Friday, October 30, 2009

'THIS IS IT'....NOT For Michael Jackson Fans Only


Hey Movie Lovers,

I was lucky enough to see a midnight screening of the new Michael Jackson "concert documentary" THIS IS IT on Tuesday evening.

Guess what?

I loved it.

This isn't a real shocker, because his #1 best-selling album "Thriller" came out the year I graduated from high school.


I have many, MANY fond memories of listening to and dancing to Michael Jackson tunes. Not to mention loving his music videos as well.


Those songs helped define a specific period in my life and they definitely have a special place in my heart.

I know there are many other MJ fans out there like me, all over the world....but there are just as many people who think he was just a very weird celebrity, who lived a very strange and unnatural existence.

I understand that, believe me I do.

I'm hoping that those people, along with the die-hard MJ fans, will go see this film. It truly gives a glimpse into his world as an artist and entertainer. It is enjoyable and engaging. Fun and joyful and ultimately, more than a little sad.

Please note, this film is NOT anything about his private, personal life.

This is Michael Jackson....the singer, dancer and entertainer extraordinaire.


And it is revealing, worthwhile and awesome --

and only in theaters for 2 weeks.

What made me wanna get up in the aisles and sing and dance?

THIS IS IT.

I discussed the film this morning during my Mix Flick Chick segment with morning DJ Mark Dantzer. Mark is a music lover (obviously), and has great memories of listening to MJ as well.

Check out the video of our discussion below, as well as the official trailer for THIS IS IT.


Let me know if you see it & what you think....

and stay tuned!





Sunday, October 18, 2009

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Are You Ready For Another 'VACATION'?


Yes, I think I am.

I just read this morning that we may soon see a sequel of sorts to the 1983 comedy classic,
Vacation.

The original is one of my
all-time favorite funny flicks, and I like what I've read so far about their new take on this popular franchise.

According to Borys Kit's HEAT VISION blog on The Hollywood Reporter website:

Writing has not yet begun, but the story will reportedly focus on Rusty Griswold, the son of Clark Griswold, the protagonist of the initial movies and portrayed by Chevy Chase. The younger Griswold is now a father in his own right and takes his family on a road trip vacation.

The characters would acknowledge that first trip, making the movie more of a sequel than a reboot.
Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, who played the mom in the original movies, will have room to make appearances as grandparents, providing a sense of continuity, though no deals are in place.

New Line is taking meetings with writers this week, hoping to make a movie that skews more towards “Planes Trains and Automobiles” or “Little Miss Sunshine” than “RV” or “Are We There Yet?”

David Dobkin (director/producer of
The Wedding Crashers) is attached to produce and possibly direct.

OK, that sounds like a good starting point to me, and a family vacation that I might actually enjoy.



BONUS FUN FACT:

Did you know that the screenplay for the original
Vacation was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon Magazine titled "Vacation '58" (the screenplay changes the year to 1983)?

The original story is a (reportedly) fictionalized account of Hughes' own family's ill-fated trip to
Disneyland (changed to Walley World for the film) when Hughes was a boy. The success of the film helped advance his screenwriting career.

And we all know how well
that went, don't we?


So check out the original trailer for
Vacation below, along with just ONE of the many funny scenes from this classic flick.


Enjoy your trip!



Tuesday, September 15, 2009

It's Elementary....Robert Downey Jr. IS Sherlock Holmes.


Well Movie Lovers,

I
NEVER thought I'd say this, but after seeing the Sherlock Holmes trailer below in the theater last night......

I have to say --

"I have a crush on Robert Downey Jr.!"


Whoa.

I know, I know -- he's a great actor and all.

It's just -- he's always seemed....I dunno.....just this side of
.....



Skeevy
.

So this is really a major breakthrough.

For me.

Wow. I just truly & thoroughly enjoyed watching this sneak peek of
Robert and his new flick, set to hit theaters this December 25th.

To be honest, I
did warm to him a little bit after Iron Man.....but seriously, I think Sherlock Holmes is gonna seal the deal. Just sayin'.

Hey, why not? We've got
Downey Jr. as the oh-so-famous sleuth and Jude Law as his trusted sidekick, Dr. Watson.

Not a bad package
(So to speak).


Downey Jr. is quite hot right now, and this flick looks like it may actually be smart, funny and quite action-packed.

And...with a little bit of lusty romance courtesy of the lovely
Rachel McAdams as well.

So there.


By the way, this flick was directed by none other than the
EX-Mr. Madonna.....Guy Ritchie.


Thankfully,
she's nowhere to be found (Even though I'm sure she was just dyin' to use that British accent of hers, doncha know. No thanks Madge, we'll pass).

OK, so the audience I saw this trailer with last night laughed very hard,
more than a few times... AND seemed to totally dig it.

Check out the trailer below for yourself, and let me know what you think.

Ya know, I seriously think he's shakin' off some of the
skeevy.


Way to go
Robert, way to go.

Monday, August 17, 2009

It's Our Gal Sandra....and it's "All About Steve."


It's no real surprise that I love Sandra Bullock.

She's a Hollywood survivor who is smart, funny, not afraid to act wacky or look unattractive...


AND she enjoys working behind-the-scenes as much as in front.

Oh yeah....she's also currently riding a huge wave of success after her recent romantic-comedy flick The Proposal (which cost only
$40 million to make....) just passed the $157 million dollar mark at the box office.


No, that's NOT a typo.

After 9 weeks in release....The Proposal has made $157+ million dollars.

In comparison, Night At The Museum 2 cost $150 million to make, and in 13 weeks has made $175 million.

Huh. Not bad girlie, not bad at all.

Especially for a former "It Girl" who many had written off as no longer bankable at the box office. I'm sure that some of those suits in La-La land were even waiting for her to announce a TV project.

That's where the former movie queens seem to be going nowadays...doncha know.


Nope, it seems our gal Sandra can still bring 'em into the theaters....she just has to be driving the right vehicle.

Well, looks like the next one for her is another romantic comedy, and this time she is once again starring with a handsome & younger leading man.


You go girl.

Lucky for Sandra, the guy (Bradley Cooper) is suddenly very hot after his recent turn in the mega-successful summer hit, The Hangover.


I've seen this trailer for the upcoming It's All About Steve a few times now, and each time it still makes me smile. Pseudo-stalker Sandra is quirky yet likable, TV reporter Thomas Haden Church looks smarmy yet funny and Bradley Cooper is......well, OK -- he's just plain hunkalicious.


(Gimme a break, I'm not dead!)

So click the movie title link here ----> All About Steve
<---- to go to the official movie website. You can view the trailer there, then let me know what YOU think.

(Comments added below on my site are MUCH appreciated!)

The flick was originally supposed to open in theaters last spring, but studio bosses felt that there were too many romantic comedies scheduled for release around that time -- so it is now scheduled to open on September 4, 2009.

So....can Sandra do it again?



It may be All About Steve.....but as far as I'm concerned, Sandra's drivin' the bus.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Marvelous Meryl Is At It Again!


Hey Movie Lovers --

Today I'm happy to report that it seems the marvelous Meryl Streep has now become Hollywood's go-to gal for summer AND holiday flicks that will appeal to the (largely ignored) over-25 female demographic.

At least, that's what it's starting to look like.

What with last summer's HUGE box office hit Mamma Mia, and then the holiday Oscar-bait of Doubt....Meryl is set to repeat herself this year as well.

We have the just-released Julie & Julia, poised to become a summer box office success....


And now the trailer for Meryl's upcoming holiday offering -- It's Complicated, has just hit movie screens & the internet.

Oh yeah...and it looks good, good, GOOD.

Let's just say, this makes me happier than a pig in.....oh, never mind.

Just take a look below at the newly released trailer for It's Complicated. Along with a very funny Meryl, it stars Alec Baldwin as her cheating ex-husband and Steve Martin as Meryl's architect and would-be suitor.

I mean seriously, how much do I love that cast?

You'll also see some other welcome faces: Mary Kay Place, Alexandra Wentworth and Rita Wilson as Meryl's gal-pals....and cutie John Krasinski from The Office as Meryl's son-in-law.

OK, so it opens Christmas day and I'm willing to bet the contents of my stocking that it's gonna be a big hit.

In fact, I'm thinkin' that will be right around the time Miss Streep will be receiving serious Oscar buzz for her portrayal of Julia Child....so it may just be a very Merry Christmas for Meryl this year.


Go ahead and quote me on that. Just sayin'.

Hey, take a peek at It's Complicated & let me know what YOU think --



(By the way, did Meryl Streep really just say: "Turns out, I'm a bit of a slut"? I LOVE it!)