Release Dates Feb 12 2009 @ 02:00 pm
Theater Releases for February 13th, 2009
Clive Owens and Naomi Watts in 'The International'
Apparently, Friday the Thirteenth is bad luck. Not only is it bringing us a needless reboot of its eponymous franchise, it’s also giving us a movie with both “confessions” and “shopaholic” in its title. That can’t possibly be a good sign.
The International
What if the world’s largest corporation was lawless, abusive, and downright evil?!! It would be, um, just like real life. (If that doesn’t get me a contract with Air America, I don’t know what will.) This one is from German director Tom Tykwer (of Run Lola Run fame), and stars Clive Owens and Naomi Watts. It also looks like a taut little thriller (I’ve seen the trailer, so I’m pretty much an expert), which makes it my top pick for the week. Actually, it’s my top pick for the week because your other two choices are…well, see for yourself…
Recommended if you wished The Corporation had had, y’know, a plot
Confessions of a Shopaholic
I was wracking my brain for something to say about this one…suffice it to say that it’s just not targeted toward my demographic. At all. If those two capitalized words get your blood going (fans of St. Augustine’s Confessions need not apply), you know who you are. This one’s pretty much got “girls’ night out” written all over it: shopaholic, who writes for fashion magazines, in Manhattan, falls in love with a millionaire. Um…wow. I’ll just stop there.
Recommended if you liked Bridget Jones’s Diary or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Friday the 13th
Ah, the 2000’s. The decade that will be forever remembered as the one when Hollywood ran out of ideas and resorted to repeatedly ripping off the 80’s. Here’s a question for discussion: Which is worse: the innumerable horror remakes, which are honest about what they are (Halloween = Halloween, Friday the 13th = Friday the 13th, etc.), or the innumerable sex comedy rip-offs, which pretend to be new movies (Porky’s = American Pie, Risky Business = The Girl Next Door, etc., etc.)? Anyway…um, yeah. This one’s not worth any more words. I’m done here.
Recommended if you forgot how to rent DVDs
on Feb 12 2009 @ 7:41 pm 1. Phillip Johnston said …
I’m really looking forward to The International because I just love Tom Tykwer … particularly Perfume. But Evan knows all about that…
on Feb 13 2009 @ 1:37 am 2. FIlm-Book dot Com said …
I liked Perfume as well. Looking forward to Friday the 13th.
on Feb 13 2009 @ 8:33 am 3. Evan Derrick said …
Well, the less said about Perfume, the better (I should still post that review one day when I get around to it). As to The International, I’m in, but I’m not expecting much. After Taken, I have a feeling I’ll be supremely disappointed by any action flicks in the near future. However, the critics are almost unanimously praising the shootout that happens at the Guggenheim in the movie, so that’s got me excited.
And how sad is the state of American horror these day? You either get dreary torture porn, crappy remakes of US franchises, or crappy remakes of Asian films. Seriously, is there any good horror going on in the States these days, or is it all over in France and Asia?
on Feb 13 2009 @ 12:42 pm 4. Luke Harrington said …
I could name a few good recent horror films…The Exorcism of Emily Rose comes to mind; so does the remake of Dark Water (which most agree actually improved on the Japanese original). Also, Coraline, if you want to count that.
And let’s not forget Diary of the Dead.
But yeah — it’s pretty dreary overall. I think what it comes down to is that horror that’s actually clever and original just doesn’t sell in this country. It’s kind of like heavy metal that way…
on Feb 14 2009 @ 4:22 pm 5. craig said …
Like me a good horror movie, heard Friday the 13th takes it back to the classic way they were in the 80s and its a decent remake.
on Feb 17 2009 @ 10:25 am 6. Film-Book dot Com said …
Friday the 13th (2009) SUCKED! I was completely disappointed, except for one great scene of nudity. I have a review for the film coming up soon.
“And how sad is the state of American horror these day? You either get dreary torture porn, crappy remakes of US franchises, or crappy remakes of Asian films. Seriously, is there any good horror going on in the States these days, or is it all over in France and Asia?”
@ Evan. You might want to take a look at this:
http://film-book.com/the-state-of-the-american-horror-film/
on Feb 17 2009 @ 11:57 am 7. Maurice said …
Ethan;
I am posting this here before you even ask for it. God knows everyone else is busting my chops to read it.
Top 10 Films of 2008:
Slumdog Millionaire
The Wrestler
The Dark Knight
In Bruges
Iron Man
Wall-E
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Man On A Wire
Gran Torino
Cloverfield
Special award: Worst filver EVER with tons of pretty lights:
Speed Racer
One of them Wachowskis should drop kick the other.