Published on May 16, 2008 by admin
TRUE DUDES REVIEWS WEEKLY WHAT THE FUCK!!!
The weekly What the Fuck is a weekly column (obviously) that has to do with whatever is pissing us off this week in the world of movies.
WEEKLY WHAT THE FUCK #15
I recently read an article on one of my favorite sites CHUD, and I thought it was interesting and would fit in perfectly with our WWTF. While I don’t necessarily agree with it in terms of the violence in Prince Caspian (there’s not a single drop of blood), I do think the MPAA are definitley crooked motherfuckers. Enjoy and check out CHUD if you get the chance. THE MPAA BOWS DOWN TO DISNEY: Small movies get shit on, as do movies with explicit sexuality. So little has changed in the ensuing decades that it’s kind of extremely depressing. We still don’t have a working rating for adult films, which is insane.
I bring all of this up because, until three minutes ago, I assumed Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was a PG-13 movie. I didn’t even question it - the film is packed with violence, and not just violence visited on fairy animals but on real people. There are more kills in this film than most Friday the 13th movies, and while there’s barely a drop of blood in the film (just like Friday the 13th Part VII!), it’s generally the same kind of ‘epic’ violence that got The Lord of the Rings movies their deserved PG-13s.
But Prince Caspian is a PG film.
This, my friends, is bullshit. Eric D Snider at Cinematical is the guy who brought this to my attention with his Fan Rant HERE, and I think he’s right on the money with this: ‘I’d like to give the MPAA the benefit of the doubt, but I would bet money that this is the result of Disney “suggesting” to the ratings board that they’d really, really like the family-oriented PG rating. Disney is one of the six major studios that comprise the Motion Picture Association of America, and it’s absurd to think that the ratings board is immune from influence from those member studios, especially when things like this happen.’The member studios have the ability to waltz in and get one through the system because… well, they are the system. The MPAA is funded by the studios. It’s a tool of the studios, an in-house police force that exists to keep the government out of the movie business. Which I completely endorse, obviously, as does the First Amendment. But the problem is that the MPAA plays favorites again and again, and here is an obvious case. We’re going to see it again in July, when The Dark Knight, a film that is by all accounts extraordinarily hard edged, gets a PG-13 rating where it probably should get an R.Frankly, the whole thing is shameful, especially with a movie that contains religious messages. I have no problem with the level of violence in Prince Caspian, I am curious how the family audience will react to it, but I am deeply troubled by the continued way the unfair MPAA bows to the studios. This system is irreparably broken at this point, and the idea of having confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the ratings system is a joke. The only bright spot here is that this could be the summer of the next Temple of Doom, a summer when parental outrage at films that have been given patently ludicrous ratings forces the MPAA’s hand and some changes get made.
Published on May 14, 2008 by admin
USA Weekend Box-Office Summary
Week of 9 May 2008
Rank / Title / Weekend / Gross
1 Iron Man (2008) $51.2M $178M
2 What Happens in Vegas… (2008) $20.2M $20.2M
3 Speed Racer (2008) $18.6M $18.6M
4 Made of Honor (2008) $8.12M $26.8M
5 Baby Mama (2008) $6.23M $40.8M
6 Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) $3.84M $50.8M
7 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) $3.11M $30.7M
8 The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) $2.17M $48.5M
9 Nim’s Island (2008) $1.46M $44.4M
10 Prom Night (2008) $1.01M $42.8M
Speed Racer was robbed. Get out there and support this movie. It rocks!
Published on May 14, 2008 by admin
COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU ON MAY 16TH
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN
The Pevensie children return to Narnia one year after their first adventure in the magical land. Soon after entering the kingdom, however, they learn that 1,000 years has passed here, and all is not well since an evil king ascended to the throne. The children and allies both old and new band together to help restore the kingdom to its rightful heir, Prince Caspian.
Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley
“Will this Jesus fantasy sequel out gross its predecessor? Can the Holy Lion save the day again? Can the British Children’s God Squad defeat evil? Does anyone care? The first one was mostly decent and this just looks like more of the same.”
Published on May 14, 2008 by admin
WATCH THE TRAILERS FOR THESE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FLICKS!
Holy Shit True Dudes! This batch of trailers are totally fucked up.
I’m not kidding. This is the most NOT WORK SAFE trailer I have ever seen. From Frank Henenlotter, the director of Basket Case, Brain Damage, and Frankenhooker, comes what looks like his most fucked up film yet.
Bad Biology
Again, this is another NOT WORK SAFE trailer. If you are easily offended, DO NOT WATCH. This looks to be an outrageous Nazi/rape revenge/gore/explotation flick.
Blitzkrieg Escape From Stalag 69
Published on May 13, 2008 by admin
COMING SOON TO DVD FOR MAY 13th.
Frontier(s) (2007)
After escaping the violent aftermath of a political election. A gang of young thieves hide out in an Inn run by Neo-Nazis.
“With its NC-17 rating for extreme sadistic graphic violence and gore, this title certainly has my attention. It looks bloody as hell and has the high contrast, hand-held shaky camera look and feel. Recommended to fans who enjoy this modern day, “edge of you seat”, format of Horror/Gore.”
Writer/Director: Xavier Gens
Official Website: www.frontiersunrated.com
Published on May 10, 2008 by admin
A fateful event serves as the first chapter in a new story for top Jiu-Jitsu instructor Mike Terry. Though he has shied away from the professional side of the medium — opting instead to run his own struggling self-defense studio — circumstances conspire to force him to step into the ring for money for the first time.
TRUE DUDES REVIEW:
Billed as a martial arts competition film, Redbelt is more of a character driven conspiracy/con drama. Writer/director David Mamet has once again crafted a smart and challenging movie. Redbelt is a different kind of fight flick that should appeal to those with a taste for the offbeat.
Most of Mamet’s typical cast is present and turning out some top notch work. As usual his writing is the highlight. The interplay between the characters is fascinating and his dialouge is as sharp as ever. The acting is great and lead Chewetel Ejiofor plays his stoic martial arts instructor to perfection. The film’s only downfalls are the slow and precise pacing, which may turn off impatient viewers and the somewhat anti climactic ending. Otherwise the film was likable and unpredictable.
True Dudes gives Redbelt 3 out of 5 middle fingers.
Published on May 7, 2008 by admin
Speed Racer, a skilled young car driver who belongs to a family of gear heads, is blackmailed by the head of the nefarious corporation Royalton Industries to participate in The Crucible — the annual cross-country rally that claimed his brother’s life years ago. Behind the wheel of the Mach 5, his father’s greatest invention, Speed goes head-to-head with his chief rival, the mysterious-yet-familiar Racer X.
TRUE DUDES REVIEW:
Sometimes a movie comes along that reminds you why you love movies in the first place. It leaves you with a sense of awe and reignites your passion for film. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Speed Racer is that movie.
This film is truly a spectacle. A rebellion/coming of age story filled with excitement and unbelievably amazing special effects. Speed Racer is easily The Wachowski Brother’s best film. The way it’s filmed and edited is so original and intoxicating the viewer is almost overwhelmed by the stunning visuals on display. The acting is perfectly tongue in cheek and the dialogue is super cool. The plot, while intricate and involved, is easy to follow and always fast paced. Everything down to the set design and score perfectly compliment the story and direction. This movie is awesome! A definite must see and a mind blowing summer blockbuster.
True Dudes gives Speed Racer 5 out of 5 middle fingers. Hell, if I could give it more I would.
Published on May 7, 2008 by admin
USA Weekend Box-Office Summary
Week of 2 May 2008
Rank / Title / Weekend / Gross
1 Iron Man (2008) $101M $104M
2 Made of Honor (2008) $15.5M $15.5M
3 Baby Mama (2008) $10.3M $32.3M
4 Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) $6.13M $44.8M
5 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) $6.01M $25.3M
6 The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) $4.2M $45.1M
7 Nim’s Island (2008) $2.75M $42.5M
8 Prom Night (2008) $2.5M $41.4M
9 21 (2008) $2.1M $79.1M
10 88 Minutes (2007) $1.6M $15.4M
It looks like we’ll definitely be seeing an Iron Man 2. A 104 million opening weekend is impressive. I guess Made of Honor was effective counter programming. A 15 million opening against Iron Man is fairly strong for a movie that looks so fucking awful. And finally Forgetting Sarah Marshall held over well once again. Word of mouth must be great. At least it’s a film that deserves praise.
Published on May 7, 2008 by admin
No, this story is not about growth hormones. A couple of months ago we ran the trailer for the enjoyable and nostalgically fun looking Son of Rambow. Now if you had any doubts that this film should be awesome, Marion Cobretti is hear to put those to rest. The following is an interview with Stallone from the LA Times:
“When I first heard . . . I assumed it was going to be a very broad and stylized joke-a-minute comedy at Rambo’s expense,” Sylvester Stallone said by e-mail. But he took a look at “Son of Rambow,” the playfully rambunctious tale of two boys in 1980s small-town England, and liked what he saw.
“The fact that it was so heartwarming is the result of brilliant film making by its creators,” Stallone said.
What more do you need? As far as I’m concerned if Ray Tango said it, it’s gospel.
Re watch the trailer hear-
Son of Rambow
Published on May 5, 2008 by admin
COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU ON MAY 9TH:
SPEED RACER:
Speed Racer, a skilled young car driver who belongs to a family of gearheads, is blackmailed by the head of the nefarious corporation Royalton Industries to participate in The Crucible — the annual cross-country rally that claimed his brother’s life years ago. Behind the wheel of the Mach 5, his father’s greatest invention, Speed goes head-to-head with his chief rival, the mysterious-yet-familiar Racer X.
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox, Christina Ricci, and John Goodman
“From the makers of the Matrix trilogy comes a trippy family film based on an old cartoon. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. However, I think it looks intersesting and wacky enough to work. The insane visuals may at least hold my interest if the story doesn’t. While this may go down as the biggest flop of the summer, I’m looking forward to it.”
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS:
Joy and Jack meet while on a Las Vegas bender, where their drunken nuptials are only part of a larger problem: What to do when Jack wins $3 million with Joy’s quarter, and they are forced to spend six months as wife and husband if they are to see a penny of their winnings.
Starring: Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz
“Generic and mostly terrible looking. I can’t think of the last movie that I liked either one of these actors in.”