In Defense of Twilight... No, Seriously

So here we are. I can’t believe it’s over. After five films and four books, one of the most hotly debated franchises ever is finished. “Twilight” has been incredibly popular, but has always faced questions. People love it, people hate it. It’s sometimes unfairly compared to “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games” because of demographic crossover and the fact that the movies are all based on popular books. But the series must be given credit where it’s due. While JK Rowling and her “Harry Potter” books can be credited with a young reader revolution, “Twilight” expanded that base among young females, bringing about a whole new genre. Barnes and Noble shoppers may notice the relatively new “teen paranormal romance” section. These are all books that draw from “Twilight.” “Twilight,” the poorly written series, which borrows a lot from “True Blood” and spends time telling young female readers they should change to be like the one they love. Yes, that one.

I obviously don’t have an infatuated interest in the series like the countless fans do. In fact, I think a good amount of the material in the books and movies is poorly done. But I do understand the appeal of escapist fantasy books and films. This is what author Stephenie Meyer does best. Creating an explanation for how vampires could exist right under our noses is something authors have been doing for a long time. But to do it in a (relatively) family friendly way, to ground it with a Romeo and Juliet like forbidden love was a multi-million dollar decision. But getting to know the five vampires living in Forks wasn’t enough. Meyer created a whole world and needed to prove it. The Volturi, rival covens, Carlisle’s accounts of vampire history, make the world bigger than the books. While “The Hunger Games” books are better written, their ambiguous back story is where they fall short of “Twilight.”

When Summit Entertainment was bought By Lions Gate earlier this year, Lions Gate CEO Jon Feltheimer mentioned that the series may continue after the release of the final adapted film. This idea has gained a bit of traction as the cast answered questions about it during their lengthy press tour for Breaking Dawn Part II. We don’t have any solid evidence this will happen, but I’m actually more excited about this idea than the five initial films. I think getting away from Bella and Edward would give the franchise a breath of fresh air. If the films were to be original and not based on new Meyer novels, it gives screenwriters freedom they haven’t had before. The currently released films are forced to navigate awkward dialogue and one-liners that the readers have deemed memorable, but the screen dictates as being ill-fitting.

The cinematic legacy of the movies will ultimately be casting and writing that couldn’t live up to the scale presented in the aesthetic. But more importantly as a movie fan, it can be appreciated for the sold out midnight screenings and box office dominance. It’s no secret that it’s easier to get a male audience into a movie theater. But “Twilight” and its four sequels have solved the young female demographic, who have transferred seamlessly to” The Hunger Games” films. So before you blindly criticize “Twilight,” which I have been known to do, consider how much they’ve done for literature and film. Not too shabby.

Transformers 4: Say Hi to Your Mother for Me

If you want a perfect example of how public perception can change one’s mind about a movie, look no farther than the Transformers franchise. Yes, the second one, Revenge of the Fallen, didn’t make sense. But the Third one made up for it and the first one was a lot of fun. Yet for some reason when I think of Transformers my first thoughts are usually negative, which is weird because I like them.

But what does this matter because the series is over, right? Wrong. Michael Bay is returning to do a partial reboot of the franchise without Shia Labeouf. And now for the exciting part. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Bay has confirmed that Mark Wahlberg will star in the upcoming Transformers 4. I imagine the movie will receive a subtitle at some point. Something like Transformers: Say Hi to Your Mother for Me. But no matter what the title, this is exciting news. It reveals that the story won’t follow teenagers again, which has been done before. Instead we get an actor who has done action and done it in both critically acclaimed settings (The Departed, The Fighter) and in blockbusters (Planet of the Apes, The Italian Job).

I’d like to see the franchise go back to the “robots in disguise” theme from the first movie instead of trying to outdo the scale of the sequels. It’s clear that less is more when it comes to the number of combatants in a rock ‘em sock ‘em robots kind of franchise like this. As you can see from the accompanying photo, a new logo for the film has also been released, which combines the 4 and the mark of the Deceptions, the film’s villains for those non-fans who are reading.

It looks pretty cool, but I don’t think we’ve been shown enough to get too excited about the movie yet. The Happening tells us that Wahlberg can’t save a stupid movie from being stupid. So I send this message to any surviving Transformers writers taking refuge among the stars. We are here. We are waiting. Get it? That’s what Optimus Prime says at the end of the first one, but directed to other Transformers… Boy, I’m clever.

Marvel Makes Announcements Left and Right

It seems like any entertainment rumors or news items this week just don’t seem that important compared to the mammoth announcement of new Star Wars films coming our way, but the Marvel machine, which spans multiple studios, keeps chugging along regaining our attention. Three new items have come to light that brought me out of my Star Wars coma.

The Iron Trailer

Marvel Studios have begun phase two of their genre defining Avengers Initiative that was pulled off so perfectly during the last few years. We now have the first trailer for Iron Man 3. I must admit that while I’ve enjoyed the first two installments, plus the character’s involvement in The Avengers, I’m always less excited for Tony Stark than I am other Marvel commodities. This probably stems from my indifference toward the character in the comics. But this trailer has bucked that trend.

The fact that all three Iron Man films feature Academy Award winning actors as the lead villain, Jeff Bridges, Mickey Rourke and now Ben Kingsley, has me realizing how important these films are to the comic book film genre. Kingsley plays The Mandarin in the new one, a character long overdue to make his big screen debut. Apparently his origins have changed for the film, but count me intrigued. Watch the trailer for yourself. It looks pretty intense.



Sing-Along

The year was 2003 and the comic book world was raving about X2 and the further possibilities for the X-Men world. But director Bryan Singer decided to try his hand at Superman Returns rather than return for the third film in the trilogy. The subsequent film X3: X-Men United was successful, but it brought the saga to a standstill. Now we have Wolverine spin-off films and the smaller scale reboot X-Men First Class. Well guess what folks, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that Singer will direct the First Class sequel Days of the Future Past.

Comic book fans will know the possibilities for such a title. It presents a chaotic future and the possibility to unite characters from the original trilogy and First Class. The fact that Fox has decided to bring in a director who has a report with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen is very interesting. My guess is that McKellen and Halle Berry wouldn’t return since Berry almost opted out of X3 and McKellen needed some big convincing to return to his other franchise, The Hobbit. But Stewart has expressed interest in the past and Jackman has always been vocal with his love of playing Wolverine. It would be great to see the X-Men timelines interact.

It’s Electric

Variety is reporting that Jamie Foxx is in early talks to play Electro in the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man. Wow. The rumor regarding Electro being the film’s primary villain has been around for a little while, but the Academy Award winner’s involvement is new, fueled by a tweet this week claiming he was Electro for Halloween. Many eagle eyed fans have pointed out that the scene at the end of TASM has Dr. Connors speaking to a shadowy figure accompanied by lightning. Was that Electro? Maybe. Or maybe the lightning was just for dramatic effect to accompany Norman Osborne, Mysterio, The Shocker, or a number of other characters.

Foxx fits really well in this franchise. He’s a good actor who will have no problem making the long living character his own. Plus it’s a smart move to keep digging into the rogues gallery rather than rebooting villains. But I imagine Osborne/ The Green Goblin will show up pretty soon.

So there you have it. Marvel on all cylinders. It looks like X-Men is trying to bridge gaps to make Avengers-like continuity and Spider-Man just gets cooler with every rumor. We’ll keep an eye for more Marvel news.

Disney Buys Star Wars

In terms of movie news, it doesn’t get much bigger than Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. and the rights to Star Wars. As for a reaction from the purchase, I don’t really know what mine is. My initial concern was that George Lucas was forced out of the brand he built. Not so. He was in on the deal and will stay on as a consultant. Then I figured that this wouldn’t make a difference since the Star Wars world mainly consists of cartoons, books and merchandise these days. Wrong again! A treatment has been completed for Episode VII, which will apparently take place after the events of Return of the Jedi. This will lead to Episodes VIII and IX all without Lucas directing.

While I usually love making hypothetical lists in situations like this, I currently have no idea which way this trilogy will head. It’s already been said that the next movie won’t be based on a book, comic book or video game that’s already been written. So while the buzz on the internet questions this new series’ ability to fit into the packed timeline of the books, I think that the super “fans” will likely be disappointed.

The prequels were able to take characters the audience had already seen or heard about and put them into a storyline that was relatively well known. Obviously Anakin was going to become Darth Vader, the Jedi would be killed off and the Republic would become the Empire. I anticipate the new trilogy doing something like that. So, familiar characters should appear. Obviously C-3PO and R2-D2 will be there, but some Rebels or even some combination of the big three (Luke, Leia and Han) would be great. It never made sense to me that people complained that the prequels were inaccurate to the timeline. Since Star Wars was first a movie, that medium is the infallible one in my mind. Just like how a Spider-Man story-arc in comic book form is the real story holding more weight than the movies.

But no matter how this plays out there will be masses who bash the films for not being a shot for shot remake of The Empire Strikes Back. But fans like me will cling to this news because it means more midnight premieres, cryptic trailers for deciphering, and cross-over promotions at the grocery store. Okay maybe we don’t need the Star Wars pop-tarts, but I’ll buy them anyway.

**Update** George Lucas has confirmed that the new film will feature Jar Jar Binks as the main character.

**2nd Update** I completely made up the last update.

Make Your Own Halloween Movie Marathon

To give my Halloween movie list would be a bit unnecessary since everyone has different tastes and different favorites. But I’ve seen enough movies to know that there’s more to Halloween than watching Hocus Pocus on cable. Follow our formula to make your own Halloween movie marathon.

+1 Horror

I may not be the biggest fan of the genre, but many are and it would be a crime against the movie going public if I left these films out. I would suggest going with something that features an inherent Halloween concept or character. I choose the smart and edgy zombies from 28 Days Later. The scares are divided into tolerable bursts that make it more reasonable for those with different scare tolerances.

+1 Franchise

If you want to watch a full franchise, I suggest you give yourself more than one day. Trying to jam in too many movies makes the marathon a chore. This is another place for the horror fans to throw in their favorite Saw or Paranormal Activity film, but it also means you can watch something like Twilight. My suggestion is the standout Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This installment is filled with pumpkins, crows, Dementors and an overall look that suggests Hogwarts exists in perpetual autumn.

+1 Tim Burton

One live action Tim Burton film will put the filmmakers stamp on your marathon. He definitely deserves recognition too considering most of his movies fit the season perfectly. You have the option to go old school with Beetlejuice or Edward Scissorhands, though my suggestions come a few years later. Sleepy Hollow is a classic and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a good one if you don’t mind the singing.

+1 Animated

It’s amazing how many Halloween appropriate animated movies are out now. The past few months have seen three hit the theaters. Including one on your list gives some variety to your October and allows younger family members to join you for a few hours. With that being said, many of these movies are shorter than 90 minutes so they’ll put a relatively small dent in your day. I suggest expanding your Burton viewing with The Nightmare Before Christmas or The Corpse Bride. But Coraline will more than suffice if you want to move in a different direction.

+1 Outside the Box

Many of the films so far are ones you could have thought of yourself. But it’s definitely worth it to try and dig up one that your friends/ family haven’t considered. This could be a sci-fi/fantasy movie or a comedy. My suggestion is the first two features in the “Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy” Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz. Hot Fuzz in particular may not seem to fit, but watch it during this time of year and you’ll find it’s actually perfect.

+1 New Film

Whether you head to the theater for a new release or rent one from earlier in the year, it makes sense to continue adding something new so your Halloween doesn’t get repetitive. This year had ParaNorman, Hotel Transylvania and Frankenweenie in addition to some horror selections. Though my suggestions come from Red Box or Netflix. Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows is a light option and the Daniel Radcliffe vehicle The Woman in Black for those looking for a fright.

What are your favorite Halloween movies?

Your Guide to Appropriate Movie Theater Behavior

As a very frequent moviegoer I have come to follow an in depth list of guidelines dealing with how to behave in a movie theater. Now you may be asking what gives me authority to dictate how others conduct themselves in a public establishment. The answer is nothing. I just know what annoys other people, and unless you like to be passively aggressively hated by a stadium seated room of your peers, I suggest you consider following these guidelines.

Seating Choice:

What may seem like common sense to some in this respect is apparently a mystery to others. Sit where you’d like. But in a mostly empty theater, it’s rude to sit directly in front of other patrons. Not only does it prevent them from putting their feet up, it also imprisons them to hearing your comments and dealing with your cell phone brightness, which I’ll expound upon soon.

With so many previews to sit through it is acceptable for you to be late, unless you have a group of five or more people (four on a weekend night). If this situation can’t be prevented, deal with the bad angle seats that are available. Those who arrived on time have no sympathy for you and will not move down to make room for your tardy clan. If they do agree to move down, they are silently judging you anyway.

Note: The middle seats in a row are less important than you actually realize. It may be worth it to sacrifice that perceived better seat for farther down the row to give yourself some more space between you and potential distractions.

The Usual Suspects:

Obviously cell phones prove to be a huge focus breaker during a movie. But sometimes people “need” to check the cell now and again. If you do have to, turn the brightness all the way down and view the phone underneath a jacket or shirt. Minimal effort on your part to block the light from your neighbors goes a long way.

We’re not supposed to talk, I know. But a comment now and again to your friend in the context of the volume of the movie is okay. Example: a scene with dialogue ends. Cut to a wide shot of a character riding a running horse through the desert. Booming music accompanies it. That is an appropriate time to say that your soda seems a bit flat, not the emotional exchange that’s been building for two hours. And please whisper.

Agree so far? Well it’s about to get controversial. Please continue to bring your young children to the movies. They deserve to experience a golden age in animated features and the constant influx of family friendly entertainment. But they must follow the same rules as the rest of us. That means they can’t wave your bright iPhone around constantly, run through the aisles at will or yell every line from the movie after it’s said. This isn’t your living room. Also, please call the babysitter for shows after 8PM as well as hard PG-13 or R rated material. It’s not meant for the kids and they don’t react well to it. I once witnessed a sold out 10 PM showing of Hellboy II: The Golden Army revolt on a baby because they wouldn’t stop whining and crying. I may or may not have inadvertently started that revolt with a polite request that they please take their baby elsewhere. Then the angry mob chimed in, making it not so polite. Someone yelled, “Come on, this isn’t “Veggie Tales”!” Those are fighting words. Let’s avoid that with your child.

Miscellaneous:

There are a number of less important irksome things to consider. Open crunchy wrappers before the movie starts. Avoid nervous ticks like tapping your foot. That shakes the chairs around you. And general politeness should probably apply all around.

There was an attempt to balance this editorial toward productive tips and stay away from annoyed rant territory. We all like going to the movies. And only YOU can prevent obnoxious theater experiences. Or you can just go to the movies on Monday nights and at 10 AM on Saturday mornings like I do. Nobody else is there.

Tim Burton's Non-Halloween Movies

We’re all in the Halloween spirit around here, which mainly consists of watching our favorite spooky movies. While excluding slasher flicks, the list seems to be filled with more and more Tim Burton movies every year. He is the master of the family friendly horror these days. So while flicking through the channels this weekend, I noticed ABC Family was having a “Spooktacular Sunday” full of Halloween-esque movies. Many of them were Burton movies, but not necessarily the ones that should have been there. In order to prevent any confusion, save the following films for the other 11 months of the year. These are our non-Halloween appropriate Tim Burton movies.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

It’s definitely a creepy movie filled with oddball events and imagery. Even candy is involved, but it just doesn’t fit. Especially if you put it up against the other entries in the Tim Burton catalog. I’d even say the film’s inherent brightness is a contributing factor.

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Yes, believe it or not Tim Burton directed the Mark Wahlberg remake, which I thoroughly enjoyed at the time. But even speaking apes and astronauts can’t make this a fitting fall movie. It has summertime blockbuster written all over it.

Mars Attacks! (1996)

I’d actually recommend you not watch this at any point during the year. For those not familiar it’s a weird alien project starring a ton of actors known for movies better than this. I was into the idea of it when it came out. I was eight. But even then it was just weird.

Big Fish (2003)

One of the director’s best films is also one of his most unique. It’s filled with oddities like the others, but it's a balanced film that would appeal to a more wide-ranging demographic than some of the others.

Batman (1989)

This actually fits well with the makings of a good Halloween movie. But if you’re looking to superhero movies for your late October kicks than I suggest you do a little more digging. Jack Nicholson’s Joker spawned thousands of costume imitations, which were accompanied by terrible laugh impersonations. It’s funny, the same thing happened after The Dark Knight in 2008.

Check back closer to the 31st for our list of Halloween suggestions. Tim Burton will definitely be on that list at least once.

The Justice League Begins to Take Shape

Some rumors are hardly worth reporting. We go down this road with projects like Ghostbusters 3, where there always seems to be something moving forward, yet the years pass and the movie never gets made. One that I can remember hearing about while still in high school is Justice League. For those not familiar, The Justice League is the DC Comics version of The Avengers. The main difference is the Justice League is made up of the best of the best in the DC Comics universe, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, etc. The Avengers may seem to fit that bill now because of the buildup, but the exclusion of heavyweights like Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four give Marvel more distributed wealth. DC puts all their eggs in one basket.

Well apparently on the heels of a legal victory over the rights to Superman, Warner Bros. is moving forward with the JL. Since The Avengers shattered expectations, I guess they decided it’s about time. The LA Times is reporting that Warner Bros. is looking at a summer 2015 release for the massive project. That seems reasonable until you realize that The Avengers 2 is set to release during that same summer. Uh oh, we have a showdown.

With that, it seems Warner Bros. will take a different route using Justice League as a launching point for their franchises. Superman will be fresh off his 2013 reboot Man of Steel and the Green Lantern will presumably follow suit from the much maligned 2011 Ryan Reynolds vehicle. But other than that, characters will receive a fresh slate. A rebooted Batman character and the introduction of Wonder Woman, The Flash and any others they care to use from the DC catalog, mean the writers and producers have the tough task of introducing the characters in such a way as to not stall the movie with origin stories.

Obviously the specifics are a complete guess at this point. My hypothesis is that it won’t live up to The Avengers though. Not much can. Plus, who would have thought Thor and Iron Man, two characters with moderate readerships would be so appealing to all the relevant demographics when put on the big screen? But now we’re putting some unknown commodities alongside a brand new Batman. Fickle moviegoers will need some convincing. I’ll obviously be there with bells on, but since I see everything, that’s not that big of an accomplishment.

The Halloween Anti-Monster List

I’m not a fan of horror movies, as you may have noticed from their absence in the review section. But with Halloween quickly approaching it’s worth noting the evolution of horror movies from monsters to overtly gory to intensely creepy. So with that, where did all the monsters go? Well they’re still around. Now and then one of their franchises gets rebooted. The characters also turn up in cartoons or parody roles. But they are most definitely not as creepy as they once were.

In certain cases, these classic monsters are turned completely against type, no longer chasing town folk and grunting. Now they read poetry and play piano. What’s up with that? Here’s our list of least intimidating movie monsters.

Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson)- Twilight

This shmo couldn’t be farther from Dracula. Yes, that’s very noble that he only kills deer for sustenance, (Where was PETA on that one?) but the character is about as intimidating as the Muppet Babies. He sparkles in the sun, he runs like a puppet and his jumping/climbing abilities look like a wannabe Cirque De Soleil performance. Dracula is rolling over in his coffin… which he sleeps in.

Abe Sapien (Doug Jones/David Hyde Pierce)- Hellboy

A very likeable and interesting character, Abe is a rehashing of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. But he’s what would happen if the creature left the lagoon and went and got an ivy-league degree. In context, it works, but when you really think about it, what was wrong with the original uneducated creature.

Sparky- Frankenweenie

A new interpretation, the movie works in redeveloping the original Frankenstein themes. But as a dog, the monster doesn’t do much more than bark, wag and mope. Okay, maybe the last one fits with the original Frankenstein’s monster, but the bull terrier should at least scare people inadvertently.

Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze)- Ghost

When the shadowy demons kill the bad guys, it’s pretty bad ass. But in the meantime, the film’s ghost, Sam, is nice and compassionate. Films like Ghostbusters teach us that all ghosts are supposed to be mindless jerks. Ghost doesn’t seem to agree with that making the ghost a romantic being. Ugh, that’s a cheesy ghost.

Scott Howard (Michael J Fox)- Teen Wolf

Jacob from Twilight is possibly more embarrassing, but Scott uses his werewolf gift/curse to win basketball games and gain popularity in high school. He should be painfully fighting his condition during the day while terrorizing the villagers, killing farm animals, or something like that!

Well, here’s your Halloween anti-monster list. I’m not saying these are bad movies, but with the exception of Frankenweenie, they would probably be best left for the non-Halloween months. Did we forget any other non-frightening monsters?

Do We Have the Next Mary Jane Watson?

Who’s thinking about blockbusters as movies like Argo and The Master are in the theaters? Well, I’ll tell you who. I am. Luckily there’s no shortage of news keeping our dreams filled with big budgets and comic book adaptations. The Hollywood Reporter has… well, reported that Sony has offered Shailene Woodley (“The Secret Life of an American Teenager,” The Descendants) the coveted role of Mary Jane Watson in the sequel to this summer’s The Amazing Spider-Man.

It’s too early to tell if she’ll be good for the role, but with how well cast the first installment was, we trust the good folks at Marvel and Sony. Woodley was widely expected to snag a nomination for an Oscar last year because of her performance in The Descendants, but that didn’t happen. She did receive nods for best supporting actress at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards though. So I suppose her acting abilities aren’t in question.

The biggest question mark for Woodley lies in the difference between her past performances and the Mary Jane character from the Spider-Man comics. If the producers decide to go for the girl next-door approach of the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire trilogy, then Woodley makes perfect sense. But Mary Jane was originally out of Peter’s league, popular, beautiful and a bit too high maintenance for the guy, who was head over heels for the bookworm bombshell, Gwen. Sure Mary Jane was a good friend and of course her and Peter’s relationship changes. So it’s a tough balance for screenwriter’s Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci, as well as Director Marc Webb to decipher.

The fact that there is even a conversation as to whether or not Woodley is the right decision shows how a few months has made us forget The Amazing Spider-Man. That film surpassed most people’s expectations and quelled the fears that there wasn’t enough time between Spider-Man 3 and the reboot. We’ll be following the Woodley development and other casting news closely. Less than two years until we’re back to web-slinging!

Bringing TV to the Big Screen

It’s hypothetical Wednesday here at What’s Up Movement. With the new network television season in full swing, we’ve all returned to our favorite shows and begun guessing when the new ones will get cancelled. Fresh off the Emmys, it’s an exciting time for a TV fan. But every once in a while the stars align and we are given a movie sequel to a TV show. Sometimes it’s when a failed show seems like it may work better on the big screen. The Nathan Fillion led “Firefly” was cancelled and followed by the movie sequel Serenity a few years later. Other times it’s due to a successful run, the in development “Entourage” movie, "The X Files,” “Jackass,” etc.

So with the many shows that are currently crammed in our DVRs, which ones would make worthwhile movies? Here’s our list.

-Modern Family

Most of the popular comedies would likely suffer from the effects of looking like a made for TV movie. But “Modern Family” episodes roll on with such ease that it seems like each minor storyline could probably play out, and be funny, over a 90 minute feature. It makes sense to turn the show into a film franchise if even to just avoid it being rebooted with different actors down the road. This cast should be in the movie that isn’t getting made!

-Game of Thrones

Sadly “Game of Thrones” doesn’t premiere until the spring, but there’s no denying a bigger budget and film hype would be a big reward to fans. Make the last half of the final book a movie, and see what seasons and seasons of rabid dedication can do for you at the box office. HBO likely wouldn’t let this happen. But that’s what Hypothetical Wednesday is for.

-Revenge

Shows with a fixed plot, like "Revenge,” tend to have a tough time lasting beyond a few seasons. And when they do, things tend to spiral strangely. We’re looking at you “Lost.” So confining “Revenge” to a film would allow for the drama to be more controlled and powerful. It also would prevent soap opera twists and turns.

-Survivor

I don’t have the logistics of such a conversion, reality TV to feature film, but a dramatized account of the show from the perspective of Jeff Probst would be pretty interesting. It could include the drama of the show with behind the scenes quarrels and how crew members actually have to brave nature to make sure panthers don’t attack the 22 year old bartender while she’s snuggling up to the personal trainer from Texas.

-Sunday Night Football

Whenever I look at the weekly ratings, this show called “Sunday Night Football” wins by a mile. It seems a bit violent too with Bears fighting Jaguars and Falcons versus Eagles. But people tune in. Imagine we take the team names and fight their likenesses in an animated movie like the 1987 GI Joe Movie? I can see it now. Cowboys and Patriots have to team up try and fight the superior Giants who have secured Jets to fight with them. No one over the age of 12 would want to watch this movie.

The Unauthorized Harry Potter Sequels

We all know the commonly accepted theory that movie studios will put out almost anything in order to make money. Now that is pretty much true. Sequels run rampant on the success of the originals and most movies could be compared to a past release in either look or theme. But it seems the studios do know when to not push their luck. Consider the highest grossing franchise of all-time, Harry Potter. Yes, they stretched the seven novels into eight movies, but the reality is that characters are off limits now that the written story is done.

But this week HP author JK Rowling releases her first book for adults, “The Casual Vacancy.” There’s no Harry, no Ron and no Hermione, but continue holding your breath. In an interview with the BBC, when asked about returning to the Wizarding World, Rowling said “... if I did have a great idea for something else, I probably would do it. I am very averse to the prequel-sequel idea. A side step could maybe ... well, we'll see." We Muggles will take that as a good sign. If a new book comes, you can be sure a movie would be right around the corner.

In the meantime, say Warner Bros. decided they didn’t want to wait and were somehow able to bring a new Harry Potter movie to the big screen without an accompanying book. Here is our list of potential movie starting points.

-Mapping the Marauders

The most obvious suggestion would be to follow Harry’s parents and their well-known classmates through Hogwarts. There would be the tension between James, Lilly and Snape to deal with. Plus a certain werewolf we all know has to deal with his fang and claw issues on top of finishing his Potions homework. Less dire circumstances than HP, but it would still be fun to watch.

-The Dawn of the Death Eaters

A more intellectual look into Hogwarts would follow a teenage Voldemort around as he takes the school as his own in a dark sort of thriller. Dumbledore would be there at every turn to try to stop him, and his pre-horcrux conflicted mind would make for an anti-hero, who the audience knows doesn’t stand a chance of turning out to be the good guy. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince tells us this would be incredibly exciting.

-The Founding Four

Covering the founders of Hogwarts would give a virtually clean slate to make a new story with characters who were already introduced. Some of the school ghosts were still alive, Slytherin brought about constant fighting and the unshakeable foundation of the Hogwarts system was still in its infancy. Plus what were wizards like so long ago? The possibilities for this story are many.

-The Durmstrang Dodger

One option is take a small role and steer clear of Hogwarts (and England for that matter.) Someone like Victor Krum, who we know has experience dabbling in the dark arts, but isn’t a bad guy for the most part. He’s all the way in Bulgaria where Voldemort is lesser known than the once menacing Grindelwald so the whole school dynamic at Durmstrang must be different than the Slytherin vs. the world mentality of Hogwarts. Plus, there’s the little fact that Krum is the world’s best Quidditch player. Fame related drama ensues.

-Wizard War I

Our vote for a Harry Potter prequel comes when the boy wizard was just an infant. Fans are familiar with a lot of the big events during the first battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore’s Order of the Phoenix. But a closer account with James, Hagrid, Sirius, and all the others at the forefront would be golden for fans.

As awesome as any of these films would be, Harry is, like we said, off limits for the time being. So we’ll have to keep watching the eight films we already have. “The Casual Vacancy” is in stores now.

Let us know your ideas in the comments.

Five Things The Emmys Said About Award Season

Those familiar with What’s Up Movement and our commentary know that award season is a very prominent time on our film calendar. And since the film festivals are coming to a close that means we are there. First up is the 64th annual Emmy Awards. Crickets… Aren’t the Emmys for television? Yes, they are. But we can learn a lot about what is in store for the reminder of the trophy year from how the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences made their decisions this past Sunday.

-There is still a place for movie stars.

The media is constantly telling us that movie stars like Tom Cruise or Denzel Washington no longer have the influence they once did. But Kevin Costner’s win for Lead Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie says otherwise. Sure, he was praised for his turn in Hatfields and McCoys, but there is a good chance that the scenario in this category played out as tie goes to the movie star. And with other favorites like Idris Elba and Bill Paxton losing out to the better known Costner, that theory is viable.

-Hollywood is Predictable

Jon Hamm lost again, Modern Family won everything again and it’s become pretty clear that the “artists” no longer respect network television. So when the film nominations come out we may get thrown a bone for a fan favorite like The Dark Knight Rises or something similar, but they will not win. Nothing will compromise how cultured Hollywood thinks they are.

-Hollywood Doesn’t Want To Be Predictable

How else can one explain Jon Cryer picking up the win for Lead Actor in a Comedy or Jeff Probst not getting nominated after four consecutive wins for Reality Host? Sadly, it has less to do with performance than it does a statement being made. It doesn’t matter that the nation collectively wanted Steve Carell to get an Emmy for his time on “The Office” after being nominated from 2006-2011. That’s not for the nation to decide.

-Ryan Seacrest Actually Knows Stuff

The guy is a perpetual punch line, but his connectivity with Hollywood and the big names in entertainment make his red carpet interviews way better than the others. Putting aside the incessant side bars from E’s fashion police and their gimmicks like the “Mani-cam,” Seacrest’s coverage actually proved more insightful than ABC, who was actually hosting the show. The other award shows will be similar.

-Don’t Bet on It

I always predict the Oscar winners with my family, but don’t put any serious dough on these award shows. There are all kinds of numbers that show how many Best Picture Oscar winners won after getting the Critic’s Choice, Golden Globe, etc. but no one really knows. Did you know Betty White was nominated for hosting the reality show “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers?” Explain that one to me and then you can bet on the Oscars.

The Lost Roles of Denzel Washington

While promoting his latest film, Flight, Denzel Washington revealed to GQ a few roles he let slip away throughout his long career. It’s always interesting to play the alternate reality game with Hollywood’s finest and in this instance Denzel states that the David Fincher thriller, Seven as well as Tony Gilroy’s directorial debut, Michael Clayton were the ones that got away. After he passed on the films, the roles went to Brad Pitt and George Clooney respectively. Those are some pretty decent fallbacks if you ask me. Denzel also goes on to say that he sought roles in Platoon and Full Metal Jacket. But why stop there? We cast Denzel in this year’s biggest movies to see how things would have gone.

The Avengers

We offer Denzel the roles of both Tony Stark and Nick Fury. He turns them down to play The Hulk. The world is treated to the most unique portrayal of Dr. Bruce Banner we’ve ever seen. The Hulk no longer growls, he just laughs coolly while strolling through the New York City war zone. “Huh Ha! Hulk gonna smash ya!”

The Dark Knight Rises

Due to scheduling conflicts Denzel has to turn down the Batman role, but he is able to play Alfred. When director Chris Nolan tells Denzel to inspire Bruce Wayne, he misunderstands and busts out his speech from Remember the Titans.

“This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today.”

After a long explanation about Gotham’s location in the fictional US and who the villain is, the scenes get cut from the film.

The Hunger Games

Denzel plays Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta’s mentor and past winner of the games. While insisting on going method for the role, it turns out Denzel gets giggly when drunk and spends the whole time claiming he won the Hunger Games by building a room behind a wall and robbing a bank, a story which is very similar to his film, The Inside Man.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Taking on the role of Dr. Connors/The Lizard, it turns out Denzel does a great job and the crowds rejoice. Imagine that.

I guess Denzel doesn’t need our help. Flight opens November 2nd. The full GQ interview can be read here.

A Warning Against Film Prejudice

We often get a bit of a criticism for the way blockbuster movies are scored in our reviews. In the year end rankings it’s been common to see comic book characters right next to the Oscar nominees, or sometimes above them on the list. Why is that? Well probably because I’ve never considered sadness as a more credible emotion than excitement and spectacle. Remember that moment when you were a kid and you saw the movie. It’s different for everyone. I have about 50. Star Wars, Godzilla, Die Hard. Those movies matter to us because they introduce us to something new, and even more importantly, because we like them.

With my generation, there seems to be a shift around college age where instantly spectacle becomes shallow and excitement becomes cheap. Sure, people will praise The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises because the critics tell us it is okay to do so. I can tell you right now that in a few weeks the pessimistic moviegoer will be praising Looper. The critics are telling us we may do so.

My approach is to go to each movie with the same excitement. I often go on weeknights when the theaters are mostly empty. My wife times me on how long it takes to get our tickets from the kiosk. (I can navigate the whole process in 20 seconds. It’s actually pretty impressive). My point is that I want to be there. But now what? The summer is over and the award season bait is hitting the screens. That’s okay too. Be excited for those. Different film elements are on display. Dialogue is more paramount than the emotions tied to physically fighting.

So here is my call against the least important and damaging form of prejudice, film prejudice. I’m quick to defend action blockbusters since I am constantly reading the “experts” rip them to pieces because of their supposed inferiority. But in reality, the casual moviegoer needs to approach the indie dramas with a similarly open mind. I dare you to go to the movies without an opinion of a film predetermined. It’s tough. But if you’re not willing to have fun at the movies, wait until they come onto TBS or FX. Then you can whine about the amount of commercials they’re playing.

Who is Resident Evil?

The fifth film in the Resident Evil Series hit theaters this weekend, Resident Evil: Retribution, and while the jury is still out on our thoughts of the film, check back for a full review, the constant commercials got me thinking. Resident Evil is actually a pretty interesting name for a video game/ film franchise. From a quick Google search it seems that the title is just in reference to the threat being local. If so, that’s a waste. It has a very Citizen Kane flavor to it. Which film villain would make the best RESIDENT EVIL?

Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader- Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith

The character is definitely much more evil in the original Star Wars films, but in this episode Skywalker turns and kills a ton of unsuspecting Jedi because they know him as one of their own. That would make him a resident and evil.

Tom Riddle/ Voldemort- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The youthful version of the wizard is more hung up on schoolyard forms of villainy, but there seems little hope the bad seed would ever find his way. We tried to tell you, Dumbledore. Once the kid murders his dad (not on screen), the creep becomes a case study in evil.

The Shark- Jaws

You don’t get much more residential than a nice day trip to the beach. Then out of nowhere, a big old shark eats you. Sure nature is nature, but that doesn’t mean the shark isn’t evil.

Norman Bates- Psycho

He doesn’t track people down. He waits for them to come to his motel. And his mother is quite creepy as well. Norman would be a clearer shoo in as Resident Insane, but the way Psycho plays out leaves me thinking the guy fits just fine into the evil category.

The Joker- The Dark Knight

We all know how impressive it was for Heath ledger to reinvent a character that’s been performed so many times. But rarely has a villain been so crazy… and awesome. Is the Joker a resident of Gotham? We don’t know, but he picked that particular city to be the focus of his evil.

So what do you think? Did we pretty much cover it or do you have a Resident Evil in mind?

Summer '12 Blockbuster Preview

It’s time to pack away those copies of The Artist on DVD. The blockbuster season begins this weekend with The Avengers and there is no room for indies until the fall. That means action, big name actors and even bigger production budgets are the name of the game. Isn’t it glorious? I can virtually smell the popcorn already. What’s Up Movement will be with you every step of the way to review the films. So while every movie couldn’t make the blockbuster preview list, here are some of our most anticipated. Let us know your list in the replies and on Facebook.



-Most Intriguing:

Magic Mike- On the surface there are some elements that seem to be aimed toward a female audience, but the emergence of Channing Tatum as a comedic heavy weight combined with the big time cast makes the film look really good. But will the stripping scenes detract from the plot too much? Every woman in the world just simultaneously slapped me. Ouch.

Honorable Mention:

Snow White and the Huntsman looks so intense that I wonder if it can actually be that exciting. Does Thor have the ability to make Kristen Stewart likeable? Is Charlize Theron playing a female Voldemort? These are questions I just don’t have the answers to.

Without fail, every time the trailer for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter plays in a theater I am in, the crowd laughs. Enjoy your jokes now, World. Because fifth grade social studies as you know it will be forever changed. Or the movie could be really stupid. But they’ve got me interested.



-Yeah, I’ll actually see that:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days- Go ahead, tell me these movies are stupid. I’ll agree with you. But the two predecessors in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series are some of the best children’s comedies in recent memory. In addition to funny scripts, the actors are actually really good. With the whole crew back, I’m expecting much of the same.

Honorable Mention:

I’ve learned not to discount Adam Sandler movies on principle. That’s My Boy won’t be the first. Next time you’re watching a “really bad” Sandler movie, look next to you and tell me if kids are laughing. They probably are. But I’m confident Andy Samberg can lift this movie. The trailer seems dumb, yet promising.

Unless I’m forgetting something, Rock of Ages will be the first musical I see in theaters since Sweeney Todd. Not sure how much I’ll enjoy the singing, but the story looks to have translated well from stage to screen. An unexpected Tom Cruise role might be the tipping point to making the film memorable.



-This could be a disaster:

Battleship- The obvious choice. The movie looks like a diluted version of Transformers, but in the water and based on a less interesting toy. A cast full of highly sought after actors makes me wonder. Taylor Kitsch has already proven that he has the ability to flop a blockbuster, but in Liam Neeson I trust.

Honorable Mention:

Since the cast in The Expendables 2 is an upgrade from the original, the movie should be better. But I just can’t be sure until I see it. Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Jean Claude Van Damme. They can probably afford to kill off some of those lesser known expendable characters now… See what I did there?

GI Joe: Retaliation, another one that looks to be an upgrade from the original. But the trailer doesn’t have me convinced. Did they need to kill everyone from the original? The addition of The Rock and Bruce Willis shows promise. I just spent an hour reading about GI Joe characters on Wikipedia. Please don’t disappoint me, GI Joe: Retaliation.



-Best. Movie. Ever.

Is there any way that The Dark Knight Rises won’t completely blow our minds? The trailers have remained fairly cryptic, but we’ve seen enough to tell us that things don’t go smoothly for the Caped Crusader. Will we finally see a comic book movie nominated for best picture at the Oscars?

Honorable Mention:

The Amazing Spider-Man seems to annoy some people who would have liked another Tobey Maguire Spider-Man. I agreed with them until this new version looked so good! It’s a step away from the typical super hero blockbuster and toward a more character driven and unique spin. Plus, it’s Spider-Man, who is always awesome.

And just to finish the comic book trifecta, there is The Avengers. It’s so many years in the making that there’s a good chance it will become one of the most iconic comic book movies ever made. The buildup has definitely been a home run. I don’t see the movie disappointing anyone. How do you balance such big actors and such a big project? Bring in Joss Whedon, the X-Men writing, sci-fi creating, comic-con master.

And with that, you're ready. Get out there and see these movies.

An Answer to the Avengers

The idea for The Avengers is a cool one. Take a handful of previously established characters and put them together in one film, or originally a comic book. But what if we took that a step further and created an ultimate hero movie? Here is the W^M team… even though the plot to this movie would probably be really stupid.

-Wolverine- X-Men Origins: Wolverine

He still has his memory at this point and by the size of him I would think he isn’t yet on his beef jerky and whiskey diet. Plus Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is smart, believable and bad ass. Wolverine would be at the front line of whatever situation called for this ridiculous collection of fictional characters.

-Ethan Hunt- Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

The latest appearance of Ethan Hunt is wiser and even more daring than in the other films. He has the composure to handle surveillance situations and don’t count him out in hand to hand combat. Then there's Tom Cruise, who is on the top of his game. So his presence wouldn’t hurt a film like this, which would likely need a $1 billion budget.

-Tommy Oliver- Power Rangers: The Movie

He was just a troubled new kid in town when Alpha 5 recruited “a team of teenagers with attitude,” but by the time Power Rangers: The Movie came around; the guy knew what he was doing. There needs to be a good balance of actual humans on this team so Tommy, who did time as the green, white, red and black Power Rangers seems the perfect fit. Jason David Frank isn’t much of an actor, but the character's leadership and martial arts skills make up for that.

-Harry Potter- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II

I considered the aurors and the professors, but in the eighth film Harry proves that he actually is pretty awesome. Imagine if the villains of our film aren’t wizards. Harry would own the fight. He also doesn’t have a problem stepping back and taking orders. People have been telling him he’s the chosen one since he was 11. So he knows how to handle pressure.

-Batman- Batman Begins

He’s less raspy than in The Dark Knight and less arrogant. The guy isn’t really a team player, easily gets discouraged and relies heavily on gadgets that his wealth buys him. But he is good with technology. When he doesn’t know, he asks Morgan Freeman, so he is always ready with tanks, weapons, capes. Imagine Bruce Wayne outfitting Harry Potter with the awesome cape that makes it like your flying!

Legolas- Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Another follower, imagine him and Wolverine counting off their kills like the character does with Gimli throughout the LOTR trilogy. To this day, I have never seen another character kill a bunch of guys, then kill a giant elephant and ride down the trunk of its dying carcass.

Selene- Underworld: Awakening

She kills so many bad guys throughout the Underworld films, it's crazy. With an unnaturally long life filled with constant battles, she has the experience only Wolverine and the not-yet-mentioned team leader does.

Yoda- Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones

He hasn’t become all depressed yet because his colleagues aren’t murdered until the next movie. So Yoda is still the ultimate leader for the ultimate team. Plus his lightsaber skills are some of the best around.

Eat your heart out Avengers.

Who is on your ultimate hero team?

The Sequel Dilemma

For my reviewing method, the box office success or the potential of it has little impact. This seems like a no brainer. Money doesn’t always equal quality. Money does however equal expansion. I am constantly met with the following scenario. A highly anticipated film ends with a cliff hanger. I instantly think to what the sequel may include. Three days later the movie is deemed a flop and that’s it. Cut the budget, cut characters, anything! But no, it’s too late. This weekend three films opened, all expected to flop. Sorry Disney, but I'm glad you had the decency to end John Carter at a good point and not leave the audience hanging. (Keep an eye out for the W^M review of the film.)

While the horror film Silent House and Eddie Murphy’s A Thousand Words would be long shots for sequels, it’s clear that studios will turn anything into a sequel for a chance at replicating success. How many Saw movies were there? I saw none of them, (I have a self-imposed ban on horror movies) but apparently somebody did. Three Paranormal Activity movies, a third Hangover is coming to life and nobody will leave Kristen Wiig alone regarding a Bridesmaids sequel. I’m not here to complain that there are no original movies out there. I love franchises, but taking some power out of the hands of the studios would go a long way in quelling the cliff-hanger dilemma.

Imagine if Peter Jackson had made the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring without a financial commitment for the other films. Or if Warner Bros. dropped Harry Potter after Chamber of Secrets didn’t meet expectations. Both seem unthinkable with their overwhelming success and quality. But when studios are unwilling to commit to a franchise we get situations like The Golden Compass, an overly simplified version of the source book, which is dependent on sequels that never came.

Studios are understandably concerned with costs, and it would be unrealistic to think that box office receipts would not be the final call regarding sequels. So here is an open call to all independently wealthy people. I will make the unwanted sequels to all your favorite movies… if you pay. Do you think I can get Matthew Broderick and Hank Azaria to star in my Godzilla sequel?

Oscars Reaction

Award season is finally over. All but one the movies and actors, who were expected to win Oscars, did. (We’re looking at you Meryl Streep!) But what does this year’s salute to Hollywood say about the movie business in general? Let’s take a closer look.

We all know that the average Joe’s favorite movie of the year probably wasn’t nominated. It’s disappointing but okay. There is definitely a place for these artsy films in the box office. But this year we learned Hollywood insiders don’t like that. The Help grossed just under $170 million according to boxofficemojo.com. War Horse, The Descendants and Moneyball all made over $60 million each. But the nominations of obscure films and performances are included to let us (the public) know that we are outsiders and don’t understand the way their artistic minds work. Demian Bichir, nominated for best lead actor for his performance in A Better Life is one such example. I keep a close eye on independent theaters and movie houses to catch the small films and this never showed up anywhere near me. But that’s because the film only played in 216 theaters and grossed under $2 million. No wonder some in the viewing public have a difficult time getting attached to the award shows.

The big Oscar winners, The Artist and Hugo back up that same insider sentiment. Both deal heavily with the difficulties of evolution in early film. They show great film minds suffer when the uneducated and fickle public move on to the next thing. No one understands them. Let me say that I am actually a big fan of both these films. I think they are innovative and fun. But are you kidding me, Hollywood? If only one of these two had been a big winner, we may not have noticed. But when you give most of your biggest awards, Oscars, to films about film it shows how self-centered the voters are.

This year’s show was fun. Billy Crystal did a good job. He wasn’t offensive or dull. But the award moments were the typical people who we’ve seen win all season. There’s really no way to change this process unless you put the Oscars before those other shows. (Not going to happen.) So basically we will have to deal with award season the way it is. Maybe we can hope that next year will be a little less self-serving than the one-two punch of The Artist and Hugo. Oh and Harry Potter got snubbed again…

The Accessible Oscars

The Oscars are strange. I’ve seen the movies, I enjoyed a good number of them, yet I’m never quite satisfied when the award show is over. There are of course the moments where Queen Amidala, Batman, the Joker, and a Tarantino Nazi win the trophies, but that just isn’t enough. (Natalie Portman and Christian Bale did not win for their performances in Star Wars and Batman, but for their work in Black Swan and The Fighter respectively.)

What if there was an Oscars that wasn’t contingent on the opinions of Hollywood insiders living within their politically pretentious bubble in Sunny California? The People’s Choice awards don’t fill that void for me. I don’t know the specifics of who would vote for these non-Oscars, but if it were me, here’s how the nominations would play out. For now, let’s say those films nominated in the real show are disqualified from this one.

The main goal for each nominee is the accessibility to the common moviegoer. Would you be more invested in an Oscars ceremony with the following nominees?

Best Actor:

Joel Edgerton- Warrior

Joseph Gordon Levitt- 50/50

Hugh Jackman- Real Steel

Daniel Radcliffe- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. II


Best Supporting Actor:

Kyle Chandler- Super 8

Ryan Gosling- Crazy, Stupid, Love

Alan Rickman- Harry potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. II

Andy Serkis- Rise of the Planet of the Apes


Best Actress:

Kirsten Dunst- Melancholia

Saorise Ronan- Hanna

Jodie Whittaker- Attack the Block

Kristin Wiig- Bridesmaids


Best Supporting Actress:

Amber Heard- The Rum Diary

Anna Kendrick- 50/50

Jennifer Morrison- Warrior

Emma Stone- Crazy, Stupid, Love


Best Picture:

50/50


Bridesmaids


Crazy, Stupid, Love


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. II


Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol


Rise of the Planet of the Apes


Super 8


Warrior

Top 10 Films of 2011

While 2011 box office numbers were down and people griped about sequels dominating the theaters, the truth is that there were tons of great films out there. I definitely saw some that stunk, but the seasons that promised quality definitely delivered. The summer had massive blockbusters, the late fall brought on the award show buzz and many new faces came along who are happy we paid that 3D surcharge. 

My top ten film list is based on 105 different films, which I saw in theaters during 113 trips. Let’s just say I saw a few movies more than once.

(Click titles to read full reviews)

10. Crazy, Stupid, Love 

In order to give Crazy, Stupid, Love justice I would have to spoil some cringe-worthy and surprising plot elements. I won’t do that, but let’s just say that the audience doesn’t see the best scenes in the movie coming at all. Unpredictability and romantic comedies don’t usually go together, so it’s quite a testament to the script and directors for not giving away their secrets too early. 

9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes 

One of the many successful aspects of Rise is the willingness to get away from the expected and iconic imagery of the past films. There is no Statue of Liberty scene and no instances of a human man kissing an ape woman. Only the inclusion of the famed “you damn dirty ape” line made the cut. From there the movie is much less an action blockbuster than intellectual thriller. 

8. Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol

The reach of this film is massive. After five years since Mission: Impossible 3, this fourth installment goes for it, pushing the limits of a film that looks like it cost significantly more than its $145 million budget. 

7. The Adjustment Bureau 

Based on the Philip K. Dick short story, Bureau is one of those rare movies that give over-saturated moviegoers a well-executed, unique story. I would put it just a step behind Inception in the realm of sci-fi creativity. 

6. Melancholia

The two women are the real stars here, providing a powerfully real look at how emotions would take hold in this apocalyptic situation. Melancholia is heart-breakingly sad, but somehow the viewer can walk away with fulfillment because it is such an intense study of human emotion. 

 5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker has the strong sense of classic espionage thrillers. There is no need for fast-paced chase scenes because the tension is already there. All the characters have a seedy sense to them that gives credit to how authentic the film comes across. 

4. The Artist  

Taking out all of the specifics regarding sound and color, The Artist is an interesting story full of strong storytelling and quality characters. The film would likely appeal to moviegoers from any point in the last 80 years. 

3. My Week with Marilyn

Even with sad moments and high drama, the film is a pleasing cinematic experience. The pacing is reminiscent of mid-century romances, and even though the boy doesn’t get the girl in the end, it isn’t that important. Colin was never going to win over Marilyn Monroe. The movie is too real for that type of fairytale ending. 

2. War Horse 

A long film, War Horse is a story that needs that time to build up the audience’s emotion. There are so many casualties in the film that this horse becomes as much of a morale boost to the viewer as he is for the characters he interacts with. 

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II 

Harry Potter has proven to be one of the most important stories in cinematic history because of its consistent quality and influence on a multi-billion dollar industry. For this reason, plus my own personal admiration, I can’t put a score on Deathly Hallows Part II. But if I wanted to completely show my bias, I could just say that numbers just don’t go high enough. 

 Honorable Mentions: The remaining films that received a score higher than 9.0 

11. Hugo 

12. Moneyball  

13. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 

14. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules 

15. 50/50 

16. Battle: Los Angeles 

 (Please leave your top ten list in the comments and let us know why you liked what you did.)

The New Grading System

Following up my 100+ trips to the movie theater in 2011, I have decided to update my grading system for What’s Up Movement. The previous method saw 101 possible scores between 0.0 and 10.0, though most of those possibilities never came up. Because of that, I received much scrutiny about always giving movies sevens or eights. But by my standards, most of them fell in that range. Rarely did a movie only get 10 percent correct. Skeptical moviegoers may disagree and that’s okay.

So in 2012, I will be converting over to the more commonly used five star system. But here we're going to use arrows. With that comes a less specific score, but the goal will be to make it less arbitrary as well. Each film will have the ability to earn one arrow in five categories. This may mean movie score averages will be commonly higher or lower than before. I can’t be sure yet. The five categories are listed below.

*Acting- Plain and Simple, did the actors help or hurt the overall movie

*Writing/Directing- From dialogue to after effects, how successful were those behind the camera.

*Emotion- Was the intended reaction achieved?

*Innovation- Will the film have any impact on their genre or audiences?

*Overall Impression- Positive or negative

So from there it must be said that I will still rate the films I see with the optimistic approach I always have. Those who disagree are welcome to comment on the individual post or our Facebook page. Though I have to warn you, the people who say “No way, that sucked” just come off as trashy and uneducated. The words in the review have always been more important than the score. So keep that in mind.

I’d love to read your reviews and commentary too. I may be the primary writer, but that doesn’t mean people wouldn’t want a second opinion. Thanks for visiting What’s Up Movement.

-Tom

Five Things We Learned From the Golden Globe Nominations

5- The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) isn’t particularly fond of network television.

This isn’t anything new, but the fact that no dramas were nominated from the major networks is a bit annoying. Since there is such a variation between regulations on cable and network TV, there should be separate categories. Luckily for us supporters of the channels numbered with single digits, the HFPA all eat up Modern Family. The comedy categories are a better cross-section of what’s out there.

4- Critics/award show voters are blowhards.

I saw Bridesmaids, it was funny. It is by no means even close to being a best picture nominee. The fact that critics jumped on it and the performances of Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy were noticed seems to overshadow the fact that people are physically pooped and vomited on in the movie. If you’re going to be pretentious about movies, be pretentious. Let’s not pretend you are looking for a good escapist comedy.

3- Alien languages don’t count as foreign.

There were some good alien languages showcased this year. Cowboys and Aliens, Battle: Los Angeles, and whatever accent Adam Sandler has in Jack and Jill. Somehow all of them were left out of the best foreign language film category. Instead the nominees are four films I never heard of and the one directed by Angelina Jolie. Bummer.

2- George Clooney is nominated in every single category.

How he got nominated for best animated motion picture I’ll never know, but Clooney must have been busy this year. Actually it’s only best screenplay, director, and actor in a drama. Then there are the categories his two films, Ides of March and The Descendants are in. I can’t wait to hear how he’ll bring up being the only Batman whose suit had nipples this year. Never gets old. (Always gets old)

1 – The HFPA don’t really know what they’re talking about.

As the black sheep of the award season, the Golden Globes usually miss the memo on who is supposed to win. I hardly ever agree with who win Oscars, but at least they’re consistently off base with the viewing public. Sometimes the Golden Globes pick movies like Avatar as best picture. So what does that mean? It means this is the only award show that will actually contain surprises.

Note: I just remembered Ricky Gervais is hosting. So it will contain surprises and reminders of why Ricky Gervais isn’t funny.