JUNE, 3

MOVIES RELEASED

1-3’s and 7’s

Action / Gangster
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Russell Crowe, Ken Watanabe, Rene Russo. Cameo: Robert De Niro
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Screenwriter: David Makalaster


Box Office: 65 mill.
Net Gains: 37 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: A good action movie, but lower box office than expected. I liked this one and I honestly wish it could have worked better. Anyway, quality and action get together for once.

2-LOBO

Action / Sci-Fi / Comedy
Cast: Vin Diesel, Patrick Stewart, Ed Harris, Jack Black, Jenna Fisher, Michael Ironside, Ryan Reynolds
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Producer: Matt Kubrick / Midnight Movies
Screenwriters: Ben Tyler & Matt Kubrick

Box Office: 93 mill.
Net Gains: 66 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Wonderful release for this mega-violent production. Honest again: this is not my kind of movie. But, hey, I love nice box offices! And I admit is a most original production.

3-ONLY IN AMERICA

Comedy / Musical
Cast: Will Smith, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Matt Damon, Jon Favreau, John C. Reilly, Robert Duvall. Cameos: Richard Gere, Aaron Eckhart.
Director: Cameron Crowe
Screenwriter: Ted Froats

Box Office: 153 mill.
Net Gains: 132 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: The second ‘100’ of this Season at last (...and it was about time). Did anyone doubt that this cast would make it? It looked as a sure bet and it has met expectations. Definetely, Froats becomes Mr. Musical with this really funny and creative production.

THE CRITICS CORNER

1-3'S AND 7'S

"The opinion about this move depends on the opinion you have about Tarantino. I mean, as CMP announced, this is pure Tarantino. Action, violence, excesses, and an approach beyond realism to plots and characters. Personally, I think Tarantino knows how to ‘move the camera'. But his screenplays are always weaker than his visual power. This time, Makalaster has written a perfect screenplay for him and that allows Tarantino to concentrate in the directional job offering his visual talent to the story. But - and this is only my opinion - Tarantino is not the genius he - and many others - thinks he is. And their movies are not as good as he - and many others - thinks they are. And that happens with this one too. '3's and 7's' is a good action movie, visually powerful, entertaining and excessive at some moments. But that's all... although, on the other side, that is much more than what can be said about many other action movies."
-Bob Felton

"Tarantino is a cool, stylish and daring moviemaker. He has created his own style. He is a reference in contemporary cinema. And he can make the best and the worst with all that. 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction' are great movies. 'Kill Bill' can be placed in a middle earth. And 'Grindhouse' would be an example of the worst Tarantino. Same goes for his CMP's works. He made a good job with the second episode of 'Wild Cads', a correct work with '22:01' and an awful movie with 'Ace Banner: Return To Fury'. But this one is probably his best work for CMP. Las Vegas, a golden dragon, a triad assassin, mobsters, poker games and a femme fatale were the perfect elements for him. And he has known how to make the most of it. CMP finally has a worthy Tarantino movie in his movie vault. It was about time..."
-Roy Winslow

"Tarantino will never shoot action scenes as brilliantly as Sam Peckinpah. He will never approach to film noir characters as brilliantly as John Huston. And he will never be as brilliantly excessive as Stanley Kubrick. But at least he has a bit of them all. And, with the help of the well built up screenplay from David Makalaster, he has proved that again in this movie. Orlando Bloom is not a young Paul Newman. Not even a young Bruce Willis. But he has made a believable performance here. Russell Crowe and Watanabe seem to have perfectly understood their characters - realistic and, at the same time, a bit parodic of certain stereotypes - and Rene Russo shines sexy and mysterious in her role. Although admitting some defects - something common in Tarantino's movies - a worth to watch movie with a certain classic taste."
-Chris Burguess

2-LOBO

"As it happened with the recent release 'Damnation Road', this is a movie oriented to very specific audiences. Not everyone is able to enjoy the violence in it and will understand the freaky look of the whole production. Deliberately excessive, falling into pure gore at some moments, and not taking itself too serious, 'Lobo' is the wildest comic based movie ever produced. Far, very far away, from superheroes mainstream movies, Lobo is a repulsive character that does not look for our sympathy at any moment. You love him because you hate him. You love to hate him. That's the appeal of it. Feeling disgust and still enjoying it. Watching this movie becomes a weird experience: you feel rejection for each and every sequence and at the same time you just don't want it to end."
-Amy Ratched

"The main discovery of this freak masterpiece is its production design. A mixture between cartoons and gore movies. As colourful as dark. As full of dark sense of humor as of gratuitous extreme violence. I don't know who is behind this powerful production design. Maybe Robert Rodriguez himself, as he has proved to know how creating visually new universes in movies like 'Sin City' (let's be generous and forget here that 'Shark Boy and Lava Girl'). Or maybe it is all the idea of the guys from Midnight Movies (a company that is really finding its way with its latest works, 'Damnation Road' and this one). Or it all comes from the Tyler & Kubrick joint venture. Don't know. But the truth is that 'Lobo' becomes an innovative and hypnotizing visual show that perfectly mixes the looks of a cheap home made movie with the means of a big Studio production."
-Vic Carter

"Here goes the 'Tarantino & Rodriguez CMP's Tribute Week'. The two most overvalued directors in decades offer us their latest creations. And once again all movie critics will feel obliged to praise and applaud their supposed talent. Not me. Come on, somebody tell me what really good movie has Rodriguez ever done. And I mean 'really good' without condescension or feeling obliged to follow the official rules of modernity. CMP has set up its own 'Grindhouse Week' and, honestly, I can accept Tarantino's movie, but this out of control ultraviolent Rodriguez's cartoon is only bearable if you are under the effects of some strong acid. I'd rather take a light soda and stay home watching my 'Super Bowl' dvd."
-Anne Roman

3-ONLY IN AMERICA

“A musical based in two appealing elements: the biggest reunion of movie stars ever in CMP and the brilliant music pieces composed by Ted Froats. Two solid pillars that perfectly mix to make this movie a sure bet. A hilarious parody of US Presidential elections, as superficial as enjoyable. An unique opportunity to spend a good time in a movie theatre watching a bunch of the most charismatic stars in Hollywood singing and dancing.”
-Jackie O’Callaghan

“Mr. Smith leaves action and returns to music. Michelle Pfeiffer recovers the musical glamour of ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’. Jim Carrey proves again his talent for singing and dancing after CMP’s ‘Carousel’. Matt Damon proves that he can sing something more than just ‘Fucking Matt Damon’ (see youtube to understand if you don’t) and Jack Nicholson has the time of his life playing one of those excessive characters he loves. Need to say more? A guarantee of success. A movie that works at all levels, both as a funny comedy (much better as a political parody than ‘No More Bush!) and as a quality musical (more original than ‘Carousel’).”
-Lilly Stevens

“I wish US campaigns were closer to this than to that boring and repetitive duel between Obama and Hillary. Cameron Crowe has set up the perfect hollywood-esque show. Perfect musical numbers. A cast with the cream of the crop. Agile directional job. And jokes that work. The result? Less risky than ‘Lobo’, less modern than ‘3’s and 7’s’ but, after all, less ambitious and much more entertaining than both.”
-Andrew Jones



3's and 7's

Just when you thought Josh Collins had the cat in the bag for a film about a Chinese Triad, David Makalaster brings to life his own flavor in the genre featuring a triad. Except it's a completely different story and a masterpiece in its own right. And the film is definitely the right element for Tarantino which shows he still has some fight left as a force to reckon with. Everyone is perfectly cast and plays their roles extremely well. We may very well be seeing a good best picture of the season candidate for the GMAs!

LOBO

While Tarantino is over there making a gangster movie, his friend Rodriguez is up against him with this sci fi comic based film that looks to be a cult classic, Lobo. Tyler and Kubrick bring back the retro science fiction anti-hero, Lobo with a cinematic look which reminds me of the films such as Mad Max. Fans of the comics and the character, rejoice! Your prayers have been answered! It's a film you want to see for the entertainment value, so take it as is.

ONLY IN AMERICA

Seems like CMP films do more mockery of current U.S. politics than the other films do. But this one takes the cake as the most interesting and hilarious. You'll laugh yourself to tears, jump out of your seats and dance. It is the best CMP musical since Carosel, coincidentally also written by Ted Froats, who has proven that he has a great knack to balance comedy and drama. We may very well be seeing another GMA candidate this week.