - have to say about New Moon, the incredibly anticipated sequel to last year's Twilight. The film started breaking box office records before it was even released, and audiences will flock to the theaters for weeks to come. On the plus side, a ticket to New Moon is a win even if you're not a Twihard - provided that you know what you're getting into.

New Moon is not incredibly acted, and it doesn't boast impressive dialogue or larger-than-life special effects. But it's not trying to be the Best Picture of the Year, so I can only critique it for what it is: a fantasy movie about a love triangle between a werewolf, a vampire, and a teenage girl. To see what I mean, just read more.

The movie picks up a few months after where Twilight left off. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is blissfully in love but she can't fight her insecurities about growing older than her perpetually seventeen vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). All Bella wants for her eighteenth birthday is for Edward to change her into a bloodsucker, but a close call with his brother drives Edward to break up with Bella and leave town instead.

The drama following Bella's abandonment is everything we remember from high school heartbreak, from Bella's night terrors to the glazed over look in her eye. The anguish and pain are easily seen on Stewart's face, and her innermost thoughts are revealed to the audience through letters to Edward's sister Alice that will never be sent. After months of moping, Bella finally starts to open up to Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a family friend. As Bella struggles to find hope in a life without Edward, her friendship is complicated by Jacob's romantic feelings for Bella and made worse when Jacob discovers that he's a werewolf (and an enemy to all vampires).

The surprise of the movie is Lautner's performance. We've seen and heard about those muscles countless times before, but he also packs enough charm and charisma into his Jacob that you truly see him as more than just Bella's unrelenting admirer / best friend. He presents himself as a viable suitor for Bella's heart, and it's hard not to root for him against Robert Pattinson's wooden (albeit handsome) Edward. Stewart and Pattinson have chemistry to spare in Twilight, but in New Moon, Bella's relationship with Jacob seems hopeful and comfortable while her scenes with Edward are mostly awkward and frankly not as much fun to watch.

The movie belongs to Stewart and Lautner, but their melodrama is balanced out by the characters who pad out the cast. Yes, we meet the wolf pack and the Volturi, but for the most part the Forks residents and beyond make for some much-needed comic relief. The downside is that while it's funnier than what you'd expect, not all of the laughs are intentional (a scene where Jacob's temper rivals that of The Incredible Hulk comes to mind).

It doesn't take more than a grain of salt to appreciate New Moon for what it is - a film that stays true to its origin and delivers the necessary elements to ensure that you'll be back when the next installment of the franchise comes our way.

Photos courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Movie Preview: Robert Pattinson in Remember Me

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:41:10 -0800

A little Robert Pattinson overload never hurt anyone, but here's a break from all of his vampire stuff - the official trailer for Remember Me! Yesterday we took a peek at the first stills from the film, but here we get a much better taste for Pattinson's chemistry with Emilie de Ravin in the upcoming drama/romance. Pattinson plays Tyler, a broody but romantic college student who falls for the daughter of a cop (de Ravin). Pierce Brosnan also stars as Tyler's dad, while Chris Cooper plays the police officer who has an issue with Tyler's bad boy antics.

I was a bit skeptical about Pattinson's next film, but I have to admit that the movie looks intriguing despite a few cliches and a bit of cheesiness. It's nice to see Pattinson playing it straight in a more grownup role than the perpetual teenage vampire, and he and de Ravin have a fair amount of sweetness. It's enough to keep his fan base happy, that's for sure.

To see the trailer for yourself and tell me what you think, just read more.

Zachary Quinto to Raise Eyebrows as Leading Man in Whirligig

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:30:39 -0800

It seems I wasn't the only one to think that Zachary Quinto's Spock stole the hot man show in Star Trek last Summer. Quinto is attached to the upcoming indie film Whirligig, playing a guy who becomes friends with the adopted son of the woman he's pursuing.

Not only would this be Quinto's first major role post-Star Trek, but he'd be the leading man in a romantic comedy-drama. I make no attempt to hide how smitten I am with Quinto, and can definitely see the tall, sexy actor take on a role that's less of a sci-fi than Star Trek and Heroes. We only got a teeny smidgen of his romantic side when his Spock wooed Uhura - I'd love to see that extended to a couple hours.

Patrick Dempsey to Move From the Hospital to the Bank

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:30:24 -0800

Patrick Dempsey is finally breaking out of his romantic comedy pigeonhole - sort of. He's set to star in an untitled heist film, penned by the guys behind The Hangover. Don't get your hopes up to see Dempsey as a bad-boy bank robber, though - he'll be playing a man "caught in the middle of two different robberies at the same bank who tries to protect a bank teller with whom he's secretly in love."

Sounds like it could have potential to be cheesy, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore can keep the plot line on the edgier side and hit another home run.

Katie Holmes Is Feeling Romantic

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:30:53 -0800

Katie Holmes in on a roll. Fresh off last week's Cocktail on Broadway news, the star has now jumped on board an indie film. Holmes is joining the comedy, The Romantics, taking over a role from Liv Tyler. (No reason has been given for Tyler's departure.)

Romantics follows a group of college friends who come together one night for a wedding. Holmes will be playing the maid of honor to the bride (Anna Paquin), and both women have a long history with the groom (Josh Duhamel). Malin Akerman, Elijah Wood, and Adam Brody round out the cast.

The storyline sounds cute, even if it's not the most original concept - a few eighties Brat Pack movies come to mind. I'm also interested in tracking this one because Holmes is making her debut as an executive producer. I'm glad to see her taking on more of a business role in Hollywood for a change, instead of letting Tom have all the clout.

What do you think about this new project? And what do you make of the ensemble? (Kind of a weird mix of actors, isn't it?)

Link Time! Rumer Willis to Romance a Major 90210 Character

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:30:34 -0700

Guess who Rumer Willis's character on 90210 is going to have a girl-on-girl relationship with? - Ausiello Files
Hulu will not start charging for content after all - PopWatch
Zooey Deschanel will make a guest appearance on Bones - The Futon Critic
Natalie Portman was the guest judge on Top Chef last night - test your knowledge! - YumSugar
Dave Eggers's novel Zeitoun is going to be made into an animated film - Vulture
The new Avatar trailer is a bit more exciting than the first - Cinematical
Keanu Reeves will star in romantic comedy Henry's Crime with Vera Farmiga - Coming Soon
Abigal Breslin will star as Helen Keller on Broadway, along with Alison Pill - Hollywood Crush
Will Twilight's Anna Kendrick get a supporting actress nomination for Up in the Air? - HitFix

Photos courtesy of The CW

Gerard Butler - Love Him or Leave Him?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Gerard Butler has had a rough couple of weeks - critics panned his film Law Abiding Citizen and his appearance on Saturday Night Live didn't win rave reviews either. On top of everything else, there are rumors about him and Jessica Simpson getting cozy floating around. There is some light at the end of the tunnel though: he just announced in an interview that he'd be joining Shakespeare's Coriolanus with Ralph Fiennes for his next film.

It's nice to see Butler take on a project with some serious acting teeth. While he's always easy on the eyes in romantic comedies like P.S. I Love You or The Ugly Truth, I've never really liked the films themselves. (The possible exception being The Phantom of the Opera, since you know I love movie musicals!)

Maybe you disagree with me though? Law Abiding Citizen did take No. 2 at the box office, and I know that several of you liked the movie despite my review. So what do you think of Gerard Butler - love him or leave him?

Link Time! The Vampire Diaries Gets a Full Season

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:30:45 -0700

The CW gives The Vampire Diaries a full season and orders more episodes of Melrose Place - HitFix
28 TV castmates who click - PopWatch
Precious director Lee Daniels might be making a Miss Saigon movie - MTV Movies Blog
It's a good week for Adam Shankman: he'll be producing the 2010 Oscars - Moviefone
Director Cary Fukunaga has signed on for a Jane Eyre film adaptation - Coming Soon
The squeamish person's guide to Willem Defoe's Antichrist - Vulture
Longtime column Modern Love to be made into a romantic comedy - Defamer
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Law & Order: SVU - TV.com
Check out the latest trailer for The Wolf Man starring Benicio Del Toro - Movieline
How to do your makeup a la '80s film classic Teen Witch for Halloween - BellaSugar

Photo courtesy of The CW