Review: BERNIE

Small town, middle Americans are mocked as uncultured, uneducated, discriminatory and naïve. At the same time, many of the residents pride themselves on simple joys, practical know-how, camaraderie and displaying trust. Having grown up in Kansas and lived in other places, I’ve lived through interactions of both states of mind and saw each on display yet again in Richard Linklater’s refreshing and personable film, “Bernie.”

Linklater, while not quite worthy of household recognition, is essentially the Otto Graham of Mumblecore cinema and to a lesser extent, the indie film movement from the early nineties. In such a sense, Linklater is as condemnable (if not more so) as Quentin Tarantino for his legions of film school imitators who have far less to offer the world than their silver screen superstars. As he has for the last twenty years, Linklater’s newest movie can only knock at the door of mainstream cinema—which is a sad limitation given the quiet brilliance of “Bernie.”

Review: KUNG FU PANDA 2

Now, this is my kind of family movie. Kung Fu Panda is exactly what it promises the title says it will be; it is about kung fu, a panda, and because this is the sequel you know the stakes are going to be higher than in the first one. Last time Po (voiced by Jack Black), the cutely overweight panda, became the Dragon Warrior after defeating Tai Lung, his master’s old apprentice, and training alongside the Furious Five. Now the evil Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a peacock with serious daddy issues and a fear of pandas, has taken over China and the invention of gun powder threatens the very existence of Kung Fun; it's up to Po and the Furious Five to stop his evil reign and restore the balance to… I guess the force? Kung fu, maybe?

Jack Black joins the new baby panda, ‘PO’

ZOO ATLANTA AND DREAMWORKS ANIMATION ANNOUNCE PANDA CUB’S NEW NAME

100 Day Celebration Features Appearance by Actor Jack Black from “Kung Fu Panda” and “Kung Fu Panda 2”

Gulliver's Travels Trailer Arrives

Whoa.


This looks like two different movies.

Review: YEAR ONE

20 years ago, this would have been the funniest movie ever made.

Unfortunately, it's 2009, and an awkward Michael Cera and a crazy eyebrowed Jack Black are not enough to keep this movie's humor from being very, very outdated.

Year One Hits the Internet

Some of you may have seen the quick TV spot that aired during the Superbowl yesterday for the Harold Ramis/Judd Apatow film Year One. I blogged about it months ago, and now you can finally see some footage.

Here is a short scene from Year One.



Here's the TV Spot.

I can't wait.

Apatow Goes Prehistoric, With a Hint of Caddyshack

By Guest Contributor
Wilder Shaw


It seems that the old 80's comedic forces of Harold Ramis are back, and this time under Judd Aptatow's wing.

Year One is the result.

Harold Ramis is writing and directing this new primordial romp, and he and Apatow are sticking in a great looking cast. Starring in the two main roles are Jack Black and Michael Cera as Zed and Oh, respectively. They play two cavemen who go looking for the meaning of life.

Cera and Black have said that the movie is basically a Monty Python style comedy instead of a 'Knocked Up' style comedy, and set in biblical times.

Other Apatow favorites such as Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Paul Rudd, and Bill Hader have been cast, as well as many other great names in comedy like Hank Azaria, David Cross, Vinnie Jones, and Oliver Platt.

Year One hits theaters Summer '09, and I will definitely be there.


Wilder Shaw is a writer, actor, and comedian who enjoys long Italian food on the beach.

Tropic Thunder Premier Protest!

Yesterday at the world premier of Tropic Thunder, the new Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black film, which chronicles actors who are dropped into a live war zone to film a war movie guerrilla style, the stars walked the carpet (which to their surprise) to not cheers from fans, but boo's of protest from angry protesters.

Apparently, in the film, somebody calls Ben Stiller's character a 'Retard', which is apparently a word you can't say in modern cinema. With movies like Superbad, Soul Plane, Borat, and Epic Movie, constantly lampooning gay people, as well as people of other nationalities and religions, you would think that anything said in a film is alright, as long as a film is given a proper rating to keep out the lil' kids.

I think this is ridiculous because retard is a word that people use all the time in real-life, and it is a film that is a comedy and is not meant to be taken seriously in any degree. Secondly, if you know it is happening in the film and don't approve, just don't see it.

This reminds me of back when Horton Hears a Who came out earlier this year, and was met by protests of people who took the line "A Person's a Person No Matter How Small" quite literally as to a anti-abortion statement. Due to protesters in the theaters with the industry people and the stars, at Tropic Thunder, they took nothing with a grain of salt. Everyone who was not industry was locked out of the main theater, and sent into the one across the street. The red carpet was blocked off, and security was increased, making it no fun for anyone.

Maybe next time people can realize that a film is just a film, and will be gone and forgotten sooner than it will with out them performing antics that will make this a day to remember, and promote the film quite well. Remember, even bad publicity is still publicity.

Film Review: KUNG FU PANDA

This is the first film since Road to El Dorado and Prince of Egypt that has been made by Dreamworks animation Studios that has been 100% original and that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

The art of the film is beautiful and one can see that much more effort has been put into each shot than ever has been put before in a Dreamworks animated film. Each shot is finely crafted with a delightful depth of field that adds to the realism, and for once there are no blatant fart jokes or obnoxious sexual innuendos. Good job.