FilmCrave Movie Blog 07/2011

A Selection from My Collection: The Godfather

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/30/11 at 01:47 PM CT

While some films have a clear division for audiences, there are a select few that garner near-universal acclaim. Francis Ford Coppola's "family" epic The Godfather is one of those films. I watched this film late to the party (in fact, I saw the entire film for the first time right around last December) but I implore you to NOT be like me - don't put off watching this truly remarkable …

New Movies to Crave: A Showdown Between Cowboys & Aliens or Getting Smurfed

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/29/11 at 11:29 AM CT

It's the battle of the craggy stars vs. blue CGI wonders this weekend. Also, don't discount Crazy, Stupid, Love to attract the more romantically-inclined crowd.

1) Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford come together for a stone-faced face-off as they are the cowboys in Cowboys & Aliens. While I have been eagerly looking forward to the genre mashup, I have to admit my expectations have been …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave: Source Code has Ironclad Lock on Dog of a Competition

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/26/11 at 12:46 PM CT

What if the next eight minutes are the most important eight minutes in your life? Oh, and you just happen to have to keep repeating those same eight minutes over and over and over and over again until you can figure out how to stop something terrible from happening.

1) Well, it that's your idea of how to spend your life(s), there you have Source Code in a nutshell. Well, along with some kind …

Weekend Box Office: Captain America Has Super Debut, Potter Tumbles

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/25/11 at 10:12 AM CT

It looks like people were still in a patriotic mood this weekend. Captain America: The First Avenger got off to a fast start and topped Thor as the top-grossing super hero so far this year.

With a $68.8 million opening, Captain America just edged Thor's $68.7 million. Still, it looks like fears that people are getting tired of this genre are unfounded, although tacking on a trailer for The …

New Movies to Crave: Can The First Avenger top the Final Potter?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/22/11 at 11:52 AM CT

As Harry Potter officially became the highest-grossing franchise of all time (surpassing Star Wars in terms of gross, but not attendance) it leads to showdown this weekend.

1) Stepping up to the plate with be Captain America: The First Avenger. Chris Evans will become the next piece of the Avenger puzzle when he transforms into the patriotic super hero. He will take on Hugo Weaving as Red …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave: Take Me Home Tonight? The Possibilities are Limitless

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/19/11 at 01:32 PM CT

While it's not the strongest week for releases, you might find a few worth watching, especially in the Blu-Ray department.

1) Leading things off this week is Bradley Cooper, finding out what it's like when you go on the mother of all drug benders, as he takes the starring role in Limitless. He goes from loser to ultimate master of the universe thanks to a drug that unlocks 100% of the brain's …

Weekend Box Office: Potter Saves the Best for Last

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/18/11 at 12:38 AM CT

When the midnight record was broken early Friday, it was a good indication that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 was going to have a good weekend, but I wonder how many people could have predicted just how good it turned out.

With an estimated $168.5 million, the final film in the Potter franchise became the highest-grossing opening weekend ever, breaking the $158.4 million mark …

A Selection from My Collection: The Silence of the Lambs

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/16/11 at 11:48 AM CT

It’s hard for me to believe it has been over 20 years since this movie was released. Jonathan Demme crafted a harrowing story and had the added bonus of a stellar cast. Despite the rather gruesome subject matter, it took home all the big awards on Oscar night, and I think the Academy got it right.

**Quid pro quo – spoilers below.**

There is little I can find fault in this film. Anthony …

New Movies to Crave: How Many Records Will Harry Potter Break?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/15/11 at 03:35 PM CT

With an already record-breaker $43.5 million midnight opening (kind of obliterating the old mark of $30 million set by Twilight Saga: Ecliplse), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 could easy beat more records by the time Sunday rolls around.

Garnering some great reviews, the final film in the Potter franchise doesn't need to rely on magic to light up the box office. It's already the …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave: Rango Tangles with an Insidious Lincoln Lawyer

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/12/11 at 12:12 PM CT

It's the battle between kid-friendly fare, courtroom drama and the little horror film that could in this week's lineup.

1) Leading the charge is the Johnny Depp-voiced Rango. I still think out of all the animated films this year, this is the one that interests me the most. I have heard it moves a bit slow, but I'm willing to give is a shot. At least to me it looks much more interesting than …

Weekend Box Office: Transformers Still Tops, Bosses Not So Horrible, Zookeeper Muted

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/11/11 at 02:25 AM CT

It took just two weeks for Transformers: Dark of the Moon to become the highest-grossing film of 2011. While The Hangover: Part II fell out of the top 10 and crossed the $250 million mark, Transformers dropped 52% but still topped $261 million.

With a $47 million weekend, the third film in the Transformers franchise managed to hold on to more of its audience than Revenge of the Fallen. Still, …

A Selection from My Collection: South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/09/11 at 11:03 AM CT

I think Trey Parker and Matt Stone have a secret agenda to get people to like musicals. This film, Team America and the Tony-winning Book of Mormon just go to show that you can have crude humor AND enjoy musicals at the same time.

WARNING: This blog has been rated R by the MPAA, also there are spoilers.

Parker and Stone released this film in 1999, just two years after South Park premiered. …

New Movies to Crave: Horrible Bosses Takes On a Zookeeper

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/08/11 at 01:20 PM CT

Two comedies will attempt to take on the Autobots and Decepticons at the box office, but I have a feeling the giant robots are still going to come out on top.

1) With an outstanding ensemble cast and hoping to ride the R-rated comedy yellow-brick road, Horrible Bosses looks to be the stronger of two new films. Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Jason Sudeikis, Colin Farrell and …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave: Watch Out for Hobos & Assassins

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/06/11 at 11:40 AM CT

Not surprisingly given that it's a holiday week, the pickings are a little on the short side this week. Still, provided you're in the mood for action, you might find something to whet your appetite.

1) It's been awhile since Rutger Hauer has graced the big screen in a lead role, but with Hobo with a Shotgun he's back on center stage as the most pissed-off hobo ever. If nothing else, I'm …

Holiday Weekend Box Office: Transformers Explodes to Record Opening; Other Newcomers Are Duds

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/05/11 at 01:40 PM CT

It looks like Michael Bay and Shia LaBeouf can bid the Transformers series a fond farewell after the debut of Transformers: Dark of the Moon set an Independence Day weekend record.

With its first-place $97.5 million haul, Transformers: Dark of the Moon became the top-grossing Independence Day film of all time, beating the $88.2 million opening of Spider-Man 2. It also easily topped On …

A Selection from My Collection: To Kill a Mockingbird

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/02/11 at 09:40 AM CT

I bet the first thing that comes to mind when a lot of people see this title is “Oh, that’s that one book I read in school and the movie the teacher made us watch afterward.” But if that’s all you remember about this film, it’s a real shame.

**If You Are One of the People Who Haven’t Seen This Film: Spoilers Below**

To Kill a Mockingbird is the first true classic film to come …

New Movies to Crave: Dark of the Moon will Eclipse Larry Crowne, Monte Carlo

Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/01/11 at 09:44 AM CT

If you weren't one of the many people who have already seen it thanks to pre-screenings, midnight screenings and early shows, most likely you're like me and will watch it over the long, holiday weekend.

1) Of course I'm talking about Transformers: Dark of the Moon the third entry in the series and which will make another boatload of money. Despite having a high disdain for the second one, I'm …



View Archive

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?