Friday, August 19, 2011

Conan The Barbarian, Fright Night, and Griff the Invisible: Weekend Review


New Movie Releases Reviewed in 7 Words Each


Conan The Barbarian - So, which one of you wanted this?

Fright Night - Conan, and this? What year is it?

One Day - Maybe... but I don't think it's today.

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World - Sorry, I don't have time for that.

Griff the Invisible (limited) - Seriously, who isn't a superhero these days?



A new Conan and a remake of Fright Night on the same weekend... Crazy. Throw in Smurfs and Tranformers and the 80's have really staged a comeback this year. Frankly that's not a world I want to live in, so I hope we can move forward. I wonder if there'll come a time when we get nostalgic for things from the year before the one we're in? Seems only natural in the nostalgia-porn evolution.

Hey, Conan, unless you're a funny guy with red hair, I have no interest. I never liked the original movie, even as a kid. I see no reason to revisit it with some guy and his annoying voice. I mean, have you seen the commercials? Dude, get some Halls.

I know Fright Night is going to be bad. When are horror remakes ever good? I've heard some early word on it that it bites (pun intended) in all the worst ways. However, I will see it. There are a few actors I will watch movies for even if the film sucks, in this instance David Tennant is all the motivation I need. I also quite like Anton Yelchin, but as of yet he hasn't reached that status of 'will give anything a shot'. So yeah, it'll suck, but I'm in.

That may have been the most polarizing By The Numbers I've done this week. Who would have thought James Spader of all people would have the most vocal support of all the actors and actresses I've covered to date? Course as I've tried to make clear, liking someone enough to sit through the crappier films, and their rating have nothing to do with each other. Case in point, I have no idea how Tennant would rate if I ran the numbers (remember, by my own rules I couldn't actually count Doctor Who into it), but I'm going to watch Fright Night regardless. 

But seriously, Spader? Has to be Boston Legal...

Can we skip over the latest entry of Spy Kids? I'll just assume the majority is voting yes. 

Which brings us to Griff the Invisible, which opens limited this weekend. An Australian superhero film that's supposedly as quirky as they come. Take a look at the trailer:

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While the off kilter superhero story is starting to get a bit flooded, this one's got my attention. I've never watched even an episode of True Blood so I have no idea if Ryan Kwanten is any good. I know that I love quirky, and I love good character driven pieces. The fact that it's superhero... well that's just a bonus.

Have a great weekend everyone!



12 comments:

  1. No freaking remakes of 80's films! I am still paying money in therapy to get over them!

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  2. Nostalgia-porn...love that!

    I think it comes about when the people born in a particular era reach a certain age (like mid-twenties to mid-thirties like children of the 80's are now) and stop looking forward quite so much and start realizing that your youth wasn't just something to get through on the way to being an adult, but something you should remember and hold on to as something that will never be again.

    Plus the arrogance that whatever era you were born in was better than current times, despite any or all evidence to the contrary.

    That said...the 80's rocked! I mean, c'mon, it had Jem and the Holograms, My Little Ponies, Transformers, Thundercats, the list goes on and on :)

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  3. Don't knock Conan. He'll always be a hotty...and Fright Night has posiblities..will watch it. I don't know about the other stuff. Oohh, Jem, Thundercats...and He-Man, and She-Ra. Quit it. I love 80's stuff. :)

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  4. I didn't particularly care for the 80's, but some great flicks were made then: The Empire Strikes Back and Blade Runner for starters.

    I actually liked the first Conan. Yep, and I'm sticking by that statement. I think the remake will be horrible. I heard some positive things about Fright Night and plan to see it. I'll pass on the Smurfs and I'm with you about "moving forward".

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  5. @Gwen, That must be the most entertaining therapy sessions ever. lol

    @Sarah, I do love Tranformers and Thundercats... I guess the 80's weren't all bad.

    @Laila & @Isis, I have actually read a couple positive reviews for Conan, but it's just not my cup of tea. And this coming from someone who grew up a big fantasy nut.

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  6. Actually, reviews of Fright Night say it's great. One of my blogger buddies saw it last night and wanted to hate it but loved it. So it's on my list for next week. (Because tonight I saw Conan. Can't help it, I dig that kind of stuff.)

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  7. My husband's favorite line from any movie ever made is:
    "Conan! What is best in life?" "To crush your enemies -- See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"

    I'm not sure what this says about my husband.

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  8. @Alex, Depends on who you go to for reviews. I have a few reviewers I like to follow whose tastes frequently line up with mine. Though I am hoping for the best, since I will watch it either way.

    @Belle, That's hilarious!

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  9. When you include a preview for a quirky, non mainstream movie, I really shouldn't watch it. Because usually I watch it, it looks interesting, and then no place in Houston plays it. Dang!

    Good post as usual!

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  10. I plan to see Conan because Momoa is HOT! LOL I liked the first Fright Night and have heard good things about this one so will probably check it out too. Unfortunately I will probably see the Spy Kids one because with 5 kids you are sucked into those movies.

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  12. I kind of liked spy kids one and two(whichever sequel had Antonio Bad-ass)
    Finally a multiplex sprucing up at my small city...I might be able to catch one of the movies u review, in English at long last....
    Conan Reminds me of Arnie's old one . I couldn't stomach even a few minutes of it.

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