Archive for November 2010

Movie Review - Skyline (*)

Skyline.  100 mins.  PG-13.  Directed by The Brothers Strause.  Written by Joshua Cordes and Liam O’Donnell. One surefire sign a movie sucks: as I’m about to head into the theater, the ticket taker asks me, “Are you sure you want to do this?”  I laughed it off, knowing full well what I was getting myself... Read more »
By John Hammerle,
November 18, 2010 at 10:03 pm • 

Top 5 Harry Potter Disappointments

One of the best things about the book 'The Prisoner of Azkaban' is all the new mythology and backstory. We don't get enough of that in the movie, though I understand it would be difficult to put all of that on screen. I think what I'm trying to say is that we didn't get enough Lupin. Because Lupin is foxy.
As I said in my previous post about Harry Potter CGI fails, I am a huge fan of the books, but the Harry Potter movies have left me a little dissatisfied.  I’m not trying to be too nitpicky.  I understand and accept that the books and movies are two separate entities and that the books... Read more »
By Julie - Hammervision,
November 16, 2010 at 6:18 am • 

11 Kid Lit Adaptations That Tried (And Failed) To Be The Next Harry Potter

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES. Based on the books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Budget: $90 million. Total box office: $71 million.
Harry Potter week continues!  Only four more days until the release of Deathly Hallows Part 1.  Now, we all know that the Harry Potter films have been enormously successful.  Sorcerer’s Stone cleared $300 million domestically, and when Chamber of Secrets nearly matched that total a year later, every movie studio in town wanted a piece... Read more »
By John Hammerle,
November 15, 2010 at 9:54 pm • 
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'The Walking Dead' Recap - 'Tell It to the Frogs'

The band is all back together!  Well, almost.  Merle Dixon was still surviving up on the roof of the department store, getting religion, and then losing it while watching the zombies try to break their way through the chained and padlocked door as Merle attempted to reach the handy tools that had been left behind... Read more »
By Julie - Hammervision,
November 15, 2010 at 7:35 am • 

Hammering Out . . . Morning Glory

Hammering Out . . . Morning Glory
JOHN: I’ll go on and state the obvious: I was excited to see Morning Glory based on J.J. Abrams’ involvement as a producer.  As far as workplace comedies go, it’s decent.  Easily watchable.  I’ve always enjoyed Rachel McAdams on screen, and she’s got the comedic chops to carry the movie on her shoulders, which she... Read more »
By John Hammerle,
November 14, 2010 at 4:56 pm • 

Movie Review - Unstoppable (***)

Unstoppable.  98 mins.  PG-13.  Directed by Tony Scott.  Written by Mark Bomback.  Starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, and Rosario Dawson. This had the potential to be another runaway action success like Speed.  The set-ups are eerily similar – both have highly literal titles and plots that revolve around high-speed moving vehicles (here, it’s a train) that... Read more »
By John Hammerle,
November 14, 2010 at 4:50 pm • 
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Top 5 Harry Potter CGI Fails

Pretty much everything in the third film was seamless except for the big guy-turns-into-a-werewolf moment at the end. And the character design is just...sad. We expect more from a guy who's friends with the man who came up with the Pale Man in 'Pan's Labyrinth.'
We’re mere days from the release of the seventh Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I (Whoot!)  While I love the books with all my geeked out heart and soul, I do have some issues with the movies (especially the last two).  So in order to help temper my excitement this... Read more »
By Julie - Hammervision,
November 14, 2010 at 3:40 pm • 

Movie Essentials: 2006

10. THE DESCENT. One of the scariest movies I've seen. The claustrophobia in those caves is almost unbearable, and those Gollum-like creatures on crack are the stuff of nightmares. Skip the sequel though and stick with the original.
In 2006, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against humanity.  Italy won the World Cup by defeating France.  The one billionth song was purchased on iTunes. Nintendo came out with the Wii.  Justin Timberlake released one of the best albums of the last decade with FutureSex/Love Sounds, and had a smash... Read more »
By John Hammerle,
November 14, 2010 at 1:39 pm • 

Movie Review - 127 Hours (****)

127 Hours.  96 mins.  R.  Directed by Danny Boyle.  Written by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy. Starring James Franco, Kate Mara, and Amber Tamblyn. Within seconds of watching 127 Hours, two things are immediately clear: (1) you’re watching a Danny Boyle movie; and (2) fresh off his Slumdog Millionaire Best Director win, he’s still working at... Read more »
By John Hammerle,
November 14, 2010 at 12:52 pm • 
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Movie Review - For Colored Girls

By ROBERT HAMMERLE, special guest contributor to Hammervision “For Colored Girls” is exactly what its title suggests, namely for colored girls. Director Tyler Perry has always known his audience, namely African American women of all ages, an all but completely neglected demographic by the Hollywood movie industry. To begin with, let’s be clear that Perry... Read more »
By John Hammerle,
November 11, 2010 at 10:45 pm •