Weekend Wrap Up: Back to High School

I’m back!!!  Well, for a brief post tonight.  I’ve really missed blogging here, and I want to get back to it, but I’ve just been so busy.  Lots of working, and trying to study for the GMAT.  I can’t say that I’ve done enough of the latter, but I’m getting to it.  I experienced the business of this weekend, as you can see by the numbers I’ve listed below.  Parents brought their kids out in droves to check out High School Musical 3.  I can’t say that I see the appeal in the movie, but plenty of people obviously did.  I expect a strong weekend for Saw III next weekend, especially on Halloween night.  We’re allowed to dress up at work this year… do you think I should? Read more

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Weekend Wrap Up: More Chihuahuas at the Top

In a late edition of the Weekend Wrap Up this week (sports have kept me busy), Beverly Hills Chihuahua managed to find it’s way to the top again!  I think this affirms the fact that people were in fact looking for something that their kids could see with them.  Usually, with a movie like Quarantine out, I tend to find that kids movies like the Chihuahuas do better because kids will try to buy tickets for that movie while intending to sneak into their film of choice.  I get to foil them though, so I don’t mind!  Here’s how the rest of the box office turned out: Read more

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Joe’s Review: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Finally!  The guy who runs a movie blog manages to make it out and see a movie.  This past weekend, I headed out (after a very early morning), to go check out Nick and Norah’s infinite Playlist.  I have to admit, this was the movie I really wanted to see last weekend, so I was very happy I actually did!  What really drew me to want to see it so bad was the “b-day” scene. lol.

The Infinite Playlist stars Michael Cera as Nick, a high school student and member of a Queercore band called The Jerk Offs.  His girlfriend, Tris, recently broke up with him, and he’s having a lot of trouble dealing with it.  He makes up mix cds, sending them to her.  Tris, however, is not interested at all, and just throws them away whenever she gets them.  Norah, on the other hand, is a huge fan of the mixes… and usually grabs them to put on her iPod.

The basic plot of the movie is that Nick, Norah, Tris, and many of their friends are scouring the New York Club scene, hoping to catch one of their favorite bands, White Fluffy.  The problem is… they don’t know where White Fluffy will play, and have to rely on clues they find and messages on the radio to guide them.  Along the way, Nick and Norah find out a lot about each other, all the while trying to find Norah’s friend, who gets extremely drunk and runs away from the guys who are supposed to take her home.

I was very pleased after watching this movie.  I missed some parts (ugh!) because I got some phone calls and text messages while I was in the theatre, but overall, it was a humorous, enjoyable movie.  Nothing too serious in terms of a message or anything.  It was a movie for teens… but different in that it didn’t involve something going wrong at school.  I liked how the movie was really based around a lot of indie bands…I might have to check out the soundtrack to find out what some of these bands can do!

The acting was also very good.  I’ve always enjoyed Michael Cera’s characters.  He seems to play them all the same way, but makes each role his own.  Kat Dennings was pretty good as well.  I enjoyed her in this role.  She’s moved on a lot since being the daughter of the woman Steve Carell is trying to get with in The 40-Year Old Virgin!

I’d give Nick and Norah a 7.5 out of 10.  Check it out if you get a chance.  It disappointed at the box office, but it won’t disappoint you!

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Movies This Weekend! 10/10/08

Hi All!  Back again from a pretty busy (but short) hiatus.  I actually probably could have pumped out some posts, but I was trying to focus on some things for my real job(s), and Hockey!!  Speaking of which, I will have to start writing about that (::writes note to self::).  I should also mention that I don’t like it when people hang up on me while I’m trying to talk to them!!!! (Just kidding, you know I still love ya :-P)  In any case, we’ve got four films coming up this week… any blockbusters though?  Let’s take a look:

Body of Lies - Directed by Ridley Scott, Rated R

Based on the book of the same name by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.  Roger Ferris, a CIA operative, discovers a terrorist plot operating out of Jordan.  Devising a plan to infiltrate the terrorist network, Ferris must first win the backing of CIA veteran Ed Hoffman, and the trust of the head of the Jordanian intelligence.  Despite the fact that they are considered his allies, Ferris questions how much he can really trust these men.

City of Ember - Directed by Gil Kenan, Rated PG

The people of the City of Ember have fluorished in an amazing world of glittering lights for years.  Located underground, it was built as a refuge for humanity, powered by a generator designed to power the city for 200 years.  Despite growing concern over the life of the generator and the future of their city, the students of the City of Ember find themselves confronting the next milestone in their lives.  It is Assignment Day, where the students will choose, by lottery, how they will serve society for the rest of their lives.

Lina, a student, hopes for nothing more than to become a messenger, draws a job in the pipeworks.  Her classmate, Doon Harrow, wants to work in the generator, but draws the job of messenger instead.  While both are unhappy with their draws, they end up swapping assignments, making both of them happier.  When Lina discovers a mysterious box in a closet, her grandmother is overjoyed, letting Lina know that the information is important, but that she can’t remember why.  Feeling that the information could be what saves their city, Lina and Doon follow the cryptic messages inside, manuvering around corrupt politicians and other obstacles to see if their hunch is right.

The Express - Directed by Gary Fleder, Rated PG

A film about the true story of Ernie Davis, the first black football player to win the coveted Heisman Trophy.  This inspirational story shows the obstacles Davis faced both on the field and off as he led the Syracuse Orangemen with help from coach Ben Schwartzwalder.

Quarantine - Directed by John Erick Dowdle, Rated R

Angela Vidal and her cameraman are both assigned to spend a night shift with an LA Fire Station.  A routine 911 call leads them to a small apartment building, with police already on the scene in response to blood curdling screams coming from inside one of the units.  What they don’t know is that a few of the residents have been infected with a rare strain of rabies.  After a few of the residents are viciously attacked, they try to escape with the news crew, only to find that the building has been quarantined, and they are cut off, with no information being passed to those inside the building.

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

Looks like a pretty strong weekend… I want to see City of Ember and Quarantine definitely, but I’m afraid I’m going to be occupied with the Ice Breaker Tournament in Boston.  In any case, the slate looks to be pretty crowded, but I’m pretty sure with these films, you can pretty much assume that Beverly Hills Chihuahua is not going to be able to hold on for another week.

I’m guessing with the weather cooling down, the box office will cool down a bit.  There’s a lot of playoff baseball (Go RED SOX), Football, and other things going on throughout the country, but then again, I thought that would affect things last week too.  I’m going with City of Ember for the number 1 spot… because it’s probably best for kids. Let’s see if I’m right this time!!

What do you plan on seeing this weekend?

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Weekend Wrap Up: Chihuahuas Take it Home

Well, we went past another weekend… quite uneventful where I was, but nevertheless it seems like it was a solid weekend nationwide. I was pretty surprised that Beverly Hills Chihuahua managed to take the top spot… I really thought that Michael Cera would be able to draw people out to come see Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, but I’m afraid I was mistaken. Eagle Eye also managed to stay strong.  Not a good weekend, prediction-wise for me.  Here’s how the box office ended up: Read more

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Cirque Du Soleil: Kooza

I’m gonna move away from traditional movie theatres this evening to review a show I saw last week!  Cirque du Soleil’s traveling show Kooza was at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston (It still is actually).  Having never really been to a circus before, I didn’t know what to expect.  Glad to say that I was very surprised and pleased with the performance. Read more

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