Respawn!!! – Review: X-Men First Class

The Star Wars prequels’ greatest sin wasn’t that they were shitty, but that they were disingenuous. Collectively, they labored–and failed–to force retroactive continuity that never existed in the first place, all under the pretense of explaining why Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side, culminating with that ridiculous, “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!” I bring this up because X-Men: First Class is also a prequel, only it succeeds in many wonderful ways where the Star Wars prequels failed.

The Trouble with Quibbles: Bridesmaids

With Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo take us past the picture perfect veneer of the romantic comedy wedding, into the real world of blood, toil, tears and sweat involved in planning a wedding.

Opening Weekend: Yes and No

This weekend Kristen Wiig and the rest of the bridesmaids show us that girls just wanna have fun. And director Scott Stewart, once again, leads me to question Paul Bettany’s better judgment.

Not Your Mother’s Haunted House – Review: Insidious

For Insidious, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell, the team that brought us Saw, switch gears to deliver a different kind of horror movie. Leaving behind the blood, guts, gadgets and gore, opting instead for ghosts, demons, and the traditional trappings of haunted house lore, but with a twist. This time, “it’s not the house that’s haunted.”

Opening Weekend: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

This weekend Russell Brand plays the soon-to-be Easter Bunny who decides he’d rather move to Hollywood and be a rock-n-roll drummer. It’s a kids movie, so I’m guessing there won’t be any soul-crushing reality leading to the seedy side of the San Fernando Valley.

Jake Gyllenhaal is stuck on infinite repeat in Source Code, trying to change the course of history. As he re-lives the same eight minutes of another man’s life, the real question is: will he and Michelle Monaghan find time for a quickie?

And after tragedy strikes, Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne’s family experiences some unsettling changes. (No, not puberty.)