Dragonlord's 2015 Movie Guide

[BayAreaGuy]

Black Mass

This is one of those movies where it's exactly as advertised. What you see is what you get. It's dark & gritty. It also doesn't sugar coat the violence. The story telling with the directing & script is also very well done. It's one of those movies that takes you behind the scenes of a crime operation.

Depp does a great job as Bulger. And Joel Edegerton delivers yet another top notch performance in recent years.

8.5/10

Go see it.

For reference, this is kind of like Mystic River meets the style & flashiness of Scorsese.

 

[Bonos]

I saw Pawn Sacrifice last year, it's pretty solid, but I don't know anything about chess. Liev Schreiber is good in it.

I didn't like Z for Zachariah, The Turbo Kid or Demolition.

 

[pinkybrief]

Got to punch a tree after watching Everest to restore my manhood

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Weekend Box Office:

MAZE RUNNER 2 No. 1 With $30M; BLACK MASS Scores $23M

Fox's YA film adaptation Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials won the North American box-office race with $30.3 million from 3,796 theaters, while Johnny Depp's violent crime drama Black Mass delivered the actor a needed win with $23.4 million from 3,186 locations as awards season gets underway. Scorch Trials came in just behind the first film, which debuted to $32.5 million on the same weekend a year ago.

From Warner Bros., Black Mass, starring Depp as infamous Boston's Irish-American mobster Whitey Bulger, is counting on a long run throughout awards season. Depp, who stars opposite Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch, needed to make a strong showing after suffering a string of box-office disappointments, including Mortdecai and The Lone Ranger.

Black Mass competed with Baltasar Kormakur's adventure Everest for males. In an unusual rollout, Everest only debuted in 545 Imax and premium large-format theaters a week ahead of its nationwide launch. Placing No. 5, the action-adventure film grossed $7.6 million for a location average of $13,867.

Paramount also entered the fray this weekend with faith-based drama Captive, starring David Oyelowo and Kate Mara (the studio acquired the film this spring after working with Oyelowo on Selma). Captive is only playing in 806 theaters, earning an estimated $1.5 million and putting it at No. 10.


Box Office: 'Maze Runner' Sequel No. 1 With $30.3M; 'Black Mass' Scores $23.4M

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2

Release Date: Sep. 25 (Wide Release)

Genre: Animated Family Comedy

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky (Hotel Transylvania)

Cast: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Mel Brooks, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, and Fran Drescher

Synopsis: The Drac pack is back for an all-new monster comedy adventure in Sony Pictures Animation's Hotel Transylvania 2! Everything seems to be changing for the better at Hotel Transylvania... Dracula's rigid monster-only hotel policy has finally relaxed, opening up its doors to human guests. But behind closed coffins, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn't showing signs of being a vampire. So while Mavis is busy visiting her human in-laws with Johnny - and in for a major cultural shock of her own - "Vampa" Drac enlists his friends Frank, Murray, Wayne and Griffin to put Dennis through a "monster-in-training" boot camp. But little do they know that Drac's grumpy and very old, old, old school dad Vlad is about to pay a family visit to the hotel. And when Vlad finds out that his great-grandson is not a pure blood - and humans are now welcome at Hotel Transylvania - things are going to get batty!

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Rotten Tomatoes: 45% Approval Rating (20 out of 44 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Hotel Transylvania 2 is marginally better than the original, which may or may not be enough of a recommendation to watch 89 minutes of corny, colorfully animated gags from Adam Sandler and company.
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THE INTERN

Release Date: Sep. 25 (Wide Release)

Genre: Comedy

Director: Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, What Women Want)

Cast: Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Adam DeVine, Rene Russo, Nat Wolff, Snopp Dogg, Reid Scott

Synopsis: Starting a new job can be a difficult challenge, especially if you're already retired. Looking to get back into the game, 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) seizes the opportunity to become a senior intern at an online fashion site. Ben quickly becomes popular with his younger co-workers, including Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), the boss and founder of the company. Whittaker's charm, wisdom and sense of humor help him develop a special bond and growing friendship with Jules.




Rotten Tomatoes: 56% Approval Rating (52 out of 93 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: The Intern doesn't do enough with its timely premise, but benefits from the unorthodox chemistry of its talented leads.
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THE GREEN INFERNO

Release Date: Sep. 25 (Wide Release)

Genre: Horror

Director: Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever, Knock Knock)

Cast: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Daryl Sabara, Kirby Bliss Blanton, and Aaron Burns

Synopsis: New York college student Justine (Lorenza Izzo), a lawyer's daughter, meets a student activist named Alejandro (Ariel Levy) when he goes on a hunger strike on behalf of underpaid janitors. Smitten, Justine agrees to help Alejandro undertake his next project: to save the Amazon. She soon learns to regret her decision when their plane crashes in the Peruvian jungle and she and the rest of their group are taken captive by a tribe of hungry cannibals.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 39% Approval Rating (17 out of 44 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: The Green Inferno may not win writer-director Eli Roth many new converts, but fans of his flair for gory spectacle should find it a suitably gruesome diversion.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

99 HOMES

Release Date: Sep. 25 (Limited Release)

Genre: Drama

Director: Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart)

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern, Tim Guinee, Noah Lomax, and Clancy Brown

Synopsis: Set amidst the backdrop of the 2008 housing market catastrophe, Dennis Nash, a hard-working and honest man, can't save his family home despite his best efforts. Thrown to the streets with alarming precision by real estate shark Mike Carver, Dennis, out of work and luck, is given a unique opportunity - to join Carver's crew and put others through the harrowing ordeal done to him in order to earn back what's his. Delicately training his eye on the rigorous details, the reliably astute Ramin Bahrani imbues his characters with icy complexity to achieve his compassionate portrait of a man whose integrity has become ensnared within an all-too-relevant American crisis. With precision and care, Bahrani's provocative character study applies all the cinematic tools at his disposal to explore the ethical dilemma at the heart of man's struggle to reach higher - by whatever means necessary.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Approval Rating (47 out of 52 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Fueled by powerful acting and a taut, patiently constructed narrative, 99 Homes is a modern economic parable whose righteous fury is matched by its intelligence and compassion.
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MISSISSIPPI GRIND

Release Date: Sep. 25 (Limited Release)

Genre: Drama

Director: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson)

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Ben Mendelsohn, Sienna Miller, Alfre Woodard, Robin Weigert, Analeigh Tipton,

Synopsis: Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is a talented poker player, but his gambling habit is getting the best of him. One day, he meets a charismatic young traveler named Curtis (Ryan Reynolds). Deeming Curtis his lucky charm, Gerry convinces him that they should hit the road together. As they gamble their way down South toward a legendary high-stakes poker game in New Orleans, the trip's highs and lows unveil the duo's true character and motivation, and an undeniable bond forms between them.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Approval Rating (34 out of 38 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Well-acted and steeped in Southern atmosphere, Mississippi Grind is a road movie and addiction drama that transcends each of its well-worn genres.
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STONEWALL

Release Date: Sep. 25 (Limited Release)

Genre: Historical Drama

Director: Roland Emmerich (White House Down, 2012, The Day After Tomorrow)

Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Jonny Beauchamp, Caleb Landry Jones, Joey King, Karl Glusman, Vlademir Alexis, Alexandre Nachi, Matt Craven, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Ron Perlman

Synopsis: Stonewall is a drama about a fictional young man caught up during the 1969 Stonewall riots. Danny Winters (Jeremy Irvine) is forced to leave behind friends and loved ones when he is kicked out of his parent’s home and flees to New York. Alone in Greenwich Village, homeless and destitute, he befriends a group of street kids who soon introduce him to the local watering hole The Stonewall Inn; however, this shady, mafia-run club is far from a safe-haven. As Danny and his friends experience discrimination, endure atrocities and are repeatedly harassed by the police, we see a rage begin to build. This emotion runs through Danny and the entire community of young gays, lesbians and drag queens who populate the Stonewall Inn and erupts in a storm of anger. With the toss of a single brick, a riot ensues and a crusade for equality is born.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 9% Approval Rating (5 out of 56 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: As an ordinary coming-of-age drama, Stonewall is merely dull and scattered -- but as an attempt to depict a pivotal moment in American history, it's offensively bad.
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THE KEEPING ROOM

Release Date: Sep. 25 (Limited Release)

Genre: Western Drama Thriller

Director: Daniel Brown (Harry Brown, The Tonto Woman)

Cast: Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld, Muna Otaru, Sam Worthington, Amy Nuttall, Ned Dennehy

Synopsis: In this radically reimagined American Western set towards the end of the Civil War, Southerner Augusta encounters two renegade, drunken soldiers who are on a mission of pillage and violence. After escaping an attempted assault, Augusta races back to the isolated farmhouse that she shares with her sister Louise and their female slave Mad. When the pair of soldiers track Augusta down intent on exacting revenge, the trio of women are forced to take up arms to fend off their assailants, finding ways to resourcefully defend their home--and themselves--as the escalating attacks become more unpredictable and relentless.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 65% Approval Rating (20 out of 31 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Aided by its spare setting and committed performances, The Keeping Room is just fascinatingly off-kilter enough to overcome its frustrating stumbles.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Expanding nationwide - Everest

Spoiler

EVEREST

Release Date: Sep. 18 (Wide Release)

Genre: True Story Adventure Thriller

Director: Baltasar Kormákur (2 Guns, Contraband)

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, John Hawkes, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, Clive Standen, Martin Hendersen, Elizabeth Debicki, Thomas M. Wright, Michael Kelly

Synopsis: Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.




Rotten Tomatoes: 72% Approval Rating (74 out of 103 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Everest boasts all the dizzying cinematography a person could hope to get out a movie about mountain climbers, even if it's content to tread less challenging narrative terrain.

Expanding to 60 theaters - Sicario
(Expands nationwide next week)

Spoiler

SICARIO

Release Date: Sep. 18 (Limited Release)

Genre: Crime Drama Thriller

Director: Denis Villeneuve (Enemy, Prisoners, Incendies)

Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan, Maximiliano Hernandez

Synopsis: In the lawless border area stretching between the U.S. and Mexico, an idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by an elite government task force official (Josh Brolin) to aid in the escalating war against drugs. Led by an enigmatic consultant with a questionable past (Benicio Del Toro), the team sets out on a clandestine journey forcing Kate to question everything that she believes in order to survive.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Approval Rating (36 out of 39 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Led by outstanding work from Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro, Sicario is a taut, tightly wound thriller with much more on its mind than attention-getting set pieces.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Weekend Box Office:

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 Sets September Record With $47.5M

The Drac Pack appears to be the new owner of the September box office as Hotel Transylvania 2 has followed in the footsteps of its 2012 predecessor and set a new September opening weekend record. In fact, it was a pretty good weekend all around for newcomers as Nancy Meyers has another solid opening on her hands, Eli Roth and BH Tilt scored good numbers with The Green Inferno and a selection of limited releases managed strong numbers on just a few screens. Overall the weekend was up 29.8% from last year, but when you're breaking records that will happen.

Hotel Transylvania 2 topped its predecessor, and previous September opening weekend record holder, by almost $5 million with an estimated weekend haul totaling $47.5 million. From Friday to Sunday the animated film, featuring the voice of Adam Sandler as Dracula, bested its predecessor every day and, with an "A-" CinemaScore (same as the first film), it will likely enjoy a similar week-to-week drop-off.

In second was The Intern, the new Nancy Meyers film starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, which scored an "A-" CinemaScore and an estimated $18.2 million for the weekend. The result is the second best opening for a Meyers film out of her last four.

The expansion of Universal's Everest wasn't nearly what was predicted. Universal pushed the film from its limited IMAX and premium large format release last week into an additional 2,461 theaters this weekend where it made an estimated $13 million. The result was enough for a fourth place finish.

One expansion that did end positively was the limited expansion of Lionsgate's Sicario. Adding only 53 theaters after opening in six last weekend, the cartel thriller scored an estimated $1.7 million this weekend, enough for a tenth place finish and strong $30,000 per theater average. Sicario expands nationwide next weekend.

The Green Inferno, the cannibal horror film from Eli Roth, was delayed a year after some distribution trouble. Using a variety of metrics the release depended largely on digital marketing and theaters that were "historically frequented by die-hard horror fans". As a result, the film opened to an estimated $3.49 million.


'Hotel Transylvania 2' Boasts New September Opening Record with $47.5 Million

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

September 29, 2015

Dragonlord's Review of THE MARTIAN (No Spoilers)

Bottom Line: A cross between Gravity and Apollo 13, the smart, breezily entertaining sci-fi film is a celebration of science, man’s ingenuity, and Ridley Scott’s best film in recent years.

Stranded on Mars and left for dead, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) has to overcome insurmountable odds to survive on the harsh and desolate planet in the hopes of being rescued when the next Mars crew arrive four years later. Based on Andy Weir's best-selling novel, The Martian is not only a triumph of man's spirit and ingenuity, it's also the triumphant return of filmmaker Ridley Scott to the sci-fi genre he helped defined (No, Prometheus does not count).

Damon gives a endearing performance as Watney, keeping the audience transfixed and entertained by the tasks he's undertaking as well as from his affable personality. Having Watney narrate his ordeal and plans on a video journal help keeps the audience well-informed. On one hand, Watney being an optimistic, humorus, go-getter, solving one problem after another, helps keep the film movie at a brisk pace. On the other hand, the film loses some emotional impact when the dramatic moments are glossed over as well de-emphasizing the direness of his situation when Watney accomplishes his task in a seemingly easy fashion.

For a movie about a lone person stranded on a planet, The Martian boasts an impressive ensemble cast. From Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover, Mackenzie Davis, to Kristin Wiig, most of the supporting actors give off a memorable turn. And despite being back on Earth and playing somebody with a very safe and cushy job (NASA flight director), Sean Bean's character still managed to die a horrible death.

It is Jessica Chastain that impressed me the most among the support though. Redeeming herself from her mopey and occassionally bratty turn in Interstellar, Chastain is just absolutely radiant in the minor role as the cool and collected Ares III Commander Melissa Lewis. I can easily envision the character leading her own action movie (Alien franchise, Gravity-like survival film, etc.).

As with Prometheus, Scott's costumes, set designs, science and tech details are all excellent. The special and practical effects are immaculate. The film does a great job of interweaving the stories between Watney's plight on Mars and NASA's problem-solving quest and political maneuvering back on Earth. It's an arduous journey that culminates in an emotional, thrilling rescue attempt in the final act.

Rating: 8.5/10

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

THE MARTIAN

Release Date: Oct. 2 (Wide Release)

Genre: Science Fiction Adventure Thriller

Director: Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien, Prometheus)

Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Peña, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Benedict Wong, Mackenzie Davis, Shu Chen, Eddy Ko

Synopsis: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on a best-selling novel, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott.

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Dragonlord's Review: A mixture of Gravity, Castaway and Apollo 13, the smart, breezily entertaining sci-fi film is a celebration of science, man’s ingenuity, and Ridley Scott’s best film in recent years. 8.5/10


Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Approval Rating (190 out of 203 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Smart, thrilling, and surprisingly funny, The Martian offers a faithful adaptation of the bestselling book that brings out the best in leading man Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott.
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THE WALK

Release Date: Sept. 30 (IMAX Release Only)

Genre: Biographical Drama Thriller

Director: Robert Zemeckis (Flight, Back to the Future)

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale, Charlotte Le Bon, Ben Schwartz

Synopsis: Twelve people have walked on the moon, but only one man has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. Guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), and aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, Petit and his gang overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. Robert Zemeckis again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX 3D wizardry, The Walk is true big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds. The film is a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 86% Approval Rating (110 out of 128 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: The Walk attempts a tricky balancing act between thrilling visuals and fact-based drama -- and like its wire-walking protagonist, pulls it off with impressive élan.
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FREEHELD

Release Date: Oct. 2 (Limited Release)

Genre: Biographical Drama

Director: Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist)

Cast: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell, Michael Shannon, Josh Charles, and Luke Grimes

Synopsis: The true love story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree and their fight for justice. A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this. Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells, and activist Steven Goldstein, unite in Laurel and Stacie's defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 53% Approval Rating (19 out of 36 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Freeheld certainly means well, but its cardboard characters and by-the-numbers drama undermine its noble intentions.
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SICARIO

Release Date: Oct. 2 (Expands Nationwide)

Genre: Crime Drama Thriller

Director: Denis Villeneuve (Enemy, Prisoners, Incendies)

Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan, Maximiliano Hernandez

Synopsis: In the lawless border area stretching between the U.S. and Mexico, an idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by an elite government task force official (Josh Brolin) to aid in the escalating war against drugs. Led by an enigmatic consultant with a questionable past (Benicio Del Toro), the team sets out on a clandestine journey forcing Kate to question everything that she believes in order to survive.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Approval Rating (133 out of 143 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Led by outstanding work from Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro, Sicario is a taut, tightly wound thriller with much more on its mind than attention-getting set pieces.

 

[YoungBoyd]

EXPERIMENTER

Genre: Biographical Drama

As someone who took social psychology i must say i look forward to this movie.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Critics' Reviews for Ridley Scott's THE MARTIAN

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Approval Rating (195 out of 208 critics like it)

Consensus: Smart, thrilling, and surprisingly funny, The Martian offers a faithful adaptation of the bestselling book that brings out the best in leading man Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott.

Entertainment Weekly - A-
If you had to boil Ridley Scott’s The Martian down to five words, you could do worse than this: “Matt Damon lost in space.” Thankfully, I have more room than that. And I’m glad I do, because Scott’s sci-fi adventure is the kind of film you leave the theater itching to tell your friends to see. Like Apollo 13 and Gravity, it turns science and problem solving into an edge-of-your-seat experience. It’s a rare blockbuster with the brains to match its budget.


Richard Roeper - 3.5/4
“The Martian” is a hopeful love letter to science and math, American resolve, the power of friendship and the dream of a world in which nations set aside their differences to unite to bring one man home. It’s also a visual stunner, and it features one of our most likable and dependable actors giving a performance that ranks with anything he’s ever done. Damon is terrific. The movie lives and breathes on his performance, and he comes through in every scene.


Rolling Stone - 3.5/4
You won't find a space epic that's more fun to geek out at than The Martian. Director Ridley Scott rediscovers the light touch he's been missing in recent misfires such as Prometheus, The Counselor and Exodus: Gods and Kings. The Martian works you over without a hint of dystopian doom in all of its bracing 142 minutes. This suspenseful survival tale, smartass to its core, slaps a smile on your face that you'll wear all the way home. The Martian is a hell of a joyride.


James Berardinelli - 3.5/4
With the exception of a slightly over-the-top ending, the film mostly avoids the "Hollywood-isms" that sometimes degrade science fiction into futuristic fantasy. Those who crave nonstop action and seizure-promoting editing may find this film's pace too deliberate. They may be unable to appreciate its character focus and slow but undeniable build-up of tension. This is science fiction for sophisticated audiences and, as such, a fulfilling and satisfying experience.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Weekend Box Office:

THE MARTIAN Just Shy of GRAVITY With Powerful $54M Launch

Ridley Scott's 3D space epic The Martian rocketed to a $54.3 million opening in North America, almost beating Gravity to nab the top October opening of all time, according to Sunday estimates. The Martian, costing $108 million to produce, is a critical darling and earned a glowing A CinemaScore from audiences.

The Martian, from 20th Century Fox, continues Hollywood's love affair with space, and comes exactly two years after Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity opened to a record $55.8 million. Last November, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar debuted just north of $47 million. If The Martian does better than expected Sunday, it could come in ahead of Gravity and become the new October record-holder.

The Martian's performance is no small feat considering its running time of 141 minutes (Gravity was 91 minutes), and the fact that it didn't have a berth in Imax theaters. Instead, Imax was committed to an exclusive run of Robert Zemeckis' The Walk starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The Walk, playing in 365 Imax theaters and 83 PLF locations not carrying The Martian, had trouble finding its footing, grossing a meek $1.6 million to come in No. 11 and putting its five-day debut at $2 million. Heading into the weekend, tracking suggested the $35 million film would take in $3 million for the three-day weekend. Sony/TriStar used the exclusive Imax run to highlight the film's 3D format and to build word-of-mouth in advance of The Walk's nationwide opening on Oct. 9.

Elsewhere, Denis Villeneuve's critically acclaimed Sicario expanded nationwide with gusto, grossing $12.1 million from 2,620 theaters to place No. 3 behind The Martian and holdover Hotel Transylvania 2. From Lionsgate, the drug cartel drama nabbed an A- CinemaScore and stars Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin. Sicario took in another $3.3 million internationally for a foreign cume of $10 million and global haul of $25.1 million (its domestic total is $15.1 million).


Box Office Report: 'The Martian' Just Shy of 'Gravity' With Powerful $54.3 Million Launch

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

PAN

Release Date: Oct. 9 (Wide Release)

Genre: Fantasy Family Adventure

Director: Joe Wright (Hanna, Anna Karenina)

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara, Amanda Seyfried, Adeel Akhtar, Jack Charles, Taejoo Na, Nonso Anozie, Kathy Burke, Kurt Egyiawan, Lewis Macdougall, Leni Zieglmeier

Synopsis: Peter (Levi Miller) is a mischievous 12-year-old boy with an irrepressible rebellious streak, but in the bleak London orphanage where he has lived his whole life those qualities do not exactly fly. Then one incredible night, Peter is whisked away from the orphanage and spirited off to a fantastical world of pirates, warriors and fairies called Neverland. There, he finds amazing adventures and fights life-or-death battles while trying to uncover the secret of his mother, who left him at the orphanage so long ago, and his rightful place in this magical land. Teamed with the warrior Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara) and a new friend named James Hook (Garrett Hedlund), Peter must defeat the ruthless pirate Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman) to save Neverland and discover his true destiny—to become the hero who will forever be known as Peter Pan.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 27% Approval Rating (24 out of 90 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Pan finds a few bursts of magic in its prequel treatment of classic characters, though not enough to offset the rushed plot and shrill, CGI-fueled action.
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KNOCK KNOCK

Release Date: Oct. 9 (Limited Release)

Genre: Erotic Suspense Thriller

Director: Eli Roth (Hostel, The Green Inferno)

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana de Armas, Ignacia Allamand, Aaron Burns, Colleen Camp

Synopsis: When a devoted husband and father is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse. A sexy new thriller from director Eli Roth and written for the screen by Eli Roth & Nicolás López & Guillermo Amoedo and story by Anthony Overman and Michael Ronald, KNOCK KNOCK stars Keanu Reeves as the family man who falls into temptation and Lorenza Izzo and Ana de Armas as the seductresses who wreak havoc upon his life, turning a married man's dark fantasy into his worst nightmare.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 38% Approval Rating (16 out of 42 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Knock Knock brings a lot of talent to bear on its satirical approach to torture horror, but not effectively enough to overcome its repetitive story or misguidedly campy tone.
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THE FINAL GIRLS

Release Date: Oct. 9 (Limited Release)

Genre: Horror Comedy

Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas)

Cast: Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Alexander Ludwig, Nina Dobrev, Alia Shawkat, Adam Devine, Angela Trimbur, Chloe Bridges and Thomas Middleditch

Synopsis: When Max (Farmiga) and her friends reluctantly attend a screening of "Camp Bloodbath," an infamous '80s cult horror film that starred Max's late mother (Akerman), they are accidentally sucked into the silver screen. They soon realize they’re trapped inside the movie and must team up with the horny, regan-era idiot "Camp Bloodbath" counselors -- including Max’s mom as the shy scream queen -- to battle the film's machete-wielding killer, Billy Murphy. Face to face with her mother for the first time in years, Max has a second chance not only to see her, but to save her, and with the help of her friends, get back home before Billy kills them all.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 74% Approval Rating (25 out of 34 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: The Final Girls offers an affectionate nod to slasher tropes while adding a surprising layer of genuine emotion to go with the meta amusement.
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TRASH

Release Date: Oct. 9 (Limited Release)

Genre: Adventure Drama Thriller

Director: Stephen Daldry (The Reader, The Hours)

Cast: Rooney Mara, Martin Sheen, Wagner Moura, and Selton Mello

Synopsis: Trash follows three Brazilian street teenagers; Raphael, Gardo, and Rat (Jun-Jun) who spend their time picking through litter in the hope of finding useful waste. One day they discover a wallet whose contents will bring them into conflict with the brutal local police force as they find themselves unlikely whistleblowers in a city rife with corruption. Rather than turn the wallet over to the authorities for a reward, the kids seek the knowledge of a priest, Father Juilliard (Martin Sheen) and an NGO-worker, Olivia (Rooney Mara).

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Rotten Tomatoes: 68% Approval Rating (23 out of 34 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Action-packed, funny, and thought-provoking, Trash finds feel-good cinema in real-life squalor without resorting to cheap sentimentality.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

THE WALK

Release Date: Oct. 9 (Expands Nationwide)

Genre: Biographical Drama Thriller

Director: Robert Zemeckis (Flight, Back to the Future)

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale, Charlotte Le Bon, Ben Schwartz

Synopsis: Twelve people have walked on the moon, but only one man has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. Guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), and aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, Petit and his gang overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. Robert Zemeckis again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX 3D wizardry, The Walk is true big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds. The film is a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 86% Approval Rating (133 out of 155 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: The Walk attempts a tricky balancing act between thrilling visuals and fact-based drama -- and like its wire-walking protagonist, pulls it off with impressive élan.
___________________




99 HOMES

Release Date: Oct. 7 (Expands Nationwide)

Genre: Drama

Director: Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart)

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern, Tim Guinee, Noah Lomax, and Clancy Brown

Synopsis: Set amidst the backdrop of the 2008 housing market catastrophe, Dennis Nash, a hard-working and honest man, can't save his family home despite his best efforts. Thrown to the streets with alarming precision by real estate shark Mike Carver, Dennis, out of work and luck, is given a unique opportunity - to join Carver's crew and put others through the harrowing ordeal done to him in order to earn back what's his. Delicately training his eye on the rigorous details, the reliably astute Ramin Bahrani imbues his characters with icy complexity to achieve his compassionate portrait of a man whose integrity has become ensnared within an all-too-relevant American crisis. With precision and care, Bahrani's provocative character study applies all the cinematic tools at his disposal to explore the ethical dilemma at the heart of man's struggle to reach higher - by whatever means necessary.

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Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Approval Rating (92 out of 103 critics like it)

Critics Consensus: Fueled by powerful acting and a taut, patiently constructed narrative, 99 Homes is a modern economic parable whose righteous fury is matched by its intelligence and compassion.

 

[DSOTM]

Thinking of going to the city for a movie tonight. What to watch? The Martian, Everest, the walks?

Any recommendations?

 

[megamidget]

Everest is an acquired taste. I loved it, but I can see why someone would shit on it. As far as Martian, it looks bland to me but I hear great thing about it...but if you haven't seen Sicario yet, skip everything else and watch that movie nao.

 

[BayAreaGuy]

Thinking of going to the city for a movie tonight. What to watch? The Martian, Everest, the walks?

Any recommendations?

I think I liked Everest a little better. If you liked Apollo 13, check out The Martian.

 

[megamidget]

So I just watched Knock Knock. Well... let's get the obvious out of the way. Yes, they get naked, yes they are insanely hot and yes it's worth seeing it just because of that fact alone. Now the movie it self is nothing to write home about. It's borderline retarded since they have to low ball Keanu's character and use some movie magic and suspension of disbelief on the chicks for this premise to work. Then the end comes and it's super retarded. Zero redeeming quality.

Spoiler

They don't kill him because "it wuz all just a game lulz".

Also...these girls are either the dumbest criminals ever or Keanu banged their brains stupid. They wreck his house, torture him, use his shower, wear his wifes clothes and eat his food. All while leaving finger prints, dna and hair samples all over the damn place. Any half decent cop would figure out Keanu din do nuffin

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

So I just watched Knock Knock. Well... let's get the obvious out of the way. Yes, they get naked, yes they are insanely hot and...

Stopped reading after this. Well, I'm off to the cinemas.

J/k. Thanks for the review (and the warning).