FEATURED ATTRACTION:


DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: THE SHATTERED ORB

STARRING: Nicholas Cage, Bruce Willis, Claire Danes, Sean Connery, Natalie Portman, Andy Serkis, Thomas Jane, Christopher Lee and the voice of Judi Dench as “The Great Red Dragon”.
PRODUCER: Peter Jackson
DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson
SCREENPLAY: Marcus Trax

MY THOUGHTS: This film spells adventure at its highest level. Plenty of action, intrigue, battles, and finally we have a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS film that features… a dragon (as portrayed by the voice talent of Judi Dench). Nicholas Cage, Bruce Willis, Claire Danes and Andy Serkis all reprise their respective roles from the first DUNGEONS & DRAGONS film, helping to keep the great chemistry that had been developed, and hopefully carries over to this sequel.

I’d have to say, although I was rather skeptical about this sequel, I actually have to admit… I enjoyed it far more than I did the first film. Also, with the closed, yet somewhat open end to this film… it leaves a great opening to another sequel, and one that may just leave the movie-goer wanting to see a third film.

MARCUS TRAX has crafted a marvelous screenplay for which Producer/Director PETER JACKSON can show his filmmaking genius once again, bringing forth his great sense of vision throughout the scope of this epic film. With the additions of Sean Connery, Natalie Portman, and Thomas Jane (fresh off the heels of his starring role in NATHAN ZACHARY AND DRAKE’S GOLD) to the cast, the reappearance of Christopher Lee as the reborn Lord Deravis… this film is almost sure to be a box office smash.

My ratings for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: THE SHATTERED ORB pans out like this…

Originality of Screenplay




Interest of Storyline




Casting




I am rating this one significantly higher than my original ratings for the first DUNGEONS & DRAGONS film in what is apparently going to become the next franchise for CRAZY MOON PICTURES. I felt that I could not give it “5 STARS” in my “Originality of Screenplay” category, since it does use many of the elements from the Forgotten Realms setting of the pen & paper RPG and the many computer games as well.

All in all… it’s a far better film than the first, and deserve the “MISTERBALDY SEAL OF APPROVAL”. Two thumbs way up for this one, and looking forward to a third film in the series.

AVAILABLE NOW ON DVD, HD-DVD AND BLU-RAY DISC…

THE GREAT WAR SERIES: FINAL THUNDER is the final chapter of this film franchise, and a fitting end to the PETER WEIR/JACK HAMMER visionary screenplay saga of the “Fighting Armstrong” family.

Like all good things, this too must come to an end… and the story came to a fitting close. The “war to end all wars” has come to it’s close, and with the end to this tremendous conflict… it has come at a high price. The loss of fathers and sons, mothers and daughter… the mammoth loss of life on both sides of “The Great War”, civilian and military alike, this was something that not even the Armstrong family could escape.

Their family album is forever changed, with the portraits of loved ones etched, forever stilled within the vault of time.

Maybe this could be the season that JACK HAMMER receives his much-coveted “Best Screenplay” Golden Moon Award. This film is perhaps his best bet to date, and is just such a fitting wrap-up to this film trilogy.

My advice for the DVD release of THE GREAT WAR SERIES: FINAL THUNDER is…

BUY IT!!!

And I also recommend the other films of this great film series:

I think we may just see in the near future a collectors edition release of THE GREAT WAR Series, with additional “bonus materials”… and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

ALSO ON CRAZY MOON DVD, HD-DVD AND BLU-RAY DISC:

Ben Stiller is somewhat of an enigma to me, for I just don’t really seem to understand the attraction to this talent. Maybe he’s sort of like the whole “Seinfeld Factor”. It’s an acquired taste, and perhaps it’s just one that I never acquired myself. Needless to say, Ben Stiller is a comic actor that seems to be in high demand… and who am I to question the apparent appeal that he does seem to have to movie-going audiences.

THE SHRINKING MAN is a wacky, Sci-fi comedy… and I must admit that although this whole “shrinking theory” has been used in books and movies throughout a plethora of works, for some reason it just never seems to get stale.

Where it comes to comedies, I have a tendency to recommend movie fans to rent, instead of buy. Comedies rarely seem to have a great “replay value”, as it seems that they have a tendency to become less appealing each time you view them… but for THE SHRINKING MAN, I’m going to advise you to…

BUY IT!!!

THE SHRINKING MAN is more than just some jokes and one-liners… it’s got something to offer with each viewing. You’ll realize things that you missed even after the third, fourth and even fifth watching of the film.

Maybe even I am starting to acquire a taste for the comedic talent that is Ben Stiller… and maybe it’s contagious.

NOW COMING… TO A THEATER NEAR YOU:

AMERICAN HEARTLAND

STARRING: Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington, Daniel Radcliffe, Haley Joel Osment, Shia Lebouf, Robin Wright-Penn
PRODUCER: Martin Scorsese
DIRECTOR:Sean Penn
SCREENPLAY: Matt Kubrick

MY THOUGHTS: The subject of The West Memphis 3 have been well documented in such books as Blood of Innocents by Guy Reel and Devil's Knot by Mara Leveritt; and has also been chronicled in two movies Two films, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills and Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, as well. Numerous actors, actresses and musician have come out, in support of the three defendants… attempting to help mount an attempt for a retrial of the case.

Some believe that the handling of this case is considered one of the greatest miscarriages of justice; while other contend that the right people are behind bars, and that these three youths were indeed the monsters that they were portrayed to be. There are as many opinions pertaining to this case, as there are sides to this story. Whichever you believe… this is still an incredibly compelling story, and perhaps one that deserved another retelling.

The story is compelling, but for me is perhaps too biased for my taste. I don’t really have an opinion on the case, but I would much rather seen a film that just told the story, and not spend its time trying to convince me that these three are indeed innocent. This film seems to me to be slanted towards the “miscarriage of justice” angle, than just telling the story of the case.

How do I rate AMERICAN HEARTLAND?

Originality of Screenplay




Interest of Storyline




Casting





The casting was a great choice, but the story has been done already. This film was just a little too biased for my taste.

NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD, CRAZY MOON PICTURES PRESENTS…

PARODY OF ARTS was a surprise hit at the box office, and an even bigger surprise to this reviewer.

I’ll admit it… I did not give it a terribly favorable review. Even though apparently the movie-going public disagreed… I still did not like this film. So, it somehow ended up being the “sleeper hit” as I had predicted in my preview of the film last issue.

This sort of thing happens a lot in Hollywood. Many reviewers will blast a film, but it will somehow end up being tremendously successful. Anyone remember the theatrical release of the first STAR WARS film? Many respected critics passed on that film, and relegated it to the trash bin of filmmaking.

What happened next? STAR WARS MANIA!!! The world went bonkers for STAR WARS… and the rest is history.

Granted, PARODY OF ARTS is no STAR WARS. It’s not going to create the merchandising monolith that STAR WARS has become… but many people went to see this film, so maybe they know something I don’t.

My recommendation for PARODY OF ARTS…

RENT IT!!!

If you want to buy it afterwards… then do so.

AND THE FINALE, COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU…

THREE WOODEN CROSSES

STARRING: Jude Law, Claire Danes, Jennifer Connelly, Chris Cooper, Billy Bob Thornton

DIRECTOR: Billy Bob Thornton
SCREENPLAY: Ted Froats

MY THOUGHTS: This film, which takes its basis from the Randy Travis (released on his RISE AND SHINE album) song by the same name. It tells a compelling story of how sometimes no matter how hard we try… we never seem to understand the great mysteries in life. Things happen in life that make us question our faith… and that is the foundation on which this film is based.

For those that are unfamiliar with the song… it’s a song that tells such a great story, and I’m surprised it took this long to make it into a movie.

TED FROATS has another potential giant of a screenplay here, and may just help catapult a repeat in success that had been experienced with last season’s runaway hit of CAROUSEL. This film is going to be a tough one to be ignored, and is going to be a real contender at the GOLDEN MOON AWARDS.

BILLY BOB THORNTON was an amazing pick for director of this film, and he gives it just the right touch to make this film a true gem of a picture.

My rating for the film THREE WOODEN CROSSES…

Originality of Screenplay




Interest of Storyline




Casting




This is a film that will “tug on your heartstrings”.

IN CLOSING…

This season has so far been a really tough one to preview for me. So many well-done pictures has made it really tough to judge which films are going to be the most deserved for nominations for the GOLDEN MOON AWARDS. It’s going to be a tough on to nail down my nominations, and somehow I think that some films that are very deserving of those coveted nominations are probably going to lose out in the end.

As we are nearing the conclusion of the season, I cannot help but wonder… what will next season bring? Will we see more compelling dramas… or perhaps we are going to see more light-hearted comedies and action films. Is HE-MAN ever going to go beyond the “concept stage” and actually make it to the movie theaters?

Well everyone… That’s it for this edition of PREVIEWING ATTRACTIONS WITH MISTERBALDY. So, until next time;

Head out to the lobby, go buy yourself a large popcorn, as well as a drink, and…

SEE YOU IN THE MOVIES!!!