Yes, he's back!

Posted this earlier to the Facebook page...but more now.

This was, quite possibly one of the "coolest" announcements of a sequel starting production. As a special guests visits Conan.

What do you think? Could it be as good as we want it to be?

Screening tonight -- Wrath of the Titans

Who's seeing Wrath of the Titans tonight??? This guy...

Find out if that's a good or a bad thing on Friday -- but here's a look at the trailer.

What do you think?

 p

Home Screening Room

On Blu-Ray and DVD 3/27/12

It’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to be Chipwrecked

This Week’s Big Releases

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked – Rated G 

(Jason Lee, Voice of Justin Long)

Ok, the commercials have hooked my daughter – but I never was offered the ability to see this film. A trusted friend was not very happy with it, but you may be if the Chipmunks are your thing.

A Dangerous Method – Rated R  

(Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley)

Freud, Jung, Sex, Psychaitry and more…this is actually a quite good film with a great performance by the always crafty Viggo Mortensen. Not for everyone though, so proceed with your own best interest in mind.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Rated PG-13 

(Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn)

Keep a box of Kleenex nearby, this made my Top 25 last year at number 8. Stepehn Daldry delivers a film that will grab your heart and yank it out of your chest at times. The Thomas Horn character has turned many off but I thought it was exactly as he was to be portrayed.

Check out my TOP 25 from 2011 here to see what else made the list.

Also New This Week….

Combat Hospital: The Complete First Season

The ABC show is now on DVD – caught only an episode or two but really was intense.

Lion of Judah – Rated PG 

(Voice of Michael Madsen, Voice of Ernest Borgnine)

Animated film for the children of a classic story they younger set will, I’m sure, enjoy it.

South Park – The Complete Fifteenth Season

Teen Mom: Season 3

And Finally…

Bending the Rules – Rated PG-13 

(Adam “EDGE” Coeland, Jamie Kennedy)

Ok…this includes WWE Superstar Edge? Hey if Triple H can be a Chaperone and John Cena can go 12 Rounds…I’m sure Edge can do it. Man, I’ve got to see this…really I do!

Here’s the Trailer – Take A Look

DVD/Blu-Ray Tidbit of the Week

Ok, I’m excited – the classic (AND I DO MEAN CLASSIC) summer camp movie – Meatballs with Bill Murray comes to Blu-ray on June 12.

Pick of the Week

The Best release of the week is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close…but…I have a feeling my 7 ½ year old would say Chipwrecked…but she IS 7 ½.

Pop some Popcorn, Do The Diet Dew and Bust out the Blu but most of all remember….

Save Me A Seat!

 

The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part 2 Teaser

It was on the front of The Hunger Games this weekend so millions have already seen it, but now it's online -- and I've got your look here at the new The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part 2 trailer.

What do you think?

Where are your expectations for this film?

Let me know!

p

Be a Facebook Fan

Like the Common Guy's Film Reviews on Facebook today for even more fun and games.

Common Guy's Film Reviews

Promote Your Page Too

Review - The Hunger Games

Hunger – Satisfied

In the future, districts have risen up to try and take down the government. The Capitol has prevailed and in an attempt to quell future uprisings they have deemed the yearly Hunger Games to take place as a reminder of who is in control. The games will feature a boy and a girl from each of the 12 Districts. The game is a battle to the death until only one remains.

Oh, did I mention that all the combatants are 12-18 years old and the battle will be televeised for all to see? I didn’t think I did…

The Hunger Games Satisfies
March 23, 2012

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) does the unthinkable, she volunteers to head to the games. She jumps to the front and volunteers to go to the games in place of her sister Prim who was the original selection for her district. She has worked hard to protect her sister and she is not stopping at this point. Her cohort for the games is the mysterious Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). We know there is some history between Katniss and Peeta as flashbacks tell us, but what is it?

Together they travel to the Capitol to meet their mentor Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). It is during this mentoring process that the brutality of the games surfaces. It’s a game show set up similar to any reality show you can think of, only in this game show, kids don’t get kicked off, they die.

The twisted show is run by the President (Donald Sutherland) and his game master (Wes Bentley). Together they will work with televised host Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) to create a program that entertains Capitol residents and betting folks while at the same time puts the districts in their place. What alliances will form? Who will leave alive? Who will survive…The Hunger Games?

The book is a huge best seller, so it was only natural for it to come to the big screen. Now the question is can they pull it off? The answer is a resounding YES in my mind.

I’ve seen many try to compare The Hunger Games with Twilight based simply on book sales to a demographic, but I’m here to say DON’T DO THAT. These are totally different stories and delivered very differently on the big screen. The Hunger Games is about surviving -- surviving the situation that you are put into no matter the reason and changing the game that is presented to you.

Many worried about Jennifer Lawrence in her role. I’m here to tell you she delivers the passion, the excitement, the fearlessness, and the tenacity of Katniss with ease. She knows how to show her vulnerability when dealing with one of the youngest competitors and how to show the fierce survival instincts when dealing with the attacks on her by multiple competitors, all while maintaining her integrity and moral standing.

Josh Hutcherson is a chameleon of a character. One second you love him, the next you hate him. One second you fear for him, and the next you fear HIM. All delivered in a perfect pitch performance from a budding young superstar.

The story, delivered in a long 2 hours 20 minutes an emotional rollercoaster. You felt as if it could have been you standing in Katniss’ shoes. Although it was a touch on the long side, The Hunger Games felt gritty and authentic, horrific and hopeful. I might argue that the PG-13 rating seems really generous given the authentic feel, but there is no doubt the film still satisfied the hunger within me for a solid film.

 

B+

The Hunger Games

Lionsgate Pictures

Director: Gary Ross

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland

Rating: PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images – all involving teens.

Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes

Review - October Baby

Survival, Forgiveness and Faith

Abortion, it’s a topic that may turn some of you from this review at the very sight of the word. Hollywood hasn’t dealt with the aftermath of surviving an abortion in the way that October Babydoes and that doesn’t surprise.

October Baby - In Theaters 3/23/12

Hannah (Rachel Hendrix) is making her big starring debut at college when she passes out in front of a stunned audience. Tests after tests leaves the doctors stumped, until it’s all tied together with her father’s reveling of some journal entries. Hannah doesn’t understand a lot about her past. Her mom and dad never told her she was severely premature (at 24 weeks), was adopted, and was still alive after a botched abortion by her birth mother.

One of those topics would be a lot for anyone to take, but all three is devastating. Now Hannah wants to know, why was she not wanted? What did her birth mother have against her? And what was her past?

The journey is just beginning for this brave college student, but is she ready for the answers that the questions might deliver?

A movie rooted in faith, never felt preachy. Where a film like the popular “Courageous” leaned on its faith components at every turn, October Baby lets the characters find their own way. Sometimes that path takes them on a physical journey, while other moments require spiritual guidance.

Rachel Hendrix is needed to make this film work and she shines as the conflicted Hannah that is caught in the middle. The only parents she has known love her, but kept this crucial information from her. She displays the hurt and confusion in a real and understandable way.

Jason Burkey is the boy who has always looked out for Hannah. He is helping her to cope with the knowledge that she has just been exposed to and being a friend to her in this time of need. The problem with this character is there is not enough background to determine why he is behaving this way. I felt his character was underwritten and unexplained.

At times, the film feels more like a Lifetime Movie than a feature film, but it delivers a solid message regardless of that feel. Despite your troubles, despite your situation, you are special and can accomplish anything. It exposes the fact that parents need to be more forthright with their kids and that all decisions have consequences.

Hendrix shows us the survivor that needs to forgive to grow her character’s faith. God has forgiven us, can we also forgive?

B- / C+

October Baby

Provident Films / Samuel Goldwyn Films

Director: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin

Cast: Rachel Hendrix, Jason Burkey, John Schneider

Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material.

Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes