Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Cinematical Seven: Great Movies for Smart Girlshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/cinematical-seven-great-movies-for-tough-girls/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/cinematical-seven-great-movies-for-tough-girls/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/cinematical-seven-great-movies-for-tough-girls/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With Kit Kittredge: An American Girl finally opening in limited release on Wednesday, it seemed like a good time to take a look at other films girls in the same age demographic might also enjoy. As a mother of three daughters, I like to seek out films that have strong female characters. So many of the roles for females in Hollywood either fall into blatant stereotypes or position young girls and women as existing on this planet primarily for the pleasures of the male half of the species, and I don't want my girls growing up believing the images of women they're exposed to through the media. Of course, everything in life doesn't have to have a political agenda -- what fun would that be? So some of these are just films my own daughters very much enjoy, that the girl in your life might like also.

Here are seven great films for fans of American Girl books and movies ... let me know what others I've missed that you like; with only seven slots to work with, I had to leave out a lot of films I otherwise would have included ...

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]]>abigail breslinAbigailBreslinakeelah and the beeAkeelahAndTheBeealan cummingamerican girlamerican girl boutique and bistroamerican girl dollsAmericanGirlAmericanGirlBoutiqueAndBistroAmericanGirlDollsanniedisneyelizabeth tayloremma robertsharriet the spyHarrietTheSpykathy bateskeke palmerKekePalmerkit kittredgekit kittredge an american girlKitKittredgeAnAmericanGirlkristin chenowethlindsay lohanmichelle trachtenbergmulannancy drewNancyDrewnational velvetNationalVelvetthe parent trapTheParentTrapKim VoynarTue, 01 Jul 2008 22:15:00 ESTDiscuss: What's the Best British Film Ever?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/30/discuss-whats-the-best-british-film-ever/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/30/discuss-whats-the-best-british-film-ever/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/30/discuss-whats-the-best-british-film-ever/#commentsFiled under: ,

I haven't seen Four Weddings and a Funeral since it came out, but I remember it being a fun, quality movie -- more so than your usual rom-com flavor. The Hugh Grant-starring film not only brought in a good chunk of coin and fans, but it also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Screenplay. However, is it the best British movie of all time? That I'm not so sure about. Yes folks, the Hugh Grant comedy was recently listed the best British Film, according to a poll conducted by Virgin Media (via AOL UK).

Having polled 1,000 adults on June 25 and 26, Virgin notes that Four Weddings took in 22% of the vote, to get the top spot. The rom-com squeaked right by the wonderful Monty Python's Life of Brian, which suffered defeat by just 1% and grabbed the #2 spot. (It's also the only film that boasts a little age.) After that comedy classic, things get rougher and tougher. Next came Trainspotting with 15% of the vote, then Casino Royale with 10%, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels came in #5 with 8%.

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]]>British FilmsBritishFilmsCasino RoyaleCasinoRoyaleCinematicalfeaturedFour Weddings and a FuneralFourWeddingsAndAFuneralLife of BrianLifeOfBrianLock Stock and Two smoking barrelsLockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrelsMonty Pythons Life of BrianMontyPythonsLifeOfBrianTop British filmsTopBritishFilmsTrainspottingMonika BartyzelMon, 30 Jun 2008 21:02:00 ESTYour Favorite Death Scenes of All Time?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/29/your-favorite-death-scenes-of-all-time/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/29/your-favorite-death-scenes-of-all-time/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/29/your-favorite-death-scenes-of-all-time/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's official: more actors need to die. Debra Winger figuratively kicking the bucket in Terms of Endearment, or Jimmy Durante literally kicking the bucket in It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World ... Harold Sakata reaching for his unfortunately uninsulated derby in Goldfinger, Bugs Bunny grabbing for Oscar gold after being mortally wounded by Elmer Fudd in Tex Avery's short "The Wild Hare" ("It's gettin' dark, Doc ... gasp, choke"). One of my favorites: James Mason making it until daybreak during an entire movie-long death scene in Odd Man Out, or the death by, eh, inspiration in Hot Fuzz.

The list goes on at Gawker.com, where a poll got a lot of people talking. Male posters aired out plenty of excuses for crying in movie theaters like whipped little girls. One correspondent has a likely explanation for shedding his unmanly tears at the end of Armageddon: "a piece of meteorite got in my eye." I know how he felt. Ambient radiation made my eyes run when Spock got broiled at the end of The Wrath of Khan. And all that Middle Earth pollen played hell with my sinuses right when Boromir keeled over, begging apology with his last breath. What's your own favorite demise? Cinematical's Monika Bartyzel lists her 7 best here, from an '07 column, mentioning one time Steven Seagal didn't pull through. Incidentally an outfit called movie deaths.com insists on that the one 100 percent rating is the demise of the pugnacious black knight (above) in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Get out the kleenex and weigh in ...

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]]>A Wild HareArmageddonAWildHareBoromirBugs BunnyBugsBunnyGawker.comHarold SakataHaroldSakataIts A Mad Mad Mad Mad WorldItsAMadMadMadMadWorldMonty Python and the Holy GrailMontyPythonAndTheHolyGrailStar Trek II The Wrath of KhanStarTrekIiTheWrathOfKhanTerms of EndearmentTermsOfEndearmentThe Fellowship of the RingTheFellowshipOfTheRingRichard von BusackSun, 29 Jun 2008 15:32:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Chick Flicks for Guyshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/cinematical-seven-chick-flicks-for-guys/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/cinematical-seven-chick-flicks-for-guys/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/cinematical-seven-chick-flicks-for-guys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Two things I enjoyed about Definitely, Maybe, which came out on DVD today: the cheesy jokes about New York City in the early '90s and the fact that it is a chick flick for guys. What I mean by the latter is that the movie seems targeted to females yet it caters more to the male viewer. It's basically a male fantasy: Ryan Reynolds tells the story of how he dated three beautiful women (played by Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz and Elizabeth Banks), one of whom he married and later divorced -- meaning he's now single again. And he also got a cute, precocious daughter (Abigail Breslin) out of the deal who becomes beneficial to him in his return to bachelorhood.

But then is it really a chick flick? I guess it is if you count romantic comedies in that grouping, though the genre has never necessarily been aligned with the term, nor vice versa. And in the age of Judd Apatow, it's more likely that any new romantic comedy is actually a guy movie. Do many men realize it's a movie for them, though? Probably not. Though chick flicks are typically movies primarily populated by women characters and/or a female protagonist (think Steel Magnolias), romance films not made by either Apatow or the Farrelly brothers may be thought of as being for the ladies, even if they feature a male lead, like Reynolds in Definitely, Maybe.

I'll admit I've always been confused about chick flicks as a term. I apparently enjoy many so-called chick flicks, including even (especially) Beaches. So, I may not be using the term correctly in this list. However, I am a guy and I know what guys want. So, I'm going to do this my way, and answer the following question: What other films may have been initially perceived by males as being made for chicks but which turned out to be more for them (us)?

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]]>a lady takes a chanceALadyTakesAChancebilly crystalBillyCrystaldefinitelyjean athurJeanAthurjerry maguireJerryMaguirejohn wayneJohnWaynemaybemeg ryanMegRyanrichard gereRichardGererob reinerRobReinerthe princess brideThePrincessBridetitanictom cruiseTomCruisetootsietop gunTopGununfaithfulwhen harry met sallyWhenHarryMetSallyChristopher CampbellTue, 24 Jun 2008 22:02:00 ESTDiscuss: What's Your Favorite Forgotten Teen '80s Movie?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/discuss-whats-your-favorite-forgotten-teen-80s-movie/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/discuss-whats-your-favorite-forgotten-teen-80s-movie/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/24/discuss-whats-your-favorite-forgotten-teen-80s-movie/#commentsFiled under: ,



1986 was a big year for me -- at the tender age of 9, I came to the realization that many of the movies I was drawn to weren't the ones that most others were drawn to. It was the start of my '80s and '90s B-movie love, which later morphed into a love of auteurs like David Lynch and Guy Maddin. But back then, while most people were gushing over all things Molly Ringwald, and professing their love of Pretty in Pink, I was dreaming of a good boy in a bad situation, one who would fall for a cute photographer. In other words, Duncan Gibbins' Fire with Fire.

Virginia Madsen's Lisa Taylor was my teen movie heroine -- a girl soft and creative, but smart and strong, and one lucky enough to win the heart of Craig Sheffer's Joe Fisk. I was glued to the television every time the movie aired. Sure, I loved flicks like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club, but my true '80s teen film love was reserved for Joe and Lisa. It was different than the usual John Hughes fare, and I loved that. Since no one else ever cared to watch it, it was my little cinematic secret, one made all the sweeter when I found at least one other person who had seen it (cheers, Clint!), and then watched Madsen finally grab the film career she deserved.

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]]>80s movies80s teen movies80sMovies80sTeenMoviesCinematicalfeaturedFire with FireFireWithFireMonika BartyzelTue, 24 Jun 2008 16:02:00 ESTFan Rant: Latin American Cinema's New Classicshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/23/fan-rant-latin-american-cinemas-new-classics/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/23/fan-rant-latin-american-cinemas-new-classics/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/23/fan-rant-latin-american-cinemas-new-classics/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



In case you don't read Entertainment Weekly and didn't see this week's double issue on "The New Classics," or you didn't see my post last week about their list of the best movies from the last 25 years, here's a sad fact: only six foreign-language films made the list. They are: Wings of Desire (#28); Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (#49); The Lives of Others (#56); All About My Mother (#69); Y Tu Mamá También (#86); and In the Mood for Love (#95). OK, so 6% is not terrible for a mainstream entertainment magazine, but EW had to add insult to injury with an accompanying map labeled "Movies: Breaking Down the List," which points to a number of locations around the globe in which some of these new classics are set. The only continent on the map without any love is South America (Antarctica was not included in the visual aid).

Now, before I get into my love letter to new Latin American cinema, I have to note that no film produced in Africa made the list either. However, on the map the continent was at least given some minuscule bit of love via the filming locations for Casino Royale and Gladiator. Yet despite the fact that South America was definitely used as a location in a few of the 100 films, it's shown no respect. And on top of that, Central America isn't even included on the map. For some strange reason there's just a gap between Mexico and South America. Meanwhile, Latin America's sole representative on EW's list, Mexico's Y Tu Mamá También, is left off the map so that no location from this area of the world, from the Mexican-U.S. border to Cape Horn, receives any recognition.

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]]>alejandro gonzalez innarituAlejandroGonzalezInnaritualfonso cuaronAlfonsoCuaronamores perrosAmoresPerrosargentine cinemaArgentineCinemabrazilian cinemaBrazilianCinemabus 174Bus174cao hamburgerCaoHamburgercarlos reygadasCarlosReygadascentral stationCentralStationchildren of menChildrenOfMencity of godCityOfGodfeaturedguillermo del toroGuillermoDelTorolatin american cinemaLatinAmericanCinemamexican cinemaMexicanCinemanine queensNineQueenspans labyrinthPansLabyrinthsilent lightSilentLightsouth american cinemaSouthAmericanCinemathe official storyTheOfficialStorywalter sallesWalterSallesChristopher CampbellMon, 23 Jun 2008 23:02:00 ESTThe Onion Picks 19 One-Scene Wondershttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/23/the-onion-picks-19-one-scene-wonders/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/23/the-onion-picks-19-one-scene-wonders/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/23/the-onion-picks-19-one-scene-wonders/#commentsFiled under: ,

I'm a little jealous that I didn't think of doing something like this first. The Onion AV Club has a new list entitled "Little more than a cameo: 19 stellar cinematic one-scene wonders." It's a list of great performances by actors who only showed up for one scene, and it's hard to argue with their top choice: Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross. His electrifying diatribe is a masterpiece of profanity, testosterone, and all-out awesomeness, perfectly encapsulating the feel of the movie.

The rest of the Onion's top five includes Ray Charles in The Blues Brothers, Pamela Anderson in Borat, Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet, and Janeane Garofalo in The Cable Guy. And if you're like the people who have been commenting on the article, you're already wondering: Where the hell is Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction?! As one person pointed out, they could do a separate list just for great Walken cameos, including Pulp Fiction, True Romance, and Annie Hall for starters.

If you scroll down, you'll find Onion writer Nathan Rabin conceding that they "dropped the ball" on Walken, as well as on Alfred Molina in Boogie Nights. I'm glad he said that. I'd much rather think they simply forgot something than that they considered it and didn't think it was worthy.

But who else are they missing? That's the real fun part of these lists, of course. Fire away!

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]]>Eric D. SniderMon, 23 Jun 2008 17:02:00 ESTCinematical Seven: TV Spies That Made Terrible Movieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/cinematical-seven-tv-spies-that-made-terrible-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/cinematical-seven-tv-spies-that-made-terrible-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/cinematical-seven-tv-spies-that-made-terrible-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,



With the pending release of the new version of Get Smart, and many fond childhood memories of the original series, I thought I would assemble a list of TV spies who made great movies. Unfortunately, I was confronted with a mountain of evidence that international men and women of mystery have suffered horribly in their transition to the big screen.

That conclusion sounds counter-intuitive. After all, a movie can focus on a single defining story in a spy's life, while a television series, by its very nature, must include many routine episodes that fit into a familiar formula. The movie can have a much bigger budget, allowing for a variety of international settings, while the TV show often takes place in just one or two locations on the back lot.

But I think the best TV spies were successful because the producers made sure that the characters were the stars. Two-shots and close-ups of people talking work really well on the small screen, and sharp, well-written dialogue is always a bonus. Just a list of character names invokes pleasant nostalgia, while the movie versions have, for the most part, justifiably faded into oblivion.

1. Wild Wild West

Two words: Giant spider. Need I say more?

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]]>get smartGetSmarti spyISpymission impossible 2MissionImpossible2the avengersthe mod squadthe nude bombthe saintTheAvengersTheModSquadTheNudeBombTheSainttv spiesTvSpieswild wild westWildWildWestPeter MartinThu, 19 Jun 2008 22:07:00 ESTDiscuss: Music Videos to Adapt into Movieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/discuss-music-videos-to-adapt-into-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/discuss-music-videos-to-adapt-into-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/discuss-music-videos-to-adapt-into-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,



Plenty of music video directors have gone on to make great films. But what if they were to make a great film based on one of their videos? That's kinda the concept behind a list over at JoBlo.com titled "Music Videos That Should Have Been Movies." Many of my favorites are on there, such as Jamie Thraves' video for Radiohead's "Just," Jonathan Glazer's video for UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights," and Garth Jennings' video for Blur's "Coffee & TV" (pictured above and watchable after the jump). The last of these is said to be one for the kids, but I'd probably be first in line for a feature-length movie about a milk carton on a mission.

Most of the videos included are quite enigmatic, and JoBlo's Mike Sampson admits that for some he simply wants answers, which could be revealed in the longer format of a narrative feature. Haven't we all wondered what the heck is going on in Mark Romanek's video for Nine Inch Nails' "Closer"? And why's that guy in the "Just" video just lying there? Then there's the more easily adaptable videos, such as Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher". I think they've already somewhat made that movie, titled My Tutor, and there's even a remake on the way, but I'd still be interested in Hot For Teacher: The Movie, directed by Judd Apatow, at Sampson's suggestion.

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]]>2pacblurcassettes wont listenCassettesWontListenfeaturedgnarls barkleyGnarlsBarkleyjonathan glazerJonathanGlazerjudd apatowJuddApatowmark romanekMarkRomanekNine inch nailsNineInchNailsradioheadtom petty and the heartbreakersTomPettyAndTheHeartbreakersUNKLEvan halenVanHalenChristopher CampbellThu, 19 Jun 2008 20:02:00 ESTAFI Picks "Top 100" Genre Filmshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/18/afi-picks-top-100-genre-films/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/18/afi-picks-top-100-genre-films/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/18/afi-picks-top-100-genre-films/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A lot of people think that the American Film Institute should shut up already with the lists, and they have a point: an ordered list of the "100 greatest" anything is bound to be so subjective as not to be worth much, especially when it's not clear why the people compiling the list should be seen as authorities. (The AFI's lists are compiled by "juries" of several hundred filmmakers, critics and historians.) But the lists (and accompanying TV specials) keep coming. The latest is the ungrammatical "AFI's 10 Top 10," a list of the 100 greatest American genre films organized by genre: animation, romantic comedy, western, sports (not really a genre, especially if you include Raging Bull in it, but whatever), mystery, fantasy, science-fiction, gangster, courtroom drama, and epic. The complete selections can be found here.

The lists are sometimes obvious (Alfred Hitchcock makes a 4 for 10 showing in "mystery," and if you can't guess their top three picks for "gangster" in order, you probably shouldn't be reading this blog), sometimes admirable (kudos for Terminator 2: Judgment Day in "sci-fi"), sometimes irritating (The Wizard of Oz as the greatest fantasy film of all time is rubbish), but the more relevant question is: what are they worth? The original "top 100" was a good conversation piece and a useful checklist. What are the rest of them supposed to be good for?

Also: they include "sports" as genre, but not horror. Screw you, AFI.

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]]>AFIAFIs 10 top 10Afis10Top10Alfred HitchcockAlfredHitchcockRaging BullRagingBullTerminator 2 Judgment DayTerminator2JudgmentDayThe Wizard of OzTheWizardOfOzEugene NovikovWed, 18 Jun 2008 16:32:00 ESTEW Counts Down 100 Best Films of Past 25 Yearshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/17/ew-counts-down-100-best-films-of-past-25-years/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/17/ew-counts-down-100-best-films-of-past-25-years/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/17/ew-counts-down-100-best-films-of-past-25-years/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week Entertainment Weekly is "Counting Down the New Movie Classics," listing the best films made in the past 25 years. The magazine claims that all 100 are good enough to be considered alongside the usual classics (you know, like Citizen Kane, Casablanca, etc.), but I guess that's relative. I wouldn't consider #99, The Blair Witch Project, to be equated with Poltergeist III, let alone Psycho. But isn't that the fun of these lists? They fuel our excitement about cinema while also angering us that our favorites aren't higher up, or more commonly, that the films we hate most are included on any list, ever.

On the first day of the countdown, EW shows us the bottom 25, which includes such masterpieces as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Breaking the Waves, In the Mood for Love and Full Metal Jacket. When I saw that the last of these was only at #94, I got really excited, wondering what 93 films could possibly be better. And then I was shocked to see that so-so comedies like Swingers and Waiting for Guffman and the fine but poorly aged Moonstruck placed higher. I almost didn't even see those titles, though, because I almost threw my computer when I saw that Napoleon Dynamite was just ahead of Back to the Future. Just another reason to hate Napoleon Dynamite, I guess. Even the Back to the Future sequels are better than ND, but I'm going to now assume they don't even make it on this list.

#s 75-51 will be revealed tomorrow. I wonder what kind of delights and blasphemies will meet us then.

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]]>back to the futureBackToTheFuturebreaking the wavesBreakingTheWavesfull metal jacketFullMetalJacketin the mood for loveInTheMoodForLovemoonstrucknapoleon dynamiteNapoleonDynamiteswingersterminator 2 judgment dayTerminator2JudgmentDaythe blair witch projectTheBlairWitchProjectwaiting for guffmanWaitingForGuffmanChristopher CampbellTue, 17 Jun 2008 13:02:00 ESTDiscuss: Movies to See ONLY on the Big Screenhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/16/discuss-movies-to-see-only-on-the-big-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/16/discuss-movies-to-see-only-on-the-big-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/16/discuss-movies-to-see-only-on-the-big-screen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are a few classic films that I simply refused to rent while growing up, specifically for the reason that I knew I should see them for the first time on a big screen. Of these, I managed to see both 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner in a theater, while others, such as Lawrence of Arabia and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, were on television too often to ignore them on the small screen first. One film that I'm still dying to see in a theater is Terrence Malick's Badlands. A few years ago I actually went to a special screening of the film in Connecticut, but it was disappointingly (understatement) projected from a DVD copy. Then two months ago it played one show at NYC's IFC Center, but I had to miss it for another engagement.

Last week Entertainment Weekly presented an article/photo gallery titled "23 Movies You'd Like to See on the Big Screen," which lists these kinds of films (there's actually many more than 23 cited), most of which should ONLY be seen on the big screen, as they were originally meant to be. The list includes obvious epic choices like 2001, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone With the Wind, The Greatest Show on Earth and The Ten Commandments, as well as other classics, like Malick's Days of Heaven, Casablanca, Once Upon a Time in the West, Star Wars, High Society, Halloween, Singin' in the Rain, To Kill a Mockingbird, Psycho, Oklahoma!, The Music Man, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Searchers, Stagecoach and The French Connection.

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]]>2001 a space odyssey2001ASpaceOdysseybadlandsblade runnerBladeRunnercasablancadays of heavenDaysOfHeavenfeaturedfletchgone with the windGoneWithTheWindlawrence of arabiaLawrenceOfArabiamoulin rougeMoulinRougeserenitystar trekstar warsStarTrekStarWarsthe searchersthe warriorsTheSearchersTheWarriorstitanicxanaduChristopher CampbellMon, 16 Jun 2008 21:32:00 EST10 Must-Read Stories For 'The Incredible Hulk'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/12/10-must-read-stories-for-the-incredible-hulk/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/12/10-must-read-stories-for-the-incredible-hulk/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/12/10-must-read-stories-for-the-incredible-hulk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Hulk is, arguably, one of the most recognizable comic book characters in the world. But most people have encountered him largely through the popular television show, which was remarkably different than the comic book version. If you find yourself curious to know a little more about the plight of Dr. Bruce Banner, or even just hankering for a bigger dose of Hulk than Edward Norton can provide, here's a treat for you.

Our good friends over at ComicMix have been hard at work, and done it again. They have compiled a list of ten essential stories to bring you up to speed on the Hulk -- from Banner finally realizing his childhood traumas, to the gentle gray Hulk, to Hulk becoming a gladiator on another world. I am not the biggest Hulk fan, but this is a collection that really showcases what an enjoyable character he can be in the right hands. He isn't all "Hulk Smash!" in every single issue.

And if you're dying for an eleventh, pick up Wolverine #8-9, and read the story where Hulk shows up in Madripoor as Joe Fixit. As I've mentioned previously, it still cracks me up. And Wolverine introducing himself to Fixit, only to see the entire bar clear out in anticipation of a fight, is just a nice little cinematic moment.

Enjoy! Tell those ComicMix guys that Cinematical sent you. And remember to come back and tell us which stories you think are essential. The Incredible Hulk is probably going to garner a sequel, so we might as well start tossing the ideas back and forth.

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]]>ComicMixEdwad NortonEdwadNortonessential HulkEssentialHulkfeaturedThe Incredible HulkTheIncredibleHulkElisabeth RappeThu, 12 Jun 2008 10:02:00 ESTTop 50 TV-to-Movie Adaptations?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/top-50-tv-to-movie-adaptations/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/top-50-tv-to-movie-adaptations/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/top-50-tv-to-movie-adaptations/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wow, I didn't even know there were THAT many. Holy crapola! The fine folks over at Rotten Tomatoes are currently counting down the top 50 TV adaptations of all time, in honor of both Get Smart and Sex and the City. Before we mention a few, here's how they played it: "... these movies are remakes of TV series (i.e. Starsky and Hutch), mini-series (Pennies from Heaven), or sketches (The Blues Brothers). We've also included big-screen adaptations that utilize the series' principal cast members (the Star Trek movies, the Adam West Batman). We've omitted films that, despite having TV incarnations, are derived from other sources (thus, no Superman), but have included others (like The Addams Family) that are best remembered as TV shows." In other words ... they mean business.

Down toward the bottom, you have films like Strangers with Candy, The Rugrats Movie, Josie and the Pussycats and The Naked Gun 2 1/2. I won't reveal their number one pick, but the top ten includes memorable favorites like The Simpsons Movie, The Fugitive ("You find this man!"), Serenity and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.

I'm just impressed they managed to throw together 50 half-decent TV-to-Movie adaptations. That, in and of itself, has to be worth some sort of Emmy nod (or would it be an Oscar nod?). Check out the entire list over at Rotten Tomatoes ... and let us know your favorites below.

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]]>cinematicalrotten tomatoesRottenTomatoesserenitysouth parkSouthParkstrangers with candyStrangersWithCandythe fugitivethe rugrats moviethe simpsons movieTheFugitiveTheRugratsMovieTheSimpsonsMovietop 50 tv adaptationsTop50TvAdaptationsErik DavisFri, 06 Jun 2008 11:32:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Least Annoying Jack Black Roleshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/05/cinematical-seven-least-annoying-jack-black-roles/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/05/cinematical-seven-least-annoying-jack-black-roles/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/05/cinematical-seven-least-annoying-jack-black-roles/#commentsFiled under: ,



Jack Black, whose Kung Fu Panda opens this week, seemed to move awfully quickly from rising star to overexposed. His always-moving, rock 'n' roll persona seems to be everywhere, turning up in several movies a year, always pitched at the same high level. It's all too easy to concentrate on his most annoying performances, as lazy fast-talkers, or selfish schemers in films like Saving Silverman, Shallow Hal, Envy and The Holiday. But a closer look at his filmography shows more than a few samples of the Jack Black that we initially liked and elevated to stardom.

1. High Fidelity (2000)
This was the first time Black came onto my radar, although he had previously been in at least 30 other movies and TV shows. It's arguably the first time he tapped into the Jack Black persona for the length of an entire movie, and he was nicely fitted in the mix between cool, confused John Cusack and Todd Louiso (as the withdrawn music nerd). His was a supporting role, rather than a lead, which is the best place for a character actor of his caliber. Moreover, Black played a nerd with a wide-ranging knowledge of music, implying that he was at least using his brain for something (as opposed to many of his other films). As for his performance, he showed enough natural, unhinged exuberance (especially in his surprise rendition of "Let's Get It On") that, frankly, he deserved an Oscar nomination.

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]]>be kind rewindBeKindRewindcinematicaldead man walkingDeadManWalkingfeaturedfilmhigh fidelityHighFidelityjack blackJackBlackjesus sonJesusSonkung fu pandaKungFuPandamargot at the weddingMargotAtTheWeddingmovieschool of rockSchoolOfRockwalk hard the dewey cox storyWalkHardTheDeweyCoxStoryJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 05 Jun 2008 22:32:00 ESTMoviefone Picks the Top 25 Animated Movieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/02/moviefone-picks-the-top-25-animated-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/02/moviefone-picks-the-top-25-animated-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/02/moviefone-picks-the-top-25-animated-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,

If there was one list I wouldn't even try to make, it's the top 25 animated movies of all time. I'm sure I would drive myself crazy trying to pick between all of them, torn between nostalgia and story, hand-drawn animation and the wonder that's come from computers. And then trying to rank them? No way. However, Moviefone did just that and compiled what they think is the Top 25 Animated Movies -- films that span studios, techniques, and decades.

I'm not sure what to type right now because I'm still in awe that what I consider one of the best animated films of all time, and one that I adore, didn't even make the list. What did make it, for the most part, you can guess: There are toys that can talk, television shows brought to the big screen, a little bit of foreign fare, and of course, lots and lots and lots of Disney -- dogs, beasts, dwarves, mermaids, and more.

But really, how could my movie not be there? It's almost like I've become one of those uber fans who feels shunted, but I'm more surprised because I know that I'm not the only one. Its almost-bankrupting budget, the stylized art, and the Oscar-nominated score have made it a noteworthy gem over the years ... and my face is sort of resembling Woody's over there.

But go look at the list and check it out for yourselves. Are there any animated films that you feel should or shouldn't be there? And, can you figure out which one I'm talking about?

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]]>animated filmsAnimatedFilmsCinematicaltop animated moviesTopAnimatedMoviesMonika BartyzelMon, 02 Jun 2008 13:02:00 ESTCinematical Seven: TV Continued on the Big Screenhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/29/cinematical-seven-tv-continued-on-the-big-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/29/cinematical-seven-tv-continued-on-the-big-screen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/29/cinematical-seven-tv-continued-on-the-big-screen/#commentsFiled under: , ,



This week's Sex and the City movie is hardly the first cinematic continuation of a TV show, but there really haven't been that many. Usually when we think of film adaptations of TV series, we're thinking of remakes. But there are a few movies that pick up where their respective show ends, whether as a resuming story, a prequel or something totally random and barely connected.

And of course, we keep hearing about other possible series-to-film resumptions: Lost, 24 and Arrested Development movies have all been discussed, and they may indeed happen. So, while there isn't a long list of predecessors to model their transitions on, I've compiled seven titles that did it right in some way or another. Hopefully, for the sake of the fans of Carrie and co., Sex and the City will be enough of a success to make number eight.


Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

People may enjoy the second installment best, but this is the one that started the film franchise, officially reigniting a series that had been canceled ten years prior. Though the original show had its share of fans, enough to eventually get this film produced, it wasn't initially considered a success. And interestingly enough, neither was the movie thought of as a complete hit, despite its $80 million gross and the fact that it spawned another ten film installments (and additional series).

In the event that an Arrested Development movie gets made, it could be seen as similar to Star Trek, since the TV show was initially a failure yet it has gained a larger following since its cancellation, enough to call for production of a feature follow-up. However, there's also a good chance that it will also be a failure on the big screen, like was Serenity, the cinematic continuation of the TV series Firefly.
tion more than simply an adaptation.

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]]>boratcity of menCityOfMenfeaturedfireflyheadserenitysex and the citysex and the city the movieSexAndTheCitySexAndTheCityTheMoviestar trekstar trek the motion pictureStarTrekStarTrekTheMotionPicturesummer2008the blues brothersthe monkeesthe naked gunthe x-filesthe x-files i want to believeTheBluesBrothersTheMonkeesTheNakedGunTheX-filesTheX-filesIWantToBelievewayness worldWaynessWorldChristopher CampbellThu, 29 May 2008 22:02:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Indiana Jones Knock-Offshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/20/cinematical-seven-indiana-jones-knock-offs/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/20/cinematical-seven-indiana-jones-knock-offs/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/20/cinematical-seven-indiana-jones-knock-offs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Is that Indiana Jones as an old man instructing Lara Croft?
Lara Croft learns the trade from a very old Indiana Jones


Most Hollywood blockbusters spawn their share of low-budget ripoffs, but only a few really successful movies are influential enough to be followed by big-budget copycats. Usually these followers get media-infused taglines such as "Die Hard on a ... " or "Aliens in a ... ", with the labels likely originating at the studio pitch stage.

Though Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels were already derivative and referential works, the Indiana Jones franchise also inspired derivatives of its own, some that were exploitive, some that paid homage and some that are only linked through minor elements. So, in celebration of the latest Indy movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, here's a look back at all the "Indiana Jones as a ... " knock-offs that Hollywood has delivered in the last few decades:

1. Indiana Jones as a woman: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

The real source of this and its 2003 sequel, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, were the Tomb Raider video games, which were clearly inspired by the Indiana Jones films. In the movie we have an archaeologist who seeks a mystical object, which she must keep out of the hands of an evil society. There's an Asian temple, a reunion with a disappeared estranged father and a finale involving the crumbling self-destruction of an elaborate set piece. It's like all the initial three Indiana Jones films wrapped up in one, with added sex appeal in casting Angelina Jolie in the Harrison Ford role. Yet Jolie as Croft is too serious to be the female counterpart to Ford's Indy. Also, while the Indiana Jones films deal with some level of magically religious fantasy, they're at least grounded by "real" or familiar artifacts such as the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant. And they tend to remain just realistic enough to avoid things like giant six-armed statues that come to life.

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]]>allan quatermain and the lost city of goldAllanQuatermainAndTheLostCityOfGoldarmour of godArmourOfGodbulletproof monkBulletproofMonkfeaturedindiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skullindiana jones and the last crusadeindiana jones and the temple of doomIndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkullIndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusadeIndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoomindy2008king solomons minesKingSolomonsMineslara croft tomb raiderLaraCroftTombRaidernational treasureNationalTreasureraiders of the lost arkRaidersOfTheLostArksky captain and the world of tomorrowSkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrowsummer2008the gooniesthe league of extraordinary gentlementhe mummythe mummy tomb of the dragon emperorTheGooniesTheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemenTheMummyTheMummyTombOfTheDragonEmperorChristopher CampbellTue, 20 May 2008 22:02:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Disney's Awesome Live-Action Kid Adventureshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/15/cinematical-seven-disneys-awesome-live-action-kid-adventures/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/15/cinematical-seven-disneys-awesome-live-action-kid-adventures/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/15/cinematical-seven-disneys-awesome-live-action-kid-adventures/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



This week, Walt Disney Pictures releases The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. To some, it's special for its literary roots, but to others, I imagine it's a blast back to a time when Disney was all about throwing real kids into amazing adventures. These days, they don't do it very often, but Disney used to rule the world of family adventures that sparked the imaginations of kids everywhere. Sure, they put out a lot of classic animation, but they also released a number of adventure stories where kids got to do the unbelievable, whether that be death-defying adventure on the high seas, or slipping inside a cartoon.

In honor of the release of Prince Caspian, I give you seven great Disney films where real kids got to have amazing adventures. Some are new, and some are quite old, but all of them are quite memorable.

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]]>Bedknobs and BroomsticksBedknobsAndBroomsticksBridge to TerabithiaBridgeToTerabithiaCinematicalHoney I shrunk the KidsHoneyIShrunkTheKidsIn Search of the CastawaysInSearchOfTheCastawaysMary PoppinsMaryPoppinsSky HighSkyHighSwiss Family RobinsonSwissFamilyRobinsonMonika BartyzelThu, 15 May 2008 22:02:00 ESTCinematical Seven: Remembrances of Cannes Pasthttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/11/cinematical-seven-remembrances-of-cannes-past/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/11/cinematical-seven-remembrances-of-cannes-past/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/11/cinematical-seven-remembrances-of-cannes-past/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



I've been fortunate enough to have been able to go to Cannes for the past four years now, and I'm getting ready for my fifth. And, as I often say when explaining film festivals to people who've never been to one, it's not just an adventure; it's a job. Cannes is a "get-away" the same way running from a burning building is "a tour of the grounds"; there are plenty of movies, plenty of work, and the overall emotional tone of the event is a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. The heady moments of pure movie magic come fast and furious with the muck-and-money reality of international financing and distribution happening all about you.

Going to Cannes means seeing at least 40, maybe 50 or more movies in 10 days, never mind actually thinking and writing about them; you'd think that that kind of pace would soon turn into a blur, and it does, but it's a glorious one. Here's some of my favorite movie going moments (highly subjective, of course -- I've not included last year's ridiculously strong quartet of Persepolis, No Country for Old Men, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, as they're still so fresh in my mind) from the past four years of the Cannes Film Festival; think of these as the rushed recollections of a film critic who knows exactly how lucky he's been.




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]]>CacheCannes Film FestivaCannesFilmFestivafeaturedLenfantOldboyPans LabyrinthPansLabyrinthThe Battle of AlgiersThe Holy GirlThe Last WaltzTheBattleOfAlgiersTheHolyGirlTheLastWaltzJames RocchiSun, 11 May 2008 22:02:00 EST