FEATURED ATTRACTION:


THE GREAT WAR SERIES: FINAL THUNDER

Starring: Christian Bale, Claire Danes, Hayden Christensen, Jeremy Irons, and Adrien Brody

Director: Peter Weir Screenwriter: Jack Hammer

My Thoughts: As is true with all major wars, it has a tremendous impact on us all. Not just for those who actually serve in the armed services of their countries, but of the people and families back home as well.

This is true too in the movies as it is in real life, and is masterfully depicted in the final chapter of Screenwriter JACK HAMMER’S “GREAT WAR SERIES”, aptly entitled FINAL THUNDER. This is the third, and final chapter of the PETER WEIR/JACK HAMMER collaboration… and is perhaps a fitting end to this epic undertaking in filmmaking.

As I am writing this preview, I am reminded of an excerpt from the metaphysical poem by John Donne entitled "Meditation XVII" of Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions; which was the very inspiration of the Ernest Hemingway novel For Whom The Bell Tolls.

"No man is an island. entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

The Great War has ended, but for the Armstrong family, like so many other families, they will suffer the loss of loved ones both young and old, to the great “fog of war”. Their faces, frozen in time are never to age again, for they are etched into the minds of their loved ones forevermore.

This final chapter, and the compelling conclusion of this great saga, shows why JACK HAMMER is amongst one of the best Screenwriters at CRAZY MOON PICTURES, and is always in the hunt to win the GMA for Best Screenplay.

My ratings for this film…

Originality of Screenplay




Interest of Storyline




Casting




It’s a fitting end to a colossal undertaking. The saga of the Armstrong family is complete, and FINAL THUNDER may just storm the GOLDEN MOON AWARDS… and finally net JACK HAMMER his coveted GMA for Best Screenplay.

NOW AVAILABLE FROM CRAZY MOON PICTURES ON DVD, HD-DVD AND BLU-RAY DISC:

STAR WARS: BALANCE OF THE FORCE

Although this film did indeed turn a profit, I feel that it fell shot at the box office when the “word of mouth” spread about its poor, anti-climactic ending.

Maybe it’s time to turn our gaze away from the “House of Skywalker”, and look for new inspiration in space fantasy genre of filmmaking. I really feel that the movie going public has begun to grow tired of the whole Star Wars phenomenon, and to some extent... so have I.

It was nice while it lasted, but now its time to pack away those old toys, and move onto something new.

So, how do I feel about STAR WARS: BALANCE OF THE FORCE?

BUY IT!!!
-or-
RENT IT!!!

It’s a real toss-up! BUY IT if you have everything else in the STAR WARS collection, or just RENT IT if you are interested. It’s worth seeing, but I do warn you… the ending could have (or perhaps should have) been better.

AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM CRAZY MOON PICTURES:

HOLLYWEIRD

As said in my previous edition, I really enjoyed JOSHUA COLLINS latest film, which he not only wrote… but also directed and produced as well. This was a masterfully crafted film, and show real insight into the art of filmmaking.

I personally thought, even though this film is a somewhat dark picture, that it would have done far better at the box office than it did. It still showed a profit, and apparently CMPs HARRY STARK was pleased with the final product also.

Although comedies do not have a tremendous “replay value”, there is enough drama that it makes this film a treasure to watch a few times over. So personally, how I feel about HOLLYWEIRD is…

BUY IT!!!

It’s got a good, solid “replay value”, it’s a well-crafted picture and it’s just worth adding to your DVD collection. Overall, I think it’s a bargain.

AND, NOW IN THEATERS…

THE SHRINKING MAN

Starring: Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brendan Fraser, Bill Murray

Director: Harold Ramis Screenwriter: Steve Connors

My Thoughts: THE SHRINKING MAN is somewhat remenisant of the 1981 movie THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN, starring Lily Tomlin. The thought of a person, somehow being miniaturized was explored is such comedies as the aformentioned Lily Tomlin film, and such other films as HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS, its sequel HONEY, WE SHRUNK OURSELVES, as well as a whole multitude of other such films. It is a theme that comes back from time to time, and although it has been explored many times… it still somehow continues to make us laugh, as well as capture our imaginations.

What if… we could somehow shrink another human being? What would happen… if we succeeded? These are the questions that we invariably ask ourselves, and is probably at the very heart of why we laugh. We consider it somewhat absurd, but we still can’t help but think about the possibilities.

In this miniaturization comedy, it’s about the revenge of a woman scorned and not about some weird accident… but it doesn’t make it any less humorous. In the end, this film turns out to be a “light-hearted” comedy… and one that you can’t help but laugh at.

How do I rate THE SHRINKING MAN?

Originality of Screenplay




Interest of Storyline




Casting




I’m not a terribly big fan of BEN STILLER, but this film will make you laugh… and more than just once or twice.

ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD, FROM CRAZY MOON PICTURES…

VORHEES: THE BLOODY YEARS

With such a terrible box office draw, as well as this film showing a significant loss, I don’t foresee a sequel to this poor performer anywhere in the near future.

Excuse the pun here, but I think that it’s a foregone conclusion that the “slasher” film is a dead subject in filmmaking. It just doesn’t seem to get our blood boiling any longer. These films fail to excite us any longer, and now with films like SAW (and its sequels), they only look to gross us out, or disgust us.

Personally, I want more to my movie going experience than some film that’s going to make me sick.

So, my recommendation for VORHEES: THE BLOODY YEARS…

AVOID IT!!!

Let’s put characters like Jason, Freddie Kruger, and their like where they belong… locked up, and never allowed to see the light of day again.

AND FINALLY, APPEARING IN A THEATER NEAR YOU…

PARODY OF ARTS

Starring: Johnny Depp, Peter O’Toole, Katie Holmes, Sean Bean, Judi Dench, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eric Balfour

Director: David MametScreenwriter: Marcus Trax

My Thoughts: PARODY OF ARTS is proof positive in the “Theory of Relativity” as it relates to filmmaking. In all things, just as it is in filmmaking… for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

For each solid, well plotted out piece of filmmaking, MARCUS TRAX seems to create what I would consider… a “clunker”. It seems to be the ebb and flow of his filmmaking career, at least in my opinion. For me… PARODY OF ARTS is that “clunker”.

Some feel that this film could be the “sleeper” hit of the season. Personally, I think we should all do the humane thing with this film, and “put it to sleep” for good. I found this film a terrible waste of time, and I nearly died of boredom. There is nothing that I found terribly interesting in this film, and I was so oblivious to the “mind-numbing” effect that this film has… that I wasn’t even aware that it had ended, until the people came in to clean the theater.

NOW THAT WAS EXCITEMENT!!!

So, how do I rate this film?

Originality of Screenplay




Interest of Storyline




Casting




PARODY OF ARTS is more like a “parallel to boredom”. I cannot recommend this film… AT ALL.

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!!!