James Bond Marathon: Casino Royale (2006 film)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 11/23/06 w/ Additional Edits.

Based on Ian Fleming's novel, Casino Royale is the story of James Bond going on the search for a terrorist as he teams up with an accountant during the mission. Directed by Martin Campbell and screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis, the film marks a reboot of sorts for the franchise as it takes Bond back to basics. For the role of James Bond, Daniel Craig takes on the role in his first outing as Agent 007. Also starring Eva Green, Jeffrey Wright, Mads Mikkelsen, Giancarlo Giannini, Caterina Murino, Jesper Christensen, and Judi Dench as M. Casino Royale is a thrilling yet hard-boiled film from Martin Campbell.

After attaining the license to kill as a secret agent for the British government, James Bond is now on his first mission. In Madagascar, Bond is trying to retrieve a message that involves a plot to destroy a new super-plane. After chasing a bomb-maker named Mollaka (Sebastien Foucan) into the city, Bond enters into an embassy where he's been caught on camera killing a man despite a successful mission. Meanwhile in Uganda, a terrorist named Steven Obanno (Issach de Bankole) is talking to Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) about a man he needs to help raise funds for his own group. Mr. White brings in Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) who has been a brilliant, pokers player that often wins with the money going to fund terrorists. Back in the U.K., M is upset over Bond's actions as he tries to find the connection that leads him to a man named Alex Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian) where he goes to the Bahamas. After meeting Dimitrios' wife Solange (Caterina Murino), he gets a clue where Bond goes to Miami to find Dimitrios' plan where he has sent a henchman to try and destroy the super-plane.

Bond succeeds in his mission where M learns that the plot was part of a scheme involving Le Chiffre who plans to play a game in Montenegro. Bond, a skilled pokers player is accompanied by a mysterious accountant named Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) whom he meets on a train. Arriving in Montenegro, they meet up with Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) who decides to help fund Bond in order to beat Le Chiffre. With Lynd posing as his wife, Bond goes into a battle of skills against Le Chiffre where the game becomes intense. With Bond's ego troubling him, so does Lynd's troubling emotions after an attack that involved Le Chiffre in conjunction with Obanno. Losing money, Bond unexpectedly gets help from CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) who helps fund Bond with his money as the game becomes more challenging. Despite being poisoned by Le Chiffre's henchwoman Valenka (Ivana Milicevic) and nearly dies from it, Bond succeeds with Vesper's help.

With Vesper warming up to him, things seem to go great until she was kidnaped as Bond tries to rescue her. Instead, he and Lynd gets captured by Le Chiffre into wanting to know the password to his account. Bond refuses where after being tortured, he was saved all of a sudden as he and Lynd settle some deals and Bond has fallen for her. It is at that moment, Bond has thoughts of giving up his role as an agent only to realize that he can never quit where he is forced to face tragedy and everything that requires to be a 00 agent.

The problem with some franchises, especially in the James Bond franchise, is that they tend to have cliches and everything else that follows a formula. Fortunately for this film, many of those cliches and formulaic ideas expected from Bond are thrown out of the table. While there's still Bond making out with fine women, tension with M, and doing all of the action stuff that he's done. What isn't there is some of the catchy one-liners (except for the famous one), gadgets, Moneypenny, swagger, or anything that can be considered parody. Instead, director Martin Campbell and his screenwriters went back to the old-school Bond and going more into text of its novelist, Ian Fleming. The result is old-school Bond with more action, more background story on him, more of his flaws, and how he became the 007 that audiences came to know and love.

While writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have added elements of action and humor to their previous work with Bond films, the duo strayed away from the silliness and everything else that would've made the film predictable. The major factor into the script is Paul Haggis who adds not just a sense of psychological drama but also the reality that Bond is actually human with some flaws as he learns on what it takes to be a 00 agent. Particularly in the relationship between Bond and Vesper Lynd that is filled with some sexual tension that becomes something more emotional as their relationship develops. The result is a fantastic script created by the trio of Purvis, Wade, and Haggis that brings enough depth and entertainment.

Returning to the franchise is GoldenEye director Martin Campbell who definitely uses the script to broader, fresh territory after the recent action-driven Bond films. With locations in Africa, the Bahamas, Miami, London, Venice, and Montenegro, Campbell definitely brings a more worldly presentation to the franchise while letting the drama and tension unfold for all the characters. While some of the humor often comes in Bond's tense relationship with M, Campbell definitely restrains himself by going more into a balance of intense, dramatic sequences and fantastic action sequences. While the card-playing scenes might feel like it slows the film down, it works to add the tense feel of Bond and Le Chiffre. Then there's the action scenes where the film starts off with a band of how Bond got his 00 status in a black-and-white sequence where he beats a man up in a bathroom and then killing another man. With some stuff done in handheld cameras, the action is definitely more engaging with some great stunt work and action sequences to give the feeling that its energetic and realistic at the same time while showing Bond actually going through some pain in some of those sequences. The result is a very tight, ass-kicking action film where Bond is badass.

Helping Campbell in his presentation is cinematographer Phil Meheux whose flashy colors in some of the film's night, exterior settings brings a dark mood to the film while some of the sunlight settings are wonderfully shot with the interiors, notably the opening sequence is wonderful with its grainy, handheld camera work that adds a new style to the Bond franchise. Production designer Peter Lamont and his team of art directors definitely add new style to the franchise with some flashy looks for the Bahamas sequences as well as the Montenegro setting with some sheer, icy look for the hotel room. The cars also play a role to the film and they definitely look cool. Costume designer Lindy Hemming definitely goes for a more classic style with the tuxedo along with some amazing dresses for Eva Green to wear in which, she looks very beautiful. The opening credit sequence for Bond by Daniel Kleinman definitely plays up to the card game scenario with some fine visual effects by Angela Barson.

Editor Stuart Baird does some wonderful cutting, notably the action sequences where it isn't too fast or extremely quick like most action films. Baird cuts it right to the point where the audience knows what's going on while other sequences, there's long cuts and perspective cuts that indeed work to give the film a nice pace to everything that goes on. Sound editor Eddy Joseph definitely plays up the intensity of the sound with nice design on the action sequences which are layered with a lot of sounds and the way it's mixed to the music from composer David Arnold. Arnold returns to the orchestral world of John Barry by adding dreamier arrangements for some of the film's romantic moments while more brooding notes in the dramatic scenes. Arnold also goes for some wonderfully screeching, intense music for the action scenes that works with the old arrangements that Barry did in previous Bond films with the theme from Monty Norman. Finally, there's the song You Know My Name by Chris Cornell where mixed with Arnold's musical score, the song is definitely one of the more rock-driven tracks that adds punch and power that hasn't been heard since the classic Paul McCartney song Live And Let Die.

Then there's the film's cast that's definitely less-star driven and has more to do with real actors. While actresses Ivana Milicevic and Caterina Murino don't have much but to look sexy and play their respective world as Bond henchwoman and Bond Girl, they do bring charm to their roles. Issach de Bankole, Sebastian Foucan, and Simon Abkarian are excellent as henchmen of sorts for Le Chiffre with de Bankole bringing an intimidating presence as Steven Obanno while Foucan is great for his action running, and Abkarian is more sly as Alex Dimitrios. Jesper Christensen also brings a complexity to his role as Mr. White in how he plays things while making sure that Le Chiffre does his job. Giancarlo Giannini is great as the complex, charming Mathis who is careful for Lynd's behavior while having some motives that is more about financial than personal. While Jeffrey Wright doesn't have much to do, he is good as Felix Leiter in how he helps Bond and being a smooth, American agent who knows that America isn't all that. Judi Dench remains at the top of her game as the irritable M with her authoritive personality and her love-hate relationship with Bond as she and Craig are great with the tense relationship they bring.

Mads Mikkelsen is excellent as the brooding Le Chiffre who brings a different personality than most Bond villians where he sheds a bloody tear and carries a respirator. Mikkelsen adds a lot of intelligence to his character that has a knowledge of numbers and knows how to play poker while proving that he can be menacing in a torture scene as it's a great role for the Danish actor. For anyone that wants to become a leading Bond girl, they will have to step up in their game as Eva Green gives a fantastic performance as Vesper Lynd. The French actress, who had recently made her film debut in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers in 2003 while appearing in the good but flawed 2005 Ridley Scott epic Kingdom of Heaven, definitely adds a new sense of beauty and depth that hasn't been seen from Bond girls in recent years. In fact, Green is more of a Bond woman who is more emotionally troubled and complex in her role where her motives are very ambiguous. While Green can play pretty and be sexy, she shows her worth in just being one of the rare women who can stand up to Bond and make sure he does things right. It's a great role from Eva Green who definitely has more promise than most of Bond girls from the past.

Ok, for anyone who enjoys the cock-sure swagger of Piece Brosnan, the brooding nature of Timothy Dalton, or the humorous vibe of Roger Moore. They're going to have to go because Daniel Craig is now James Bond. While purists may feel that Sean Connery may own the role, Craig's Bond is more of a badass. The man can take hits, show cuts and bruises, and will break his own body to get the job done. Daniel Craig is also a better actor than his Bond contemporaries, that includes Connery, by showing more flaws and emotions to his role. Craig also displays the kind of arrogance and charm that Bond has but he's more into his own in the way he displays himself dramatically while he's a real fighter in the film's action sequences. Plus for the ladies, he is also very sexy where he also makes a sexy entrance from the beach sporting some speedos and looking very good for a man's man. This is a new James Bond and Daniel Craig has what it takes to be 007.

Casino Royale is an incredible film from Martin Campbell that features a towering performance from Daniel Craig as James Bond. Along with a wonderful supporting cast that includes Eva Green, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Mads Mikkelsen, and Judi Dench. It's a film that definitely stands as one of the best films of the Bond franchises. Notably as it brings Bond back down to Earth after a period of misguided silliness. In the end, Casino Royale is a magnificent film from Martin Campbell.

James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia with Love - Goldfinger - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Diamonds are Forever - Live and Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - GoldenEye - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Quantum of Solace - Skyfall - SPECTRE - No Time to Die

Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again

Bond Documentaries: Bond Girls are Forever - True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007

© thevoid99 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: GoldenEye

Based on the stories of Ian Fleming, GoldenEye is the story of James Bond going up against an old 00 agent from destroying London with a satellite weapon. Directed by Martin Campbell and screenplay by Michael France, Jeffrey Caine, Kevin Wade, and Bruce Feirstein from a story by France. The film marks James Bond return to the big screen following a six-year hiatus due to legal disputes as playing the role of Bond is Irish actor Pierce Brosnan. Also starring Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupo, Famke Janssen, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cumming, Tcheky Kayro, Joe Don Baker, Desmond Llewnlyn, Samantha Bond, and Judi Dench as M. GoldenEye is an exhilarating yet fun film from Martin Campbell.

On a trip to Monte Carlo, James Bond follows a mysterious woman named Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) who is rumored to be part of a secret crime syndicate called Janus. Bond tracks her down as she had just killed an admiral to steal a helicopter that can withstand electromagnetic pulse. The helicopter arrives at a Russian bunker where Onatopp and General Ourumov (Gottfried John) kill the people at a satellite command station to take control of a satellite known as GoldenEye that can destroy locations with an electromagnetic pulse. Witnessing this is a computer programmer named Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupo) as she hides from the massacre and manages to survive the collapse of the building. Bond is asked by M to investigate the matter as he travels to St. Petersburg to find out more about Janus.

With the help of CIA agent Jack Wade, Bond meets an old adversary in Russian mafia head Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) who decides to help Bond by setting up a meeting between Bond and Janus. After an encounter with Onatopp, Bond finally gets to meet the head of Janus as it’s revealed to be former 00 agent Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) who Bond thought was killed in a mission they took part in nine years ago. Trevelyan with help of Onatopp and Ourumov trap Bond in the helicopter that was stolen as Bond and Simonova manage to escape as they’re eventually captured by Russian authorities as they meet Russian defense minister Dimitri Mishkin (Tcheky Kayro) where Bond reveals what’s going on.

Ourumov would end up causing trouble as he takes Simonova leading to a chase as Bond boards Trevelyan’s train where Bond has another confrontation with Trevelyan. After another escape with Simonova, the two travel to Cuba to stop Trevelyan from using the GoldenEye satellite as Bond learns what Trevelyan is planning to do.

The film is essentially another story of James Bond trying to save the world but this time around, he faces up against someone who was a friend and ally who knows Bond better than anyone else. It’s also a film where Bond has to deal with changing times as the Cold War is over and he has a new M that is very different from her predecessors who isn‘t fond of Bond and his antics. This would allow Bond to face hard facts about himself and his company as he discovers that the man who was once his ally has now become the enemy whose motivation is simply vengeance in the most extreme way.

The screenplay explores this new post-Cold War world where it’s clear that people like Ourumov is still trying to uphold the old prestige of the Soviet Union as he plans to threaten the new, fragile peace that Russia wants. Yet, it’s the Alec Trevelyan character that is the most interesting as he is the brains behind the scheme as he wants to destroy London for what they did to his parents. With Ourumov’s help as well as Xenia Onatopp and a computer programmer named Boris Grishenko (Alan Cumming), Trevelyan would not only get his revenge but also something more as he also wants to humiliate Bond. Still, the script allows Bond to re-think his strategies as he gets help from another computer programmer in Natalya Simonova who knows what the Janus crime group are up to and can stop the GoldenEye satellite from creating chaos.

Martin Campbell’s direction is definitely big in the way he presents the film as he is aware that this is a James Bond film and it has to be big. The film opens with this amazing prologue of Bond and Trevelyan teaming up to stop Ourumov at a Soviet chemical plant where it establishes Bond’s friendship with Trevelyan and the unexpected betrayal that would follow nine years later. With the locations set in Russia, London, Monte Carlo, and Puerto Rico, the direction establishes that the world is far grander in this post-Cold War period as computers also play a part in the scheme where Trevelyan and Grishenko would do things to control this deadly satellite.

With these spectacular action sequences that includes a few chase scenes, Campbell does manage to create a film that is thrilling while taking its time to establish what is going on. Campbell also balances the action with bits of humor as well as a lot of suspense as he makes sure that is about Bond doing his job to investigate where he would uncover many secrets about what he’s facing. Even as it would lead to a climatic face-off between Bond and Trevelyan in a grand sequence that pits 00 against 00. Overall, Campbell creates a truly solid yet exciting film that lives up to the James Bond name.

Cinematographer Phil Meheux does excellent work with the film‘s photography from the lighting schemes in the spa fight scene to some of the day and nighttime exteriors of the locations in the film. Editor Terry Rawlings does nice work with the editing by creating some rhythmic cuts for the film‘s action scenes along with some more methodical cuts for the film‘s suspense. Production designer Peter Lamont, with set decorator Michael Ford and art director Neil Lamont, does fantastic work with the set pieces such as MI6 base, the train car that Trevelyan chills out at, and the main base for the film’s climatic confrontation. Costume designer Lindy Hemming does superb work with the costumes such as the lavish dresses and clothes that Xenia Onatopp wears.

Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould does brilliant work with the special effects created for the action scenes along with visual effects miniatures made by Derek Meddings, whom the film is dedicated to. Sound editor Jim Shields does terrific work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of action scenes to the more intimate moments in the meetings Bond would have. The film’s music by Eric Serra is wonderful for its mix of orchestral flourishes and electronic music to create an air of suspense as well as utilizing the Bond themes to play out the action scenes. The title song by U2’s Bono and the Edge that is sung by Tina Turner is among one of the most fascinating songs of the Bond catalog.

The casting by Debbie McWilliams is amazing for the ensemble that is created as it features appearances from Minnie Driver as Zukovsky’s mistress, Serena Gordon as Bond’s Monte Carlo evaluator, Robbie Coltrane as Russian gangster Valentin Zukovsky, Joe Don Baker as CIA agent Jack Wade, and Tcheky Kayro as Russian defense minister Dmitri Mishkin. Alan Cumming is very funny as the cocky computer programmer Boris Grishenko while Gottfried John is very good as the villainous General Ourumov. In her first appearance as Miss Moneypenny, Samantha Bond is wonderful as M’s personal secretary who revels in her dating life while Desmond Llewelyn is fantastic as the very witty inventor Q who provides Bond some amazing gadgets.

Famke Janssen is superb as the villainous Xenia Onatopp as she has this great presence that is alluring while being very dangerous in the way she deals with men physically. Judi Dench is great as Bond’s superior M where Dench provides a very different approach to the character in her disdain towards Bond’s antics while making sure he maintains his professionalism in his mission. Izabella Scorupo is excellent as computer programmer Natalya Simonova who helps Bond to deal with the Janus crime syndicate as she is also a very smart individual who can deal with Grishenko. Sean Bean is phenomenal as Alec Trevelyan who organizes a plan to destroy London while trying to defeat Bond in every game while anticipating everything else Bond does as Bean does solid work.

Finally, there’s Pierce Brosnan in his first of four outings as James Bond. Brosnan brings a sense of wit and charm to the character that is very engaging as well as a physicality that is also startling to watch as he makes Bond a guy who isn’t afraid to throw down. Brosnan also manages to make Bond more human by having show a bit of humility for the fact that he’s facing an old friend adding a bit of new edge to the character as Brosnan definitely gives a very memorable portrayal of Agent 007.

GoldenEye is a marvelous film from Martin Campbell that features Pierce Brosnan in a remarkable performance as James Bond. Along with wonderful supporting work from Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Izabella Scorupo, and Judi Dench. It’s a film that lives up to a lot of elements of the Bond films of the past while bringing something new to make Bond fresh and exciting. In the end, GoldenEye is a mesmerizing and spectacular film from Martin Campbell.

James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia with Love - Goldfinger - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Diamonds are Forever - Live and Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Casino Royale (2006 film) - Quantum of Solace - Skyfall - SPECTRE - No Time to Die

Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again

Bond Documentaries: Bond Girls Are Forever - True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007

© thevoid99 2012

Green Lantern

Based on the DC comics by John Broome and Gil Kane, Green Lantern is the story of a young fighter pilot who meets a wounded alien that gives a powerful ring as he would become part of an elite group of intergalactic fighters protecting the world against evil. Directed by Martin Campbell with a script by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, and Michael Goldenberg from a story concept by Berlanti, Green, and Guggenheim. The film is an origin story of how Hal Jordan became part of the Green Lantern Corps as he would battle the dark force of fear known as Parallax. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Angela Bassett, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison, and the voices of Michael Clarke Duncan, Clancy Brown, and Geoffrey Rush. Green Lantern is a very typical and uninspiring superhero origin story.

When the evil force known as Parallax (Clancy Brown) has broken out of his prison in a lost planet, he goes after the Green Lantern fighter Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison) of Sector 2814. Sur escapes Parallax’s wrath but is wounded as he makes his nearest destination towards Earth. Meanwhile, a test fighter pilot named Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) has caused more trouble for his longtime friend Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) during a test where he would cost several jobs. Later that night, Hal is summoned by a mysterious green light where he would meet the ailing Sur who gives him a green ring and a small lantern as he chooses Jordan to be the new Green Lantern. Sur’s body is later retrieved by the government as they call upon Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) to examine the body as he becomes exposed by a mysterious yellow substance.

After learning about the Green Lantern’s powers, Hal is transported to the planet of Oa where he would meet several Green Lanterns as he learns about the role of the Green Lanterns. Befriending Tomar-Re (Geoffrey Rush) and Kilowag (Michael Clarke Duncan), the latter of which trains him, while Hal also deals with one of the Green Lanterns’ leaders in Sinestro (Mark Strong) who feels that Hal is too weak to become part of the Green Lantern Corps. Hal returns home to Earth unsure about his role until a party celebrating Carol’s success in nabbing a contract where Hector is at the party with his father Senator Hammond (Tim Robbins) who is happy about the contract. Yet, Hector’s exposure to the yellow substance has him reading minds as he decides to take his anger out on his father by trying to crash the helicopter until Hal as a Green Lantern saves the day.

After a battle to fight Parallax fails, Sinestro goes to the Guardians to help create something that will fight Parallax while Hal learns about what is happening to Hector who has become more powerful where the two learn that Parallax is coming. With Hector already realizing what he needs to do to fight Hal, Hal goes back Oa to reveal the Guardians where Parallax is going as he asks for help. Though the Guardians and Sinestro become impressed by Hal’s will to fight, they let him return to Earth to fight alone as Hal would face Hector and the dark force that is Parallax.

The film is essentially an origin story of how a guy becomes a superhero and saves the day. It’s a story that is often told again and again in a lot of origin stories about superheroes. The big question is that does the story of the Green Lantern standout from all of the others? Not exactly. The stories about the Green Lanterns, the origin of Parallax, and how Hal Jordan became a Green Lantern are the most interesting parts of the story. It’s just that everything else including Jordan’s own issues about the death of his father (Jon Tenney), his relationship with Carol Ferris, and theme of fear vs. will isn’t that interesting. Notably the latter which is told in a very heavy-handed manner that requires a lot of exposition that overdoes itself.

The film’s screenplay is definitely the weakest aspect of the film not just in terms of following a formula but not doing enough to make the film’s central characters to be very interesting. While the Hector Hammond character doesn’t start out as a villain because he’s just a small-time college professor who feels slighted by his dad. He becomes a very cartoonish character that ends up being a patsy for Parallax who is just nothing more than a big head surrounded by dark clouds that just sucks the life of scared people and creatures. Since the film is also meant to try and appeal more than just a comic book audience, the screenwriters try to inject some humor that will appeal to much younger audience that doesn’t really work either as it tries too hard to be a lot of things for a superhero action-blockbuster.

Martin Campbell’s direction has moments that does keep the audience be engaged and into the story. There’s some interesting scenes that is well shot such as the tension between Hector and his father, Hal dealing with his own family, and some of moments in Oa where Hal is introduced to this strange world. Everything else however feels quite pedestrian of what is expected in the genre. There’s wide shots of a city that’s about to be attacked as well as very big visual effects pieces that includes the climatic battle between Hal and Parallax. None of it is boring but it doesn’t bring anything new to the superhero genre. A lot of the compositions and directing actors to do this doesn’t have anything exciting while Campbell’s approach to the humor feels very forced. The overall work is pretty mediocre as Martin Campbell ends up creating another superhero film that doesn’t do much to stand out on its own.

Cinematographer Dion Bebe does a pretty good job with the cinematography such as some of the nighttime exteriors and interiors to help set a mood though there isn’t a lot of it is very interesting. Editor Stuart Baird does decent work with the editing to play up the intensity of the action though it‘s mostly typical of what is expected in a film like this. Production designer Grant Major, along with set decorator Anne Kuljian and art director Francois Audouy, does some fine work with the set pieces created such as the contract party and offices along with the look for the sets of Oa. Costume designer Ngila Dickson does some OK work with the costumes which is notable for the look of the Green Lantern uniforms as well as the fashionable dresses of Carol.

Visual effects supervisor Karen E. Goulekas, Kent Houston, and Gregory L. McMurry do some effects work that isn‘t very good at all. A lot of it doesn’t really do any effort to make it feel more realistic while the overall presentation of the look of outer space and the planet Oa isn’t impressive as the whole look of it feels too artificial. Sound editors Karen M. Baker and Per Hallberg do some nice work with the sound effects whether it‘s the sound of jet engines and gunfire along with some of the things Hal does to fight Hector and Parallax. The film’s score by James Newton Howard is all right as it‘s just a typical score filled with bombastic orchestral arrangements with bits of guitars to add more heaviness to the music. Additional music by Joints Jumpin’ is played in the background in the film’s party scene to add a bit of jazzy entertainment to the music.

The casting by Pam Dixon is stellar for the ensemble that is created though none of them really get a chance to stand out or do anything that is memorable. Among those making appearances include Jon Tenney as Hal’s father, Gattlin Griffith as the young Hal, Jay O. Sanders as Carol’s father, and Taika Waititi as Hal’s comic relief friend Thomas Kalmaku. The voice performances by Michael Clarke Duncan and Geoffrey Rush in their respective roles as the tough trainer Kilowag and the kinder Tomar-Re are really good with Duncan providing humor and Rush being the wise one. Clancy Brown’s voice work as Parallax isn’t good as all he does is talk in a gruff voice and act all threatening. Angela Bassett in the role of Senator Hammond’s scientist aide Dr. Amanda Waller is an unremarkable one as she just plays a lackey of his where Bassett looks like she’s sleepwalking throughout the film.

Tim Robbins is OK as the ambitious Senator Hammond who feels disappointed by Hector until he is threatened by Hector’s new powers while Temuera Morrison is really good as the fearless warrior Abin Sur who gives Hal the ring. Mark Strong is excellent in the role of Green Lanterns leader Sinestro who tries to deal with Hal’s presence as well as the dark force of Parallax. Peter Sarsgaard is decent as Hector Hammond who starts off as this curious scientist only to devolve into a crazed antagonist that doesn’t really work due to the bad makeup job and Sarsgaard screaming like a girl throughout the film. Blake Lively gives a serviceable but uninspired performance as Carol Ferris where all she does is look good, act frustrated at Hal, and all sorts of things were she’s hampered by the script’s weakness but also her own performance where she doesn’t really show much range in a very typical part.

Finally, there’s Ryan Reynolds as the film’s protagonist Hal Jordan. While it’s a role that allows Reynolds to carry a film where he would display his witty charm. It’s a very disappointing performance as Reynolds doesn’t really get a chance to stretch out as he is also hampered by the film’s weak script and lackluster direction. While the Jordan character is a guy who is unsure about himself and Reynolds does allow the character to be engaging. The stuff where he has to try and emote in a very serious manner or to be a badass doesn’t really work.

Green Lantern is a very bloated film that emphasizes more on creating a visually-exciting superhero blockbuster rather than something that will allow itself to standout. Despite the efforts of Ryan Reynolds and Mark Strong, it’s a film that wants to be a lot of things to its audience. It may be watchable and at times, fun but the overall work is just unimpressive as Martin Campbell just creates something that doesn’t really do more than what the genre wants. In the end, Green Lantern is a truly terrible and uninspiring film that doesn’t do enough to entertain its audience.

Martin Campbell Films: (The Sex Thief) - (Eskimo Nell) - (Three for All) - (Criminal Law) - (Defenseless) - (Cast a Deadly Spell) - (No Escape) - (GoldenEye) - (The Mask of Zorro) - (Vertical Limit) - (Beyond Borders) - (The Legend of Zorro) - (Casino Royale (2006 film)) - (Edge of Darkness)

© thevoid99 2012

The Most Anticipated Films of 2011 (Pt. 2)

50 More 2011 Releases

Action/Blockbusters

Cowboys vs. Aliens

Directed by Jon Favreau. Screenplay by Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci. Based on the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Adam Beach, Ana de la Reguera, and Clancy Brown.

Green Lantern

Directed by Martin Campbell. Screenplay by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, and Michael Goldenberg. Based on the comic book by Bill Finger, Martin Nodell, John Broome, and Gil Kane. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Mark Strong, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Angela Basset, and Tim Robbins.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Directed by Brad Bird. Screenplay by Andre Nemic, Josh Applebaum, and J.J. Abrams. Based on the TV show by Bruce Gellar. Starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Josh Holloway, Paula Patton, Mikael Nyqvist, Lea Seydoux, and Anil Kapoor.

Drive Angry

Directed by Patrick Lussier. Written by Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier. Starring Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, Katy Mixon, David Morse, Christa Campbell, and William Fichtner.

Battle: Los Angeles

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman. Written by Christopher Bertolini. Starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Pena, and Bridget Moynahan.

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World

Written and Directed by Robert Rodriguez. Starring Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Jeremy Piven, and Antonio Banderas.

I Am Number Four

Directed by D.J. Caruso. Screenplay by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Marti Nixon. Based on the novel by Jobie Hughes & James Frey. Starring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron, Teresa Palmer, and Kevin Durand.

The Eagle

Directed by Kevin McDonald. Screenplay by Jeremy Brock. Based on the book The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff. Starring Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Mark Strong, and Donald Sutherland.

In the world of action films and blockbusters, there’s stuff to offer that can satisfy fans of big time blockbusters. One of those films will be Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens where Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford play cowboys who fight off against aliens. Ryan Reynolds becomes Green Lantern for another superhero from a comic book. Tom Cruise goes for another Mission: Impossible film but it looks more promising with Brad Bird helming his first live-action feature film plus Jeremy Renner sharing the screen.

Nicolas Cage comes back from hell to seek revenge in Drive Angry. Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez are in a huge war against aliens in Battle: Los Angeles. Robert Rodriguez returns for another Spy Kids as Jessica Alba becomes the new Cortez to help train her kids. Alex Pettyfer plays a young alien who fights to protect Earth from a dark nemesis in I Am Number Four. Kevin McDonald goes back to the age of the Romans in The Eagle

Comedies

2010 was a very dismal year for comedies as they weren’t anything that to really laugh at. 2011 looks more promising with the return of two masters of comedies in Judd Apatow and the Farrelly Brothers. Even as they’re more projects that will give filmgoers something to laugh at.

Take Me Home Tonight

Directed by Michael Dowse. Screenplay by Jackie & Jeff Filgo. Story by Topher Grace and Gordon Kaywin. Starring Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Teresa Palmer, Dan Fogler, Demetri Martin, Robert Hoffman, Emma Stone, and Michelle Trachtenberg.

Bridesmaids

Directed by Paul Feig. Written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig. Starring Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Jon Hamm, Melissa McCarthy, Kali Hawk, and Jill Clayburgh.

Zookeeper

Directed by Frank Coraci. Screenplay by Kevin James, Nick Backay, Rock Reuben, and Scott Armstrong. Story by Jay Scherick and David Ronn. Starring Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Ken Jeong, Donnie Wahlberg, and Jim Breuer plus the voices of Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, Judd Apatow, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Maya Rudolph, and Billy Crystal.

Wanderlust

Directed by David Wain. Screenplay by David Wain and Ken Marino. Story by David Wain. Starring Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Malin Akerman, Justin Theroux, Lauren Ambrose, Joe Lo Truglio, Kathryn Hahn, and Alan Alda.

Bad Teacher

Directed by Jake Kasdan. Written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. Starring Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Amy Punch, John Michael Higgins, and Thomas Lennon.

Friends with Benefits

Directed by Will Gluck. Written by Will Gluck and Keith Merryman. Starring Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Patricia Clarkson, and Richard Jenkins.

The Hangover Pt. II

Directed by Todd Phillips. Screenplay by Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong. Starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, and Jamie Chung.

Cedar Rapids

Directed by Miguel Arteta. Written by Phil Johnson. Starring Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Alia Shawkat, Stephen Root, Isaiah Whitlock Jr., Kurtwood Smith, and Sigourney Weaver.

Hall Pass

Directed by Bobby & Peter Farrelly. Written by Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, and Kevin Barnett. Starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate, Alyssa Milano, Vanessa Angel, Stephen Merchant, Joy Behar, and Richard Jenkins.

Arthur

Directed by Jason Winer. Screenplay by Jared Stern and Peter Baynham. Characters based on the 1981 film by Steve Gordon. Starring Russell Brand, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Garner, Nick Nolte, and Helen Mirren.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Directed by Glen Ficarra and John Requa. Written by Dan Fogelman. Starring Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, and Kevin Bacon.

In Take Me Home Tonight, Topher Grace and Anna Faris play twins going to a party in the 1980s for their final night of their youth. In Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph help try to plan the ultimate wedding in a comedy produced by Judd Apatow. Kevin James is The Zookeeper as he is confronted by talking animals as they help win the heart of Rosario Dawson. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd leave yuppie-dom and discover the world nudist colonies in Wanderlust. In Bad Teacher, Cameron Diaz battles Amy Punch for the affections of a new substitute teacher in Justin Timberlake while he also gets very friendly with best friend Mila Kunis in Friends with Benefits.

Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, and Justin Bartha return for the sequel to The Hangover as they go for more mayhem but in Bangkok. In Miguel Arteta’s Cedar Rapids, Ed Helms tries to save his company after his boss died of auto-erotic asphyxiation. Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis decide to switch wives for the Farrelly Brothers comedy Hall Pass. Russell Brand plays the legendary role that made Dudley Moore a superstar in a remake of Arthur with Helen Mirren playing Sir John Gielgud’s role. In Crazy, Stupid, Love, Steve Carell turns to Ryan Gosling to make him a ladies man all over again.

Dramas

The Adjustment Bureau

Written for the Screen and Directed by George Nolfi. Based on the short story Adjustment Team by Phillip K. Dick. Starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Michael Kelly, and John Slattery.

Larry Crowne

Directed by Tom Hanks. Written by Tom Hanks and Nia Vardalos. Starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston, Taraji P. Henson, Nia Vardalos, Jon Seda, Pam Grier, and Cedric the Entertainer.

Unknown

Directed by Juame Collet-Serra. Screenplay by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cromwell. Based on the novel Out of My Head by Didier van Cauwelaert. Starring Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Krueger, Aidan Quinn, Bruno Ganz, and Frank Langella.

Jane Eyre

Directed by Cary Fukanuga. Screenplay by Moira Buffini. Based on the novel by Charlotte Bronte. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Sally Hawkins, Jamie Bell, Imogen Poots, and Judi Dench.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Directed by Brad Furman. Written by Michael Connelly. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy, Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, and Frances Fisher.

There isn’t a lot of films that are more geared towards adults for 2011 though the films they offer this year does have some promise. Matt Damon plays an aspiring politician who falls for Emily Blunt as they evade some forces in The Adjustment Bureau. Tom Hanks returns to the director’s chair since 1996’s That Thing You Do! for a comedy-drama about a middle-aged man who goes back to college as he falls for a professor played by Jullia Roberts in Larry Crowne. Liam Neeson tries to find his identity in Unknown while Mia Wasikowska is Jane Eyre in a new adaptation by Cary Fukunaga. In The Lincoln Lawyer, Matthew McConaughey is a slick lawyer who realizes that is client is in fact guilty as he faces his own dilemma.

Family Films

The Muppets

Directed by James Bobin & Jason Segal. Screenplay by Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segal. Based on characters created by Jim Henson. Starring The Muppets, Jason Segal, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, and Rashida Jones.

Cars 2

Directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. Featuring the voices of Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Emily Mortimer, Jason Issacs, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Krestchmann, Peter Jacobson, and Sir Michael Caine.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson. Screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Featuring the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, David Cross, James Hong, James Wood, Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Victor Garber, and Gary Oldman.

Mars Needs Moms

Directed by Simon Wells. Screenplay by Simon Wells and Wendy Wells. Based on the novel by Berkley Breathed. Featuring the voices of Seth Rogen, Joan Cusack, Elisabeth Harnois, Dan Fogler, Mindy Sterling, Breckin Meyer, and Billy Dee Williams.

Winnie the Pooh

Directed by Stephen Anderson and Don Hall. Screenplay by Burny Mattinson. Based on characters by A.A. Milne. Narration by John Cleese. Featuring the voices of Jim Cummings, Tom Kenny, Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates, and Bud Luckey.

Rio

Directed by Carlos Saldanha. Screenplay by Don Rhymer. Featuring the voices of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jane Lynch, George Lopez, Jake T. Austin, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Mann, will.i.am., Jermaine Clement, and Jamie Foxx.

Rango

Directed by Gore Verbinski. Screenplay by John Logan. Story by John Logan, Gore Verbinski, and James Bykrit. Featuring the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Timothy Olyphant, Alanna Ulbach, Ray Winstone, and Harry Dean Stanton.

Gnomeo & Juliet

Directed by Kelly Asbury. Screenplay by Kelly Asbury, Andy Riley, Mark Burton, Emily Cook, Kathy Greenburg, Kevin Cecil, and Steve Hamilton Shaw. Based on Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare. Featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Jason Statham, Ashley Jensen, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, Michael Caine, Matt Lucas, Ozzy Osbourne, Julie Walters, Richard Wilson, Dolly Parton, and Hulk Hogan.

There’s something for everyone in the world of family films as there’s a slew that will be entertaining for kids but also might give adults something more fulfilling as well. The Muppets will return to the big screen following a long-decade hiatus with help from Jason Segal. Pixar returns with a sequel to 2006’s Cars as Lightning McQueen and Mater go international while dealing with spies who mistake Mater as a super-spy. Dreamworks Animation also make a sequel to 2008’s Kung Fu Panda as Po and the Furious Five team up with new creatures to fight a fearsome enemy. Disney Animations has two features lined up in different styles. The first is the 3D computer-animated film about a boy who tries to save his kidnapped mom from Martians in Mars Needs Moms. The second is a traditional 2D hand-drawn animation tale of Winnie the Pooh who makes his big screen return.

20th Century Fox animations go to Brazil for the adventure comedy Rio. Gore Verbinski of Pirates of the Caribbean fame reunites with Johnny Depp for a computer-animated western involving lizards and other creatures in Rango. Finally, a new re-telling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet is told in the form of a new computer-animated with gnomes called Gnomeo & Juliet.

Sci-Fi/Horror/Thrillers

Hanna

Directed by Joe Wright. Screenplay by Joe Wright, David Farr, Seth Lochhead, and Joe Penhall. Story by Seth Lochhead. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, and Tom Hollander.

Sherlock Holmes 2

Directed by Guy Ritchie. Screenplay by Kiernan Mulroney & Michele Mulroney. Based on the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Nooni Rapace, Kelly Reilly, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Fry, and Jared Harris.

The Cabin in the Woods

Directed by Drew Goddard. Written by Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon. Starring Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Jesse Williams, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchinson, Jodelle Ferland, and Amy Acker.

Rise of the Apes

Directed by Rupert Wyatt. Written by Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa, and Jamie Moss. Starring James Franco, Frieda Pinto, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis, Tom Felton, David Hewlett, and Brian Cox.

The Darkest Hour

Directed by Chris Gorak. Written by Leslie Bohem, M.T. Ahern, and Jon Spaihts. Starring Olivia Thirlby, Emile Hirsch, Joel Kinnaman, Rachael Taylor, and Max Minghella.

The Rite

Directed by Mikael Hafstrom. Written by Matt Baglio and Michael Petroni. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Colin O’Donoghue, Alice Braga, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones, Franco Nero, and Rutger Hauer.

Super 8

Written & Directed by J.J. Abrams. Starring Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Ally Michalka, Ron Eldard, Noah Emmerich, and Zach Mills.

Scream 4

Directed by Wes Craven. Written by Kevin Williamson. Starring Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, Hayden Panettiere, Alison Brie, and Adam Brody.

Source Code

Directed by Duncan Jones. Written by Ben Ripley. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Arden, Russell Peters, and Jeffrey Wright.

Straw Dogs

Written for the Screen and Directed by Rod Lurie. Based on story by David Zelag Goodman and Sam Peckinpah. Based on the novel The Siege of Trencher’s Farm by Gordon Williams. Starring James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard, Dominic Purcell, and James Woods.

Red Riding Hood

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke. Written by David Leslie Johnson. Starring Amanda Seyfried, Virginia Madsen, Julie Christie, Billy Burke, Lukas Haas, and Gary Oldman.

Red State

Written and Directed by Kevin Smith. Starring Michael Parks, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Stephen Root, and Kevin Pollak.

There’s lots of chills and thrills for 2011 and in good supply. Joe Wright reteams with Atonement’s Saoirse Ronan for her role as a young killer named Hanna. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes sequel where they battle Jared Harris as Professor Moriarty. Joss Whedon co-writes The Cabin in the Woods that gives the idea in a horror film with a twist. James Franco stars in Rise of the Apes which is a prequel to the Planet of the Apes series. Olivia Thirlby and Emile Hirsch play two young people fighting to survive an alien invasion in Russia for The Darkest Hour. Anthony Hopkins helps a young American priest fight exorcism in The Rite.

J.J. Abrams returns with another alien invasion film with Super 8 that is set in the 1970s. Wes Craven returns with another Scream as Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette reunite for a new set of horror rules. Jake Gyllenhaal is part of an experiment in Duncan Jone’s sci-fi film Source Code. James Marsters and Kate Bosworth star in a new remake of the controversial Sam Peckinpah classic Straw Dogs with Alexander Skarsgard as a crazed local. Catherine Hardwicke creates a stylish take on Little Red Riding Hood with Amanda Seyfried as the title character. Kevin Smith meanwhile, takes on the fundamentalism in Middle America for the horror film Red State.

Arthouse/Indie

On the Road

Directed by Walter Salles. Screenplay by Jose Rivera. Based on the novel by Jack Kerouac. Starring Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Elisabeth Moss, Terrence Howard, Alice Braga, and Steve Buscemi.

Rum Diary

Written for the Screen and Directed by Bruce Robinson. Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson. Starring Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Rispoli, and Richard Jenkins.

The Future

Written and Directed by Miranda July. Starring Miranda July, Hamish Linklater, and David Warshofsky.

Win Win

Directed by Thomas McCarthy. Screenplay by Thomas McCarthy. Story by Thomas McCarthy & Joe Tiboni. Starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Burt Young, Melanie Lynskey, Jeffrey Tambor, and Alex Shafer.

Drive

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. Written by Hossein Amini & Nicolas Winding Refn. Starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks, Ron Pearlman, Albert Brooks, and Bryan Cranston.

Immortals

Directed by Tarsem Singh. Starring Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, Joseph Morgan, Frieda Pinto, John Hurt, Isabel Lucas, and Mickey Rourke.

For the world of indie/art house films, there’s something for those with something different. Walter Salles brings a large ensemble for an adaptation of the famed Jack Kerouac novel On the Road while Johnny Depp stars in a long-awaited adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s Rum Diary. Miranda July will return with her sophomore feature film The Future about a couple’s adoption towards a stray cat leads to some strange consequences with time and space. Thomas McCarthy’s Win Win has disheartened attorney Paul Giamatti moonlighting as a high school wrestling coach in hopes to make some money with a star athlete. Ryan Gosling stars as stunt driver who is on the run following a heist gone wrong while Tarsem Singh takes on a large fantasy film with an all-star cast for Immortals.

The Filthy 15 Films of 2011

For every year in film, there is always something that is going to bring in a lot of money and ends up conning the filmgoers. Yes, there is always a bad movie to come around. Whether its from hacks like Paul W.S. Anderson and Uwe Boll or the parody-creators of such crap like Disaster Movie and 2010’s Vampire Sucks. There is always something bad to come out.

Transformers 3: The Dark of the Moon

Directed by Michael Bay. Written by Ehren Kruger. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Ramon Rodriguez, Patrick Dempsey, John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand.

Well after the first film did quite well in 2007, Michael Bay got a chance to make a sequel. While it netted more than $400 million, the film drew massive negative reviews with fans and critics. Some of which named it the worst film of the year as it walked away with three Razzie awards for worst film, worst screenplay, and worst director to Michael Bay. With Megan Fox out of the franchise following some unkind words to Bay. She is replaced by Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley which everyone knows won’t be an improvement. The story is about some old Transformers found in the moon as the Autobots and the Decepticons battle it one more time in a dumb, bloated battle that only Michael Bay can bring.

No Strings Attached

Directed by Ivan Reitman. Screenplay by Elizabeth Merriweather. Story by Elizabeth Merriweather and Mike Samonek. Starring Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Olivia Thirlby, Greta Gerwig, Lake Bell, Cary Elwes, and Kevin Kline.

Ivan Reitman hasn’t made a great film since 1993’s Dave and it looks like he’s not going to get a chance to return to form. While he’s got a great cast to work with, there is one big problem. Ashton Kutcher. A kettle head who can’t act in the story about a guy who has sex with his best friend (Natalie Portman) as he wants to have a relationship with her. Well, it’s unfortunate for Portman who is forced to act with someone who can’t even draw a dime these days.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1

Directed by Bill Condon. Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg. Based on the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Elizabeth Reaser, Peter Facinelli, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Maggie Grace, and Mackenzie Foy.

Probably one of the dumbest franchises that made vampires into whiny pussies and werewolve into gay poster-boys. The Twilight film series has garnered loads of fans as well as detractors. Now for the fourth and final book, the studios decide to do what the Harry Potter franchise did with its last film by splitting into two parts. A two-part story of Bella pregnant with some ugly kid while Edward mopes around with his messy hair and deal with the often topless Jacob. And it’s in two parts? Who the fuck wants to see this shit? Oh, right. Fucking teenagers.

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Directed by Justin Chu. Starring Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Usher, and Jaden Smith.

The awful phenomenon of Canadian teen-pop singer Justin Bieber is going to have his 3D concert film with all of crap music and stories about how he finally made it with help from Usher. That’s right parents, waste your money on a crappy 3D concert film with girls screaming all over the place for a kid who think he is cool. For detractors, let’s hope it flops like the Jonas Brothers’ concert film did back in 2009.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides

Directed by Rob Marshall. Screenplay by Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio. Based on the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. Starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally, Ian McShane, Richard Griffiths, and Penelope Cruz.

While the first Pirates film was fun to watch as was Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. The subsequent films got bloated and sillier as a fourth film is finally coming. Not returning to the franchise are Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom along with the series’ original director Gore Verbinski. This time around, Rob Marshall will director as Sparrow and company find the Fountain of Youth. Well, it’s likely that it’s going to be very dumb while Rob Marshall doesn’t have the right tools to make a fun, compelling blockbuster.

From Prada to Nada

Directed by Angel Garcia. Screenplay by Luis Alfaro, Craig Fernandez, and Fina Torres. Based on the novel Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen. Starring Camilla Belle, Alexa Vega, April Bowlby, Wilmer Valderrama, Nicholas D’Agosto, and Adriana Barraza.

One for the Money

Directed by Julie Ann Robinson. Screenplay by Liz Brixus, Karen McCullah Lutz, and Kirsten Smith. Based on the novel by Janet Evanovich. Starring Katherine Heigl, John Leguizamo, Sherri Shepherd, Leonardo Nam, Jason O’Mara, and Debbie Reynolds.

Just Go With It

Directed by Dennis Dugan. Written by Timothy Dowling, Allan Loeb, Tim Herlihy, and Adam Sandler. Starring Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Nicole Kidman, Dave Matthews, Heidi Montag, Nick Swardson, and Kevin Nealon.

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

Directed by John Whitesell. Written by Matthew Fogel and Don Rhymer. Starring Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Sherri Shepherd, Portia Doubleday, Jessica Lucas, and Faizon Love.

New Year’s Eve

Directed by Garry Marshall. Written by Katherine Fugate. Starring Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Swank, Abigail Breslin, Halle Berry, Sofia Vegara, Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, and Robert De Niro.

The Smurfs

Directed by Raja Gosnell. Screenplay by J. David Sterm and David N. Weiss. Based on the characters by Peyo. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vegara, Tim Gunn, and Hank Azaria. Featuring the voices of Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Paul Reubens, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin, and Alan Cummings.

Alvin & the Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked

Directed by Mike Mitchell. Featuring the voices of Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, and Ben Burtt.

Monte Carlo

Directed by Tom Bezucha. Written by Tom Bezucha & April Blair. Starring Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester, Cory Monteith, Brett Cullen, Pierre Boulanger, and Andie MacDowell.

Real Steel

Directed by Shawn Levy. Screenplay by Leslie Bohem & John Gatins. Story by Richard Matheson. Starring Hugh Jackman, Anthony Mackie, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo, and Kevin Durand.

Fast Five

Directed by Justin Lin. Written by Chris Morgan. Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, Elsa Pataky, Don Omar, and Joaquin de Almeida.

With a slew of crap coming out, there’s always some kind of shit for everyone to see. Like a Latino version of Sense & Sensibility called From Prada to Nada or another bad Katherine Heigl comedy with the same writers who wrote The Ugly Truth for an adaptation of One for the Money. Adam Sandler teams up with Jennifer Aniston for another dumb comedy in Just Go With It while Martin Lawrence is Big Momma once again with help from Brandon T. Jackson in another Big Momma movie. Why? Oh, and there’s another sequel coming but for 2010’s Valentine’s Day for another celebration with overpaid stars called New Year’s Eve.

There’s a couple of bad movies for families to avoid. The Smurfs in a hybrid of live action and 3D computer animation as it’s all presented in the 3D gimmick. Oh, and there’s another Alvin & the Chipmunks movie coming and it’s in 3D. A lame romantic comedy with young, awful actresses as they go to vacation in Monte Carlo where they find love. Awww… blech!!!! Shawn Levy tries to go for an action blockbuster by having robots fight other robots in Real Steel and finally, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker team up for another The Fast & the Furious movie called Fast Five. Wow…

Well, that is all for what is ahead of 2011. Of course, there’s some more movies that are out there like Jodie Foster’s The Beaver with Mel Gibson which could be good or bad. Until then, let’s try and be careful for what to see in 2011 and not make it a bad year again that was 2010.

Part 1

© thevoid99 2010