Tag Archives: movie theatre

Back to the future (no — the other future)

Posted on June 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

I watched The Terminator during lunch yesterday.

terminatorThe movie is almost 30 years old, but certain things still hold up.

1. Arnold is scary.  When he forces his way into Sarah Connor’s home and kills her roommate and boyfriend, that still totally freaks me out.  I can remember coming back to my apartment after seeing The Terminator in 1984 in the movie theatre and lying in bed, mapping out my escape route if a cyborg broke in.

We’re talking sleepless nights, people.

2. Michael Biehn (Kyle Reece) is hot.  He comes back from the future to save Sarah Connor, so he’s already a good guy…and then we all know what happens next.  (Cue the sexy music.)  But here’s a tip — don’t go looking at his current photo on imdb.com like I did.

It has been 30 years, after all.

3. Linda Hamilton has bad hair. I’m pretty sure I thought that at the time as well.  And I really think it now.  We’re talking serious helmet head.  But she is the mother of John Connor, who saves the planet…

So I will cut her some slack.

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Posted in Academy Awards, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Movies

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Live long and…you know the rest

Posted on May 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

StarTrekIntoDarkness_FinalUSPosterIf Star Trek Into Darkness opens in your city today, I encourage you to see it.

I saw it yesterday in IMAX 3D, and it was amazing…especially the new enemy of the Federation portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.

You know Sherlock on BBC?  He’s the one.

But if you can’t get to the movie theatre today or even this weekend — I understand there are people who can actually wait weeks and even months; go figure — take a look at the “Star Trek Challenge” Audi spot featuring Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto.

It’s too much fun.

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Posted in Advertising, Automobiles, Cars, Entertainment, Humor, Internet, Life, Movies, Shopping, Television, TV

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You might see yourself here

Posted on May 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

The best thing I saw at the movie theatre yesterday was an ad during the pre-show.

No offense to the movie.

I really enjoyed Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman. It had great action, an interesting conceit and an ending that I did not see coming.

But this commercial for Windows Phone made me laugh aloud.

Truth is funny.

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Posted in Advertising, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Technology

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Most Annoying Celebrity Rag

Posted on April 25, 2013 | 2 Comments

You know how some TV show plot lines are ‘ripped from the headlines?’ I’ve decided People magazine rips theirs from any handy movie premiere calendar.

Easier than workin.’

people gwynethTake their latest World’s Most Beautiful Woman issue featuring Gwyneth Paltrow.

Gwyneth is lovely — I’ll give you that.  But the most beautiful woman in the world?  Of all the choices in Hollywood and around the globe?

In the words of Jerry Seinfeld — speaking to his young son outside my brownstone one Saturday afternoon –

“Probably not.”

But it is far simpler — isn’t it People editorial staff — to crown Ms. Paltrow?   She has Iron Man 3 coming out in a theatre near you…plus, your rival Star magazine just named her Most Hated Celebrity (which is probably more accurate).

Your advertisers are happy!  Moms her age are happy!  And Star has been put in its place.

Who cares if it isn’t true?

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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Magazines, Movies, TV

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The noise, noise, noise

Posted on April 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

They began in movie theatres months ago, and now they’ve hit TV  –

Trailers for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby.

robert redford gatsbyI’ll admit — I didn’t think this movie needed to be remade.  It’s a classic in my mind, as is the book.

And Leonardo DiCaprio playing Gatsby in place of Robert Redford?

Uh, no.

gatsby newBut now that I’ve seen the trailers — many, many times — the casting isn’t even the issue. 

This Gatsby is unrecognizable.  Luhrmann has — well — Luhrmann-ized it; the glitz and glitter is a visual assault.  The soundtrack, too, is so brash and overwhelming, I have actually checked for blood in my ears in the theatre.   Imagine the damage after two hours.

I’m sure Luhrmann has included that, too — in gold…with a dance number.

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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Movies

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Color your view

Posted on October 8, 2012 | 2 Comments

I saw The Oranges at the theatre yesterday.

If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a comedy starring Hugh Laurie, Oliver Platt, Alison Janney, Catherine Keener, Adam Brody, and Leighton Meester.

So there are a few good reasons to see it.

But some people argue that the subject matter of this comedy might be a reason not to.

In this farce — and believe me, it is really funny — the close friendship of two families is challenged when the dad from family #1 has an affair with the college-aged daughter of family #2.

Is this too taboo to even laugh about?  I say yes..but then I’ve seen it.  Other folks I know think it’s too icky to even go see.  But we see movies about murder and war and terrorism all the time.  Does exploring internal family strife — in the name of comedy — really cross the line?  At least give it a look before you decide.

Then judge, judge, judge.

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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Family, Humor, Life, Movies, Relationships

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What a ride

Posted on August 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

I saw Cosmopolis this weekend.

If you’ve seen the extended trailer, you’ll be fairly well-prepared for the film to come.

Slick.  Stylized.  Bizarre.  Yet surprisingly funny — in that dark, ‘the audience is almost scared to laugh’ kinda way.

Robert Pattinson is in every scene — the camera can’t seem to look away — and the state of the world is reflected in the state of his expensive suit:  pristine at the start of the film, a rumpled mess by the end.

And what an end!  His meeting with Paul Giamatti — the final 22 minutes of the film — is worth the entire price of admission…plus popcorn, soda and Chewy Spree.

It’s not like anything you’ve ever seen.  And if you didn’t think so before, you’ll leave the theatre convinced…

Pattinson can act.

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Posted in Business, Cars, Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Life, Movies, transportation

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Worthy candidate

Posted on August 11, 2012 | 2 Comments

I laughed and laughed at The Campaign this afternoon…which is really no surprise.

What made me laugh was.

I  expected Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis to be funny.  Their take on two candidates for a US Senate seat in North Carolina was over-the-top and out-of-control.  No issue was off-limits. No person, place or thing (translation: animal) was safe if their misuse provided a potential positive bump in the polls.

But for me, the surprises kept this movie from being your standard comedy.  Things the trailer didn’t reveal.  Cameos it didn’t spoil (and I won’t either).  The promos even used some alternative footage so that the real punch lines weren’t given away before you sat down in the theatre.

What a novel idea.

Probably my biggest ‘aha’ in The Campaign is how much I enjoyed the performance of Dylan McDermott as Galifianakis’ evil campaign manager.  I don’t think of him as a comedic actor, but McDermott stole every frame he appeared in.

The ending was also unexpected.  And I will surprise you now by not giving it away, except to say –

Watch the credits.

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Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Politics

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Dark night

Posted on July 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Paranormal Activity horror film trilogy used video of audiences watching the movies in their trailers.

They look terrified.  They jumped and screamed and often laughed at their own reactions.

I remember thinking that a movie theatre itself would be a great setting for a horror film.  All those people, together in a dark room, with only a couple of visible exits if something went wrong.

I wondered at the time why no one had written that movie.  As usual, real life produced something even more horrific.

RIP Aurora.

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Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, Life, Movies

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Coming attractions

Posted on June 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

I went to see Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World yesterday. It was supposed to be the first movie in a double feature afternoon.

But Seeking was less comedic and far more dark and thought-provoking than I had anticipated, so going to Rock of Ages like I had planned seemed, well…

Wrong.

But I still had a cinematic “WOW” moment. AMC showed a trailer for Keira’s next film, Anna Karenina, which comes out in November. Full disclosure: I’ve never read the book, but I actually felt the air leave my lungs.

It looks epic.

I wanted to cheer or comment from my seat, but for once I kept quiet. See for yourself!

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