2012 Summer Movie Preview: Day 1

By: Robert Acosta

Here in the last week of April, we are slowly approaching the summer and all of the glory it'll bring to cinemas across the world. While there have been great movies released in the last almost 5 months, nothing compares to level of greatness the movies coming up can achieve. For the next 5 days, i'll talk about 6 different upcoming movies that have to be seen this summer.


The Avengers

What is there left to say about a movie that has been in the making since 2008? Just over a week away from Marvel's biggest theatrical release ever, The Avengers looks like it will disappoint no one. A star studded cast, an experience director and writer and it's the Avengers, what can go wrong here?! May 4th is the date, though i'm sure you already knew that.


Dark Shadows

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton team up again in a remake of the 1960s soap opera, Dark Shadows. Now I really don't know much about the TV series, but quick research tell me it was good enough to span 5 years and over 1200 episodes on the ABC channel. That certainly is a lot of history to live up to but Burton and Depp certainly live to make these kind of movies. Release date: May 11th


Men in Black III

I can't believe it has been 10 years since Men in Black II, how time flies. Speaking of time flying, that seems to be what's going on in MIB III. Maybe the movie will hover around borderline ridiculous dealing with time travel stuff, but it's hard to imagine Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (however much he is in the film) messing this up. Look for celebrity cameos. Release date: May 25th

The Dictator

Controversy always seems to surround Sacha Baren Cohen, but he seems to embrace it and in turn, make pretty funny movies in the process. With movies like Borat and Bruno under his belt, I can see The Dictator following in the same path, which should lead to one of the better comedies of the year. Look for John C Reilly, Anna Faris, Bobby Lee and Megan Fox (yup) to join Cohen on this seemingly hairy, hopefully hilarious ride. Release Date: May 16th


Girl in Progress

An A list star starring in a B list (or less) Dramedy. That's usually a winning formula for everyone involved and ends up getting recognized around award season. Eva Mendes + B list Dramedy = Girl in Progress. A struggling single mom, Eva Mendes has been inactive in the last few years in the movie biz. You know she's still around, but you don't see her as much. That'll add to the intrigue factor for the movie, which already has a chance to score a lot of brownie points being about a prominent subject. Every Summer has a heart warming story, this could be it. Release Date: May 11th


Chernobyl Diaries

Oren Peli (Producer of the Paranormal Activity trilogy) is at it again. Creepy and eerie are two things that Peli shoots for in his movies, and he usually delivers each time and Chernobyl Diaries seems to be right up that alley. Freaky stuff seems to be going on, and Chernobyl is probably the last place anyone would want to be. Jesse McCartney stars (Why couldn't they take Bieber?!). Release Date: May 25th

DVD Releases: April 24th, 2012

DVD Releases: April 24th, 2012

• The Artist
• Young Adult
• Contraband
• The Innkeepers
• Dark Tide
• The Wicker Tree
• Shogun Assassin
• 11-11-11

*most releases in DVD and Blu-Ray or combo packs (DVD/Blu-Ray)

2012 Summer Movie Preview

By: Robert Acosta

There are a lot of great things about Summer. Between getting out of school for a few months, being on vacation from work or just being able to take in the good weather, Summer is a time to relax. Summer is also the time for movies. And not just any movies but the best that the year has the offer (more times than not) is released during the Summer. Wanna know everything that's coming out this Summer that you should check out? Well, you're in the right place.

Starting tomorrow, The Movie Spot will be outlining the Summers best and most interesting movies you should check out this summer. The list is compiled (and it's 28 movies long!) so you don't want to miss this!

Think Like A Man Review

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Kevin Hart as Cedric
Michael Ealy as Dominic

Taraji P. Henson as Lauren
Jeremy Ferrara as Jeremy
Gabrielle Union as Kristen
Romany Malcon as Zeke
Meagan Good as Mya
Terrance Jenkins as Michael
Regina Hall as Candace

Plot: Tired of the way their relationship is running with their men, Four women take guidance from Steve Harveys book "Think like a Man" and use it against their men to get what they want.

Review: When it comes to a movie like this, I don't think you can expect too much from it. I like to think that every movie has the potential to be great, but certain genres have always failed to make tremendous movies. Rom-Coms tend to not make tremendous movies. Especially ones that are dubbed as "Black Romantic Comedies", movies only made for the Black people. I've always hated that precedent, but in life things are labeled. No matter what the situation, Think like a Man is not a bad movie at all.

It starts out with a kind of cheesy, somewhat misplaced animation talking about men and where we've come from. Maybe it drives the point home, but it felt weird to start off with an animation. From there you get the intros to the many characters lives, with Kevin Harts characters divorce being the main one they open up with. Going in to the movie, it seemed like Hart would dominate the movie and it would unfortunately be all him, it isn't the case, but he certainly provides most of the funny moments.

As the story develops, the outcomes are predictable, but interesting to watch nonetheless. There are a lot of great actors involved so its certainly not poorly acted but they are typical situations being dealt with. Kevin Hart makes everything funnier and Romany Malcon is another great comedian who gets overlooked, but he's just as funny.

The women involved all play the roles very well, almost as if this has happened to them before, and it adds a sense of realism to it all. What makes this movie both good and entertaining is that most people in the audience can relate to the characters, one way or the other. And when a movie can make any type of connection like that, the experience is enhanced.

The endings for each storyline are pretty predictable, mixed in with some cameos that you don't see coming (Where the hell has Morris Chestnut been?!). That being its biggest flaw, you can certainly look beyond that because it is an entertaining movie that should have you laughing and more than remotely interested in what's going on.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

DVD Releases: April 17th, 2012

DVD Releases: April 17th, 2012

• Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
• Shame
• The Divide
• Treme Season 2
• American Dad Season 7

*most releases in DVD and Blu-Ray or combo packs (DVD/Blu-Ray)

Loki's Army

The Spot News: So Now They Are Skrulls?!?

Seems the other day the Aliens that make up Loki's army in The Avengers were some random aliens from the Marvel universe. Now that the movies premiere has come and gone, new information has popped up that they are indeed Skrulls or a kind of a Skrull. Because they’re the Chitauri, the Ultimate Comics version of the Skrull. (With some obvious movie magic editing to make them look better.)

Now this fits along the line that the Marvel Movies have mixed both the regular Marvel Universe along with it's Ultimate Marvel Universe. But to be honest they should have just stuck with Skrulls. A lot more recognizable than the Chitauri.

Iron Man 3

The Spot News: Iron Man 3 News and Information

There is some news floating around that Ben Kingsley is in line to be cast for Iron Man 3 and quite possibly to play Mandarin. But then other news bits says it is not the Mandarin but someone else that will spread a virus through nanobots.

SO according to Bleedingcool.com:
Kingsley won’t be the “main villain”

And that his character might be The Mandarin, just a version that’s be reconfigured somewhat to fit the storyline.

Well to be honest Ben Kingsley as Mandarin would be a good choice. And with the rumor that Iron Man 3 will adapt in a way the Extremis story expect some new cool armor for the title character.

Secret Avengers

The Movie Spot: A Secret Ending Just Filmed For Avengers

Source: Joblo.com


At the red-carpet premiere, Robert Downey Jr. let slip that the film wasn't finished yet, leaving everyone wondering if he was serious or not. Then, Mark Ruffalo confirmed the rumor, saying, "We're shooting a scene tonight. I'm not sure exactly where it's gonna go. All I know is that someone came in with the costume and said, 'Here's some wardrobe. We don't know where you're going to be or what you're doing.'"

The mysterious scene was shot last night, which will be incorporated into the film when it premieres on May 4th. Which would make it a second after movie scene from what I have read.

What could it be? Another teaser for another Marvel film like previous after-credit scenes? Or could it be a tease for an Avengers sequel? Now the wait until May 4th.

Here are a bunch of new photos also.

Coming Soon: Lockout

Coming Soon: Lockout

Plot: Starring Guy Pearce (Memento, Prometheus) and Maggie Grace (Taken, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn) and set in the near future, Lockout follows a falsely convicted ex-government agent (Pearce), whose one chance at obtaining freedom lies in the dangerous mission of rescuing the President’s daughter (Grace) from rioting convicts at an outer space maximum-security prison.

Cast: Guy Pearce , Maggie Grace , Peter Stormare

Release Date: April 13th, 2012

Coming Soon: The Three Stooges

Coming Soon: The Three Stooges

Plot: The new movie will be an adventure that revolves around the Stooges characters originated by Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Jerome "Curly" Howard in the classic Columbia Picture films.

Cast: Craig Bierko , Will Sasso , Sofia Vergara , Jane Lynch , Jennifer Hudson , Sean Hayes , Larry David , Lin Shaye , Isaiah Mustafa

Release Date: April 13th, 2012

Coming Soon: The Cabin In The Woods

Coming Soon: The Cabin In The Woods

Plot: The film revolves around five college-type characters who head to a cabin in the woods and are given clear and clever instructions by "white collar" characters. Once the "victims" arrive at the cabin, it becomes clear that the plan is to lure the kids there to have them break the given instructions so that they might then be "punished."

Cast: Richard Jenkins , Bradley Whitford , Kristen Connolly , Drew Goddard, Chris Hemsworth

Release Date: April 13th, 2012

DVD Releases: April 10th, 2012

DVD Releases: April 10th, 2012

• The Iron Lady
• The Darkest Hour - 3D/Blu-Ray/DVD
• Tyrannosaur
• A Streetcar Named Desire -Blu-Ray

*most releases in DVD and Blu-Ray or combo packs (DVD/Blu-Ray)

Cap Is Back

The Spot News: Date Set For Captain America 2


Picture is a new still from The Avengers.

Here's the official announcement:

The Walt Disney Studios has announced a release date for Marvel Studios’ sequel to the blockbuster Captain America: The First Avenger on April 4, 2014. The second installment will pick-up where the highly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers (May 4, 2012) leaves off, as Steve Rogers continues his affiliation with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D and struggles to embrace his role in the modern world.

Now I know there is a short list of directors going around, so that should be announced any day now. But I wonder if they are going to do some "time jumps" in the sequel. Modern day and some WW2 scenes? And what about the villain? I personally would like to see Baron Zemo or Crossbones. Maybe some Arnim Zola for some fun.

Now We Know They Are Not Skrulls

The Spot News: New Avengers TV Spot Gives A Great View OF Loki's Army

Nice TV spot and even reveals a great close up shot of the aliens/nine realms/WTF? that Loki is using to attack the Avengers. Still not clear who or what they are from the vast library of Marvel villians and creatures. Still nice.

Coming Soon: American Reunion

Coming Soon: American Reunion

Plot: In the comedy AMERICAN REUNION, all the AMERICAN PIE characters we met a little more than a decade ago are returning to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship. It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler's mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about—and get inspired by—the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend.

Cast: Alyson Hannigan , Jason Biggs , Chris Klein , Natasha Lyonne , Thomas Nicholas , Tara Reid , Seann William Scott , Mena Suvari , Eddie Kaye Thomas , Jennifer Coolidge , Eugene Levy , Dania Ramirez

Release Date: April 6, 2012

Naughty Ted

The Spot News: Red Band Trailer for Ted

TED - starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, the voice of Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Patrick Warburton, and Giovanni Ribisi - opens July 13th.

Synopsis: Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish... and has refused to leave his side ever since.

Ted: Restricted Trailer - watch more funny videos

Recall The Remake

The Spot News: Full Trailer For Total Recall Remake