The First-Third Movie Preview

Ok, I know I haven't posted in quite some time, but I am gonna try to do something about that tomorrow. . . We'll see.

Until then, I figured it was about time to get the much-anticipated (Right???) movie preview of mine out to you all! I had originally planned out 25 films, but after looking at plots, trailers, and just thinking about it some more, I altered the list to feature 15 films (But really cuz I'm kinda lazy!)

So here we go - - Enjoy!!!

15. LUCKY YOU (03/16) The film that just can't get a release date! You may remember this film appearing in my REST O' THE YEAR MOVIE PREVIEW back in August, and I had talked about its delay at that time too. As I said back then, "Eric Bana (MUNICH) stars as a Poker player who runs into all sorts of personal demons at the World Series of Poker when his dad (Robert Duvall), also a professional player, shows up and brings with him all sorts of fun memories. Director Curtis Hanson (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, 8 MILE) has promised that it's not all about Poker, but about people and conflict and all that good stuff." I just really hope they release it this time! TRAILER

14. THE HOAX (04/06) Richard Gere plays a cocky writer (true story) who gets the media all riled up over a book that he wrote. He claims it's an "autobiography" of Howard Hughes based on his multiple in-person interviews and such, but he's full of it! The last time we saw Gere in a role like this, he was tap-dancing to perfection in CHICAGO. Let's hope he has the same success here! TRAILER

13. PRIDE (03/23) Terrence Howard is the man. With his great acting prowess (See: HUSTLE AND FLOW, CRASH) and his incredible screen presence, I am desiring to see this potentially-inspiring film about an inner city (Philadelphia) swim team that is begun by an oppotunistic man (Howard). Yet another in the long line of sports films centered around high school and college kids, but Howard's presence is enough for me. TRAILER

12. BREACH (02/16) Although Hollywood has, in my opinion, scraped the last out of the frequented barrel of espionage films, this upcoming film is attempting to do something a little new (one can only hope). I love the casting of Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper. I like the tension-filled trailer. The story seems interesting enough (aren't true stories usually pretty interesting - - wow, three straight "based on a true story" films. . .). I have my fingers crossed. TRAILER

11. CATCH AND RELEASE (01/26) This romantic comedy is out this Friday, and the only reason I want to see this is Kevin Smith. The director (who, if you remember, I met in November!) is one of my favorites in Hollywood, and he is acting in this film. He is not Silent Bob, either! He plays the friend of a woman (the always likeable Jennifer Garner) who is dealing with the sudden death of her fiance'. She of course learns life lessons, deals with her issues, and probably falls in love again, this time with her fiance's irresponsible, but strangely loveable friend (just a prediction). I'll be there for Kevin. What will you be there for is the question that the moviemakers are banking on. TRAILER

10. GHOST RIDER (02/16) One of my all-time favorite actors, Nicolas Cage, takes on the role of the comic book character who made a deal with the devil forever ago and must now live in that world between ours and the spirits'. Sounds a little bit like CONSTANTINE, the okay-Keanu Reeves film from a couple years ago, but this time he changes into a skeleton (with a flaming head no less) and rides a motorcycle! The effects do look cool and Cage's oddities are perfect for a role like this, but let's just hope for less Eva Mendes speaking and more Eva Mendes looking good. That and a real plot. . . TRAILER

09. TMNT (03/23) Yes, that's an acronym. It stands for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, baby! The crime-fighing "heroes in a half-shell" from my younger days are back in an animated film that looks really fun and undoubtedly entertaining! Some of the voices (not of the turtles, but of other characters) include: Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, Chris Evans, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. It's not about them, though. The turtles (Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and my favorite, Donatello) are just as cool as they used to be and don't think you can convince me otherwise! Can't wait! TRAILER

08. RENO 911!: MIAMI (02/23) The fantastically funny Comedy Central television show has now been expanded for the world of cinema. Essentially, this is just a long, uncensored version of an episode of the show that has parodies COPS for the last three seasons. It looks very funny (I'm a fan of the show, though) and I'm looking forward to see how much like the show it really is going to be. The shot of Deputy Junior falling into a beached whale (yeah, you read that right) gets me everytime! Plus, Paul Rudd is the "villain" and that spells hilarity in my mind! TRAILER

07. THE NUMBER 23 (02/23) In a promotional move that rivals the release of last year's THE OMEN on June 06 (06/06/06), the new film from the much maligned Joel Schumacher is being released on a day matching the title. In this psychological thriller starring (wait for it) Jim Carrey, a man (Carrey) begins to delve a little too deep into the role the number 23 has in his life and it begins to take him over. It's hard to explain, but watch the trailer and you'll understand better. It's an odd turn (but a great one, in my mind) for Jim Carrey and I'm looking forward to the results! TRAILER

06. SUNSHINE (03/16) The new film from Danny Boyle (28 DAYS LATER, TRAINSPOTTING) is a science fiction adventure about a group of astronauts who are travelling to the sun. Cillian Murphy (RED EYE), Chris Evans (FANTASTIC FOUR), and Rose Byrne (TROY) are all starring in what can only be described as an artistical vision from a mastermind director. Boyle can do no wrong in my book (I even enjoyed the tedious-at-times MILLIONS) and I'm really anticipating this one! TRAILER (At the bottom of the linked page)

05. HOT FUZZ (03/09) The weekend that this comes out is the best film weekend of the year! Along with this comes the release of the number two film on this list (and the number three film comes out the week before!). I'll be doing a lot of movie-watching over those two weeks! This film is the follow-up for the creators of the fabulous SHAUN OF THE DEAD. The British filmmakers (including stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright) are brilliant and the trailer alone has me clutching my stomach in laughter-induced pain. In this send-up of every cop/action movie that has been made, Pegg plays an expert cop who gets sent to work at a serene town that oddly becomes the host to a series of murders. How does that not sound great?!?!? TRAILER

04. GRINDHOUSE (04/06) The greatly-anticipated combination of films by friends and cohorts Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez finally hits the big screen. It is a tribute to the exploitation films of the 70's and 80's (zombie films, slasher horror movies) that were often viewed as double features. Rodriguez's "Planet Terror", a zombie horror film will play first and will be followed by some faux-trailers to fake movies directed by some big names (HOT FUZZ's Edgar Wright is one and apparently Rob Zombie, Eli Roth, and both Tarantino and Rodriguez did their own as well). Then Tarantino's "Death Proof" will end the show telling the story of a murderer who chases people around in his stunt car. If you are a fan of either men (of which I am a big fan of both) or the types of movies that they love, thus they tribute to them, then you should be there in April! TRAILER

03. ZODIAC (03/02) The return of David Fincher, the incredible director of SEVEN, FIGHT CLUB, and THE GAME. In this one, he is telling the story of the police officers and detectives in San Francisco who attempted to track down the so-called Zodiac Killer back in the 60's and 70's. An all-star cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and my favorite actor of all-time, Robert Downey Jr. headline the already-anticipated film. I can't wait!!!!!! TRAILER

02. 300 (03/09) No words can really describe how this trailer makes me feel. Slightly resembling SIN CITY and kinda reminding me of TROY (just because of the role of Sparta), this film looks like a better film then both of those decent films. By a landslide! Gerard Butler (the Phantom in 2004's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) is the main character, but it is the incredible visuals that are drawing me to this bloody, gruesome epic film. I have watched this trailer over 10 times and it does the same thing for me everytime! Wow! See for yourself: TRAILER

01. SMOKIN' ACES (01/26) Just like in my SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW, the first big film of the season is the one that I want to see the most. Joe Carnahan (NARC) is directing this film about a bunch of hitmen trying to take out one snitch (the brilliant Jeremy Piven). Carnahan has a crazy way with the camera (just watch NARC) and his grittiness and demeanor are sure to be shown in this film. A fun cast (including Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia, Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds, and Alicia Keys, in her first film role) and a great plot make this my most-anticipated film of the next few months. I will be viewing it this Friday with Cy and Justin after our audition for the WORLD SERIES OF POP CULTURE, so expect a review of sorts on it this weekend! TRAILER

So there it is! Hope it was as good as the previous ones. Nay, I hope it was BETTER!!!

Happy Movie Watching!