Release Dates Jul 31 2008 @ 11:49 am
Theater Releases for August 1st, 2008
It’s the first day of August, so as far as Hollywood is concerned, summer’s over. The blockbusters of yore (Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Prince Caspian, etc.) have all been shuffled into theaters, had their huge opening weekends, and been shuffled out so that they can be released on DVD as soon as possible. Now we’re left with the dregs: the blockbusters that would have been. But there’s still fun to be had. This week we get a super-cheap horror flick, an over-the-top adventure, and a couple of character-driven oddities. Could I complain? Sure. But will I? Not at all (unless it’s funny)…
The Midnight Meat Train
This one tops my list for one reason only: it’s going straight to second-run theaters. Will it be great? Probably not, but for a buck or two, you could do a lot worse. This indedpendent horror flick based on Clive Barker’s 1984 short story tells the tale of a photographer trying to track down a serial killer known as the “Subway Butcher” in L.A. Plus, your mom won’t approve of the title. You can’t go wrong here.
Recommended if you liked Cape Fear, Perfect Blue, or Seven
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
After Stephen Sommers brought us The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, I was kind of hoping that Joel Schumacher would take over the franchise and bring us The Mummy Forever. (Ha! A little Batman humor for all you fanboys out there. Thank you, I’ll be here all week.) Instead, we get Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious) and a new mummy — this time Chinese instead of Egyptian. Which makes me wonder: shouldn’t the title be A Mummy? Or does “The Mummy” refer to whatever the producers want it to? Sort of like “The Thin Man”? Hmmm. Anyway, this looks like a fun action/adventure flick. Just check your brain at the door.
Recommended if you can’t wait ten years for The Mummy Begins (oh man, I crack myself up).
Swing Vote
Girl registers her politically apathetic father to vote. Father goes and votes, due to her constant prodding. Due to a computer error, his vote is not counted. Turns out that the entire election depends on his state, and the state is deadlocked. In other words, the country is all holding their breath to see whom one man — the one who doesn’t care about politics — will say he voted for. Am I holding my breath along with them? Meh. (Please note: film features both Nathan Lane and Kelsey Grammer, and therefore might be slightly awesome.)
Recommended if you know absolutely nothing about how the American electoral process works
Brideshead Revisited
This is kind of embarrassing, but I majored in English, and this is supposedly one of the greatest English novels ever written, but I’ve barely even heard of it. I know it’s previously been fodder for BBC’s series of boring-beyond-belief literary adaptations, but that’s about it. According to Wikipedia, the book deals with “what is theologically termed ‘the operation of Grace’, that is to say, the unmerited and unilateral act of love by which God continually calls souls to Himself.” Aside from that, I think it’s about people falling in love and dying. Well, now you all know how ignorant I am. Can we still be friends?
Recommended if you liked Pride and Prejudice, A Very Long Engagement, or anything that’s six hours long and has been on BBC
on Jul 31 2008 @ 12:47 pm 1. Craig Kennedy said …
Opening in limited release is a little film called In Search of a Midnight Kiss. It’s flawed, but frequently pretty funny and ultimately pretty likeable.
Brideshead felt like a Cliff’s Notes version of the book and the original BBC miniseries. It looked nice and it was well acted though. Also, I might have a thing for Haley Atwell now.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 1:44 pm 2. Evan Derrick said …
I all of a sudden have an odd hankering to see the original BBC adaptation of Brideshead (despite what you say, Luke, BBC’s stuff can sometimes be quite soothing, like a nice e e cummings poem or a big bowl of steaming chili). I think Miranda praised the original (isn’t it something like 11 episodes long?) while in the midst of praising the new one, and I’m always one to go after the original first.
I’m sure my wife won’t argue with me on that one.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 2:19 pm 3. G said …
Luke, your ignorance is embarrassing! I read the book and watched the entire miniseries before declaring it/them boring and not to get all that excited about.
Just read any Graham Greene book, or watch any Graham Greene movie, and you’ll get everything Brideshead has, but done way better. Well, everything except the homoeroticism, which admittedly is pretty awesome.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 2:20 pm 4. G said …
Man, I appear to have suffered some sort of grammar breakdown in that post. Sorry.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 4:21 pm 5. Cinexcellence said …
Yet another week where there’s nothing in the theater that I want to see.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 4:23 pm 6. Luke Harrington said …
Cinex, the trick is to lower your standards.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 4:46 pm 7. Haiku Girl said …
I know it opened last weekend, but any of you gents seen Jack Brooks Monster Slayer yet?
on Jul 31 2008 @ 4:57 pm 8. Evan Derrick said …
The heck is that Colleeny? Jack Brooks Monster Slayer? That’s not, like, an actual film, is it?
on Jul 31 2008 @ 5:51 pm 9. G said …
That’s what you said about Mr. Arkadin!
You’re the Scully of this duo, aren’t you?
on Jul 31 2008 @ 7:21 pm 10. colleeny said …
Jack Brooks is a Canadian comedic horror film. Much like Evil Dead II, Hatchet, or Shaun of the dead, it doesn’t take itself seriously. The theatre I saw it in was pretty full, and I’d say the vast majority of the audience was laughing through most of the film. Slow to start, but the uber violence near the end make up for the low start. I am hoping this turns into a franchise, as The plumber with anger management issues, is one of the best characters I have seen in a while.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 9:02 pm 11. Phillip Johnston said …
An English professor I very much respect calls Brideshead her favorite novel in any language. I’ve had a copy sitting at my house for a while but have yet to crack it … I want to, though.
I’m also excited to see Ben Whishaw’s acting career go further after his impressive turn in that movie everyone-but-me hates.
on Aug 01 2008 @ 6:27 am 12. Sam Juliano said …
The BBC mimiseries of BRIDESHEAD is a classic and a near-masterpiece.
on Aug 01 2008 @ 6:54 am 13. Evan said …
That’s enough of a recommendation for me, Sam. Sold! Now, to find a copy…