not to be missed this summer

With trailers out for these two films, I can’t help but be so excited for them. And no, I’m not talking about Shrek the Third or Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Nope, it’s not so much the big blockbusters that I’m looking forward (with the exception of HP), but two comedies that happen to both star Seth Rogen. If you don’t recognize the name, you soon will (he was one of the freaks in Freaks & Geeks, was in Undeclared, and was the incredibly funny fellow employee and friend of Steve Carell in 40 Year Old Virgin).

First up, out on June 2, is Knocked Up from Judd Apatow (Freaks & Geeks, 40 Year Old Virgin). Starring Rogen and the exquisite Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy, and the awesome 90s movie My Father the Hero) about two people who have a one-night stand and I bet you can guess what happens next. It definitely gives off the Apatow charm of hilarity and sentimentality all in one package. Also worth mentioning: Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are in it too, along with other great actors who have frequented Apatow productions.

Here’s the trailer
http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/knockedup/

The second, out on August 17, is Superbad, co-written by Seth Rogen about, well I’m not really sure what exactly, except that it’s about two high school boys and trying to be cool or something and then there’s two cops trying to solve a liquor store hold-up. Anyway, plot is not important here because it stars Michael Cera (George Michael of Arrested Development!) and Jonah Hill (guess what, he’s in 40 Year Old Virgin AND Knocked Up), with Rogen and Bill Hader of SNL. How can you not want to see this after the clip of the boys in the sleeping bags? Ahhh I can’t wait!

Here ya go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T9_JBfT-7c

(sorry they’re not direct links - I don't know how to do these things)

Grindhouse: Planet Terror & Death Proof

It certainly isn’t necessary to be familiar with B movies or exploitation films to appreciate Grindhouse, although it wouldn’t hurt. I definitely fall into the former category, having never really seen any such B films, with the exception of the movies screened for Mystery Science Theater. From my understanding, B films became popular in the 50s – 70s as film studios began making fewer films with big budgets. This meant that less A movies were available for theaters, but since the method of presenting double features was still popular and profitable, B movies filled in for the second half, which were being made in a short amount of time with very low budgets and unknown actors. Exploitation films are similar, but focus on “exploiting” the profitable teenage scene, who tended to gravitate towards horror and sci-fi films, and even sexual romps (now who says film history textbooks aren’t useful??).

Oh right, about the movie. From beginning to end, Grindhouse is pretty spectacular. Not to mention fake trailers and commercials that are directed by Rob Zombie, Eli Roth (Hostel), and Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), which play during the “intermission,” so don’t miss that, especially the first trailer which has an unusual but awesome cameo. There are also typical B movie gimmicks throughout the entire show, such as poor film quality and missing reels. Now, Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror opens the double feature with a full-on zombie flick, which includes a lot of gross-out moments of blood and puss. Rose McGowan is particularly badass as a go-go dancer turned zombie-killer as her amputated leg is replaced with a machine gun. Planet Terror is full of moments that are simultaneously disgusting and hilarious, and always enjoyable.

While Planet Terror felt like it embodied more of an exploitation film, Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof definitely has a different tone and is simply more of a B movie. It sort of starts off slow with a group of annoying 20-something girls basically talking about their sex lives either in a car or in a bar. Kurt Russell plays Stuntman Mike, who drives a death proof car and just so happens to have a thing for tormenting girls. It takes awhile to get to the central group of girls, which includes Rosario Dawson and the incredible Zoe Bell (a stuntwoman playing herself and also Uma Thurman’s stunt-double in Kill Bill) who does all of her own stunts, including straddling a car at who knows how many miles per hour. There is an incredible car chase sequence that is so tense and thrilling and even funny. All I can say is that the ending is so great that I found myself clapping and cheering along with everyone else in the theater, which is usually something I never do, except for maybe at midnight screenings of say, Star Wars or LOTR. Needless to say, Grindhouse is a fun, gruesome, and naughty time at the movies.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, respectively
Runtime: 191 minutes

Blades of Glory

Yes, there are such things as good “stupid movies,” which is basically any Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, or Vince Vaughn comedy. Blades of Glory is truly stupid, but damn it’s funny, therefore I’d call it a good stupid movie (although I don’t think it’s better than Talladega Nights or Anchorman). The premise of two men as figure-skating partners is pretty creative, but sometimes there are cheap shots that suggest homophobia, even though the overall tone literally embraces bonds between men. Although I think Jon Heder doesn’t have a very broad range of talent when it comes to acting, he works here as the more flamboyant Jimmy MacElroy with his physical comedy and facial expressions. I love Will Ferrell, but I always worry for him by getting stuck in these stupid comedies as basically playing the same guy over and over again, just in different wigs. His Chazz Michael Michaels is good, but I thought he could have been a bit more creative with it. I wish there was more Will Arnett and Amy Poehler as a creepy sibling pair, whose outfits just kept getting more and more ridiculous. But one great chase scene between rivals Ferrell and Arnett is hilarious, if only it could have gone on a bit longer. In terms of storyline and some random unnecessary subplots, Blades of Glory does teeter on thin ice, but it’s the delivery of nonsensical lines and stunts that really make the movie have some credibility.

Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck
Runtime: 93 minutes

Reign Over Me

It feels like I saw this a long time ago, and I’m lazy, so I’m not going to say all that much about it. Mostly though, I was disappointed. I think the idea of facing post-9/11 issues like the one presented in this film is important, but other factors in the movie distracted its focus. There is also one subplot involving sexual harassment that is simply annoying and does nothing for the movie. Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler give good performances, especially a confession scene with Sandler and his emotional story of his family killed in one of the hijacked planes. It’s sad, however, how little playtime these issues get, compared to smaller, less important day-to-day events. It’s definitely a push in the right direction for starting dialogue about traumatic events, but it just gets lost on the way.

Directed by Mike Binder
Runtime: 124 minutes

300

It was exciting for me to watch 300 after just completing a course in the history of Ancient Greece. I particularly loved how the Spartans made fun of the Athenians as being “boy lovers.” Oh snap, you’re not gonna take that are you Athens? Your rich culture and intellectual abilities could dominate Sparta in a flash – but I digress. I was thoroughly entertained by this adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel and loved how the animated-like elements made it feel like a mythical story, since really that’s how we approach ancient history anyway. I did have some historical issues with it, however, like the fact that Sparta’s main argument against the Persians was that they were free people who would not submit to slavery. Hmmm, interesting. Well Sparta did in fact have slaves, so that doesn’t really work. I guess you could argue that they were saying that the free people of Sparta didn’t want to be enslaved, but they didn’t make that distinction very clear. It was pretty spot on though with the fact that women were very much respected in their society – far more than any other Greek city-state, even Athens. Now, did anyone else notice the many similarities to Lord of the Rings? Not only was there the Gollum-like Ephialtes or the Persians that curiously looked a lot like Orcs, but David Wenham (Faramir in LOTR) was in it. That was only a slight distraction, unlike the abs of every single male in this movie. Hot damn, that’s some good use of airbrushing right there, not to mention those tight Speedos. But seriously now, 300 is a beautiful film, with artistic battle scenes accompanied with rock and trance music (Xerxes’ tent, anyone?), which I thought effectively told an impressive and epic story.

Directed by Zack Snyder
Runtime: 117 minutes