Weekly Roundup - Opening 10/24

I have to admit that I'm more than a little disappointed in the movies released this week. I was really looking forward to both Changeling and Pride and Glory, but both have had so-so reviews. The other movies released are very niche ridden, with Saw V and High School Musical 3 only appealing to the die hard fans of each series. And then there's Passengers, which should be coming to a cardboard bin near you soon. Uggh.

Weekend Suggestion:

Since I have to pick 1 movie to recommend seeing this weekend, I'm going to have to go with Changeling. Clint Eastwood is a solid director and Anglina Jolie is going for her second Oscar with this film, so it can't be too bad.

And If you want something better than what's offered up this weekend, go back and check out Appaloosa. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Pride and Glory

Movie Info

Directed by: Gavin O'Connor (Miracle, Tumbleweeds)
Written by: Joe Carnahan & Gavin O'Connor (story & screenplay), Robert Hopes (story)
Starring: Edward Norton (Fight Club, American History X), Colin Farrell (S.W.A.T., Minority Report), Jon Voight (Deliverance, Mission: Impossible)
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R - for strong violence, pervasive language and brief drug content
Runtime: 125 minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 30% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 45/100
IMDB Rating: N/A
My Response: I was excited about this movie until I found out more about it. Ed Norton is one of the greatest actors of this generation and he usually only participates in good films. But this one seems to have a lot going against it. The project was canceled at one time before starting up again and the release date has been pushed back a few times, both of which are usually not associated with good films. Most of the early reviews are not good, so don't get your hopes up too much. I'd say to at least rent it due to Norton's acting skills.

Trailer


Official Website

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Movie Info

Directed by: Kenny Ortega (High School Musical 1 & 2)
Written by: Peter Barsocchini (screenplay)
Starring: Zac Efron (High School Musical 1 & 2), Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical 1 & 2), Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical 1 & 2)
Genre: Muscial
MPAA Rating: G
Runtime: 112 minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 50% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 55/100
IMDB Rating: 2.5/10
My Response: If you've never heard of High School Musical, then you don't have kids, and you've never heard of the Disney Channel. The first two installments made Disney a crap-ton of money, so they made the tough choice of bringing the TV musical to the big screen to make even more money. Those execs always make the tough decisions. Bravo execs, bravo. Skip it, unless your kids beg and beg and beg (which they will).

Trailer


Official Website

Passengers

Movie Info

Directed by: Rodrigo Garcia (Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her, Six Feet Under)
Written by: Ronnie Christensen (screenplay)
Starring: Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, Havok), Patrick Wilson (Lakeview Terrace, Hard Candy), David Morse (Disturbia, The Green Mile)
Genre: Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13 - for thematic elements including some scary images, and sensuality
Runtime: # minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 20% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 39/100
IMDB Rating: 5.4/10
My Response: This movie is why there are those $5 DVD bins at Walmart. Seriously, look at the poster and try to NOT imagine it ending up as the DVD cover in some cardboard bin. Can't do it can ya? Didn't think so. Skip it and hope Anne Hathaway starts making good movies again.

Trailer



Official Website

Changeling

Movie Info

Directed by: Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby)
Written by: J. Michael Straczynski (screenplay)
Starring: Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted, Wanted), John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich, Burn After Reading), Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone, Dan in Real Life)
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R - for some violent and disturbing content, and language
Runtime: 140 minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 51% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 65/100
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
My Response: This film is looks to be the best movie to come out in weeks. Clint Eastwood has been on a directing hot streak (Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima) and Changeling seems to be in the same vein of great story telling. It's been awhile since Angelina Jolie has had a chance to show her true acting skills, but when she's playing a challenging role, she delivers. It's been impossible to read anything about this film and not see the word "Oscar" pop up, so this is definitely a movie to see.

Trailer



Official Website