DECEMBER,9


THE LAND OF NOD

Adventure / Fantasy
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Freddie Highmore. Voices of John Goodman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sean Connery, Adam Sandler
Director and Producer: Peter Jackson
Screenwriter: Marcus Trax

Box Office: 243 mill.
Net Gains: 191 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Great! I had the feeling this one was going to work. The movie becomes the new alltimes box office top 4. It was released in 8250 screens – a number only reached by movies like the Star Wars or Game Boy installments- and I can confirm it has been one of the most expensive CMP productions ever. But it’s been worthy. A fantastic picture in all senses. Second ‘200’ in a row after past week’s Dark Tower’s second episode. What an amazing Season so far…

BOND SCUM

Comedy / Parody
Cast: Jim Carrey, Sasha Baron Cohen, Mike Meyers, Leslie Nielsen, Sean Bean, Tim Allen, Joe Pesci, Jeanine Garofalo. Cameos by Jude Law, Nicole Kidman.
Director: David Zucker
Screenwriter: Richard Franzwa

Box Office: 90 mill.
Net Gains: 78 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Another Zucker’s parody that works incredibly well in box office. I love it when box office results keep coming out much better than my own expectations.

MARY’S DARK SIDE

Comedy
Cast: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Matthew Perry, Alec Baldwin, Annette Bening, Donald Sutherland
Director: Zach Braff
Screenwriter: Steve Connors

Box Office: 35 mill.
Net Gains: 24 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: For once, the movie has done worse in box office than I expected. In fact, it has been saved from net losses thanks to the DVD market. A shame. I think this is a great comedy.


THE LAND OF NOD

'The sum of Kids + Fantasy Land has become a kind of movie genre itself in recent years. Narnia, Spiderwick, Therabithia, Stardust... Every year Hollywood offers us a variation of the same concept. Now it's the turn of Nod. Peter Jackson has put together classic characters from fairy tales - ogres, witches, wizards, knights, princesses... - into a spectacular epic production that becomes one of the most hypnotizing movies I've seen in years. The mix of classic concepts with the fabulous - digitally generated - scenarios of the story in an engrossing and top entertaining plot turns out to be a unique experience to watch and enjoy. We feel familiar and, at the same time, we feel surprised with what we see on screen the same way Jackson did with his redefinition of a well known story such as King Kong. The visual power of Jackson's movie is so strong that he makes us forget there's nothing new in the story he's telling us. It is so visually appealing that makes everything look as something different and new.'
-Vic Carter

'A wonderful movie by Peter Jackson. Once again, CMP succeeds with a movie that mix live action and digitally generated characters ala Game Boy. But, this time, console and pc games characters have been replaced by original ones - besides the obvious influence of Shrek in Goodman's ogre. Watching this movie is a rewarding experience. You get involved by the epic enchantment of the whole show, with those beautiful locations - that reminded me Lord of the Rings at some moments -, the moving friendship of the two boys - great work by Highmore and Hutcherson - and an entertaining adventure that takes the best of the classic tales traditions. Every dollar spent in this production is worthy. 'The Land Of Nod' is a great movie that renews our faith in the magic of cinema.'
-Anne Roman

'In the middle of so many adapted stories, superheroes, horror flicks and comic based movie language, 'The Land Of Nod' becomes a movie to thank. An original screenplay not based in any previous material. A simple story of goods and bads inspired by classic tales. A mastery way of directing a movie looking for an epic impact - the way Jackson uses the beauty of open spaces takes us back directly to John Ford's best westerns - without falling into modern (and cheap) moviemaking uses like the abuse of slow motion, noisy soundtracks or the useless sum of short takes ala Michael Bay or McG. Peter Jackson connects again with the best masters in the History of Cinema to create the kind of movie that will survive to its time and will be watched by future generations. A brilliant example of how cinema can turn fantasies and dreams into images.'
-Jackie O'Callaghan

BOND SCUM

'Now that James Bond has become a mere impression of Jason Bourne, it seems like a good moment to make a parody of Bond's villains. This Franzwa's screenplay is based on a great premise: the story of a bond-esque villain wannabe trying to build the indispensable fortress to rule the world. The enemy of the villain is not a heroic secret agent but the system itself: bureaucracy, regulations, unions, administration... Great concept. The problem is that the ingenious premise becomes a bit exhausted as the movie goes on and it loses its initial strength as minutes pass. After a funny first half - especially the gags with the 'iranian' Meyers and Nielsen -, the second half flags and the pace only recovers some pulse when Jude Law appears at the end as the parodic Bond. So 'Bond Scum' can be considered as an irregular comedy with a few funny moments. But, as box office proves, moviegoers don't need more than that to fill up a theatre'.
-Tim Reeve

'It is interesting how some talents make a better career in CMP's universe than out of it. That's the case for David Zucker. 'Bond Sum' becomes his third hit in a row after the first 'Lieutenant USA' and 'Q*Bert'. Zucker's parodies seem to reach a wider audience in CMP than out of it and he can be considered by now one of the most profitable comedy directors in the Studio. Also Jim Carrey has a better balance inside CMP. Until now, he had decided to avoid comedy and he has succeeded in everything he's done in CMP: the both profitable, critically acclaimed and award winning musicals 'Carousel' and 'Only In America', the family drama 'Standing Eight' or the quality dramedy 'The Thinking Man'. With Bond Scum, Carrey returns to his overacted shows full of tics and acting excesses. Pure Carrey: you can enjoy him or hate him. Personally, I prefer the other Carrey, not the clown, but it seems like the shadow of Ace Ventura will chase him forever. By the way, why Sasha Baron Cohen always plays Muslim or Arabian characters in CMP? He was Bin Laden in 'No more Bush!', a sij taxi driver in 'Night Cab' and now Gadaffi - or someone like him - here... Besides 'The Metal' - in fact, his best work in CMP -, it seems like Cohen is decided to squeeze his training in speaking with oriental accent to the limits...'
-Alex Stampton

'Parodies are a much more difficult challenge than it may seem. Just look at all those 'Epic Movie', 'Superheroe Movie', 'Disaster Movie' and so on... Pure rubbish so far away from brilliant parody classics like 'Airplane', 'The Naked Gun' or even - being generous - 'Hot Shots'. CMP has been pretty successful with parody: 'No More Bush!' was a funny parody of political documentaries, 'Lieutenant USA' became a blockbuster laughing at CMP's movies, 'Q*Bert' made more than 100 millions making jokes about 80's underdog movies and Ultraman's trilogy did decently enough with superheroes movies... 'Bond Scum' joins the club of successful CMP's parodies now with the Bond movies as its target. And David Zucker - responsible of the classics of the genre mentioned above - proves again his comedy skills directing it. There is an audience for these movies - as box office results prove - and the talents behind it - directors and writers, mainly - shouldn't be underestimated. It is not something easy to do. This time, Zucker and Franzwa - with the help of an outstanding cast of comedians - have done it well enough to have an impressive box office breakdown and satisfy the crowd of parody's fans. Good work.'
-David Gray

MARY’S DARK SIDE

'Steve Connors has been trying to keep the comedy genre alive in CMP for long. Some times he has made failed attempts with movies that just didn't work as well as expected, some times he has just been misunderstood by audiences or critics, as it happened with the unappreciated parodic spirit of the Ultraman's movies, where he laughed and ridiculed with anticipation the actual superheroes movies obsession in CMP. But none of his previous comedies have reached the mastery of 'Mary's Dark Side'. Here is what comedy is about: creating excessive situations and making them both funny and believable. It is a shame that audiences have not responded with particular enthusiasm to this brilliant comedy. Sign of the times (yes, even 'Lying Wish' made a better box office past week...). If we imagine this movie shot in black and white and with Cary Grant, Kate Hepburn and James Stewart as the starring trio we would probably be talking here of an unforgettable classic comedy. I hope this unfair indifference from audiences does not disheart or discourage Connors to keep working in such difficult genre as comedy is.'
-Charlie Kiggs

'The prodigal son of the Warm Steel Gang, Mr. Zach Braff, returns in front and behind the cameras after the remembered 'Contract Killing For Dummies' with this funny and entertaining comedy. Braff has proved enough to be something more than the funny guy from 'Scrubs'. He has starred in CMP what still can be considered as the most intelligent and brilliant comedy coming from the Studio, 'Schroedinger's Litterbox'. And now he has set up a perfectly paced comedy - with the help of the elaborated and brilliant screenplay written by Steve Connors - full of gags to be remembered: the first dinner at the Brahms' home with Kate Hudson out of control, Hudson getting nude in front of Donald Sutherland and killing him with the surprise, Braff interrupting the burial ceremony to rescue Hudson from the coffin, Baldwin and Bening's speeches at their father's funeral... One great comedy sequence after another. And Braff finds the perfect tone to film them - in an appropriate middle land between slapstick and classy comedy - to build a comedy that provokes what comedies are meant for: laughs and entertainment. Just great.'
-Amy Ratched

'Finding the right cast is always a basic task to make a movie work. But I would dare to say that a fitted cast becomes particularly essential in comedies. A wrong choice can ruin the best comedy as there isn't something more pathetic than a talent trying to be funny and not being so. 'Mary's Dark Side' settles on a brilliant screenplay and a solid directional job, but it is the cast the main pillar of this funny movie. Hudson makes a hilarious performance with a character that could have taken her to fall into mistaken excesses. Her chemistry with Braff is just perfect. Matthew Perry - although he does fall into some excesses at some moments - looks perfect as the neurotic antagonist of Braff. Alec Baldwin and Annette Bening upgrade the movie with their fantastic comedy moments. And Donald Sutherland's work is so worthy just watching his face as he stares at Hudson nude right before he dies of a heart attack. A five stars work from all of them.'
-Chris Burguess


THE LAND OF NOD

Marcus Trax puts together an incredible fantasy tale that kinda brought me back to how fantasy movies used to be, but it felt much more than just a journey back to childhood. It kept many several grown up themes throughout the picture (I'm sure the kids of today will look back at this movie when they hit their teens and 20s and say 'wow, there was a lot of stuff that went over our heads much like how we were when we watched Neverending Story, Dark Crystal or Goonies) a story wrapped up in the beautiful scenic world which Peter Jackson is extremely good at creating. Very entertaining!
ACTING/CAST: 8/10
DIRECTING: 10/10
WRITING: 9/10
CONCEPT/PLOT: 8/10
REWATCH VALUE: 9/10
FINAL NOTES: Parents don't assume that just because there are ogres and princesses doesn't make it a fairy tale to take your 3 year old to see. It's meant for the bigger little kids through adults, more 'Lord of the Rings' than 'Bridge to Terabithia' I would tell you to definitely see the film though. Not disappointing.
OVERALL: 9/10

BOND SCUM

It's just funny how Hollywood works out. More than one movie with the same actor will play in the same theatre (omg Nicole, how could you be in two places at once!!*shoots self*) and you can go see Quantum of Solace, or you could see Bond Scum. Both films are out, but Bond Scum makes an attempt to parody the neverending franchise. I didn't find it as annoying as that last Austin Powers film. I liked that it centered around a Bond villain and his construction of a secret base only to have it destroyed in the end. A very fun movie to watch.
CAST/ACTING: many veteran comedians(and newer ones) doing what they do best! 8/10
DIRECTING: 8/10
WRITING: 7/10 the jokes were funny but parody movies usually always fall into the 'too silly' category sometimes.
CONCEPT/PLOT: 8/10
REWATCH VALUE: 9/10
FINAL NOTES: Better than most of those so called comedies out there. I would say see it!
OVERALL: 8/10

MARY'S DARK SIDE

I was nervous to see this one. Kate Hudson was fresh off her GMA nomination and usually when actors get only one nomination or win for a prestigious award they believe they've done enough and decide to move on to crap for the rest of their career. Fortunately, this wasn't the case as she pulled off a very enjoyable role as a woman who gets crazy after drinking even a drop of alcohol. If you're in a laughing mood and want to see something smarter than 'Lying Wish' I would suggest you see this one to keep your brain cells. I thought it was Connors' best comedy!
ACTING/CAST: Stellar work by 'sometimes dramatic' actors who show they have a funny side. 9/10
DIRECTING: 8/10
WRITING: 8.5/10
CONCEPT/PLOT: 8.5/10
REWATCH VALUE: 8/10
FINAL NOTES: See it, get it on DVD, take your friends, your date, anyone. A brilliant comedy which rivals with another critically acclaimed Zach Braff film, Schroedinger’s Litterbox.
OVERALL: 8.5/10

MR. THUMBS' CERTIFIED MUST SEE OF THE WEEK:
this was a tough week to decide, they were all really good but I'll say Land of the Nod(did get the highest overall score and all)