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Nordling's Best Stuff Of Summer 2011!
Nordling here.
So, with Labor Day Weekend, the summer of 2011 comes to an end. Personally, this was a pretty terrific summer movie-wise. There were very few outright stinkers, and the ones that were I managed to avoid, mostly. I thought it would be fun to post this best of summer 2011 list and break down what worked and what didn't.
2011 was inundated with big budget films and small quiet fare; superheroes everywhere and raunchy comedies. What I've done here is break it down into some categories - feel free to disagree with my methodology and my opinions, as I'm sure many will.
Best Hero Of The Summer
Caesar, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
This one seems a no-brainer to me. There weren't very many characters as compelling as Caesar this summer - heck, this year. From his simple beginnings as a baby chimpanzee to a genuine leader of apes, Caesar's arc may have been fairly predictable, but the emotionality of Andy Serkis' performance, along with WETA's motion-capture technology, brought the audience squarely on their side and actively rooting for humanity's downfall. There are few movie moments this summer as powerful as Caesar's "No!" as he takes his destiny into his own hands.
Best Villain Of The Summer
Loki, THOR
I enjoyed THOR, but I probably would have come out on the negative end of that critical spectrum if not for Tom Hiddleston's performance as Loki. The ad campaign kept talking about a Shakespearean level to the family relationships in THOR, but only Hiddleston actually made me believe it. His arc was the most believable, and by the climax of the film, you understood Loki's position. More than just a scorned son of Odin, Loki under Hiddleston's acting almost became justified in his rage against Thor. I know who the ladies may have been rooting for in that final battle, but as for myself, I was hoping Loki would show that gloryhound what real power was, and our sympathy with Loki is testament to a terrific performance.
Best Animated Film
Is it just me, or does this year seem light on animated films? No matter. I thought KFP2 was just as good as the original, and I don't think many people expected the original when it came out to be as good as it was. I loved the characters, especially Gary oldman's villainous peacock, and Po's search for his heritage was emotional and well done. If Dreamworks keeps it up, making genuine martial arts movies with fluffy animals as characters, this series could wind up being something truly special. I'm there if they're able to keep it up.
Best Superhero Film
I know Harry will differ with me on this one - he's unabashedly in love with CAPTAIN AMERICA - but for my money this was one of the most interesting superhero films yet made. First it's a prequel, which almost never works, and yet not only does this one work, it overshadows all the previous films. I wouldn't mind if they just dropped the original film continuity and built from this one. Second, Michael Fassbender's Magneto is one of those performances that commands your attention, and I would happily have seen INGLOURIOUS MAGNETO for two hours. But the movie is filled to the brim with great performances - James MacAvoy, Kevin Bacon's evil Sebastian Shaw, Jennifer Lawrence's conflicted Mystique - and although the ending is a bit too pat (I think they put Xavier in the chair a bit too quickly), X-MEN: FIRST CLASS succeeds in building a believable world set amidst the backdrop of the tumultuous Cold War 1960s. I loved CAPTAIN AMERICA, but this is the film I think about more when I look back on this summer.
Best Use Of 3D
Yeah, that's right, I enjoyed TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON. It ain't great, to be sure, but unlike the previous film it's not all chaos and shaky-cam. Shooting in 3D actually made Michael Bay restrain himself in regards to his action setpieces and the result may be the most coherently shot, visually compelling film he's done yet (and I know that's not saying a lot). But the use of 3D really works here - it's immersive, always interesting visually, and best of all, it's BRIGHT. Suffer through FRIGHT NIGHT, also shot in 3D, and see how bad use of the technology ruins what is actually a pretty good film. I think T:DOTM may end up selling more 3D televisions than any of the other films in 3D this summer, and although the film is flawed and pretty stupid at times, it remains enjoyable to watch.
Best Comedy
This summer saw comedy get crude and raunchy, no doubt due to the success of 2009's THE HANGOVER, which had a sequel released this summer. But none of them had the heart and soul of BRIDESMAIDS, Paul Feig's brilliant comedy. The script, by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, went past the "chick flick" model and found something universal for all audiences to enjoy. All the characters were likable, even when they were behaving badly. BRIDESMAIDS is filled with real people, even if they were exaggerated a little bit for comic effect. BRIDESMAIDS treats the audience like thinking human beings even when characters are taking dumps in the middle of the street. Finally, BRIDESMAIDS' secret weapon, Melissa McCarthy, a woman who believes in herself so much that she actively makes great things happen even when others would take one look at her and dismiss her. BRIDESMAIDS remains one of the best films of the year, and it's one I think people will revisit many times on video.
Best Film
You know this was coming. If you've read my blathering over this film all spring and summer, you know this was coming. Hell, I even called it the best film so far this year, and I stand by that (although there's some movies coming this fall, whoo boy). I love how Spike Lee saw this film, flipped out over it, and cast John Boyega as the lead in his HBO boxing drama. I love how Joe Cornish just nails it with his first directorial effort. The ad campaign for this film pretty much doesn't do it justice - in fact, I'm certain all the hype, of which I'm guilty of contributing to, killed this movie in a lot of ways. Looking back, I wouldn't change anything I said, I just think if I were Screen Gems I would have released this a lot sooner and much wider (although maybe in arthouse theaters first) but that's all Monday morning quarterbacking. I know many of you resent the coverage this film got, and all I can say about that is that I love the movie so much I couldn't stop talking about it. But don't punish the movie for that - when you do get a chance to see it, just ignore all the hype and enjoy ATTACK THE BLOCK for what it is - a very effective, fun, thought-provoking, and thrilling movie.
But wait, I'm not done:
Best Film Experience
Many of you will consider this a cheat, but I couldn't let this end without talking about this prayer of a film that seems more than just a film to me. Terrence Malick's masterpiece isn't just a movie - it's a serious meditation on life, death, creation, and everything in between, and what may come off as pretentious to many was very transformative to me. One wouldn't think that a simple story about a family in rural Texas would touch on all those universal topics but Malick has done something amazing - he brings the cosmic and the intimate together and they not only co-exist in the same film but complement each other. The Sean Penn bookends, for many, don't work (even for Sean Penn himself, apparently) but I like how the film becomes a look back through his eyes, and how he makes peace with the loss he feels on the beach at the end. It doesn't make much sense logistically, but emotionally, it rings true. TREE OF LIFE is about many things, and will be different for everyone who sees it. And some people will put it away and never look back, and that's understandable, as TREE OF LIFE definitely isn't for everybody. It is, in fact, not for most people. But Malick never made a film for the masses - in TREE OF LIFE he's made the closest thing to a prayer on film, and even to an atheist like me, I felt moved, and even spiritual through its grace.
And that's it! What rang your chime this summer filmwise? Hopefully this fall will give us some amazing pieces fo film - September already seems very promising, with CONTAGION and DRIVE. As always, thanks for reading.
Nordling, out.
Readers Talkbackcomments powered by Disqus
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Sept. 2, 2011, 8:51 p.m. CST
Great list
by YackBacker
I find myself becoming frightened at the fact that I agree with Nordling on something. (insert Vader "Nooooooo!" here)
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:09 p.m. CST
This would've been better with a runner-up for each category...
by Nerd Rage
but it was nicely done as is.
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:13 p.m. CST
by gruemanlives
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:13 p.m. CST
um, a spoiler warning would have been appreciated before you gave away the final scene in First Class, Nordling.
by Ted Knight
So Xavier sits down in the chair a "bit too quickly" in the end? So the mutants play musical chairs in the films climax and Xavier avoids elimination. Well at least you didn't reveal which X-Men wins the final round, so thanks for that at least.
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:19 p.m. CST
Pretty good list, Nordling...and stargrove, get over it.
by ewokstew
The freakin' movie has been out for 3 months.
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:28 p.m. CST
Summer 2011's Failed Attempts at Greatness...
by zinc_chameleon
are to me just as memorable as the successes. Green Lantern of course, but Conan also: it would be wrong to simply dismiss these as flops, because there was so much done well in them. These two films taught me how much audiences have changed since 1982, another banner year for science fiction and fantasy, and how directors and producers must deal with the reality of the smartphone-addicted generation. The impact of these two failures will be just as great as the 2011 successes.
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:28 p.m. CST
It was indeed a terrific summer. X-Men: First Class was my favourite.
by Mr Nicholas
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:35 p.m. CST
X-Men: First Class was great, but the last 15 minutes or so were terribly rushed
by Nasty In The Pasty
It's like Fox got cold feet over a proposed trilogy of prequels, and told Matthew Vaughn, "We don't want to invest in another one...can you wrap everything up in a neat little bow?" The first Singer film wisely left a lot of narrative balls up in the air, and so did the second one. Sadly, X-Men 3 let all of those balls artlessly fall to the ground, but had Singer been allowed to make the film, we might have gotten a terrific trilogy. I would have liked to seen (SPOILERS, obviously) Eric and Charles' relationship to be intact but shaky at the end of the first, and broken by the end of a second film (maybe save Charles' paralyzing accident for the catalyst at the end of the second), and not have Eric put on the Magneto helmet until the last scene of the third movie. As it is, First Class was excellent for the first 3/4ths, but just wrapped up everything a little too neatly in the climax.
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:39 p.m. CST
'emotionality' isn't a word, you ninny.
by blackwood
...but Andy Serkis' emotional performance, along with...
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:41 p.m. CST
Severus Snape > CG monkey....no one cares about POTA
by Mel
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:42 p.m. CST
Attack the Block has arrived on TPB...so I'll see it
by Mel
I'd pay to see it if it was physically possible...but since it's not...I'm pirating it. Don't blame me, blame their fucking distributor. excited to see it, though. will watch tonight
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:45 p.m. CST
First Class wasn't very good.
by JuanSanchez
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:58 p.m. CST
ROTPOTA was my favorite this summer, easily.
by JuanSanchez
Sept. 2, 2011, 9:59 p.m. CST
I didn't bother seeing POTTER. But POTA was great.
by blackwood
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:01 p.m. CST
captain america got nothing?
by ORIONgods
come on nord
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:03 p.m. CST
by KHjLL
There is a fugitive on the run in the BADLANDS in the Dakota's as we speak...
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:06 p.m. CST
not a very good summer at the movies
by IndianaPeach
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:13 p.m. CST
Pretty much agree here, except...
by applescruff
...I preferred Horrible Bosses to Bridesmaids only slightly. Both really funny though. TOP 10 Of SUMMER 2011 1. Attack The Block 2. Midnight In Paris 3. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes 4. The Guard 5. Terri 6. The Tree Of Life 7. Horrible Bosses 8. Bridesmaids 9. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 10. X-Men: First Class/Captain America: The First Avenger Runners Up: Super 8 Crazy, Stupid, Love Thor The Trip Our Idiot Brother
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:13 p.m. CST
Is Attack the Block great like Scott Pilgrim
by ATARI
You know -- over-hyped, over-rated by AICN, and basically a waste of time to watch?

 Or is it different?

Sept. 2, 2011, 10:17 p.m. CST
If I was doing a best of the year so far, it would look like this:
by applescruff
Based on what I've seen, TOP 10 OF 2011 SO FAR: 1. Attack The Block 2. 13 Assassins 3. Midnight In Paris 4. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes 5. Win Win 6. Young Adult 7. The Guard 8. Terri 9. Hanna 10. The Tree Of Life Runners Up: Source Code Bill Cunningham New York Cedar Rapids Rango Horrible Bosses
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:19 p.m. CST
Thought it was a joke/troll list until Attack the Block and The Tree of Life showed up at the end
by proevad
You're a strange, strange man, Nordling.
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:28 p.m. CST
Harry Potter over X-Men First Class in terms of film for me
by Miyamoto_Musashi
though yet to see Attack the Block and Captain America Tree of Life think about it still, but quite mixed about it.
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:35 p.m. CST
Best Thing You Always Wanted to See
by Autodidact
Banshee using his powers!
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:38 p.m. CST
Attack The Block is NOT AT ALL like Scott Pilgrim
by applescruff
The two movies couldn't be more different, but I guess if you think Assault On Precinct 13 is similar to Phantom Of The Paradise then I guess they're the same.
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:39 p.m. CST
Best New Feature on Youtube... in Canada at least
by Autodidact
Free movies. Lots of garbage, but man I'm going to catch up on a lot of shit D2V sequels and cheap horror and action movies I'd never see otherwise.
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:42 p.m. CST
Applescruffs list reminds me about how average this year has been
by Miyamoto_Musashi
Maybe it will pick up in the last 4 months, but for me has been very disappointing.
Sept. 2, 2011, 10:45 p.m. CST
How about best original score of the summer?
by Nasty In The Pasty
Alan Silvestri's bristling Captain America was tops with me...reminded me of his 80's/early 90's classics. And Alan Menken's "Star Spangled Man" anthem was hilarious.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:03 p.m. CST
Nordling doesn't care about the music.
by darthpigman
And neither does anyone else, really.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:08 p.m. CST
The main difference between Deathly Hallows pt. 2 and Rise of the Planet of the Apes
by Nerd Rage
Apes will have a sequel. Hahahaha! Go cry into your Harry Potter bed sheets of your race car bed.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:09 p.m. CST
The more Attack the Block I see, the more I hate it.
by shutupfanboy
Its got the Scott Pilgrim vibe of douche bag on it. The right answer for best film is Super 8.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:12 p.m. CST
It seems like eons ago the summer started with a Rock
by THE_CHOPPAH
Fast 5. Next summer I predict the summer to start the week before spring break.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:14 p.m. CST
by THE_CHOPPAH
Any thoughts on when Houston will be 'Attack'd?
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:15 p.m. CST
What a lily-livered hedge, Nordling. Best film vs. best film experience?
by THE_CHOPPAH
Come on ...
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:16 p.m. CST
Maybe people should watch Attack the Block before attacking it
by Nerd Rage
Just a thought.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:26 p.m. CST
But I agree
by THE_CHOPPAH
You really can't rate Tree of Life or compare it to other films. It will forever have an asterisk next to It on my top 10 list At years end. Apes by far best film this year so far. And the more I think about it, the more I feel it's the best Apes film in the franchise. Yep.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:40 p.m. CST
The Best Animated film and the best film period is RIO
by Proman1984
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:43 p.m. CST
Best summer for movies since 1989!
by darthflagg
Thor Midnight in Paris X-Men Super 8 Harry Potter Captain America Rise of the Planet of the Apes Attack the Block How can anyone have been disappointed by this summer . . ?
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:43 p.m. CST
Great List
by Steve Gerard
I am torn between Cap and X. Both period pieces and decades I love. Leaning slightly towards Cap.
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:44 p.m. CST
Tree of Life*
by brad negrotto
* One of the Greatest Films of All Time!
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:51 p.m. CST
by Steve Gerard
Great List
Sept. 2, 2011, 11:53 p.m. CST
I don't get the hyperbolic love for Cap TFA (and Cap is my favorite
by Dennis_Moore
comic book superhero). The actors were compelling and the origin minus the USO bullshit was touching, but the rest was choppy, poorly paced, sloppy CG mess, with mostly unmemorable pruduction design (except for the sub). And the love for the suit REALLY baffles me. Kids these days have no taste for design.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:09 a.m. CST
god i have missed so many movies this summer
by jsfithaca
attack the block, apes, horrible bosses, bridesmaids, tree of life, 30 minutes or less i still havent seen. right now my favorite of the year is super 8.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:20 a.m. CST
by THE_CHOPPAH
Your argument makes no sense. You complain there was a dearth of animated films and your reasoning was their performances at the BO. By my count there were 5 animated films, not family films, but animated, in the span of four months. I think that's just enough. Studios don't release animated films one week after the next..that's just bad business. No one makes money that way. That's why all the blockbusters choose their dates three years in advance and not on the same weekend. Quality in every medium ebbs and flows from time to time. Nature of the beast. But you complaining that there are no films making money..well you've just setting yourself up to be the winner in your own argument. Besides, we all know TinTin is gonna gnaw the socks off your clit. But hey, by then you'll have moved onto your next easy target displaying the lack of geek fever--the avengers.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:21 a.m. CST
Best 3-D eye-and-headache induction - TRANSFORMERS 3 wins again!
by justmyluck
Don't agree with TF:3 being enjoyable at all, but otherwise a decent list - geek-centric - but decent. ATTACK THE BLOCK was the standout for me as well.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:22 a.m. CST
by MandrakeRoot
Can't believe how overrated that flick is. I came out of it entertained, but hardly gave it another thought. In fact the cheesiest moment of the film was Ceasers "NOOO!". I mean, if there was ever a moment to roll your eyes in a movie, that was it. But I'm not saying it's a bad movie, it was perfectly good summer fun. Really and truly though, the only thing that elevates it is the CGI (which while far from perfect, was pretty cool nonetheless) and solid mo-cap work. The human characters were almost uniformly flat and disposable. Instead of 127 Hours Franco, we got Spider-Man Franco, but it's not like he had much to work with. The story was obviously 100% predictable but it played out fine - and was sporadically engaging - so I can look past that. A couple of mind-numbingly idiotic plot holes, but I suppose you could write it off by saying the humans were supposed to be so intentionally dumb (which is still weak). So it was good summer fun and obviously a step up from the last few Apes movies but to say it's the best Apes movie ever is just so horribly wrong. The original was a seminal piece of science-fiction with so much to say and a legendary ending. Comparing that to a decent fluffy blockbuster that succeeds mainly due to it's smart FX work (which for the record is a fine achievement in itself) is nonsensical. The new one isnt even in the same league.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:23 a.m. CST
Super 8 is my movie of the summer
by disfigurehead
But ROTPOTA comes a close second.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:54 a.m. CST
Attack the Block is EXACTLY like Scott Pilgrim
by yourSTEPDADDY
meaning... they were both over-hyped by AICN... BUT THEY WERE BOTH GREAT movies thanks to AICN, I did see ATB at a screening and it was fucking great but I know many people here wont like ATB (like with Scott Pilgrim) because they "cant relate with the characters" (which is the worst reason to not like a movie because Im sure no one here can relate to guys who go on a shark killing trip, an orphan with telekinesis and a laser sword, or have been in prison with Sir Morgan Freeman)... oh well, attack the block bitches!
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:54 a.m. CST
I agree with everything but Melissa McCarthy's character in Bridesmaids
by shutup
It was a one note character. No depth. Cheesy. Manipulatively provocative.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:58 a.m. CST
I'm Sorry Nording, but...
by Kevin Rubio
even though you liked it, in my opinion Terrence Malick is just over rated.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:03 a.m. CST
Wow, people liked Cap'n America?
by Flip63Hole
Joe Johnson actually makes me appreciate the artistry of Uwe Bolle and Paul Anderson. How Johnson manages to keep making movies completely devoid of any sort of soul is an amazing feat...
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:06 a.m. CST
ROTPOTA may not be better than POTA (68)
by Nerd Rage
But it's easily one of the best POTA movies and recent sci-fi flicks. The way the apes develop as characters is far more provocative than anything featured in a major release this year.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:31 a.m. CST
ATTACK THE BLOCK, the movie or the real live event?
by Carl XVI Gustaf
I haven-t seen this movie, but coming here every day has made me tired of it already.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:37 a.m. CST
Really liked First Class, but it had the same problem as X: Last Ratner
by Carl XVI Gustaf
Too many strange teenage mutants being introduced and offed. They should have focused on Prof X and Maggie, sure going around and gathering muties, but we didn't need to see them Twilighting around for half the movie. And the casting of these second and third rate mutants, in every x-men movie so far, has always seemed off somehow, like they just picked some pretty faces from photos on a wall. I LOVED the two main characters, everything about them, but the other mutants brought it down to a "I LIKE" movie.
Sept. 3, 2011, 2:02 a.m. CST
X-men was so goofy... The beast actually made me LOL when I first saw him, Mystique? She was more like some pudgy valley girl, Havok? I talk deep cuz I've got a small penis.
by uberfreak
Sept. 3, 2011, 2:51 a.m. CST
X-Men First Class was rushed and crappy
by Rupee88
I don't get why people like this movie unless they just love xmen anything..probably the case.
Sept. 3, 2011, 3:08 a.m. CST
Red State
by mintoncard
Just saw it. - Fuckin' brilliant.
Sept. 3, 2011, 3:42 a.m. CST
by chinofjim
I think Potter suffers a bit becuase whist the movie lived up to expectations, the Superhero and Ape movies exceeded low expectations. Most folk assumed those flicks would be mutton munching meh but they were pretty good. But Potter was terrific. Event movie making that easily met what were frankly ridiculous levels of hype and expectation. I'm fully aware that won't be a popular opinion round here, as AICNers generally diss Potter, saying its for kids (whist claiming the like of Star Wars is for grown ups?!?). Really, I just think AICN is full of a generation of geeks who are pissed that something a bit geekish came along that was new and even more popular than their own sacred cows. You even see this attitude in the above the line writing. Harry patronises Potter by referring to it as 'supierior kiddies fare'. This from the guy who gave a glowing review to Attack of the Clones, one of the most infantile and dumb movies ever made. And we had reviews from other AICN staff dissing Potter for not having enough shit getting blown up, following not long after positive reviews for Transformers.
Sept. 3, 2011, 3:58 a.m. CST
Is the_choppah really LexG?
by kwisatzhaderach
Or does he just aspire to be him?
Sept. 3, 2011, 4:49 a.m. CST
Snape does not exist in this dojo
by Cobra--Kai
How can the Best Villain award not got to Severus Snape from HARRY POTTER?! Alan Rickman knocked it out the park. That flashback sequence was gut wrenching to watch, probably the highlight of the entire franchise.
Sept. 3, 2011, 5:04 a.m. CST
@cotton_mcknight. The Iron Man villains were memorable?!
by Carl XVI Gustaf
I love both IM movies, but I kinda struggled for a second there to remember who were the villains. The IM villains were Iron Man but evil, bigger and stronger. And that's just from the story. The acting wasn't that good, only my favorite actor Jeff Bridges saved that. Fucked-up-face-man in IM2 is ridiculous, he should've retired after The Wrestler. Loki on the other hand is an interesting villain, in many ways the complete opposite of Thor. And you get his motivation. And it's fucking brilliantly acted as well.
Sept. 3, 2011, 5:11 a.m. CST
Agree re Snape and Alan Rickman
by Miyamoto_Musashi
Sept. 3, 2011, 5:13 a.m. CST
X-Men First Class sequel?
by Miyamoto_Musashi
Not sure it will get another one but honestly I would love to see more of Fassbender on screen as Magneto in that era.
Sept. 3, 2011, 5:21 a.m. CST
Saw Attack The Block Last Night
by higgledyhiggles
I love all the films that inspired it but it just doesn`t work. The direction is sub-par(a lot of tv style filming and editing), the tension doesn`t feel tense, the effects are serviceable at best. The decent bit are the kids characters but they aren`t fleshed out enough to care (super 8 did it better but they both have shitty monsters). I like Cornish, Wright etc but when it doesn`t quite gel together it`s really noticeable. At around 1hr in I actually felt the film dragging with nothing left to explore, just draggin it`s heels until the climax. In a 1hr24 film that is not a good thing to have. For a first time/amatuer there`s much to be lauded but the reaction has been a little better than deserved i feel. Some movies/director just garner that kind of feeling I guess. Edgar Wright springs to mind although there`s not a thing of his i dislike. I really expected that I`d strongly like this movie, not love, because this genre is notoriously hard to get spot on...Lake Placeid, Shaun of the dead, Deep Rising etc(I`m sure there`s more) there are alwyas the one`s that rise above it. I was disappointed to say the least that I didn`t even *like* it. Here`s hoping Cornish steps it up a notch(BAM) next time, and also hires a better DOP to match the material.
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:02 a.m. CST
Best Horror
by hallmitchell
Insidious. That movie is very scary.
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:12 a.m. CST
Shitty summer
by Mugato5150
Maybe if I weren't so utterly sick of comic book movies I'd be on board a little more. POTA was okay I guess.
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:14 a.m. CST
Where's Harry Potter?!
by Erik Radvon
No love for Harry Potter 7.2?! That shit was epic and definitely a highlight of the summer.
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:27 a.m. CST
Will the apes in the next sequel have ASSES?
by gruntybear
Or will it just be flat "stove pipe" legs that segue directly into their backs like with this current so-called CGI masterpiece? And will all the apes be female again? Hmmm? Plus, I'm sorry, but more often than not during ROTPOTA, Caesar's face looked like it was rear-projected a la Madame Leota's floating crystal ball at Disney's Haunted Mansion. And when it didn't have that rear-projected softness, someone went overboard trying to outline Caesar's features in cartoon blacks. For all his stylization, Gollum was far more effective in the Lord of the Rings films.
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:38 a.m. CST
X-Men was decent, but felt like a shrug
by Lone Fox
After Kick-Ass, doing a mainstream superhero flick just seems like treading water for Vaughn. Also, the moment Beast turned furry, I lost all interest. It was well made, well written... but I'm siding with Harry on this one. Captain America was the superhero movie of the year for me. Attack The Block? I can't bring myself to watch a film full of Ali G's. I just can't.
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:51 a.m. CST
Attack The Block? I feel like i'm taking crazy pills SPOILERS
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
maybe if you're not from the UK you get something from it cause the setting is different? That's all I can imagine it is. The monster 'design' was pretty cool - and by 'design' I mean the total absence of any colour whatsoever that saves the fx budget cause all you need is an outline.
 I hate using the word 'chav', but this film is just chav wish fulfilment through and through.They kick and stab something to death at the start of the film before they even know what it is (deer, or a dog perhaps?)and we're meant to think that this is badass.
 A lead guy that looks like a young 50 Cent and a bunch of mates rob people at knifepoint and we're supposed to look up to them for it. Realising that it is just glorifying thug culture, the film spends two or three ill-advised minutes where it explains -via hastily added ADR - that a)the muggers were scared mugging people so, you know, they're victims too, in a way, aren't they? b)they wouldn't have robbed the person if they knew they lived in the same block as them and c)it's not their fault, cause society made them do it, cause they live where they live etc (ignoring the fact they just stated, that law-abiding and non-murderous people live in the building and haven't become like them).
 It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, as the film immediately reverts to glorifying this lot again. SPOILER It actually ends with a crowd chanting the lead thug's name like he's fucking Spartacus whilst he gives a 'i'm hard as fuck grimace/smile. The 'monsters' in this are incidental.
 Haven't seen this kind of trashy wish-fulfilment type of film marketed at the level that this received (big marketing campaign here). It's on that Danny Dyer gangsters in Spain living it large glorification level. It was obviously aimed at teens who aspire to be like this. Sank like a stone here in Britain and that was before the riots made people even less tolerant of these types. If it had been a great monster/horror movie then these things can be forgiven to an extent, but it isn't. I'd put the ratio of gang posturing/monster action at about 75/25. And the cute kids running around with petrol! Aww.
 Expected a lot more from Joe Cornish, cause he's smart and very funny.
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:58 a.m. CST
That said, looking forward to Tintin, and Drive is out soon? Can't wait.
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
Sept. 3, 2011, 7 a.m. CST
The last time I take this guy's advise.. Attack the Block sucked!
by Griefo
I just watched it and it was horrible. I don't know what these reviewers are thinking. This is a junk movie. Unlikable characters, crappy looking aliens, no real scares or humor, ridiculous plot.. and just boring. There was so much hype on this thing and it was shit. I don't get why people like it so much. But of course, it's just my opinion.
Sept. 3, 2011, 7:11 a.m. CST
Totally agree on XMen: First Class and Tree Of Life
by NeonFrisbee
FC is *easily* the best of the XMen movies, and one of the best superhero movies ever made. It went way beyond my expectations and I hope it does serve as the first chapter in a reboot trilogy. I also loved Tree of Life. Especially the first 3/4s of the film. It's hauntingly beautiful and really got into my soul. I don't blame people for not getting it or not liking it, though; as you mentioned, Malick's impressionistic style isn't for everyone; I just think they're missing out. I'm definitely picking both of these films up on blu-ray when they come out.
Sept. 3, 2011, 7:16 a.m. CST
Personally, I liked Cowboys and Aliens ....
by JMoe
... But that's the only movie I saw this summer.
Sept. 3, 2011, 7:16 a.m. CST
People complain that X-Men was rushed
by thepoohguy
but want HP7.2 on this list? are you kidding me? Talk about a movie that was so rushed with no excitement built in. All the characters dying offscreen... YAWN! You can say what you want about it being from Harry's point of view, but then why have that opening scene with Voldemort and the death eaters. Harry wasn't privy to that? All in all, when HP7.2 was over it was a HUGE disappointment for an 8 film franchise to lead up to that. Also, there needs to be best nostalgia movie, and that would go to Winnie the Pooh. Short, sweet, to the point, and made you feel like a little kid again. Oh yeah, and I did think that Super 8 was probably the best film I saw this summer.
Sept. 3, 2011, 7:58 a.m. CST
Nordling's list, not your List.
by wonderboy2402
So everyone has an opinion, and these were his picks. Make your own movie website and share your own if you don't like it. =]
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:26 a.m. CST
hmm, so we're just meant to agree, wonderboy?
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
Nordling very kindly encouaged opinions. It would be very boring otherwise, don't you think?
 Disagreement can be civil. It isn't personal.
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:35 a.m. CST
captain america
by KevinMuller
Was fluff compared to X-men
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:38 a.m. CST
by paul lester
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:44 a.m. CST
by JumpinJehosaphat
I disagree with part of what you say. I think that lists like these exist specifically to elicit discussion. The problem lies in the quality of that resulting discourse.
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:47 a.m. CST
Don't know what year Hesher counts as
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
but I loved it. I can easily see how people could loathe it, though. Got teary a couple of times. Same goes for Super. Don't know what year it counts as but I really enjoyed it, didn't expect it to go the way it did. Tron Legacy got me, but I think that 80% of it is the fucking awesome soundtrack. Hedlund can't act. Living in the sticks, I missed Tree Of Life but I can't wait to see it. The Last Circus is probably no.1 on my list so far this year. That film is just a ride.
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:03 a.m. CST
Ignore the hype?
by THE_CHOPPAH
So we should ignore your writing on it, even this?
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:11 a.m. CST
by Holodigm
You ever been skullfucked? DJUN DJUN DJUN
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:19 a.m. CST
How could the best villain award not go to Snape?
by Nordling
Because he's not a villain, you dillweed.
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:29 a.m. CST
I'm told Malick is thinking of a 5 hour cut for Tree of Life
by James_Camera_On
I hope so because there were so many gaps and non-sequiturs in that film, that while there were individual elements of great beauty and majesty, by the end of it I had checked out in frustration. Just one example: every time Sean Penn appeared I groaned -- what the heck was that? As one critic said, it was like he was wandering lost in a bus station. And those end of life meanderings on a heavenly beach? You can't be serious. I found myself having to constantly fill in the blanks of the movie, but after I had done so, it had moved on to something completely different. At root, there was not a coherent story. Anywhere. That is what students of film know as a big problem. It was like someone had dumped the pieces of the most beautiful jigsaw puzzle in the world, at least so I was told, and said: "It's your problem now." Well thanks, but I paid money to see a movie. I don't like jigsaw puzzles and I had this suspicion that none of the pieces in this one would quite fit. It's interesting, I give you that. I didn't fall asleep, much as the movie wanted me to. But at the end what it accomplished more than anything else was to document Malick's long sad decline. He took a twenty year sabbatical after Days of Heaven, for this? He needs to stop making movies and retire. It's too late. With the Tree of Life, the devil has come to collect and what a bill. And what a waste.
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:32 a.m. CST
Good lord
by SenatorJeffersonSmith
Is summer 2001 really already over?? Time sure does fly. Seriously, though...does anyone edit here anymore?
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:51 a.m. CST
Attack the Crock glorifies a bunch of black thugs
by Victor
The movie was garbage. No one wants to see a movie about a bunch degenerate chavs, with disgusting Chavez accents. And considering the fact gangs of black thugs were going around looting, killing, burning, and raping all across London, this movie is more insulting than ever.
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:57 a.m. CST
X-Men Firat
by Topher4801
Sept. 3, 2011, 10:08 a.m. CST
X-Men First class is a prequel to no movie.
by Topher4801
XM:FC is a reboot to the series and in NO way leads into any of the other X-Men movies. it does in fact throw the continuity with the other movies right out the window. It's a good movie, but for it to be a good x-Men movie I need to think it takes place in a whole other reality. just like the other x-men movies. the real first class will always be Scott, Jean, Bobby, Warren and Hank. That's a movie I'd like to see.
Sept. 3, 2011, 10:11 a.m. CST
A 5 hour cut of tree of life...
by Eric
makes me wanna shoot myself in the face.
Sept. 3, 2011, 10:21 a.m. CST
Attack the Block, Terri, PJ20 and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
by maxjohnson1971
All coming to The Belcourt in Nashville soon. I'll be there.
Sept. 3, 2011, 10:49 a.m. CST
Opinions vs Facts
by inanegeek
If it's an opinion its not a Fact. Fact. A fact is something like "Thor was directed by Kenneth Brannagh" An opinion is something like "you're a dick for thinking this films better when it was this film"
Sept. 3, 2011, 10:56 a.m. CST
If someone gets to the right of you and puts his left hand on your right shoulder, that's...
by SnootyBoots
me doing my impression of The Tree Of Life.
Sept. 3, 2011, 10:58 a.m. CST
by bruce
o v e r r a t e d ! ! ! ! ! !
Sept. 3, 2011, 11:19 a.m. CST
Cap'n America had great art direction and casting w/a decent script
by theBigWasted
Stanley Tucci was wonderful. But Red Skull is either a weak villain or wasn't done properly. Every time Weaving was on screen I was bored to tears. Tired, tired, tired plot. Nazis, unquenchable thirst for power, evil for evil's sake. Gimme a break. The action was montagey and boring as well. Outside of that, the rest of the movie was quite good. Kinda made me wish it wasn't an action flick. Or, perhaps they should have simply staged one or two interesting action set-pieces. Felt like they had a few too many in there and they all suffered bc of it.
Sept. 3, 2011, 11:19 a.m. CST
Good List
by tlsonata
Attack the Block hasn't come to my city yet (curse you northeast Florida and your apparently uncultured demographics!), but Beginners really sits at the top of the list for me. I saw Tree of Life and it is beautiful, but I felt that Malick's scope of the story built a wall around the characters that prevented me from having any emotional attachment to them. I could tell I was watching something personal to Terrence, but the film pulled away before I could ever get close. Beginners, on the other hand was similar in that it was another film intimately close to the director, but I was able to connect with everything despite not sharing any similar experiences with the characters. I appreciated Tree of Life's fearlessness in trying to encompass one's spiritual journey through nature and grace, but in the end all the slow motion hand caressing couldn't pull me in quite the way a subtitled dog could.
Sept. 3, 2011, 11:36 a.m. CST
Attack the Block was shit
by alienindisguise
sucked from frame 1
Oh dear, I think I was the one who took the full force of the dillweed comment. I'd probably be offended if I knew what it meant! Okay if you want to be pedantic and not include Snape as best villain then how about best hero? I haven't seen APES but Alan Rickman's got to be better than a cartoon monkey, right?
tlsonata, good post! You have a nice way with words.
If Judi Dench can win an oscar for her extended cameo in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE then Alan Rickman ought to get one for HARRY POTTER. This one's for Hans Gruber! Best actor never to get a nom? Maybe.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:02 p.m. CST
Scott, Jean, Bobby, Warren and Hank
by NeonFrisbee
Yeah, I wish they used the original team too, and I wish they had done a complete reboot instead of a weird reboot/prequel hybrid, but XM:FC was still awesome. Easily my favorite of all the X-flix (previously it was X2).
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:27 p.m. CST
glorifies black thugs
by Nerd Rage
what does their race have anything to do with it. Why not say "it glorifies thugs" instead? Anyway it seems this movieis getting bashed for all the wrong reasons. I have yet to see Attack the Block but is it possible it's a story about redemption of these thugs through their heroic efforts to save their community from alien monsters?
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:32 p.m. CST
translation: "this movie isn't for most people" = "I really liked this crap film."
by Arcadian Del Sol
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:43 p.m. CST
by THE_CHOPPAH
Yes Ceaser is that good. More charismatic than Thor, Harry potter, the captains jack and America. But Snape is another league altogether. He's had 8 films to chew the scenery and play the part excellently. His final scene was haunting and tragic.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:49 p.m. CST
Attack The Block..hmmm
by TicTacToe
@iwasinjuniorhighdickhead I agree with you. I sat through the film trying to understand why anyone felt it to be a good idea to have muggers as the heroes. They weren't anti heroes, they were just nasty bullies and nobody likes a bully. I wanted to watch them all die and then the ending just glorified it even more. Coulda been quite a a decent flick, but ruined by the characters.
Sept. 3, 2011, 12:54 p.m. CST
Very nice list !
by Alincia
I very much agree with best Villain and best Super hero movie =) !
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:01 p.m. CST
Attack the block
by THE_CHOPPAH
I've yet to see it but have seen complaints about it's heroes. If aliens were to ever invade, I feel that The thugs and scourge of the earth would be earths saviors. The government wouldn't do shit. This film shows a slight skew of the alien invasion.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:10 p.m. CST
OK, so wait, "experience" is altogether different than movie-watching, now?
by Subtitles_Off
So, we can have this over here for when, you know, we're this, and that, over there, for when we're that. How precious. Geekers are a buncha stoopid fukkers. There was nothing really good this summer. NOTHING. Even the PLANET OF THE APES thing is a qualified "goodish." For all of you who keep talking about WETA and Andy Serkis, I gotta say, yeah, you're kinda right, but did you just ignore all the shit where the apes are jumping around? That shit's crap, right? You'll admit that shit's crap, or else your point about the other stuff is kinda suspect. TREE OF LIFE? It doesn't deserve any special consideration. It's got a great middle, a bunch of silly shit about the universe, and a completely bollocksed ending where Frodo walks around saying goodbye to Fairies. You're only paying attention to it because everything else is sooooooooo weak. Marvel (or DC) Superheroes? This shit is boring. REALLY BORING. The best movie of the summer is something from last year that came out on DVD in the hot months and you rented on Netflix. You know it. Admit it. It won't kill anybody.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:15 p.m. CST
Prayer of a film
by Subtitles_Off
Useless words spoken to a non-existent thing, wishing for something to tickle your particular whatever. That's a prayer. I didn't even hate TREE OF LIFE by a long shot, but I'm sick of hearing it called a "prayer."
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:18 p.m. CST
I've seen ATTACK THE BLOCK.
by Subtitles_Off
This year's DISTRICT 9. Make of that what you will. I couldn't be less impressed if it were a GOONIES reboot.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:27 p.m. CST
THE HANGOVER PART II was my favorite summer movie.
by fustfick
I even saw it twice in theater and laughed my ass off from beginning to end. I'm surprised to see HORRIBLE BOSSES on this list. Although each of the bosses were amusing (especially Colin Farrel), I found the film overall to be pretty laughless. Most of the big action and superhero tent-pole films this summer were, to me, nearly all missing key ingredients...tension and suspense. Something that a comedy...THE HANGOVER PART II...had loads of.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:31 p.m. CST
nerd rage....
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
without getting too in-depth, the gang in question are entirely responsible for what the aliens do. It's not like there is an all-out invasion across the whole of London, it is concentrated on their particular block, and for good reason.
 In fact, as far as this film can engage you, you'll be rooting for the aliens all the way. It feels like this film was made by some shy kid who wants to be friends with the gang kids this portrays, and who hopes to get there through flattery. It tries to shoehorn in some social commentary after the fact, but can't resist for long and goes for some shocking warrior-hero bollocks at the end which exculpates and endorses their previous behaviour. You can't say they've changed and learnt something if they're even worse at the end and haven't addressed the fact that they engage in cuntish behaviour. It's not social commentary but glorification and a tacit endorsement of their way of life.
 And, like I said before, this would matter not a bit, were the film even halfway decent.
Sept. 3, 2011, 1:37 p.m. CST
Cobes, here's the thing about "Caesar"
by Subtitles_Off
The character evokes in you feelings of difference, loneliness, betrayal, and righteous anger. You know, feelings you could possibly be familiar with and have resonance for your daily life. Um, that "Potter" stuff evokes, well, nothing really, that has anything to do with anything outside of a rich fantasy world. Granted, apes doing their apey thing is fantasy, too, but the application to our own existence is different. Now, ROTPOTA has as many weaknesses as strengths. The strengths end up, in balance, stronger than the weaknesses are weak, but my thumb --- enthusiastically up-turned at first, probably because the whole PLANET OF THE APES thing is my personal STAR WARS, and this is better than, say, CONQUEST OF --- has turned perpendicular to the floor on the whole thing. I know, for example, that the shot of the gallery of hero apes atop a bus, posing like Marvel Superheroes, is stupid and ridiculous and will be stupid and ridiculous when it shows up in THE AVENGERS with all those rubber-muscle dopes standing side-by-side. And, Nordling mentions the baby chimp. Nobody --- NOBODY --- should mention the baby chimp without comparing it to JUMANJI. Period. All that, given. I can't be brought to give a rat's ass about Harry Potter. Never could. Judi Dench could wipe her ass with Alan Rickman. Caesar could fling his poo at both of them.
Sept. 3, 2011, 2:20 p.m. CST
'although the film is flawed and pretty stupid at times, it remains enjoyable"
by Subtitles_Off
Really. How can a single mind conflict, thus, and remain coherent? I don't think it can. Get off the fence, kiddies. There's good. There's crap. You think the fence is some kind of middling goodish-crap, but climb off of it. You might end up standing knee-high in stinky shit or barefooted on soft, warm grass, but at least you won't have that annoying discomfort of a fence-post up the ass.
Sept. 3, 2011, 2:22 p.m. CST
How'd we pick these categories? Why not Best Summer Abs or
by Subtitles_Off
Best Titties? How about Most Over-Rated Homage to Spielberg With Lens Flares?
Sept. 3, 2011, 2:30 p.m. CST
BBC News was my Attack The Block during the riots.
by NeonFrisbee
Haha! Look at alla dem unemployed chavs burning stuff! Wheee! Yay!
Sept. 3, 2011, 2:52 p.m. CST
topher4801 - so why was there a WOLVERINE cameo?
by CARTMANEZ
why did the opening recreate the opening of X1? why did aged mystyic the woman for X1-3 etc etc etc
Sept. 3, 2011, 3:07 p.m. CST
First class...
by CAPTAIN RIGHTWING
Agreed. Best super hero movie I've seen in a LONG time. Although I would have liked to have seen the friendship/partnership of Charles and Erik extend beyond the the film, through sequels; a sentiment due in large part to the chemistry of the actors. But that's really a minor complaint when viewing the film as a stand-alone.
Sept. 3, 2011, 4:04 p.m. CST
continentolop ...
by Yer_Maw
... 'Black' thugs? Really? I think you'll find those were equal opportunities scumbags in the streets during the English riots- black, white, whatever. Your post could almost have read back as the rant of a reactionary racist douche ...
Sept. 3, 2011, 4:19 p.m. CST
Having just watched Attack the Block last night...
by Sardonic
...it was just okay. It was entertaining. But I don't quite grasp the excessive amounts of love being heaped onto it. It was somewhat original, but the characters weren't particularly amazing in my opinion, nor was the story behind the aliens all that unique. I can't see how it was any better than POTA, though.
Sept. 3, 2011, 4:28 p.m. CST
Attack The Block was nothing special....mediocre at best
by Mel
Sept. 3, 2011, 4:30 p.m. CST
attack the block
by SpikedBuffy
i get why some people are let down after the hype, but i thought it was great. Love the 80s throw back feel, thought the soundtrack was great. It had a little bit of everything.
Sept. 3, 2011, 4:44 p.m. CST
I am absolutely trying to get a 3D tv in time for transformers
by Motherfucker Jones
Already own 3D Tron and Drive Angry and several PS games
Sept. 3, 2011, 6:08 p.m. CST
yer_maw, most of the looters and rioters in London were black
by Victor
Not ALL, obviously. The rioting occurred mostly from the afro carribean communities. Why was it only black gangs preying on other communities? Where were the gangs of sikhs, asians, turks, arabs, or chinese? In Birmingham it was purely black gangs preying on the Asian community, but you didn't see it the other way around. Yes some white people also joined in, no disputing that. But it was mostly large roving gangs of blacks. It's not a secret, just as in the US, in the UK black people massively over-represent when it comes to violent crime, robbery, murder, and rape. Simple statistics. People argue its a product of racism, but how come other minorities who face racism aren't the same?
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:10 p.m. CST
No Fast Five? This list is FUCKING INCOMPLETE!!!!
by Stuntcock Mike
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:30 p.m. CST
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
the large majority of rioters in London were black. I do not judge anyone by the colour of their skin and I won't appreciate being labelled a racist, but that much at least is true. What I will say is that I refuse to believe that the melanin content of someone's skin has any effect on their behaviour or predisposition to smash shit up. There were plenty of other rioting arseholes of pretty much every race out there, too.
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:33 p.m. CST
and that data was for the wrong country
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
we don't have an FBI. Most countries don't (in fact, only the U.S does).
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:38 p.m. CST
Wow! We're film for film upto Tree of Life
by Col. Tigh-Fighter
Which I haven't seen, and probably wont (although your mini review has done more good than anything else I' read about the film). I think I might put Kung Fu Panda 2 3D first though, because like TF3, it was fantastic 3D, it had the advantage of being in a good film. Otherwise, I agree with you film for film. Cant argue with that!
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:42 p.m. CST
Although, you could possibly have best montage
by Col. Tigh-Fighter
Which I would give to the fantastic music number in Captain America, where you see him try and sell war bonds. Best bit of exposition overload I've seen in ages! Great actng from Evans as you see him grow in confidence. Well directed by Johntson
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:51 p.m. CST
Attack the Block WAS better than Super 8, at least
by Mel
Sept. 3, 2011, 8:57 p.m. CST
you're not part of the space program, then
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
Sept. 3, 2011, 9:40 p.m. CST
I don't know, I thought the villain of the summer was Ehren Kruger
by thecinemasnob
Sept. 3, 2011, 10:38 p.m. CST
Ugh. Just shut the fuck up already.
by ColonelFatheart
Annoying fucking know-it-alls ...
Sept. 3, 2011, 11:07 p.m. CST
I'm about to watch Attack the Block
by WINONA_RYDERS_PUSSY_JUICE
I'll let you guys know how overrated it is when I get back. My opinion is very important, stay tuned.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:37 a.m. CST
It was pretty good, I liked it
by WINONA_RYDERS_PUSSY_JUICE
Better than the over-rated Hot Fuzz, at least.
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:30 a.m. CST
No way...Lebron James was the best villain of the summer. Dirk Nowitzki = best hero
by Mel
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:28 a.m. CST
Attack the Block died pretty quickly here in the UK
by Knuckleface
Attack the Block came out back in... April (?) here in the UK, and it barely made a whimper at the box office. I used to manage a cinema here, and although I never managed to see the film myself, I spoke to my old colleagues at the cinema and they all seemed roundly unimpressed. These are people who get to see films for free, when they don't like a film, I generally trust their opinions.
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:35 a.m. CST
Strange. Kung Fu Panda 2 was fun, but I have almost no recollection of it
by Knuckleface
I totally forgot that I'd even seen KFP2 until I read this article. It left no permanent impression on my mind. I have a hypothesis that 3D films are harder to remember than 2D films. Anyone else have trouble recalling 3D films or this one in particular?
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:38 a.m. CST
Best film I've seen this summer: Senna
by Knuckleface
Senna was great, and this comes from somebody who doesn't particularly like sports, and knows zero about race-car driving.
Sept. 4, 2011, 8:51 a.m. CST
X-men First Class could have been so much better
by sunwukong86
If they had kept the team as Xavier, Magneto, Beast and Mystique, it would have been better. None of the other mutants seemed to matter. Same with the Hellfire Club, they could have kept it Shaw and Emma Frost, and maybe some actual members from the comics. Since Azreal and Riptide were pointless, hell I dont even remember their names being mentioned. And the Cuban Missile Crisis plot was laughable. I still cant believe thats the one part of the 1960s they chose to highlight, when mutants were supposed to be an allegory for the civil rights movement. But thats my two cents
Sept. 4, 2011, 9:05 a.m. CST
by MasterControlProgram
People who use overly long abbreviations should have their nuts scraped off in a cheese grater. Yes I'm talking to you Nerd Rage. -- End of Line --
Sept. 4, 2011, 9:07 a.m. CST
Attack the Block was fun
by Miyamoto_Musashi
Sadly I saw it via a download rather the cinema, but who knows when it will arrive in Japan. Anyway was a lot of fun, and will see it again, would imagine its the sort of movie that will be watched over and over again, the kid of movie you pull out when you are drinking or quite appropriatelly getting stoned. Which was the case for me with Eddie Murphy's Raw or Peter Jackson's classic Bad Taste
Sept. 4, 2011, 9:09 a.m. CST
@bitchboom: AMEN! on the subject of racism. And,
by Subtitles_Off
I'll make another point, or try to. We live now with a youth generation that embraces blatant, selfish, thuggery as some sort of proof of masculine strength. Sure, it superficially looks like the attitude belongs to a nation of black youth, since their pop stars were the creators of it, but there are plenty more white kids walking around with the cracks of their asses showing than The Greatest Generation would honestly care to admit. There is an instinctual tendency in the young human mind toward punk behavior. It isn't racially-based, no matter what the statistics say. (These statistics, by the way, are the ones that have been counted and analyzed by the establishment to bolster a particular point. Statistics are always suspect.) If it were racially-based, or even gender-based, for that matter, you wouldn't be able to recognize it in Ultimate Fighting or in the whores on Jersey reality TV. I'm not certain that ATTACK THE BLOCK represents racism as much as it just represents the entirely stupid promotion of Youth Culture defined as rampant self-interest.
Sept. 4, 2011, 9:33 a.m. CST
Attack the Block was BORING
by topaz4206
Read @iwasinjuniorhigh 's post -- he nails it. Annoying, self-important, mama's boy criminals. I was rooting for the creatures to eat them all, but really I was so bored I didn't care who ate who. This movie made Super 8 look like an Oscar-winner. Never. Again.
Sept. 4, 2011, 10:34 a.m. CST
isn't just a movie - it's a serious meditation on life, death, creation, and everything in between
by Bartleby T. Scrivener
Sept. 4, 2011, 11:30 a.m. CST
@liberalwarrior, you dipshit, you proved my point for me you handicapped loser, you just condemned blacks
by Victor
* Of all juveniles (individuals under the age of 18) arrested in 2009 in the Nation, 65.9 percent were white, 31.3 percent were black, and 2.8 percent were of other races. * The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black. * Black juveniles accounted for 51.6 percent of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. Despite being around 13 percent of the population, blacks account for half of all murder arrests in the US? Thats called OVER REPRESENTING for violent crimes you DUMB FUCK. They account for 51.6% of all juvenile arrests? Even though they're less than 13% of the pop? You're own stats prove you're an fucking dumb ass, you numb skull. Now stop embarrassing yourself, its pathetic. Now go back to sucking some ugly, uneducated, minimum wages blacks cock. SIMPLE STATS, dumb ass. Now thats, called an ass kicking, And I went easy on you. Good luck picking your ass up off the floor.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:10 p.m. CST
Simmer down, 'Lop. Simmer all defuck down. Nothing in your precious stats accounts for
by Subtitles_Off
the racist tendencies on the part of Authority. Check and mate, my friend. As I said, all statistics are meaningless, easily disputable when placed into context. I know, I know, the so-called "minority" races have made a Third-World mess of California and L.A. That's not about race --- That's about poverty. Well, when you think about it, poverty IS largely about race, so maybe you're on to something. Actually, that's about the abject failure of the "American Dream," which is, completely, a white construct. Now I'm talking all-racist and sh!t. As if it isn't bad enough that I'm an ageist and a homophobe? Now I gotta hate on whitey? And all the violent metaphoring. Picking up of asses and such. I'll assume the other guy started it, because I know you're better than that, but let me finish it... The guy with the bigger cock is not the winner. He's just the guy who can't measure accurately.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:20 p.m. CST
Bridesmaids? And instead of Tree of Life, it should be Melancholia
by neomotion
I think Bridesmaids was the first movie I actually walked out of the theater. What a horrible mess of a not funny comedy it was. And my two female friends who were with me thought so too, since they were the ones asking me to go! And while i partly agree with Tree of Life, after watching Melancholia i would say thats the profound movie this year. And indeed, TF3 was actually pretty cool in 3D.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:20 p.m. CST
Bartleby, it ain't exactly a snoozefest. A snoozefest would be CAPTAIN AMERICA. But,
by Subtitles_Off
thanks for not calling TREE OF LIFE a "prayer." It's an interesting experiment. It's really quite beautiful in parts. It's ambitious, and it's flawed, and it isn't all it's cracked up to be. You shouldn't fall asleep when you watch it, unless thinking makes you sleepy, in which case go watch some Nolan nonsense again. Betcha stay wide awake. But, come on. There's lots about it you can legitimately critique. Boredom, however, is not correct.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:23 p.m. CST
Well, 'lop', his handle contains the word 'liberal' thus all logic does not apply.
by SierraTangoFoxtrotUniform
Brotherfukker? What the hell is that. Yes, he actually fucked himself with those stats. To the guy who mentioned poverty. There are MORE whites below the poverty line, yet blacks still dominate in crime stats. I like how people can say statistics are useless then bring up some vague and immeasurable factor like the "racist" nature of authority. Did you know that hispanics are considered white in crime stat categories? Thus it becomes obvious that although blacks are the third in total American population (below Hispanics and Whites) they are NUMBER ONE in crime. That is a fact.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:33 p.m. CST
Oh, and another military fetishist brings the statistical "facts" while snarking on "liberals."
by Subtitles_Off
Fuck you idiots. Your lifestyle is courtesy of progressive politics. Otherwise, your kids would be digging up sh!t instead of going to school. Your women would be shutting defuck up in dark corners. Your weekend warriors wouldn't be able to afford their educations. Don't even get me started on all the money wasted on their "freedom" bullsh. Keep slack-jawing your ignorance. You're the reason your country is in a perpetual downward spiral. Intelligence is not the enemy. You wouldn't know that. You've never been introduced to the capability of a free-thinking brain.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:39 p.m. CST
There are more WHITES below the poverty line.
by Subtitles_Off
But that's not the thing that pisses his white ass off. Uh, I'm with stupid, much? Granted, when there are fewer whites in America, say 2035-ish, then, I guess, statistics will show fewer American whites in poverty than the other races, and, I guess, that'll be progress, right? Good Chrissy.
Sept. 4, 2011, 12:59 p.m. CST
And another liberal idiot who assumes if you're not like him, you're a gun-totting war monger. Thanks for proving my point about logic EXACTLY
by SierraTangoFoxtrotUniform
You say it's a poverty issue, yet if that were the case more whites would be committing crimes, since that's the excuse you morons have to use in order to feel better about yourselves (and your race). Also, most of your post is gibberish.
Sept. 4, 2011, 1:48 p.m. CST
Liberalwarrior just proved blacks over-represent when it comes to violent crime in the US
by Victor
* The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black. * Black juveniles accounted for 51.6 percent of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. All of this despite being just 13% of the pop. Good job contradicting yourself, liberalwarrior, you dumb fuck. How fucking idiotic are you? Of course there are many minorities that have prospered like the Asian community. It just aint the black community, thats for sure. And Attack the Block is just a bad movie. The kids are a bunch of obnoxious criminal brats, and we should not be glorifying these little thugs. But even then, if they weren't so disgusting and annoying it might've worked.
Sept. 4, 2011, 1:53 p.m. CST
Why is the black minority so poor and uneducated, when other minorities are not?
by Victor
The asian community was beset with the same racism, yet they have prospered. Hell, even the Arabs who are easily the most hated group in America, are actually extremely affluent in the US. Why is the black community chronically unable to make any improvements, and why do they commit so many violent crimes? And why do we glorify it? Is it not possible that glorifying it, is the reason they think its 'cool' to be criminals? Racism can not longer be used as an excuse when it clearly been disproved as a factor for poverty, or as an excuse for crime, when other minorities have prospered. * The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black. * Black juveniles accounted for 51.6 percent of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. These stats do not lie.
Sept. 4, 2011, 2:06 p.m. CST
liberalwarrior just admitted blacks by far comit the most crime in the US proportionally, thanks for proving my point you in bred dumb cunt
by Victor
Liberalwarrior you dumb cunt, why do you keep wanting to have your ass kicked you pathetic handicapped shithead? I only read the first few lines of your post because you are obviously mentally handicapped, but what you keep failing to understand like a mentally handicapped bitch, is that blacks only make up 13% of the pop, yet commit far more crime than 13% in EVERY category. Lets see your own stats. * The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black. * Black juveniles accounted for 51.6 percent of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. This is despite ONLY being 13% of the population. And this is YOUR OWN STATS. Blacks proportionally are the poorest, least educated, and most criminal group in America. And you proved it, you DIPSHIT. And no one will read your idiotic rant, unless you make it succinct. Consider your ass kicked you dumb cunt.
Sept. 4, 2011, 2:10 p.m. CST
This is what liberalwarrior said about blacks* The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black.
by Victor
Are there more black adults than white adults? Of course not, blacks make up less than 13% of the pop. Liberalwarrior is just a DUMB CUNT. Consider your ass kicked. Enjoy your humiliation. Simple stats.
Sept. 4, 2011, 2:13 p.m. CST
Poor Liberalwarrior is having a meltdown! Its hilarious, its hard to think when you're mentally handicapped! Remember you dumb cunt, Blacks make up less than 13% of the pop
by Victor
So when they make up 50% of the arrest for murder, that means they are OVER REPRESENTING when it comes to crime. And when they make up 50% of violent Juevenile violent offense it means, they OVER REPRESENT when it comes to violent crime. Consider your ass kicked you dumb cunt! You keep humiliating yourself!
Sept. 4, 2011, 2:22 p.m. CST
Yes Liberalwarrior, because whites make up the majority of the POP you DUMB CUNT! WHy is this so hard for you to understand you handicapped DUMB FUCK?
by Victor
Are you actually handicapped liberalwarrior? I really feel sorry for your sure to be whore of a mother, you dumb cunt. Blacks make up 13% of the pop. I repeat they make up 13% of the pop. while * The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black. * Black juveniles accounted for 51.6 percent of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. They over-represent for violent crimes!!! Anything over 13% means they over-represent, you DUMB FUCK. Its not that difficult to understand you retarded dumb ass. White people are the majority of the population, but they comit less crime than their over all proportion, but blacks comit MORE CRIME. Consider your ass kicked once again, and embarrassed once again, you DUMB CUNT. Now go crying back to your whore of a mother.
Sept. 4, 2011, 2:24 p.m. CST
Blacks make up 13%, yet * The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black, get it you son of a whore? Consider your dumb ass beat you UGLY MONKEY
by Victor
Therefore they over-represent. Yes whites may just barely commit more crimes over all, but they make up the majority of the population. Its not hard to understand. Only a mentally handicapped dumb cunt like liberalwarrior would find this so hard to understand. Had enough of having your ass kicked you ugly Monkey?
Sept. 4, 2011, 2:40 p.m. CST
Liberalwarrior, you dumb CUNT, its OBVIOUSLY because whites are the majority of the POP at 73%, why is this so difficult for an UGLY MONKEY like you to grasp?Black are 13% yet comit far MORE CRIME, therfore Black Over represent in VIOLENT CRIME, and WHITE
by Victor
Let me explain this to you one more time you retarded MONKEY. Whites are 73% of the pop, yet account for 58.7% of violent crime, that means they are UNDER REPRESENTED in violent CRIME, you colossal DUMB FUCK. once again. * The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black. * Black juveniles accounted for 51.6 percent of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. And Black are only 13% of the pop, therefore BLACKS over represent when it comes to crime. Get this through your mentally handicapped skull you fukcing DUMB FUCK. I just kicked your ass you son of a monkey whore, now STFU. Stop humiliating yourself.
Sept. 4, 2011, 2:43 p.m. CST
Liberalwarrior, you dumb CUNT, its OBVIOUSLY because whites are the majority of the POP at 73%, why is this so difficult for an UGLY MONKEY like you to grasp? Blacks are 13% yet comit far MORE CRIME, therfore BLACKS OVER REPRESENT in VIOLENT CRIME, and WH
by Victor
Hiya guys...How 'bout that Noooo in Jedi... eh, and that slug thing on the Emperor's hood... OH FUCK - someone played the race card! GET THE FUCK OUT - THIS THING'S GONNA BLOW!
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:01 p.m. CST
Liberalwarrior, I called you out on melting down, reversing the charge isn't clever or orignal, I understand your frustration at having your ass kicked and humiliated you son of a monkey whore
by Victor
And no caps is not melting down, repeating idiotic curse words after getting your ass kicked means melting down, like you. And trust me I just destroyed you and all your arguments, good job wasting your time, you dumb cunt. Once again, by our own words, whites make up 73% of pop, and commit 58% of violent crime. Blacks make up 13% of pop and * The percentages of adult white and black arrestees for murder were similar, with 49.6 percent being white, and 48.4 percent being black. * Black juveniles accounted for 51.6 percent of juvenile arrests for violent crimes. Consider yourself humiliated you uneducated MONKEY.
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:04 p.m. CST
I know you're a handicapped Monkey, Liberalwarrior, so once again whites make up 73% of the pop yet comit half the murders, and Black make up only 13% of the pop, yet make up a shocking 49% of murders, therefore Blacks are the most violent and criminal gr
by Victor
I know you're a mentally handicapped DUMB FUCK, so you need it explained repeatedly. But you got nothing to say, anymore do you? You got your son of a whore MONKEY ass kicked. Now STFU, and stop embarrassing yourself.
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:18 p.m. CST
Lol, liberalwarrior continues to melt down, poor son of MONKEY WHORE got his ass beat too bad
by Victor
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:21 p.m. CST
Once again for the handicapped DUMB CUNT, liberalwarrior, whites make up 73% of the pop, yet comit 58% of all violent crime, therefore they UNDER REPRESENT, blacks are only 13% yet comit 49% of murders, therefore BLACKS OVER-REPRESENT, you DUMB FUCK, and
by Victor
When are you going to get it? You dumb son of a monkey whore? Whites make up 73% of the pop, get it through your MONKEY SKULL you dumb CUNT.
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:22 p.m. CST
Once again blacks make up 13% of the pop, yet comit 40% of violent crimes therfore they are the most violent, vile, criminal group in American, UNDISPUTABLE FACT, consider your monkey ass destroyed and humiliated you DUMB SON OF A WHORE
by Victor
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:35 p.m. CST
You keep proving my point for me you ugly son of a monkey whore, blacks make up 13% of the pop yet comitt 43% of violent crime and 50% of all Murders, therefore they OVER-REPRESENT in violent crime, making them the most violent, and criminal group in the
by Victor
I keep kicking your ass, and you keep taking it. Save yourself the humiliating you ugly son of a monkey whore.
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:52 p.m. CST
Kung Fu Panda 2- the movie absolutely *no one* talked about this summer
by D.Vader
The movie you forgot was even made bc no one seemed to care.
Sept. 4, 2011, 3:55 p.m. CST
That's not the REAL ContinentalOp, by the way
by D.Vader
Thats an ignorant redneck racist posing as one of the more intelligent and level-headed talkbackers out there. And he's doing nothing but spewing vile filth.
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:20 p.m. CST
Best Sequel: Fast Five
by tintab
LIked the list but I think a best sequel category was in order and for me, Fast Five nailed it. The 4th sequel in a film series being this good is pretty uncommon.
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:42 p.m. CST
My Top Five Of Summer 2011
by ChickenStu
1. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes 2. Super 8 3. Fast Five 4. Captain America: The First Avenger 5. Thor Biggest Turd: Green Lantern Second Biggest Turd: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen Most overated movie: X-Men: First Class Most mediocre movie: Cowboys And Aliens
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:44 p.m. CST
Nicest suprises of the summer: "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes" and "Fast Five"
by ChickenStu
I don't think people were ready for how good those films turned out to be.
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:49 p.m. CST
STFU and OP need to go outside and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
by Turingtestee
Be Proactive. Form some sort of grass-roots organization. I'm sure you can find others with the shared clarity of vision to see things as they are here on the internet. Spread the truth that the god-less socialist liberal media refuses to acknowledge. Stand up to the NAACP and their propaganda campaign to minimize the truly beastial something-other-than-human nature of the African. Refuse to ignore the inherent danger the dark of skin represent to whites and all other minorities on this planet. Be Vigilant. Take to the streets with your fellow lighter colored brothers shouting "All-Races-But-The-Inferior-Blacks Power!"
Sept. 4, 2011, 4:51 p.m. CST
and I mean Transformers: Dark Of The Moon... although Revenge Of The Fallen is still shit.
by ChickenStu
Sept. 4, 2011, 5:17 p.m. CST
lol was this violent crime discussing sparked by Attack the Block?
by WINONA_RYDERS_PUSSY_JUICE
How come no one's brought up poverty, and how the Man is always bringin' the black people down? They bio-engineered those aliens to kill the poor black folks, after-all.
Sept. 4, 2011, 5:23 p.m. CST
In 1994
by WINONA_RYDERS_PUSSY_JUICE
the poverty rate among blacks was three times that of whites. 40 percent of black children grew up in poverty. Whites own 10 times the wealth than blacks do.
Sept. 4, 2011, 7:13 p.m. CST
Once he got the serum Captain America SUCKED!
by dead youngling
Sept. 4, 2011, 7:14 p.m. CST
Green Lantern > Captain America
by dead youngling
Sept. 4, 2011, 8:09 p.m. CST
Attack the Block was mediocre
by Jerry
I don't get it. And I'm not one of those people that hate it because of the hype. I LOVED Scot Pilgrim. But I just didn't really enjoy Attack the Block, I didn't like the kids in it at all.
Sept. 4, 2011, 8:50 p.m. CST
Bridesmaides was ok, but once again, an Apatow film is far too long.
by BigTuna
Yes, I know he only produced it. But this film is a half hour too long. Like all of Apatow's comedies.
Sept. 4, 2011, 8:51 p.m. CST
Fast Five was the best sequel
by BigTuna
What a blast it was. A fifth film in the series being this good in so rare. Lin is an action director to look out for for a long time.
Sept. 4, 2011, 10:21 p.m. CST
Scott Pilgrim is fuin for 30 minutes...
by BigTuna
Then it gets so FUCIKNG OLD and tiresome. Same shit over and over.
Sept. 4, 2011, 11 p.m. CST
yeah! no more Scott Pilgrim and Attack the Block movies!
by WINONA_RYDERS_PUSSY_JUICE
More Transformers and Green Lanterns!!!
Sept. 4, 2011, 11:33 p.m. CST
Bitchboom you idiot. No one wants what *you* want
by D.Vader
Because you're a wannabe bully. In other words, just another asshole.
Sept. 4, 2011, 11:41 p.m. CST
dead youngling . Agreed. Green Lantern > Captain America
by Quake II
I don't get the love that Captain America gets on here. It was 1/2 of a good movie but once he gets to Europe it was an incoherent mess. I'm amazed that Joe Johnston dircted it. It was so amateurish I would have sworn it was made by a first time director. Rushed, silly, poorly paced with not one single great action scene. I'll give you guys Thor, X-Men:FC (great) and Green Lantern but Captain America was the biggest superhero mess since Spider-Man 3.
Sept. 4, 2011, 11:43 p.m. CST
Yeah that makes sense.
by D.Vader
Sept. 5, 2011, 12:01 a.m. CST
Nobody swore Scott Pilgrim was going to be a monster hit
by D.Vader
More lies and misinformation from Blenderboom. In fact, everyone knew it was going to be a very hard movie to market. But of course Bitchboom doesn't want anyone to know that.
Sept. 5, 2011, 12:09 a.m. CST
Boohoo! A Boy tried to talk to me!
by D.Vader
Does Bitchboom even realize how afraid and cowardly she sounds of everyone? Dero- "Gosh, I feel like people are looking at me when I enter a comic book store! How can I get through it? Especially when they're all smelly fangeeks anyway! I'm SO terrified!"
Sept. 5, 2011, 4:44 a.m. CST
EVERYONE knew Scott Pilgrim was going to bomb
by WINONA_RYDERS_PUSSY_JUICE
who didn't see that coming? It was obvious after Kick-Ass. It was a pretty good movie, I liked it a lot. I am the core target audience. I grew up in the 80's and loved arcade games as a kid. It's an inventive, creative, witty/geeky/funny, action packed movie that will probably have a cult following on DVD. Not a total failure. Apparently it sold a million dvds for $15 million total sales? 47 million world-wide box office. 60 million budget + marketing Not an epic failure but it looks like you will get your wish, Bitchboom, I don't see Kick Ass 2 or Scott Pilgrim 2 on the horizon. Edgar Wright, however, isn't going anywhere.
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:11 a.m. CST
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Toronto Booster Cult
by Knuckleface
I have no idea how much 'mainstream' anticipation there was for SP, but I was living in Toronto at the time, and there was mad excitement building up to its release. The newspapers and the CBC ran daily news stories and the city and the province had multi-million dollar plans to create Scott Pilgrim based tourism packages. A lot of Canadians were convinced it was the film that would finally put Toronto on the cultural map. I personally enjoyed SP, and I think its biggest problem was that it followed on the heels of too many annoying quasi-indie hipster romcoms like that Nick & Nora movie. Also, I think the much maligned 'hipster' subspecies is really just your average, run of the mill middle class, well-educated white kid who likes guitar-based music. Once the bread and butter of the film industry, but now in a rapidly changing America, he's become a rare and exotic breed.
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:16 a.m. CST
TREE OF LIFE Minus....
by danieladamsmith
I haven't seen all of your recommends but I loved Attack the Block and though I adore Terence Malick's films (Days of Heaven is in my top one)...I felt Tree of Life was a beautiful failure. I feel like the Sean Penn bits weren't necessary or should have been more developed and the J CREW AD that takes places on the beach in I guess Heaven was overwrought and something I wouldn't expect from Malick. I felt like the film should have ended with them leaving Texas or went back to Sean Penn's grownup life.....
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:16 a.m. CST
TREE OF LIFE Minus....
by danieladamsmith
I haven't seen all of your recommends but I loved Attack the Block and though I adore Terence Malick's films (Days of Heaven is in my top one)...I felt Tree of Life was a beautiful failure. I feel like the Sean Penn bits weren't necessary or should have been more developed and the J CREW AD that takes places on the beach in I guess Heaven was overwrought and something I wouldn't expect from Malick. I felt like the film should have ended with them leaving Texas or went back to Sean Penn's grownup life.....
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:21 a.m. CST
ATB desevered the fail for glamourising teenie thugs
by CARTMANEZ
i havent seen it btw but thats the way it came across.
Sept. 5, 2011, 6:46 a.m. CST
I gave up on Scott Pilgrim about 20 minutes in.
by NeonFrisbee
I wanted to like it, thought I'd like it, but I pretty much hated it. Couldn't make it through. A headache inducing mess populated by intensely unlikable narcissist whiners who have no struggle to overcome because, as is SHOUTED at you constantly, everyone in this world is awesome, are always right, and always winning. Hated it. Well, what I saw of it. What's weird is that I actually enjoyed the ersatz Canadian manga it's based on. Ironically, however, the movie merely underscored everything that's wrong with the story. Oh, and not to get involved in this fight, but I do recall LOTS of media talk of "the geeks inheriting the Earth" when Scott Pilgrim was about to be released, and lots of reviewers saying it was going to be a huge hit. I don't think the studio necessarily thought that (I read somewhere that they factored it in as something that would be a cult-fave at best... but, honestly, it didn't even capture that).
Sept. 5, 2011, 8 a.m. CST
Why do people keep equating, these films, ATB = Scott Pilgrim = Kick Ass
by Jerry
Especially Kick Ass, how is that even remotely similar to the other two? The only thing similar to all these films is under-performing at the boxoffce, but so did Green Lantern, does that mean Green Lantern should be included amongst those films? Kick Ass was a crowd pleasing attempt at being a mainstream superhero film, nothing esoteric or weird about it. I thought it was incredibly enjoyeable; it was a really good film. I really don't get why you guys don't like it, it's so easy to enjoy, and so mainstream. I also loved Scott Pilgrim, but I kinda understand why some people don't like it, but I thought it was a blast of fresh air. Yea, it was a geeky film, and its obvious why it didn't perform at the BO. Still I loved it. And now Attack the Block, I really did not like at all. I couldn't get past the obnoxious kids, and the horrible dialogue. Its not easy to connect with a bunch of unrepentant criminals. And some of that dialogue, " I just want to go home, lock my door, and play some fifa", is that supposed to be funny? Ugh. That was terrible. I kinda hated Attack the Block, and I kinda agree, criminal thugs should not be glorified, they should be examined and humanized like in the Wire, but not glorified, that is very irresponsible. And I don't think these movies should be compared, there isn't really a common thread.
Sept. 5, 2011, 8:16 a.m. CST
I guess the connection is that they're all comparatively modest-budget flix aimed at the geek-cult audience?
by NeonFrisbee
That's all I can come up with in terms of why people keep lumping them together. Green Lantern was shooting for the 200 million dollar blockbuster audience and failed; Kick Ass, Scott Pilgrim, and Attack the Block were aimed at a much smaller audience and failed (although Kick Ass did very well on dvd/bluray). That said, Attack the Block looks deeply irritating and awful and I have no desire to see it. I hated Scott Pilgrim (for reasons noted above). But, I was pleasantly surprised by Kick Ass. I thought I'd hate it, but wound up liking it a whole helluva lot. I thought it was a hilarious satire of superhero comics and comic geeks in general.
Sept. 5, 2011, 8:18 a.m. CST
Miracle4ever, all 3 movies were massively overhyped by AICN
by D.Vader
Enough so that it created a huge backlash among readers of the site who were sick of hearing about them. That's the common thread.
Sept. 5, 2011, 8:27 a.m. CST
Nobody swore SCOTT PILGRIM would be a monster hit?
by Subtitles_Off
I seem to remember quite a few on here claiming it was going to change the world. Yep, it flopped. It wasn't the marketing. It was the lack of interest. But it wasn't as bad a movie as CAPTAIN AMERICA, which was a middling success. It had better pacing, more visual appeal, more interesting characters, and it didn't take its stupid bits half as seriously. So what does this prove? Sometimes the so-so works and sometimes it doesn't. Aim low, because it's easier to hit the target. KICK-ASS would've been a much better movie if it had ended halfway through. Again, its failure = lack of interest. SUPER 8 and ATTACK THE BLOCK flopped because, face it, you've all seen those movies before. FIRST CLASS made less money than the previous X-MEN, even at today's inflated prices. That's MAN OF STEEL and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN's future. It's time to face up to it. The Era of The Geek is over. It had much too long a run, anyway.
Sept. 5, 2011, 8:55 a.m. CST
If this summer's numbers are any indication, brace yourselves for a metric shit-ton of Bayformers-esque, migraine inducing, ADHD cinema for the "I'M A FUCKING RETARD AND I LIKE SPENDING MONEY ON BEING INSULTED FOR 2+ HOURS" demographic.
by NeonFrisbee
To quote Cartman: "Wellp, that's it for me guys. If that's what's cool now, I no longer have any connection to this world. I'm gonna go home and kill myself."
Sept. 5, 2011, 9:03 a.m. CST
by NeonFrisbee
I agree with you for the most part, but I think Man of Steel and Spider-EmoDouche are both going to do well. I just hope that Man of Steel manages to be good despite the best efforts of the director to make it awful.
Sept. 5, 2011, 9:37 a.m. CST
Nordling, man up.
by accidentalvisitor
Nordling, why are you being apologetic in explaining your love for "Attack the Block"? You have nothing to apologize for, man. Go find your balls already. Now that ATB's theatrical run is all but over I went back to Rotten Tomatoes to see its final score. The score is 89%. And that 89% includes heavy hitters from variety, Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, Rolling Stone, etc. Many well regarded critics LOVE the film and went out of its way to mention how it was far more entertaining than the Hollywood blockbusters that cost ten to twenty times the amount of money to make. I then check the Audience Ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and see that the film stands at a very respectable 77% approval. This is despite the fact that, as the case with all other films with certain protagonists, there was likely loads of people who gave the film a negative rating without having seen it. Of course RT only use a select number of critics. So between April and August I kept up to speed what critics who aren't included in the RT roundup had to say. These are critics for certain websites (often genre based), critics with their own blogs, critics of TV and radio stations, critics who put up their work on YouTube, critics whose put out podcasts, etc. Altogether there had to be nearly 150 more people reviewing this film that were not part of the nearly 100 already sampled on Rotten Tomatoes. And, yes, I was interested enough in seeing what all of them had to say. Of this nearly 150 more perhaps three (five at the most) did not like Attack the Block. That's an astounding positive percentage right there. One other thing is that Attack the Block was shown at three film festivals and won the Audience Award for all three, including the somewhat prestigious Los Angles Film Festival. That's three for three. My point? My point is that the handful of detractors on this board are a very, very small minority of people who actually did not like the movie after seeing it. And yet they were the loudest and most obnoxious voices on this site whenever any mention of the film was made. Guess what, there are always going to be people who dislike a movie no matter its quality. You're never going to get a perfect score for anything. But the idiots bashing this flick act as if their opinion was held by the majority and that the reviewers of AICN got it wrong. I wrote this once or twice already and I'll write it now: Attack the Block was not hyped on AICN or any other site. I hate that expression. If critics on every site were writing good reviews that is not hyping the product. Some of you need a dictionary. Hype, by definition, means to "publicize in an exaggerated and often misleading manner". That isn't what any reviewer did when giving his or hers honest opinion of the film (unless you somehow think they were all being paid under the table). The words the detractors were probably looking for was "over praised". That would only be their opinion of course, but at the same time it would been a more legitimate accusation/criticism. But hyping a film? Sites like AICN wasn't hyping when they posted their reviews or mentioned upcoming screenings, or posted winners of free screenings of Attack the Block. They were reporting, informing and sharing their thoughts. If ATB actually had hype like its Hollywood counterparts it would have made loads more money. Hype is non-stop TV commercials, billboards, movie trailers. ATB had none of this. And that explains its box office performance more than anything else. Screen Gems' strategy was to not release any commercials on TV in America, to not put a trailer of the film into movie theaters, to not place ads in newspapers or on websites like IMDB (speaking of that can the folks take down the annoying ad to Columbiana off IMDB now? That movie tanked already). Screen Gems wanted word of mouth alone to do its work. It was a bold idea but it mostly failed. Over the months leading up to and the release in America and the weeks after the release I spoke to numerous movie fans. Some were mainstream types, some were those who only watch movies on cable, some were into independent and arthouse films, some were regular moviegoers, some were into mostly genre movies, some were only casual moviegoers, some were typically aware of ANY film with a black lead. Guess what? Not a single one had heard of Attack the Block. Not one. We got to sites like AICN and forget that the folks here do not represent the rest of society. The rest of society do not get their film info form such sites. They need trailers that are shown in places other than the internet. They need a steady rotation of TV ads or profiles in Entertainment Weekly. If they don't get such things for a movie they won't know of its existence. There were those who felt Screen Gems' formula could work because low budget stuff like Paranormal Activity was also relying on word of mouth. But those people tend to forget that movies like Paranormal Activity had theatrical trailers in the USA and had loads of TV advertisement. Despite its budget it was promoted like a mainstream Hollywood tentpole picture. Attack the Block was not. And, yes, its slow, small opening was a mistake. Screen Gem should have gone for fifty theaters at least immediately. It should have opened in more cities immediately. But they slow-rolled it like an independent film but at the same time placed it cinema franchises like Regal and AMC as if it was a Marvel comic book adaptation. You had people going to the theater to see Cowboys and Aliens or the Smurfs and they get a glimpse of the Attack the Block poster and have no idea what this film is even about. Screen Gems should have gone for the independent and arthouse theaters/franchises (like Landmark). It should have placed trailers before movies playing at such venues and then hoped for the best (like the mainstream catching on). But what's done is done. Some posters wrote that ATB should not be compared to Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim. Damn right. Attack the Block didn't bomb like those films. It may not have been a success but it didn't cost the amount of those films, didn't get the heavy promotion of those films (I actually saw the trailers for both films numerous times when seeing other movies), and didn't get nearly as many screens as those two films (I doubt that Attack the Block got as many as sixty screens total). The most annoying criticism on this site and a few others was this nonsense that Attack the Block's protagonists weren't people one could care about or that the movie was irresponsible in "glorifying" such characters./hoodlums. Some of that comes across as thinly disguised racism. Yeah. I know. Racism ended in the 1960s, blah, blah, blah. But humor me. The same people taking issue of the quality of people in Attack the Block are likely the same ones who get a hard-on for every Quentin Tarantino film littered with people best described as scums of the Earth. These people probably liked plenty of gangster film, or films about corrupt cops or films about thieves looking for the big score. But when these anti-heroes are young and mostly black then it becomes something they want no part of. How consistent. Most if not all the critics who did like the movie felt the way they did because they could not get past the so-called unlikable protagonists. The hypocrisy is that a couple of such critics liked another small film this summer called "The Guard". Interesting enough in "The Guard" the lead character is a crooked police officer who takes drugs, pays for prostitutes, abuses his authority and gets involved with criminal types. Oh, and he is pretty much a racist too. Now how is it that those folks who take issue with the character of the kids in Attack the Block aren't equally bothered by the character/actions of an adult police officer who of all people should know better? And by the way ATB does not glorify hoodlum behavior unless your definition of "glorifying" is that it makes the young hoods the protagonists instead of killing them off in order to make room for a more lily white group of heroes. In fact these kids, while never becoming angels, see the error in their ways and learn how what they do will have consequences. They are never excused for their actions even as we become fond of them as the movie progresses. A couple of them even pay the ultimate price. The people who write that the film glorifies them are those who have not seen the movie and make judgments without knowing the facts or they are people with low IQ's who could not pick up on any messages the filmmaker was conveying. Last of all props to Cornish for his female characters in the film, particularly the female lead. Yes, she was mugged in the opening and therefore victimized, but she was no victim. She was realistically strong despite her own understandable films. She dished out justified criticism towards the young lads and never let them forget what they had done to her. She was also just, level-headed and damn brave in the end. Compare that to the female eye candy posing as female leads in Transformers, Cowboys and Aliens, Planet of the Apes and most of the comic book flicks. I saw attack the Block twice. One was a free screening that was packed and the folks were crazy for the film. Everyone had such a fun time. The other time was when I paid for it a couple of weeks later. There was only about twenty people in the theater and that was a shame because ATB is one of those films, like the original Die Hard, that is meant to be seen with a large audience. Nonetheless even in that mostly empty theater the people seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'm not certain it is the film of the summer but I can't argue with Nordling's selection of it.
Sept. 5, 2011, 9:37 a.m. CST
I dunno Subby
by D.Vader
I don't remember anyone going to far as to say Scott Pilgrim was going to change the world. Not any of the normal people here anyway outside the AICN hype machine, which you have to discount right off. You know that.
Sept. 5, 2011, 9:42 a.m. CST
I forgot to mentio the most amazing thing....
by accidentalvisitor
even ultra conservative Big Hollywood gave Attack the Block a very positive review. Big freakin' Hollywood. If the movie was glorifying gang behavior in any way you can be sure those folks on that zealot site would have given it negative five stars.
Sept. 5, 2011, 9:50 a.m. CST
by D.Vader
First off, nice rant. Nice and long. Secondly, ATB *was* hyped here. You are right, it was overpraised, but it was also hyped (and I don't mean in a misleading way) bc there was story after story published that wasn't just a review but of a screening here or how to make it come to this city there, etc etc. There was a story every few days it seemed. Yes, hype.
Sept. 5, 2011, 9:52 a.m. CST
Scott Pilgrim had a terible release date
by BigTuna
Yes, it likely would have bombed anyways, but opening in August against Expendables and Eat,Pray,Love was dumb.
Sept. 5, 2011, 11:17 a.m. CST
Scott Pilgrim was also a terrible movie.
by NeonFrisbee
Don't forget that.
Sept. 5, 2011, 1:07 p.m. CST
I can't decide..
by Aidan
If I liked Attack the Block or Red State more. Both films absolutely enthralled me.
Sept. 5, 2011, 1:13 p.m. CST
First Class needed to be two movies
by Keith
It tried to jam too much into one movie. Would have been better to have had one movie where Xavier and Lensherr were friends all the way, although the cracks were starting to show by the end. The second movie should have been the one where the split occurred. Lensherr was fantastic as a dark hero, and I wanted to see more of that phase.
Sept. 5, 2011, 1:25 p.m. CST
Since when any gay-arsery from Michelle Shit Bay should get a praise?
by AsimovLives
Is AICN so desperate to kiss Bay's ass that they need to make a phon "best SFX" so to have a Bay shitfiest in a best of list? But what suprise me is that Nordling didn't go gay for jayjay abrams as is usual among the AICN crowd and didn't put his latest exercise in total movie boredom in the top of the list. I have to admit, he putting ATTACK OF THE BLOCK as best film of summer above Super Boredom 8 suprised me. I agree with the choice of best villian. Tom Hiddleston stole the show.
Sept. 5, 2011, 2:02 p.m. CST
Am I really the first one to point this out?
by Nice Marmot
Snape isn't a f-ing villain.
Sept. 5, 2011, 2:07 p.m. CST
Attack the Block + Kick Ass + Scott Pilgrim review
by theawesomeofbuscemi
Scott Pilgrim - Terrible. Michael Cera. Everything about this guy just fucking sucks. Never liked him. The only movie I can stand with him is Superbad. (which I think is vastly over-rated) Kick-Ass- Mediocore. Just meh. 12 year old girls swearing and murdering people isn't shocking to me anymore. I am sure I would have liked it better if I was a kid. But then, I liked "License to Drive" when I was a kid. And like that movie, I dont believe Kick-ass will hold up well. Attack the block - fun. Seriously a good lil alien caper done differently. But yes, like the others in the talkback, don't agree with the glorification of fucking thugs (I've had my brushes with these self-entitled, self-aggrandizing cunts) The last thing we need is any kinda justification for these assholes and their "oh, I've had a tough childhood so I steal, burn small business owners stores and stab other innocent people" schtick. Fuck these dumb shits. I've had it much, much worse (racism and all) and I am doing ok with my life now. How? I just dealt with my shit and got a plan MYSELF. Didn't fuken wait for a handout. Didn't wait /expect empathy help from someone else. But I digress. I enjoyed ATB and look forward to a sequel. But only if they kill all the kids from the first in the opening 10 minutes.
Sept. 5, 2011, 2:54 p.m. CST
Great Call on...
by parabola10
Caesar and Loki... and X-Men but Rango was the best animated film of the year (you say "but it's not a summer film", technically neither was Panda) and where was Super 8 on this list?? Easily the best film of the summer with ROTPOTA coming in a close second.
Sept. 5, 2011, 3:14 p.m. CST
Super 8 was contrived, convenient and unbelievable
by Jaka
Hated that movie. Attack The Block was everything that I WANTED Super 8 to be. I was actually shocked by how much I liked Attack The Block.
Sept. 5, 2011, 4:20 p.m. CST
Magneto with an Irish Accent
by malpaso
Seems to still be getting a lot of buzz...
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:26 p.m. CST
"Magneto with an Irish Accent" There's jews in Ireland, you know?
by AsimovLives
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:28 p.m. CST
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
you not agreeing with me doesn't make me wrong, either. Walk it like you talk it. And where was I obnoxious?
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:41 p.m. CST
and as for your 'Big Hollywood' not getting it, well they wouldn't
by IWasInJuniorHighDickhead
cause it is set in a British subculture and they'd have no point of reference. The Bill Hicks 'hooligan' effect. Compared to LA's myriad gangs, this lot look like a bunch of spoiled parochial children playing gangster and the effect is lessened. Hollywood is American, and America's viewpoints on many things here are often skewed (ie the IRA).Make a geek comedy about some crips going around being the balls and see what 'Big Hollywood' makes of that.
Sept. 5, 2011, 5:51 p.m. CST
People are fogetting, that the Brits pretty much hated ATB, and the Brit critics were very luke warm on it
by Victor
Maybe the American critics liked it, but not the critics from its own country. The place it stood a chance to make some coin. I'm glad the movie flopped. It was unfunny and lame, and the kids were little shits.
Sept. 5, 2011, 8:17 p.m. CST
This summer
by NightArrows
I enjoyed a shit ton of what this summer had to offer. I'm also laughing at the fucking tools wasting thousands of words trying to tell everyone that Attack the Block is the best thing since sliced bread (who really gives a shit?) and that Scott Pilgrim was a horrible movie (again, see above). There are far too many pretentious fucksticks on this forum who hate everything, and there are just as many morons who confuse a McDonalds cheesburger for a finely made meal. I'll ride the middle where I make my own mind up, keep a little cynicism to deal with the schlock and still enjoy a lot of what I see.
Sept. 6, 2011, 6:58 a.m. CST
Darth V
by accidentalvisitor
I still disagree with your claim about hype. When word came out that Attack the Block won the festival in Austin, AICN reported it. When new trailers came out for the movie, AICN reported it. When there were special screenings tied in with AICN moderators, AICN reported it and the eventual winners. And when regular contributors saw the film and wrote their reviews, AICN posted them. That's not hype, those were goddamn announcements. That's the same thing AICN has been doing for movies since it first went online but somehow it became hype when it involved Attack the Block? Please. A selection of people who hated the film/wanted to hate the film/wanted no part of the film objected to ANYTHING posted about the movie. And they fell back on the tired and true "stop hyping the product" whine. I can tell this because when the very first announcement of Attack the Block hit AICN in late spring you had folks crying that it was hype. The very first announcement for God's sake. When the second announcement was written, the same charge of hype came up again. These complainers were crying from the very beginning, long before any rational person would even think that AICN was possibly going overboard with mentioning the movie. These people had their very own agenda from the very beginning. AICN's agenda, however, was informing its readers about an upcoming movie every time there was worthwhile news to be mentioned. If "Another Earth" had one film festivals, if it had released two trailers, if it had several screenings popping up across America, AICN would have announced that information. It just so happened that it was ATB which had had all these things happen to it. And when the word started getting out that ATB was getting rave reviews there were those who had not even seen the film but were irritated by its positive buzz. They couldn't accept the fact that a movie they wanted to dismiss was being praised from all corners. My issue with Nordling is that he somehow thinks his and other people's praise of the film hurt it. That had nothing to do with it. Every year there are dozens of acclaimed films that go unnoticed and unappreciated by the general public, many with more mainstream promotions than ATB got. Dumbasses posting in this thread somehow think this type of problem only afflicts so-called geek films that earn raves from the AICN-like sites of the world. I guess that's why they are dumbasses.
Sept. 6, 2011, 7:05 a.m. CST
by accidentalvisitor
Nice try, dude, but before ATB got its very first American review it still had a positive Rotten Tomatoes score. Since England at the time was the only country where it had been released, guess what nationality most of those early reviewers were? I'll give you a few minutes in case it isn't obvious enough for you. Granted overall the British critics didn't like it as much as the Americans (with the harshest criticism coming not surprisingly from the Daily Mail), but most I came across gave the film a good review. Regardless does it matter?
Sept. 6, 2011, 7:21 a.m. CST
by accidentalvisitor
Idiotic. Big Hollywood never fails to jump at a chance to attack anything which it thinks has a liberal spin that excuses anti-social behavior and criminal actions. And in case you are aren't aware, Americans can recognize that whole hip-hop-gangasta-wannabe-hoodie-loving-thug-for-life routine even if it comes with a somewhat charming British accent. We invented that shit, alright? And sites like Big Hollywood never tire of criticizing the likes. Are you really dumb enough to think that Americans can't grasp what the subculture is like over in England. It ain't rocket science, sir. By the way if I'm to interpret your point correctly, you are saying that people who have distance from a certain problem (and thus not personally affected) are likely to be more tolerant of it. It is something I thought about as well. From where you stand this means that those who more directly affected by an issue won't tolerate any film/presentation that they think justifies the problem, glorifies it, makes the culprits of the problem out to be sympathetic human beings. An opposite stance however could be that people who are too closely affected by something aren't able to stand back and be more objective. It could go either way.
Sept. 6, 2011, 8:40 a.m. CST
@continentolop re: Brit B.O.
by Knuckleface
In fairness, very few films make much coin here in the UK. Nobody goes to the cinema any more because it's too bloody expensive. Now that the Harry Potter franchise has run it's course, I would not be surprised if Odeon and The Vue start shuttering their cinemas.
Sept. 6, 2011, 9:07 a.m. CST
Actual News Headline w/Link: 'Scott Pilgrim' is Canada's 'Twilight' but actually cool"
by Knuckleface
As I said above, the Canadian news media, Tourism Canada and Heritage Canada (Canadian govt's cultural development dept.) blew a nut over Scott Pilgrim. This may have had something to do with the fact that the Canadian government threw more than 30 million dollars at the production. Here's an excerpt from just one of the MANY articles promoting Scott Pilgrim in Canada before it died at the B.O. From CTV: "TORONTO — Canada finally has its own 'Twilight' phenomenon -- albeit one with all the smarts, heart and humour that a certain vampire soap opera lacks. I came to this realization Monday night in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood when more than 2,000 people, mostly hip kids, many dressed as their favourite characters, showed up for the midnight release of "Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour" – the sixth and final book of Bryan Lee O'Malley's "Scott Pilgrim" graphic novel series. The series' popularity is only set to soar in coming weeks, as the much-buzzed blockbuster adaptation of the series, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," hits theatres August 13. A side-scrolling throwback videogame of the series will be available Aug. 10. "Scott Pilgrim" is arguably the most successful Canadian cultural export in recent history (Justin Bieber doesn't count as cultural – sorry, tweens) -- which might be obvious to its fans, and bewildering to those who haven't heard of it before. - snip - The film, directed by genre-mashing wunderkind Edgar Wright and starring Canadian Michael Cera as Pilgrim, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jason Schwartzman and Chris Evans, should go a long way in establishing the "Pilgrim" brand – one that is certainly Canadian, but without a hint of maple syrup cliché." It appears I can't post a link, but a simple google search will turn up the full article. Also, you might want to google search "Toronto tourism officials showcase Scott Pilgrim" for another amusing article. For what it's worth, I do think that SP sold out screens in Toronto.
Sept. 6, 2011, 9:23 a.m. CST
Just tried to watch attack the block could not get through 15 minutes without wanting to turn it off because the characters were so unlikable I wanted to smash their faces in.
by Eric
Sept. 6, 2011, 9:55 a.m. CST
by D.Vader
You're proving my point without even realizing it, I think. Especially with your mention of AICN reporting on ATB winning critic awards in Austin. Here's the problem: AICN does NOT report on who wins in Austin all the time. They did it special for ATB. You can't act like AICN was just doing what they normally do, "reporting the information", bc AICN doesn't do that unless its a movie they love and support. Which is fine, but the fact remains, they are treating ATB with more care and attention than they would any other film. That's why its HYPE. It was the constant attention showered on a movie they love. You can twist it anyway you like and claim AICN was just doing what they did normally, but the fact remains that no, they weren't. That's why people were getting tired of hearing about it. There seemed to be a disparate amount of attention given to it when compared to other movies. Yes, its still hype. And yes, Nordling is right that their love for it (or at least the consistent talking of their love for it) contributed to a backlash against it. Just as it did for Scott Pilgrim and Kick-Ass.
Sept. 6, 2011, 10:01 a.m. CST
by D.Vader
I've never argued that anyone was *not* claiming the Era of the Geek was over, so I don't know why you spent such time and energy to lecture me on a subject I haven't touched. As for your style of argument, it'd help if you stopped twisting the facts. Just because something is not seen by a majority of people does not mean it is "hated". I'd appreciate if you stayed on a level ground and stopped manipulating words to make it seem as if geek material is hated when something isn't a blockbuster (bc that ignores equal successes), or that Michael Cera is "loathed" when his movies don't do well. The truth is, he is not. He is NOT a leading man, however, either. And there's been quite a bit of backlash against him even here in the "geek community" bc he plays the same character all the time. And Scott Pilgrim was an insanely hard movie to market with a non-leading man and bizarre visuals with a bubble-gum pop sort of tone. It failing at the BO doesn't mean it is hated anymore than you could claim The Big Lebowski was hated upon its release or that certain rom-coms are "hated" too. Its a bit malicious and disingenuous. However, I do agree with you on your disclosure policy when it comes to reviews. It certainly would give AICN more respect and integrity, though I bet they'd get less "pwesents". Honestly, that's fine with me. I don't trust a single review from Harry anymore because they either feel tainted or that they come from a place beyond normal human reasoning. His respectability has fallen far in the past 15 years.
Sept. 6, 2011, 10:04 a.m. CST
Transformers 3 = Cancer
by ZodNotGod
Worst of the year so far.
Sept. 6, 2011, 10:15 a.m. CST
Super 8 and Aliens vs. Cowboys had the same problems
by Knuckleface
They'd both be great movies if it weren't for the stupid aliens.
Sept. 6, 2011, 10:25 a.m. CST
Tree of Life has Sean Penn...
by ZodNotGod
NO thanks.
Sept. 6, 2011, 10:54 a.m. CST
I actually liked the alien in Super 8
by D.Vader
My problem is with his resolution at the end and his connection with the main kid. That could have been made MUCH much stronger than how it was presented in the film, which seemed pretty rushed and without the proper sympathy and catharsis needed in light of the fact that the alien was killing and eating people.
Sept. 6, 2011, 10:58 a.m. CST
There IS NO best use of 3D -- 3D stinks...
by Kikstad
but otherwise good list
Sept. 6, 2011, 11:02 a.m. CST
And anyone who thinks Green Lantern was a better movie than Captain America...
by Kikstad
...didn't see either movie, is smoking the crack pipe, or is a hack for DC Entertainment. Green Lantern was terrible. Captain America was better, if we must make comparisons. Carry on.
Sept. 6, 2011, 11:07 a.m. CST
For the record -- X-Men: First Class > Thor > Captain America > Green Lantern > The Green Hornet
by Kikstad
Carry on
Sept. 7, 2011, 9:08 a.m. CST
by THE_CHOPPAH
The Avengers! Summer 2012! FTW! SUB-STITUTED!
Sept. 11, 2011, 5:01 a.m. CST
Attack the Block
by erikzod
Trailers made this look like b movie trash. I just finished it a few minutes ago and was completely blown away. Easily in my top five of the year so far.
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