Weekend Movies: Tricks ‘n’ Treats

With Halloween just around the corner, this weekend is like a kid’s pillowcase after a lengthy night of trick-or-treating. It has some new movie releases comparable to a King Size candy bar, some more like the giant orange foam peanut, and a little bit of everything in between.

Personally, the movie that I’m most excited for is the Wachowski’s ‘Cloud Atlas‘. I haven’t seen it yet, but I have IMAX tickets for this evening. The early consensus seems to be that the film is grand and meaty, and will require multiple viewings to fully appreciate. This nearly three-hour opus crosses time to display the rippling effects of love on several reincarnated couples. Starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent and Jim Sturgess, I cannot wait to witness this sci-fi spectacle.

Also opening on 2,000 screens is the family-friendly surfer drama ‘Chasing Mavericks‘. Based on a true story and starring mostly no-name actors (and Gerard Butler), the movie tells the story of persevering 15-year-old surfer Jay Moriarity, a kid who set his sights on riding some of the biggest waves known to man. Sure, it has plenty of Hollywood cheese, but the story is told better than you’d expect.

The widest release of the weekend is ‘Fun Size‘, a teeny-bopper Halloween flick starring Victoria Justice, whoever the hell that is. If it weren’t for Disney Jr. and Cartoon Network playing this TV spot during every commercial break, I wouldn’t have any idea what ‘Fun Size’ is. A teen girl’s Halloween plans are thrown off when she’s forced to babysit her brother. Things get crazy when she loses the kid and sets off to find him on the costume-filled streets. Just reading about this movie is already making me groan.

Opening six years after its flop predecessor is ‘Silent Hill: Revelation‘. Seriously? The first ‘Silent Hill‘ earned $46.9 million domestically on a $50 million budget. How did it get a 3D sequel? And why did the studio wait six years to make it? Any fans of the first one have forgotten about it by now. Honestly, ‘Silent Hill’ was so dumb and pointless that I wouldn’t even consider seeing ‘Revelation’.

After the acclaim of ‘Drive‘, Nicolas Winding Refn is gaining steam. A new crime/thriller that he executive produced is opening on 15 screens this weekend. ‘Pusher‘ tells the story of a London drug dealer who borrows money from his drug lord boss to put towards a sure investment. Of course, things go horribly wrong and he gets deeper and deeper over his head. You may think that this sounds like a rip-off of a Guy Ritchie movie, but it’s actually a remake of Refn’s own 1996 film of the same title.

1 comment

  1. Shayne Blakeley

    I personally really love the first Silent Hill movie, and watch it fairly often. I’m a little apprehensive about the sequel as it seems the only reason to make it would be to take out everything I liked about the first one and make it an easier sell *cough cough 3D cough*

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *