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With all the summer movies released, it's time to take stock of what we saw on-screen. And what their successes and failures have taught us. For starters, we've learned that there can, in fact, be too many superhero movies; that not even Pixar can bat 1.000 forever; and that the funniest comedy of the season can, despite sexist naysayers, star an almost entirely female cast.
It also seems we've gotten really (really) comfortable with sequels, reboots, and remakes. You could say 2011 was the summer of comfort food.
2011 Movies: Summer's Top 10 >>
Posted 08.24.11 by reelz -
Afraid that a second Kung Fu Panda movie might be as clumsy and awkward as Po? Yeah, so were we. But critics are pretty universally singing the praises of the sequel's "awesomeness."
"Once again, the DreamWorks team demonstrates that humor is the primary weapon in its arsenal."
— Peter Debruge, Variety"The animation is elegant, the story is much more involving than in the original, and there's boundless energy."
— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times"At times, Kung Fu Panda 2 suggests Bambi redone as an episode of Oprah. Yet it's a more-than-worthy sequel. "
— Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly"...this winning sequel to 2008's martial arts cartoon makes deft moves for a big-budget sequel — and is even warmly reminiscent of 1980's The Empire Strikes Back."
— Claudia Puig, USA Today"...accomplishes the depressingly familiar mathematical trick of being both more and less than its predecessor."
— A. O. Scott, New York Times -
Summer 2011 is filled with sequels, spin-offs, and reboots — if there's any doubt, look at the numbers tacked onto the titles of the newest big releases (Hangover II, Panda 2, Pirates 4). That's right, as exciting as the season's blockbusters may seem, we're being inundated with one of the most unoriginal summers the movies have ever seen. Within that context, though, which movies rise above the "Yeah, we phoned this one in" benchmark? Find out with our patent-pending originality meter.
From 1 to 10, where do these releases register? >>
Posted 05.27.11 by reelz -
Today's Challenge: Kung Fu Panda 2 and The Hangover Part II both open nationwide this week. Can you find a movie link to connect stars Angelina Jolie and Bradley Cooper?
Our first Facebook movie game, ClusterFlick, plays off that old "six degrees of separation" theory — you know, the one that has a certain Kevin at the center of the Hollywood universe. It's easy to play, but not so easy to win. The goal is to use the major cast of movies to get from Point A to Point B in the smallest number of moves.
Play ClusterFlick >>
Posted 05.27.11 by reelz -
Several new posters were recently released to promote a trio of upcoming sequels. Disney is once again using mermaids to hype the fourth movie in its popular Pirates franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, releasing two new posters that feature the mermaid Syrena (played by Astrid Berges-Frisbey). Earlier this month, Disney released a poster that featured three mermaids and a TV spot that revealed that mermaids are somehow essential to Blackbeard's (Ian McShane) plans for the Fountain of Youth, a quest the notorious pirate embarks on with the (forced) aid of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). It's still unclear why Blackbeard needs mermaids, but it's a good bet that the reason is pretty sinister.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was written by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot, the writers of the previous three Pirates movies, and directed by Rob Marshall (Nine). Penelope Cruz, Kevin R. McNally, and Academy Award–winner Geoffrey Rush also star. The adventure begins opens May 20th.
see the other new posters >> Posted 04.29.11 by BrentJS -
It's been a long, brutal winter in most parts of the country, so it's no surprise that even Hollywood is looking to get a jump on summer. The rollout of blockbuster movies starts this Friday, a full month before the Memorial Day Weekend.
As you'd expect (and hope), the mix of movies being offered up is heavy on the Action/Adventure movies (11) and Comedies (10). There's also plenty of offerings for Kids/Families (8). What's new this year is the addition of more R-rated comedies, thanks in no small measure to The Hangover's runaway success two summers back. Along with it's sequel, see what else is playing this summer — complete with trailers and photo galleries.
See the 2011 Summer Movie Guide >>
Posted 04.25.11 by reelz -
DreamWorks Animation recently aired the first TV spot for the "freakin' awesome" sequel to Kung Fu Panda since the Super Bowl and it can now be viewed online. After becoming the Dragon Warrior in the first movie, Po (voiced by Jack Black) must once again team up with the Furious Five —Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), and Viper (Lucy Liu)—to stop a terrifying new enemy that threatens to end kung fu forever.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (formerly advertised as Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom) was directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Spawn TV series). Additional character voices supplied by Gary Oldman, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michelle Yeoh, and Victor Garber. watch the new TV spot >> Posted 04.06.11 by BrentJS -
DreamWorks Animation has updated its official Facebook page for the sequel to Kung Fu Panda with new character posters of Master Shifu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman), Po (Jack Black) and the Furious Five —Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), and Viper (Lucy Liu). In addition to those old favorites from the first movie, who will once again team up to stop a new threat with the power to end kung fu forever, DreamWorks introduced four new characters from Kung Fu Panda 2 (formerly advertised as Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom) with their own character posters and descriptions.
who are the new characters in Kung Fu Panda 2? >> Posted 03.10.11 by BrentJS -
DreamWorks Animation has released a new teaser poster and "freakin' awesome" new trailer for the sequel to Kung Fu Panda. Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Spawn TV series), Kung Fu Panda 2 (formerly advertised as Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom) finds Po the Dragon Warrior (voiced by Jack Black) and the Furious Five —Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), and Viper (Lucy Liu)—questing to end a new menace that wields the power to end kung fu forever. Additional voice talents include Gary Oldman, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michelle Yeoh, and Victor Garber.
watch the new trailer >> Posted 03.05.11 by BrentJS -
Even if you're not a fan of football, if you're watching TV during Super Bowl XLV this Sunday, chances are you'll flip channels to try to catch a commercial or two. The premium advertising spots, estimated to cost as much as $3 million for a 30-second commercial, have become almost as much of an "event" as the game, itself.
This year, it appears as if movies will dominate the commercial breaks, with TV spots for Captain America: The First Avenger, Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom, Thor, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Super 8, Cowboys and Aliens, Limitless, and Rango all scheduled to air. But, why wait for game day? Check out three sneak peeks at some of the TV spots that will air during the Super Bowl.
watch the videos >> Posted 02.03.11 by BrentJS