FRIDAY PREVIEW: APR 27th, 2012

Three of last weeks new movies took some of the top spots for the weekend. Here are the results:

First Place: Think Like A Man ($33.6 Million)
Second Place: The Lucky One ($22.5 Million)
Third Place: The Hunger Games ($14.7 Million)
Fourth Place: Chimpanzee ($10.7 Million)
Fifth Place: The Three Stooges ($9.8 Million)

Think Like a Man somehow took the top spot, despite it's terrible reviews and absolute crap plot. No surprises along the rest of the board, The Lucky One drew in some girls, as did The Hunger Games. Chimpanzee had the parents with their kids, and The Three Stooges had everyone who's time is not valuable.

Hit the jump to check out this weeks 7 new releases here on The Double Reel!


The Five-Year Engagement

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
Written by: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller
Length: 2 hrs 4 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie
Trailer

Synopsis:
Charting the ups and downs of an engaged couple's relationship. (IMDb)


My Opinion:

Alright, after watching the trailer a few seconds ago, I'll give it a green light. Although the rom-com genre isn't exactly what I seek out, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt seem like a solid duo. The trailer warranted a few chuckles from me, which rarely happens. From the writers of The Muppets, and the director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to The Greek comes something worth checking out. On a date, of course.



The Raven

Directed by: James McTeigue
Written by: Ben Livingston, Hannah Shakespeare
Length: 1 hr 51 mins
Rated: R
Cast: John Cusack, Alice Eve, Luke Evans, Brendan Gleeson
Trailer

Synopsis:
When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's works, a young Baltimore detective joins forces with Poe to stop him from making his stories a reality.(IMDb)

My Opinion:

Your time is valuable. Don't let John Cusack trick you into thinking it isn't. The Raven is just not going to work. Sure, it'll have thrills, but expect nothing more. No acting, no decent dialogue, no character. Just pass.





The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Directed by: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt
Written by: Gideon Defoe
Length: 1 hr 28 mins
Rated: PG
Cast: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Brendan Gleeson, Al Roker
Trailer

Synopsis:
Pirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the year Award. The quest takes Captain and his crew from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.(IMDb)

My Opinion:

Now we're talking! I've always been a fan of the Wallace & Gromit films, and now we've got a clay-mation of a different genre. The trailer presents this film as being absolutely hilarious, and with such a star-studded cast (as animated movies usually have), I don't see where The Pirates! Band of Misfits could go wrong.



Safe

Directed by: Boaz Yakin
Written by: Boaz Yakin
Length: 1 hr 34 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, Chris Sarandon, James Hong
Trailer

Synopsis:
Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail.  (IMDb)


My Opinion:

Didn't they already make this movie three times, but titled 'Transporter'? Plenty of the same action here from Jason Statham that you've seen before. If you still like Statham, I'm sure you'll be satisfied as usual. As for the rest of us who outgrew the same old character, plot, and action, seek out something else. Director Yakin does have one good film under his belt in Remember the Titans, but flukes happen.





Sound of My Voice

Directed by: Zal Batmanglij
Written by: Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
Length: 1 hr 25 mins
Rated: R
Cast: Christopher Denham, Nicole Vicius, Brit Marling
Trailer

Synopsis:
A journalist and his girlfriend get pulled in while they investigate a cult whose leader claims to be from the future. (IMDb)


My Opinion:

Probably the lowest budget film of the week, Sound of My Voice comes to you from the creaters/writers/whatevers of Another Earth, which I have yet to see. Although the film looks kinda weird, I'm actually somewhat intrigued to see what the hell happens. I might not necessarily seek this one out, but won't oppose when someone Redboxes it.





Headhunters

Directed by: Morten Tydlum
Written by: Lars Gudmestad, Ulf Ryberg (Screenplay), Jo Nesbø (Novel)
Length: 1 hr 40 mins
Rated: R
Cast:Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Julie R. Ølgaard
Trailer

Synopsis:
An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary.  (IMDb)


My Opinion:

Being a big Jo Nesbø fan, Headhunters moved to the top of my list. Although I haven't read the source material, I have read two of Nesbø's books, "The Snowman" and "The Leopard", which were both amazing. The Norwegian can write. Although this is a Danish film, I think we get the idea (they are neighbors for gods sake). Game of Thrones fans will rejoice upon seeing Nikolaj Coster-Waldau speaking his native tongue, whom I'm sure few knew he spoke. The movie looks action packed, and although the constant annoyance of subtitles is there, I don't think Headhunters will disappoint.





Bernie

Directed by: Richard Linklater
Written by: Richard Linklater, Skip Hollandsworth
Length: 1 hr 44 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey
Trailer

Synopsis:
In small-town Texas, the local mortician strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow, though when he kills her, he goes to great lengths to create the illusion that she's alive. (IMDb)

My Opinion:

The last one of the week again looks pretty weird. I love seeing Jack Black in serious roles every once in a while (well, serious to the point of where he actually has to try). From the director of the must-be-seen Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, and A Scanner Darkly comes this super weird flick about a likeable guy with something to hide. Take a quick look at the poster before you go, It's one of those ones that actually deserves some recognition for once.






Conclusion:
Red Lights:

The Raven

Safe 

Yellow Lights:

Sound of My Voice

Bernie

Green Lights:

The Five Year Engagement

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Headhunters