The Spot News: Batman lead lady(ies?)

By: Robert Acosta

So Batman news just seems to keep pouring in week after week and yet, it's getting more and more interesting. Let's see what we have this week.

So it appears that we have some big name women auditioning for some undisclosed villain role and the love interest for Bruce Wayne. Here's the list of actresses auditioning:

• Natalie Portman
• Anne Hathaway
• Rachel Weisz
• Blake Lively
• Naomi Watts
• Keira Knightley 

So here's my guess at the way things could be going down. Portman, Watts and possibly Weisz are all up for the role of Catwoman. While Hathaway, Lively and Knightley are all up for the love interest for Mr. Batman.

That's my guess at things, though things could go in many different directions. Weisz could also be very fitting has the love interest, as well as Hathaway could be in a villain role. The woman has some serious acting chops. Though Portman could also be a love interest as well....see where all this mess begins?

No matter what happens, this can only be good for the Batman movie. All 6 actresses would do very well in this movie and this would heigthen any of their careers.

The Spot News: Disney Takes A Pooh

Disney Reveals Plans For New Winnie The Pooh Film

*note on title of post* = cheap joke but you most likely chuckled

A new image and details for a new Winnie The Pooh movie were released by Disney.

• John Cleese is narrating

• Also in the cast are Jim Cummings as Pooh, Craig Ferguson as Owl, Tom Kenny as Rabbit and Travis Oates as Bud Luckey

• Pooh vet Burny Mattinson is the chief story artist

• There’s seven new songs composed by Bobby and Kristen Lopez

• Four of these songs are called A Pooh Bear Takes Care of His Tummy, A Very Important Thing To Do, Everything Is Honey and The Winner Song.

• Zooey Deschanel will perform the Pooh theme tune

• The stories come from five as-yet unadapted AA Milne originals

• The hunt for the Backson will feature.

The Backson, if you don’t recall, comes from the story in which Rabbit misinterprets Christopher Robin’s note:

GON OUT
BACKSON
BISY
BACKSON
C.R.

and ends up scouring The Hundred Acre Wood for a “spotted, herbacious Backson”.
Pooh returns to cinema screens next July courtesy of directors Stephen Anderson and Don Hall, and producer Peter Del Vecho.

Inspired by five stories from A.A. Milne’s books in Disney’s classic, hand-drawn art style, “Winnie the Pooh” hits theaters July 15, 2011.

And finally, the number 1 movie on the greatest comedies in recent years list. Was it really a surprise?

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Bradley Cooper as Phil
Zach Galifinakis as Alan
Ed Helms as Stu
Justin Bartha as Doug

Plot: A weekend in Vegas for an upcoming groom and his best friends turns into hell when they have a wild night.

Review: No really, was it surprise? This has to be number 1, nothing else would have made sense.

The Hangover is going to go down as one of the classic comedies, seen from every generation. Mentioned in the same breath as some of the past golden comedies like Animal House, Ghostbusters, Caddyshack.

Let's get into the details.

You follow three of the four main characters throughout the movie as they try to find their friend, Doug. That leaves three hilarious people on an adventure together and they're chemistry is pretty amazing. I mean they as in Bradley Cooper as Phil, Ed Helms as Stu and Zach Galifinakis as Alan. The chemistry is so good that you throw in anybody else for either of the three roles and it changes the movie entirely.

There is a reason why this is number 1 on the greatest comedies in recent years list. It's because it packs laughs more and more efficiently than any other movie in the last 10 years. If you watch The Hangover and don't laugh hard and out aloud at least once, you should go see a doctor. Something is wrong with you.

Much like 40 Year Old Virgin, The Hangover really takes the careers of everyone involved and just boosts it to a whole new level. Zach Galifinakis has suddenly become one of, if not the funniest man on the earth at the moment. Bradley Cooper has been starring in many more mainstream films, though maybe given his look that was inevitable. Ed Helms...well....is still Ed Helms. And most people seem to forget about Justin Bartha.

There is a cameo from Mike Tyson and depending on your style of comedy, he may have the funniest bit in the movie. Gotta love Tyson.

Finally, The Hangover is a classic. For those who saw it, you agree with my whole-heartedly(right?) on this pick. For those who haven't seen it, stop reading and go check it out. Well it's the end of the review anyway, lucky you.

P.S., There is a sequel in the works which should be a surprise to no one. The success, both financially and critically, that this film has made is staggering. Here's to the sequel holding true to the original and being equally, if not more, hilarious.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Love & Other Drugs Review

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Jake Gyllenhall as Jamie Randall
Anne Hathaway as Maggie Murdock
Hank Azaria as Dr. Knight
Josh Gad as Josh Reidy

Plot: A medication salesman, Jamie, finds himself under the spell of love when he unexpectedly falls for Maggie Murdock.

Review: Love & Other Drugs is a movie I may have ended up paying for in theaters, as much as I thought it would be a chick flick and one of those horrible romantic comedies. Luckily, it was still a rom-com but an actual good one and I did not end up paying for it.

It starts you out by introducing Gyllenhall in his normal habitat. A player. Working in a electronic store, macking on all the female employees and female customers. He ends up being fired from that place after he works too hard on working with one of the female employees. Get my drift?

He's jobless while his brother is becoming successful and, of course, becoming a prick. Gyllenhall's character, Jamie, ends up attending tons of Pfizer conventions and hopes he will be able to sell medication to doctors and hospitals, just so he can make ends meet. Slowly but surely, he works his way up and along the way, BOOM, meets the love interest Maggie Murdock.

What's so great about the movie is that it definitely has the feel of some of the older and better romantic comedies of the past. Movies like When Harry Met Sally and Pretty Woman both came to mind while watching Love & Other Drugs. Obviously in romantic comedies, you have to have an element of both those genres and both are really there. The romance is shown in bunches, but doesn't overpower the comedic parts. The comedy is there, not too light, not too strong but just right. Your stomach won't hurt of laughter but you'll be satisfied.

On to the individual performances. This should definitely go down as one of Jake Gyllenhall's better performances. Up there with Brokeback Mountain and maybe Jarhead. He looks very natural in the role of man whore, so to say, and then really turns out to be a closet romantic at heart. Anne Hathway gives you the cynical side of everything. Does it get slightly annoying? Yes. But is it understandable after everything you get to know about her? Very much so. Hathaway's character starts out being the exact opposite of Gyllenhall but by movies end, they're very much the same. Damn closet romantics.

Overall, Love & Other Drugs is one of the better movies of the year. When it hits theaters in just two weeks, I hope and expect it to be received positively. It's one of the very few romantic comedies that actually works.

Rating: 5 out of 5

DVD Releases November 9th

By: Robert Acosta

As the holidays approach, DVDs are coming in full swing, and good ones too. So what will you be picking up this week or in coming weeks? In a side bit, black Friday is coming so definitely pay attention to the movies coming out now. They'll most likely be on sale for black Friday.

Here are the DVD releases for this week:
NOTE: Bold means DVD is available in Blu-Ray

• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
• Grown Ups
• Charlie St. Cloud
• Ramona and Beezus 
• Ocean's 11(Original;Only available in Blu-Ray)
• Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam
• Metalocalypse(Season 3)
• Californication(Season 3)
• Golden Girls: 25th Anniversary Complete Collection

So there is a huge list of great DVDs you can pick up this week, you can't go wrong with a lot of DVDs here.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is easily one of the better movies of the year, a great blend of action, comedy and great special effects. It really doesn't pack too much but the movie on its own is pretty damn good and worth a buy.

Grown Ups is also out on DVD today and is a solid comedy. If you're looking for something too watch that isn't too raunchy but still packs a very good laugh, Grown Ups is for you. Once again, it's your run of the mill stuff in terms of the DVD but definitely worth a watch.

Finally, there isn't too much in the TV department but that's alright. I can still recommend something! 

Metalocalypse is definitely one of the funnier shows out on TV right now and hey, the music isn't too shabby either. The season 3 DVD comes with two discs packed with over 200 minutes worth of episodes. 

So that's it for this week, make sure you come back next week for more DVD releases!

Almost there..Here is the runner up on the greatest comedies in recent years list

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Jason Segal as Peter Bretter
Mila Kunis as Rachel Jansen
Russell Brand as Aldous Snow
Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall

Plot: In an attempt to get over his celebrity ex girlfriend Sarah Marshall, Peter goes to Hawaii where his life becomes a rollercoaster.

Review: This is what happens when Judd Apatow gets a hold of a movie. He turns it into comedic gold. The producer of great comedies like 40 year old virgin, Step Brothers, Pineapple Express, Funny People, Anchorman, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and much much more. Yet, Forgetting Sarah Marshall may be his best.

Jason Segal is already featured at number 4 on the greatest comedies in recent years list with his role in I Love You, Man but this is the role that will define him. Other than How I Met Your Mother that is. This is the role where he just seems natural in, owns it and takes over the movie.

Though don't be mistaken, he's not alone in this great comedy. You have the beautiful, sexy, yet strikingly funny women in Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell. You have small roles/cameos from the always funny Bill Hader and Paul Rudd. And of course, you have the internationally funny Russell Brand. It's like the B list of comedy, thrown together to make this hilarious movie.

I'm not gonna lie, i'm a big fan of movies with some drama in them. Especially comedies than can mix both laughs and thought. Forgetting Sarah Marshall definitely packs both in its arsenal, which makes it one of the better comedies in the last 10 years. You have opening scenes where Peter has a surprise(and a lack of clothing) for his girlfriend Sarah Marshall and then later on in the film you have this heart felt argument between the two on why it all fell apart.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is extremely well done, as more than just a comedy. It has both moments of comedy and sorrow mixed in with a happy ending and rarely do comedies pull that off in a way that works. That is why Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the runner up on the greatest comedies in recent years list.

Rating:5 out of 5

The number 3 movie on the recent greatest comedies list is...

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Simon Pegg as Shaun
Kate Ashfield as Liz
Nick Frost as Ed

Plot: When a zombie apocalypse hits, Shaun must find a way to stay alive and help his friends, and ex girlfriend, live.

Review: Shaun of the Dead is a rare breed of comedy that really only comes along once every decade or so. It manages to take a very serious predicament, make it insanely funny, and still show that there's a real issue at hand.

Simon Pegg is definitely one of the funnier actors around but he's talented as well as he both starred and wrote the script for Shaun of the Dead. He was the writer for not only Shaun of the Dead but the 2007 comedies Run Fatboy Run and Hot Fuzz and wrote the script for the upcoming 2011 comedy, Paul.

Pair Pegg with his hilarious sidekick Nick Frost and have the movie directed by Edgar Wright and the movie is bound to be gold. I believe Simon Pegg and Nick Frost is the best duo in a movie, probably of all time. I know, that's a bold statement. With the likes of Owen Wilson & Ben Stiller, Chris Tucker & Jackie Chan and Mel Gibson & Danny Glover, i'm really making a bold statement. But these two, Pegg and Frost, really do perfect the term "Bromance" even before it was really thought of.

As for the content itself, it is all there. A good blend of action, comedy, bits of drama sprinkled here and there. The comedy is top notch. From the way zombies are being killed to the small jokes being told during this zombie apocalypse, it's all there.

Once again, Shaun of the Dead is a comedy with substance. It seems to be the recurring theme of this list of greatest recent comedies but, you can't go wrong with a comedy that manages to tackle a somewhat serious topic. You can't go wrong with the number 3 movie on the recent greatest comedies list, Shaun of the dead.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Following up on the coundown with the number 4 movie on the greatest comedies in recent years list...

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Paul Rudd as Peter Klaven
Jason Segal as Sydney Fife
Rashida Jones as Zooey Rice

Plot: A soon to be married man, Peter Klaven is struggling to find a best man as he never really had any male friends. Klaven must find a best man before his wedding turns into a disaster.

Review: You want to talk about bromance? We got your bromance right here.

Sydney Fife, played by Jason Segal and Peter Klaven, played by Paul Rudd, are the epitomy of what a bromance is, and is supossed to be. Some movies have gotten it wrong, even though they've put in strong efforts. Without this bromance, this movie goes straight to movie hell. Down there with Showgirls and Aeon Flux and those kind of movies.

Paul Rudd as Peter Klaven is your typical Rudd performance. He gives the subtle comments that are funny and even adds in some outrageous moments, silly scenes and even some of those uncomfortable moments added into his comedic repertoire. Of course without Sydney Fife, the Peter Klaven character isn't alive or fun. Fife brings out the best and worst of Peter and it's what makes the movie great.

There are a couple of background characters but they aren't as strongly featured. You have Peter's Fiancée, Zooey who is both loving and damn funny with Peter. You have Peter's gay brother Robbie, played by the hilarious Andy Samberg, who tries to set Peter on man dates to find his best man for his wedding. And a man is probably apart of the funniest scene in the film, Lonnie played by Joe Lo Truglio, who seemingly has a horrible voice cracking problem.

The story is definitely unique and out there and it's a funny story to tell. There is a slight blend of comedy and drama, but enough comedy that this doesn't become too much of a sleeper or sob story.

I Love you, man is more than a serviceable or solid comedy. It's comedy with many memorable moments and some of the better characters featured in a comedy movie. That is why it is Number 4 on the list of the greatest comedies in recent years.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Megamind Review

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Will Ferrell as Megamind
Tina Fey as Roxanne Ritchi
Jonah Hill as Tighten
Brad Pitt as Metroman

Plot: After many failed attempts of defeating his Superhero nemesis Metroman, Megamind finally rids of him. He gets bored and must create a new Superhero to fill the void that he has left both in his life and in Metro city.

Review: Initially, you're going to hear that Megamind is a mix of the movies The Incredibles and Despicable Me. Both of those films were tremendous for the animation department of movies and while Megamind shows some similarities of those movies, it's not exactly the great blend of those movies.

Megamind follows the villain, Megamind, as he introduces himself and his rivalry with Metroman. He allegedly defeats Megamind and has the city all to himself. He soon realizes that he needed Metroman almost as much as the citizens of the city did, he was incomplete without him. So, he creates a new superhero and that plan, like all of his plans, backfired.

And so the comedy ensues. Or so it should. Not that it didn't have its funny moments but it was more clever than funny. It tried too much to reinvent the wheel if you know what I mean. Not that it would have worked better if it was the typical story but I think it tried too hard to be unique, rather than letting it be what it was. A satiric view of the whole superhero genre.

So in trying too hard to be something it's not, the comedy also becomes forced rather than flowed. It was forced and at times, just plain unfunny. Then at times it showed its silly and funny nature and you think the movie had a chance at being entertaining.

The story is a bit played out. The villain is shown doing exactly what he does best, achieves at something, wants to be the superhero or viewed differently and it all works out in the end. Though in this case it just has to do with superheroes rather than the people featured in drama movies.

Overall, Megamind has its ups and downs, almost evenly. It definitely has its laugh out loud moments and it also has its dull moments. Clever, unfunny, satire, superhero movie. For what it's worth, i'm split and that will be the feeling you leave with.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Weekend Box Office Numbers November 5th-7th

By: Robert Acosta

So as we head into one of the stronger month of movies, and probably the last one for the year(December sucks!) let's take a look at this past weekend box office numbers:

1. Megamind   $47.7 Million
2. Due Date   $33.5 Million
3. For Colored Girls   $20.1 Milliom
4. Red   $8.9 Million
5. Saw 3D   $8.2 Million
6. Paranormal Activity 2   $7.3 Million 
7. Jackass 3D   $5.1 Million
8. Hereafter   $4 Million
9. Secretariat   $4 Million
10. The Social Network   $3.6 Million

So no surprise that Megamind takes the top spot this week, with it being released in 3D i'm sure that number above is very boosted. 

There aren't too many surprises here in this top 10, though maybe Red shouldn't be around anymore, it's still going very strong. Glad to see The Social Network hanging on there at 10 but expect this to be the last time in the top 10.

Next week brings us Unstoppable, Skyline and Morning Glory. Unstoppable packs the heavy hitters and recognizable stars but i'm picking Skyline to take the top spot next week. Whose with me?