This summer, theaters will be graced with Battleship, a movie based on the classic board game. It’s unclear how well “you sank my battleship” will translate into a film about an alien invasion, but I’m willing to give it a shot. After all, this isn’t the first strange idea Hollywood has had over the years. We’ve seen strange movies come and go, and sometimes those odd premises pay off in ways we just didn’t expect. So before we write off Battleship as Hollywood running out of ideas (again) let’s look at some other movies that had people scratching their heads until they saw the finished copy.

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With the upcoming release of the indie film Hombre y tierra,  we’re going to see yet another entry into the found-footage genre.

Found-footage films are meant to give the audience a unique perspective, as this isn’t a story told from an omniscient filmmaker, but from the characters themselves. It’s meant to put us right there in the situation, making the film a more intimate, and often more intense, story. Of course, the fact that found-footage movies are often much cheaper to make is also part of the appeal to film-makers. However, low-budget doesn’t mean low quality, and the reason this genre doesn’t seem to be on the verge of stopping any time soon is because many of these films are incredibly well done and put their big-budget peers to shame.

Today I’m going to look at the five best found-footage movies. Continue Reading

The trouble with a lot of parody movies is that they’re very context specific. They spoof specific pop culture trends that most people won’ even remember six months later. The years are not kind to those parody movies, and watching them is like pulling up an old Tonight Show monologue from 15 years ago. You get that it’s supposed to be funny, but you have no idea why anyone’s laughing. (Unless it’s a Bill Clinton joke – those are timeless.)

The good news is that there are plenty of parody movies that transcend time, not needing an audience up to date on the latest pop culture. The best parodies are able to appeal to those who can appreciate the spoof of the source material, and to those who have no clue what’s being spoofed. If the movie is well-written and funny enough, it’s sometimes easy to forget that it’s a parody at all, which is the case for many of the movies listed below.

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There’s a lot of attention about the big comic book movies coming out this summer. We’ve got The Avengers, The Amazing Spiderman, and The Dark Knight Rises, all hoping to be the biggest summer blockbuster the world has ever seen. I admit, I’m very excited and plan to see all of them, and I suspect many of you are as well. However, if you think that big-budget blockbusters are the only place to get your superhero movie fix, you’re wrong.

Since 2007 DC has released a dozen fantastic animated movies that blow many live action productions out of the water. Part of the reason these are so good is that they are based on stories that would never be filmed, either due to budgetary concerns or fear that they wouldn’t have a wide enough box-office appeal. Even if they were green-lighted, odds are that they would have so much studio interference (see Green Lantern) that the result would be a watered-down version of what could have been great.

The animated movies have given DC more freedom to produce great stories, and they are only getting better. This year will see the release of an adaption of Justice League:Doom and a two part adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns. I’m awaiting those movies just as much as the summer blockbusters, and I’m far less worried that those movies will disappoint.

For the uninitiated, I’d live to present the top six DC Animated movies and why you need to see them. (After that you should check out the other six because, really, they’re all good.)

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In a weekend that was expected to be a bit of a downer due to the Super Bowl it was actually a very strong weekend at the box office. Chronicle topped the weekend with 22 million beating out Daniel Radcliffe in his first role post Harry Potter. Both movies performed strongly saving what is usually a dreadful weekend at the movies.
Next weekend should be continue the uptick with big releases in “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” “Safe House,”"The Vow,” and the 3D release of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” hitting on the same weekend.

1. “Chronicle,” $22 million.
2. “The Woman in Black,” $21 million.
3. “The Grey,” $9.5 million.
4. “Big Miracle,” $8.5 million.
5. “Underworld Awakening,” $5.6 million.
6. “One for the Money,” $5.3 million.
7. “Red Tails,” $5 million.
8. “The Descendants,” $4.6 million.
9. “Man on a Ledge,” $4.5 million.
10. “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” $3.9 million.

I know what you’re thinking. There are too many remakes already, don’t give Hollywood any more ideas. Normally, I agree, and I’d hate to see most of my beloved 80′s movies remade. (To be fair, they did a good job with Footloose.) Most of the time I’m ambivalent about remakes, but this is one case in which a remake is a good idea.

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Exactly thirty-six days remaining until the sequel’s release, thanks to a heads up from Collider, an all-new foreign poster promoting Sony’s Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance has been revealed via IMPAwards. Featuring the returning star Nicolas Cage in his ‘Johnny Blaze’ role overshadowing ‘Ghost Rider’ himself on the road, check it!

Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance picks up where it’s been several years since making a deal with the Devil and Johnny Blaze, living in self-imposed isolation, finds himself as the only person who can help save 10-year-old Danny – and ultimately the world – thanks to his unwanted and uncontrollable power – his ability to transform into the hell-on-wheels monster ‘Ghost Rider’. Starring Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Ciarán Hinds, Christopher Lambert & Violante Placido, the film releases in 3D February 17, 2012

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From Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes “John Carter”–a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). “John Carter” is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

I should have known. The instant I put out a list of 80′s movies this new generation needs to see, all I hear about are the movies I’ve criminally left off the list. On the plus side, the next column practically writes itself as I am flooded with suggestions.

I get the passion. The 80′s was a profound time for a lot of us. For me, at least, it represents my childhood, and there was no more magical moment than going to the theater, letting the lights grow dim, and seeing something amazing. Plus, it was filled with all kinds of words I’d never hear in my Saturday Morning Cartoons, so that was extra special.

Whether you were a child or a teenager, these movies had a profound impact on you growing up, and in the intervening decades they still stand the test of time. The life lessons, the zany adventures, and the romance will always be with us, and it’s that gift we can pass on to our children.

Here are eight more 80′s movies your children need to see:

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In one of the funniest box office results in years “The Devil Inside” had a huge opening weekend but still managed to piss off the entire film going public. Paramount managed to trick people into seeing their movie by cutting together a very interesting trailer but audiences were literally booing and throwing trash at the screen by the time the credits ran. There’s gonna be a huge drop off next week when word gets out that this is a gigantic smoldering turd and early word is that it may be out of theaters in three weeks. We can only hope.

1. The Devil Inside   $34.5 million New Release

2. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol   $20.5 million $170.2 million

3. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows   $14.1 million $157.4 million

4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo   $11.4 million $76.8 million

5. Alvin and the Chipmunks: ChipWrecked   $9.5 million $111.6 million

6. War Horse $8.6 million   $56.8 million

7. We Bought a Zoo   $8.5 million $56.4 million

8. The Adventures of Tintin    $6.6 million $61.9 million

9. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy   $5.8 million $10.4 million

10. New Year’s Eve   $3.3 million $52.0 million

It’s hard for us to believe that the 1980′s began over thirty years go. At least, it’s hard for me to accept that notion. Back then, a lot of us were kids, and these days, a lot of you have children. As parents, it is your job to make sure that your child has the best nourishment, and that includes both food and media consumption. You can’t let your children watch any old crap, which is why its important to pick and choose carefully.

That’s why I have eight recommendations, eight movies from the 80′s that helped define our childhoods and teen years, and if they were good enough for us, they are good enough for our kids.

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Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Hunger Games is scheduled to hit theaters March 23rd, 2012.

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“Jack the Giant Killer” tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittinglyopens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend–and gets the chance to become a legend himself.

Full cast includes Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy and Stanley Tucci. Jack the Giant Killer is set to hit theatres on June 15, 2012!

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Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter explores the secret life of our greatest President, and the untold story that shaped our nation. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted) bring a fresh and visceral voice to the blood-thirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history’s greatest hunter of the undead.

Starring Benjamin Walker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Dominic Cooper, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter hits theaters June 22nd, 2012.

It’s December, and that means the airwaves and cinemas are flooded with Christmas movies. In case you hadn’t noticed, most of those movies are just awful. There’s no way you’d watch them for free on television, and you can’t imagine anyone paying money to see them in a theater. Christmas movies are usually the laziest form of film-making, as it’s usually the same story every time: someone has a problem and the magic of Christmas makes it all better and everyone learns a life lesson.

The good news is that not all Christmas movies are terrible. There’s been a few good ones, and while It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street are indeed classics, I want to focus on the past three decades and look at more recent Christmas fare. These movies that are starting to become classics that will be beloved by future generations. Not only are they good movies, but they actually have that Christmas magic that all such films need.

If you’re in the mood for a Christmas movie and don’t want to get stuck watching  Fred Claus, here are ten great Christmas movies that will put you in a good, Christmas spirit.

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The first poster for Marc Webb‘s new ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ has been released.

The photo features new Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, climbing up a wall as he casts the shadow of a spider below.

It’s definitely a darker tone than any of Sam Raimi’s films in the franchise but we’re not quite sure what ‘untold story’ the poster is promising considering the film will be a reboot of one of the most popular superheroes’ origin story.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. have released a brand new poster for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ which features both Batman and Bane in one image.

It carries the tagline “The Legend Ends.”

How close are we from a society similar to the movie “Minority Report?” Technology today has allowed us to gather and analyze data to reduce crime and even predict when they will occur. Here is an infographic exhibiting the reality in the future of criminology.

Created by:

Criminology.com

Sexual tension is the bread and butter of many dramas and sitcoms. Week after week, the two characters trade barbs and tease the audience with “will they or won’t they” situations in which they come so close to getting together but never quite take the leap. The classic example of this show is Moonlighting, starring  Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. Much of the series’ appeal was the tension between the two leads, and the show was never more popular then when they were bickering.

However, Moonlighting is also cited as a show killed by the two leads answering the “will they?” question with a definitive “yes.” Whether that’s the true reason for the show’s decline in ratings and quality is up for debate,  but ever since, series decline after two leads get together is referred to as the “Moonlighting Effect.” This is why many shows are leery of letting their characters get together.

Fortunately, not all series suffer when the leads finally resolve the sexual tension, and some actually get better because of it. Today I’m going to talk about six such shows that escaped the Moonlighting Effect.

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I spent two columns railing against sequels that weren’t just bad, I try to pretend like they never happened. What really irritates me about bad sequels is that it’s entirely possible to craft a great sequel.A good sequel isn’t just more of the same and hoping it works like the first time. It’s being able to continue the story in a direction that’s credible, deeper, and worth investigating. The best universes take the world established in the original and give us something more, something new, and at their best, they give us a better movie than the original.

Today I’m going to talk about six of those sequels.

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Social job hunting has become a popular method for job seekers and employers, about 54% of all job seekers use either Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to search jobs. This infographic illustrates statistics on social job hunting and how social media is becoming an effective way to land a job.

Created by:

MBAOnline.com

It goes without saying, Google is a powerful tool. Many are not aware of the shortcuts and tricks that help define a Google search. This infographic lays out a few tips that enhances a search when you want to “Google it.”

Created by:

“Hack College” (http://www.hackcollege.com)

I don’t know about you, but I’m plenty excited to see the Muppets back on the big screen. It’ll be nice to reunite with our old friends Kermit, Fozzie, Rowlf, Gonzo, and Miss Piggy. However, when it comes to Muppet movies, it’s more than just the Muppets themselves. Jason Segel, Amy Adams, and Chris Cooper will join a long and proud history of actors who shared a screen with the Muppets.

Today, let’s take a look back at the best human performances in a Muppet movie, and come next week, we’ll see how Segel, Adams, and Cooper stack up against these classic performers.

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Some games are works of wonder and beauty, and playing them reaffirms our humanity. When life is hard and stressful, those games make us forget our worries and allow us to relax, giving us a rejuvenating boost that allows us to face another day.

These are not those games. These games make our urge to kill rise just a little bit each time until we prove critics right about video games causing violence by hunting down the level designer and throttling him. Instead, though, we have to stifle those murderous urges, especially since we’re more likely to take them out on our poor controller.

Today I’m chronicling eight games that made us want to destroy our controllers, from the old-school difficulty of the NES all the way to the modern era. The mere mention of these games, and certain levels within, will send gaming veterans into fits of PTSD. For every pleasant gaming memory, there is also one of these:

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