Friday, February 5, 2010

It's a short week for films and I think we're all better off for it.  If a Nicholas Spark's romantic piece, a new John Travolta film and a limited release horror flick from the sometimes-loved, sometimes-hated man behind Hatchet are all the studios can muster, I think a three-film weekend is called for.

As always, the acerbic and intelligent Alex will be adding her two cents to the proceedings at hand.

Thanks for reading.

Hitting Theaters This Weekend:






DEAR JOHN
 

The Director:  Lasse Hallstrom (My Life As A Dog, Cider House Rules, etc.)

The Stars:  Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins

The Studio:  Sony Pictures Releasing

The Synopsis:  A former Marine (Channing Tatum) falls for a small-town girl (Amanda Seyfried) but there relationship is pulled apart when he reenlists in the aftermath of 9/11.

The Trailer:  Phew, this is one gooey bit of sap.  I mean I knew Lasse Hallstrom had it in him, what with every film he's done in the last five years just floating in a sea of cheese, but Lord Almighty he's really hopped off the deep-end with this one.  A Nicholas Spark's flick about America?  Is this just The Notebook transported to the real world?  Also, Amanda Seyfried is one odd looking leading lady.  I buy her as the foil to Jennifer Fox's leading lady in Jennifer's Body, but as the looker in this film, I don't think so.  At least Channing Tatum continues to make Sam Worthington look like a good actor.

Will I See It?:  Not even a single moment of it.  The brief images from the American-flag heavy trailer are already burned in to my brain, and I'm scratching at my face, trying to make them go away.

Alex Says:  There are boobs in this trailer.

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  30%
 

FROM PAIR WITH LOVE

The Director:  Pierre Morel

The Stars:  John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyer

The Studio:  Lionsgate

The Synopsis:  Jesus, from the trailer all I can tell is that J. Travolta is his typically "zanily violent" character and somehow Jonathan Rhys Meyer's wimpy diplomat gets paired up with him.  Explosions and such follow.

The Trailer:  The saddest part of this trailer is that it's so frivolous and clearly based on the silliness of the action.  I never saw Pierre Morel's first work Taken but the trailer was amazing, serious and violent in a way this one barely lives up to.  If I was Lionsgate I would've removed bald Travolta from even the slightest bit of marketing.  He just lays a stinker in the room and walks away.  Every single time.

Will I See It?:   You know, if I was tempted with free popcorn and a beer afterwards I might.  I like action flicks, even if they do feature Baldtrova and all his wacky arm movements.

Alex Says:  What a let down. It's not even in French. Also, is John Travolta bald?

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  33%
 

FROZEN

The Director:  Adam Green

The Stars:  Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell

The Studio:  Anchor Bay Films

The Synopsis:  Three skiers get trapped on a chairlift in the middle of the night when the ski resort won't be opening for a week.  Bad things happen involving wolves.

The Trailer:   Two things: one, I'm confused as how this concept will work.  Why can't they just jump off the ski-lift?  If they're good skiers why can't they plunge off the lift and then just ski down the mountain?  Or why can't they break the lift so it hangs down a little bit more and then make a human ladder and jump off the lift?  I for one would not die on that lift.  Two, that scene with Emma Bell pulling her hand off the frozen lift is terrifying.

Will I See It?:   Oh yeah.  This looks horrific and awful and amazing.  I mean I won't see it in the theatre, but I'll certainly bring it home for a little late night screamfest.

Alex Says:  As an avid snow bunny this film is fraught with unrealistic alpine adventures. That aside, I think preying on the danger of a chair lift is genius. It also brings up an excellent query: What is the best way to get down from one of those icy couches if it careens to a permanently broken halt?

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  49%
 

Final Thoughts:  No.  Sorry.  Not at all.  Please, time-giver, give me back the eight minutes I spent watching these trailers.  And then slap me around a little bit so I won't think about doing it next time.

Alex's Final Thoughts:  Nudity. That's really all there is this week. Nudity, speculums and six more weeks of winter.
 

- Noah Sanders - -



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