JUNE, 30
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THE LEGEND OF ZELDA II

Adventure / Fantasy
Cast: James McAvoy, Kate Bosworth, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne. Voice of Hayden Panettier
Director and Producer: George Lucas
Screenwriter: Josh Collins

Box Office: 168 mill.
Net Gains: 167 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: This franchise lifts off with this second instalment. Not a record breaker, but still a wonderful box office’s breakdown. Fourth best release of the Season. Lucas has taken full control of the saga and leaves it ready for a predictable third episode.

FLASHMAN AND THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT

Adventure / Comedy
Cast: Rupert Everett, Freida Pinto, Kenneth Branagh, Ayesha Takia, Ken Watanabe. Cameo by Judi Dench.
Director: Stephen Frears
Screenwriter: James Bradley

Box Office: 61 mill.
Net Gains: 21 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: The audiences of Flashman’s movies keep going down. The first movie of the saga made 108 millions in box office. The second one made 88 millions. This movie was rated NC-17 due to the sex scenes and that has kept away potential viewers. Anyway, a decent turn out. The Studio will support the future episodes of this funny and naughty saga.

THE SECRET PEOPLE

Adventure
Cast: Daniel Craig, Helena Bonham-Carter, Hugh Laurie, Djimon Hounsou, Casey Affleck, Cedric The Entertainer, Jeremy Piven
Director: Mimi Leder
Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards

Box Office: 43 mill.
Net Gains: 22 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: This was a medium budget production I must confess the Studio did not trust much in. So, all in all, it has made nice profits. I just feel satisfied.


THE LEGEND OF ZELDA II

‘George Lucas has proved before not to be a particularly brilliant movie director. But he is an intelligent and astute producer that knows how to build up profitable products. And that’s exactly what he has done again with this movie. The directional job is just a routine. The plot is pretty flat. But the wrapping of the product is so appealing and makes the whole show look as something better than it really is.’
-Tim Reeve

‘A formula movie for teenagers that works the way it is expected to work. Lucas is far away from the innovative inspiration of the original Star Wars trilogy but still can make visual shows appealing enough to seduce audiences. He won’t change the History of Cinema again. But he is still a trustable talent when talking about big sci-fi and fantasy shows. Personally, I prefer Andrew Adamson’s recent works, like ‘The Ice Princess’ or ‘He-Man and Masters of Universe’. But, anyway, this is a fantasy epic movie as empty as entertaining.’
-Lily Stevens

‘Correct. Everything is correct around this production. And that is both good and bad. It is good cause you won’t feel disappointed spending your money in a ticket. And it is bad because something more could be expected from it. Correct is a tricky word when talking about a movie. And that’s what I exactly pretend rating it as ‘correct’.
-Chris Burgess.

FLASHMAN AND THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT

‘The ‘Flashman Formula’ may be reaching exhaustion. This third episode has so many previously seen elements from the two previous movies. The first part, with Flashy at the Court of Lahore having a good time but also surviving to inside conspiracies, is too similar to his times at the Madagascar’s Court in ‘Flashman’s Travels’. The second part, with all the big battles sequences and Flashy acting cowardly but looking brave, is too similar to the battle seuqneces in ‘The Misadventures of Harry Flashman’. So this third movie is just more of the same. Bradley should look for something new if he wants Flashy to keep liking us as much as he does’
-Charlie Kiggs

‘Frears has been braver where the previous directors of this saga – Newell and Branagh – weren’t: sex. Frears has been more explicit in the usual sex sequences of the saga and that has upgraded the franchise to a more adult level than just watching a nice rogue surviving to all dangers. I like that. But I know that has a price to pay in terms of box office. Anyway, Flashman is again the most innovative and adorable anti-hero I’ve seen in ages and he can count on me for any future adventures’.
-Roy Winslow

‘The man you can’t avoid hating but loving is back. Rupert Everett shines once again with a character perfect for him. Branagh is also so funny as his mannered enemy. Pinto and Takia look so gorgeous. Watanabe shows an unknown and brilliant comedy talent. And Dench shines as Queen Victoria. The Flashman movies are something different from what CMP usually produces. The mix of epic adventures, comedy and sexy exotic worlds is so suggestive that makes you want more each time you watch the latest episode.’
-Anne Roman

THE SECRET PEOPLE

‘A risky bet. Mimi Leder has returned to CMP after his acid dark comedy ‘The Women Club’. And she has taken a different kind of risk here: making an old fashioned adventure comedy. The result is a strange movie that looks a bit out of time without reaching the enchantment of old adventure movies. Leder has not completely failed but has not neither completely hit the target with this kind of tribute to a type of movies abandoned by the industry long time ago.’
-Vic Carter

‘Craig has pretended to be a mix of Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum in this exotic African adventure movie. But he hasn’t reached that level. ‘The Secret People’ is a needless look at the past that does not get to connect with nowadays audiences, educated in other visual language and other narrating styles. If this movie was made 50 years ago in black and white and with another cast we could be talking of a nice adventure classic. But, made in 2009, it does not make completely sense’.
-Amy Ratched

‘Once again, Dawson Edwards wastes a good concept. The inconsistencies of the screenplay act as a heavy weight for this movie. The characters are poorly developed, particularly the supporting ones. Some times it seems like if some actors – Laurie and Hounsou specially – do not know if they are on the good or on the bad side. The pace of the story is too irregular. And although the premises of the story are appealing, at the end you just don’t care of what’s going on. A dispensable movie, far away from the best – the only good one? – Edwards’ work, ‘Fallen Kings’.
-Jackie O’Callaghan


Mr. T: Welcome back, Crazy Moon Pictures. It's been a long nearly 3 month absence and I was ready to commit suicide if I had to go another week without a CMP movie while all of these crappy summer blockbusters over in Hollywoodland keep being released.
Mrs. T: Oh stop exaggerating. You loved Star Trek, Wolverine, Terminator, Transformers, and you even cried during Up. And why do you call yourself Mr. Thumbs? Your real name is..
Mr. T: Shut up or I'm putting you back in the basement. My "beautiful wife", ladies and gentlemen.
Mrs. T: Oh, I know what that means. I'm a woman. I'm not stupid. You're just being sarcastic. Go ahead, call me an ugly bitch like you mean it.
Mr. T: What I call you in the bedroom has nothing to do with my reviews. And duh, I was being sarcastic. Glad you figured that out after everyone else did.
Mrs. T: We love each other! It was our anniversary yesterday.
Mr. T: Anyway, let's move on to more important matters. Mrs. Thumbs wanted to help me with the reviews because apparently I can't do it myself.
Mrs. T: I'm bored. My backup husband left me for his own wife. Cheating bastard.
Mr. T: Go sit over in the corner and keep your mouth shut.
Mr. T: This week, CMP joins Hollywood in the summer line up with three films catering to the action crowd and those seeking adventure in their lives. The next installment in the Zelda franchise, as well as the next installment to Harry Flashman. Lastly, we have 'The Secret People,' an interesting adventure film that sways away from traditional Hollywood normalcy. Also, my grading system has changed a bit more after the return. Get ready to go back to school!
Mrs. T(barely audible): Yeah, that's not a nerdy thing to say!
Mr. T: Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA II

CRITIQUE: It's a video game that deserves a film adaptation. I enjoyed the first Zelda film, but like most sequels to movies, I think this one fell short. Not living up to surpass the first movie and falling short of living up to matching the first one's magic. Also, Josh Collins tries a bit too hard to stay true to the video games. It's not a bad thing, considering that's what most people complain about when seeing video game adaptations. Those who played the games don't really want to watch what they've spent hours playing. I guess we just want our adaptations to stay true to the source but also throw something new into the mix.
Mrs. T: That's the whole having cake and eating it too analogy!
Mr. T: You would know that, wouldn't you?
Mrs. T: What's that supposed to mean?
ACTING/CAST: D-
DIRECTION: D+
WRITING: D
PRODUCTION VALUES: A+(say what you want about the acting, writing, direction. But the makeup, costumes, special effects and cinematography were excellent)
CONCEPT/PLOT: D-
REWATCH VALUE: C+
OVERALL: D-

FLASHMAN AND THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT

CRITIQUE: The return of Harry Flashman. This is what CMP is all about. Might I say I was very exciting to see it come out?
Mrs. T: He wet himself when he saw the trailer.
Mr. T: So did you when you saw Rupert Everett. Anyway, this next installment of the Flashman series goes to show that a series doesn't have to gradually get worse as the movies keep going. Flashman has indeed become a CMP legend along with Hitman and the Wildcards sagas. It still keeps the Flashman adventurous magic alive and a surefire must-see. My wife thinks Rupert is cute in his Flashman get-up but I actually admire the film for its technical aspects, the things that really count.
ACTING/CAST: A
DIRECTION: A
WRITING: A+
PRODUCTION VALUES: A+
CONCEPT/PLOT; A+
REWATCH VALUE: A+
OVERALL: A+

THE SECRET PEOPLE

CRITIQUE: I fear the Secret People will go into this week as the underdog, under-looked by the more popular films. As much as we all yearn for new original ideas, moviegoers still want familiarity. Reminiscent of the adventure films of yesteryear, the film carries its own weight with a strong cast and intriguing concept which we hardly ever get to see nowadays. I liked it and think the film will find an audience who appreciates it.
ACTING/CAST: A-
DIRECTION: B+
WRITING: A-
PRODUCTION VALUES: A-
CONCEPT/PLOT: A+
REWATCH VALUE: A+
OVERALL: A-

Welcome back CMP!

MR. THUMBS' CERTIFIED MUST SEE OF THE WEEK

FLASHMAN AND THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT