2007 = Worst Holiday Movie Season in history!

***Darth Groovy*** · 12-14-2007, 06:07 AM

The Golden Compass? = Baaaaaaad Narnia Clone

Alvin & The Chipmunks? = No explanation necessary...

Atonement? = The English Patient anyone?

I Am Legend? = ...

Seriously, the Holidays are supposed to be the next season of blockbusters and great movies, and there is not one damn thing I would consider leaving my home for.

The writer's guild is on strike and boy does it show. Am I the only one that notices this?

Better luck next summer I guess?

MrWally · 12-14-2007, 06:58 AM

I dunno, I'm definitely looking forward for I Am Legend and Sweeney Todd. In fact, I've probably been more excited about these two movies than I've been for almost anything all year.

Ray Jones · 12-14-2007, 08:07 AM

Ain't there something like Alien vs. Predator 2 rolling in?

Pie™ · 12-14-2007, 09:19 AM

No Country For Old Men is supposedly incredible, too bad it won't come to Norway until February. Juno also looks good, and I wanted to see The Assassination of Jesse James, but couldn't afford going when it was in the cinemas here.

I went to see Control a few weeks ago, and that was a great and powerful movie. It probably isn't getting a lot of screen time in the US though...

Tyrion · 12-14-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Groovy

The writer's guild is on strike and boy does it show. Am I the only one that notices this?

Eh? The writer's guild went on strike too late in the year to significantly affect the writing of any 2007 movie. 2008, on the other hand, might not be so good.

***Jeff*** · 12-14-2007, 11:49 AM

I saw I Am Legend, it was pretty good. I really had no idea what to expect so it was enjoyable.

I'll probably see The Golden Compass, I think it looks pretty good. I'd consider Atonement for Keira Knightley. >_>

Also I'll definitely see National Treasure 2. I thought the first one was great. I just think conspiracy stuff like that is so interesting.

Kjølen · 12-14-2007, 01:14 PM

The Golden Compass, too was based on a book. And the storyline is FAR better than Narnia.

***Darth Groovy*** · 12-14-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kjølen

The Golden Compass, too was based on a book. And the storyline is FAR better than Narnia.

You know this, and I know this....but no matter how you look at it, it is STILL riding on the coat tails of the success of Narnia.

Honestly the only movie I am looking forward to now is Iron Man.

Acrylic · 12-14-2007, 02:15 PM

Whats the controversy going on with The Golden Compass? Like, isn't it being bashed because it's "atheistic"?

**Samuel Dravis** · 12-14-2007, 02:34 PM

Well, the books are supposed to be anti-authority and specifically anti-institutionalized religion, although the first one is less so than the last two. However, even the little commentary on this that was in the first book is supposed to have been removed from the movie itself. I'm not sure what the problem is with the movie given that the religion-bashing aspect in it sounds more hyped up than real. I haven't read the books or seen the movie myself, so you might want to read some news pieces on the subject.

Writer · 12-14-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Moeller

Also I'll definitely see National Treasure 2. I thought the first one was great. I just think conspiracy stuff like that is so interesting.

So glad 'Book of Secrets' gets a mention... seriously, are only two of us looking forward to this? Dec. 21 in the US, people! C'mon!

And let's not just talk about movies new in theaters... 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' and 'The Bourne Ultimatum' just to name two. If you ask me, Christmas '07 ain't so bad after all

TK-8252 · 12-14-2007, 03:04 PM

I'm going to see I Am Legend today. Usually I don't go to the movies, because they all suck. Damn, I haven't gone to see a movie since The Da Vinci Code.

The Seeker · 12-14-2007, 03:56 PM

I definately wanna see I am Legend

National Treasure 2 is gonna be good in that exaggerated, pulsing soundtrack, flyby, Jerry Bruckheimer produced sort of way. I liked the first one. Definately see the second.

AVP2 is one I'm really looking forward to. I was the one who liked the first one and the way the story played out, so I'm gonna be there for the second. I mean no matter how you spin it, Aliens are cool and the movies featuring them appeal to me beyond reason.

And The Golden Compass was meh. Never read the book, nor Narnia for that matter. Narnia felt awe inspiring, and deep and looked good. I just found myself not caring about the Golden Compass or the characters whilst watching. Don't get me wrong. I like the idea behind the story, but the execution just didn't hit me the right way.

MrWally · 12-14-2007, 04:28 PM

I'm pretty excited for National Treasure 2, I thoroughly enjoyed the first one.

I was really looking forward to The Golden Compass, but all of the negative reviews I've heard from my friends who are fans of the book have caused me to somewhat lose interest.

Not necessarily Holiday movies, but here is the list of movies I want to see as of now:

I Am Legend (Seeing it tonight)
National Treasure 2
Rambo

Sweeney Todd

No Country for Old Men
Cloverfield

Valkyrie (next summer)

**RoxStar** · 12-14-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Groovy

The Golden Compass? = Narnia Anti Deriverative

fix'd

*El Sitherino* · 12-14-2007, 07:44 PM

Are you kidding me?

Fresh Prince is the Omega Man.
Rambo comes back 30 years later to punch a dudes head off.
Nicholas Cage gets to play Nicholas "Badass" Cage.

Best. Christams. Ever.

BongoBob · 12-14-2007, 10:37 PM

I can't wait for National Treasure 2, I loved the first one.

milo · 12-15-2007, 12:11 AM

Just got back from I Am Legend. I thought it was great. I laughed, I cried, I pissed my pants at some parts. 3/4 stars from milo, even though the end did seem a tad anti-climactic.

Also, does anyone know what the hell Cloverfield is supposed to be about? Every trailer I've seen is that same stupid home video where the guy's at a surprise party, then something blows up in the middle of the city and everyone freaks out. What's the premise of the film?

BongoBob · 12-15-2007, 12:46 AM

I don't know, but I want it

Mike Windu · 12-15-2007, 12:59 AM

I Am Legend looks good. No Country for Old Men is also fantastic I hear. If you haven't seen it, check American Gangster.

The Golden Compass is just part of the fantasy wave that started with LotR, then Harry Potter. Forget Narnia.

Alvin and the Chipmunks is meh.

The writer's strike didn't affect any movies in 2007 as far as I know; final production on movies takes months, and the strike started in November. Early 2008 movies will definitely be affected if studios decide to push production without the writers.

TK-8252 · 12-15-2007, 01:15 AM

I just got back from I Am Legend. I wish I knew it was a horror movie, because I hate horror movies. Damn.

*El Sitherino* · 12-15-2007, 01:21 AM

I'm pretty sure I Am Legend is one of those thriller, post-apocalyptic, makes you glad you at least have your dog, kind of things.

Commander Obi-Wan · 12-15-2007, 03:36 AM

I'm seeing No Country for Old Men tomorrow, and I Am Legend on Thursday. I'll definitely check out Sweeny Tood, National Treasure 2, Cloverfield. And I've seen American Gangster.

Hooray for working at a movie theatre.

MrWally · 12-15-2007, 06:43 AM

I Am Legend was incredible. Personally, I loved it, and I would definitely not call it a horror movie.

The first hour and a half or so (maybe a tad less) was psychological and very VERY intense in an edge-of-your-seat-holding-your-breath kind of intensity, while the last bit was definitely a much faster pace and the intensity was more of an action movie's style of intensity.

Does that make any sense?

I thought it was fantastic, I plan on reading the book and seeing The Omega Man over the holiday break.

Pho3nix · 12-15-2007, 06:52 AM

I definitely want to see I am Legend.

spoiler:
I heard the dog dies though

Tyrion · 12-15-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pho3nix

spoiler:
I heard the dog dies though

spoiler:
You know, it's weird. I have no problem seeing lots of humans, even main characters, die in movies - even if they meet their demise in the most gory fashion, I only become emotional due to the means of their death, not their death itself. However, if I see an animal - particularly a dog - die, I'm always saddened by it despite whether it's at the end of a shotgun or a peaceful nod into eternal slumber near the family fire.

*ET Warrior* · 12-15-2007, 11:16 AM

I honestly thought I am Legend was one of the stupidest movies I have seen in a really long time.

I really had a lot of potential, but went absolutely nowhere with it. I much regret seeing that over No Country for Old Men last night.

Achilles · 12-15-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Groovy

The Golden Compass? = Baaaaaaad Narnia Clone

Trying to see the similarities. Can't.
One series of books on which the movie was based was written by an evangelical. The other series by an atheist. If you want to call that a basis of comparison, then I guess we can, but I don't know that I would agree.

I didn't particularly care for the movie, but I think that was because of some of the decisions that the director made with the pacing.

Luckily, I picked up the books and are finding them to be much more enjoyable (read the 2nd book in a single sitting

).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Groovy

Seriously, the Holidays are supposed to be the next season of blockbusters and great movies, and there is not one damn thing I would consider leaving my home for.

Hmmm...I always viewed the holidays as the time of artsy-fartsy movies in the run up to the awards season. The line up for prestige films is kinda lacking compared to years passed, but I guess I've learned not to expect greatness every year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Groovy

The writer's guild is on strike and boy does it show. Am I the only one that notices this?

The movies currently out were mostly likely filmed years ago and written years before that. The only films that would have been affected by the strike would have been those for which post-production re-writes were requested after the film bombed with test audiences. We tend to see a lot of that with Summer fare, but more than a handful of these films were probably picked up by major distributors after doing well at one of the various film festivals.

2008 and 2009 are the years where we're going to see impact from the WGA strike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Groovy

Better luck next summer I guess?

Don't count on it

I'd wager that more than a few "Summer 2008" films might end up being "Summer 2009" releases.
*wonders if Dark Knight will be affected*

*ET Warrior* · 12-15-2007, 11:49 AM

Oh! Speaking of Dark Knight, there was an AWESOME trailer for it at the beginning of I am Legend that almost made it worth paying my 8.50.

It. Looks. AWESOME.

Commander Obi-Wan · 12-15-2007, 11:57 AM

So I take it was a new trailer (with actual clips from the movie), opposed to the previous teaser they have had out for a while?

Achilles · 12-15-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET Warrior

Oh! Speaking of Dark Knight, there was an AWESOME trailer for it at the beginning of I am Legend that almost made it worth paying my 8.50.

It. Looks. AWESOME.

If you see IAL at an IMAX theater, you get to see the first 7 minutes of Dark Knight rather than the new trailer.

*ET Warrior* · 12-15-2007, 12:24 PM

There is no chance I'm paying to see IAL again

milo · 12-15-2007, 12:24 PM

Here's a link to the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nodfhco1l_4

Really ****ty quality since it's just some guy filming it in the theater, but it was all I could find.

Chase Windu · 12-15-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Groovy

The Golden Compass? = Baaaaaaad Narnia Clone
I Am Legend? = ...

The Golden Compass does look like a Narnia clone. I haven't read the book but I heard that it was written by an atheist who didn't like Narnia or it's writer with it's Christian undertones. So he wrote The Golden Compass where in he story they try to kill god or at least kill Him in the minds of children. I haven't seen the movie either but I heard that they tried to dull that fact down in the movie but you can still see it's presence in there. I haven't read or seen it and I wouldn't like to be spreading anything but that's just what I've heard.

I haven't seen I Am Legend or read the book. I did hear that they changed some stuff in it though. I heard that's it's getting mixed reviews. I may see it when it comes to DVD. As for now I haven't seen The Omega Man (also based on the book I Am Legend) and have heard that it's better than this new adaptation. I do have on DVD The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price which I thought was really good. Looking around at reviews (at rottentomatoes.com) I found that The Last Man on Earth got the highest scores of the three, The Omega Man comes in second, and then this new I Am Legend.

I recommend Last Man on Earth. If you can find it I suggest checking it out. I found it on DVD at a Dollar General Store which had another Vincent Price movie on it. If you don't want to buy it you can legally download it for free because it's a public domain movie and I have seen it up for download. Don't Know if the mods/admins will allow me to post a link to the web site. But the site hosts a bunch of public domain movies, videos, open source material, limited usage stuff, etc.

Commander Obi-Wan · 12-15-2007, 05:55 PM

No Country for Old Men was pretty damn awesome. Quite a suspenseful movie. Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Tommy Lee Jones were fantastic. The movie was well shot, and like I said great acting.

Although,

spoiler:
I'm not a fan of the ending and how it ended so abruptly

Achilles · 12-15-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Obi-Wan

Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Tommy Lee Jones were fantastic. The movie was well shot, and like I said great acting.

Speaking of Josh Brolin and great acting, check out The Dead Girl.

Tyrion · 12-15-2007, 09:42 PM

Judging from what Wikipedia says...

spoiler:
Looks like Will Smith butchered another book-to-film translation. Urgh. I admit, he's not the one writing this stuff, but this always happens with him.

**Lady Jedi** · 12-15-2007, 11:59 PM

Groovy = Grumpiest old Swampie there is.

Anyway, the Golden Compass was really quite enjoyable. Similar to Narnia only in the aspect of animals having a huge role. Otherwise it was really it's own thing. The author, Phillip Pullman, was an agnostic, not an atheist. The agnostic or anti-higher power issue didn't come across in Compass nearly as strongly as the Christian aspect came through in Narnia. I really don't know what the deal is. Plus it's got Sam Elliot and we all know that that owns all.

I haven't seen No Country For Old Men, but a friend of mine was thrilled with it.

Alvin and the Chipmunks is typical crappy token kid's movie stuff. I wouldn't get too worked up over that one.

Don't know if they count for holiday season movies but Into the Wild and American Gangster were both great.

Achilles · 12-16-2007, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrion

Judging from what Wikipedia says...

spoiler:
Looks like Will Smith butchered another book-to-film translation. Urgh. I admit, he's not the one writing this stuff, but this always happens with him.

Just got back from seeing it. It wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen.

Everything up till the third act was pretty enjoyable. I thought Will's acting was incredible. The CGI "infected" looked and moved like crap (must've been the same guys that did Blade II). The heavy-handed christian overtones in the end really turned me off (surprise, surprise).

I don't think anyone would be the worse for waiting until the DVD to see this one.

PR-0927 · 12-16-2007, 12:58 AM

I totally was frightened by I Am Legend. At least I wasn't like one of my friends (we went in a group of seven) who kept screaming "Oh my God!" at every scary part and had the whole theater stare at him.

Quite amusing indeed.

spoiler:
Will Smith should not be allowed to be killed in movies. That's what upset me, along with his dog's death. The rest was tight.

- PR-0927