SEPTEMBER, 22


SILVER SABLE AND THE WILD PACK

Action / Superhero
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Tobey Maguire, Gerard Butler, Edgar Ramirez, Eric Balfour, Dominic Monaghan, AnnaSophia Robb, Bo Hoskins
Director and Producer: Bryan Singer
Screenwriter: Joey Stark

Box Office: 352 mill.
Net Gains: 420 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand up. Here we have both the best box office ever and the highest net gains ever for a CMP’s movie. Simply amazing. Remember that the previous box office top 1 was ‘The Ice Princess’ with 316 millions and the most profitable release was ‘The Dark Tower: The Drawing Of The Three’ with net gains of 382 millions. So this means that the movie hasn’t broken but literally pulverized all records! And it was only an ordinary superhero movie with the usual budget and marketing campaign we approve for this kind of movies… Katherine has simply seduced the whole world playing this sexy heroine. My brother Joey is just in ecstasy.

MORE TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

Suspense / Drama
Cast: Daniel Radcliff, Tilda Swinton, Emma Thompson, John Cleese, Gerard Depardieu, Eva Green, Gaspard Ulliel, Cyril Descours, Jean-Pierre Léaud
Directors: David Fincher, Matt Kubrick, Gus Van Sant
Screenwriter: Ben Tyler

Box Office: 116 mill.
Net Gains: 94 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: The first ‘Tales’ movie made 108 in box office, so this new instalment has done even better, although net gains have been lower. It is obvious that the first movie created a fan base for these suspense short stories that has loyally gone back to movie theatres for another portion of quality suspense. More than satisfactory box office’s turnout.

CRIME STOPPERS

Comedy
Cast: Steve Carrell, Owen Wilson, Mike Meyers, Jason Mewes, Zach Braff, Leslie Mann, Jeremy Sumpter, Kevin Smith
Director: Kevin Smith
Screenwriter and Producer: Chad Taylor

Box Office: 4 mill.
Net Losses: 32 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: It has been a long time since CMP suffered a tremendous disaster like this. 32 millions of net losses! The movie joins the list of the ten worst CMP’s releases ever. These kind of big disasters always surprise me. The comedy had enough elements to work. But it seems like this week everyone preferred to watch Silver Sable… Oh, boy, this week’s releases have been like riding in a rollercoaster!


SILVER SABLE AND THE WILD PACK

‘Every time a movie breaks all kind of records, the first question I make is why. And, usually, I cannot find an specific answer for neither big hits nor big flops. I never understood why ‘The Ice Princess’ – nothing more than a correct animated feature – or the esoteric ‘TDT: The Drawing Of The Three’ were such smash hits. And I don’t understand it this time neither. This second Silver Sable’s movie is a correct and entertaining action movie. Less epic – in terms of superheroes’ universe – than The Avengers’ movies but maybe more fresh – in terms of entertainment – than other more pretentious CMP’s superheroes movies. I think that the only reason for this huge success is the appeal of Katherine Heigl, who has created a sexy heroine and a strong female character both interesting for male – from all ranks of ages – and female audiences. Maybe it is just as simple as that.’
-Charlie Kiggs

‘Bryan Singer has completely redefined this franchise with this second instalment. ‘Silver Sable’ was more an action movie than a superhero movie. Silver’s character was there a brave and courageous woman and action set pieces were shot in a very realistic way. Now, in this second movie, Silver has turned into a sophisticated woman that always keeps her exotic wardrobe shining and her perfect hair no matter what she does. And action set pieces have become more spectacular but less believable, from the brilliant opening sequence with Silver and her guys jumping from a dam to get into a subaquatic airplane to Silver jumping from one plane to another in the final sequence. I preferred the style of the first movie but audiences worldwide have decided that they love this new Silver closer to Ironman or Captain America than to Lara Croft.’
-Vic Carter

‘We are not talking about a movie here but about a marketing operation perfectly designed to turn Silver Sable into a money-making machine. Yes, it’s a good movie. Singer has put a perfect pace in it to make it a great popcorn show. The introduction of sentimental issues in the plot has been a clever move. The opening sequence is probably one of the best action set pieces we’ve seen lately. The presence of the always appealing Spiderman has been another astute decision by the Studio. And Katherine Heigl looks so gorgeous. But does all that justify the amazing success of this movie? From time to time, audiences decide to get crazy with a movie, no matter if it deserves it or not, and ‘Silver Sable and The Wild Pack’ has been so lucky to be the chosen one this time.’
-Jackie O’Callaghan

MORE TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

‘The first ‘Tales’ movie was a delicious breeze of fresh air in the middle of the usual superheroes movies or horror flicks CMP usually releases. It didn’t matter that many people have seen those same stories before on tv. It was a quality product, wonderfully manufactured and such a daring initiative in the middle of too many predictable releases. Now, Tyler has returned with a second instalment of the concept. And again, we have three intriguing short stories perfectly written, brilliantly directed and so well performed by the whole cast. But, inevitably, the freshness of the first movie is lost. Now, we go to the movie theatre knowing what we are going to watch. It’s not a fault of any of the talents involved. It is just that the movie cannot help losing the power to surprise us that the first movie had.’
-Anne Roman

‘This second instalment of the Ben Tyler’s adaptations for the big screen of the old Roald Dahl’s suspense stories is another proof that quality adult audiences oriented productions can work. I am afraid that if we don’t support these kind of daring productions, we will have to keep watching superheroes movies each and every week. So I feel obliged to applaud Ben Tyler and CMP for betting for this concept. Once said so, it is also true that the three stories chosen for this second movie do not reach the dramatic strength of the three ones included in the first ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’. Maybe only the first one – wonderful work by Depardieu! – equals the surprising power of those. The premises of the stories included in ‘Tales..’ were so ingenious and surprising – that unforgettable Adolf Hitler’s mother... – and the ones chosen this time are not as shocking and disturbing as those were. Anyway, if you want to have a nice time feeling suspense on your skin, watch this movie.’
-Roy Winslow

‘Ben Tyler has the intelligence of making us watch as something new what in fact are only adaptations of an old tv series that also adapted classic Roald Dahl’s tales. The talent of the three directors involved, the brilliant work of the three casts and the perfectly paced Tyler’s screenplay upgrade the original material turning this movie into a recommended experience for fans of quality suspense. The formula may get exhausted soon but, until that happens, I can go for a third ride.’
-Andrew Stampton

CRIME STOPPERS

‘A wasted chance. The funny premise of this movie – those aged action movies stars trying to recover their glory days – has not been developed in the screenplay at the level the concept deserved. The problem with this movie is simply the worst problem a comedy may have: it is not funny. The jokes and the comedic situations just don’t work. ‘Crime Stoppers’ is one of those movies that could have been such an original and hilarious production. But it stays a few steps before being as funny as you expect it to be when you walk into the theatre. A shame.’
-Tim Reeve

‘Kevin Smith has tried to make a more ‘mainstream’ comedy than what he usually does. And he has proved to be incapable of doing it. At some moments, you just have the feeling he doesn’t know what to do with the material he is dealing with, jumping from subtle to gross sense of humour and not reaching at any moment the right comedy pace. I just think this wasn’t the right material for him as the story and his directing style just don’t fit. A special mention is also deserved about the cast: Mike Meyers is as annoying as he always is, Carrell and Wilson look desperate and frustrated in their attempt to be funny and Zach Braff looks as if he has no idea of what is he doing in this movie...’
-Lilly Stevens

‘Making good comedies is such a difficult task. CMP has produced some great samples of the genre – let’s remember ‘Woodland Creatures’, ‘Mary’s Dark Side’ or ‘Fools Game’, among others – and some horrible ones, like ‘Poor Little Rich Boy’, ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me’ or ‘Lying Wish’. ‘Crime Stoppers’ can be placed in a middle land. It is ok, but it is not great. And ‘ok’ is never enough to make a comedy work. Audiences want to laugh when watching a comedy. And the problem with ‘Crime Stoppers’ is that you never get to laugh during its whole 95 minutes.’
-Ryan Caulbert


SILVER SABLE AND THE WILD PACK

CRITIQUE: I liked the first film. Most of the time I'm quite sketchy about film sequels, but this one manages to sit on the same level as the predecessor. It has earned the chance to be called a new installment, not just a sequel. I was on the edge of the seat with the action. It delivered the entertaining goods: keeping up with the action while giving audiences a story to follow.
ACTING/CAST: B-
DIRECTION: B
WRITING: B+
CONCEPT/PLOT: B+
PRODUCTION VALUES: A
REWATCH VALUES: A+
OVERALL: A-

MORE TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

CRITIQUE: With so much expectation and success of the first film, it's hard to match or excell above its older popular sibling. Tales isn't a sequel in the sense of using the same characters, atmosphere, etc. It merely brings to life a film adaptation of the published stories. You can't just make one film out of a series and leave it. Well you can, but only if the first film was a success. In Tales' case, the second film adaptation needed to be made and needed to prove itself. I feel like it did. I think it has promise to make a grand box office and might be another film to sweep awards. I think there would be some sort of record for that.
ACTING/CAST: A
DIRECTION: A+
WRITING: A +
CONCEPT/PLOT: A
PRODUCTION VALUES: B
REWATCH VALUE: A
OVERALL: A

CRIME STOPPERS

CRITIQUE: Speaking of films needing to be made, Chad Taylor continues to impress me with his choice of films. Crime Stoppers needs to be seen by all of these senile action stars who try too hard to show they still "have it." A hilarious ride from beginning to end. Loved the Apocalypse Never bit: For those who don't know, that's what media joked about as the title of Apocalypse Now as it took forever to make.
ACTING/CAST: B-
DIRECTION: B+
WRITING: A
CONCEPT/PLOT: A+
PRODUCTION VALUES: B
REWATCH VALUE: A+
OVERALL: A-

Mr. Thumbs' Certified Must See of the Week....

With such a great week of releases, it's that time again to pull out the rarest weekly pick:

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See Them All!