From Iron Man to Wolverine, with a healthy helping of the Man of Steel in between, the summer of 2013 is certainly not short of big budget superhero movies — like most every summer of the past decade. But for those looking for something different, the next few months will offer variety, too — the sequel to “Star Trek,” the return of “The Lone Ranger,” the monsters versus robots action of “Pacific Rim” and more. There’s truly a film for everyone, so pass the popcorn and get ready for …

May 3

“Iron Man 3” — Robert Downey Jr. makes his fourth film appearance as billionaire superhero Tony Stark (five if you count his “The Incredible Hulk” cameo), this time not under director Jon Favreau but series newcomer Shane Black, writer of “Lethal Weapon.” With RDJ hinting that this may be his last solo mission in the armor, fan expectations and anticipation are high, but can this one live up to the sky-high grosses of “Marvel’s The Avengers”? (Related: ‘Iron Man 3’ taps into comic book beginnings)

May 10

“The Great Gatsby” — Baz Lurhmann’s multimillion dollar adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel was originally supposed to come out in December, but was pushed back to May to avoid “scheduling conflicts.” Usually it’s a bad sign when a film is delayed, but Warner Bros. seems to be showing confidence by scheduling this one for the summer — though even with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire it’ll have to work hard to avoid getting steamrolled by the “Iron Man” juggernaut.

May 17

“Star Trek Into Darkness” — Perhaps the summer’s most anticipated sequel sees director JJ Abrams return to pilot the Enterprise he rebooted, before warping off to tackle the “Star Wars” universe. With the addition of “Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain, this new “Trek” promises to be as action-packed and exciting as its predecessor — though some of us still wonder what happened to the more cerebral, less bang bang “Trek” we grew up with. (P.S. That title is still stupid.)

May 24

“Fast & Furious 6” — The gang’s all here. Again. The blockbuster success of “Fast Five” back in 2011 ensured another outing for Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and the rest of the cast of this car porn cornucopia, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, reprising his role introduced in the last movie. Also returning is Michelle Rodriguez, whose presumed-dead Letty turned up very much alive in “Five”’s post-credits cookie. (Uh, spoiler?)

“Epic” — The new film from Blue Sky Studios, who brought the world “Ice Age” and “Robots,” this animated adventure is based on William Joyce’s young adult novel “The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs” — which is easily a way better title than “Epic.” The usual cast of oddly matched celebrities (Amanda Seyfried, Beyoncé, Christoph Waltz, Steven Tyler) lend their voices. As the summer’s first family film, this is probably well-positioned to rake in the kiddie audience until “Monsters University” drops in June.

“The Hangover Part III” — Yeah, pretty much everyone in the world was disappointed by II. Is there any reason to hope III will be any better? Maybe — this time they’ve junked the “Oh, no, we got drugged again” motif and made it a road trip where hapless pal Doug gets kidnapped. And everyone says this is the final film in the series, so hopefully director Todd Phillips is inspired to send the franchise out on a high note.

May 31

“After Earth” — The world’s ending a lot these days. In this one, generations after abandoning the planet, a father and son (Will Smith and his “Karate Kid” son Jaden) crash land on Earth after 1,000 years of humanity’s absence. Director M. Night Shyamalan could use a hit, but coming out in the middle of a crowded summer — with bigger movies opening all around it — chances are “After Earth” will get lost in the shuffle.

“Now You See Me” — A group of magicians led by Jesse Eisenberg commits dazzling heists in front of a full audience, and an FBI agent played by Mark Ruffalo is determined to stop them. With a supporting cast including Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Woody Harrelson, the marketing seems to be aiming for an “Ocean’s Eleven” vibe, minus that film’s dominating star power and Vegas locale.

June 7

“The Purge” — Here’s a horror concept for you — in a future where overpopulation runs rampant, the government has sanctioned a yearly 12-hour period where all crime, including murder, is legal. A family led by Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey try to survive the night. It’s an intriguing (if depressingly nihilistic) idea for a movie, though writer/director James DeMonaco’s resume — “Jack,” “Skinwalkers” — doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

“The Internship” — Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson team up again to play a pair of downsized salesmen who, desperate to get a foot in the door, accept an unpaid internship at Google. Given the state of the economy and how many face such issues, a canny script would seem to have a strong chance of resonating with a large audience. Too bad that, judging by the trailer, the film aims instead for the lowest common denominator in its humor. Still, Vaughn and Wilson have spun gold out of straw before.

June 12

“This is the End” — Let’s get meta: A group of R-rated comedy actors team up for an R-rated comedy where they play themselves as the world is ending around them. Yep, another apocalypse. Based on a short film made by Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen, the full version includes them, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera, Emma Watson and many, many more. Star-studded and potentially hilarious, but then, so was “Movie 43.”

June 14

“Man of Steel” — It has been a mere seven years since the last attempt to reboot Superman, must be time to try again. This time, though, comes with the input of a few new creative minds — director Zach Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”) and producer Christopher Nolan (the “Dark Knight” trilogy). The most recent trailer certainly looks a little darker than Superman films past, but also captures the majesty and hope that the character represents. Have Nolan and Snyder found the balance that will make the Man of Steel soar again?

June 21

“World War Z” — An adaptation of Max Brooks’ gripping zombie apocalypse novel, this Brad Pitt-produced-and-starring film has had its fair share of troubles in production, including multiple rewrites and last-minute reshoots leading to it being pushed back six months. Fans of the book have also noted how the novel’s journalistic approach has seemingly been shelved for what seems like a “War of the Worlds” retread. Good news: Director Marc Forster has much experience with excellent human drama (“Monster’s Ball,” “Finding Neverland”). Bad news: He also directed “Quantum of Solace,” pretty universally considered the weakest of Daniel Craig’s Bond run.

“Monsters University” — Pixar once again dips its toe into the franchise well, revisiting 2001’s classic “Monsters, Inc.” characters when they first met while attending college. John Goodman and Billy Crystal both return, and the younger setting seems to give the enterprise a fresher feel than a straight sequel would have. The last time Pixar revamped things for a follow-up, it gave the world “Cars 2” — but either way, expect “MU” to make a mint at the box office.

June 28

“White House Down” — No, you’re not having déjà vu, terrorists are taking over the White House again. This time, director Roland Emmerich (maker of subtle dramas like “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow”) oversees the action, with Channing Tatum as the heroic soldier and Jamie Foxx as the endangered president. The success of “Olympus Has Fallen” shows that this concept can be successful — but twice in the same calendar year?

“The Heat” — Sandra Bullock and red hot comedian Melissa McCarthy team up as a pair of investigators looking to take down a Russian mobster. This is only Bullock’s second big film after her Oscar win for “The Blind Side,” and it seems to be a retreat to familiar territory (see “Miss Congeniality” 1 and 2), while McCarthy’s star power is so hot she made the mediocre-at-best “Identity Theft” into a smash.

July 3

“Despicable Me 2” — The minions are back! This animated sequel sees Gru (again voiced by Steve Carell) recruited by the Anti-Villain League to fight a big baddie voiced by Al Pacino. The original film proved a surprisingly big box office hit, and Universal is showing a lot of confidence putting the sequel on Fourth of July weekend. “Monsters” will likely be the summer’s biggest family film, but “Despicable” may not be far behind.

“The Lone Ranger” — Disney is hoping to recapture that “Pirates of the Caribbean” magic by reuniting director Gore Verbinski with Johnny Depp, who plays Tonto to Armie Hammer’s masked avenger. There has been plenty of controversy surrounding whether having Depp portray the Native American Tonto is racist — a fair question. The trailer features enough slam-bang action and over-the-top set pieces to appeal to the masses, but whether it will hit as big as “Pirates” is still open for debate.

July 12

“Grown Ups 2” — Time for a sequel to the 2010 comedy hit. Um, yay. This one has almost all the original cast back (Rob Schneider bowed out), and focuses on the kids’ last day of school. Oddly, this is Adam Sandler’s first sequel in more than 20 years of stardom, and of all the franchises to revisit, the cry to reprise “Grown Ups” seems like it should have been rather faint. Still, Sandler has a tendency to draw fans no matter what, especially with Kevin James and Chris Rock as backup again.

“Pacific Rim” — Giant monsters fighting giant robots. Seriously, what more do you need to know? Now, this one is from Guillermo del Toro, the amazing director of “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the “Hellboy” franchise, and the incredible special effects are a far cry from your papa’s “Godzilla” films. Can del Toro elevate epic clashes of huge beasts into something relatable on a human level? Then again, does he even have to? It’s robots fighting monsters, for pete’s sake!

July 17

“Turbo” — The summer’s animated fare from DreamWorks sees a garden snail voiced by Ryan Reynolds who dreams of becoming the fastest snail in the world. This one has already been franchised out, with an animated series based upon the movie ready to debut on Netflix this winter. But in a crowded summer for kids flicks, will “Turbo” be left in the dust?

July 19

“R.I.P.D.” — Speaking of Ryan Reynolds, here he is again as a cop who gets gunned down and is resurrected to join a team of undead detectives, including Jeff Bridges. (Get it? “Rest In Peace Department”?) The poster, the teaming up of a young star with a veteran, the sci-fi/action/comedy concept — it all feels like a “Men in Black” offshoot, and just like MIB, this one’s based on a comic book. But action fans probably have bigger fish to fry this weekend.

“RED 2” — Yep, time for the sequel, and most everybody is back, with a few new additions including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins. The director this time is Dean Parisot, whose limited filmography (“Galaxy Quest,” “Fun with Dick and Jane”) doesn’t give much indication of how he’ll handle the action of this one, but with how much fans adored the original, this sequel probably has little to worry about.

July 26

“The Wolverine” — Hugh Jackman returns for his fifth portrayal of Marvel’s most lovable badass (sixth if you count his “First Class” cameo), this time traveling to Japan and suffering from the loss of his lauded healing powers. The last go round, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” wasn’t exactly well-received among the fandom, so the creators are taking great pains to make this feel like a totally different film — and if the action’s up to par, it might send the summer out on a high note.

July 31

“The Smurfs 2” — Sigh. You know what’s really sad? This is going to be Jonathan Winters’ final film. The second of an apparent trilogy(!) sees Smurfette (again Katy Perry) being courted by evil Smurf clones created by Gargamel. I can’t believe I actually just wrote that sentence.

August

As the summer season starts to fizzle out, here are a few more titles: The kinda-sequel “300: Rise of an Empire,” “2 Guns” with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, the futuristic action film “Elysium” with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, the fantasy follow-up “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” the “Cars” spinoff “Planes” (though it isn’t being made by Pixar) and superhero sequel “Kick-Ass 2.”

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Tags: Adam Sandler, cinema, Despicable Me, Disney, Great Gatsby, Grown Ups, Hugh Jackman, Iron Man, iron man 3, Jeff McGinnis, Johnny Depp, Man of Steel, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, movie, Movies, Pacific Rim, Paramount, Pixar, preview, Robert Downey Jr., Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, summer, summer movies, Superman, The Hangover, The Lone Ranger, Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Wolverine, World War Z

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 at 2:49 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Featured, Film, Jeff McGinnis, Star.
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“Iron Man 3” may turn out to be the last hurrah with Robert Downey Jr. in the role — beyond more Avengers films — but if that’s to be, the actor assured his place in cinematic superhero history. Iron Man will join a small, elite group of costumed crusaders who’ve enjoyed a hugely popular series of films, due not only to their charismatic stars but also to their adherence to their comic book foundations. In fact, “Iron Man 3” offers viewers two major components from the character’s rich comic book chronicles.

Finally, here in the third film, Iron Man’s greatest foe takes the stage. The Mandarin first appeared in 1964’s Tales of Suspense No. 50, a Chinese “super-menace” who went on to bedevil Tony Stark time and time again over five decades. The character began as a throwback to the “Yellow Peril” villains of the pulp era, but with the added Red Scare paranoia of the early 1960s. Since then, the Mandarin’s been fleshed out to be a living, breathing opponent for the Armored Avenger, now doubly so through actor Ben Kingsley. Iron Man’s fans have waited for the mastermind’s appearance in the films catching since the barest hint of him in the first installment, and it looks like they’ve gotten their wish — in spades.

Another factor of “Iron Man 3” stems from a more recent development in the comics, although a major one nonetheless. Tony Stark’s mental manipulation of his armor in the film has it origins in comic book writer Warren Ellis’ groundbreaking 2005 Extremis storyline. In it, our hero was injected with a serum that allowed him to contain his armor’s “undersheath” in the hollows in his bones and to call the outer protective pieces to assemble around him by sheer force of will. “Extremis” became a popular and permanent part of the Iron Man mythos, one that obviously suited “Iron Man 3’s” screenwriters.

By utilizing these comic book building blocks, the Iron Man films and their Marvel brethren have created a rare synergy between the source material and the mass-market movie medium. Little wonder then why they’ve been so successful — and why it appears that “Iron Man 3” will be equally so.

Read more: Summer Movies Preview 2013

Tags: cinema, Comics, Comics Rack, Film, Iron Man, iron man 3, Jim Beard, Movies, Robert Downey Jr., summer movies

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 at 11:56 am and is filed under Comics, Film, Star.
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The summer movie season has started early and “Oblivion” knocks it out of the park.

This sci-fi thriller starring Tom Cruise is 126 minutes of heart-pounding, plot-twisting fun. Seeing it on an IMAX screen makes the experience even better.

Joseph Kosinski, director of “TRON: Legacy,” adapts his own unpublished graphic novel into a screenplay — with help from Oscar-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt and a few others — and directs this sci-fi set on post-apocalyptic Earth.

It’s 2077 and Jack Harper (Cruise) is part of the mop-up crew in charge of securing an evacuated Earth. An alien threat invaded and the battle for Earth raged on for decades.

“We won the war, but lost the planet,” he says during his opening narration.

Now, survivors have fled. Soon, Harper and his partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) will join the others once their mission is complete. All remaining resources are being taken from Earth and it’s the pair’s job to protect the machines doing the work. Some of the aliens, called Scavs or Scavengers, remain in hiding and are working to disrupt the operation.

As audiences watch “Oblivion,” elements from other great sci-fi movies are apparent. And this is not a bad thing. Think “The Matrix,” “Independence Day” and “Wall-E” all rolled into one. Others come to mind immediately, but this reviewer will omit them as to not spoil the plot. These borrowed elements infuse a solid plot, making this movie enjoyable all around.

The pulsating score is reminiscent of “TRON: Legacy” and features bombastic beats similar to Hans Zimmer’s score for “Inception.”

This great score only adds to the fantastic production design of the movie. Every detail has been thought out, from the costumes, the set and stunning visuals similar to last summer’s “Prometheus,” an equally impressive sci-fi feature.

“Oblivion” was filmed in digital 4K resolution — the highest projection quality available, four times the standard projector’s pixels — and on location across the United States and Iceland. The cinematography by Claudio Miranda, who recently won an Oscar for his work on “Life of Pi,” complements the visuals very well. Even though Earth is uninhabitable, it looks like a beautiful place to live.

The acting is also spot on. Cruise slips into his normal action shtick. Morgan Freeman and Melissa Leo deliver some memorable lines. Look for great performances from Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko.

“Oblivion” was originally scheduled for a July 10 berth. Luckily, audiences don’t have to wait that long and benefit from a great sci-fi summer blockbuster a little early.

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays. Also, listen to James discuss movies on “Eye on Your Weekend” on 1370 WSPD every Friday at 6 p.m.

Tags: Earth, Film, James A. Molnar, Movies, oblivion, sci-fi, summer movies, The Gold Knight, Tom Cruise, universal pictures

This entry was posted on Friday, April 19th, 2013 at 12:01 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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Riding through the streets of Manhattan on a bike is dangerous.

Just ask Wilee, who is a bike messenger who’s had his collarbone broken twice. (He’s also taken the brakes off his bike for his safety.)

Luckily for audiences, they can live vicariously through these daredevils.

“Premium Rush” features the antics of these extreme bikers and follows Wilee, played well by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The timeline for the 90-minute film is pretty much in real time. Wilee has to deliver an envelope across town and he only has 90 minutes from the time he picks up the important package to when it need to be delivered.

This package is critical — financially and otherwise — to the sender and Wilee finds this out quickly because one crooked NYPD detective Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) is trying to intercept this delivery.

And here come the chase scenes. About 95 percent of this movie features extreme riding with bikers dashing between cars, riding on sidewalks and avoiding pedestrians.

The graphics and visual effects are used to the perfect complement to the action. Audiences are shown a map of Manhattan and the routes bikers will take from points A to B.

They are also shown how Wilee thinks through sticky situations when on his bike.

These bikers are nuts and by the end of the movie audiences are rooting for all of them.

While the story may not be the most compelling, the action and cinematography are top notch and make “Premium Run” worth seeing on the big screen.

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated PG-13 for some violence, intense action sequences and language.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays.

Tags: biking, Film, James A. Molnar, joseph gordon-levitt, michael shannon, Movies, premium rush, summer movies, The Gold Knight

This entry was posted on Friday, August 24th, 2012 at 7:30 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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“What I’m trying to explain, is in our lives there’ll come a day, when we’ll find those feelings lost in the dark.”

These lyrics by Sam & Ruby waft in the background during the opening scenes of “Hope Springs,” out in theaters nationwide Aug. 8, and perfectly sum up the present situation of Kay and Arnold.

The couple, married 31 years, seem to have lost the magic in their relationship. They go about their days following the same old routine and sleep in separate rooms.

Kay (Meryl Streep), in an attempt to add a spark to her marriage with Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones), suggests intensive couples counseling with a doctor in Great Hope Springs, Maine, that she’s been reading up on.

It’s more like an ultimatum: Go with me or else. The catch is Dr. Feld (Steve Carell) is far away and expensive.

Like all husbands who know better, Arnold begrudgingly agrees to go.

The therapy sessions with Feld and the couple are, at times, hilarious. The comic timing and dialogue are perfect. The movie feels almost like a play, focusing on the script and characters instead of action or scenery.

Arnold is initially not happy to be “trapped here like Alcatraz” with no way out, he complains to Kay. The weeklong vacation in Maine features many ups and downs.

In what has seemed thus far an August devoid of good movies at the box office, “Hope Springs” does what its title suggests. There is hope for quality, big studio movies at theaters.

Granted, the demographic skews a bit older for this movie, but anyone who has been in a relationship will enjoy it. Watching the intimate moments between Streep and Jones is touching, not awkward.

The chemistry exhibited on screen between them is remarkable. What could have been an unexciting movie is transformed into something else thanks to that chemistry. Jones gives audiences a performance they haven’t seen before: he’s vulnerable and great at it. Carell also adds to the mix and is surprisingly good at playing doctor.

Audiences will laugh and cry.

“I’m in over my head, got you under my skin,” the lyrics by Sam & Ruby continue. “Ain’t love somethin’.”

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content involving sexuality.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays.

Tags: Film, hope springs, James A. Molnar, meryl streep, Movies, steve carell, summer movies, The Gold Knight, Tommy Lee Jones

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 at 12:25 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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What if human memory could be replaced by something else, a new history downloaded to the brain?

This is the futuristic setting of “Total Recall,” a remake of the 1990 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The original was based on a 1966 short story, “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.”

In this new update, Earth is a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by chemical warfare. There are only two livable areas left: the United Federation of Britain (in present-day Great Britain) and the Colony (in Australia). Looks like the Americas were done in and are uninhabitable. Both of the remaining areas are connected via a transportation tunnel through the Earth’s core. The poor and outcast live in the Colony.

Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) lives in the Colony and commutes to the Federation for a factory job assembled military robots. He is discontented with his life and feels something is awry.

And to fix his discontent is Rekall, a company specializing in artificial memory implants.

“What is life but a chemical reaction,” states the memory wizard at the company.

Before Doug receives his new memories — he chooses those of a spy — something goes wrong.

Turns out Doug has been living a lie. What exactly happened in his past? And who exactly is he? These questions lead him on a police-chasing, gun-shooting adventure.

This new remake benefits from better visual effects and technology. The visuals work and the art direction is very eye-catching.

The story itself, however, has some promise but fails to ever push beyond its surface, particularly with its characters. Never mind the fact that traveling through the Earth’s core would be one heck of feat, but curing the air on the planet is impossible.

Over all, the new “Total Recall” is flashier and passes as a form of entertainment. Since moviegoers have already seen some fantastic blockbusters this summer, it’s easy to say this new release will be forgotten.

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, some sexual content, brief nudity, and language.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays.

Tags: blockbusters, Colin Farrell, Film, James A. Molnar, Movies, review, summer movies, The Gold Knight, total recall

This entry was posted on Friday, August 3rd, 2012 at 7:09 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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Aliens are about to invade the fictional town of Glenview, Ohio.

The only thing standing in their way is the Neighborhood Watch led by Evan (Ben Stiller). This group of misfits is not quite equipped to handle such a task.

“The Watch” opens with a narration by Stiller’s character, asking, “What’s out there … beyond the great beyond?” From space, the camera zooms onto Ohio, where he walks the audience through his life and various clubs he runs.

“Here, dreams really do come true,” the Cosco manager opines. (While set in Ohio, the film was actually filmed in Atlanta.)

There is an incident in his store and, fearing for the safety of his neighborhood, he forms a Watch to keep a lookout for the area. At the first meeting, three other guys show up — a trio of misfits.

Bob (Vince Vaughn) is a father of a teenager and his wife has recently been on the road, away from home. He’s ready for some guy time, not necessarily on Watch duty.

Franklin (Jonah Hill) is a wannabe cop who couldn’t pass the written or physical tests to join the police force. He is intense in his mannerisms and is the male embodiment of Melissa McCarthy’s character in “Bridesmaids.”

The third member to join Evan’s team is Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade). He’s looking for other guy friends and wouldn’t mind fraternizing with neighborhood ladies.

This group is the only chance the Earth has to survive. Once they stumble upon their first alien, what they do with it is documented in one of the trailers distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Unfortunately, quite a bit of the film’s great moments can be seen in these trailers, especially the funny segments. And some of the jokes left out of the trailers fall flat. The 98-minute film’s R rating also seems wasted.

At times, “The Watch” struggles to figure out if it wants to be a comedy, drama, thriller or action-adventure movie. “Marvel’s The Avengers” earlier this summer was better able to traverse these genres seamlessly.

The movie is, however, well made, technically. It’s pretty to watch on the big screen and the animation of the aliens and special effects is immaculate.

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated R for some strong sexual content including references, pervasive language and violent images.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays.

Tags: 20th Century Fox, aliens, Ben Stiller, Comedy, Film, James A. Molnar, Jonah Hill, Movies, neighborhood watch, review, Richard Ayoade, summer movies, The Gold Knight, the watch, Vince Vaughn

This entry was posted on Friday, July 27th, 2012 at 7:55 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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Avengers and Spider-Man, move over. It’s time to let the big boys play.

The latest superhero blockbuster of the summer aims to be different and succeeds in every way. “The Dark Knight Rises,” out nationwide July 20, is the darkest superhero film of the summer — maybe ever. Director and co-writer Christopher Nolan has a vision for Batman and it’s not pretty.

His creative freedom — a seeming carte blanche from Warner Bros. — pays off. He takes the movie and character to places about which audiences only have nightmares.

“The Dark Knight Rises,” the final installment of Nolan’s trilogy, picks up the story eight years later from where its predecessor left off.

Batman battled the Joker in an Oscar-winning performance by the late Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight.” The Caped Crusader has exiled himself and hung up his Bat suit. But Gotham cannot live without its hero.

And here is where the new villain comes in: a poetic self-proclaimed “necessary evil” Bane. With a scratchy voice and a freaky facemask, he seems to be a cross between Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter. Suffice it to say, you don’t want to cross this guy. That’s Batman’s job apparently.

Alfred the butler, played again by Michael Caine, warns Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) that there is “nothing here but pain and tragedy.” Alfred urges Wayne to stay in retirement and move on. He’s afraid his boss is just going to get killed. But Wayne needs Batman and so does Gotham.

Not only does Nolan achieve a luscious storyline, his creative team creates a movie decadent in visual and auditory prowess. Cinematographer Wally Pfister, Oscar winner for Nolan’s most recent film “Inception,” captures a story for “Rises” that’s beautifully dark.

Composer Hans Zimmer again strikes the perfect notes for every scene. Nolan also knows when to cut out the music and let the action play — to chilling effect. The art direction also stands out.

“Rises” may also be the movie to give audiences the most bang for their buck this summer. With a run time of 2 hours and 44 minutes and no 3-D, the movie-going experience is well worth the $10. It may even be worth the drive to an IMAX screen. (It was well worth the drive for this reviewer to a screening in Cleveland.)

Marvel’s the “Avengers” and “The Amazing Spider-Man” are lucky they were released before “The Dark Knight Rises.” Each have unique qualities and are wonderful movies. The first surprised many and has become a box office juggernaut, setting the bar impossibly high and earning nearly 25 percent of the entire summer domestic box office. The second was a surprising reboot that kicked up the emotions and had stellar animation.

But what is surprising about “Rises” is that the bar was set extremely high for Nolan after his previous film. Did anyone expect a film on par and equal to “The Dark Knight”? That’s the difference, it seems, from the other summer superhero movies. For this one, audiences expected a lot. And Nolan delivers.

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him on “WNWO Today” on Fridays around 5:50 a.m.

Tags: Batman, blockbusters, Christopher Nolan, Dark Knight, dark knight rises, Film, James A. Molnar, Movies, review, STAR at the movies, summer movies, The Gold Knight, Warner Bros.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 at 10:53 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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The Paleolithic mammals are back and so is that cute little saber-toothed squirrel Scrat.

It’s the fourth movie of the “Ice Age” franchise, it’s formulaic and exactly what you’ve come to expect from the series. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s entertaining. The writers didn’t need to reinvent the successful box office formula here.

The cast of misfits was last seen saving Sid the sloth (voiced by John Leguizamo) from dinosaurs in “Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” For “Continental Drift,” the land is shifting and splitting apart. Because of this, mammoth Manny (Ray Romano) is separated from his wife Ellie (Queen Latifah) and their 19-year-old daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer).

Manny is adrift with Diego the sabre-toothed cat (Denis Leary), Sid and Sid’s hilarious grandma Granny — voiced perfectly by Wanda Sykes. And the adventure picks up from there.

Calling this fourth iteration “safe” is accurate. Ten years after the first “Ice Age,” it’s funny at times and kids — and some of their parents — will enjoy this 94-minute animated 3-D film.

The level of animation and creativity from 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios still seems to be subpar with DreamWorks Animation and the juggernaut that is Disney/Pixar. BUT there is still some really nice work exhibited in the “Ice Age” series.

The animated short before the movie, “The Longest Daycare,” follows baby Maggie from “The Simpsons” on a day at a daycare facility. It is short and sweet and carries Pixar charm.

At the end of “Continental Drift,” there is a music video with one of the movie’s theme songs, “We Are.” It perfectly sums up the movie. “We are, we are, not your ordinary family … we’re so lucky indeed … we are family.” It describes a bunch of misfits that together form a family.

The “Ice Age” series has this family message at its core. And that’s where it really succeeds.

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated PG for mild rude humor and action/peril.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays.

Tags: 20th Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky, Continental Drift, Denis Leary, Family, Film, Ice Age, James A. Molnar, John Leguizamo, Keke Palmer, Movies, Queen Latifah, Ray Romano, review, Scrat, summer movies, The Gold Knight, Wanda Sykes

This entry was posted on Friday, July 13th, 2012 at 3:26 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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The formula is the same: teenage boy gets bitten by a radioactive spider and his already complicated life gets even more complex. Yet the way in which the writers and director go about “The Amazing Spider-Man” is remarkable.

It’s as if they lived in a world where a Spider-Man movie didn’t already exist, a world where Tobey Maguire was just a racehorse jockey.

This new adaptation takes audiences away from the 2002 film version and erases their memory. Tobey who?

From the start of the 136-minute film, viewers are in for a better experience: no extensive credits. The pacing is impeccable. The story is given room to grow and breathe.

The introduction of the cast of characters is slow and deliberate. Peter Parker is a young boy playing hide-and-go-seek with his father and discovers someone has broken into his office. His parents leave and whisk him away to his aunt and uncle’s house.

The relationship between the boy and his new parents is more developed and the chemistry between them — played to perfection by Sally Field and Martin Sheen — is heartwarming.

The story that unfolds is familiar, the major plot points from the first adaptation still there.  A few things are missing. This Peter Parker seems to light up the screen more. Andrew Garfield is the real star here. He shines as the masked vigilante in the Spidey suit.  Gone is Mary Jane. Emma Stone plays the new high school crush role of Gwen Stacy, daughter of New York police captain George Stacy (Denis Leary). And no Green Goblin here; Rhys Ifans plays Dr. Curt Connors, who turns into The Lizard.

The visuals for said Lizard, along with the 3-D, is very impressive. The Lizard looks frightful on screen. Spider-Man also flies around with a pragmatic realism — it’s not always a smooth ride. Webs don’t appear out of nowhere from his wrists, but from well-engineered bracelet devices. And all the action occurs with delightful scoring by James Horner.

This was late-movie producer Laura Ziskin’s last film. She would have been proud. Director Marc Webb, known for “(500) Days of Summer,” puts the emotion into the movie and the characters.

Comparing this “amazing” film to the 2002 adaptation, it is inevitable and ultimately refreshing. The 2012 iteration is surprisingly good. Ten years later, audiences are treated to an even better film, breaking the general reality that remakes can never quite live up to their predecessors.

Be sure to stay during the credits for a bonus scene. And note: this movie is not appropriate for young children.

/ 5

Official trailer:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.

Read more: STAR @ the movies

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer and Film Editor James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com. Watch him discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays.

Tags: Amazing Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Film, James A. Molnar, Martin Sheen, Movies, Sally Field, Sony Pictures, Spider-Man, summer movies, The Gold Knight, Tobey Maguire

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 28th, 2012 at 8:35 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Comics, Featured, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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