Digital Camcorder Redux

Kung Fu Panda chops Zohan

Congrats to The Strangers for comin in at number 5! Maybe due to my little blog…doubtful, but possible.

As for the major players, Indiana Jones is still alive and kicking with the 3 spot ($23 million). I finally saw it this weekend and was sufficiently pleased. Still, it’s no Last Crusade.


Indiana Jones 4 poster

Number 2 was Adam Sandler’s You Don’t Mess with the Zohan ($40 million), which Pajiba claims stole it’s title from The Big Lebowski. I never thought about that, but it’s not something I wouldn’t put past a studio to do.

And at number 1 is Angelina Jolie’s first blockbuster film of the summer, Kung Fu Panda ($60 million). Granted it’s really Jack Black’s show, but I’d rather focus on her since she annoys me less.

Kung Fu Panda

June 9, 2008   No Comments

Cannes 2008

Indie and big budget films alike premiered today at the distinguished Cannes Festival, including the new Indiana Jones film.

Alas, most of the buzz is about the ever radiant (and pregnant) Angelina Jolie.

Angelina Jolie - April 2008

She attended the festival to support Kung Fu Panda and Clint Eastwood’s Changeling. I’m amazed at how much work this woman does whether acting or crusading for the UN. Perhaps, she’s trying to do all the press now before those twins arrive. Sheesh, six kids? Lucky she’s rich enough to take care of her international brood.

Another highly anticipated movie at the fest is the premiere of Fernando Meirelles’ film, Blindness, starring Julianne Moore, Alice Braga, and Mark Ruffalo.

Trailer Check:

Cannes Fashion sidenote: How awesome did Cate Blanchett look at the premiere? She looks fabulous despite just having a baby four weeks ago. These actresses make losing baby weight so easy…

May 15, 2008   3 Comments

Hi-tech ‘Disturbia’

It took me awhile, but I finally got around to watching Disturbia on HBO. It’s very slow at first, like really slow actually.

Disturbia Poster

For like the first 30 minutes, you just watch Kale (Shia LaBeouf) become more and more frustrated while under house arrest. This boredom supposedly drives him to spy on his neighbors, including the hot girl next door and oh a psycho serial killer! Kale enlists his friend and said hot girl to help him figure out if the neighbor is Ted Bundy or whatever.

Kale apparently becomes MacGuyer overnight and modifies wireless home security receivers to transmit camcorder footage to his computer. No relying on binoculars in this day and age like in Rear Window. Now you got to get hard evidence! Kale can’t do it himself since he’s got the house arrest ankle bracelet problem. Thus, he talks his friend into sneaking into the neighbor’s garage to find a supposed dead body. He monitors his friend in the garage via the JVC camcorder footage being transmitted.

David Morse who plays said neighbor catches winds to all this activity and of course isn’t too pleased. At first, he’s just borderline creepy by mysteriously appearing inside Kale’s house and hitting on his mom. Then, he barges into the hot girl’s car and gives her a not so friendly and unsettling warning that he likes his privacy. But soon enough, he pulls off the mask and tries to kill everyone.

Suffice it to say, it was okay, like a grade B-. I do have to admit that there is something to the LaBeouf charm. It simply wears you down. It’s no wonder it did so well at the box office. Here’s hoping he can get the young-ins to the theater for Indiana Jones 4.

April 17, 2008   No Comments