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“Automata” is like a distant sister film to the Will Smith science fiction film “I, Robot”. Setting up the robot’s rule book (calling them protocols) and then obviously breaking them, this time the robots are portrayed as refugees hiding from the destruction of the humans that made them. Seeking to protect Antonio Banderas’ character, who is simply an insurance agent for the robotics corporation, a post-apocalyptic action movie ensues. With some great visuals and an interesting enough story (“I, Robot” is still a great action film to this day) I have a slight inclination to see it.
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25% MAYBE
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Ever wonder where the term “yoga” comes from. We obviously know it from the past time that men and women flock to with their mats in hand, but the term comes from the teachings of Yogananda, who believed there was a connection between the body and spirituality. “Awake: The Life of Yogananda” is a documentary delving into the life of the guru who had and still has a huge following, but with this gift of reaching people also made him a target. Drawing some amazing parallels and enlightening moments during this man’s time, the trailer alone tells enough interesting facts to feel informative on its own.
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PASS |
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With all the thrillers about husbands who have deceased wives coming out lately, “The Canal” fails to really catch on and will probably even end up failing to surprise, as I already have strong guesses as to how the film ends already. As the husband in this film tries to figure out why he is seeing ghosts and why his fingerprints are on a hammer that killed a local girl, all he can do is attempt to get others to believe his story. Seeing this figure in mirrors and on film, no one else, including his young son seems to be seeing anything and as the police close in on him as the main suspect, all he can do is eventually chant “the canal” for some reason.
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PASS |
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Ryan Phillippe makes his directorial debut with “Catch Hell” in which he also stars lead. Playing a playboy actor who is kidnapped after sleeping with another man’s wife, he locked in a shed with where the redneck husband and his simple minded friend set out to torture him. None of this feels particularly original and even with the talented Phillippe, I question why he chose this specific film to make his debut. With several plot holes already apparent, this is not a film I see myself seeing, but it will be interesting to see if Phillippe continues his directing and what project he works on next.
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PASS |
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The last thing this world needs is another dancing movie, especially with the flagship in the genre “Step Up” already beginning its decent. So for independent film-makers to turn to this sort of genre is just sad. If there is one thing to be said about “Dance-Off”, at least it tries a little harder in setting up a story, taking two separated childhood friends and throwing them back together on opposite ends of a dance competition, but still the melodrama seeps through and all the dialogue feels forced and straight off of the Lifetime channel. If I never see another trailer for a dancing movie it will be too soon.
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PASS |
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2009 brought up the zombie comedy “Dead Snow” about a group of people in the middle of nowhere suddenly attacked by zombie Nazis. “Dead Snow: Red Vs. Dead” sees the survivor returning with a zombie arm surgically sewed on having thought it was his arm. Introducing Martin Starr into the series, the conflict sees the nerds teaming up with the survivor to take on the zombie Nazi army, even creating an army of their own. Garnered the best zom-com since “Shaun of the Dead” there are some hilariously great moments in the trailer, like the man being thrown through the ceiling, falling down the stairs, and being attacked again.
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50% PROBABLY |
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Amish girls never looked so hot. “The Devil’s Hand” tells the tale of six Amish girls born on the same day, with a prophecy that all but one of them would be killed and the remaining girl would become the devil’s hand. The film looks like it takes place in multiple generations, but that is somewhat unclear. Regardless, Jennifer Carpenter is the big name here, also playing an Amish woman that appears to be up to no good. There really are not enough films involving Amish communities and a horror film feels like the perfect genre to go there, I am just not sure this one is entirely what it is cracked up to be.
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PASS
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Having already seen “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them”, the version of the film that the studio had Ned Benson cut to appease the masses, this weekend sees at least the limited release of the two separate films “Him” and “Her” which are shown from the separate characters’ perspectives. Although Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy were brilliant in their roles, there was an obvious depth missing because of the cut down version and with this being one of the first film experiences of its time, seeing two different films, about the same events from two characters perspectives sounds revolutionary and must be seen.
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THEATER
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Where is the voice over? Something is missing from the trailer for “Evolution Of A Criminal”, a documentary produced by Spike Lee. Blending documentary elements with fictional re-enactments and a “personal essay” from the film-maker, none of this is even the slightest bit clear from the trailer, which relies completely on slow motion shots and hardly there music with humming that really offers little insight into what drives this film. With nothing to go on, there is zero chance I will see this film.
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PASS
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“The Houses October Built” is a found footage mockumentary about a group of people headed out to find the scariest haunted houses in America. But when none prove to be that scary, suddenly they find themselves in the backwoods with some very strange occurrences, including an awesome scene where a large group of masked creepers stand outside their RV in the dark. What could be either a truly scary horror film or a lackluster attempt, regardless, I am normally willing to give horror films the benefit of the doubt, with my real hope being that found footage films stay in the independent world and quit being made by big budget Hollywood people. That being said, this is still from the producers of “Insidious” and “Paranormal Activity”.
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25% MAYBE
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Offering the deepest look that we have ever seen of Muhammad Ali, “I Am Ali” delves into interviews with his family, friends, and opponents in the ring to discover the man behind the gloves. With actual recordings of the legend as well as archival footage and photographs, this documentary is about as close as you can get to a person that has passed away, chronicling this figure from beginning to end. Presented by the producers of the Academy Award winning “Searching for Sugar Man”, you never know if this will pop up in the Best Documentary Feature category at the Oscars.
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25% MAYBE
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Recently I told a friend that there was no way you could get me to watch anime (at least action anime). Now, having seen the trailer for “Kite”, a live action film based on the anime of the same name, I realize that the only way to get me to see anime is if you make a live action version of it. Perhaps its the animation styles or the strange themes and stories, but anime turns me off. But give it an awesome visual style in life action, give it an R rating with a strong, gorgeous female lead, and add Samuel L. Jackson in a supporting role, at “Kite” ends up being something that is right up my alley.
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RENTAL
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What this has to do with Mormons, the trailer does not make clear, but with a title like “Meet The Mormons” you think it would be. Perhaps the film-makers are trying to break the stigma attached to Mormons and how they are projected in the media, but with only the tagline “six ordinary individuals, six extraordinary stories” this documentary could literally be about anything. The trailer depicts these people living normal lives and attaches absolutely nothing to them besides their careers and slight hints at personality.
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PASS
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How many films can be made about a single boy band? “One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film” is the latest one for the mega-group, which sees them performing at a huge venue and offering a backstage pass before and after their show. With interviews and footage of the show itself, fans of the band will probably be pleased. But to the outsider, like me, this looks a lot like the last film they released, if not more in the present rather than where they came from. From the looks of these guys, they are a lot less exceptional than previous boy bands like “New Kids On The Block” and “NSYNC” but regardless, every generation has them and One Direction is not going anywhere.
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PASS
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Set in Williston, North Dakota, home of a recent oil boom, people out of work have flocked to the community in hopes of finding work. But with the neighborhoods unable to support all the new residents, many of the workers are living in their cars. “The Overnighters” follows a local pastors program in letting people stay the night at the church despite an uphill battle fought with the community who do not want to see these people taking over their quaint neighborhood. Even though Midwest documentaries often catch my eye, this one seems a little too redneck for me to really delve into.
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PASS
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Having still yet to see the first horror installment of the “The Pact”, from 2012 and starring “Arrow” actress Caity Lotz, the sequel aptly titled “The Pact II” sees the return of whatever was on a killing spree in the first film and also brings Caity back into the fray. Also starring Camilla Luddington, the least that can be said for these films is that they cast some gorgeous women as pawns in their horror shows. With some interesting visuals like someone climbing out of the floor boards through a rip in the carpet, this falls under the horror films that I will give the benefit of the doubt to.
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25% MAYBE
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Starring Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes”) and Sara Paxton (“The Innkeepers”) in this home invasion film with strong alien undertones (do not quote me on that), “Static” sees a stranger coming across a couple’s home at night and the basics of an invasion film following, complete with people peaking through windows when you are not expecting it and running and hiding in the home despite the intruder’s advances. With zero clue as to what the intruders might be or if Paxton is involved with them or if she is what she says she is, my interest is definitely peaked.
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25% MAYBE
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Failed one night stand movies are on rise lately, with the recent release of “Two Night Stand” which saw a snow storm cause a one night stand to turn into more. Now, “#Stuck” turns a one night stand into one night and an entire day in a car stuck together, replacing the non-existent Los Angeles snow with a dead stop traffic jam. Madeline Zima is hot and this type of romantic comedy seems right in her wheelhouse, offering the sexy, take off your clothes roles that we know her from along with some funny moments alongside the awkward Joel David Moore.
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75% MOST LIKELY
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ALS continues to be on the rise of awareness everywhere, this time in a feature film “You’re Not You”, starring Hilary Swank. She was never a huge selling point for me, but pair her with the enigmatic, free style of Emmy Rossum and suddenly I want to see this movie. Hired as Swank’s in home caregiver, Rossum helps her to see that her life is not over and that there are still things to be excited about. Timothy Olymphant plays Swank’s nice guy husband and with a strong cast and perhaps some strong emotional moments, this film is much better than any ice bucket challenge.
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25% MAYBE
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