FilmCrave Movie Blog 10/2010

Tattoo You - Films That Showcase the Best in Body Art

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/30/10 at 01:42 PM CT

I had a conversation recently about the art of tattooing. It's amazing that people still consider tattoos some kind of fringe or fad - yet if all you know about tattoos are tramp stamps and I Love Mom - you're missing out on some serious business. Some films actually use tattoos if not as a focal point, than as at least a big part of their concept. Here are my top picks:

1) Memento - Leonard …

New Movies to Crave: That's Saw Folks!

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/29/10 at 11:26 AM CT

Since Halloween is the best time of year to dress up and act like a fool, I expect this weekend to be slow on the box office take. Apparently, so does Hollywood as only one film is getting a wide release.

1) Saw 3D or Saw VII or Saw: The Final Chapter - However you slice it (get it - ha ha) this seventh entry in the venerable series in the grand tradition of Halloween is supposed to wrap …

Countdown to Halloween: All These Things That I've Become

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/28/10 at 11:12 AM CT

Halloween can be plenty scary, but it can also be plenty of fun. In fact, aside from Christmas and the 4th of July, Halloween is about the only holiday I look forward to every year. Movies have offered me a lot of ideas for costumes, and, depending on your level of originality, are usually pretty easy to throw together. Here are my favorite costumes based on characters from films throughout the …

You're Under Arrest... for Being a Terrible Cop

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/27/10 at 03:45 PM CT

There are plenty of good police officers out there who take protect and serve as a way of life, not just a job. But Hollywood would also like us to know there are just as many who would like a nice fat doughnut or to chill out than do some actual police work. Here is the lineup, hopefully they're not walking the beat anymore:

1) Officer Slater and Officer Michaels of Superbad - Sure, they're …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave This Week: Fire, Sex and Glory Unite!

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/26/10 at 10:26 AM CT

Quite an eclectic mix to choose from this week, but plenty of good films to choose from - and some I would rather avoid myself.

1) After becoming enamored by the book and the actors in the first film, there's no doubt I'm looking forward to The Girl Who Played With Fire. Actually, I just started reading the book so after I finish it, this will be on my list to get. Noomi Rapace was …

Weekend Box Office: Paranormal Activity 2 Hits Supernatural High, Hereafter Flounders

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/25/10 at 10:16 AM CT

Just a week after Jackass 3D broke all kinds of records, the horror sequel Paranormal Activity 2 has done the same. Helped by a massive $6.3 million midnight opening (breaking the record October record $2.5 million set by Jackass 3D and the R-rated opening record $4.55 million held by Watchmen) the film led with $41.5 million for the weekend, beating The Grudge's $39.1 million to hold supreme in …

Music That Defines Movies: Totally 80s Edition!

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/23/10 at 01:30 PM CT

There are some songs that are so ingrained in my memory from movies that anytime I hear that particular tune, I can't help but think of a particular movie. The 80s was a decade that gave us New Wave, Hair Metal and the beginnings of Rap. It also gave us plenty of films to utilize these songs and when music meets a definitive scene, they become one for all time. Here is my list for songs that …

New Movies to Crave: The Paranormal Hereafter

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/22/10 at 10:12 AM CT

With Halloween fast approaching, today sees two very different films that deal with otherworldly guests. On one hand you have a malevolent demon/spirit that seeks to destroy, on the other you have people who are trying to understand death and what happens to those who pass on.

1) Call me crazy, but only because it's so close to the 31st, I'm going with Paranormal Activity 2 as my top pick. …

Countdown to Halloween: The Inevitable Zombie Apocalypse

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/21/10 at 12:59 PM CT

I take no effort to hide the fact that there's something about the zombie genre that I just love. Compared to all the other ways humanity can crumble in a matter of days or weeks, this has to be my all-time favorite. Books, games, movies - if it has zombies in it - I'll probably check it out.

I would like to think I would be a bit handy to have around if the bodies of the recently deceased …

Shout It Out Loud: The Best On-Screen Rants and Raves

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/20/10 at 11:13 AM CT

I know that at some point in life you have got the urge to just up and start screaming and yelling at a person, an object or just to the world. The vast majority of people are able to suppress such an urge, and that is usually a good thing as most outbursts will lead to violence, embarrassment or other tragic consequences. Good thing for all of us that characters in film are much likely to spout …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave This Week: Predators and Psychos

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/19/10 at 10:43 AM CT

If you're into crazy, this might just be the best week for you, as a trio of new Blu-Ray releases will bring out the mightiest of insanity to hit the big screen.

1) Out first bachelor is a former U.S. Colonel who now runs a small village as a self-proclaimed "god" - please give it up for... Colonel Kurtz! That's right you can now get Apocalypse Now in high-def glory. If you get the full …

Weekend Box Office: Johnny Knoxville and Co. Make Jackasses of the Competition

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/18/10 at 10:17 AM CT

In a move that, quite frankly, surprises the hell out of me, Jackass 3D not only opened #1, but may become the highest grossing opening of any movie in October with an estimated $50 million. It represents the highest opening of the film in the series, and brought more females this time around while scoring good exit numbers from a young audience.

Although a bit behind, the action / comedy Red …

Movies to Avoid on a Full Stomach

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/16/10 at 12:17 PM CT

So you've just finished your evening meal, or perhaps you're just sitting down to dinner and want some entertainment. So many choices, so much to choose from. What to do? Well, if you value the contents of your stomach, you may want to avoid these movies, which feature some serious gastronomical spewage. Warning, you may not want to read this blog on a full stomach, either.

1) Stand By Me - …

New Movies to Crave: I See Red People... and Jackasses

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/15/10 at 12:50 PM CT

While the Social Network has been going strong for two weeks running, I see it being dethroned this week.

1) The most likely contender? Red - or as I like to call it: The Expendables with Good Actors. Yes, once again you have some aging icon coming together, but Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman are on a slighty higher level than Dolph Lundgren and Terry Crews. Plus seeing Mirren work that …

Countdown to Halloween: Surviving the Unstoppable Killer

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/14/10 at 02:56 PM CT

So maybe you've decided to take a camping trip or bought your child the hot new toy of the season or maybe just broke down in the wrong part of Texas. Whatever the case may be, somehow you find yourself fleeing from someone or something that seems to be a man but just... won't... DIE already. Also, he's incredibly strong and seems to wield blades or other weapons, but not firearms. What do you …

I Actually Paid to Watch This Crap?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/13/10 at 03:21 PM CT

I don't get paid to write reviews - I like watching movies and I like to think that I can pick out those films that hold interest for me. Yet I am not immune to catching a few stinkers now and then. Lucky for me, I've also kept all my ticket stubs since 2003, so I can easily see just how bad my judgment can be sometimes.

2003 - No doubt the worst ticket stub I could find was for The League of …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave This Week: Dragons & Cowboys & Stones, Oh My!

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/12/10 at 11:46 AM CT

While the sheer number of films pales in comparison to last week's bounty, this week still has some good things going for it.

1) The top get for this week has to be How to Train Your Dragon. It looks like this is a decent movie for both parents and kids. Since I haven't seen it, I can't say how it stands up to Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me, but it looks like it would hold up relatively …

Weekend Box Office: Network Still Tops Friends' List, Life As We Know It Close Behind

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/11/10 at 11:08 AM CT

As I predicted - rightly for once - David Fincher's The Social Network was once again #1 at the box office. Taking in $15.5 - the movie can also claim the title for the least amount of decline out of any #1 movie so far this year. The film only dropped 31% of its audience.

Opening in a strong second was the Katherine Heigl / Josh Duhamel romantic comedy Life As We Know It. Although it wasn't …

You Are Who You Eat!

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/09/10 at 01:08 PM CT

Why no, it's my pleasure to have you over for dinner tonight. What's on the menu? Oh, don't worry about that right now. Rest assured it will taste like nothing you've had before. No, no, please don't get up - in fact, I've arranged a little entertainment for tonight. A few of my favorites coming right up...

1) Silence of the Lambs / Hannibal - He's a genuine prodigy - a charming intellectual …

New Movies to Crave: Life, Soul, Buried, Horse - Maybe Not in That Order

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/08/10 at 10:28 AM CT

Don't ask me why the releases are so crowded this week. Granted, quite a few of them are limited releases, but still - the second week in October? Really? Anyway, I'm going to go out on a limb and say The Social Network will still dominate, but if you're looking for something new, these are your best bets:

1) Secretariat - Granted, Disney always seems to put an extra saccharine layer over …

Countdown to Halloween: Haunted Haunts and How to Survive Them

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/07/10 at 11:23 AM CT

Starting this Thursday and every Thursday this month, I'll be covering some horror themes and how you can get out alive. Today, I'll be covering the various dark and haunted places that seem to come alive when you least expect it - plus, how you can get out alive!

1) The Overlook Hotel in The Shining - Nothing like taking your family to vast and empty hotel for the off season. Too bad the …

What's Your Age Again?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/06/10 at 04:06 PM CT

There's nothing like totally screwing with your childhood then to be thrown into an adult body. Likewise, there's nothing better for your mid-life crisis than to be transported back to a freewheeling teenager. Sometimes, body swapping may be involved. Better yet, Hollywood never seems to get tired of this either - so here are the best movies that leave you asking Wait? How old are you …

New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave This Week: Beasts of Many Shapes and One Karate Kid

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/05/10 at 01:10 PM CT

What is a plethora? It's a lot of good releases to make up for a trickle we've encountered lately. You've got to like the well-rounded selection this time around, but there can only be one winner.

1) No doubt the #1 pick is Disney's Diamond Edition of Beauty and the Beast. Out of the many films to choose from, this is easily one of Disney's best. With the high-def option, it should look even …

Weekend Box Office: Wonderfully Social but Let Me In Shut Out

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/04/10 at 10:42 AM CT

David Fincher's critical success can now be counted as a commercial success as The Social Network about the trials (legal and otherwise) of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg landed at #1with $23 million. Audiences looked to be just as impressed as critics, as the overall outlook was highly positive for the film.

The other two new releases met with a much darker fate. Despite the critics …

Okay Little Man, What're You Gonna Do Now?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/02/10 at 02:24 PM CT

I may be short, but I've got nothing on these guys - let's just say when it's the complete opposite of Super Size Me.

1) Inner Space - Dennis Quaid takes his own fantastic voyage through the many different parts of Martin Short (and for a brief time, Meg Ryan). It's kind of cheesy, but always fun - whether it's Martin Short getting drunk so Dennis Quaid can get his booze on or exploring the …

New Movies to Crave: Social Network; Not-So-Social Vampire

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/01/10 at 11:45 AM CT

There are two pretty big movies that are going to fight for your viewing pleasure this weekend, and a few leftovers to fight for the scraps.

1) The Social Network has been getting the biggest buzz since Inception. David Fincher's look at the founding of Facebook has "award-winning film" written all over it. I admit I was skeptical when I heard about this idea, but I had faith in Fincher as he …



View Archive

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?