http://www.channel3000.com/-/1656/10274714/-/appdy7z/-/index.html en-US © 2011 Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. Home Home en-US © 2011 Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Summer-s-five-biggest-blockbuster-bombs/-/10206688/115642/-/tko7lgz/-/index.html Summer blockbusters tend to have a similar set of characteristics: huge budgets, big stars, lots of special effects and whole lot of media hype. Usually this is a fairly consistent winning formula. Who could forget the success of summer blockbusters like "Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Spider-Man" -- all of which have spawned a litter of sequels? Unfortunately, every once in a while a summer blockbuster that is supposed to be "da bomb" is simply "a bomb." Considering all the expense and publicity that goes into making a potential summer blockbuster, it only makes sense that if it crashes and burns, that movie must be so bad that even a "Saved by the Bell" fan couldn't sit through it (and they can sit through anything!). So as this year's summer blockbuster season gets under way, take a look at five of the worst summer movie flops ever ... No. 5: "Stealth" - July 2005 "Stealth" was supposed to be a high-flying hit in the summer of 2005, but instead it lived up to its name and flew way under the radar. The film cost more than $130 million to make but took in only a little more than $30 million at the U.S. box office, making it one of the biggest summer belly flops of all time. The movie starred Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx, but these triple J's did not turn out to be a triple threat. In fact, they were virtually no threat at all to their summer competition, which included "Batman" and "Star Wars" sequels. The big competition was only part of the problem, however. The whole idea of machinery coming to life had already been done to death, and this film brought nothing new to that tired old sci-fi plotline. Still, it could've been worse ... No. 4: "Waterworld" - July 1995 Kevin Costner has a knack for choosing movies that are either really good or really bad. "Waterworld" definitely falls into the latter category. At the time it was made, this futuristic flop set the record for the most expensive film ever made at $175 million. Yet it managed to take in barely more than half of that figure when word quickly spread that the movie was laughably bad. With corny lines like "I've had a vision so great, as it came to me I wept," it is not surprising that the movie's anticipated profits went down the drain. That, along with the fact that Kevin Costner was the film's only major star, simply didn't carry enough weight for this turd to float. And 13 years later, Hollywood still hadn't learned its lesson ... No. 3: "Speed Racer" - May 2008 If you grew up watching the original "Speed Racer" cartoon on TV, you knew that the appeal was in the shameless cheesiness of it. The show was so bad that you just had to tune in to make fun of how Speed Racer just blew up in his car and in the next scene didn't have a scratch on him. So what in the world would make Hollywood producers think that turning this absurd cartoon into a "real life" movie was a good idea? And more than that, who thought that $120 million in production costs was a relatively safe investment? Writer/directors Andy and Lana Wachowski, that's who. Not a wise assumption as it turns out, considering that the movie grossed only $45 million in the U.S., resulting in a whopping $75 million loss. The only ones who didn't lose in this venture were the people who elected not to see it. Speaking of which ... No. 2: "Speed 2: Cruise Control" - June 1997 Speed, water and ships seem to be a common theme in many summer blockbusters flops, and "Speed 2" has them all. This movie is a perfect example of how something so right can go so wrong, so fast. The original "Speed" was a huge success, despite Keanu Reeves' dubious acting prowess, because it was entertaining, suspenseful and original. Its sequel -- which cost $110 million to make but grossed less than $50 million at the U.S. box office -- lacked all these key elements. This movie was so long and so boring and senseless that even the overtly likeable Sandra Bullock couldn't rescue it. The studio executives were expecting big things from "Speed 2," but all they got were big debts. Which brings us to the most horrendous summer blockbuster dud of all time ... No. 1: "Catwoman" - July 2004 Comic book superhero movies are almost guaranteed to be huge summer blockbusters. "Batman," "Superman," "Spider-Man" and even "Iron Man" have attracted audiences in droves. Apparently, that all changes when you put "woman" in the title, because this Halle Berry disaster has been skewered by audiences, critics, and we hear, even cats. The fact that it lost almost $60 million is bad enough. But what makes this movie our top pick for worst summer blockbuster debacle is that it really, really deserved it. This film had no redeeming qualities whatsoever, except possibly for those viewers who enjoy a hot actress slinking around in a cat suit. But even those guys would have trouble recommending this film to anyone but their enemies. This is one movie that should have been scratched from the summer roster before it ever grew paws. Mon, 21 May 2012 13:19:23 GMT 115642 2012-05-21T13:19:23Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Summer-of-superheroes-off-to-super-start/-/10206688/13484694/-/xi067sz/-/index.html It's essentially become a movie ritual, where Marvel and DC comic book fans every summer see their favorite characters leap from the pages of their classic source material to the big screen. As for this summer's offerings, while we've already met nearly every major character in "The Avengers," "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Dark Knight Rises" in different capacities over the years in other movies, the stakes of the genre have been raised to a whole new level. With "The Avengers" (in theaters), fans are seeing not one or two, but six Marvel legends -- Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo)/ Hulk (voice of Lou Ferrigno) -- all together first the first time. In an interview during the film's production, Hemsworth told me that the assembly of "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" by writer-director Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") was no doubt "an iconic moment." "I was impressed how Joss managed to bring all these characters together and give them and equal sort of story and time," Hemsworth said. Without question, fans have been giving "The Avengers" more than their fair share of time since the film debuted two weeks ago. With a $200 million-plus opening weekend at the North America box office May 4-6, the superhero extravaganza has since gone on to make more than $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide. For those who haven't see the film yet, the main villain in "The Avengers" is the God of Thunder's jealousy-enraged half-brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who only began to show his evil tendencies at the end of "Thor." In "The Avengers," he comes into possession of the sentient cube known as the Tesseract -- a source of unlimited power -- and he threatens to use it to rule over Earth's inhabitants. "He's seeing a lot more action and there's a lot more menace," Hiddleston told me of Loki in an interview during the film's production. "In order for the film to work, Loki needs to be much more menacing in order to justify the might of several superheroes coming up against him." Make no mistake about it, Hiddleston said, Loki has a clear sense of direction in "The Avengers" as opposed to "Thor." "There's a degree of self-possession to his villainy," Hiddleston added. "In 'Thor,' he was almost a reluctant bad guy. In this, he's knows he's the bad guy." Marvel's legendary web-slinger is swinging back into action with a whole new cast and director on July 3 with "The Amazing Spider-Man"-- a reboot of franchise after director Sam Raimi took the character to new heights with a trilogy of films starring Tobey Maguire in 2002, 2004 and 2007. The film stars Andrew Garfield ("The Social Network") as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and "The Help" sensation Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, Peter's first high school crush. Sally Field plays Peter's aunt, May Parker, while Martin Sheen stars as his uncle, Ben Parker. In a post-production interview, Sheen told me he was very impressed with Garfield's skills. "This young lad is quite sensational. He's a wonderful actor and a lovely guy, too, so I was quite happy to work with him," Sheen said. "He was very generous and very accommodating in all of our scenes." "The Amazing Spider-Man" follows Peter as her discovers a mysterious briefcase belonging to his father, which prompts him to find out the circumstances behind his parents' disappearance. The film also stars Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Conners -- the former partner of Peter's father -- the character destined to morph into the villain the Lizard. In the director's chair is "(500) Days of Summer" filmmaker Marc Webb. "He took a ribbing for having that name," Sheen said with a laugh. While "The Amazing Spider-Man" will inevitably lead fans to draw comparisons of Webb's work to Raimi's films, the filmmaker undoubtedly under the biggest pressure to deliver this summer is Christopher Nolan, who is concluding his Batman trilogy with the release of "The Dark Night Rises" July 20. Directed by and co-written by Nolan, the film is the hotly anticipated follow-up to his critically-acclaimed box office behemoth "The Dark Knight," which earned $1 billion worldwide in 2008 and earned Heath Ledger a posthumous Oscar for his haunting portrayal of the Joker. "The Dark Knight Rises" picks up eight years after the events of "The Dark Knight," where Batman (Christian Bale) took responsibility for the crimes of Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart). But as terror befalls Gotham once again, the Caped Crusader is forced to the battle the venom-fueled strongman, Bane (Tom Hardy), the villain responsible for it. Hardy, who worked with Nolan on the blockbuster mind-bender "Inception," admitted that while the expectations of Batman fans are weighing heavily on his mind, he's certain that the director will deliver. "I just want it to be successful, and I have every faith in Chris Nolan that it will be a success because he is the Batman franchise," Hardy told me in a post-production interview. "He didn't let anyone down with the last two, so (to be a part of the new film) is really exciting and I just don't want to disappoint anybody. I'm really excited." "The Dark Knight Rises" also introduces new cast members Anne Hathaway (Selina Kyle/Catwoman), Marion Cotillard (Miranda Tate) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (John Blake); and signals the return of Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) and Gary Oldman (Jim Gordon). Like Hardy, Oldman has unwavering confidence in his director. "I think Nolan is too talented and too smart, really, to make a third Batman film just for the sake of making it, even though he probably had pressure from the studio to do so," Oldman told me in a post-production interview. "I think it was important for him to get the story right. He's a storyteller, and with this, I think he's concluded the trilogy in a very impressive way." In a word, Oldman said, the story for "The Dark Knight Rises" is "great." "I think that's what will really impress people," Oldman added. "It's epic." Fri, 18 May 2012 20:55:24 GMT 13484694 2012-05-18T20:55:24Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Review-Don-t-expect-much-from-Expecting/-/10206688/13478956/-/83yit6z/-/index.html Pity any man who gets dragged to see the Hollywood candy-coated treatment of the non-fiction book "What to Expect When You're Expecting." Men in the movie cling to their last shred of masculinity by idol worshipping a hunky stud who can do one-arm pull ups. The actors show their sensitive sides by flashing more puppy dog eyes than a Labrador. For all you women out there who believe this is a great film for a date night, be prepared for payback during basketball playoffs if you make your man suffer through this insufferable film. What's been called the definitive how-to for expectant parents since it was first published in 1985, the movie version of "What To Expect When You're Expecting" takes the concept of the book and turns it into mush. The ensemble romantic comedy tells the story of five couples, who run the gamut of experiences from unexpected pregnancy to the ups and downs of adoption. Here's the rundown. Jules and Evan are played by Cameron Diaz and Matthew ("Glee") Morrison. She's a celebrity personal trainer who hosts a "Biggest Loser" type show and he's a dancer on "Celebrity Dance Factor," a takeoff of, you guessed it, "Dancing With the Stars." Their professional lives get turned upside down when they discover she's having a baby. Wendy, played by Elizabeth Banks, and husband, Gary (Ben Falcone), are struggling with fertility issues. The humor in this story is supposed to come from the irony of Wendy's small Atlanta store, The Breast Choice. She's a lactation expert. Did I not find the nursing jokes amusing because I was biased by my reaction over the recent controversial Time magazine cover of the breastfeeding mom? Yet, Wendy and Gary's story is one of the most entertaining of all since the storyline also introduces Dennis Quaid as Gary's NASCAR superstar dad, Ramsey, and his much younger wife, Skyler (model Brooklyn Decker) who are expecting twins. Quaid's portrayal of Ramsey as Gary's fiercely competitive father is one of the few saving graces of the movie. Bring on "What to Expecting When You're Expecting II" and just feature the bickering father and son team, who own most of the laughs here. To add some diversity to the group, filmmakers toss in Jennifer Lopez and Rodrigo Santoro as Holly and Alex, a Hispanic couple who have had no success in having children of their own, so they've turned to adoption. They also don't have much money, either. Their quest has landed them a baby from Ethiopia. One of the few very real and touching moments in the movie comes when the pair travels to Africa to meet their new baby. The most non believable couple to round out the group are twentysomethings Rosie and Marco, played by Anna Kendricks and Chace Crawford, singletons who own competing food trucks. They find themselves in a partnered predicament after a few beers and a one-night stand. Their pairing seems as unlikely as their constant stream of customers at their food trucks each day. To throw even more characters into this hodgepodge lodge, the filmmakers introduce The Dudes Group, a quasi support group (again here's where they can also add diversity since their main cast seems severely lacking in that department) who take their kids to the park each week to swap horror stories about minivans and diaper changing tables. They are mixed-bag foursome featuring Chris Rock as Vic, Amir Talai as Patel, Rob Huebel as Gabe and Thomas Lennon as the most wife-whipped of the group, Craig. No gay couples struggling with pre-parenthood issues? Bring on "What To Expect When You're Expecting II." While the real "What To Expect When You're Expecting" is a veritable wealth of knowledge in the pregnancy department, the movie version finds a way to include every cliché that you'd expect about expecting including doctors prescribing bedrest, jokes ad nauseam about bodily functions, and, yes, those constant camera zoom ins of men making puppy dog eyes. Don't expect much from "What To Expect." In fact, the book version is more entertaining. Fri, 18 May 2012 15:58:51 GMT 13478956 2012-05-18T15:58:51Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/-80s-movie-gadgets-you-know-you-wanted/-/10206688/184506/-/cmuyvt/-/index.html The 1980s were a magical time for cinema. It was the time of awesome storytelling and some of the most stunning filmmaking ever. After all, who can forget such gems as "Earth Girls Are Easy" or "Bachelor Party"? And for all the awesome movies, some even included gadgets that became the standout stars. Some of those devices have become icons of the films in which they appeared, and even the '80s itself. It would be easy to just rattle off some of the tools from James Bond movies (like the Casio video watch in 1983's "Octopussy"), but those are in a category all their own. These are the gadgets from the mainstream movies that as soon as they showed up on the screen, we wanted them. And don't deny it -- you know you wanted them, too. No. 5: DeLorean time machine - "Back to the Future" (1985) Time machines are cool -- no doubt about it. That one from 1960's "The Time Machine" was certainly a sight to behold, but it had nothing on Doc Brown's modified DeLorean from "Back to the Future." And once it hit 88 mph, you saw some serious ... well, you know. Why is a time machine cool? Why isn't it cool? Who hasn't wanted to go back in time and tell an earlier version of yourself which horse to bet on, or that the particular girl you're thinking of asking out is best avoided? The core of the stylish, stainless steel time machine's functionality was the Flux Capacitor, and Doc later pimped it out with a Mr. Fusion (no longer needing plutonium fuel) and a hover package. If you wanted to go faster than 88 miles per hour, you'd find something cool in a galaxy far, far away ... No. 4: Speeder Bike - "Return of the Jedi" (1983) Used by Imperial patrols on the Forest Moon of Endor, these bikes were cool to zip around, terrorizing the little indigenous teddy bears. They also came equipped with a blaster and a comms jammer. The only problem was if some wise guy with a lightsaber cut the steering vane off your speeder, you were likely to spin wildly out of control and crash into a tree. The bikes were great in the Star Wars universe, but would you want one here on Earth? You better believe it. You could zip in and out of rush hour traffic like you were the only one on the road. It wouldn't be practical for going to the grocery store (your groceries would fly off the back), but it would be an awesome ride. Some of the best gadgets had minds of their own, and even managed to be spunky little things ... No. 3: Johnny 5 - "Short Circuit" (1986) Sure, when we think of movie robots our minds naturally conjure images of R2-D2, C-3PO, and the T-101 Terminator. But in the '80s, one robot took the automaton to a new, fun level -- of course that robot was none other than Johnny 5 from "Short Circuit". Johnny's given name is SAINT 5 (Strategic Artificially Intelligent Nuclear Transport) and Johnny 5 was the fifth (hence the "5") in a line of sentient combat robots made by the Nova Corporation. He took on the name "Johnny" after hearing the delightful DeBarge song "Who's Johnny?" Johnny decides war isn't his thing, so he runs away and pals up with Ally Sheedy and Steve Gutenberg (remember them?) and wacky hijinx ensue. A lot of the gadgets we loved are, basically, some sort of tool. Johnny was a tool for one function -- war. But there was even a more famous electronic tool in 1980s cinema ... No. 2: Proton Pack - "Ghostbusters" (1984) The Proton Pack is a man-portable particle accelerator that creates a charged particle beam and is used to weaken ghosts until they can be trapped and taken back to Ghostbusters HQ. Why did we want it? Well, the proton pack is great for not only apprehending rogue ghosts, but also shooting up swanky hotels. And, in the event there's a super-phantasm bent on destroying the world -- and you happen to be with a buddy who also has a proton pack -- all you need to do is cross the streams. Plus, when you switched it on, it was the coolest sounding gadget ever. We've taken the term "gadget" to mean electronic devices. But sometimes, the best "gadgets" were the product of our electronics ... No. 1: Lisa - "Weird Science" (1985) For teenagers Gary and Wyatt, all it took to conjure the perfect woman were magazine cutouts, a Barbie doll and a hacked defense department computer system. Of course, the perfect woman -- Lisa -- turned out to be Kelly LeBrock, and we can't really argue with that. The guys also programmed her with the intelligence of Einstein and the fashion sense of David Lee Roth (remember, it was 1985). While the little maniacs Wyatt and Gary didn't use her for any of the things you'd expect from hormonally charged teenagers -- save for showering with her while still partially dressed -- she did teach them important life lessons (i.e., how to stand up to a gang of angry, scary, mutant bikers; and get the girls of their dreams). And really, isn't that better than any time machine, killer robot, nuclear backpack or speeder bike? Tue, 15 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT 184506 2012-05-15T06:00:00Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Review-Check-in-to-Exotic-Marigold-Hotel/-/10206688/13082024/-/lox75m/-/index.html By the end of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," moviegoers may feel as if they've just completed something akin to an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet. Much like the first try of a spicy Indian curry, you'll wonder if you've made the right choice. By the end, however, you'll be gloriously satisfied and glad you took your time and savored every bite. The story of seven British retirees who wind up in India on the promise of a deluxe retirement community starts off at a slow pace, picking up steam as it makes its way from England to India and eventually embarks on its merry journey. The story is predictable enough. After arriving in India, the hotel is not what was shown in the photographs on the website. (Has this ever happened to you?) The Brits are aghast to discover that what they've been duped into is merely the dream of a young entrepreneur, Sonny Kapoor (Dev "Slumdog Millionaire" Patel). Pigeons are camped out in dusty rooms, toilets don't work, and rooms don't have doors. Yet, by the final unspooling of the film, each individual, from the big players at the center of the story to the minor character of a mute housekeeper, has discovered something valuable about their past, present and their future, realizing that their upstart host's desires aren't much different from their own. "In India, we have a saying - everything will be all right in the end," Kapoor advises each time one of his residents voices discontent with the lodging. "So if it is not all right, it is not yet the end." John Madden, who directed the Best Picture winner "Shakespeare in Love" and the recent thriller, "The Debt," assembled some of the most talented and recognizable British performers such as Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, to have a jolly good time on photographic rich jaunts through Rajasthan, which the filmmakers call "one of the most romantic of India's states." Not only are the characters portrayed in the story as fish-out-of-water, but there's a genuine feeling throughout the film that the actors, too, aren't in their comfort zone, which adds to the appeal. The stand outs are the three most decorated actors. Oscar winner Dench plays the newly widowed, Evelyn, who discovers her husband has left her financially ruined. Looking to make a fresh start, she decides to create her own adventure. While the story does focus on each individual's story, it is Evelyn who is "Marigold's" balance and center, and Dench, looking bright in breezy linen shirts and pants against the colorful Indian backdrop, lights up the screen. Wilkinson plays Graham, a recently retired civil servant who has his own desires for wanting to live out his retirement at the Marigold Hotel. As the genteel judge searching for his past, he's another reason "Marigold" blooms. Smith's character is probably the least likeable. The former live in housekeeper is a racist, crotchety wheel-chair bound senior citizen who has been sent to India because she requires a hip replacement. If you believe this woman would set foot in India whether she needed a new hip or not, I have an exotic hotel that I can sell you in India. Seasoned actress Smith pulls it off, giving the character needed depth. Especially priceless and showing Smith's true acting chops is a change-of-heart scene where she partakes in an authentic meal in a traditional Indian home. Unfortunately, the weakest link in the film is Patel as the perpetually sunny Sonny, playing the hotelier as a caricature and not showing the same knack for believability that he did in "Millionaire." However, his Indian co-stars, the beautiful Lillete Dubey as Sonny's mother, and equally stunning newcomer Tena Desae, as Sunaina, Sonny's girlfriend, are a pure delight. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" goes up against superheroes this Mother's Day weekend in its wide opening (it has been playing in limited markets), but "Marigold" features superheroes of a different kind. Given a choice to take Mom to a hulk-sized mega picture or a travelogue through golden-year adventures, "Marigold" is definitely a better bed of roses. Fri, 11 May 2012 16:47:47 GMT 13082024 2012-05-11T16:47:47Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Tim-Burton-shines-new-light-on-Dark-Shadows/-/10206688/13054638/-/eq5jd5/-/index.html It only made sense that iconic director Tim Burton reunited some of the most beloved members of his film family for his big screen interpretation of "Dark Shadows," because after all, the gothic thriller is about a family ... albeit a dysfunctional one. The thing that sets Burton's actors apart from the Collins clan, however, is that his frequent collaborators Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, as well as Michelle Pfeiffer (Burton's Catwoman in "Batman Returns"), have an undeniable sense of harmony on screen. Without question, the most enduring working relationship in Burton's bunch is with Depp, who first starred for the director in "Edward Scissorhands" in 1990 and has since collaborated with him on seven more films. In a recent interview, Burton told me one of the reasons he worked with Depp for the eighth time on "Dark Shadows" stemmed from the passion they shared for the original daytime drama, which aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971 and starred Jonathan Frid as the cursed vampire Barnabas Collins. "We always talked about the show -- he loved it and I loved it -- but it wasn't until later that I realized that this was a character he wanted to play since he was a child," Burton said. "It was something that was a real passion for him. He becomes passionate about all of the characters he plays, but this is the first one that went way back to something that really inspired him." Better yet, Burton got Frid to appear in a cameo in the film, along with fellow original cast members David Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Lara Parker. Burton said he was "lucky and grateful" to have met Frid, who died last month at age 87. "When he came on the set, it was kind of like having the pope visit. It was like he was blessing the set, so to speak," Burton recalled, fondly. "It's a sad thing (that he died), but I just like to look at the positive. I got to meet him and he was somebody who was an inspiration, and it was the same thing for Johnny as well." Opening in theaters and on IMAX screens nationwide on Friday, "Dark Shadows" tells the tale of Barnabas Collins (Depp), an vampire imprisoned in a coffin by the witch Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) who is accidentally unearthed in 1972 after spending nearly 200 years buried underground. Returning to his family's dilapidated estate in Maine, Barnabas not only struggles with adapting to the new and groovy times, he must find a way to protect his descendants, headed by Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Pfeiffer) from the ageless Angelique (now known as Angie -- a powerful business executive who has made a shamble of her competitors, the Collins). Even more daunting, he must find a way to reunite with the reincarnation of his love, Josette duPres (Bella Heathcoate), whom the witch murdered 200 years before. The film also stars Bonham Carter as the Collins' live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman; Jonny Lee Miller as Elizabeth's shifty brother, Roger; Gulliver McGrath as his haunted son, David; and Chloe Grace Moretz as Elizabeth's rebellious daughter, Carolyn. Jackie Earle Haley rounds out the cast as estate's drunkard caretaker, Willie Loomis. For Burton, personally, "Dark Shadows" gave the filmmaker yet another chance to access another corner of his endlessly creative mind, and in the process, to find new meaning for a popular theme that's run throughout his films: the feeling of isolation. "There are maybe certain similarities to this character and others in the terms of characters that don't fit into society, which goes back to 'Scissorhands' and things like that," Burton observed. "The difference with this character -- and this is something I've learned to apply as I've gotten older -- is not only the feeling of not fitting into society, but being around a long time and not fitting into society. Barnabas is an old soul and a character who has experienced life quite extensively, yet comes into the world and feels completely out of sync and out of place. It's sort of a new element you can only bring to the table as you get older." 'Dark' Expectations Much like he's done in the past, Burton surprised the movie-going public with the release of the first trailer for "Dark Shadows," a gathering of scenes that revealed a comedic tone decidedly different from the original series. And while "Dark Shadows" is far from an out-and-out comedy (Barnabas is a vampire after all, and with vampires comes blood and mayhem), Burton said it was never his intention to define his film with a certain genre. "I never sat down during filming and said to any of the actors, crew or writer, 'OK, this is a comedy or this is a drama,'" Burton, 53, explained. "All we tried to do is capture -- and it's a hard thing to put into words -- the weird tone of the original 'Dark Shadows.' It had a certain kind of acting style that was sort of melodramatic, soap opera-y and serious." "It was never meant to be campy or made fun of, it was just more of trying to capture the weird tone of it -- to capture my memory of how 'Dark Shadows' made me feel," Burton added. "It was more going for a feeling than a literal thing. If you made it literally, it would be like an Ed Wood movie. It was more about capturing the spirit and coming at it from an affectionate point-of-view, which is what I have for the series." Like he has before with films like "Batman," Burton with "Dark Shadows" faced the unique quandary of interpreting material that had a built-in fan base, yet doing so in his own distinct style. Basically, he said, when you take on an established property, you have to accept the fact that you will have detractors no matter how faithful you are to the material. "It's always a risky thing. First of all, you're never going to please everybody no matter what you do," Burton said. "Here, you run the risk of alienating 'Dark Shadows' fans, but then you have to realize, too, that there's even a larger group of audience members that's never even heard of it." Ultimately, Burton explained, you simply have to go with what you think is right for the film. "I've never gone into anything thinking, 'Oh well, this will satisfy the comic book fans or the action fans.' I remember casting Michael Keaton as Batman and everybody got all up in arms because they thought we were going to make it like the TV series or that it was going to be like a comedy," Burton recalled. "But I always felt comfortable with what we were doing on 'Batman' and I feel similar about 'Dark Shadows.' I know we're not making fun of it or making a joke out of it." Thu, 10 May 2012 14:19:50 GMT 13054638 2012-05-10T14:19:50Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Cool-off-with-5-classic-summer-movies/-/10206688/115712/-/i41jshz/-/index.html Being out in the sun is overrated. Even if you live amid picture-perfect paradise, there's only so much nature you can take before you need to get back inside to watch a movie, and the summer is a great time for some excellent films. Since the mid-1970s, so-called "summer movies" have been the blockbusters that everyone sees and movie studios rely on to keep throwing millions of dollars at A-list celebrities. Sure, there are still thoughtful, dramatic pieces like "The King's Speech," but they don't stand a chance during the summer, because that's when the movies are let off their chains and we get the movies that America wants to see. We are an ugly people, but we know what we like: low-brow comedy, spaceships and lots of explosions. Let's take a look at some of the movies you might want to enjoy after a day next to the pool. Remember When Will Smith Ruled Summer? No. 5: "Independence Day" There was a time when it wasn't summer without an epic Will Smith movie. There were the good ones ("Men in Black") and some not-so-good ones ("Wild, Wild West"), but no matter what the flick, you knew it was summer when Will graced the silver screen. Was 1996's "Independence Day" the greatest story ever told? No. It was full of hackneyed and clichéd characters and situations. And some of the dialogue? Cringeworthy. "Let's kick the tires and light the fires!" Oh, OK Harry Connick Jr., If you say so. And the ending was just laughable: How could Jeff Goldblum implant a computer virus on the alien mothership with a Macbook? Didn't the aliens have Norton Antivirus? So why is this a classic? Just because. Cheesy and laughable though it is, it is a special effects powerhouse, and by the end of the show you wanted to go beat up E.T. Can Summer Movies Be Classy? No. 4: "Rear Window" Ah yes, "Rear Window" ... wait ... what? Yeah. "Rear Window" is a great summer movie. Even though there aren't gun battles, space ships, horny teenagers, or jive talking robots, this movie is a great way of reintroducing some class into your summer movie repertoire. In it, Jimmy Stewart plays a photographer who is stuck at home with a broken leg, left to voyeuristically watch his neighbors in the midst of a hot and humid of a New York summer. And what does he see? Murder. One of the things that makes the movie so great is the painstaking attention to detail. While the main action is going on with Stewart, the lives of his neighbors are going on around him. Technically, this movie, released Aug. 1, 1954, came out two decades before the notion of a "summer movie" even existed, but it is a marvelous film, and worth your time. What Movie Launched Bill Murray's Movie Career? No. 3: "Meatballs" It's hard to believe that there was a time when Bill Murray wasn't making the greatest movies of all time. But the movie that launched his cinematic career was a little 1979 flick called "Meatballs." In it, Murray plays a camp counselor to a bunch of quirky campers and counselors-in-training. It wasn't your typical teen sex romp -- in fact the dirty parts were nonexistent. But what we did get was the template on which Bill Murray based his persona: the wise cracking smart aleck who gets the job done with charm and panache. On top of that winning formula, it was set in a summer camp, so we've got the complete setting for a summer movie. While Murray introduced his wisecracking, coolest-dude-in-the-room persona on "Saturday Night Live," he brought it to the big screen with "Meatballs," and movies have never been so awesome. Are You Still Afraid Of The Water? No. 2: "Jaws" The music is instantly recognizable, even if you've never seen the movie. The alternating E and F notes are universally recognized as meaning that danger is near. Whether or not you've seen "Jaws," you recognize the music and what it means. It was the movie that wrecked swimming during the summer of 1975. Whether it was in the ocean or the local swimming hole, something HAD to be out there, and if a piece of seaweed touched your foot, you could run on top of the water to get back to the shore. Jaws was the movie that created the summer blockbuster -- and the career of a then-unknown filmmaker named Steven Spielberg. The movie also had the odious honor of spawning so many reprehensible sequels, but that wasn't Spielberg's fault -- that was the studio trying to squeeze every penny they could out of the franchise. Ready For A Roadtrip? No. 1: "National Lampoon's Vacation" What is summer if not a time for a summer vacation? With that, we come to our No. 1 summer movie: "Vacation." The flick is Chevy Chase's cinematic masterpiece -- the kind of movie you keep hoping the next Chevy Chase movie will be like, but then you realize you're watching "Cops and Robertsons." The movie introduced us to a young Anthony Michael Hall, and showed us the crazy side of Randy Quaid, before he really became crazy -- or at least was formally charged by authorities. The movie followed Clark Griswold as he aspired to take his family cross-country in the ultimate quest: visiting theme park Wally World. While summer vacations rarely end up with Christie Brinkley driving next to you in a Ferrari convertible (and then joining you for a skinny dip), the movie was pure hilarity. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Wed, 09 May 2012 13:34:45 GMT 115712 2012-05-09T13:34:45Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Who-are-the-5-lamest-superheroes-ever/-/10206688/409402/-/1v2p2ez/-/index.html With the summer blockbuster season wrapping up, it's safe to say we've gotten our fill of superhero movies this year. No matter what the year, the summer movie season will always mean at least one or two superheroes fighting evil on the big screen. Whether it's Christopher Reeve as Superman, Toby Maguire as Spider-Man or Christian Bale as Batman -- not to mention X-Men, Fantastic 4, Thor, Green Lantern, Captain America and more -- fans have flocked to their local theater year after year. Sure, we've all got our favorite superheroes, but if you ask any comic book aficionado, they'll tell you that not all heroes are all that, well, super. So we couldn't help but wonder: who are the five lamest superheroes of all time? We start with a look at the man of steel. No, not that one, the other one ... No. 5: Steel as played by Shaquille O'Neal OK, we admit it. We actually saw this stinker. Hey, we remembered the character from our younger days when we would read DC Comics, and in the late '90s Shaquille O'Neal was big. "Steel" is a 1997 movie based on the DC Comics character John Henry Irons, and starred O'Neal and Judd Nelson, which should tell you everything you need to know right there. Steel is basically a guy, in this case a 7-foot-1-inch, 325 pound guy, in a suit of armor with fancy ray guns. Think the knights from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" meet the guns from the original "Battlestar Galactica." That's right! Steel is a modern-day laser wielding knight out to take revenge on Nelson's character who stole weapons designed by Steel and used them to arm his crime gang. Had enough yet? So did everyone else who stayed away from this bomb. But at least Steel was big and strong, unlike our next "hero" ... No. 4: Ant-Man The name says it all. This Marvel Comic hero had the power to reduce to the size of an ant. And that was pretty much it, other than the fact that he also could control ants, which we suppose is really helpful if his plan is to ruin Doctor Doom's picnic. Perhaps what is most shocking about Ant-Man is that he survived not one, not two, but three incarnations. The original Ant-Man, Hank Pym who invented the shrinking methods and ant control, later handed off his powers a reformed thief. The third and final Ant-Man was anything but "super" -- using his status to seduce women, and humiliate and torment others. Want more? Well don't worry. Word is Hollywood is considering an Ant-Man movie if they can come up with a good script. We just hope the movie ends up being better than the next entry on our list ... No. 3: Blankman While "Blankman" did not come from the pages of any comic book, and was clearly a superhero parody film; we just had to include the Damon Wayans character on our list. A nerdy appliance repairman by day, Darryl Walker takes on the persona of Blankman by night to rid the streets of crime and fight political corruption. Armed with his bulletproof pajamas and an array of Batman-like gadgets, he saves the day, fights crime, and somehow gets the girl. Frankly, we were rooting for the bad guys in this one. Perhaps the best part about Blankman is he has a sidekick, Other Guy, who has no super powers or any discernable crime fighting skills at all. Had he had either of the two, we would have gladly added him to our list -- because let's be honest, it doesn't take much to be considered a superhero. Kind of like our next entry ... No. 2: Cypher Ever wish you could read Japanese? Maybe dabble in Spanish and Sanskrit? Then Cypher is your superhero! Armed with the ability to read any language, Cypher is the hero you call when you lose the instructions to your TV and all you have left is the Korean version. Cypher could understand and translate any form of communication, be it written, spoken or non-verbal. This was regardless of whether the origin of the language was human, computer or even completely alien -- making him and the previously mentioned Ant-Men kindred spirits. One could control ants, and the other could tell the ants were getting annoyed. Although the ability to understand computer can be helpful in this tech-savvy era, wouldn't you prefer any number of powers before you got to this one? Suddenly Steel is looking good again, especially compared to our choice for lamest "superhero" ... No. 1: Zan of The Wonder Twins "Wonder Twins powers, activate. Form of tap-water!" And that's about it ... Zan and his twin sister Jayna had maybe the worst powers ever. In order to use them, the Twins would have to touch hands and then say what they wanted to turn into. While Jayna got the better end of the stick, and could transform into any animal she wanted, Zan's choices were limited to forms of water. Yeah, water. It could be any solid, liquid or gas versions of water, so he had some options at least. So if he wanted to be a wave, or a patch of ice, or maybe some mist, he was set. To be fair, he could also turn into an ice cage or something similar, but let's be honest here; unless his plan is to give Sabertooth a bath, he's not much help, and is not our first choice for who we would bet on to save the world. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Tue, 08 May 2012 13:53:02 GMT 409402 2012-05-08T13:53:02Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Review-Avengers-absolutely-marvelous/-/10206688/12564200/-/qccjft/-/index.html "Marvel's The Avengers" is a summer blockbuster of gigantic proportions, masterfully created and a big-screen realization of the ultimate dream team. It all comes together in such perfect order that it seems like its fate was sealed in pre-destiny. Alas, it was. The seed of bringing six of Marvel Comics' most iconic characters together in one movie was planted four years ago in 2008's "Iron Man" when Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) told Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) that he was part of a "bigger universe." "You just don't know it yet," says Fury. Fans saw another hint dropped two months later in "The Incredible Hulk." Then it continued in the films "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger," both in 2011. Now those Avengers, plus two more, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), both of whom we met in "Iron Man 2, are brought together to form the Avengers Initiative. In the story, co-written by director Joss Whedon and Zak Penn, the Avengers Initiative would be summoned as Earth's last defense against total destruction. The time has come. They've been called up for active duty by the international peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D. to deal with Asgardian god Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who has stolen the uranium-based brick, the Tesseract. He plans to use its power to lead an alien invasion of Earth, creating chaos, war and catastrophe. (You may remember the Tesseract as the cube Captain America pried away from the Nazis.) But it isn't Earth and its people Loki wants to exact revenge on; it's his brother, Thor (Chris Hemsworth). So what could possibly be so difficult in creating a team of superheroes to set Loki straight? As Iron Man says, "I don't play well with others." In Whedon's world, this sets up all kinds of challenges as his other superheroes don't play well with others, either. A nasty fight pits Iron Man's high tech prowess again Thor's lightning rod and magic sledgehammer. Captain America (Chris Evans) doesn't take too kindly to strange characters in odd outfits being referred to as soldiers, plus Iron Man's cynicism clashes with the Captain's do-good-unto-others philosophy. And for Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who has been wiling away the hours in India tending to the sick, he has been keeping his stress level at a minimum so as not to wake up his mean, green alter ego. This duty call may bring out the worst in him, he fears. Whedon mixes in male (and female) ego with modern day office politics as the script is ripe with tension between characters. If they all got along, what fun would that be? For fanboys and fangirls of the individual superhero stories, Whedon has also done a superb job of weaving all the stories together so that each piece of the puzzle fits, and that's quite a feat within itself. Yet his mastery of the genre comes from the non-stop action, the larger than life fight sequences, and the eye-popping culmination of "Marvel's The Avengers," with the introduction of strange slithering metal aliens that converge on New York City from a hole in the sky. This you must see for yourself. In 3-D, it's simply mind-altering. The two hour and twenty minute film breezes by, and left me wishing there had been more. But there's no reason to fret. While this film's build up was years in the making, the short-term goals are laid out for all to see in "Marvel's The Avengers." There are plenty of hints peppered throughout to get moviegoers motivated for plenty more superhero smack down action. Expect that not only will the superheroes be back to battle bad guys together again, but will do some of that bidding on their own, too. If you're looking for some hard-and-fast facts to support that, how about this? Mark Ruffalo, by far the best movie Hulk (previously Eric Bana and Edward Norton played the role), and a stand out in "Marvel's The Avengers," is already in gear for upcoming smash time. Even before the film hit theaters, he had signed a deal for six flicks to appear as the Hulk. Fri, 04 May 2012 16:01:59 GMT 12564200 2012-05-04T16:01:59Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/-Avengers-star-thrilled-with-growing-Marvel-movie-series-role/-/10206688/12563056/-/m4pj6gz/-/index.html As much success as Clark Gregg has enjoyed as a working actor in Hollywood for nearly the past 25 years, he said nothing compares to the whirlwind he's been a part since the first "Iron Man" movie came out in 2008. Since then, of course, his star has risen considerably thanks to his recurring role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson in "Iron Man 2" and "Thor" -- and at 12:01 a.m. Friday, the character is back and bigger than ever with the ultimate assembly of Marvel superheroes in "The Avengers." "It's amazing. It feels like only 20 minutes ago I was doing plays in New York and trying to break in and get a supporting thing in movies," Gregg told me in an interview Thursday. "I got some gigs in a lot of great projects and had fun in some independent movies, but at a certain point, you don't think you're really going to end up doing a big, leading role in a movie. You certainly don't think that you're going to be doing a movie as big as 'The Avengers.'" Gregg said perhaps the most satisfying part of being a part of the entire "Avengers" initiative though the first two "Iron Man" films and "Thor" was knowing how much care directors like Jon Favreau, Kenneth Branagh and Joss Whedon took with a character like Coulson: a character who could have easily been relegated to the shadows given the superhero status of his co-stars. "It's something I never could have predicted for myself, to see Agent Coulson go from this character who wasn't in the comics who evolved during the first 'Iron Man,' and expanded through 'Iron Man 2,' 'Thor' and 'The Avengers,'" Gregg said. "Because I loved comics so much as a kid, it's almost more than my little heart can handle. To have the role organically evolve in the series -- and to have them not want to reduce the guy, but give him more to do as it moves along, I feel really honored by it." "The Avengers" finds S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) trying to prevent a world catastrophe when the villainous Asgardian demigod Loki (Tom Hiddleston) arrives on Earth with the intention of seizing an all-powerful sentient cube known as the Tesseract and using it to rule over mankind. Knowing his only viable option is to assemble Earth's mightiest superheroes to battle Loki, Fury calls for the help of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). The problem is, the superheroes' super egos clash, and Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Coulson and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) find themselves caught in the middle of the chaos. Gregg observed that perhaps the biggest reason the character has resonated with Marvel movie fans is because, in a way, he's their direct link to the superheroes. In fact, in "The Avengers," Coulson tells Captain America how much he's admired the First Avenger his whole life, and, like a giddy comic book aficionado, lets him know that he's read "Captain America" comic books and has even collected his vintage trading cards. "When you go to Comic-Con and see people dressed up like you, and develop a huge following on Twitter, you come to realize in a way, Coulson is the human face of the audience," Gregg said, humbly. "Joss really hooked on to what that means by making Coulson sort of a fanboy -- someone who for all his toughness and secrets grew up reading 'Captain America' comic books. Coulson believes the whole dream about heroism. It's such an honor to be there for the fans and be their connection to the characters." While it's thrilled Gregg to know that the Marvel movie arc leading to "The Avengers" has met the expectations of diehard fans, the bonus has been the way casual comic book movie fans -- if not movie fans in general -- have responded to the material. "Going to Comic-Con now, you discover that the fans of these movies aren't just boys, but boys and girls and men and women," Gregg enthused. "The cool thing about this is, Marvel has found people who didn't read comics, yet got them invested in these characters. Marvel created a perfect blend for all these movies. The films didn't take themselves too seriously, yet were about something when they needed to be." Fri, 04 May 2012 14:31:21 GMT 12563056 2012-05-04T14:31:21Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/5-worst-superhero-movies-of-all-time/-/10206688/167286/-/14346t7/-/index.html With the source material steeped in comic book lore, the most scrutinized type of movie in the film world is the superhero genre. Every fan generally has their opinion of who would be best to play what part and which filmmaker is the best equipped to bring their beloved characters to life on the big screen, etc. The last few summers have been a dream for fans of superhero movies. Last year saw the likes of "Green Lantern," "Thor," "X-Men: First Class" and "Captain America." This summer brings "The Avengers" (out Friday), "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Amazing Spider-Man." But no matter how these newest superhero movies fare at the box office or with critics, their creators and fans can probably rest assured they are at least better than the five following superhero movie disasters ... No. 5: "Superman III" (1983) It's pretty obvious that, from the atrocious, slapstick-heavy beginning of "Superman III," director Richard Lester wanted his first full film as a Superman director to be much different than its predecessors (he stepped in for Richard Donner after the director was fired on "Superman II"). Lester makes one comedic attempt after the next, and even goes so far as to cast a legitimate comedian, Richard Pryor, in a major role. Playing a bumbling computer programmer, Pryor's character is responsible for splitting Superman's (Christopher Reeve) personality into both good and evil personas -- a fitting irony for a film that can't decide what it wants to be. But the really bad news for "Superman" fans is that this wasn't the lowest point the superhero film franchise would reach ... No. 4: "Superman IV: The Quest For Peace" (1987) Christopher Reeve (bless his soul) personally wanted to preach the agenda of nuclear disarmament with this fourth and final "Superman" chapter, but despite all of his good intentions, the film dropped a stink bomb instead. The crux of the film deals with Superman wanting to rid the planet of all its nuclear weapons, but alas, his arch-enemy Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) has the biggest weapon of them all: Nuclear Man (former Chippendale's dancer Mark Pillow), a pretty-boy character who would have mustered more magic in Vegas as a stand-in for Siegfried Fischbacher of Siegfried & Roy. Speaking of magic, although nine years had passed from the time the original "Superman" was released, there was no noticeable advancement in the film's special visual effects. Sure, the flying scenes were cool in 1978, but in "Superman IV," they're just plain cheesy. Our next selection shows that not all cats have nine lives ... No. 3: "Catwoman" (2004) It only made sense that Halle Berry thought she'd made the purrfect move by stepping into the esteemed role of Catwoman, given that Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt made the character so memorable in the "Batman" television series, and Michelle Pfeiffer clawed up the scenery in the film "Batman Returns." But the problem was, the script for "Catwoman" was so out of its league that it didn't even feel like a superhero movie (even Catwoman's alter-ego was changed from Selina Kyle to Patience Phillips). Quite simply, Catwoman is character who belongs in a movie with other characters from the DC Universe, not one where Sharon Stone plays an evil cosmetics magnate. At least Berry had a sense of humor about the whole thing and showed up in-person to collect her Razzie Award for Worst Actress. Next up, a movie so bad its making should have been avenged ... No. 2: "Captain America" (1990) Thanks to 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger," fans of the Marvel superhero were finally able to scrub their brains of this feeble 1990 attempt at bringing the character to life. Matt Salinger (the second-in-command jock jerk in "Revenge of the Nerds") stars as Steve Rogers, a frail WWII-era volunteer who becomes lab enhanced super-soldier Captain America in order to battle Nazi abomination the Red Skull. Despite a fairly decent stable of actors to support him (including Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty and Michael Nouri), "Captain America" is doomed by its unbelievably bad B-movie atmosphere and laughable visual effects. Trust us, you're better off watching Chris Evans in the newer version. Honestly, the 1990 "Captain America" is almost too painful to watch. But even this superhero bomb wasn't as bad as the final movie on our list ... No. 1: "Batman and Robin" (1997) "Batman and Robin" is so bad that star George Clooney was happy to admit that the ruined franchise. In all fairness to George, it was not ENTIRELY his fault, but his mugging turn as Batman/Bruce Wayne certainly didn't help. A heap of the responsibility falls on director Joel Schumacher, a usually reliable filmmaker who simply got too caught up in the film's spectacle. After director Tim Burton made blockbusters out of the first and second chapters, Schumacher took the helm and made a respectable third film with "Batman Forever." But at the same time, every Hollywood headline-grabber HAD to have a role in a Batman film, and by the time "Batman and Robin" came out, the series became overcrowded with a "who's-who" in Hollywood cast. Overacted and underwhelming, the film can only described, charitably, as an embarrassment. Fri, 04 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT 167286 2012-05-04T06:00:00Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/No-talent-required-Bad-acting-hall-of-fame/-/10206688/115646/-/mdg8wg/-/index.html It seems strange that there are actors and actresses who are poor at their job. After all, isn't this what they do for a living? The truth is that some people end up on the silver screen without a great deal of obvious talent. Perhaps they fill a particular role or were cast in a movie that doesn't really require the ability to play a believable character. Yeah, we're looking at you Megan Fox. Regardless of the reason, there are some people who butcher lines or are simply unable to convince the audience that they are anything but a typecast individual. Sometimes people can accept this, and other times they wonder why they spent their hard-earned money on a ticket to see a lackluster performance. With that in mind, here are a few members of the Bad Acting Hall of Fame ... No. 5: Arnold Schwarzenegger The Terminator turned "Governator" was an action-film fixture throughout the 1980s and 1990s before getting into politics and winning the top job in California. In fairness to Arnold, action film fans are not exactly looking for Shakespeare when they attend the latest summer blockbuster. However, this doesn't change the fact that Schwarzenegger has been delivering forced lines throughout his acting career. His signature "I'll be back" has become almost a joke, particularly since he seemed to deliver that line in just about all his films. The culmination of his poor dialogue was probably his portrayal of Mr. Freeze in the disastrous "Batman & Robin." Unfortunately Schwarzenegger is going to have a hard time convincing audiences that he is a brilliant molecular biologist, as cast in that film. When in doubt, it may be better to beat up all the characters than deliver interesting dialogue. The next actor certainly thinks so ... No. 4: Steven Seagal No one questions Steven Seagal's ability to beat the living daylights out of bad guys. Many of Seagal's films have displayed great feats of martial arts prowess, but unfortunately they have not been accompanied by phenomenal acting performances. Seagal was once quoted as saying, "I am hoping that I can be known as a great writer and actor some day, rather than a sex symbol." Fans who have seen his films would probably say that Steven should not hold out too much hope of this happening. Granted, Steven has probably suffered from being typecast and put into movies that have limited opportunities for theatrical development. However, even associations with highly successful franchises can't manufacture solid acting performances, even for Jedi knights ... No. 3: Hayden Christensen For a franchise as successful as "Star Wars," fans might have thought that quality acting would be at a premium. Unfortunately, the casting of Hayden Christensen did not exactly enhance the cinematic experience. His performances in "The Clone Wars" and "Revenge of the Sith" were enough to earn him the 2002 and 2005 Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor at the annual Golden Raspberry Awards. Christensen has appeared in a number of different films, but it is likely that his performance as Anakin Skywalker will forever cement him as a questionable thespian, particularly in the minds of science-fiction fans. Hayden did become popular because his affiliation with "Star Wars," but plenty of poor performers have been popular over the years. Sometimes, there are a number of people that fall into the same category, and it is hard to choose a clear winner ... No. 2: Jessica Simpson/Britney Spears/Jennifer Lopez/Paris Hilton When it comes to these ladies, it is hard to pick the worst big screen offender. There sometimes seems to be a trend in entertainment where singers want to be actors and actors want to be singers. This fits Simpson, Lopez and Spears, as all are pop stars that transitioned from singing to making less-than-stellar films. Paris Hilton is similar, but she still seems to be famous without having accomplished a great deal in the entertainment world. As is the case with many other actors and actresses throughout entertainment history, people like these ladies draw fans to theaters because of their media presence. However, they would hardly be described as believable actresses who create wonderful films. Still, there is one man who probably receives more criticism than anyone else when it comes to movie performances ... No. 1: Keanu Reeves It isn't as if Keanu is trying to be a poor actor. For whatever reason, Reeves has just come across as someone who is unable to convince the audience of his acting ability. Keanu is selling, but no one is buying. Perhaps it was his goofy portrayal of Ted "Theodore" Logan in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" or his forced performance as FBI agent Johnny Utah in "Point Break." Reeves has been a part of many commercially successful films including "The Matrix" franchise, but there are enough films that make him appear to be extremely uncomfortable as an actor. Few films illustrated this more than the Shakespearean film "Much Ado About Nothing," where he stumbles his way through the portrayal of character Don John. It probably isn't Keanu's fault, but for some reason he just doesn't come across as believable on the silver screen. Wed, 02 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT 115646 2012-05-02T06:00:00Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/-Five-Year-director-committed-to-making-engaging-comedies/-/10206688/12024102/-/igusbsz/-/index.html If you couldn't get enough of actor Jason Segel's full-frontal scene from the hit comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," director Nicholas Stoller said you'll have to wait for another day because it doesn't happen in the writing team's latest romantic comedy, "The Five-Year Engagement." But they certainly gave it a try. "We actually shot full-frontal for the film, but then we were looking at the scene and decided like it was too much like going back to the well," Stoller told me with a laugh in an interview Wednesday. "But Jason is very game when it comes to showing various parts of his body." Considering that everything Stoller and Segel have collaborated has turned to gold, you'll have to trust them on this. After all, this is the same team that wrote the scripts to "Get Him to the Greek" (which Stoller also directed) and "The Muppets" -- and the lack of exposure, so to speak, didn't hurt those films a bit. "The Five-Year Engagement" stars Segel and Emily Blunt as Tom and Violet, a perfect couple who, a year after they meet, get engaged. But as a series of career goals and personal ups and downs get in their way, Tom and Violet can't seem to find the right time to proceed with their wedding plans, leading to an unusually long and frustrating engagement. The film, which is produced by Judd Apatow and co-stars Chris Pratt, Alison Brie and Rhys Ifans, opens in theaters nationwide on Friday. "The Five-Year Engagement" is unique in that its story escapes the trappings of the romantic comedy genre, yet it manages to capture the same tone of some definitive romantic comedy classics. "Romantic comedies are my favorite films. Before we sat down to write the film, we watched 'Four Weddings and a Funeral,' 'When Harry Met Sally" and 'Annie Hall' -- all those great romantic comedies -- and then ripped them off," Stoller said, laughing. In all seriousness, Stoller said there's a great benefit to watching the classics because you can learn what makes them tick. "To be honest, I watched those movies to diagram them and see how they move," Stoller said. "When we started structuring our film, we look at those totally character-driven romantic comedies. A movie like 'When Harry Met Sally' is very carefully constructed." When directing character-driven comedies, Stoller noted that the most important thing to remember is that the comedy must come from honest situations if the scene or the dialogue is going to be naturally funny. Forcing comedy, he said, is generally not a good idea. "It's a lesson that I've learned over the three movies I've done," Stoller explained. "I remember on 'Sarah Marshall,' I was pushing Jason to be broader than he should have been and was trying to hit the joke card. But after Judd Apatow watched dailies, he called me and said, 'You don't have to try so hard. You should direct Jason to just react naturally to the nightmare of his ex-girlfriend showing up at the same hotel he's staying at.'" Stoller said once he went with the more natural approach, it became "the funniest thing ever." "The more truthful, the funnier it is, and the more subtle, the better," Stoller said." You just need to show people the way they would really react." Another part of that natural reaction, Stoller added, is that dialogue should never come out an actor as if it sounds rehearsed. Thankfully, he said, Segel uses a great method for making his lines feel real. "The more sloppy he makes the dialogue sound, the more realistic it is," Stoller said. "People don't ever have perfect sound bites of things that they say in real life, whether they're in a fight or trying to propose. You're always pretty much working your way through it, so that makes it funnier, I think." While "The Five-Year Engagement" is at heart a romantic comedy, Stoller is proud of the fact that he and Segel weren't afraid to confront dramatic moments in the script, including the spats real-life engaged couples have as their relationships deepen. Ultimately, Stoller knows, that if "The Five-Year Engagement" turns from comedy to dramedy at some points, the film will only benefit from it because the situations become all the more relatable to its audiences. At the same time, he said, its important pull a scene back before it becomes complete drudgery. "We really tread the line on this one -- it's probably the most dramatic of the three movies I've directed," Stoller observed. "But I think it's very interesting when we have a scene that goes there, like the bedroom argument scene. There has been an explosion of laughter from audiences when he wants to be alone and she starts to leave and he says, 'I just want to be alone with you here now.' It's a funny line and its great relief for that moment." "A moment like that says, 'OK, we can laugh at this,'" Stoller added. "The most dramatic things in my life have also been weird and funny, and if we can hit both, it becomes more emotionally compelling." More 'Muppets' The pending release of "The Five-Year Engagement" is only one of the reasons it's been a big week for Stoller. On Tuesday, Walt Disney Studios made official that there are going to make a sequel to "The Muppets," with Stoller on script duties again and James Bobin back in the director's chair. Stoller said he's thrilled that the sequel has become a high-priority for the studio. "It's a huge vote of confidence from the property," Stoller enthused. "I just loved working on 'The Muppets' so much. It's just so much fun to write for those characters, and an honor." Segel, who starred as the human lead in "The Muppets," will not be back for the sequel, and as of now, Stoller said he doesn't expect the actor to appear in the "Muppets 2" in a cameo role, either. "Right now there isn't anything isn't anything planned with him, but James Bobin and I have just outlined the script and we're on page 13," Stoller said. "But we'll have to see. We kind of concluded Gary's story in the first one. If he is involved it would be in a cameo but I'm not sure yet -- (we'll know) further down the line." One character you can definitely expect to be coming back is Walter, Gary's brother who received a warm and fuzzy embrace from his fellow Muppets in the first film. "Walter chose to be a Muppet and Gary chose to be a man," said Stoller with a laugh, in reference to the Oscar-winning song, "Man or Muppet." Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:20:50 GMT 12024102 2012-04-27T15:20:50Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Review-Cusack-as-Poe-in-The-Raven-takes-flight/-/10206688/12142850/-/14n1k2n/-/index.html If Robert Downey Jr. can inject his own quirky style into detective Sherlock Holmes, John Cusack can certainly have free rein to do anything he'd like with macabre author Edgar Allan Poe. And so he does. The falling down of "The Raven" isn't Cusack's punk portrayal of Poe, but it's a premise that never fully realizes its potential -- a serial killer is using a writer's works as the backdrop for some gruesome murders, yet on film it becomes the stuff of nightly television crime drama, think "CSI" in the 19th century. Cusack and director James McTeigue ("V for Vendetta") save the day, however. There's something oddly appealing about a gigantic pendulum in a pit inspired by, of course, Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum." When Cusack as Poe says, his mouth hanging open and gazing up at a gigantic scythe, "I really hadn't imagined the counterweight to be… so large," you can't help but get sucked into the film. Other acts of horror in the movie take their cue from "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Mystery of Marie Roget" and "The Tell-Tale Heart," to name a few. Poe-sters will delight at inside jokes that maybe only they will get, but will fly over the heads of the rest of us who only know Poe-isms from doing the daily crossword (if you only know "suddenly there came a tapping," you cannot count yourself as a devotee). Cusack goes at his character with gusto, putting aside the preconceived notion of the father of detective fiction as a sad sack drunk, and instead creating a portrait of an egotistical writer who believed he had a gift for the craft, as well as a mere love of whiskey and tincture of opium. "God gave him a spark of genius shrouded in misery," the movie's newspaper editor (Kevin McNally) says after Poe has another clash with him over one of his stories being replaced by one by a writer named Longfellow. The film fares best when McTeigue is able to keep the action moving. The change in the script comes when the killer abducts Poe's fiancée, Emily (Alice Eve) and it's left to Poe to craft the perfect story that could save her life. Then it's Cusack and Co. having a jolly good time running around the dark streets of 19th century Baltimore (shot on location in Budapest) in search of a killer that's mad as a hatter. "The Raven" isn't literary genius, but it's not a bad thriller, and something Poe himself would have delighted in. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:20:09 GMT 12142850 2012-04-27T15:20:09Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Hollywood-s-5-favorite-movie-disasters/-/10206688/115694/-/70ahxuz/-/index.html It's become painfully obvious since the dawn of cinema that Hollywood has a grudge against our little planet here. From biblical plagues in Cecil B. DeMille movies to Roland Emmerich's ever-gaudier attempts to wipe us out, the death of all or nearly all of humanity has guaranteed boffo box office receipts. In the modern apocalyptic movie, there are certain conventions that must be followed. For instance, if the disaster involves any sort of violent geological or impact-related upheaval, you must show what happens to either the Statue of Liberty, the White House, the Hollywood sign or the Eiffel Tower. Lady Liberty alone has lost more heads than all of Henry VIII's wives combined in the last two decades. Let's take a look at the five most iconic ways moviemakers wipe out our species … the most popular apocalypses, if you will. But first, take a tissue and blow your nose. You look a little sick ... No. 5: The megavirus With "The Omega Man," featuring Charlton Heston at his manliest as the last man on earth, we got a taste of the concept of the megavirus, the superbug that would most likely be engineered by some of our fellow humans and would (because they always do) break loose and kill us by the truckloads. In the TV world, the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's "The Stand" added a psychic/mystical component to the mix, with an Extra Special Bonus of small-scale nuclear annihilation. You can never have too many forms of mass extinction in one movie, right? "The Andromeda Strain" brought the killer bug in from outer space, a much smaller-scale version of perhaps the most popular way to wipe out humanity. Which brings us to our next disaster scenario ... No. 4: Not-so-friendly aliens H.G. Wells scared the pants off an entire nation with the "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, and it didn't take long for moviemakers to follow along. Letting loose a few invincible robots, city-sized spaceships or cunningly disguised aliens to do their dirty work is a surefire recipe for mayhem. One of the greatest examples of this is "Independence Day," which contrary to popular belief is not a movie at all but rather a collection of every single sci-fi movie cliché ever used stitched together with the flimsiest of plot threads. That didn't stop it from making roughly 40 bazillion bucks at the box office and gaining the coveted position of being the movie shown at least 10 times a week on Turner-owned stations alone. But aliens aren't the only things we have to fear coming from the sky ... No. 3: Planet-killing asteroids The summer of 1998 was a great one if you happened to be a huge mass of iron, nickel and ice prone to spontaneous gas venting and possessed of genocidal intent. The two biggest movies of the season, "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon," were both centered on the idea of planet-killing asteroids that were about to become unwelcome guests at everyone's backyard cookouts. "Deep Impact" starred Morgan Freeman, Tea Leoni and Robert Duvall and was a fairly thoughtful, well-plotted yarn that delivered both emotional heft and a tidal wave the size of a televangelist's hair. "Armageddon" had Bruce Willis. However, it wins because it also had Steve Buscemi in his most crazed role ever as Rockhound, the Dr. Strangelove-quoting geologist with a penchant for automatic weapons. Speaking of "Dr. Strangelove," Hollywood has spared little expense in teaching us how to love the bomb ... No. 2: The atomic bomb Anybody knows that if you want a really good apocalypse, you've just got to do it yourself, and since ole Doc Oppenheimer taught us all how to make mushrooms out of common household plutonium, we've spent billions of dollars perfecting our doom. The examples are endless, from the aforementioned "Dr. Strangelove" to the TV movie "The Day After" to post-nuclear-apocalypse movies like "Mad Max." The most recent example of post-nuclear funtime, "The Road," starring Viggo Mortensen as a character reminiscent of the "Lord of the Rings'" Aragorn with emphysema and poor hygiene, is the sort of movie you watch when you're almost given up all hope, but just need a teensy bit of help to finish. I'm not saying it's depressing, but ... well, yeah, I am. Really depressing. Maybe going out in the sunshine will cheer me up ... No. 1: Our own planet run amok This last is pretty much the specialty of Chief Planet Hater Roland Emmerich. From the meteorological implausibility of "The Day After Tomorrow" to the mishmash of doomsday scenarios known as "2012," Rollie sure does love showing us done in by our own planet run amok. In "The Day After Tomorrow," global warming was somehow blamed for weather wallops like tornadoes eating vast swaths of downtown Los Angeles and tidal floods sending cargo ships floating down Broadway in New York. As best I can tell, the idea behind "2012" was something similar to what happens when you put Peeps in a microwave, with the middle getting all squooshy and the outside sliding around to make new, bizarre shapes. If you'll excuse me, I'm going now to stick random things in the Amana and see if I can come up with Emmerich's next big blockbuster. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:05:49 GMT 115694 2012-04-26T20:05:49Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/-Contraband-star-finally-connects-with-Wahlberg/-/10206688/11768196/-/15ukfqx/-/index.html Surveying his wish list of potential co-stars, acclaimed actor Ben Foster said that he's always wanted to work with Oscar-nominee Mark Wahlberg. But when Foster finally got his chance recently on the crime thriller "Contraband," he also found out that he'd have to roll with the punches in some pretty intense fight scenes with "The Fighter" star. "Your scenes are lumped in with the stunt guys (standing in for you), but when it was just us, Mark is no joke," Foster told me in a recent interview. "He's a pretty solid fellow. I think I can hold my own, but that man is strong. Thankfully, there is a structure to fight scenes and the punches didn't actually connect -- but we still come off like we're fighting." Apart from the heavy lifting, Foster couldn't have been more impressed with his co-star. "He's one of the most stand-up, loyal, hard workers I've met," Foster said. "He's stayed true to his roots and is incredibly humble. I had a gas with him." In "Contraband," new Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray (Universal Studios Home Entertainment), Wahlberg stars as Chris Farraday, a former smuggler-gone-legit who is forced back into the dangerous underworld when he needs to come up with cash to pay off a vicious drug lord (Giovanni Ribisi) after his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) botches a high-priced job. Kate Beckinsale also stars as Chris' wife, Kate, and Foster stars in the pivotal role of Sebastian Abney, Chris' longtime friend who is caught in the middle of the dangerous operation. An Actor's Appreciation Of course, anytime an actor steps into the shoes of a character, they can experience any number of emotions, whether it be inspirational or just plain relief that they've never been in the same harrowing circumstances as their characters. Needless to say, Foster was thrilled to walk away from his work in "Contraband" knowing that he's not a part of that dangerous world, but can instead help portray it. "Anybody who does what we do lives incredibly blessed lives," Foster said. "Coming off a job, just being employed is a blessing, especially in these times. Even though actors are freelancers, it's not hard walking away having a positive, grateful outlook. There are so many talented people out there who are not working right now, so I feel incredibly blessed." Foster, who has starred in such hits as "3:10 to Yuma," "The Messenger" and "X-Men: The Last Stand," said the only thing better than the work itself is finding out that people related to it in some sort of way. "If somebody can say something nice about what somebody does, that's a beautiful thing," Foster said. "If somebody sees your movie and they enjoyed it, or tell you that they felt like they knew that person, were that person or recognized something, then maybe, potentially, it feels a little less lonely for them out there in the big, bad world. I know movies that have done that for me in the past, so it's nice to know what we're doing is not a waste of time." With any luck, Foster will be able to share more of his talent soon with "Gotti: The Shadow of My Father," which tells the true story of reputed mob boss John Gotti (John Travolta) and his son, John Gotti Jr. (Foster). The high-profile film, which also includes the likes of Al Pacino, Kelly Preston and director Barry Levinson, has hit some development snags and is currently stuck in pre-production. "'Pre-production' is a very big word," Foster said with a laugh. "They're currently ironing out financing. We were in pre-production last fall, but there have been some changes of the guard, so hopefully we'll be getting back into in the New Year, but nothing is set in stone." Whatever happens, Foster said, it can't happen soon enough. "I would have great company, the subject matter is fascinating and I would love to work with Barry again," said Foster, who worked with Levinson previously on the 1999 coming-of-age drama "Liberty Heights." Plus, Foster said he loves what will most certainly be served on the catering menu. "It would allow me to eat some pasta, which is never a bad thing," Foster said with a laugh. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:41:13 GMT 11768196 2012-04-24T13:41:13Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/5-celebs-you-thought-were-dead-but-aren-t/-/10206688/115692/-/duqt6k/-/index.html Mark Twain once quipped that reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated. Abe Vigoda, for one, can relate to that sentiment. The former "Barney Miller" star (not to mention "The Godfather") has shown good humor in turning premature reports of his death into a running gag over the years. Take, for instance, the 2010 Snickers ad starring Vigoda and Betty White. In the ad, a hungry pickup football player is portrayed by the former "Golden Girls" actress because he was "playing like Betty White." The sight of the ageless White being driven to the turf left many a viewer howling in laughter. The kicker was at the very end, however, when Vigoda got into the bit. During the commercial's Super Bowl XLIV debut, one refrain was heard in living rooms across America. Say it with us now: "I didn't know he was still alive!" With that phrase in mind, lets take a quick look at five celebrities who, like Vigoda, we simply didn't realize were still with us. Phyllis Diller is still alive? That may seem unbelievable, especially since Diller seemed to be old and cranky when she was a TV staple in the '60s and '70s. But that was her schtick, playing the harried housewife with a loser husband, ungrateful kids and always too much laundry to iron. But what has she done for us lately? How about playing an old flame of Denny's (William Shatner) in a 2007 episode of "Boston Legal"? They apparently had a romantic moment in a foxhole during World War II. Captain Kirk and Phyllis? Beam me to another planet. Diller is also the current voice of Peter Griffin's mother, Thelma, on "Family Guy." Thelma is known for chain smoking and gambling, and even had a short June-December relationship with TV anchor Tom Tucker. Sounds like primo voice work, if you can get it. Diller did. Phyllis Ada Driver. She was born on July 17, 1917, in Lima, Ohio, and she's still with us. Right now she's 94 years old, living in Brentwood, Calif. Jack Klugman is still alive. Some of you may know him as Quincy, M.E. (a late-'70s TV series ahead of its time considering all the CSI's and clones on the airwaves these days), but Mr. Klugman most-famously played the lovable Oscar Madison in the TV sitcom "The Odd Couple." Tony Randall (who is not with us), played his neat-freak foil, Felix Unger. Both were perfect for their parts, made famous in the movies by Jack Lemmon (Felix) and Walter Matthau (Oscar). While some may argue Klugman didn't have the acting chops of Matthau, he did play the convincing slob/sportswriter. When they showed shots of his sandwich-under-the-pillow-laundry-everywhere bedroom, you always wondered how many people said to themselves, "He lives like me." In the '80s, Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer, which left his great voice harsh and raspy. Oscar loved his cigarettes and cigars. Quincy would have told him to quit smoking. Jack Klugman. He was born on April 27, 1922, in Philadelphia, and he's still with us. Right now he's 89 years old. Al Molinaro is still with us. Who is Al Molinaro? Didn't you ever watch "Happy Days"? Al owned Arnold's Drive-In, where Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), Potsie Weber (Anson Williams), Arthur Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) and the gang hung out. OK, Mr. Molinaro wasn't the first Al to push milkshakes in the series. Can you guess the first? Tick. Tick. Tick. OK, time's up. It was Pat Morita -- Mr. Miyagi from "The Karate Kid" movies -- who's no longer with us. Morita returned to the series after Molinaro bowed out. After "Happy Days," Molinaro teamed up with Williams to open a string of Big Al's diners. Look close, and you can even spot him in the 1994 "Buddy Holly" video by Weezer. He's now retired from acting, settling down in Glendale, Calif., where he lives today with his wife, Sidney. Albert Francis Molinaro. He was born on June 24, 1919, in Kenosha, Wis., making him 92 years old. Some believe Kirk Douglas will never die. Yep, the father of popular film actor Michael Douglas, is still with us. He of extremely dimpled chin is in his 90s now, and is the current title holder of Oldest Celebrity Blogger! You can catch his latest thoughts on his MySpace account. Although wouldn't it be great if Spartacus tweeted? In addition to logging the blogs, Douglas has spent some time on the stage recently. In 2009, he starred in a one-man autobiographical show in Culver City, Calif., a four-performance stint that was turned into a 2010 documentary. No word if he was in his gladiator garb, however. But if someone could pull off that look at his age, it would be Kirk Douglas. Kirk Douglas (birth name Issur Daneilovitch) was born on Dec. 9, 1916, in Amsterdam, N.Y. He's 95 years old, and could probably still kick your butt. Dawn Wells charmed the world by playing Mary Ann in the '60s sitcom "Gilligan's Island," whipping up coconut cream pie after coconut cream pie. She was Betty to Ginger's (Tina Louise) Veronica on that show. To this day, grown men ponder who they would rather be stuck with on a desert island for eternity: Mary Ann or Ginger. Sure, Ginger had the goods -- but Mary Ann wasn't exactly a warthog, and most important -- she could cook! There. Settled that debate. Besides, Wells was a real-life beauty queen. In 1960 she was Miss Nevada in the Miss America pageant. Of the "Gilligan's Island" crew, only Wells, Louise and Russell Johnson (The Professor) are still here. Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale (The Skipper), Natalie Schafer (Lovie Howell) and Jim Backus (Mr. Howell) have all sailed to the other side. Dawn Elberta Wells. She was born Oct. 18, 1938, in Reno, Nev. That makes her 73 years old, but no matter how old she gets -- she'll always be everyone's true island girl. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT 115692 2012-04-24T06:00:00Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Review-Efron-s-the-spark-in-Lucky-One/-/10206688/11243228/-/hyv55x/-/index.html Zac Efron is so sweet in the new movie "The Lucky One," you expect that, at any moment, his ultra white teeth will have a sparkle that "tings" at just the right time, and that his dreamy blue eyes will have the same animated twinkle. Regardless of the overly predictable plot of yet another saccharine love story inspired by a dreamy Nicholas ("Dear John," "A Walk To Remember," "The Notebook") Sparks novel, Efron proves he's leading man material as Logan Thibault, a Marine sergeant who, after three tours of duty in Iraq is mentally torn and tattered. He returns suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after a series of near-death encounters. Logan believes that what saved his life was a mysterious photograph he found of a woman after the dust cleared from one of the blasts. A stay at his sister's house proves too stressful when loud video games and toy gun play of her two boys brings out the worst of his war memories. With nothing to lose, he sets off to thank the woman in the photo that he believes kept him safe. While the search should have been like finding a needle in a haystack, the film quickly has Logan matching the lighthouse in the background of the photo to a kennel owner in a small Louisiana town. With his German shepherd, Zeus, as a travel companion, he sets out on foot from Colorado to meet the woman. Yes, that's a long walk, but true to romance-movie form he shows up at her doorstep no worse for the wear. As you can imagine, the rest of the story begins a series of happenstance situations as Logan ends up working at the kennel and, of course, falling in love with the owner, Beth (Taylor Schilling), while never revealing the true intent of why he showed up on her doorstep. Efron is so enjoyable to watch as he sheds his skin from former teen heartthrob to buff (he packed on 20 pounds for the role), believable military man, that the glaring holes in the plot, the cheesy music that swells at just the right times, the too cute-as-a-button casting of Beth's son, Ben (a mop top Riley Thomas Stewart ), and the absolute perfection of a too-good-to-be-true Logan (he plays the piano and can fix a broken down boat) are easy to forgive. Schilling, whose most recognizable role is as Nurse Veronica Callahan in the 2009 NBC television series "Mercy," is less enthralling as Beth and Efron appears to be doing all the work to create a chemistry between the characters. Blythe Danner is her reliable self as Beth's grandmother, Ellie, and Jay R. Ferguson ("Mad Men") adds the element of villain as Beth's controlling deputy sheriff ex-husband, Keith, who doesn't like the new guy in town getting cozy with his former wife. Sparks once again hangs his premise on love conquering all even in the face of much adversity. Luckily, director Scott Hicks, the man behind "Shine," "Snow Falling on Cedars" and "Hearts in Atlantis," knows how to keep things moving to make sure this sugary concoction doesn't turn to sap. As a side note, parents who accompany Efron's fan base -- just-turned teens that want to see Disney's Troy Bolton (Efron's character in "High School Musical") -- may feel uncomfortable during a pair of particularly steamy scenes between him and Schilling, which might be a bit suggestive for those in the crowd on the younger side of PG-13. For those old enough to appreciate the passages, however, Efron does see to it that the sparks fly in these scenes. The luckiest thing about "The Lucky One" is its leading man, but he may have fared better to debut his new brawn in a movie that had more muscle. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:34:46 GMT 11243228 2012-04-20T16:34:46Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Sparks-says-he-s-lucky-to-have-Efron-in-Lucky-One/-/10206688/11227618/-/djlffsz/-/index.html Fans of the movies based on best-selling author Nicholas Sparks' works -- whether it be "The Notebook," "Dear John" or "The Last Song" -- know for certain going in that they're going to see a story of romance. But for his latest big-screen adaptation, "The Lucky One," Sparks said there's something here that sets the film apart from the previous ones. "This time we have really attractive people in the roles," Sparks told me, laughing, in a recent interview. Sparks knows, of course, that all of his films feature really attractive people, whether it be Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in "The Notebook," or Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried in "Dear John." For "The Lucky One," it's former teen heartthrob Zac Efron and a stunning relative newcomer with Taylor Schilling. And while having gorgeous leads in his films generally poses an advantage, Sparks noted the fact that behind these flawless faces are people who can act. "The thing about Zac is, he's such of an amazingly underrated performer," Sparks said. "Some will see him in 'High School Musical' and think, 'This is all he can do.' But he's been in this business since he was 11 years old and he knows how to prepare for roles. He's got tremendous range." Opening in theaters Friday, "The Lucky One" stars Efron as Logan Thibault, a Marine sergeant who returns home from his third tour of duty in Iraq with a heavy heart. Haunted by the loss of his friends in the war, the only thing that keeps Logan going is a photo a woman he found on the battlefield that belonged to another soldier -- a photo by certain twists of fate that helped keep him alive. Longing to meet the woman in the photo, Logan ventures from his home in Colorado and eventually finds her when he lands of the doorstep of Beth Green (Schilling), who with her young son (Riley Stewart) and grandmother (Blythe Danner) run a dog kennel in Louisiana. Unable to reveal the true reason he is there, Logan takes a job at the kennel and immediately forms a unique bond with Beth and her family. A romance between Logan and Beth soon develops, but complicating things are her jealous ex-husband (Jay R. Ferguson) and a recent family tragedy that Beth is seeking the answers to. With Beth coming into his life, the two might have a chance to find a resolution together, Sparks said. "Logan's alive because of this photograph, but when he arrives home, he has no idea where he should start with his life after the war," Sparks explained. "All he knows is that where he is, it's not working. All he knows is that the picture has something to do with how he is going to heal." Sparks said that Logan's personal dilemma in "The Lucky One" marks a huge departure for one of the lead characters in his stories. "Logan is a damaged character. I've had characters suffer loss or I've had characters feeling guilty about the things that have happened -- like Richard Gere's character in 'Nights in Rodanthe,' who knows he made some mistakes. But his character didn't really have tragedy in his life. Logan has both," Sparks said. "Besides losing all his friends in the war, he survived." As a resident of North Carolina, Sparks said he's often encountered the likes of Logan, which is why he made the character a Marine veteran and set the start of "The Lucky One" in the Iraq war. "It's a profoundly military area where I live -- you see how deployments change these young men who go and they all come back different," Spark observed. "When their friends die they change even more so … I live there and see what the soldiers are like, and unless you're an officer who went to college all four years, if you're in the military and your age is 18 to 25, you're being deployed." Matter Of Luck Or Destiny? "The Lucky One" certainly explores the idea of destiny, and Sparks said he believes that events are fated because otherwise, he wouldn't be able to imagine such events and ultimately write about them. Still, he said, you don't know for sure about those "destined" moments because you're living them and playing a part in the circumstances that surround them. "Destiny or fate is only that in retrospect, because you don't know it at the time. When you meet it, it's only a coincidence, a random event or a chance meeting," Sparks observed. "At that time, you make a series of decisions, consciously and unconsciously. Only when you look back, it's fate. But I believe fate and destiny absolutely is real." In the case of "The Lucky One," Logan's fate was dictated by his actions, Sparks said. "When something's right, you tend to take more conscious direction in your decisions," Sparks noted. "It was fate that Logan found this photograph of the woman, but it was a decision of his to go and find her." "Once he found her, it was up to him to consciously or even subconsciously keep moving forward," Sparks added. "It was fate that he found the photograph, but a destiny that he also helped control. We are a little bit, at least, in control of our own lives as well." Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:50:31 GMT 11227618 2012-04-20T13:50:31Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/atthemovies/Director-blazes-new-path-to-Cabin-in-the-Woods/-/10206688/10625602/-/15cjumk/-/index.html If fright fans are expecting a bit of backwoods horror with "Cabin in the Woods," they're certainly going to get that, since that's what the title implies. But the cabin in this cinematic set of "Woods" is really only the launching pad, as the film takes twists and turns and goes to places audience members will never imagine. If that sounds ambitious, there's no need to worry, as the co-writers of this concoction of horror, humor, blood and gore have a long-established pedigree. In addition to being the scribe behind "Cloverfield," "Cabin" director Drew Goddard has written for "Lost" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; and "Buffy," of course, was created by producer and Goddard's frequent collaborator Joss Whedon. Goddard knows the initial setting for "The Cabin in the Woods" somewhat hearkens Sam Raimi's masterful "Evil Dead" films, but, as he told me in a recent interview, the film is a salute to so much more. "The entire movie is a homage to horror films. We love horror films, and certainly 'The Evil Dead' plays an important part in that and is an important part to me," Goddard said, laughing. "But in total, the whole movie was inspired by mine and Joss Whedon's love of the genre." The pathway to the release of "The Cabin in the Woods" -- opening in theaters nationwide on Friday -- has been a long and winding one that has hit some interesting dead-ends. "Cabin" was actually filmed in 2009, but its release was held up over the financial troubles of its studio financiers, United Artist and MGM. Lionsgate, the studio behind "The Hunger Games," eventually came to the rescue and snapped it up for distribution, and three years later, Goddard and Whedon's "Cabin" will finally see the light of day. "It was frustrating some days but we weren't the only ones caught up by the bankruptcy," Goddard recalled. "'The Hobbit' got delayed and the latest James Bond film got delayed, so when you see heavyweights like that dropping beside you, you say to yourself, 'This isn't about us.' When you're dealing with billion-dollar bankruptcies, so much of it is above your pay grade there's not a lot you can about it. I just had a lot of faith in the film. I knew that it would all work out." Perhaps the most interesting fact of working with the UA/MGM, Goddard noted, was that a film icon was among those calling the shots at the studio. The good thing for Goddard and Whedon was this studio honcho had plenty of experience on both sides of the camera. "Tom Cruise was sort of in charge of United Artists at the time," Goddard explained. "He was mostly just supportive of us, and got that we were trying to do something different. Since he's an artist, he responds to other filmmakers' passions. It was definite a surreal feeling when you come into the board room for a meeting and you're talking with Tom about the stuff that happens in this movie." The delay of the movie, while initially frustrating for the filmmakers, ultimately turned into a mixed-blessing. That's because among the cast is Chris Hemsworth, whose known worldwide to movie fans as title character in "Thor" and part of the team assembling for the Whedon-directed "The Avengers." When Hemsworth auditioned Goddard and Whedon, however, he was a relative unknown. The odd thing is, Hemsworth had previously shot his pivotal role as George Kirk for "Star Trek," directed by Goddard's "Cloverfield" producer J.J. Abrams. But since Hemsworth's impact on "Star Trek" was yet to be seen, the "Cabin" filmmakers really had no idea of what the actor was capable of. "J.J. had just finished shooting 'Star Trek' and started editing it by the time we started casting, and just by the virtue of that he worked with J.J., we knew he was worth looking at," Goddard said. "We probably looked at 100 people for his role. He walked in like any other actor would for normal casting session, but just blew us away. He walked out and I looked at the other people in the room and said, "That's our guy." "The Cabin in the Woods" follows a group of five college friends (Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Amy Hutchison and Jesse Williams) who trek off to a remote getaway in the woods, not having a clue of the horrors that lie ahead. The premise may sound familiar, but behind the ghouls and creatures that terrorize these typical horror film dolts is a control room full of technicians (including Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins) who are controlling their every move -- setting up a series of events that, if thrown off-kilter, could have a devastating effect on all parties involved. What comes next in "The Cabin in the Woods" is blood -- and plenty of it. But the film stops short of falling into not-so-affectionately-titled "torture porn" subgenre, and there's a good reason for that, Goddard said. People don't generally laugh at torture porn. "We wanted to fall in the category of 'fun horror film' rather than 'traumatic horror film,'" Goddard said. "There are those types of movies that are really well done that I like. But that's not what the type of film we wanted to do. We wanted to do the one that's fun. We want you to be laughing as much as you are screaming." Besides, Goddard added, "The Cabin in the Woods" wouldn't be a true horror film if it didn't entrench itself in the roots of the genre. "I respond to the classic horror films. I like to let the dread build, rather than just show people sawing into flesh," Goddard said. "Those are the types of horror films I grew up with." By respecting the classic genre and stretching the current genre to its limits, Goddard with "The Cabin in the Woods" is effectively is coming up with a word you don't hear associated with horror films: fresh. "As a director I want to push myself to do something new," Goddard enthused. "Who wants to do the same old movie? Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:42:32 GMT 10625602 2012-04-12T13:42:32Z