Bryan’s 10 Most Anticipated Films – 2013

I like treks and robots fighting monsters and steel men as much as the next guy. But when it comes to making this list, I want to see other things a tad bit more. There’s a lot to look forward to but if you told me I could only see 10 new films this year, well the following would be my picks.

Bat Out of Development Hell – Part 3: Requiem for a Bat

In 2000, the frenzy that followed the release of X-Men had studios buying up any comic book property they could get their hands on and putting those titles into production before the ink was dry. And the heads at Warner Brothers did something a bit unfounded; they would develop multiple story ideas, which would eventually lead to the rebirth of the prized Batman franchise. They could have continued to build upon the previous films. A script was already ordered for Batman Triumphant (aka Batman 5) and George Clooney was contracted to play Bruce Wayne again. Or, they could go in a new direction, a vastly different direction.

Paradise Lost – “The Descendants” Review

It’s been seven long years since writer/director Alexander Payne gifted the world Sideways and walked away with an Oscar. He returns this year with the family drama The Descendants. Describing my thoughts on the film is going to be challenging because I am going to try to explain why you should love it, and why I didn’t. There’s a popular expression when one feels apathetic toward something and it goes a little like “meh.” I do not feel this way about Payne’s latest… not entirely…

Game of Polls – “The Ides of March” Review

With debates heating up and the presidential election a year away, George Clooney releases his indictment of the political machine. The Ides of March has a lot to say about current politics, mostly about campaigns, but the film is a piece of entertainment first, acting as a tense dialogue-driven thriller. There is a temptation to dismiss the film based on perceived biases, and I’m sure there are a few more liberal ideas presented than not. However, the movie does show both sides of the coin and eventually reveals what many characters from the HBO program The Wire know all too well, “the game is rigged.”

Scared Silly: Top 31 Horror Comedies – Part 4

The Halloween celebration continues with six more of my top 31 favorite horror comedies. Today we’ve got a whole gaggle of vampires, a few werewolves, a would-be serial killer, more Deadites, a conniving paranormal investigator and… pickles.

Fall Preview: 25 Films I Can’t Wait to See #10-6

The end is nigh. We’re down to the top 10 films I can’t wait to see. And we’ve got trailers for all 5 of today’s picks again.

Fall Preview: 25 Films I Can’t Wait to See #15-11

Five more movies to check out, and they all have trailers.

Makes Guns, Will Travel – The American

Anton Corbijn delivers a taut, meticulously crafted thriller with The American, bringing Martin Booth’s acclaimed novel, A Very Private Gentleman, to life. Corbijn’s stunning visuals combined with George Clooney‘s pitch-perfect performance make The American an exquisitely haunting character study. There have been comparisons to James Bond films, but The American is a bit more realistic and psychological than any James Bond film. Bond films are a bit heavier on style and action, lighter on substance, whereas with The American you get nice balance of both, plus a bit more suspense than a Bond film. Of course, the beautiful Bond-girl types don’t take away from The American either (nor does the R-rating).