We’re four weeks into 2009’s summer movie season. X-Men Origins: Wolverine got things off to a soggy start and was eclipsed by Star Trek as a popular favorite. Not many were impressed by Angels & Demons (though it did big business overseas), leading into this long weekend with Terminator Salvation and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian doing battle (and a little Dance Flick on the side). So what are your general impressions so far? I was disappointed by Wolverine and loved Star Trek . My ambitious weekend viewing plans began with a viewing of Terminator Salvation , which satisfied the 12-year-old boy in me, but left the adult me sorely hungry for more substantial entertainment. So I watched two DVDs that came out last Tuesday. Fritz Lang’s Man Hunt (1941) stars Walter Pidgeon as a British big game hunter whose “sporting stalk” of Hitler ends up with the hunter becoming the hunted. Lang is an elegant, efficient storyteller; Man Hunt is intelligent and thoughtful. Peter Yates’ The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) features Robert Mitchum (pictured) as the weary, wary “Eddie Fingers,” a loyal, long-term, low-level Boston hood. Really, though, the story revolves around his “friends” — criminal colleagues and law enforcement officers, people who don’t really care about Eddie. Even with bank robberies and intense stake-outs and stand-offs, the real impact comes from the characters and what happens to them. What did you watch over the Memorial Day weekend? Feel free to elaborate in the comments section. View Poll Filed under: Fandom , Summer Movies , Polls Permalink | Email this | Comments

Warning: This is going to get a little ’spoilery’, so if you haven’t seen Terminator Salvation you might want to bookmark this baby for later. It was the moment we were all waiting for this summer season: the resurrection of Terminator . The trailers were looking good, there was a Nolan in charge of rewrites, and for god’s sake we even had Batman as John Connor — how could this go wrong? Well, if you happened to catch the movie over the weekend you know just how wrong it was. It’s time to play Monday-morning quarterback in the aftermath of one of this summer’s biggest letdowns, and so let’s try to answer one question: whose fault was it? McG There might be plenty of votes for McG as the culprit. He doesn’t have the greatest track record for quality films, but I thought he pulled off a much better movie than expected. The cut-happy editing of Charlie’s Angels was long gone and he had some great action set pieces, but that doesn’t mean he made a good film. All of his trademark flaws were on display: uneven pacing, character motivations are glossed over or not even addressed; not to mention some stunning gaps in logic — mainly: can someone explain to me why a techno-overlord like Skynet would build a machine that they can’t control? After the jump; find out who else earned the last two nominations… Filed under: Action , Sci-Fi & Fantasy , Warner Brothers , Box Office , Fandom , Remakes and Sequels Continue reading Discuss: ‘Terminator Salvation’… Whose Fault Was It? Permalink | Email this | Comments

Just days after reports surfaced that Warner Bros. is bidding on Midway Games, which filed for Chapter 11 in February, and also took over the rights to EA’s Lord of the Rings video game franchise*, Variety is reporting that the studio is getting ready to jump into the iPhone game. Sony, Paramount, and Warner Bros. have all been vying for attention from mobile gamers with releases like a Star Trek comic book app, an Angels and Demons video game app, and more. However, according to Warner Digital Distribution director of worldwide marketing Stephanie Bohn, WB is planning to release about 40 iPhone applications by the end of the year. WB just released a Terminator comic app tied to the opening of Terminator: Salvation and has more in the works for upcoming releases, as well as ideas for “animated episodic video apps and other apps built around Warner brands.” As a recent survey by marketing research team NPD showed, more people are playing video games than going to the movies, and one distinct reason the numbers are rising isn’t just the price of movie tickets. The numbers of casual video game players is increasing exponentially, partially due to the popularity, ease, and increasing quality of games available on iPhones and other handhelds. If movie studios get involved directly with video game developers, will the video game tie-ins improve? And as Bohn points out, “It doesn’t cost a lot to launch an app… Relative to a TV show or a film, it’s nothing.” So, could this new strategy also mean good news for studios’ sagging bottom lines (and for iPhone gaming addicts)? * Gamers are already suspicious of the newest Lord of the Rings game, Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest, because it’s being billed as family-friendly. EA’s license for the franchise expired and reverted back to New Line, thus Warner Bros. Filed under: Tech Stuff , Home Entertainment Permalink | Email this | Comments

Have you ever wondered about those humble workers at Cyberdyne Systems, those ordinary men and women who dutifully programmed SkyNet, unaware that they were helping to code the way towards the extinction of mankind? Well, the tale of one such tech named Craig Tapers has been uncovered over on Cracked.com . I guess these were probably unearthed thanks to all that time-traveling the Resistance does, but it’s a pretty illuminating look at just what an awkward position their employees were put into. The whole saga should be read in full (particularly so you learn the fate of Tapers), but I think this is my favorite excerpt: “I was looking for surge protectors earlier and I stumbled upon a warehouse of giant, terrifying robots coated in what looked like an impenetrable metal exoskeleton, and all carrying some pretty heavy artillery. I know I’m still fairly new here, but we’re a software company, right? Did we switch over to robot monsters? If we did, that’s fine, I just need to know for job-titling purposes .. .” Let the tale of Craig Tapers (and those construction workers on the Death Star) be a lesson to those of you out job-hunting. Before accepting that tech job, make sure they’re actually a software company and not SkyNet. Thanks. Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy , New Releases , Fandom , Fan Made Permalink | Email this | Comments

Last year, when I interviewed Kimberly Peirce for Stop-Loss , I asked why a relationship played up between Ryan Phillippe’s character and Abbie Cornish’s in the trailer seemed absent from the final film, not to mention a confrontation between Phillippe and the senator he’s driven cross-country to reach coming to a close over the phone and not in person. She explained that about as soon as they had to start editing the film itself, they had to turn over the footage to the promotional department for them to work with simultaneously, and that things don’t always match up as a result. Now, every once in a while, usually in regard to Apatow’s oft-tested and whittled-down comedies, absent jokes and alternate takes come as a little surprise. But the year-old teaser for Terminator Salvation capped itself by showing Christian Bale facing off against a robot hiding underwater — a scene that should appear early on in the film, but doesn’t. In Disney/Pixar’s Up , our geriatric hero doesn’t blow a raspberry as he departs with his house (perhaps for the best), and in 500 Days of Summer , Joseph Gordon-Levitt does not in fact board a bus filled with Zooey Deschanels (certainly for the worst). What’s the most striking occasion you can think of where a scene regularly flaunted in the trailers or TV spots was nowhere to be seen in theaters, and was clearly part of a scene and not a one-off teaser like Pixar themselves so often indulges in ? Filed under: Action , Animation , Comedy , Romance , Sci-Fi & Fantasy , Disney , Warner Brothers , Fox Searchlight , Trailers and Clips Permalink | Email this | Comments

Okay, so with the holiday weekend (and it being Friday), there’s not a whole lot going on in the world of movies — hence two Fan Made posts in one day. But I dig this kind of stuff, and I know you do too, which is why it should be okay for me to shove this little gem up your cinematic nose. Cinematical reader Matthew Belinkie is always creating some wacky movie-related video on YouTube and then sending them over to us. He’s the guy responsible for The Dark Bailout and Indy Shot First , two of our personal favorites. Well Matthew’s back, and this time he’s created an original monster ballad with a Terminator theme, and even if the production quality ain’t the greatest, giant kudos go out to Matthew for some pretty hilarious lyrics and acting on the part of his buddy Mark Lee (who I’d totally toss my vote for the next American Idol ). We’ve posted the video below and the lyrics after the jump (so you can sing along; I did). Enjoy! (p.s. Whaddya think — was this better than Terminator Salvation ?) (p.p.s. Matthew, if Michael Bay directed Terminator Salvation , this song would totally play over the credit scroll.) Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy , Fandom , Remakes and Sequels , Trailers and Clips , Fan Made Continue reading Fan Made: ‘I’ll Be Back’ Terminator Music Video Permalink | Email this | Comments

Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption — the game that magically (and mysteriously) floats up after drinking a glass of Willy Wonka’s new soda. Last week a whole mess of you dropped by to chip in a caption for a photo from Terminator Salvation , but only three of you qualified to join the resistance. Congrats to those folks; the rest of you … well, take notes. 1. “It’s no use…Skynet’s designed a Slinky that cannot be straightened out.” — Jonathan M. 2. “Are you incapable of holding this thing down? That’s it, we’re through. I like you, but we are done. We are done professionally!” — David R. 3. “I didn’t think this was what you meant when you asked me if I wanted to hold your snake.” — David M. See full image and all captions This week we’re leaving post-apocalyptic America for a little tale about an old man and a young boy who go on a balloon trip … to the jungle … inside of a house. Yup, the brilliant minds at Pixar are back for their yearly trip to the movies, and this time they’re bringing another laugh-out-loud, family-friendly tear-jerker that’s bound to offer plenty more reasons why Pixar is just totally tops. Up hits theaters on May 29, which means you still have a whole week of waiting ahead. In the meantime, give us your best captions below and the folks behind our three favorite will each take home one Up T-shirt and one Up Dug the talking dog stuffed animal. Sound off below … Read the official rules for this contest Filed under: Fandom , Contests , Insert Caption Permalink | Email this | Comments

This was a tough weekend to pick a film for our 1-10 Poll, but since Terminator Salvation seems to be the fan favorite (and the only movie opening up early, as in last night at midnight), we’ll go with that. I’m sure you pretty much know the deal by now with our 1-10 polls; essentially, we’re asking you to rate all of the big summer movies on a scale of 1-10 so that we can see what you think of them, as well as determine which film moviegoers enjoyed the most (and the least) this summer. So far Star Trek is in the lead … will Terminator beat it? From my Terminator Salvation review : ” Terminator Salvation roars to life on screen with enough gutsy firepower to literally shake you in your seat. She’s a mean, loud metallic beast that hasn’t eaten in years, and the only commands she understands come in the form of growls, snarls, bullets and explosions. You can’t really ask for more from an action picture (well you can, but we’ll get to that); with Terminator Salvation , director McG proves that he’s more than a punchline for online jokes — his action scenes are fierce and eye-popping; he gives us the post-apocalyptic Skynet world we’ve always wanted to see and then asks if we want seconds or thirds. This is the Terminator film for a generation that expects over-the-top; an audience who likes it rough, but still PG-13, so we don’t get carded at the door.” Sound off below … View Poll Filed under: Action , Sci-Fi & Fantasy , New Releases , Fandom , Remakes and Sequels , Polls Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not despite Charlie’s Angel s , but because of it (the first one, anyway), I really like McG as a filmmaker. Say what you want about his undeservedly but oft-criticized nickname, but the guy has the chops - and then some - to make blockbuster spectacle look, well, spectacular. Given his existing filmography, he’s only made one serious creative misstep, the disastrous Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle , since the first Angels movie was an exhilarating thrill ride and 2006’s We Are Marshall a heartfelt and powerful drama. Aiming for the A-list credibility enjoyed by the likes of Christopher Nolan, McG has unleashed his muscular, bombastic creativity on Terminator Salvation , which should certainly resuscitate the franchise even if it doesn’t quite distinguish the director from other fanboy punching bags like Michael Bay and Brett Ratner. As part of Cinematical’s special Summer Interview Series with different directors, we sat down with McG at the film’s Los Angeles press day for an exclusive chat about reimagining Terminator ’s beloved characters. In addition to talking about defining the director’s own filmmaking style and searching through summers past to find the films that inspired him to become a director, McG drilled us a little bit about our own feelings on the film, precipitating one of the more interesting, and, well, interactive interviews we’ve done in a while. Filed under: Action , Sci-Fi & Fantasy , Warner Brothers , Interviews , Comic/Superhero/Geek Continue reading Interview: ‘Terminator Salvation’ Director McG Permalink | Email this | Comments

Last week’s only new release Angels & Demons took top honors, but without the controversy enjoyed by The Da Vinci Code the numbers weren’t nearly as stellar. Star Trek held out well in its second week, making only $3 million less than the number one flick. Here’s the top five: 1. Angels & Demons: $46.2 million 2. Star Trek: $43 million 3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine : $14.7 million 4. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: $6.6 million 5. Obsessed: $4.5 million Heading into the Memorial Day weekend we’ve got two comedies and one kick ass looking science fiction actioner. Terminator: Salvation (Opening on Thursday) What’s It All About: This fourth film in the Terminator series takes place in the year 2018 and John Connor ( Christian Bale ) is leading the assault against the machines that want to exterminate humanity. Why It Might Do Well: Bale’s presence gives the series a strength it hasn’t had since the departure of Linda Hamilton. Why It Might Not Do Well: It’s scoring a very disappointing 32% at Rottentomatoes.com . Number of Theaters: 3,500 Prediction: $78 million Night of the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian What’s It All About: Ben Stiller returns as the night watchman who keeps running into living museum exhibits. This time he’s sneaking into The Smithsonian to rescue two living museum pieces that have been shipped there accidentally. Why It Might Do Well: The first film made $250 million. Why It Might Not Do Well: 44% at Rottentomatoes.com doesn’t impress. Number of Theaters: 4,000 Prediction: $60 million Filed under: Action , Comedy , Sci-Fi & Fantasy , Box Office Predictions Continue reading Box Office: A Night of Dancing and Terminating Permalink | Email this | Comments