1. The Brave One (2,755 Theaters, Rated R): The Director? Neil Jordan (Mona Lisa, Crying Game, Interview with a Vampire). The Lead Actress? Two-time Academy Award Winner Jodie Foster (The Accused, Silence of the Lambs). Supporting Actor? Oscar Nominee Terrence Howard. The Plot? A warmed over version of Death Wish.

Is it just me, or do these creators deserve a better movie?

Okay. I'll grant you that the whole "person looking for revenge" story is a powerful one. But it has been used umpteen times before. Will The Brave One bring anything new to the table? Or has the topic been examined enough?

Yes, I know that it is Jodie Foster, looking and acting like a female Bernie Goetz. And I'm sure she'll act the heck out of it. But it's been done before. Does it really matter if she's a better actor than Charles Bronson when he did essentially the same role as she more than thirty years ago.

Hollywood gets a lot of flack for lack of originality. This case, I think it's deserved.

2. Dragon Wars (2,269 Theaters, Rated PG-13): I first saw ads for this a few weeks ago, and I wondered why I hadn't heard of it before. Something this big budget with this much CGI usually gets some press in the entertainment magazines or advance buzz on the internet.

One of the reasons why you might not have heard anything is because Dragon Wars (or, as it's alternately called, D-War) is a Korean movie, one of the most expensive Korean films ever made.

The plot basically involves dragons fighting in the skies of Los Angeles. There is some wacky mumbo jumbo about one of the dragons trying to get into Heaven, which adds a bizarre spin to the plot, but this movie should appeal to anybody who likes to see giant beasts trying to kill one another while destroying everything the come in contact with.

To be honest, I might go to see this if they promised me that Godzilla would show up somewhere in the movie. I mean, if it wasn't for him, this movie probably would have never made it over here.

3. Mr. Woodcock (2,231 Theaters, Rated PG-13): Finally, in what could quite possibly the most derivirative weekend of movies ever, we come to this one. Even the poster is unoriginal, apeing the poster for 1998's BASEketball.

The most obvious comparision you could make for this movie would be last year's School for Scoundrels. It also starred Billy Bob Thornton as a teacher whose adversarial relationship with a student kicks up when the teacher begins a romance with someone close to the student. Billy Bob better be careful, or else he might start getting typecast.

The modern dumb comedy has become so incestuous that they have even become quasi-cookie cutter. Take a "high concept" plot, take actor from dumb comedy A, add costar from dumb comedy B, add in an Oscar Winning actress for "What is she doing in this type of movie" shock value, shake and serve.

This is what we essentially have here. This movie essentially follows that formula. But that doesn't mean that it's going to be a success.

Now to the predictions. This is what I predicted for last week:

1. 3:10 to Yuma
2. Halloween
3. Shoot 'Em Up
4. Superbad
5. Balls of Fury

And this is how it turned out:

1. 3:10 to Yuma
2. Halloween
3. Superbad
4. Shoot 'Em Up
5. The Bourne Ultimatum

I flipped 3 and 4, and that Balls of Fury had more lasting power than it did. I am now 51 for 95 in 19 weeks, and have an accuracy percentage of 53%.

This is what a call for this week.

1. The Brave One
2. 3:10 to Yuma
3. Halloween
4. Superbad
5. Mr. Woodcock

What do you think?

Bill

1. The Nanny Diaries (2,629 Theaters, Rated PG-13): A movie featuring a spunky young woman in a demeaning job answering to a demanding boss adapted from a popular chick lit novel? It's no stretch of the imagination that the Weinstein Group is hoping that a little of last year's Devil Wears Prada audience with this one.

And who can blame them? Devil Wears Prada was a surprise hit, making over $124 Million domestically. This proves there is an audience for this type of story.

This is a pretty big theater pull for a movie of this type. Will the investment in screens be justified? Will the Prada audiences be more turned off than attracted to the similarities?

The cast is first rate. I am a big fan of Scarlett Johansson. I keep waiting for her to get that one really good role that her acting chops deserve. Laura Linney is also a good actress. She's no Meryl Streep, but she's good. And I consider Chris Evans, next to Michael Chiklis, the best part of the Fantastic Four movies.

2. War (2,277 Theaters, Rated R): Most TV ads for this movie tell us that it is about a law enforcement officer seeking vengeance against and assassin. Maybe it's just me, but I find it hard to tell which actor is playing which in those ads (although the trailer I'm including now makes it a little more clear.)

For the record, Jason Statham is playing an FBI agent and Jet Li is playing the assassin. I hope everyone can rest easier now. i know I will.

This movie seems to me to be like a glossy Grindhouse flick for the MTV generation. It's a simple premise, shouldn't be to hard to execute, and the final verdict on how good the movie is will be how awesome the inevitable final fight scene between Li and Statham is.

Both actors are skilled martial artists and it should take much effort to have the final confrontation be great. But it should last about 20 minutes, at least. Any less, and the movie is in trouble.

3. Mr. Bean's Holiday (1,713 Theaters, Rated G): Yes, that rating is right. The movie is rated G. You do not see that all that often nowadays.

Ah, Bean. What can I say about Bean.

Can I say that I don't like Bean?

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't the biggest Blackadder fan in the world but I did like what I saw of Rowan Atkinson in that. But there is just something about Bean that gives me a pain deep in the pit of my stomach.

And I realize that I am in the minority here. There are people out there who love, I mean looooove, Mr. Bean. They are treating this movie like Star Wars fans treated Episode One.

And I don't know exactly why I don't like Bean. I guess it's just the whole "stupidity piled on top of stupidity" thing that really gets on my nerves. It's funny up to a point, but, in my opinion, Bean goes well over that point. Well, different strokes for different folks.

4. Resurrecting the Champ (1,602 Theaters, Rated PG-13): This one is the tale of the two TV ads. I have seen two ads for this film on TV. One plays it as a tear-jerking, Oscar-caliber, life-reaffirming underdog story. The other, plays it as an Oscar-caliber, Shattered Glass-style tale of journalistic malfeasance, that what ever Samuel L. Jackson's story is, Josh Harnett's character made up to get ahead.

Which one is it? Well, it is based on a true story. If you want to spoil the movie, you could probably find out after about a half hour of googling.

Either way, it has the look of a movie that is shouting "Hey! Oscar voters! Look at me!" Not saying that's a bad thing. I think Samuel L. Jackson, when he's not making stupid decisions in choosing roles, can be a great actor. I still argue that he was robbed of an Oscar for his role in Pulp Fiction.

Another point about this movie, Cold Case's Kathryn Morris appears to be playing Josh Hartnett's wife or girlfriend in this one, even though, per IMDB.com, she is at least 9 years older than him. This is refreshing because most times in Hollywood, it's the other way around.

Now, on to the predictions.

This was what I predicted as last week's Top 5:

1. Superbad
2. Invasion
3. Rush Hour 3
4. The Bourne Ultimatum
5. The Simpsons Movie

And this is how it actually was:

1. Superbad
2. Rush Hour 3
3. The Bourne Ultimatum
4. The Simpsons Movie
5. Invasion.

1 for 4. I had all five right, I just made a mistake on how well Invasion would do. This makes me 43 for 80 after 16 weeks and brings my prediction percentage down to 53%.

It will probably go down even lower this week. Here are my picks.

1. Superbad
2. War
3. Nanny Diaries
4. Rush Hour 3
5. The Bourne Ultimatum.

It's a tricky week this week. Any of the movies could be in the top 5. And, while I personally don't think so, any of them could be number one. And it is quite possible none of them would make the top 5. So my prediction this week is just a stab in the dark.

What do you think?

1. Superbad (2,800 Theaters, Rated R): At last! It seems like they started advertising this film in 2004!

Yes, if there were Academy Awards for Best Marketing Program, Superbad might have a lock on the Oscar. Its trailer started appearing at the beginning of the summer, its internet-only, R-rated, red-band trailer set the trend for marketing R-rated movies, and the movie has been trumpeted in all forms of media (including its stars, Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, sharing the number 12 spot on Entertainment Weekly's "The EW 100 The Star We Love Right Now" list in its June 29th/July 6th issue).

At first, the movie seems like a classic, 80s-style, teenage sex comedy. Hill and Cera play high school seniors who try to use alcohol to sleep with much more attractive and popular girls.

But this is filtered through the unique vision of producer Judd Apatow and co-writer and co-star Seth Rogen. I have been a fan of Apatow since The Ben Stiller Show (which feature the producer/director doing a hilarious Jay Leno impersonation) and I like both from The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Their careers to this point have built up a lot of good will in me, and hopefully, Superbad will continue that trend.

2. Invasion (2,700+ Theaters, Rated PG-13): I wonder if Jack Finney knew when the first installment of his "The Body Snatchers" appeared in Collier's magazine in 1954 the effect it would have on the world of movies.

Invasion is the fourth time the story was adapted for the silver screen. It first made the leap to celluloid with 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and was remade in 1978, 1994 and now 2007.

The main crux of the story, aliens land on Earth and slowly take replace the human race, is a timeless one that resonates with any generation. It taps into human's fear of change, both personal and to the world around them. Especially, it connects with the fear that such change is beyond our control. That fear will most likely never go away. So more "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" adaptation are destined to come.

Outside of it's lineage, this particular adaptation is interesting for many other reasons. One, the studio, after seeing an early version of the film, called for on rewrites by the Wachowski Brothers (of Matrix fame) and the rewritten scenes were reshot by Wachowski associate James McTigue (director of V for Vendetta). This kind of reworking usually is a sign of trouble and, in most cases, the movie suffers for it.

Two, Nicole Kidman, an Aussie, and Daniel Craig, a Brit, put on American accents for the movie. It is always interesting to see actors from other English speaking countries try to sound American Finally, Kidman and Craig will reunite later this year for The Golden Compass.

3. The Last Legion (2,000 Theaters, Rated PG-13): Another story that has been brought to movie screens repeatedly is the King Arthur legend. From 1963's The Sword and the Stone to 1975's Monty Pyhton and the Holy Grail to 1981's Excalibur to 1995's First Knight to 2004's King Arthur, the story of the legendary King of the Britons has been a Hollywood favorite.

The reason for its popularity? Probably because of the way the legend can bear and encourage a wide variety of interpretations. Just looking at the list above you can see that the tale is just as at home in family fare as it is in comedy, in romance as it is in action.

This latest installment ties the legend into that of the Roman Empire in a story that focuses on the quest for the legendary sword Excalibur.

From the trailers, the film appears to be a little of Lord of the Rings mixed together with a bit of HBO's Rome series. I can't say if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

Unfortunately, iFilm does not give me the option of embedding the trailer. If you want to take a look at it, you can see the preview here.

Now, on to my predictions, starting with last week. This is what I thought that weekend's top 5 would look like:

1. Rush Hour 3
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
3. The Simpsons Movie
4. Stardust
5. Underdog

And this is how it turned out:

1. Rush Hour 3
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
3. The Simpsons Movie
4. Stardust
5. Hairspray

4 for 5! Underdog faded faster and farther than I thought it would, darn it! That makes me 42 for 75 after 15 weeks, with an accuracy percentage of 56%

How do I think this weekend will look?

1. Superbad
2. Invasion
3. Rush Hour 3
4. The Bourne Ultimatum
5. The Simpsons Movie

I think the mix of marketing, the creators involved, and the popularity of that type of story with make Superbad the number one movie this weekend. I think the acting and new approach will make Invasion hop over a falling Rush Hour 3 for the second spot. What do you think?

Bill

1. Rush Hour 3 (3,000+ Theaters): The team that took the buddy film, to a whole other level is back.

Why? Well, because they really didn't have much anything else to do.

Rush Hour 3 - Trailer

LAPD detective James Carter and Chinese Chief Inspector Lee travel to Paris to battle a wing of the Chinese organized crime family, the Triads.

2. Stardust (2,300 Theaters): The recent trend in Hollywood of looking to comics for adaptation fodder has meant some of the greatest authors comics contain have got some valuable screen time.

Stardust - Trailer

Posted Apr 03, 2007

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm.

Daddy Day Care, the prequel to this movie, was a surprise hit for Eddie Murphy and kind of set him on the road to becoming a family movie star. There is a lot of money to be made in family fare these days. And if this movie is successful, Cuba could become a marketable actor in the genre.

That being said, Murphy passed on this film. That is a baaad sign, especially when you know that Murphy didn't pass on the Adventures of Pluto Nash, one of the worst movies of all time. Heck, Jeff Garvin didn't even return! And it's not like that guy has a boatload of movie offers to choose from.

Judging from the preview, it looks like the downward spiral will continue. I weep for Cuba Gooding, Jr.. But not much, because no one forced him to follow up his Oscar Winning role with Snow Dogs or Boat Trip.

Daddy Day Camp - Trailer

A kid-harried dad is put in charge of a summer day camp.

4. Skinwalkers (650 Theaters): Personally, I don't consider 650 theaters to be wide release, but Box Office Mojo does, and that's good enough for me.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a werewolf movie. It seems like once a year, Hollywood brings out a werewolf movie hoping that it will catch on like the zombie movies or vampire flicks have. To date, it hasn't worked.

Sure, we had American Werewolf in London, which was horror mixed with great special effects and a dose of humor,Teen Wolf, which was a comedy, Wolf, which was more drama than horror, Underworld, which was vampires versus werewolves, and the more traditional Howling, but nothing that caught on in a big way. Sure, most of the above had sequels. But you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a zombie movie. Werewolf movies are less prevalent.

This one doesn't seem to be the one to change things. The plot involves two groups on werewolves fighting over a boy who could be the future of their kind.

By the way, I think Skinwalkers is a damn silly title for a movie. I just do.

Skinwalkers - Trailer

Two sects of werewolves battle one another for control of a child, half-human/half-wolf who has the power to end their curse.

So, how do I think the Top 5 will look like this week?

1. Rush Hour 3
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
3. The Simpsons Movie
4. Stardust
5. Underdog

I wish that Stardust would do better, but I believe that there is a chance that it might not even crack the top 5. I think Skinwalkers and Daddy Day Camp have little or no chance to break in.

This is what I predicted:

1. The Bourne Ultimatum.
2. The Simpsons Movie
3. Hot Rod
4. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
5. Underdog.

This is how it turned out

1. The Bourne Ultimatum
2. The Simpsons Movie
3. Underdog
4. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

It does my heart good to see that while I was only 3 for 5, that the Brats movie was nowhere near the top 5 and Underdog got some more love.

So, that brings my overall total up to 41 for 75 with an average of .546 after 15 weeks. 

1. The Bourne Ultimatum (3,500+ Theaters): When I first heard that Matt Damon was going to play a secret agent, I mocked. He didn't really fit the secret agent type. But then again, he was playing a role originated on TV by Richard Chamberlain.

Of course, the Bourne Identity film changed all that. Damon was truly impressive, in my opinion, during that movie, especially performing the action sequences.

I guess I wasn't the only one that was impressed because here we are, with the second sequel to that original movie.

I have yet to see the Bourne Supremacy, but this film seems to carry over a lot of the plot elements from that movie, judging at their respective trailers. His former bosses go after him, he goes after them, etc. I'm sure there's more than that, but that is what it looks like.

The Bourne Ultimatum - Trailer

In the new chapter of this espionage series, Bourne will hunt down his past in order to find a future.

2. Underdog (2,800 Theaters): For those of you uninitiated out there, allow me to tell you about a trend I have seen about other medium adaptations such as Underdog.

No matter what idiom movies take from, be it comics (Batman, X-Men), books (Harry Potter, Nancy Drew) or TV shows (Dukes of Hazzard, Underdog), and no matter how great of pains the creators go to to protect the spirit of the project their adapting, most fans of the original will not be happy.

In this internet age, nothing sets off message board posters quite like when movie makers change something about the comic, book or TV show they love so much.

I have to admit that I am equally to blame when it comes to comic book movies. But I am a little more lenient than some people. I understand that movies are different from comics and some changes need to be made.

But there are a lot of Underdog fans out there that are up in arms about this movie, complaining about every thing from the CGI to the changes to the story.

I grew up watching Underdog but I thought the trailer was fun and a riot. Heck, you have Peter Dinklage as Simon Barsinister! How can that not be good?

Underdog - Teaser

Posted Feb 16, 2007

A bumbling watchdog, who seems to be more-or-less a beagle, gets exposed to a substance that gives him the powers of a superhero. He is adopted by a 12-year-old boy and uses his superpower to protect his love and the citizens of Capitol City from the evil Simon Barsinister.

3. Hot Rod (2,500 Theaters): I have to admit, I knid of admire Andy Samberg on a number of fronts.

I admire his daringness with his humor on Saturday Night Live. He might not always be funny (although I will stand behind the fact that "Lazy Sunday" is one of the funniest thing to come from SNL in years), but he is always taking chances.

I also have to admire his meteoric rise. He just joined the cast of SNL, what, two years ago? And now he's the lead in his own summer movie? That's impressive.

Hot Rod seems to be a movie in the Will Ferrell/not-so-smart hero comedy genre, with Samberg cast as a younger Ferrell.

Problem with this is that the old Will Ferrell is still around and doing these types of movies. And doing them well, if you are a fan of the genre. So, Samberg would have to bring something new to the table to separate him from the master.

Hot Rod - Trailer #2

Posted Jun 28, 2007

Amateur stuntman Rod Kimble has a problem--his step-father Frank is a jerk. Frank picks on Rod, tosses him around like a rag doll in their weekly sparring sessions, and definitely doesn't respect him, much less his stunts. But when Frank falls ill, it's up to Rod to stage the jump of his life in order to save his step-father. The plan: Jump 15 buses, raise the money for Frank's heart operation, and then--kick his ass.

4. Bratz (1,700+ Theaters): And then there's this one.
For those of you who don't know, Bratz is a doll line. Not that I'm and expert, but they are notable for their grossly misshapen heads on tiny little bodies.

Apparently, after conquering the world of Saturday Morning computer generated cartoons, they are head to the live-action big screen.

And the world silently weeps.

I know I am nowhere near the target audience. But the trailer alone is enough to make me possibly vote this movie the worst movie of the entire year.

The plot, if you can call it that, seems to be the tale of four friends from Junior High school who find themselves forced into different cliques. The clique's designation, name and lunchroom seating charts, along with newbie clique assignment, are all controlled by one blonde evil nasty girl. Our four heroes rebell and make the clique Nazi's life a living heck.

That is at least what I got from the trailer. The actual movie might be even more unrealistic.

Bratz: The Movie trailer

The live-action adventure based on the popular dolls of the same name! Follow Jade, Yasmin, Sasha, and Cloe as they make their way through Carey Nation High proving that fashion rules, and friendship is forever! In theaters August 10th.

I hope, wish and pray that the Bratz movie is nowhere near the top 5.

Another bad week for Bill. This is what I predicted:

1. The Simpsons Movie
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
4. No Reservations
5. Hairspray

This is how it turned out.

1. The Simpsons Movie
2. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
4. Hairspray
5. No Reservations

I guess the rest of America doesn't share my wish that Chuck and Larry would just go away.

I am now 38 for 70 with an average of .542

Simpsons

1. The Simpsons Movie (3,922 Theaters): I am of mixed opinions on this. I love the Simpsons. Love love love the Simpsons. I have yet to jump on the "the Simpsons have been going downhill for the last several years" bandwagon. All I know is that when I tune in, I get a chuckle or two out of the show.

That being said, I have my doubts about the movie. Like, how will it be different than the TV show? From what I heard, there will be some Bart nudity. And, frankly, that will not be enough for me.

It not like other TV to Movie adaptations where you have a bigger budget which means bigger sets, special effects and locations. The Simpsons is animated. Drawing France on the big screen costs no more or less than drawing France on the little screen.

I will probably go to see it. And it has recieved a 81% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.   Which is a good thing.

The plot has been kept secret and none of the previews that I saw have given much a hint. The IMDB page for the movie says that the plot involves Homer dumping nuclear waste into Springfield's river, causing the town to possibly have to relocate. Oh, and that Tom Hanks plays himself in the movie.

No reservations

2. No Reservations (2,425 Theaters): This is weird. An Oscar Winner (Zeta-Jones), an Oscar nomineee (Abigail Breslin) and a Golden Globe Nominee (Eckhart) in a little piffle of a romantic comedy.

Not only is this film a remake of a German film (Mostly Martha) but the entire concept is not original. A high-powered business woman is forced to take care of a child, and love develops while she struggles in her guardianship role? Wasn't this essentially the plot of Baby Boom?

But I do like the actors involved. Zeta-Jones hasn't done much since winning the Oscar, but I think that she's a good actress. Eckhart has been good in everything I've seen him in so far (can't wait to see him in The Dark Knight). And Breslin held her own in Little Miss Sunshine.

Unfortunately, reviewers have not been kind to the flick. Rotten Tomatoes has it at only 44% positive. And even the good reviews don't gush over it. They call it "nice" and "simple". Not a ringing endorsement by any means.

I know who killed me

3. I Know Who Killed Me (1,200+ Theaters): And then there's this one. Poor Lindsay Lohan. If getting pulled over chasing the mother of your personal assistant while drunk and having cocaine in your pocket wasn't bad enough, your latest movie, which opens the same week, wasn't even submitted to be reviewed. That is a very, very bad sign.

You know, I have a little bit more sympathy for Lindsay than I do for Paris. Because Lindsay has a modicum of talent and a boatload of potential, which she is just throwing away.

That doesn't mean that her antics this week will in anyway help her movie at all. Not that we really know all that much about it.

All I know is that she plays a stripper in the film. Which, if she wasn't a total wreck, might have been enough to draw the horny frat boys in. The confusing story deals with her escaping from a serial killer, presumed to be another person, but the real person is still in danger.

If that sentence didn't make sense to you, sorry. But I really can't be bother trying to explain it more.

Who's your caddy

 4. Who's Your Caddy? (1, 019 Theaters): Here's something that might tragically become a trend. Let's take a classic 1980's comedy (say, like, Caddyshack) insert an ethic group (say, like, African-Americans) and rerelease it as a new movie with a slightly sterotypical name (say, like, Who's Your Caddy?).

I mean, basically, what this film is, with Big Boi playing the Rodney Dangerfield part.

I mean, the spirit is the same, the underdog dealing with prejudice from the rich elite and overcoming, only this time with poor upbringing being replaced by skin color. But that doesn't excuse the lack of originality.

 What's next? Will "Meatballs" turn into "Crunk Camp"? "Police Academy" into "Fuzz-izzle for Shizzile"? "Ghostbusters" into "I Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts?"

People criticize Hollywood for a lack of originality, with all the adaptations from novels, TV shows and comics. Not to mention the trend for sequels and remakes, which Who's Your Caddy essentially is. This movie makes me think those critics might have a point.

So, how do I think the top five will look like?

1. The Simpsons Movie
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
4. No Reservations
5. Hairspray

I think the Simpsons will be on top when it's all said and done. I think Harry will sneak past Chuck and Larry. I think No Reservations will have enough to make the top five and I Know Who Killed Me and Who's Your Caddy? will be way out of the top 5, if not out of the top 10.