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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:30:50 -0800

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to my picks below, you can also bring home the comedy Step Brothers today.

X-Files: I Want to Believe
Rejoice, X-Files fans: The most recent addition to the beloved sci-fi saga has arrived on DVD. The movie didn't receive stellar reviews but I don't think that will matter to those who are looking forward to seeing Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) get back on a case together. This mystery involves a missing FBI agent and a psychic priest (played by Billy Connolly). Amanda Peet also appears in the movie as a young agent.

Special features include audio commentary by show creators/movie collaborators Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, a special makeup effects featurette, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

Two more good ones up next, so read more.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Is there anything more fun than curling up in a blanket with a Narnia movie and something yummy to sip on? I don't think so. I saw this in the theaters and while I had some nits to pick with it, it's hard not to succumb to the magic and whimsy of this favorite childhood book coming to life on the screen. Another pro for me? That the guy playing Prince Caspian, Ben Barnes, is way cuter than I even imagined the good prince to be.

Special features include audio commentary with director Andrew Adamson, bloopers, deleted scenes, and an in-depth look at the talking animals and walking trees that make up the magical world of Narnia.

Wanted
Wanted stars James McAvoy who plays poor, spineless Wesley, an accountant with major anxiety issues who meets Fox (Angelina Jolie), a hot lady who tells him his recently deceased father was actually a talented member of an assassins circle known as The Fraternity. The Fraternity's leader Sloan (Morgan Freeman) recruits Wesley into the ring to go after his father's murderer. What follows is a movie full of guns, blood, and bullets, all of which is now yours to take home to watch in the comfort of your own home.

Special features include extended scenes and a look at the making of the film's special effects.

Do You Want There to Be More Narnia Movies?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:30:56 -0800

Media insider press releases can be fairly dull, but there's an intriguing blurb in this one announcing the departure of a Walden Media co-founder:

[Cary] Granat will be Walden's creative consultant on the third installment in The Chronicles of Narnia franchise - Voyage of the Dawn Treader - which the company hopes to greenlight soon.

Greenlight soon? So it's not already going?

While the first two movies did well at the box office, the second film, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, got mixed reviews, which may have dampened the overall affection for the franchise. Already there were rumors that the third film could be the last in the series, and now I'm curious if you're worried that it's not yet greenlit. Has your excitement for Narnia movies has worn off a little? Or do you hope they keep working their way through the book series?

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Box Office: SATC Sticks a Stiletto in the Competition

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:45:14 -0700

As the saying goes: If you build it, they will come. Which was indeed the case this weekend for Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Patrick King's two and a half hour fête gifted to devoted fans who showed up in droves to support Sex and the City's move to the big screen.

The movie smashed every record for an R-rated comedy and proved that women can drive box office sales just like men. SATC earned an estimated $55.7 million prompting Warner president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman to quote in Variety:

This has become a cultural phenomenon. What this shows is that given the right project, you can create a frenzy for the female aud, just like we are used to with boys and men.

The film was "the strongest ever for a movie carried by a female lead," beating the record-holder Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Sarah Jessica Parker told the New York Times, "I am so excited about the possibilities for movies about women.”

Dropping to the No. 2 spot, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull still had a strong second weekend earning an additional $46 million. Even the third spot was a shock to many with the seriously spooky The Strangers taking in an estimated $20.7 million. That's really good if you compare it to the approximate $9 million the movie cost to produce. Iron Man dropped to the fourth spot followed by The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian at No. 5.

Photos courtesy of New Line Cinema

Box Office: Indiana Whips the Competition

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend is very kind to Summer blockbusters, and this year was no exception for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. According to Variety, the return of the Steven Spielberg franchise was his biggest movie opening ever, hauling in an estimated $126 million over the four-day holiday.

While these results are a career high for Spielberg, the film itself did not break any box office records related to this holiday weekend or any other long weekend openings.

Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian dropped to second place followed by Iron Man. The fourth spot went to What Happens in Vegas, which continues to perform well, followed by Made of Honor at No. 5 and Baby Mama at No. 6.

John Cusack's War Inc. - also starring Hillary Duff - opened in limited release and did not make the top 10.

Photos courtesy of Paramount

Narnia's Prince Gallops Away With the Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:15:21 -0700

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian handily won the top stop at the box office over the weekend, though it failed to bring in as much as the first Narnia film did in 2005.

In the "yikes" department, Speed Racer (already struggling at the box office) dropped from third place to fourth, only earning an estimated $7.6 million this weekend. Iron Man continued to set records, holding strong at second place while What Happens in Vegas took third. In fact, Iron Man was the first film to earn over $200 million at the domestic box office this year, according to Variety. Baby Mama closed out the top five.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:30:35 -0700

We appear to have a mellow movie weekend ahead of us in terms of new releases, but there is still lots out there to keep you busy. Which movie are you headed to this weekend?
Holy cow, it was a busy week for TV! The network upfronts gave us a lot of good stuff to look forward to this Fall. Fox added some cool-looking sci-fi shows to its roster while the CW charts a clear path forward, littered with rich kids.
Speaking of the CW's rich kids, are you excited for the new 90210 now that we've got some pictures? And what do you think about the series Surviving the Rich (based on the book How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls)?
Hooray for Reaper! It will not be canceled, which I assume is a great relief to its star, Bret Harrison, who I had the honor of interviewing!
There were a lot of trailers out on the Web this week some good, some not so good. I thought Edge of Love looks breathtakingly gorgeous (and so romantic!) and I'm really intrigued by Woody Allen's latest all-star flick.
Is it just me or does it seem like only people raised in the '80s are running the show down in L.A. right now? They're bringing Fraggle Rock to the big screen and. . . wait for it. . . a cereal box mascot movie (yeah, it's odd, just read the post).
James Frey, author of the bestselling memoir A Million Little Pieces (which later turned out to be more fiction than anything else) has a new book out and it's getting stellar reviews. Are you open to reading his stuff?
Definitely make time to check out what's new on iTunes because there's some great stuff out this week, including Duffy and Death Cab for Cutie. And if you're curious about who's singing that sweet little tune on the diamond commercials, I have the entire song here.
Also, the new Flight of the Conchords video for "Ladies of the World" is. So. Funny.

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Prince Caspian: Heavy on the Battle Scenes

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:05:02 -0700

In Hollywood, despite major examples to the contrary, the general school of thought during the summer (especially when adapting fantasy stories) seems to be to rely on battle scenes and action in order to keep audiences riveted, rather than focusing on just telling a good story. This definitely appears to be the dominating mindset of the filmmakers in charge of the second installment of Disney's Narnia franchise, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Capsian. And I'm confused as to why this approach was taken with Prince Caspian when C.S. Lewis has given us a great, fantastical story to work with that even comes with nice allegorical ties to the real world, offering kids lessons in love, courage and honor.

This is my fundamental gripe about an otherwise entertaining movie. Because, sure, while there are some people who could watch giant armies storm an open field and men sweat and grunt as they battle each other for hours, there is no question the kids at my screening grew tired of all that. In fact, the girl next to me who was no older than 10 spent a good portion of the movie with her head buried in her father's shoulder, as it was just a little too violent and scary to endure (some people are even saying it's too violent for the PG rating).

To read more about why I think filmmakers missed an opportunity to tell a great story, read more.

The opening of the movie is promisingly filled with tension as Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the Telmarine throne (a race of men that invaded Narnia after Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie left) is driven into the forest after his uncle attempts to assassinate him in the night. Right off the bat the musical score is wonderful, our hearts are racing, and we're treated to sweeping views of fields, mountains and cliffs. When Prince Caspian (played by newcomer Ben Barnes who is super cute but saddled with an unfortunate "Telmarine" accent) blows a horn left by Susan, she and her siblings are once again whisked back to Narnia after a year away in London. However, when they return they discover it's now been 1300 years since they ruled as kings and queens and the Telmarines have driven the Narnians underground and out of the history books.

The Pevensies get to work helping Caspian reclaim his throne so he can bring peace between the two races. This is where I wish we could have spent some time discovering the "what"s and "why"s of all that has happened to Narnia by this new race of men, in order to give the film some depth to balance out the violence. Instead, these details are glossed over and we're launched into one battle after another. There isn't a ton of blood and for the most part they are well-executed (I especially like watching Susan do battle with her arrows) but for a movie that is very long (almost two and half hours) I felt like parents and children alike would have preferred more character moments and less Narnians getting beaten to death (and in one instance, beheaded).

Case in point: Reepicheep the Mouse - voiced by Eddie Izzard! - is absolutely charming and at my screening he was the best part of the film for the kids, judging by their laughter and sheer glee every time he was on the screen. There's also a lovely scene in which Lucy is swept away into the forest with the tree spirits and again, the kids in my screening sat upright, wide-eyed as they watched the little girl make her way through a magical land. I found myself yearning for more of that good stuff.

And as for that little girl sitting next to me, I got the feeling she would have also swapped more time with Reepicheep and other Narnians for most of the fight scenes. At the end of the day, I wish the filmmakers would have (as C.S. Lewis might have urged them) had a little faith and just told a great story.

For the trailer and more videos from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney

Which Movie Will You Go See This Weekend?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:30:51 -0700

It's an interesting time for movies this weekend as The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian sequel hits theaters, providing the only real competition for Iron Man. Many of you have probably already sought out Iron Man, so what's next for you at the cinema? Narnia? A little Vegas action, perhaps? Or maybe the hypercolored Speed Racer?

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Comic-Con Report: Simpsons, Pixar, Narnia, More

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:39:58 -0700

At Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend, Team member Phasekitty got some great scoop on some upcoming movies from Disney, Focus Features and more. Be sure to check out all of her blogging about the event. Here are a few highlights:

At the Simpsons panel, Phasekitty got the answer to one burning question about The Simpsons Movie: What happened to Spider Pig? Apparently, the special creature will return in this year's season premiere. Another fun Simpsons Movie fact: The script went through 166 drafts in four years. As for the TV version of "The Simpsons," Jack Black and comic legend Alan Moore will voice characters in an episode about a rival comic shop opening in Springfield, and Dan Rather and Jon Stewart will lend their voices to a politically driven episode that finds Ralph Wiggum as the frontrunner for both parties in their primary elections.
Liv Tyler really knows how to please a geek: She spoke elvish upon request during the Rogue/Focus panel. She was there to promote her upcoming horror film, The Strangers. Phasekitty says: "First time director Bryan Bertino brings to life his own script about a couple who is attacked in their home by three strangers. Bertino, along with stars Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler, headed up this panel and showed two tension-filled clips and an eerie, original teaser trailer."
Balls of Fury, on the other hand, kind of bombed: Phasekitty says the humor among the panelists seemed forced, the clips were only mildly funny, and "the questions were mostly directed to the creative team about other projects of theirs like 'Reno 911' and 'The State.'"

More, including a glimpse at the next Pixar film, so read more

At the Disney panel, Phasekitty got a good look at Wall-E, Pixar's latest film, which is scheduled to be released next summer. Her blog has a great summary of the plot, but here's a quick version: Wall-E is a robot left behind when the humans evacuated earth; he's spent the past 700 years cleaning up our waste. He's developed a personality and feelings over the years, and he eventually falls for a robot named Eve, who has no feelings of her own. Here's Phasekitty's summary of the clip she saw:

[Writer/director Andrew] Stanton ended the panel with a lengthy clip (about 15 minutes) from the beginning of Wall-E in which Wall-E goes about his daily routine compacting trash at work, but laying aside special "treasures" for himself which include a ring box (he quickly discarded the diamond ring inside), a rubber duck, and a bra. Underneath a pile of trash, he discovers a small green sprout, which he carefully scoops up, pots, and adds to his collection. Having finished a day's work, Wall-E heads back to his garage with his spoils; a cricket as his only companion. He sees a red light on the ground and begins to chase it only to be terrified when a spaceship lands directly on top of him (he digs underground for a quick escape to safety). Wall-E watches curiously as the spaceship opens to reveal....for a split second it's Eve, and then the film cut to black and Stanton seemed quite pleased with himself for being an incredible tease.
Phasekitty also got a glimpse of Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the latest in the series. Director Andrew Adamson, who plans to step down as director after this film but remain on board as a producer, said the plan is to put out one Narnia movie every May, starting with Prince Caspian in 2008. The next one, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is set to begin production early next year.

Stars Smile at Narnia's London Premiere

PopSugarUK — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Following their New York premiere way back in early May, the young stars of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian looked tickled pink to be at the UK premiere of their film, held at London's O2 Arena last night. Voice co-stars Liam Neeson and David Walliams were also in attendance, as were a number of my favourite British celebs including Annie Lennox and Kirstie Allsopp. Alex and Raef from The Apprentice got suited and booted for the occassion, and Eastenders' Mitchell sisters Samantha Janus and Rita Simons kept it cool in sunnies while their co-star Rob Kazinsky smouldered sexily.

To see loads more pictures of the celebs in attendance, including Natasha Richardson, Bruno Tonioli, Miranda Richardson, and Jasmine Guinness read more

View 35 Photos ›

Images include: Anna Popplewell, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Ben Barnes, David Walliams, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Samantha Janus, Rita Simons, Annie Lennox, Skandar Keynes, Andrew Adamson, Alex Wotherspoon, Raef Bjayou, Kirstie Allsopp, Bruno Tonioli, Cornell John, Miranda Richardson, Robert Kazinsky, Jasmine Guinness

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