OCTOBER, 7


DR. JONES AND THE CURSED TREASURE

Adventure
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Rachel McAdams, Tim Roth, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Naomi Watts, Jet Li, Michael Clarke Duncan
The Director and Producer: Steven Spielberg
The Screenwriter: Joey Stark

Box Office: 122 mill.
Net Gains: 152 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Great! Wonderful net gains due mainly to the amazing result in the American dvd market. This franchise resurrects after a long time and now, after the nice box office, may be here to stay.

CIVILIZATION M

Sci-Fi
Cast: Eric Bana, Brendan Fraser, Halle Berry, Harrison Ford
Director: Roland Emmerich
Screenwriter: Josh Collins


Box Office: 150 mill.
Net Gains: 153 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Oh,yeah! Nothing better than a good classic sci-fi concept to take moviegoers back to theatres. Second best release of the Season until now. It is so nice when there are no surprises and everything works the way it’s meant to be.

THE FUNERAL DRUM

Cops / Action
Cast: Sean Penn, Julia Roberts, Jeffrey Wright, Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves, Clint Eastwood, Rosario Dawson, Edward Burns, William Hurt
The Director: Michael Mann
The Screenwriters: Joey Stark and James Bradley

Box Office: 70 mill.
Net Gains: 45 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: And this completes a sweet week for CMP… This one wasn’t expected to be a major blockbuster. It has worked the way it was expected to. The NC-17 rating may have damaged a bit its financial breakdown, but violence and sex was very much needed and justified in a story like this. Personally, it joins the list of my favourite movies.


DR.JONES AND THE CURSED TREASURE

'As a fan of the saga since its very beginning, 'Indy IV' was a big disappointment for me. There wasn't much of a story. It looked more like a chain of action set pieces put together without a solid storyline connecting them. The ironic sense of humour of previous movies was lost. The classic adventure spirit was lost too. Characters were superficially developed. It seemed like a routine work made just to collect some money using the iconic trademark of Indiana Jones. Such a sure bet that Spielberg and Lucas did not bother to put in it all the creative effort it deserved. Still mad about it, I was sceptical when CMP announced the production of this new Indy's father adventure. But I was happily surprised. I think this movie directly connects with the spirit of 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark', when Indy was more an anti-hero than a hero and sense of humour was as important as action and special effects. 'The Cursed Treasure' is a non-stop action adventure but characters are developed enough - both the goods and the villains - to feel interested about them. Special effects do not eat the whole show but just support the deliberate old fashioned concept of adventure. There is a nice innocence in the whole function, taking us back to the good old times when everything wasn't apocalyptic sci-fi adventures or violent pc games based stories. So, after 'Indy IV', this movie has meant for me a reconciliation with the Jones family and also with the talent of Steven Spielberg.'
-Charlie Kiggs

'Once again, Spielberg keeps providing CMP's films vault with adventures movies that do not follow today's trend. This movie has a classic conception of moviemaking the same way other previous CMP's works from Spielberg have. I cannot imagine Spielberg directing movies like 'Bullet Witch' or 'Preacher'. There is a new generation of movie directors who can do that better than him. But nobody can beat him on recreating a movie language closer to those naive adventures starred but guys like Errol Flynn, Burt Lancaster or Tyron Power. In CMP, Spielberg took us back to the magic of the original Star Wars movies with 'Star Wars: New Order' - much closer to the first trilogy enchantment than to the creative emptiness of the second trilogy. He also took us back to that old subgenre of epic fantasy adventures taking place in unknown worlds with 'Atlantis' - a movie that has not got the recognition it deserves. And now he has resurrected the adventure genre brilliantly mixing traditional adventure genre elements like pirates, volcanos, jungles, wild animals and ancestral curses. This way, Spielberg proves again he is closer to the old masters of Movie History than to the new generation of moviemakers that still have a lot to prove.'
-Roy Winslow

'One of the main skills of this entertaining movie is its cast. Ewan McGregor looks more adapted to his character that he was in the previous 'Sword of Faith'. He makes the perfect Dr. Jones, getting closer to the ironic british style Connery showed in 'The Last Crusade'. Tim Roth keeps growing in CMP making an eccentric villain after his brilliant work in 'Chrysalis'. Naomi Watts returns to pirates' world after the two 'Corsairs' movies. And Philip Seymour Hoffman shows efficiently his comedy side. The whole cast looks comfortable playing the characters and having fun doing it. I think this second episode of Dr. Jones adventures has built up solid elements to go on with a franchise that promises adventure and entertainment the way the movies used to in the past'.
-Alex Stampton

CIVILIZATION M

'The problem with this movie is that the whole show is too oriented to the final surprise. That means 95 minutes with all the clichés of the aliens invasions movies and just five minutes of surprise. Dangerous. It is an entertaining movie. It is brilliantly shot, with a touch of classicism that makes a difference from other sci-fi recent productions. But the certainty that we have seen all before - and more than one time - gets so strong as minutes go on that, when the final twist comes, we may just not care about it as much as we should. And, after all, if the attacked humans are in fact aliens but they look and live and act and react just like humans, what difference does it make?'
-Tim Reeve

'It would be so easy to enumerate here all the similarities between this movie and 'Independence Day'. A look at the cast of characters is enough. In 'Independence Day' we also had a pilot, a wife and a brave US President. Just exactly what we have here. So that makes me think that Collins and Emmerich did not pretend to hide those similarities but just pay homage to the movie adding only a twist in the plot. And that would have been justified if we were talking here of a remake of an old picture, like Hollywood does so often these days. But what sense does it make to revisit a movie just twelve years old and still fresh in many sci-fi fans' memory? I admit that 'Civilization M' liked me much more than the excessive and hard to believe original. But that's not reason enough to understand what were the guys of CMP thinking when they green lighted this unnecessary revisit of too well known concepts.'
-Anne Roman

'There was a time when westerns were released on theatres almost week after week and they were applauded although their storylines were pretty similar (i.e.: are there many differences between John Wayne's movies?). There was also a time for war movies. And I could also mention here disaster movies, roman movies or even underdog 80's shows. So there's nothing wrong to make another standard aliens invasion movie. 'Civilization M' is an entertaining movie, it keeps you at the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, Fraser looks as a great hero and Ford, Bana and Berry are always nice to watch in the silver screen. Nothing new under the sun? So what? I had a great time watching this sci-fi adventure, my popcorns were delicious and my Coke was refreshing and when I left the movie theatre I looked at the sky willing to defend my planet from any kind of attack. And I even wondered: well, if I'm an alien and humans are not here but out there, who cares?'
-Chris Burguess

THE FUNERAL DRUM

'This cops action drama recovers a kind of story that is rarely seen on screen in our days. Stark and Bradley have reunited some traditional elements of the cops genre in a tribute to a way of making movies that can be almost consider a rarity nowadays. Intense and conflictive characters, no concessions, real violence and the perfect doses of surprises in the storyline to keep the attention. Mann was the perfect choice to turn this story into cold and intriguing images not letting the pace wane a single second. If 'The Funeral Drum' would have been released in the 70's we would consider it a classic today. I am not sure if in twenty years from now will this movie still be remembered. But it should'.
-Amy Ratched

'Stark has finally left the easy action comedies he has been writing lately. And Bradley has left aside for once his 'relationships stories'. And both have written together a sharp, tough, disturbing and absorbing police story that Michael Mann has directed with firm pulse and energy. Adult cinema at last in CMP. Crime, politics, sex, corruption, betrayal, media manipulation... it has it all and it mixes it to create an oppressive atmosphere where the line between goods and bads gets so thin that almost disappears. Sean Penn proves again the great actor he is when he has the right character in his hands. Julia Roberts shows how far she is from Pretty Woman and what a great mature actress she can be. Jeffrey Wright makes a villain so seductive that at some moments even audience can be mislead by him. And the rest of the cast enrich the movie with their brilliant works. A must see.’
-Jackie O’Callaghan

‘Lets put together movies like ‘Fort Apache The Bronx’, ‘Assault On Precinct 13’, ‘Copland’, ‘Colours’, ‘Shaft’ or even the Dirty Harry saga, among many others, and you will easily make a picture of what ‘The Funeral Drum’ is. Stark and Bradley have teamed up to offer us a brilliant addition to the cops genre. As disturbing as appealing, the movie works with the precision of a perfectly balanced machinery immersing the audience in a world of dark passions, interests and crimes. Michael Mann gets close here to the mastery of directors specialized in this kind of stories, from Sidney Lumet to William Friedkin or Daniel Petrie. And the whole cast shines playing that gallery of tough men and women so similar at both sides of the law.’
-Vic Carter


I have been getting hate mail and threatening phone calls from all kinds of protesting groups about my comments toward Asians. I wish to extend a public apology to everyone offended by my statements which were uncalled for. In that same statement I managed to upset another group of minorities as well, "little persons" and I wish to extend my deep apologies to everyone offended by my rude comments. It should never have been said.

Now on with the reviews.

DR JONES AND THE CURSED TREASURE

I did NOT like Indy IV. I do admire this different and very interesting take on the series, following the adventures of Dr Jones as a young adventurer. I found this installment of the series even better than 'The Sword of Faith' I hope Hollywood doesn't jump on this series because I don't think I'll accept anyone else other than Ewan as Dr Jones and I just know they wouldn't cast him! Loved the film and has revived my faith in the franchise.
RATING: 9/10

CIVILIZATION M

The classic alien invasion story that comes off as 'Independence Day' but pulling a huge reversal at the end. There may be some people who go to see the film who found the twist obvious, but the concept was still a neat thing to think about. Was it a masterpiece? Not in my eyes. I personally think Roland Emmerich films are extremely overrated, but did it do what it wanted to do and entertain and leave some people look at the skies and wonder 'what if they're up there just living their lives like us with no idea we're here, and what if they think we don't exist like how some of us don't believe they exist.' It did that for me.
RATING 6/10

THE FUNERAL DRUM

Here we have that gritty cop movie and it worked extremely well. Bradley and Stark prove great minds think alike and can achieve gold. Cast, direction, writing, everything was just engrossing and you just didn't want the movie to end. This may very well be one of the best of the season and a major GMA contender for sure! It's got my vote already.
RATING: 9.5/10

Mr. Thumbs talks GMA Buzz

Could you really get a good GMA list for this season? Many films in CMP's 8th Season are sequels and comic or PC game adaptations and we all know those are usually the most ignored kind of films come GMA time. And you certainly can't expect the 'over the top silly' kind of comedies like Lt. USA or Q*Bert to get award buzz. But even huge box office successes like Ice Princess don't even make the nominee list. So what exactly counts come time for voting? I always have loads of fun trying to pick who I think will get Oscar nominations, so here's my take on who I think will get the nods and I've summed it into 10 of the best films this season that I will predict will be the main focuses of the GMAs.

1 The Funeral Drum: Great award-worthy story, amazing cast that could surely gain some acting nods (particularly from Gosling, Roberts, Penn and surprisingly, Reeves, who churned out his best performance) Michael Mann's wonderful direction could earn him into the top 3 best director noms.

2 The Chinese Bride: Hasn't been released yet, but reading through the brief synopsis' you can just tell this smells of a major award contender. Ziyi Zhang, Matt Damon could very well snag actor/actress nominations.

3 Maleficarum: Another 'not released yet' film that already is screaming GMAs. Makalaster's brilliant take on the witch trials could very well earn him his first screenwriting award, and it will be well deserved. The film as a whole, incredible.

4 1066: I couldn't get enough of this historic film in my reviews for it. An instant classic in my book that could certainly be in the running for direction, screenwriting and a few acting awards (Clive Owen and Daniel Craig respectively)

5 Change of Heart: Josh Collins ensemble films usually always have a lasting impression on GMA voters and the movie goers. I could certainly see quite a few acting nods toward Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Mark Ruffalo, Melissa McCarthy and Cillian Murphy. But is it a strong enough film to get into the top three nomination spots?

6 The Manor: GMA voters enjoy 'strange films' Life and Facts was pretty strange and it became one of the top GMA contenders of last season. It's Steve Martin's chance to prove he hasn't sold his soul, then again Eddie Murphy tried to do that in Dreamgirls and he went back to Norbit and Meet Dave.

7 The Critic: Could very well be the surprise hit that scores a few acting nods toward Patrick Stewart and Morgan Freeman.

8 The Thinking Man: Trax and Mamet have proven time and time again that their movies always churn out award worthy material. If Trax gets a writing nod for this one, I would hope it is a statement of well deserved recognition through his wonderful contributions throughout the seasons.

9 The Ice Princess: Will probably be ignored come GMA time, but there's no denying that this film was groundbreaking enough that I hope something gets recognized out of it. Just because it's an animated movie doesn't mean it can't get nominations. Look at past Oscar nominated animated films that weren't only up for best animation such as Beauty and the Beast and even Ratatouille got best writing.

10-TIE
A Man Called Dan: Only thing I found appealing about this film were the lead actors, Eckhart and Howard, these guys may have earned their first nominations in the acting categories, and let's not forget their memorable scenes that could earn them best starring couple.
Sixth Avenue Castaways: Another chance to reach out for best starring couple, but the film didn't get quite as much acclaim as I was expecting. The only characters in the film were engrossing enough to earn GMA buzz. Bradley's directing and screenwriting was beautiful enough to be a contender for those particular awards.

There ya have it, the ten best films of CMP's 8th season in my point of view. I hope my predictions will be true come GMA time!