SEPTEMBER, 8


KINGDOM

Fantasy / Action
Cast: Megan Fox, Chris Evans, Naomi Watts, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeremy Irons, Susan Sarandon, Aaron Eckhart, Chris Cooper.
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

Box Office: 55 mill.
Net Gains: 33 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Ouch! I expected much, very much more from this one. For some unknown mystery, the American audience has completely ignored this movie. American box office has just been ridiculous. Luckily, the foreign market has saved the production from disaster and good DVD sales have finally generated nice profits. Expectations were so high here and this final breakout cannot be considered anything but a severe disappointment.

CROSSOVERS

Romantic Comedy
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Paz Vega, Kate Bosworth, Dane Cook, Sienna Miller, Ben Affleck, Ellen Page, Steve Martin
Director, Producer and Screenwriter: James Bradley

Box Office: 64 mill.
Net Gains: 54 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: As I always say, it all depends on expectations… Here is a very nice final breakout for this brilliant and funny comedy. Sometimes it feels better to produce this medium budget movies than ambitious major productions.

TRACKS OF BLOOD

Action / Exploitation
Cast: Eliza Dushku, Deann Russo, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Biel, Jason Statham, Christopher Walken, Antonio Banderas
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Producer: Quentin Tarantino / Midnight Movies
Screenwriter: Joey Stark

Box Office: 41 mill.
Net Gains: 9 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Tarantino and his gang have had a great time making this movie and the good news for me is that it has gone alive from net losses. Now, critics, here it is for you to tear it to pieces…


KINGDOM

‘Why has american audience turned its back to this movie? Honestly, I have no idea. ‘Kingdom’ is a spectacular and entertaining production perfectly designed to please a wide audience that usually responds enthusiastically to fantasy films. While much worse movies blow up box office, this one has been punished by audiences without any specific reason. Maybe moviegoers need nowadays a previous reference to watch a movie – a console game, a comic book, a novel or whatever – and when they are offered a brilliant original story they are just not capable to enjoy it by itself. A shame.’
-Roy Winslow

‘Matt Kubrick has retaken for Kingdom some elements from his megahit ‘The Ice Princess’. Mixed with multiples references – from ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ to CMP’s features like the He-Man movies or ‘The Land Of Nod’ -, he has put up an epic fantasy adventure upgraded with the visionary directing style of Zack Snyder. The result is an awesome production, visually hypnotizing and highly engrossing. Maybe audiences are a bit tired of trolls and elves, but the movie is still a worth to watch production that will please all those, like me, that still look for dreams and fantasy when going to a movie theatre.’
-Amy Ratched

‘Zack Snyder keeps making good movies for CMP – remember ‘Preacher’ and ‘Wild Cards: Battle Of The Rox’ – that do not completely work at box office. Snyder is a visionary director that does not completely fit in Hollywood’s mainstream. Maybe the industry should simply accept that his directing style will not connect with wide audiences. But, on the other side, his movies are always a creative proposal that deserve a special attention. ‘Kingdom’ can be his biggest attempt ‘til now to release a blockbuster but still maintains Snyder’s daring style that makes him more a director for minorities than it may seem at first sight. I hope the need of box office’s success won’t change him.’
-Andrew Stampton

CROSSOVERS

‘James Bradley is probably one of the most original screenwriters in CMP. Most of his movies are based on weird premises, like the acclaimed fables he wrote for Wes Anderson to direct. He usually moves from his low budget comedies to bigger projects like ‘Pompeii’, ‘The Toymaker’ or the Flashman’s movies. But I think urban comedies is his natural territory. ‘Crossovers’ is not as daring as his fables but still shows Bradley’s trademark: peculiar characters, ingenious dialogues and good acting works. The formula has worked again in box office cause one of the advantages of these movies is that they don’t have the pressure of becoming a blockbuster’.
-Lilly Stevens

‘’Crossovers’ is a movie mainly based on the acting works. It’s good to see talents like Ryan Reynolds or Kate Bosworth involved in an adult comedy and not only in big action shows like their latest works for CMP. But I particularly enjoyed the comedic talent of Sienna Miller, playing that wacky girl that gets on everyone’s nerves always talking with questions she answers to herself, and also the freak girl played by Ellen Page. Ben Affleck makes a funny self-parody and the rest of the cast fits so well with their characters. Although the plot is not as original as other Bradley’s comedies, the work of the cast turns the movie into a nice experience entertaining enough’.
-Tim Reeve

‘A comedy with a touch of class in the line of Bradley’s ‘Paperback Story’ or Connors’ ‘Mary’s Dark Side’. I have enjoyed this movie oriented to the thirty-something audience. Of course, it is not a masterpiece but it doesn’t pretend it to be neither. The comedic situations based on misunderstandings work well and you get to feel identified with all those characters trying to find a balance between true love, ethics and temptation. Bradley has found the perfect tone to tell the story, without falling into gross comedy and managing well the sexy elements of the crossed relationships.’
-Anne Roman

TRACKS OF BLOOD

‘This movie cannot be judged with the official rules of any movie critic. I mean, ‘Tracks Of Blood’ does not pretend to have a consistent plot or a clever writing or awardable acting works or any of the usual elements that make a movie valuable. As it happened with ‘Reform School Girls’, ‘Tracks Of Blood’ is just a violence festival that does not take seriously to itself. And it is up to you to love it or hate it. Watch it without prejudices or just avoid it if you are not the kind to enjoy movies where a girl can beat up by herself a dozen of big bad guys…’
-Charlie Kiggs

‘Although the movie is a sequel of ‘Reform School Girls’, it does not have too many points in common with its antecessor. While ‘Reform School Girls’ took place in the claustrophobic atmosphere of the school, Joey Stark has written a violent road movie that only shares with ‘RSG’ the main character and the unrealistic treatment of its excessive violence. As Joey Stark and Robert Rodriguez have publicly admitted, the movie reminds previous Rodriguez’s works, like ‘Desperado’ or ‘El Mariachi’. And it also shares with them their virtues but also their many faults.’
-Vic Carter

‘Watching ‘Tracks Of Blood’ is like eating a greasy hamburger when the doctor has ordered you to be on a diet. You know it’s going to kill you, you know it won’t taste good, but you can’t help the pleasure of doing it. Who cares if this is a very bad movie? The girls are so sexy and the fights are so wild and that’s what it’s all about. Take or leave it.’
-Jackie O’Callaghan


It's great to see CMP back. Looking down the list of upcoming projects,I will say that we are going to be off to a good start. Hopefully this season we'll try and do a better job balancing the films made to make money with the films made to show the studio's artistic creative side. Welcome back, screenwriters and for the new ones: Welcome to CMP. Have patience when sending your script. CMP is a busy studio that usually has the next few seasons already locked. But they do a good job getting a new writer at least one in the current season. I'd like to see what you all have brought to the table.
Just to remind everyone what my critiques are based on. A school grading scale that looks at mostly the technical aspects of the film. This gives most films a chance to get a good grade for one aspect and a bad one for another. Don't take it personally if I hated some of your choices or your film, usually I try to find some goodness in all films. It's very rare that I actually hate a film as a whole.

Critique My review of the film as a whole
Acting/Cast, Direction and Writing are all self explanatory.
Concept/Plot is when I look at the film to see the concept. How original, creative is it. If it's not original and just an adaptation, I still look for the plot and if it's intriguing you still get a chance at having a good grade with that.
Production Values: These are your films' costumes, special effects, makeup, cinematography, art direction. The more detailed you get with these in your films, the more easier it is for me to picture and rate. If I see a Period Film, I can imagine what it would look like having seen plenty of period pieces. If it's a science fiction alien film, I can imagine the aliens and the special effects vividly. However, you don't have to list what kind of special effects or whatever you used in your pitch. If it's a superhero film, I can already imagine the costume, effects, etc.
Re-Watch Value: Like a replay value for a video game, the re-watch value is based on if I think your audience would want to see it again in theaters, rent or own it on DVD. This is perhaps the toughest good grade to get. Would I want to give another 2-3 hours of my life to sit through that again?
The Overall is based on all of the grades combined. So if you have both good and bad grades, you might at least still get a decent grade.

There may be times when I find something interesting or have a particular reason why I came up with a grade. I won't say it to every category and I won't say it in every film review. Don't feel left out if I didn't give a reason why I liked or disliked something. Though usually if I dislike it, I'll say why.

The pick of the week is usually random. If I absolutely loved your film, it has a better chance of being the pick of the week. If I loved all three I'll say so. I usually hate picking 2 of the 3 because I try to spare the film that got left out. However, pick of the week could also be the film which I found most interesting. So even if you get a bad grade, you might have a chance of getting that recognition. Pick of the week is more complex to me than anything because it has a tendency to be unpredictable.

With that said, let's start this week's reviews!

KINGDOM

CRITIQUE: It's hard to look at this film and see that Matt Kubrick, the studio's superhero/slasher mogul, wrote it. Of course, you could say the same thing about him with Sherlock Holmes. And I couldn't even believe Zach Snyder directed it. A great fantasy film that wasn't afraid to take it to a more adult oriented audience. Parents should be strongly cautioned that it's not going to be Harry Potter. Masterfully shot and well made. It has it all to be this season's megahit. Only thing I didn't really disagree with were some of the casting choices. But a slight nitpick for an overall above average film.
ACTING/CAST: C+ : I can't stand Megan Fox’s acting. Porn stars act better.
DIRECTION: A
WRITING: A+
CONCEPT/PLOT: A+
PRODUCTION VALUES: A+
REWATCH VALUE: A+
OVERALL: A+

CROSSOVERS

CRITIQUE: Something I like with James Bradley's comedies is his sophistication to it. He knows how to make a comedy work. Infidelity is such a dreadful thing to happen, especially if you're the one being cheated on. But Bradley shines with even the most awkward situations in this somewhat cynical romance. The style of the film reminds me of Steve Connors' 'Mary's Dark Side' with the humor subtle and meant for an intelligent crowd. Bravo, Bradley!
ACTING/CAST: B
DIRECTION: A
WRITING: A+
CONCEPT/PLOT: A
PRODUCTION VALUES: B+
REWATCH VALUE: A-
OVERALL: A

TRACKS OF BLOOD

CRITIQUE: Just when you thought you saw the last of those Reform School Girls, Tracks of Blood was already being attacked by critics before it started filming! It's meant to be a B-movie with scantily clad women and gratuitous violence. With that, it succeeds, but keep away if you're looking for something artistic. I will however say that the plot is a bit thicker than its predecessor.
ACTING/CAST: D
DIRECTION: C-
WRITING: C
CONCEPT/PLOT: C-
PRODUCTION VALUES: D+
REWATCH VALUE: C+
OVERALL: C-

MR. THUMBS' CERTIFIED PICK OF THE WEEK:
This week, I'll be giving the must see to... drumroll.....

KINGDOM