July Movies: Pirates 2, Lady in the Water, &...

[Mark Vader]

While Superman attempts to leap box office records in a single bound, the month of July rolls in to add more excitement to the summer season.

 

Leading that charge is "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest". When Disney announced several years ago that they would be making movies based on their theme park attractions, they never dreamed of the success that one of them would make. After the days of Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn, pirate movies were box office poison. In 2003 Pirates of the Caribbean broke that curse. Grossing over 300 million, bringing Keira Knightley to the forefront, and getting one of the best performances out of Johnny Depp, Disney struck gold.

Now, Captain Jack Sparrow and company are back for the first of two sequels. Keira Knightley & Orlando Bloom are back for the ride too.

This time out Jack Sparrow finds that he has a debt to pay to the infamous pirate, Davy Jones and his army of sea-phantoms. Needless to say there will be plenty of cannons going off, lots of swordplay, and special effects to spare. No doubt there will be plenty of fun to be had. The big question, can the sequel outgross the first film?

 

Also returning to the summer is filmmaker M.Night Shyamalan, with his latest movie, "Lady in the Water". This story concerns an apartment building superintendent(Paul Giamatti) who discovers a woman(Bryce Dallas Howard) in the swimming pool, who apparently is from another world. As usual Shymalan's movie has a tight lid on it, and has an unusual fantasy feel.

 

Columbia Pictures & Amblin Entertainment team up for the CG animated "Monster House". Using the same animation style for The Polar Express, this movie is about 3 kids who discover that the house across the street is actually a living, breathing, monster. Steve Buscemi, Jon Heder, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Jason Lee lend their voice talents.

 

Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey, Jr., Winona Ryder, and Woody Harrelson, star in the long delayed "A Scanner Darkly". Based on a Philip K. Dick novel, and directed by Richard Linklater, this story involves an undercover cop who is hooked on the drug, Substance D. A drug that which causes it's users to develop split personalities. Can this cop bust the drug dealer who also happens to be himself?

Like the movie Waking Life, this film was shot with live action and then animated over.

 

A pair of different romantic comedies are coming soon starring the Wilson bros.

In "You, Me, and Dupree", newlyweds Kate Hudson & Matt Dillon allow "best man" Owen Wilson to come stay with them until he can land on his feet. When that will happen is unknown.

 

In "My Super Ex-Girlfriend", Luke Wilson discovers that hell hath no fury like a super-woman scorned. After he dumps his all-to-needy girlfriend(Uma Thurman), it is revealed to him that she is also the famous super heroine "G-Girl". This movie will show to everyone why women do not need superpowers. Anna Faris co-stars, and directed by Ivan Reitman.

 

Director Kevin Smith is back with "Clerks II". It is 12 years since the first Clerks film and Dante & Randal still have the same jobs. That is until their companies are forced to close. Forcing them to work at "Mooby's". Rosario Dawson, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes & Kevin Smith co-star.

 

Diector Michael Mann brings his 80's tv show "Miami Vice" to the big screen. Colin Farrell is Crockett & Jamie Foxx is Tubbs.

 

From the creators of Jimmy Neutron comes "The Ant Bully". The story of Lucas Nickle whom after flooding the ant hill with his water gun, is shrunk down to ant-size and learns what life as an ant is all about.

 

Keenan, Shawn, & Marlon Wayans bring us "Little Man". In this a wannabe dad mistakes a baby faced-vertically challenged criminal on the lam as hi newly adopted son. Can you say Golden Raspberry.

 

Finally, director Betty Thomas brings us "John Tucker Must Die". The story of 3 girls all dating the same guy in high school, plot together to ruin his life.

 

Independant movie watch:

I have'nt posted much on any indies lately, but this month there is a wide variety of some potentially very good ones. Here is what is to com on the independant circuit.

 

"The OH in Ohio", stars Parker Posey and Paul Rudd play a married couple who have everything they want out of life, except in their bedroom. Danny DeVito, Mischa Barton, & Liza Minnelli co-star.

 

ESPN moves to the big screen with it's soccer documentary "Once in a Lifetime". Following the rise and fall of the 1970's soccer team, the New York Cosmos.

 

A big hit from the Sundance Festival is the comedy "Little Miss Sunshine". Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Toni Collette, & Greg Kinnear are a family of 4 taking a cross country trip in their VW Bus, in order to get their little girl Olive(Abigail Breslin) into the finals of a beauty pageant.

 

Another festival fave, this time from Toronto, comes "Brothers of the Head". In the 1970's a music promoter turns conjoined twins Tom & Barry Howe into a proto-punk rock band.

 

And Woody Allen delivers his latest film "Scoop". Taking place in Britain again, Scarlett Johansson plays an american journalist student who scoops a big story, and begins an affair with an aristocrat(Hugh Jackman) as the incident unfurls.

 

 

Dates & Trailers:

 

7/7

Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man's Chest: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/

 

A Scanner Darkly: http://wip.warnerbros.com/ascannerdarkly/

 

7/14

Little Man: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808676620/trailer

 

You, Me, and Dupree: http://www.youmeanddupree.com/

 

7/21

Lady in the Water: http://ladyinthewater.warnerbros.com/

 

Monster House: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/monsterhouse/site/

 

Clerks II: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808730008/trailer

 

My Super Ex-Girlfriend: http://www.mysuperex.com/

 

7/28

Miami Vice: http://www.miamivice.com/

 

The Ant Bully: http://www2.warnerbros.com/antbully/

 

John Tucker Must Die: http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/johntuck...stdie/trailerb/

 

 

Independant calendar. Please Note that these dates are for limited release.

 

7/14

The OH in Ohio: http://theohinohio.com/trailer.html

 

7/21

Once in a Lifetime: http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/once...fetime/trailer/

 

7/26

Little Miss Sunshine: http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/littlemisssunshine/

 

7/28

Brothers of the Head: http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/brothersofthehead/

 

Scoop: http://www.scoopmovie.net/

 

Whew!!! There you have it folks. The last full month of movies we can enjoy until training camp starts. See you in August.

[ajzepp]

"Its TIME....It's VADERR TIME!!!"

 

Thanks for that, as always, Mark.....I'm actually really excited for some of those Indies you mentioned! Specifically, "The OH in Ohio", "Once in a Lifetime" and "Little Miss Sunshine"......I need to keep an eye on all three of those. Some nice offerings on the mainstream list, too.....good work!!

[CajunBillsBacker]

You are the man mark. We need to catch up bro.

[mead107]

I want to see pirates of cribbean .

[stuckincincy]

Thanks, Mark.

 

BTW, wife 'n me saw "Akeelah and the Bee" at the discount theater on Saturday.

 

Nicely done...heartwarming story.

[The Poojer]

did they let you have your penis back when you were leaving the theater??????

 

Thanks, Mark.

 

BTW, wife 'n me saw "Akeelah and the Bee" at the discount theater on Saturday.

 

Nicely done...heartwarming story.

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[Acantha]

I hadn't hear about Clerks II. Can't wait! Probably won't be as good as some of his other stuff, but like all those movies.

[stuckincincy]

did they let you have your penis back when you were leaving the theater??????  

717754[/snapback]

 

Can I gather that penisis are on the tip of your tongue? Fitting?

[The Poojer]

touche

 

Can I gather that penisis are on the tip of your tongue? Fitting?  

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[stuckincincy]

touche

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Found out after the fact that that discount theater ($2.50 matinees) had free refills on large pop and popcorn. I should have figured that out what with kids getting up mid-movie and coming back with buckets.

[Mark Vader]

"Its TIME....It's VADERR TIME!!!"

 

Thanks for that, as always, Mark.....I'm actually really excited for some of those Indies you mentioned!  Specifically, "The OH in Ohio", "Once in a Lifetime" and "Little Miss Sunshine"......I need to keep an eye on all three of those. Some nice offerings on the mainstream list, too.....good work!!

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You're welcome aj. I have heard that "Little Miss Sunshine" is a very funny movie, and I look forward to seeing it.

 

Love your avatar, I still have not heard any progress on Bubba Nosferatu yet. I hope they make it.

[Mark Vader]

You are the man mark. We need to catch up bro.

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Hey Joey, good to see you are still around. We definitely have to catch up. Not to mention we gotta make our predictions in August.

[ajzepp]

You're welcome aj. I have heard that "Little Miss Sunshine" is a very funny movie, and I look forward to seeing it.

 

Love your avatar, I still have not heard any progress on Bubba Nosferatu yet. I hope they make it.

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Oh yeah, I hope they do too....I've read quotes from both Bill Campbell and Don whatshisname that it's pretty much a 'go', so I'm optimistic. I think it's a shame that more people haven't seen 'Bubba Ho-Tep'.....it's such an enjoyable and creative flick. People probably read the description and think, "wtf??", and then they pass it by. But it's funny, a bit suspenseful, well-acted, and has a bit of social commentary with regard to the aging population, too. It's one of my all-time favorites, for sure That's why I love it when you point out some upcoming Indy films, cause I often don't really hear about them until I go digging around. There are so many good low budget films out there....I hate that so many of them don't find an audience, especially when they're often better than most of the mainstream stuff.

[SACTOBILLSFAN]

I hadn't hear about Clerks II.  Can't wait!  Probably won't be as good as some of his other stuff, but like all those movies.

717755[/snapback]

 

Its in color so it loses something from the first one already

[IDBillzFan]

Caught a clip of "A Scanner Darkly" last night and it looks just cool as hell, but I wonder if the animation-over-video won't get a bit old half-way through the flick. But the scene in the car with Downey Jr., Woody and Keanu Reeves was definitely slick-as-schitt.

[GoodBye]

Went to see "Pirates 2" today. It was pretty good but I was a little disapointed. Has any one else see it yet? I can't wait to see "Lady in the Water"...looks good.

[ajzepp]

Caught a clip of "A Scanner Darkly" last night and it looks just cool as hell, but I wonder if the animation-over-video won't get a bit old half-way through the flick. But the scene in the car with Downey Jr., Woody and Keanu Reeves was definitely slick-as-schitt.

719227[/snapback]

 

I'm really looking forward to that one....all I've seen are previews, but I can't take my eyes off all the detail in that animation....pretty remarkable

[CosmicBills]

Went to see "Pirates 2" today.  It was pretty good but I was a little disapointed.  Has any one else see it yet?  I can't wait to see "Lady in the Water"...looks good.

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I saw POTC:DMC, definitely better than Superman. I'm slightly biased with the Pirates franchise, so I liked it more than most. It was a touch too long and slow to pick up steam, but I found it funny and very much an echo of Empire Strikes Back (in a good way). Just like Empire, the film feels like the middle act of a play rather than a stand-alone movie.

 

Also, if you were luke warm about the original movie, then this one won't do much for you. However, if you dug the first one, then you'll be happy with the sequel.

[GoodBye]

I saw POTC:DMC, definitely better than Superman. I'm slightly biased with the Pirates franchise, so I liked it more than most. It was a touch too long and slow to pick up steam, but I found it funny and very much an echo of Empire Strikes Back (in a good way). Just like Empire, the film feels like the middle act of a play rather than a stand-alone movie.

 

Also, if you were luke warm about the original movie, then this one won't do much for you. However, if you dug the first one, then you'll be happy with the sequel.

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Hmmmm....interesting way to look at it. I guess I was just expecting them to wrap up more stuff but now I see why they didn't. I really liked the first one because there was a lot of Captain Jack Sparrow in it. This one didn't seem to have as much of him in it. Guess I just missed that from the first one.

[Mark Vader]

LanaK6 Posted Yesterday, 11:28 PM

  QUOTE(tgreg99 @ Jul 8 2006, 08:31 PM)

I saw POTC:DMC, definitely better than Superman. I'm slightly biased with the Pirates franchise, so I liked it more than most. It was a touch too long and slow to pick up steam, but I found it funny and very much an echo of Empire Strikes Back (in a good way). Just like Empire, the film feels like the middle act of a play rather than a stand-alone movie.

 

Also, if you were luke warm about the original movie, then this one won't do much for you. However, if you dug the first one, then you'll be happy with the sequel.

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmmm....interesting way to look at it. I guess I was just expecting them to wrap up more stuff but now I see why they didn't. I really liked the first one because there was a lot of Captain Jack Sparrow in it. This one didn't seem to have as much of him in it. Guess I just missed that from the first one.

I saw POTC:DMC and I did like it. It probably could have been a bit shorter. The first half of the movie seemed a bit sluggish, but when they get to Davy Jones it really picked up. That swordfight on the mill was crazy. I loved the way they set it up for the 3rd movie, the sold out audience I saw it with went crazy with the ending.

 

I somewhat disagree with you tgreg on it being better than Superman. I really enjoyed Superman Returns. I loved the opening credits, Brandon Routh was very good, Kevin Spacey was great, and I must admit Kate Bosworth played a good Lois Lane. I thought it played out very well. Just my opinion.