Process server Dale Denton has a grudging business relationship with the laconic Saul Silver, deigning to visit only to purchase Saulâs primo product--a rare new strain of pot called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop and the cityâs most dangerous drug lord, he panics and dumps the Pineapple Express at the scene. When itâs traced back to him, Dale and Saul run for their lives--and they quickly discover that theyâre not just suffering from weed-fueled paranoia. If they survive, these two just might become real friends. All aboard the Pineapple Express.
While it might sound outlandish to speak of THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS in the same sentence as CITIZEN KANE, in its own little neck of the cinematic woods the Judd Apatow/Seth Rogen comedy is perhaps just as groundbreaking. In fact, it's nearly impossible to think of another film that blends so seamlessly pitch-perfect stoner babble with high-octane action sequences. Dale Denton (Rogen), a process server with a weed fixation, witnesses a murder and turns to his dealer, Saul (James Franco), for support. The murderer is actually Saul's main drug supplier, and because of Saul's access to some extremely rare high-grade pot (called Pineapple Express) the two are quickly tracked down and put on the run. Like all Apatow/Rogen vehicles, the movie deals with the theme of men succumbing to adulthood and all the adjustments they are forced to make in the process. However, unlike KNOCKED UP and THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is just too wacky to offer any lessons. Still, there's more going on here than giggles and the munchies. Indie director David Gordon Green (SNOW ANGELS) brings a subtle auteur's touch to the proceedings, approaching the smoking scenes with his distinctively loose feel and giving the action sequences a wonderfully dated sheen that makes them look more like a fight from KNIGHT RIDER than the empty flash of 21st-century blow-‘em-ups. It is Franco, however, who truly steals this movie--he hasn't been this charming since his days on FREAKS AND GEEKS. There's only so many ways to play a stoner, but Franco puts his own endearing, lovable spin on the type, portraying Saul as a kind-hearted, well-intentioned yet hardcore dope smoker. Rogen and Apatow have proven themselves a nearly unstoppable juggernaut; here's hoping they bring Franco along on the ride a little more often.
Also Known As: The Pineapple Express Production Status: Released Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Thriller and Crime/Gangster Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min. Release Date: August 6th, 2008 (wide) MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence. Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing Production Co.: Apatow Productions, Relativity Media Studios: Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group U.S. Box Office: $73,780,191 Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA Produced in: United States
Cast: Rebecca Hall as Vicky Scarlett Johansson as Cristina Javier Bardem as Juan Antonio Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena Chris Messina as Doug Patricia Clarkson as Judy Nash Kevin Dunn as Mark Nash Julio Perillán as Charles Zak Orth as Adam Christopher Evan Welch as Narrator Juan Quesada as Guitarist in Barcelona Manel Barceló as Doctor Josep Maria Domènech as Julio Josep Emilio de Benito as Guitarist in Asturias Directed by Woody Allen
Summary: Another intriguing take on affairs of the heart from the master of the artform with some solid performances, most notably from Javier Bardem and Rebecca Hall.
Story: Two young Americans spend a summer in Spain and meet a flamboyant artist (Javier Bardem), and his beautiful but insane ex-wife (Penelope Cruz), who tries seducing them into sleeping with him.. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is straight-laced and about to be married. Since Vicky is engaged to a business man in New York, she's not so easily swayed but Cristina's relationship with the charming seducer gets more confusing when his ex-wife (Penelope Cruz) enters the picture and she finds herself in a dysfunctional ménage a trois with the passionate artists. Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) is a sexually adventurous free spirit. When they all become amorously entangled, the results are both hilarious and harrowing.
The blockbuster global Mummy franchise takes a spellbinding turn as the action shifts to Asia for the next chapter in the adventure series, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Brendan Fraser returns as explorer Rick O'Connell to combat the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li) in an epic that... The blockbuster global Mummy franchise takes a spellbinding turn as the action shifts to Asia for the next chapter in the adventure series, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Brendan Fraser returns as explorer Rick O'Connell to combat the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li) in an epic that races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the frigid Himalayas. Rick is joined in this all-new adventure by son Alex (newcomer Luke Ford), wife Evelyn (Maria Bello) and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah). And this time, the O'Connells must stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service.
In a move that seems cynically designed to cash in on Asian audiences, the third entry in the Mummy franchise -- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor -- moves the action from the Middle East to the Far East, with married adventurers Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evy O'Connell (Maria Bello, replacing Rachel Weisz) heading to China where they are reunited with their twentysomething son Alex (Aussie newcomer Luke Ford), who has uncovered the tomb of a long-dead evil emperor.
Doomed by a double-crossing sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) to spend eternity in suspended animation, China's ruthless Dragon Emperor and his 10,000 warriors have laid forgotten for eons, entombed in clay as a vast, silent terra cotta army. But when dashing adventurer Alex O'Connell is tricked into awakening the ruler from eternal slumber, the reckless young archaeologist must seek the help of the only people who know more than he does about taking down the undead: his parents. As the monarch roars back to life, our heroes find his quest for world domination has only intensified over the millennia. Striding the Far East with unimaginable supernatural powers, the Emperor Mummy will rouse his legion as an unstoppable, otherworldly force...unless the O'Connells can stop him first. Now, in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the trademark thrills and visually spectacular action of the Mummy series will be redefined for a new generation. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is helmed by director Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious, xXx) and written by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Spider-Man 2, television's Smallville). Reprising their roles as producers in the series are Bob Ducsay, Sean Daniel, Stephen Sommers and James Jacks
Gaps in story logic and an abundance of half-baked ideas aren't the only problems. The story is dependent on the character of Alex, who is clearly meant to be a spin-off character the same way Shia LaBeouf's "Mutt" was in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Unfortunately, Luke Ford is horrible and seems incapable of carrying a franchise on his own. Wooden, unfunny and generic, Ford more often than not recalls the retarded Matt Damon in Team America: World Police. And at what point in the character's history did the O'Connells' British kid become American?
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - The Complete First Season
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Starring: Lena Headey as Sarah Connor Thomas Dekker as John Connor Summer Glau as Cameron Phillips Richard T. Jones as James Ellison Brian Austin Green as Derek Reese Garret Dillahunt as Cromartie Dean Winters as Charley Dixon
Special Features: "Creating the Chronicles" featurette - an all-encompassing look at the production process involved with every aspect of bringing "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" to television. Commentaries - includes executive producers Josh Freidman & John Wirth, cast members Summer Glau & Thomas Dekker, and more. Terminated Scenes (i.e. deleted scenes) Gag Reel Cast Audition Tapes - includes Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, and Richard T. Jones Storyboard Animatic - featuring the storyboard sequence of the school session where Cromartie attacks and John narrowly escapes Summer Glau Dance Rehearsal Extended Director's Cut of Episode The Demon Hand
"The mother of all destiny. Her son, the future leader of mankind. Their protector, a Terminator from the future. Together they must take back the future as Sarah Connor ('300's' Lena Headey) prepares her son to fight the war against machines determined to annihilate the human race. The clock is ticking. Can they stop Judgment Day?"
"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - The Complete First Season" is not rated. This spin-off from the science-fiction franchise follows John and Sarah Connor after the events of TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY. An onslaught of robotic killers from the future are bent on destroying teenager John Connor (Thomas Dekker), humanity's future savior. Standing between them are his determined mother, Sarah (Lena Headey), and Cameron (Summer Glau), a beautiful girl from John's school who turns out to be a Terminator assigned to protect him. They can't run forever, however, and their only chance of survival rests on preventing the creation of Skynet--stopping judgment day and creating a new future for the human race. This collection presents the first action-packed season of this intelligent, well-written series.
