FRIDAY PREVIEW: AUG 19th

Last week heralded five new releases, however, none of them had the strength to knock off the previous top dog. Here are last weekends top grossing films:

First Place: Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($27.8 Million)
Second Place: The Help ($26 Million)
Third Place: Final Destination 5 ($18 Million)
Fouth Place: The Smurfs ($13.7 Million)
Fifth Place: 30 Minutes or Less ($13.3 Million)


Rise of the Planet of the Apes maintained it's lead, although it's profits went down by 50% by week two. None the less, the reboot has gained $101 Million after it's first two weeks in theaters. Three of the new releases claimed 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, being The Help, Final Destination 5, and 30 Minutes or Less respectively. The Smurfs continues to shock me, gaining almost another $14 Million, totaling $101 Million after it's three strong weeks.

The summer blockbuster season is very close to being over, considering six new movies are being released this weekend that haven't had much advertisement in the media. Hit the jump to see what Planet of the Apes is up against this weekend...


Conan the Barbarian

Directed by: Marcus Nispel
Written by: Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, Sean Hood (Screenplay), Robert E. Howard (Characters)
Length: 1 hr 52 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan, Stephen Lang
Trailer


Synopsis:
A gory look at the tale of Conan the Cimmerian and his adventures across the continent of Hyboria on a quest to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village. (IMDb)


My Opinion:

Want to see four good movies mixed into one bad movie? See Conan. Just from the trailer, I'm seeing bits and pieces of Lord of the Rings, Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia, 300, Sparticus: Blood and Sand,  King Arthur, and Gladiator, just to name a few. Jason Momoa, who you might remember from his first gig, Baywatch, leads the not-so-well-known cast in a film about a lost hero who no one had realized they'd lost. Although the music and action kept me interested during the trailer, I'm doubting it's have such luck during a two hour film.


Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Written by: Robert Rodriguez
Length: 1 hr 29 mins
Rated: PG
Cast: Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Jeremy Piven, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara
Trailer


Synopsis:
A retired spy is called back into action, and to bond with her new step-children, she invites them along for the adventure to stop the evil Timekeeper from taking over the world. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

Robert Rodriguez is at it again! I remember when the first Spy Kids film in the franchise came out, mainly because I wanted to be one of the kids in the movie (I was 12). Since then, the overwhelming cast has far from died down, since we've got Jessica Alba and Joel McHale in leading roles, as well as one of my favorite character actors, Jeremy Piven, along as some mystery character. Actually, I'm about 95% sure he's the bad guy. Like I said, character actor. Anyways, I'm betting that the latest installment in the Spy Kids franchise will be tons of fun (especially that whole 4D effect), even though I might have grown out of the appeal.


Fright Night

Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Written by: Marti Noxon (Screenplay), Tom Holland (Story)
Length: 1 hr 46 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Toni Collette, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Trailer


Synopsis:
A teenager suspects that his new neighbor is a vampire. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

One of the greatest (and my personal favorite) Alfred Hitchcock films, Rear Window, was updated in 2007, hoping to appeal to a younger audience as Disturbia. Now in 2011, we're getting an update to that update, adding the latest craze, Vampires. In fact, Fright Night is actually a remake of a 1985 film of the same name, but I can't get over the connections to Disturbia from the trailer. This film is brimming with talent, I've always liked Anton Yelchin (Star Trek), and a few days ago I had the pleasure of watching my favorite assassin film, In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell. And with the director of Lars and the Real Girl, I expect nothing but one fantastic film. However, after seeing the trailer, I just can't get over the unoriginality of the story, as well as the cheap suspense gimmicks that I've been desensitized to years ago. The film has a chance to be okay, but I just don't see it being anything more than your average bear.


One Day

Directed by: Lone Scherfig
Written by: David Nicholls
Length: 1 hr 48 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Patricia Clarkson
Trailer


Synopsis:
After spending the night together on the night of their college graduation Dexter and Em are shown each year on the same date to see where they are in their lives. They are sometimes together, sometimes not, on that day. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

I love the idea of the movie, seeing only a portion of one specific day a year of somebody's life, so you get a fractured view of how their life has changed year to year. However, I'm highly doubting this will pan out like I want it to, and will turn far too dramatic and romantic in the end. For creativity, and choosing Jim Sturgess as the lead male, I give this a green light. For the romantic subtext and choosing Anne Hathaway as the lead female, I give this a red light. Average the two: Yellow Light.


Griff the Invisible

Directed by: Leon Ford
Written by: Leon Ford
Length: 1 hr 30 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Maeve Dermody, Marshall Napier
Trailer


Synopsis:
Griff, office worker by day, superhero by night, has his world turned upside down when he meets Melody, a beautiful young scientist who shares his passion for the impossible. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

Meh. Another spin on the superhero genre. When it rains, it pours. Although probably set in Australia, I'm not buying the entire Spiderman scenario of "I love you, but can't love you because it's dangerous for you". Feature writer/director rookie Leon Ford just hasn't sold this one for me with the trailer. Pass.


Amigo

Directed by: John Sayles
Written by: John Sayles
Length: 2 hrs 8 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Joel Torre, Chris Cooper, Garret Dillahunt, DJ Qualls
Trailer


Synopsis:
A fictional account of events during the Philippine-American War. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

Once again, not excited by the trailer. An interesting historical piece for sure, showing the dual morality of the United States, but only will I see this one when it's on Netflix Instant on a rainy day. And seriously, that's all I have to say about this flick.



Conclusion:


Red Lights:
Conan the Barbarian
Griff the Invisible


Yellow Lights:
Fright Night
One Day
Amigo


Green Lights:
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D