ReelGuy: We've just finished watching the trailer for "Shutter Island" (released 2/19) a movie that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is directed by Martin Scorsese. This is the fourth time they've worked together; the last three times the pictures were nominated for Oscars. "Shutter Island" looks a bit different than their norm: it's a period thriller that takes place during the '50s at a mental hospital. DiCaprio's detective is investigating a disappearance at the hospital but gets caught up in a mystery that wears down his sanity.
ReelWife: I don't think this one is going to win any awards. I don't care for this particular genre of movie. Leonardo is looking "squiggly around the edges" (a quote from "Notting Hill"). Movies that are depressing aren't as much fun to watch and this film looks depressing. Maybe I'd watch it on DVD.
ReelGuy: I'm excited about this movie. I've enjoyed Scorsese's latest movies quite a bit. DiCaprio's become a much better actor since he's worked with Scorsese. This type of movie draws you in and takes you to a different place, psychologically. I want to know the secret behind prisoner 67, as referenced in the movie trailer.
ReelGuy: "The Crazies" (2/26) is a new movie directed by Breck Eisner, the son of former Disney chief Michael Eisner. It stars Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell. It's another take on the zombie film, though the town's people aren't necessarily dead but crazy. It looks thrilling from the movie trailer. Olyphant plays a believable everyman character. "The Crazies" should draw in the young, horror audience especially since there isn't much to compete with it in the spring marketplace. It appears to be well-made with a driving survival plot.
ReelWife: Automatic car washes freak me out and after seeing a scene with one in it from "The Crazies," I probably won't be able to go into one anytime soon. I'd have to be in the right mood to see this movie; I'll probably watch it if the ReelGuy takes me.
ReelGuy: "Cop Out" (2/26) is a cop-buddy comedy that stars Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. It is directed by Kevin "what-were-you-thinking" Smith.
ReelWife: I don't want to see this movie because Bruce Willis is usually pretty cool and the movie trailer makes him look stupid. Hollywood can't make a better cop-buddy comedy than the "Lethal Weapon" series, so don't even try. "Cop Out" will probably bore people for two hours.
ReelGuy: The director, Kevin Smith, is known for making such insightful, counter-cultural films as "Dogma," "Clerks," and "Chasing Amy." I'm wondering what bet he lost to direct this run-of-the-mill, cookie-cutter buddy film. I've never really gotten Tracy Morgan's humor; this movie trailer does not change my impression of him.
ReelWife: I think Tracy Morgan's funny, I just don't know if I want to see him doing his act for two hours.
ReelGuy: Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" (3/5) in 3D and IMAX, where available.
Reel Wife: I've never been a big fan of the story, it kind of scares me. The Mad Hatter (played by Johnny Depp) looks like another creepy character similar to the one he plays in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." I find the special effects overwhelming and distracting. Is this movie for kids, adults or crazy people? I don't know; I don't like it.
ReelGuy: That's a good point, who is this film aimed at? Tim Burton creates a "zaniness" in his films; a dark, twisted, gothic quality. I think Burton's trying to raise "Alice in Wonderland" to his level of insanity. I am tired of him continuously remaking films and stories instead of doing his own original ideas. I'd like to see him direct something that isn't a re-imagining of someone else's stuff. Where's his next "Edward Scissorhands" or "Ed Wood"? I like it when Burton works with Depp because it feels like their always bringing something fresh to the screen.
ReelWife: No, it doesn't. They've already done this performance before. Oh my god, change the scenery and it could be "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" all over again.
ReelGuy: To some extent that's true but I think Depp gives different, unique performances in each picture. I didn't care for his performance in "Charlie."
ReelWife: I didn't care for his performance in that trailer. And 3D gives me a headache. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I want to skip this Disney movie.
ReelGuy: I still think his character will be better this time around. I'm mildly interested in "Alice" just to see what Burton has done, especially with the 3D. But the story may be too out-there for most people.
ReelGuy: "Brooklyn's Finest" (3/5) starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, and the return of Wesley Snipes. The movie is directed by the talent behind "Training Day" and "King Arthur," Antoine Fuqua.
ReelWife: The "Pretty Woman" actor's been old for a long time. He's had grey hair like Steve Martin seemingly forever; twenty years later he still looks the same. There are some big stars in this picture. The cop's moral issue of whether to take confiscated drug money to support his family is sympathetic; police should get paid more for the work that they do. I want to see it.
ReelGuy: Cop-dramas can go two ways: either it will be really ponderous and caught up in its own subterfuge or the movie will exceed its compelling premise and give character's difficult, entertaining, moral choices to make. "Brooklyn's Finest" has an incredible cast including Gere as a retiring cop, Hawke as a conflicted policeman, Cheadle is an undercover cop with compassion for the villain, and Snipes is a bad guy with limited choices. Fuqua is a capable director who's going back to the subject matter he handles best, but I don't know if many people will take a chance on this picture.
ReelWife: It's probably going to be controversial because police have been seen as unassailable since 9/11. This movie tells audiences that law enforcement officers are not perfect people.
ReelGuy: "The Bounty Hunter" (3/5) is a romantic comedy that stars Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler. It is directed by Andy Tenant whose prior films include "Hitch," "Fool's Gold" and "Sweet Home Alabama."
ReelWife: Jennifer Aniston and the cute, dead guy from "P.S. I Love You" . . . I've got to see it.
ReelGuy: It looks to me like a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. Nothing from the preview seems funny; it’s not even unintentionally humorous. Two people that don't even like each other being forced to spend time together has been done before.
ReelWife: That’s because it's funny.
ReelGuy: These movies aren't always funny. You need the right actors and actresses for this storyline. Butler isn't necessarily a comedian. I prefer to see him in movies like "300" and I haven't liked where his career went afterwards. Aniston works best when she's playing off another comedian.
ReelWife: But he’s hot. And are you knocking the "Friends" girl? What I don't like is that we don't know from the trailer what Aniston's character did to get in trouble with the law. We don't know what's going on. I hope they explain that.
ReelGuy: Or maybe that mystery will be so confusing it will take you out of the romantic comedy. Or maybe it's not even a romantic comedy.
ReelWife: Yeah, you don't see a lot of them together. You see a little flirting but not really a connection between the characters in the preview. But their still two hot people; I'd probably see it.
ReelGuy: "Remember Me" (3/12) starring Robert Pattinson, Emile de Raven, and Pierce Brosnan. He's a businessman's son who is acting out for attention when he meets a policeman's daughter who tries to straighten him out.
ReelWife: After watching the trailer, I've got to see this. It's angst-y and love-y and Pattinson looks really cute. For him, the more disheveled he looks the better.
ReelGuy: Can Pattinson make the cross-over to drama from "Harry Potter" and "Twilight"? He's a teen idol trying to prove himself as a serious actor in a smaller, character-driven picture. The story looks pretty good; it's simple and about relatable relationships. It should draw the teen girl crowd if marketed correctly, but it's not a must-see in theaters for me.
ReelWife: I want to see it in theaters; when's it coming out?
ReelGuy: "Green Zone" (3/12) stars Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear; it is directed by Paul Greengrass. Greengrass and Damon worked together before in "Bourne Supremacy" and "Bourne Ultimatum."
ReelWife: I think it looks really good. Damon's character comes across as believable and likable. The movie looks intense, taking place in Iraq during the war. I believe in Matt Damon.
ReelGuy: He's playing the smart, careful soldier character. After seeing the "Bourne" movies I definitely think Damon can kick butt. He's shown he can play a lethal, tough guy character. Greengrass is incredibly talented, as proven with his work on "United 93" and the "Bourne" pictures. I think this is going to be a great action drama.
ReelWife: The risk with movies like this is when they get too cerebral that audiences get bored. I’ll just zone out if the mystery isn't enticing and the clues don’t keep flowing. I don't want to go to school for two hours. This picture doesn't look like it gets too deep into the conspiracy at the expense of the action. I think we both want to see this.
ReelGuy: This is a remake of the stop-motion 1970s big budget film "Clash of the Titans," (3/26). Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes star in this new version which is directed by Louis Letterier ("Incredible Hulk," "Transporter 2").
ReelWife: We've probably seen all the best parts of the movie in the trailer. There’s no point in seeing the film now.
ReelGuy: Wow, that's pretty harsh. Usually you like the epic, special effects adventure film.
ReelWife: People that haven't studied Greek literature and mythology won't be familiar with the story the movie tells. The plot behind the historical action film "300" was probably better known since it was based on a comic book. They'll need some history channel specials on the mythology to get me more interested. I also thought some of the effects look better than others in the trailer. Right now I don't need to see this movie.
ReelGuy: I'm pretty excited by the possibilities of this film, actually. I like Letterier, he transformed me into a believer after "The Incredible Hulk." This movie wants to be the "300" of spring 2010 including the boffo box-office. I'm impressed with the effects; everything in the trailer including the giants, harpies, and the Kracken look believable to me. I like Worthington as an action star since "Terminator Salvation" and "Avatar." I hope the story is as strong as the action pieces and the effects look. But I don't plan on seeing it in 3D because I don't like the idea of retrofitting the picture into 3D. I respect the director's vision not a studio afterthought.
ReelGuy: "How to Train Your Dragon," (3/26) is an animated fantasy in 3D from Dreamworks and the directing team that made "Lilo and Stitch."
ReelWife: I really like the color palate chosen for this movie. The dragons are whimsically drawn and fun to watch in the trailer. The people are a bit too stylized for me and don't come across as believable looking.
ReelGuy: Will this movie be another "Monsters vs. Aliens" where it is all about the spectacle of 3D or will it explore the humanity and humor of the characters like "Shrek" and every Pixar picture? The scenes in the trailer are humorous but not laugh-out-loud funny. Is the studio saving the best parts for the actual movie or is that as good as it gets?
ReelWife: I think the idea of trying to train dragons who don't want you riding them is funny. I'm not sure if moms will be compelled to see this picture with their kids. The movie skews more towards boys than girls.
ReelGuy: But there isn't anything else in the spring marketplace for young kids. The cartoon could rake in big money simply because it has no other competition. I don't really feel drawn to this picture but maybe my mind will change. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" really surprised me, though I didn't want to see that initially.
ReelGuy: "Hot Tub Time Machine" (3/26) starring John Cusack and Rob Corddry and written by the genius behind Cusack's "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity." This is more of a broad, adult comedy about the time travel of a bunch of middle-aged guys to the '80s.
ReelWife: It looks really good. I don't normally like wacky comedies but there are several funny sequences in the movie trailer. Plus the 1980s are a funny decade, definitely a fertile ground for comedy. I'm hoping this will be like another "The Wedding Singer."
ReelGuy: Sometimes these types of movies go off-target and become quickly not funny. This one looks stupid enough that it might work as a running joke but will it bring in a crowd? It's not a high concept, intelligent comedy which this writer is better known for. This could go either way as far as I'm concerned.
ReelGuy: "The Last Song" (4/2) a romantic drama starring Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear. It is an original screenplay from "The Notebook" writer, Nicolas Sparks.
ReelWife: It looks endearing from the movie trailer. Usually Sparks writes about couples but this film seems to focus on a single dad's relationship with his kids. I like beaches and the movie takes place in a summer resort town. "The Last Song" looks more heartwarming than sad.
ReelGuy: It's a sappy, sentimental film that's playing to the teen and family market. The movie is Cyrus's chance to break out from her Disney/Hanna Montana shadow with a safe, transition picture. It's not aimed necessarily at the adult market like "Dear John" was; can it be the modest success that movie was in March?
ReelGuy: "Date Night" (4/9) starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey, directed by Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum" films). I'm more excited about this mistaken identity, chase comedy than any other comedy this spring. An on-screen comedic match made in heaven; I expect great things from Carell and Fey working together.
ReelWife: I'm not really that excited about it but it will probably be amusing. I'd see it. It seems like a chase movie and those can be good or not good; it depends on if they can keep the story moving with the action.
ReelGuy: The director of "Night at the Museum proved his ability to blend action and comedy. He's got two great comedic talents to work with here. I think this will be a break-out comedy hit.
ReelGuy: "Kick Ass" (4/16) is a comic book based, action comedy with an edgy-ness to it. It is directed by Matthew Vaughn ("Stardust," "Layer Cake"), with Aaron Johnson and Nicolas Cage starring.
ReelWife: I don’t know if I want to see this. The superhero comedy "Mystery Men" was awful and didn't make much of a splash when it came out.
ReelGuy: This movie seems to be emphasizing more action and teen angst than humor. The director is trying to keep the humor low-key while making the picture feel "real." I'm really excited for this action movie which explores what would happen if normal people became superheroes. I'll see it. The young girl playing the superhero Hitgirl will be fun to watch doing her acrobatic kicks and flips.
ReelWife: I thought her and her Batman rip-off daddy were the worst part of the trailer. I prefer the other two heroes' stories.
ReelGuy: "The Losers" (4/23) stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, and Chris Evans and is directed by the filmmaker behind "Stomp the Yard." It's a comic book action, revenge film without any really big stars. It wants to be this year's "Wanted."
ReelWife: I don't think it looks interesting. I don't understand why they call themselves "The Losers" after watching the trailer and they probably won't sufficiently explain it during the film itself. The action scenes don't stand out.
ReelGuy: The action looks far from cutting edge. I don't know that this director has much background in filming action sequences. With the "A-Team" coming out this year and Stallone's "Expendables," why do we need another '80s throw-back action film? "The Losers" doesn't really distinguish itself.
ReelGuy: "The Back Up Plan" (4/23) a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez. She gets artificially inseminated when she finally meets her perfect man. I wonder where Lopez has been for the last several years? I guess this is another chance for a comeback.
ReelWife: I want to see it, it looks good. The preview is funny and has pretty people in it. They haven't really done that story before.
ReelGuy: To some extent this movie was done in "Baby Mama" with Tina Fey. I'm willing to give this a chance, it's better than the other rom-com choices this year. I don't have a problem with J-Lo.
ReelGuy: "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" (4/23) is directed by Oliver Stone, following up on his original, Oscar-winning picture from the late 1980s. It stars Michael Douglas, returning as Gordon Gecko, and Shia LaBoeuf playing the young protégé role. "Wall Street 2" is a very contemporary drama dealing with issues of banking, big salaries, and risk-taking. I wonder if the story will capture society's interest and if the cast's performances will rise to the occasion?
ReelWife: It looks fascinating. I never saw the original movie but I'd like to, since I like to see how characters evolve over time. I enjoy stories about business and morality.
ReelGuy: Can Shia step up and prove himself as an actor in the league of Michael Douglas? Is he capable of carrying a film without giant robots or ancient temples? I heard Charlie Sheen is supposed to make a cameo in the new movie. It's probably not a must-see picture since there's been so many years between pictures.
ReelWife: A back-to-back movie fest would work best when it comes out on DVD. Maybe it will receive some notice from an award show or two.
ReelGuy: The remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street," (4/30) starring Jackie Earle Haley from "Watchmen" as Freddy Kreuger. This is the director's first feature film, making him a far cry from Wes Craven who'd already proven himself when he made this.
ReelWife: I enjoy watching origin stories; I'll see it.
ReelGuy: The actor who is playing Kreuger is different than the person who's been Freddie in the last six pictures. It will be interesting to see what he brings to the role. Haley is a solid actor who probably won the role after his psychotic performance as Rorsach in "Watchmen." This is a good story. The studio messed up the "Friday the 13th" remake and this is an opportunity to redeem itself.