JULY, 13


METROPOLIS

Sci-fi / Drama
The Cast: Cillian Murphy, Natalie Portman, William Hurt, William H. Macy, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard.
Director and Producer: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Richard Franzwa

Box Office: 78 mill.
Net Gains: 62 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
This wasn’t the kind of sci-fi movie meant to attract young audiences. So I can understand why it has made a nice but not amazing box office. Anyway, numbers have been good enough and, most of all, CMP has produced another movie that will be remember in years to come.

THE FLASH: BLITZ

Action / Superhero
Cast: Joshua Jackson, Isla Fisher, Simon Baker, Michael Madsen, Derek Luke, Steve Buscemi
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards

Box Office: 160 mill.
Net Gains: 135 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
Wonderful box office for this one! It becomes the best box office of the Season so far! ‘The Flash’ made 108 millions so this one confirms that this is a rising franchise. Third installment would be welcome, Mr. Edwards!

THE RESURRECTED – THE FORGOTTEN PART 2

Action / Gangster
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michelle Williams, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, Lea Michele, Tom Wilkinson, Sharon Stone, Bruce Willis, Michael Douglas
Director: Jonathan Demme
Screenwriter: Chad Taylor

Box Office: 113 mill.
Net Gains: 154 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
WOW! It had been some time since I did not have a nice surprise like this. ‘The Forgotten’ only made 48 millions in box office. But it seems like audiences have finally hooked to this saga. The Studio very much needed a ‘sleeper’ like this. Best week of the Season by far!


METROPOLIS

‘Making a remake of a classic is always a risky thing. But maybe not that much this time. I’m sure that 99.9% of the audience has never seen the original Fritz Lang’s movie. So, for most of the audience, this is a brand new story. And a great one. Spielberg’s movie is one of the best ‘adult sci-fi’ movie ever made. And what I mean for ‘adult’ sci-fi is that, beyond its spectacular visual effects, the most interesting thing of this movie is how it creates an own universe and develops an intelligent and deep plot in it. This movie is not about battles of flashy spaceships or wars between humans and exotic aliens. This movie tells a thought-provoking story about human condition, social conflicts and essential feelings. And it does it with mastery upgrading the sci-fi genre to something more than an empty and luxurious visual show. An indispensable movie not only for sci-fi fans but for everyone who enjoy a quality movie.’
-Charlie Kiggs

‘Steven Spielberg confirms himself as the greatest moviemaker of the last decades with this amazing ‘Metropolis’. If we look at his sci-fi movies only, he has made wonderful works – the unforgettable ‘E.T.’, the imaginative ‘Minority Report’, the interesting ‘A.I.’ – and weaker products – the routine ‘War Of The Worlds’ or the irregular ‘Jurassic Park’ movies – and, luckily, ‘Metropolis’ joins the list of his sci-fi masterpieces. One of the main skills of Spielberg is that he knows how to recreate a new universe and make it believable. And that’s what he does again in ‘Metropolis’ - together with ‘Kavalier & Clay’ and ‘Star Wars: New Order’, one of his best works for CMP too. Spielberg has this ‘bigger than life’ perspective that was needed to tell a story like this. And he has proved again that nobody mixes an epic narrative style with intimate plotlines like him. A five stars movie.’
-Vic Carter

‘During the latest CMP’s Seasons there has always been a movie that shines over the rest. In Season 12, it was ‘American Tabloid’ (and it became the most nominated movie ever at the GMA and won the Best Picture award). In Season 13, it was Spielberg’s ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Clay’ (and it broke all records becoming the most nominated and the most awarded movie ever at the GMA). And this 14th Season, we have this ‘Metropolis’ and it can be predicted that it will also make something big at the next GMA. The talent of Richard Franzwa finally explodes with this superb movie that enters directly in the selected list of the best movies ever produced by the Studio.’
-Jake Cobb

THE FLASH: BLITZ

‘I have always had the feeling that CMP always treated The Flash as a poor relative of its main superheroes, like Silver Sable, Wonder Woman or The Avengers. The first movie was released without the usual hype for superheroes movies. And they have waited five Seasons to develop this sequel. Well, that should change now. ‘The Flash: Blitz’ has not only become a powerful blockbuster – much more successful than other hyped superheroes flicks – but also one of the best superheroes movies ever produced by the Studio. Although the movie respects faithfully the rules of the superheroes genre, it also has an intelligent plot, well developed characters, very well shot action sequences and some daring innovations – like the dramatic loss of the babies – that places this movie over the average quality level of most of superheroes movies. After this second installment, ‘The Flash’ cannot be considered anymore as a minor CMP’s superhero but, definitely, as one of the most interesting and profitable ones for the Studio.’
-Anne Roman

‘Acting works are not exactly the most important thing in a superhero movie. What you ask from any actor playing a superhero is that he can make you believe him as the character. And that’s exactly what Joshua Jackson does here. Same way I just cannot think of any other Spiderman than Tobey Maguire, any other Iron Man then Downey Jr. or any other Wonder Woman than Cobie Smulders, Jackson has perfectly adjusted to the character and personifies it with credibility. Also, villains are always an essential part of any superhero movie and I must say that Simon Baker becomes here the main attraction of the movie, even stealing the show to Jackson at some moments, becoming one of the icons of the long list of comics adaptations’ villains.’
-Tim Reeve

‘This second Flash’s movie reminded me the first Raimi’s Spiderman’s movie, right before the sequels ruined that franchise. That was an interesting movie that perfectly showed the evolution of the character and his personal conflicts together with spectacular action sequences. Personally, I have always considered the old Richard Donner’s ‘Superman’ and Raimi’s ‘Spiderman’ – together with CMP’s ‘The Avengers: Civil War’ and maybe ‘Captain America vs Superman’ - as the best superheroes movies ever. And this ‘The Flash: Blitz’ gets close to them. Edwards has written a very solid screenplay, making an obvious effort to go beyond the usual stereotyped characters and situations of this kind of movies, and Fuqua has shot the story with nerve, building a great entertaining show that justifies its splendid box office.’
-Jackie O’Callaghan

THE RESURRECTED

‘After watching ‘The Forgotten’, I must admit that I had doubts about the future of this saga. But I have got over them with this second installment. Taylor’s story has gained strength, interest and credibility with this sequel. Mixing elements of film noir, action genre and even family and romantic dramas, ‘The Resurrected’ has provided personality to this new saga that can finally be considered a more than honorable heir of ‘The Heirs’. I can’t wait to see how all the plotlines opened in this movie are developed and solved by Taylor in the third installment of it.’
-Roy Winslow

‘Joseph Gordon-Levitt reminds me Al Pacino in the first Godfather movie. That’s the biggest praise I can tell about him. Like Pacino there, Gordon-Levitt lives here the internal and intimate conflict of choosing between an ordinary and honest life or becoming a mobster like his father was. It’s his splendid acting work what holds up the whole story. Of course, the appearance of Johnny Depp playing a devious character also upgrades this saga. And I must remark too the strong screen presence of the tormented Sharon Stone. Stone fills the screen every time she shows up. In a movie so much based on characters and acting, the great cast here is what makes ‘The Resurrected’ a movie that overcomes the clichés of its own plot.’
-Andrew Stampton

‘’The Resurrected’ is a missed chance. It could have been a wonderful mob movie… only if Taylor should have polished his screenplay a bit. The unnecessarily too long screenplay seriously damages the pace of the movie. Taylor’s story spends too much time telling us details not too important or interesting and that ends up breaking the tension of the film. Demme could have saved that making some editing work cause the movie did not need to be as long as it is and there are quite a few sequences that do not provide anything to the story. Together with that, some subplots – particularly, the relationship between Gordon-Levitt and Lea Michelle – are not well told and you just end up confused about the game he is playing with Lea and Michelle (by the way, two arguable cast choices in my opinion). Also, as most of the second installments in any trilogy, the feeling that this movie is just a transition between the setting of the story and its final conclusion is too evident here and takes away some strength to the movie. It is a shame that those deficiencies keep ‘The Resurrected’ from becoming the great movie it could have been leaving it just like an interesting but partially failed one.’
-Chris Burgess


METROPOLIS

OPENING STATEMENT: Every huge director seems to have that one movie where they really outdid themselves. Just as we thought Spielberg couldn't get any better, he manages to make his most impressive film; even if it's still a remake: But from a film so long ago yet still holds enough importance to tell a modern story. This is a larger than life production from Richard Franzwa that just might earn him quite a few award nods, rightfully so after being shunned so often already. With so many directors who've come and gone in CMP, it's hard to be a returning nominee, even a returning winner, but other films this season better watch out: Metropolis has it all to be a heavyweight contender at the GMAs.

BEST OF IT It's one of those films that are so well made that ignoring anything is wrong. It's everything 'Avatar' wanted to be.

WORST OF IT The pace of the film was a little slow, thus making the film a little long, but for the most part, it's hard to find anything wrong with the film.

SHINING STAR/DEAD WEIGHT: Richard Franzwa gets special mention here. Script writers don't often get 'star status' but this is the rare occasion that people will recognize Richard as the writer of this film.

THE BRAINS BEHIND Like said, this is Richard's movie and he should be damn proud of all the films he's written to get to this point. As for Spielberg, this was a huge production for him and one of those films he needed to keep his credibility. Excellent work from this great team.

IN CONCLUSION A+ this is where you'll want to spend your summer at the theaters while the rest of these summer movies in Hollywood continue to flop.

THE FLASH: BLITZ

OPENING STATEMENT: The trouble with most of these superhero films, especially the B-List, is they tend to deteriorate as the list of films in the series grows. The Flash is ok, it doesn't necessarily outdo the first film, but it's slightly watchable.

BEST OF IT: It has the right kind of action that the comic-book lovers are looking for.

WORST OF IT: Suffering the same fate as the 'Earth' movies, ending on a cliffhanger that tells us to already be prepared for a number three. The film also tends to fall in the 'it's all been done' category.

SHINING STAR/DEAD WEIGHT: Everyone in this cast seems to just be there and nobody really stands out as being exciting to look for.

THE BRAINS BEHIND: Antoine and Dawson do an okay job adapting the Flash on the big screen, but Iron Man has really set the bar high on giving B-List superheroes fascinating films. The Flash, as much as we'd like to think deserves his own films, isn't really a hero who needs more than one film.

IN CONCLUSION: C+ if you're into watching these films no matter who the hero is, go for it. Just don't expect this sequel to be Dark Knight redux.

THE RESURRECTED - THE FORGOTTEN PART II

OPENING STATEMENT: For many films, despite the critics harping on them, they still manage to get more films. The Resurrected does a correct job upgrading from the first film. It's better made and we're really not quite sure how it's possible. It is alright, but hard to pay attention to on the same week as the epic Metropolis.

BEST OF IT Come and see the film for the great performances, writing and direction. Pay no mind of the critics, they don't know what they're talking about. It's good.

WORST OF IT Definitely could have used better pacing and could have been a little more shorter. I know, most films are like 3 hours long anyway, but I find myself nodding off at even the best movies most of the time when they reach that long.

SHINING STAR/DEAD WEIGHT Joseph still manages to show that he is an outstanding actor and stands out the most here. The rest of the cast holds up the weight of the movie well.

THE BRAINS BEHIND Chad really took the mistakes made from the first film and improved on them this time, I'll give him that. Demme is still impressive at this stage in his career by directing this film.

IN CONCLUSION B it's worth seeing, good luck going up against some heavy hitting blockbusters however!

MR. THUMBS' CERTIFIED MUST SEE OF THE WEEK:

METROPOLIS