FRIDAY PREVIEW: JUL 22nd

Didn't I say Harry Potter would be the biggest release of the year? Maybe (probably). But do I think it will stand as the biggest release of the year through the next 5 months? Yes. Check out the stats for last weekends biggest cash-grabbers:

First Place: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II ($169 Million)

Second Place: Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($21.3 Million)

Third Place: Horrible Bosses ($17.8 Million)

Fourth Place: Zookeeper ($12.3 Million)

Fifth Place: Cars 2 ($8.4 Million)

With those numbers, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II has smashed every record held, including most money raked in on a Thursday evening (previously held by either Twilight: Eclipse or Twilight: New Moon, but it doesn't really matter) and also destroyed the most money made on a single weekend (previously held by 2008's The Dark Knight). As movie ticket prices get higher and higher, these records are constantly broken, especially considering the price of a 3D ticket raises revenues by a solid 30%. None the less, a movie making $169 Million in three days is impressive, even more so when you notice the 97% rating the film has on RottenTomatoes.com.

A few new movies are being released this weekend, including a predictable rom-com and yet another super-hero blockbuster. Hit the jump to read up on Harry Potter's new competition for the weekend of July 22nd...


Captain America: The First Avenger

Directed by: Joe Johnston
Written by: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (Screenplay), Joe Simon & Jack Kirby (Comics)
Length: 2 hrs 5 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson, Hayley Atwell, Stanley Tucci, Sebastian Stan
Trailer

Synopsis:

After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

This movie could really go either way in my opinion. Chris Evans has already played a Marvel superhero (Johnny Fire or whatever from The Fantastic Four), so it'll be interesting seeing him helm yet another hero role. Initially, I thought this movie looked bad. I mean, Green Lantern bad. However, as time has passed, I see it being a lot more fun than just stupid. I've never really followed Captain America comics in the past (I'm a DC man myself), but I'm interested to see him tied into the Avengers mix set a few years away. Captain America: The First Avenger, directed by Joe Johnston (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Jurassic Park III) looks like it could have a mix of stupid and awesome. Expect to see a review of this very soon, I'll be finding out myself if it's worth anyone else's time.


Friends With Benefits

Directed by: Will Gluck
Written by: Keith Merryman, David A. Newman & Will Gluck (Screenplay), Harley Peyton (Story)
Length: 1 hr 49 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone
Trailer

Synopsis:

While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan (Timberlake) and Jamie (Kunis) soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications.(IMDb)

My Opinion:

This movie came out six months ago, I joke you not. No Strings Attached, wait, I mean Friends with Benefits stars two (four) pop actors that are all awkwardly interlinked. The original (and when I say original, I  mean it came out six months earlier) starring Ashton Kutcher (That 70's Show) and Natalie Portman (Best Actress for Black Swan) has the exact same plot as Friends with Benefits, probably set in the same city. The remake (and when I say remake, I mean it came out six months later) starring Justin Timberlake (Bad Teacher) and Mila Kunis (Best Supporting Actress nominee for Black Swan, also That 70's Show) looks in no way different than the original, save some actors and other overused sex-jokes. Alright Hollywood, we get it. People like sex, people laugh at sex jokes, but this is just ridiculous. Expect nothing original, clever, or witty from Director Will Gluck, because simply put, he's done it again. The issue is that someone else did it the first time.


Another Earth

Directed by: Mike Cahill
Written by: Brit Marling, Mike Cahill
Length: 1 hr 32 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Brit Marling, William Mapother, Matthew-Lee Erlbach
Trailer

Synopsis:

On the night of the discovery of a duplicate planet in the solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

I don't have much to say about this one, other than I want to see it. I like the sci-fi idea of a parallel earth just popping up, with duplicates of everyone on the other planet. I'm just curious to see the feasibility of the whole thing (gravity would kinda change the tides a little bit more than we're used to). I'm also a little weary of the drama that'll unfold, having little to do with the other planet. I'm hoping the majority of the time will be spent questioning and visiting the other planet, but I have a feeling that won't be the case. None the less, I'm intrigued enough to see it.


Sarah's Key

Directed by: Gilles Paquet-Brenner
Written by: Gilles Paquet-Brenner & Serge Joncour (Screenplay), Tatiana De Rosnay (Novel)
Length: 1 hr 51 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Kristin Scott-Thomas, Niels Arestrup, Mélusine Mayance

Trailer

Synopsis:

In modern-day Paris, a journalist (Kristen Scott Thomas) finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

What looks like an interesting WWII-period piece will be lost in it's limited release. After watching the trailer for Sarah's Key (starring Kristin Scott-Thomas (Mission Impossible)), I do have a vague feeling that this movie wouldn't be a total biff. Although it isn't something I'd necessarily seek out or even rent, I could see myself pleasantly sitting through the film and not getting lost in boredom.


The Myth of the American Sleepover

Directed by: David Robert Mitchell
Written by: David Robert Mitchell
Length: 1 hr 33 mins
Rated: Unrated
Cast: Claire Sloma, Marlon Morton, Amanda Bauer
Trailer

Synopsis:

Four young people navigate the suburban wonderland of metro-Detroit looking for love and adventure on the last weekend of summer. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

Some of these movies try to hard to be artsy. Watch this trailer and try not thinking about another pop-cult hit, possibly named Juno. It's impossible, although that might have something to do with me mentioning Juno. But I digress. Elephants. I really don't want to not like a movie just because I think it looks like a lot of other movies (although Friends with Benefits crossed a line), so I think I'll give this one a chance. The Myth of the American Sleepover does look beautifully shot, even though directed by someone far too old to know how much a sleepover has changed since the inception of Facebook and the cell phone. This one could go either way, but with it's limited release, good luck finding somewhere to catch it. I bet you're still thinking about Elephants.


Life in a Day
(Released July 24th, 2011)

Directed by: Kevin Macdonald, Joseph Michael
Length: 1 hr 35 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: You.
Trailer

Synopsis:

A documentary shot by filmmakers all over the world that serves as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

This is another movie I think is worth checking out. I don't know if anyone remembers, but all of this footage was taken on July 24th, 2010, uploaded to YouTube, and then compiled to be put into a movie. Well, this is that movie that YouTube was talking about. I think it looks absolutely fantastic, you'll be able to see what people from all over the world were doing on one day, and how extraordinarily different everyone is. I'm kinda doubting there will be a plot of any kind, but director Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void) has shown me he has what it takes to make a good movie. I'm sure some of the most interesting, funny, sad, and amazing clips will be included, and considering there is an entire world to look at, it won't be full of boredom. Released exactly one year after it was filmed, this movie is sure to capture humanity in the modern era.


Conclusion: 


Red Lights-
Friends with Benefits- The reboot of 2011's No Strings Attached looks completely unoriginal, full of a cast of sellouts and unknowns. Nothing worth your time will come out of this two hours, you've seen and heard it all before, but this time the only difference is the eye candy.


Yellow Lights-
Captain America: The First Avenger- Sure to be action packed Avengers fun, I just don't know if I have enough faith in the director of Jurassic Park III to pull off one of the bigger blockbusters of the summer, and make it entertaining enough in the process.


Sarah's Key- An interesting period piece, I could see it entertaining me for a couple hours, but I'm in no rush to find a theater showing it.


The Myth of the American Sleepover- Another film I won't be caught dead searching for. An interesting, indie look at the American high school years, I just don't expect much originality, especially since I'll be lost in the art style that is overused in these cult-dramas.


Green Lights-
Another Earth- Although I am somewhat weary of the attempt to make a realistic(ish) sci-fi masterpiece, I am still very intrigued to see where this one is going. Since it's going to be a limited release, I'll have to add it to my Netflix queue.


Life in a Day- The time capsule of July 24th, 2010 preserved in video looks awesome, and will only get better with time. I think it'll show true human emotion, from happiness to loathing, and is sure to be interesting, despite it's possible lack of plot or direction.