It is unlikely that “Wrath of the Titans” and “Mirror Mirror” are going to usurp “The Hunger Games” from its throne of commercial and critical success; neither film is doing very well with the critics, and audience anticipation for both films is pretty low to begin with anyhow. However, that does not mean that there is nothing new out there to see.
“The Hunger Games” took in 155 million dollars last weekend, making it the third largest grossing film on an opening weekend of all time. The odds were certainly in their favor.
The 84th Academy Awards went off without a hitch Sunday night, and while the ceremony was fairly standard in execution and expectations, it was all in all a successful evening.
Billy Crystal led the show with his familiar bag of tricks: the opening where he spoofs several nominated films, a song and dance routine, and narrating the thoughts of several attendees. Not mind blowing – are award hosts ever as perfect as we remember them to be? – but funny nonetheless. And at least he stuck around for the whole show this time instead of bailing halfway through.
I walked out of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance not really knowing what I had just seen. It is a terrible movie, but it is unabashedly ambitious in a way that somehow manages to wrestle from the audience something that resembles respect. Not actual respect, mind you, and not enough of it to warrant any real praise, but there is something so odd about a film this bad, but made with this much passion.
Really? This song and dance again?
The old nude starlet cell phone shoot has become a regular occurrence, and although lusty lads may rejoice at the chance to see new celebrity skin, the whole thing is getting old.
“Warrior is not without its clichés- there is struggle, hardship and inspirational themes set to a working class backdrop- but instead of getting bogged down by macho melodrama, the film boasts a strong cast of actors and a script that does more than pull at the heartstrings.”
