Most people thought the opening of the new Batman movie would be big – but few thought it would be this big. The Dark Knight brought in more than $155 million in ticket sales in its first weekend – the biggest opening of any movie in Hollywood history.
The other sci fi flick to debut is the kiddie animated entry, Space Chimps, which debuted at No. 6, behind WALL-E.
To make room for the two new comers, both Incredible Hulk and Indiana Jones fell out of the genre top 10 for the first time in months.
With Journey to the Center of the Earth still performing well against stiff kiddie competition, expectations are growing for, The Mummy; Tomb of the Dragon Emperor which opens in two weeks and like Journey, stars Brendan Fraser.
Of all the Top 10 films of the week – all but the second spot (Baby Boomer-targeted musical Mama Mia!) were either science fiction, fantasy, horror or spy fi.
Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of July 18 -20, 2008.
RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]
(1) The Dark Knight – $155.3 million | $155.3 million [$180 million]
(3) Hancock – $14 million | $191.5 million [$150 million]
(4) Journey to the Center of the Earth – $11.9 million | $43.1 million [$60 million]
(5) Hellboy II – $10.0 million | $56.4 million [$85 million]
(6) WALL-E – $9.8 million | $182.5 million [$180 million]
(7) Space Chimps – $7.4 million | $7.4 million [unknown budget]
(8) Wanted – $5.1 million | $123.3 million [$75 million]
(9) Get Smart – $4.1 million | $199.6 million [$80 million]
(10) Kung Fu Panda – $1.8 million | $206.5 million [$130 million]
(11) Meet Dave – $1.6 million | $9.4 million [$60 million]
Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.
OPENS: July 18, 2008 RATING: G GENRE: Science Fiction, Comedy, Children’s Film, Computer Animation, Space opera
Reviewing the mainstream media reviews of the new animated film, Space Chimps, you can only come to one conclusion: whether you hate or love this film comes down to one thing – individual taste.
Although most critics panned this film as a pale entry in comparison to WALL-E or Kung Fu Panda, other well-respected critics are praising the film’s message and family friendliness.
One thing is for sure, opening against the new Batman move and Mama Mia! and while both Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda are still hot in the box office, Space Chimps probably will not be bre4aking any box office records.
Of the positive reviews, noted is the film’s pro-animal rights and humane message, and the comedic talents of the actors adding voice to the film. The include comic geniuses Adam Samburg (SNL), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Patrick Warburton (The Tick, Family Guy), Kristen Chenowith (Pushing Daisies, Robot Chicken) and Kenan Thompson (SNL).
Although the good reviews are few and rather positive, the negative reviews are legion. Mostly noting the all-too-familiar plot line, the lack of any sort of suspense and no real dramatic climax to the story. Some critics are coming out and saying that this is a “comedy” that is just plain not funny.
Others say, that while the film is destined for success as a kiddie DVD, parents will avoid it like the plague.
In other words – it will probably be a minor cult hit among a core group of science fiction fans.
WATCH THE TRAILER
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Inoffensive film with sight gags to amuse children
{/rw_good} –>
<!– {rw_bad}
Plot too complicated for young children
Plot too predictable for most adults
{/rw_bad} –>
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{for="Salt Lake Tribune" value="3"}
"After a summer of good animation (Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda), Space Chimps is a callous clunker.” – Sean P. Means
{/for}
{for=”Christian Science Monitor” value=”4″}
“Why would you take your kids to see Space Chimps, an uninspired animated feature about chimp astronauts, when you could take them instead to see Wall-E?” – Peter Rainer
{/for}
{for=”Minneapolis Star Tribune” value=”3″}
“Pretty much like the story of Kung Fu Panda. Only in space. With monkeys. And not as funny.” – Colin Covert
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{for=”Washington Post” value=”4″}
“Most adults like to think there’s still a little 6-year-old inside them. Well, mine isn’t talking to me anymore, not since I took him to Space Chimps.” – John Anderson
{/for}
{for=”London Free Press” value=”6″}
“It’s summer, you’ve got time off, the kids are bored and, under those circumstances, you could do a lot worse.” – Jim Slotek
{/for}
{for=”Seattle Times” value=”7″}
“The film’s witty, smart story reminds us that chimps (even if they’re not being shot into space anymore) are still involuntarily on the dangerous, painful front lines of research.” – Tom Keogh
{/for}
{for=”New York Times” value=”8″}
“Journalism is all about having the courage to write the truth even if it will get you mocked by your relatives and co-workers, so here goes: “Space Chimps” is hilarious.” – Neil Genzlinger
{/for}
{for=”Hollywood Reporter” value=”7″}
“The CG animation is nothing special, but the characters are surprisingly fun and the story is full of enough puns, wordplay and slapstick to elicit laughs from across the age spectrum.” – Kirk Honeycutt
Whether it's run-of-the-mill fanboy attention, rabid Batman fans, or ghoulish gawkers eager to see dead movie star Heath Ledger's final performance, The Dark Knight is set to be one of the biggest blockbuster movies of 2008.
{/rw_text} –>
OPENS: July 18, 2008 RATING: PG-13 (Violence) GENRE: Superhero, Fantasy
Three years ago independent film maker Christopher Nolan, best known for a little film called Memento, was picked by Warner Bros. to helm and write the big screen return of Batman.
Worse yet, Christian Bale, a British actor was cast in the lead role.
A skeptical but hopeful fanbase was pleasantly surprised when the movie opened as a smart ans serious treatment of the Caped Crusader – not the campy mocking treatment that has been done in past years.
So it was with great anticipation over the past few years that Batman followers looked forward to the release of The Dark Knight, Nolan’s sequel – which had the debut of Nolan’s take on the Joker as played by Oscar nominee Heath Ledger (Roar, A Knight’s Tale, Brokeback Mountain).
Then this past winter the unthinkable happened when Heath Ledger died in an accidental overdose from mixing prescription medications.
Because of this tragedy, The Dark Knight premiere became overshadowed as the last performance of a gifted young actor.
To a one, each mainstream media reviewer – and most fannish reviews – have focused on ledger and his performance. The consensus is that his turn as Joker is a success and exceeds any other actor’s previous attempt to inhabit the iconic role. Many – but not all – predict that Ledger will be nominated for best supporting actor when the Academy Award nominations come out next year.
Also of note, the addition of Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, replacing Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. Most pointed out that Gyllenhaal’s acting chops, easy glamour and commanding screen presence show not only that Holmes was miscast in the role in the first film – but that Gyllenhall, maybe more so than her better-known brother Jake, is destined for a long career in the movies.
Of the few negative comments. Some reviewers didn’t line the 2 1/2 hour length of the film. Others said the film lost the edgy magic of the first film as it reached too far toward becoming an action flick. Still other negative comments focused on the dystopian, bleak atmosphere of Dark Knight.
WATCH THE TRAILER
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Outstanding cast
Terrific writing
Possibly the first superhero movie destined to win in a major Oscar category
{/rw_good} –>
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Not for children because of extreme violence and scary scenes
At 2 1/2 hours, may be too long for some people
If you want an uplifting feel-good movie, you won’t get it
{/rw_bad} –>
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{for="Houston Chronicle" value="9"}
"Even without the sentimental distinction of being the late actor's last role, Ledger's performance as the Joker is the best thing about the movie." – Eric Harrison
{/for}
{for=”E!” value=”9″}
“It’s almost unfair to call The Dark Knight a sequel. Director Christopher Nolan has crafted a Batman film of such devastating impact, it practically obliterates the memory of its predecessors.” – Alex Markerson
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{for=”Salt Lake Tribune” value=”9″}
“ Ledger, tearing into his last great role, embodies the insane genius of The Joker – and of the movie.” – Sean P. Martin
{/for}
{for=”CNN” value=”8″}
“ In a summer when action overwhelms intelligence (and even good sense), here’s a movie that works on many levels.” – Tom Charity
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{for=”Washington Post – Family Filmgoer” value=”7″}
“Ledger walks away with the movie. His Joker is insane, evil, scary, funny and even pathetic in his psychopathic lack of feeling. He could give younger kids nightmares. This is not a movie for teens younger than high school age, let alone grade schoolers.” – Jane Horwitz
{/for}
{for=”Newsday” value=”8″}
“Ledger is wickedly brilliant as the Joker. He revels in his spaghetti hair and maimed-clown makeup, but it’s his delightfully nasty delivery and twisted posture that transform him into a force of nature. If Alfred Hitchcock was right that a film is only as good as its villain, that explains the success of The Dark Knight.”- Rafer Guzman
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{for=”Boston Globe” value=”8″}
“You come away impressed, oppressed, provoked, and beaten down, holding on to Ledger’s squirrelly incandescence as a beacon in the darkness.” – Ty Burr
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{for=”Chicago Sun-Times” value=”10″}
“Because these actors and others are so powerful, and because the movie does not allow its spectacular special effects to upstage the humans, we’re surprised how deeply the drama affects us.” – Roger Ebert
{/for}
{for=”Salon” value=”6″}
“Looks as if it were made from a messy blackboard diagram with lots of circles, heavily underlined phrases (“Duality! Good vs. evil — in the same person! Kinship between hero and villain!”) and crisscrossing arrows that ultimately point to nothing.” – Stephanie Zacharek
{/for}
{for=”London Free Press” value=”9″}
“this shadowy opus of morality and identity bends the genre to new dimensions — hinging not on spectacle, but the yin-and-yang pathology of its hero and villain. It’s a gripping, gratifying high-wire act and a startling departure for a genre usually dismissed as effects-driven eye-candy.” – Kevin Williamson
{/for}
{for=”San Francisco Chronicle” value=”8″}
“The Dark Knight is by no means a complete success. But the more it reveals its dark heart, the better it gets, and at times it seems just a step away from achieving something extraordinary. In the end, it’s no leap forward, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.” – Mick LaSalle
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{for=”USA Today” value=”10″}
“A more thrilling, intelligent, morally complex and masterfully crafted film than any summer blockbuster in recent years. It’s probably the best superhero movie to date.” – Claudia Puig
{/for}
{for=”Los Angeles Times” value=”9″}
“The Dark Knight may be the most hopeless, despairing comic-book movie in memory. It creates a world where being a superhero is at best a double-edged sword and no triumph is likely to be anything but short-lived.” – Kenneth Turan
{/for}
{for=”Chicago Tribune” value=”10″}
“Sensational, grandly sinister and not for the kids, “The Dark Knight” elevates pulp to a very high level.” – Michael Phillips
Audiences spent just shy of $36 million to give Hellboy II: The Golden Army the lead of the pack over the July 11-13 weekend, knocking Will Smith’s Hancock to the No. 2 spot in its second week.
In the battle of the new sci-fi kiddie flicks, Journey to the Center of the Earth, starring Brendan Fraser, with its $20.5 million take on 2,811 screens beat out the newest Eddie Murphy film, Meet Dave, which only brought in $5.3 million on 3,011 screens.
In the 980s it would be unheard of for an Eddie Murphy picture to open so small, although this may be good news for Fraser, who’s new big-budget action picture, The Mummy; Tomb of the Dragon Emperor opens in three weeks.
Of all the Top 10 films of the week – all but the ninth spot ( ‘tween chick flick Kit Kittredge: An American Girl) were either science fiction, fantasy, horror or spy fi.
Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of July 11 -13, 2008.
RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]
(1) Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $35.9 million | $35.9 million [$85 million]
(2) Hancock – $33.0 million | $165.0 million [$150 million]
(3) Journey to the Center of the Earth 3d – $20.6 million | $20.6 million [$60 million]
(4) WALL-E – $18.5 million | $162.8 million [$180 million]
(5) Wanted – $11.6 million | $112.0 million [$75 million]
(6) Get Smart – $7.1 million | $111.5 million [$80 million]
(7) Meet Dave – $5.3 million | $5.3 million [$60 million]
(8) Kung Fu Panda – $4.3 million | $202.0 million [$130 million]
(10) Indiana Jones: Crystal Skull – $2.3 million | $310.5 million [$185 million]
(11) The Incredible Hulk – $2.2 million | $129.8 million [$150 million]
Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.
Jule's Verne's classic story comes to life on the Big screen – again. This time it's been updated an has comedic-action star Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) as the lead.
{/rw_text} –> OPENS: July 11, 2008 RATING: PG (Cartoon-level violence) GENRE: Science Fantasy
In the glut of summer flicks based on comic books this summer, Journey to the Center of the Earth – even though it is in 3-D – is a throw-back of sorts as it is based upon a novel written in the 1800s.
An unashamed children’s film, it opens on the same weekend as the more adult-themes Hellboy 2 and the slightly raunchier Meet Dave, starring Eddie Murphy.
Directed by Eric Brevig, best known for creating stunning special effects, this film has its sights set on one goal: make a thrilling movie that is fun for families to see together in a theatre. There, according to critics, it succeeds.
But if you are a film snob looking for a great Oscar-worthy work of filmed speculative fiction, you’ll be disappointed.
Journey is all about the thrill ride, special effects and pushing the limits of 3-D technology without breaking them – and for the most part it succeeds, so say the mainstream critics.
Of course, this weekend, audiences will judge for themselves.
WATCH THE TRAILER
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Outstanding visual effects
3-D technology perfected
Stunning visuals
Family friendly
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Weak script
Scary scenes may be too scary for children prone to nightmares.
{/rw_bad} –>
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{for="Christian Science Monitor" value="6"}
"Remake of the Jules Verne classic lacks some of the sense of wonder of earlier version despite its splashy special effects. ” – Peter Rainer
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{for=”TIME” value=”5″}
“Neither the acting nor the story matters much here; the movie is simply the sum of its 3D effects.” – Richard Corliss
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{for=”Chicago Sun-TImes” value=”6″}
“This is a fairly bad movie, and yet at the same time maybe about as good as it could be. There may not be an 8-year-old alive who would not love it. If I had seen it when I was 8, I would have remembered it with deep affection for all these years, until I saw it again and realized how little I really knew at that age.” – Roger Ebert
{/for}
{for=”Toronto Star” value=”5″}
“Whatever kinks remain in 3D technology seem to have been worked out, and there are moments, especially involving a blue phosphorescent bird hovering in the air of the theatre, that are quite impressive. Dramatically, however, this movie has not evolved.” – Philip Marchand
{/for}
{for=”San Francisco Chronicle” value=”8″}
“Director Eric Brevig could have leaned on the 3-D and the action sequences – he could have indulged himself and bloated his movie by 20 minutes – and still had something that would have pleased most viewers. Instead, he told the story.” – Mick LaSalle
{/for}
{for=”Washington Post” value=”7″}
“Viewers will delight at amusing visual stunts involving a yo-yo, a beetle’s antenna and at least three spit takes, one from a very sloppy, gloppy dinosaur.” – Ann Hornaday
{/for}
{for=”Kansas City Star” value=”6″}
“Journey provides a diverting if shallow entertainment, not to mention a glimpse of things to come.” – Robert W. Butler
{/for}
{for=”Salon” value=”8″}
“Just as the effects in “Journey to the Center of the Earth” start to become tiresome, the thing is over: Part of its beauty lies in its economy. In real life, it would take you a long time to journey to the center of the earth. Brevig has us in and out in around 90 minutes. Now that’s show business.” – Stephanie Zacharek
{/for}
{for=”Seattle Post-Intelligencer” value=”7″}
“It’s harmless fun, and it makes for an often impressive display of the latest generation of computer-wizardry. But the enterprise is utterly void of substance: instantly forgettable and about as enriching as a rerun of Johnny Quest.” – William Arnold
After his Oscar nomination for best supporting actor in the 2006 Dreamgirls, movie critics expect more out of Eddie Murphy.
But he seems content to make slapstick gross-out comedies aimed at the 10-to-13-year old market (and those who laugh like pre-teens).
His latest movie, Meet Dave (previously called Starship Dave before some P.R.-type decided to de-sci-fi the title), has Murphy returning to comedic science fiction.
His last outing in the genre was 2002′s The Adventures of Pluto Nash which was a box office failure, but has gained a cult following due to its campy nature.
Meet Dave has Murphy teamed with Norbit director Brian Robbins (a former child actor and teen heartthrob in the 1986-1991 series, Head of the Class, who grew up to be an executive producer of Smallville).
Judging from the reviews, most mainstream film critics are not fans of the Murphy-Robbins duo. And if they have to choose a target of their venom – it more often than not is aimed at Robbins.
Positive notes include kudos to Murphy’s mastery of subtle characterization mixed with the broad comedy of physical slapstick humor.
Negative comments include digs at a supposedly tired concept, overacting by everyone except Murphy and humor that may insult the intelligence of anyone past puberty.
WATCH THE TRAILER
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Pre-teen family friendly if you don’t mind slightly naughty potty humor
{/rw_good} –>
<!– {rw_bad}
Overacting by most of the cast
Cited for poor direction
Plot runs thin
{/rw_bad} –>
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{for="Los Angeles Times" value="3"}
"If Murphy seems to have learned something from the scathing reaction to the excessive and generally grotesque "Norbit," Brian Robbins, who directed that movie as well as this one, has not. As if to make up for Murphy's tightly controlled performance, the movie's other actors are pushed past the limits of parody. " – Sam Adams
{/for}
{for=”New York Times” value=”4″}
“The movie plays like a half-hour sitcom episode that has been stretched — principally through Mr. Murphy’s walking and talking — to feature-length running time.” – Manola Dargis
{/for}
{for=”Reuters” value=”4″}
“Like most of Murphy’s recent output, the movie aims low — as in, the targeted pint-sized audience — and its family-friendly results should translate into some solid summer numbers up on its Friday release.” – Michael Rechtshaffen
{/for}
{for=”Boston Herald” value=”2″}
“With toilet humor, such corny-as-Kansas lines as ‘How do you know when you feel love?’ and a too-predictable scenario that never lets Murphy do much more than mug, Meet Dave deserves a ‘no thanks.’” – Stephen Schaefer
{/for}
{for=”Orlando Sentinel” value=”6″}
“It says volumes about the state of Eddie Murphy’s comedy career that Meet Dave, his latest, is his least hateful film in years. For an actor known for making fun of gays, women, fat people, white people, gays, Asians and homosexuals, that’s saying something.” – Roger Moore
{/for}
{for=”San Francisco Chronicle” value=”7″}
“His new comedy, Meet Dave, isn’t likely to win Murphy another Oscar nomination. But at least it allows him to do what he does best – loads of physical comedy – and doesn’t rely principally on special effects for its humor.” – Ruthe Stein
{/for}
{for=”Chicago Tribune” value=”5″}
“Murphy as a brother from another planet inhabited by a team of little men and women supplying his every word and move, is its occasional funniness amid a sea of pablum. If it were completely rank, it’d be less frustrating.” – Michael Phillips
{/for}
{for=”Philadelphia Inquirer” value=”7″}
“In Meet Dave, family-friendly as a Fourth of July picnic, Murphy and Norbit director Brian Robbins redeem themselves with a performance and scenario that might have been developed for Steve Martin.” – Carrie Rickey
OPENS: July 11, 2008 RATING: PG-13
GENRES: Dark Fantasy, Comedy, Steampunk
NO SPOILERS
Writer/director Guillermo del Toro (director of three-time Oscar-winner Pan’s Labyrinth as well as Blade II and the original Hellboy) is on a roll, according to mainstream movie critics, who hail him as everything from the next Hitchcock to the next Ovid.
Although not all the critics loved the film – almost 9 out of 10 gave it positive reviews – which is an accomplishment for a genre film since the mainstream press seems hellbent on dismissing anything with an out-of-this-world imagination.
Not so with Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
Critics universally praised del Toro for his unique visual style and ability to set a mood like not other directer working today. Also, the actor playing the title role, Ron Perlman (TV’s Beauty and the Beast) an unlikely action hero at age 58, was praised by most as being at the top of his game.
Of the few negative comments, some found fault with the story as too simplistic or unbelievable, as if they forgot they were watching a social commentary disguised as a horror comedy about a big red demon who cut off his horns, loves kittens and decided to fight for the good guys.
The absurdity of life is the message, guys.
Del Toro’s next films: Doctor Strange in 2010 and in 2012 – The Hobbit (official prequels to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy)
WATCH THE TRAILER
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Outstanding special effects
Great visuals in cinematography
Genuine chills – and laughs
Moody and original dark fantasy elements
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Action, violence and language may be too harsh for children.
A few critics found the plot too predictable.
{/rw_bad} –>
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{for="Los Angeles Times" value="8"}
"Starting with characters created by Mike Mignola for Dark Horse Comics, writer-director Del Toro, whose one-of-a-kind Pan’s Labyrinth won a trio of Oscars in 2007, is almost alone in his ability to re-create on screen the wide-eyed exhilaration and disturbing grotesqueness that is the legacy of reading comics on the page.” – Kenneth Turan
{/for}
{for=”Seattle Post-Intelligencer” value=”8″}
“It definitely gives us our money’s worth in the sheer volume of its imaginative fantasy creatures and it’s that rare superhero-movie sequel that’s better than the original.” – William Arnold
{/for}
{for=”Slate” value=”8″}
“Mexican director Guillermo del Toro has started to look like a legitimate successor to Ovid. Del Toro is not so much a creator of myths as a collector of them, a transhistorical myth nerd whose pantheon of influences ranges from Hesiod to Harryhausen (with liberal helpings of steam punk and Catholic iconography).” – Dana Stevens
{/for}
{for=”Kansas City Star” value=”6″}
“Here’s the problem: too much razzle-dazzle. Not enough Ron Perlman.” – Robert W. Butler
{/for}
{for=”The Vancouver Sun” value=”9″}
“In a season of endless comic book superheroes, Hellboy II is a unique visual feast.” – Jay Stone
{/for}
{for=”Minneapolis Star-Tribune” value=”9″}
“Guillermo Del Toro’s stylish sense of wonderment makes for the best superhero movie of the summer. ” – Colin Covert
{/for}
{for=”Chicago Tribune” value=”7″}
“in the right hands, digital effects, creature design and directorial elan can work together to give you the best sort of willies.” – Michael Phillips
{/for}
{for=”Rotten Tomatoes” value=”9″}
“Del Toro crafts a stellar comic book sequel, boasting visuals that are as imaginative as the characters are endearing.” Tomatometer
A very thoughtful and thought-provoking film combining the metaphysical, the spiritual and the human element, The Nines is directed by acclaimed screenwriter John August and stars Ryan Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy, Hope Davis and Elle Fanning.
{/rw_text} –>
RATING: R (For brief drug use and mild sexuality) NOW SHOWING: On DVD GENRE: Science Fiction NO SPOILERS
In these days of multi-million-dollar special effects extravaganzas, movie studios seem to be pumping most – if not all – of their budget dollars into getting flashier and more impressive computer-generated imagery on screen.
But, every so often a lower-budget film comes along that reminds us of the power of great writing in filmed speculative fiction; how an audience can me moved and come to love a movie through its characters and by deft story telling.
The Nines is one of those films. It succeeds as a science fiction movie without space ships or with computer-animated cartoons as main characters as is all the rage these days.
Unfortunately, during this film’s original theatrical run during late 2007, it was lost in the shuffle of Holiday blockbuster wannabes and was relegated to just a handful of theatres in just the biggest U.S. cities. Luckily, thanks to home video, The Nines now has a home on DVD and is available to all.
Like recent lower-budget speculative fiction films like Donnie Darko and The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Nines uses story and character in the contemporary world to pose its ”what if.” This is a lesson we’ve known since The Twilight Zone first appeared on TV screens in the 1960s.
So, big-budget studios, listen up. The secret to how a good movie is made: You need to start with a great story.
The fact that a great story is at the heart of The Nines should be no surprise. It was written by director John August, the writer of such screenplays as Go, Titan A.E., Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride and the forthcoming movies, Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam and Dark Shadows.
A Twist
The problem with writing a review for The Nines is that the film is set up like M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense. There is a surprise ending that would spoil full enjoyment of the film if you knew what it was before you start watching it.
What I can say is that the film is set up as a triptych of sorts, a series of three short films starring the same three actors centered around the characters of Ryan Reynolds (Blade: Trinity, Amityville Horror, and the forthcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine) who plays Gary, a troubled actor; Gavin, a television show runner; and Gabriel, an acclaimed video game designer.
None of those stories appears to be the least bit science fiction or fantasy until the final scene of the final story. That’s when it all comes together as a metaphysical fable to appeal to those living in the 21st century’s Internet age.
The Cast
Reynolds is joined by independent cinema star Hope Davis (American Splendor, Six Degrees) as the characters, Sarah, Susan and Sierra. Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls) plays the characters Margaret, Melissa and Mary.
The cast and acting are top-notch and that quality of this film never falters helps the viewer suspend disbelief enough for this weird ride of a movie.
Reynolds shines playing three distinct characters in a self-obsessed actor, a big-hearted TV writer and a devoted family man. Davis is downright spooky as her character walks a line without letting the audience truly know of her character’s real intentions or motivations until the very end.
But it is Melissa McCarthy’s performance that is the standout. Her character is the heart and soul of this film and the actress pulls it off. It is through her eyes that we ultimately realize what is going on.
The Rating
The movie is rated R for foul language and brief drug use and sexual situations in the first of the three vignettes about the action movie star, although these scenes are much less disturbing than many of the blood-gore shootouts in many PG-13 summer blockbusters these days.
The Trailer
<!– {rw_good}
Top-notch writing by John August
The three main actors are flawless at their craft
The twist ending is both poignant and thought-provoking
{/rw_good} –>
<!– {rw_bad}
Not meant for children.
Drug use and mild sexual situations may be a turn off for some.
People who prefer action movies, fight scenes and space ships may be bored by the pace of this film.
According to critics, it’s a toss-up between Hancock and Speed Racer for worst big-budget film of 2008.
{/rw_text} –>
OPENS: July 2, 2008
RATING: PG-13
NO SPOILERS
Will Smith has a new big-budget blockbuster film out this 4th of July weekend and most film critics hate it.
In Hancock, Smith stars alongside Jason Bateman (Juno) and Charlize Theron (Aeon Flux) in a film about the ultimate super anti-hero.
Of particular note is the phrase “Super Zero” that has shown up in many, many of this film’s negative reviews.
Of those who do not like Hancock, most took particular time to point out that the film contains gritty, realistic violence that normally is reserved for R-rated films.
Also noted as negatives were a haphazard script and a confusing and undeveloped plot.
Of the few who liked the film, Hancock was praised as being daringly original. Particular praise was given to the on-screen chemistry between Theron and Smith.
Watch the trailer: (Warning some minor spoilers)
A choice selection of Hancock film reviews follows:
<!– {rw_good}
Outstanding cast
Smith and Charlize Theron shine
{/rw_good} –>
<!– {rw_bad}
Level of bloody violence worse than you’d expect for a PG-13 film
Not recommended for children younger than 17.
Plot not cohesive.
Excessive foul language may be too much for some.
{/rw_bad} –>
<!– {rw_score}
{for="Minneapolis Star-Tribune" value="3"}
"Almost any moviegoer should be able to find something to enjoy, but it's hard to imagine anyone liking this mishmash from beginning to end."- Colin Covert
{/for}
{for="Bloomberg" value="5"}
"In this summer of superhero movies, Hancock stands out like a homeless beggar on a millionaire's yacht. " – Rick Warner
{/for}
{for="The New Yorker" value="9"}
"Hancock suggests new visual directions and emotional tonalities for pop. It’s by far the most enjoyable big movie of the summer.” – David Denby
{/for}
{for=”Washington Post” value=”5″}
“Hancock is indigestible. It’s a movie with an identity crisis that seems to offer one gentle pleasure but instead offers a harsher experience by far. It’s very, very strange.” – Stephen Hunter
{/for}
{for=”CNN” value=”4″}
“Hancock will likely post strong long weekend figures, but just watch those numbers plummet as the word gets out. A superhero can overcome many things, but not a movie that goes off the rails.” – Tom Charity
{/for}
{for=”San Francisco Chronicle” value=”5″}
“The movie feels trivial as an emotional piece and never takes off as an action movie. The special effects are ho-hum, and in the dramatic scenes, the actors seem to be feeling a lot more than the audience. That’s never a good sign.” – Mitch LaSalle
{/for}
{for=”NPR” value=”4″}
“It has to be emphasized that though the film’s trailers carefully hide it, Hancock has a blisteringly profane tongue. How diatribes that would make a stevedore blush got a PG-13 rating is a question for another day.” – Kenneth Turan
{/for}
{for=”Boston Globe” value=”3″}
“Yet once the vulgar comedy dissipates, we’re left with poorly photographed, bullet-riddled summer-action mayhem. The only thing drunker than Hancock is the editing and camerawork.” – Wesley Morris
{/for}
{for=”USA Today” value=”5″}
“What starts out with a sense of quirky fun loses direction and devolves into a mishmash of story lines. The finished product is so poorly conceived and misguided that even Will Smith, with all his charm, can’t save it.” – Claudia Puig
{/for}
{for=”Chicago Tribune” value=”3″}
“It depresses me to think of all the preteens who’ll be sitting through this, since it squeaked by with a PG-13 rating; the violence and the general abrasiveness are a genuine drag.” – Michael Phillips
{/for}
{for=”Cinematical” value=”8″}
“one of the weirdest studio movies in some time, and not one without precedent. Superhero satires tend to get regarded as passable comedies, but they’re often loaded with pertinent social commentary. As long as America continues to obsess over good guys in funny costumes, there’s a benefit to satirizing them: It helps us understand the mania. .” – Eric Kohn
Most people thought the opening of the new Batman movie would be big – but few thought it would be this big. The Dark Knight brought in more than $155 million in ticket sales in its first weekend – the biggest opening of any movie in Hollywood history.
Audiences spent just shy of $36 million to give Hellboy II: The Golden Army the lead of the pack over the July 11-13 weekend, knocking Will Smith’s Hancock to the No. 2 spot in its second week.
OPENS: July 11, 2008
Opens: July 11, 2008
OPENS: July 2, 2008