Popdose film critic Lance Berry passed away last week, dying suddenly at his home in Ashburn, Virginia, on Sunday, October 4. He was 43.
Though a site like ours, which has no central office and publishes the work of a far-flung group of writers, doesn’t allow for much in the way of extracurricular bonding, we’re all nonetheless deeply affected by Lance’s death. I invited Lance to join Popdose after getting to know him in the Rotten Tomatoes forums, where I found him to be an uncommonly insightful and intelligent film fan; his work for our site did not disappoint. While I never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, I enjoyed reading his film reviews, I was proud to publish them, and I considered him a friend. Please join us in bidding him farewell. —Jeff Giles, Editor-in-Chief
Popdose mourns the unexpected passing of our friend and colleague Lance Berry, from an undisclosed cause. A native New Yorker, Lance began writing for Popdose late last year and quickly impressed us all with his passion and enthusiasm, having maintained his own site for film criticism, Lance Reviews…. The two of us had a good time cowriting a review of last summer’s Star Trek film, the long-running franchise being a touchstone for him. Inspired in part by Star Trek, he wrote The Reign, a series of science fiction novels.
We found out about Lance’s death via an e-mail sent by a relative. I wrote back, expressing the condolences of the Popdose staff in this difficult time, and the response read, “He loved writing for your site. Thank you for recognizing his talent and love of film. He will truly be missed.” —Bob Cashill, Film Editor
Before we begin, a brief warning to all parents considering taking the wee ones to see Focus Features’ latest, 9. Be certain that whatever kids you’re taking are stout of heart, because there are some creatures within this film–and the actions they take against the main characters–that may seriously frighten younger children. The film’s rated PG-13 for a reason, so consider yourself duly noted.
As for 9 itself–only the second animated film from Focus following their highly successful Coraline–the movie is amazingly entertaining and visually striking. In spite of its ending, which left me sort of flat, it’s very possible this film might make it onto my Top 5 list at the end of the year.
9 takes place in a not-too-distant future, wherein humanity has been betrayed and destroyed by the highly intelligent machines they’ve built. Any similarities to the Terminator franchise end there however, immediately upon the introduction of the titular hero (voiced by Elijah Wood)–a stitchwork figure only inches tall, brought to life by an infusion of part of the very soul of its creator…the scientist who created the machines’ A.I., ironically to usher in an age of peace. The peace has been achieved, all right: the peace of the grave, brought to vivid life via scenes of ruined landscapes and brief glimpses of dead bodies, among them a mother still clutching her child. (more…)
I’ve never been a true fan of the Western genre. As a matter of fact, I can count the number of Westerns I like enough to own on DVD and still have a finger or two left over to use. Having just watched Catlow, recently released on DVD, I’ve just lost one more counting finger.
Originally released in cinemas back in 1971, Catlow, starring the mighty Yul Brynner (The King and I, Westworld)Â in the title role, is one seriously fun, craftily written, expertly directed, rousingly good ol’ time.
Based on the novel by Louis L’Amour, the film begins with Marshall Ben Cowan (the late Richard Crenna) beset upon by Indians as he attempts to track down and arrest the outlaw cattle rustler Catlow. Cowan is injured by the Indians, but is unexpectedly rescued by Catlow and his men. The two share a special bond, having fought in the Civil War, and are friends of a type, neither man truly wanting to bring the other to any harm. This is proven straightaway, when in a discussion on how best to deal with an unconscious Ben’s wounded leg, Catlow’s right hand man Merridew (the late Jeff Corey) asks if Catlow will remove it at the hip, and Catlow sharply replies “I’ll take yours off at the neck!”
Although this film is played mainly as a comedy, director Sam Wanamaker (Death on the Nile, Private Benjamin) does an excellent job throughout of keeping the two characters’ friendship and loyalty on display no matter what situation they’re in. Even though each betrays the other several times, it’s never directly to either man’s enemy. Catlow saves Ben’s life from Indians and teams up to escape the clutches of a ruthless bounty hunter (Leonard Nimoy), while Ben does his best to ensure that although he must bring Catlow to justice, it’s an American prison he’ll settle into comfortably, rather than being left at the unkind mercies of the Federales, who are after him for attempting to steal their own wrongfully plundered gold. (more…)
The new Disney/Pixar collaboration, Up, has just opened to some of the best reviews the studio’s ever received. While it’s a very enjoyable film, I have to say it certainly isn’t among their best, in spite of the talent behind it.
As a child, Carl Fredricksen (at this point voiced by Jeremy Leary) is a huge fan of famed adventurer/explorer Charles Muntz (voiced by Christopher Plummer). Young Carl is a true devotee, keeping up with all of Muntz’ doings and is shocked to the core when one of his archaeological finds is disputed as a fraud. While Muntz sets off to clear his name, Carl happens to cross paths with Ellie (voiced by Elie Docter), who is just as much a fan of Muntz as Carl. The two become close, eventually falling in love, marrying and growing old together…all while keeping a coin jar in which they save whatever money they can to one day take a trip to Paradise Falls, the “land lost in time” for which Muntz set out. Carl makes the ultimate kids’ promise–crossing his heart–that he will one day take Ellie there, but before he can, she passes away. (more…)
If you’re a fan of superhero flicks, fan-made films or comics in general, then chances are you’ve seen the phenomenally well-crafted Green Lantern trailer that recently hit the web. In spite of its highly professional look, it was not made or sanctioned by anyone working at Warner Brothers — it’s a fan-made trailer, cobbled together with well-edited scenes from more than two dozen films, by Jaron Pitts.
Jaron is just a married guy living in Texas with his family, minding his own business…one who happens to be highly talented at putting together trailers that spark a nerve in the collective consciousness. His trailer for GreenLantern has many fans of the hero now convinced that his vision will surpass anything Warner Bros. can come up with for their real flick, which is currently in production. I reached out to Jaron recently to find out how in our world–or on Oa–he came up with such an amazing trailer, and here’s what he had to say…
Tell us about yourself. What do you do for a living, and what are your long term goals?
I’m 26 and live in Dallas, TX with my wife and two little girls. I am a multimedia director and worship leader for a church here in town. My long term goals are somewhat vague, but I would say that if I put them into words it might limit them. Who doesn’t dream to work in the movie industry? (more…)
When our esteemed editor and retired slow jam artist Jeff Giles first asked me to contribute to this site, he wanted me to contribute as a movie critic. I believe what he wanted was a “Chuck Klosterman of movies.” Certainly all of my friends would have thought me a perfect fit, but I told Jeff I’d rather do something a little different.
Popdose currently has two fine critics in Robert Cashill and Lance Berry. These are two gentlemen whose opinions I respect and enjoy. Many times, however, I find myself in serious disagreements with them.
I don’t consider myself a critic, though I have agreed to do the occasional DVD review here. Though I argue with my friends incessantly about film, to the point where they are often surprised when I actually like a movie, I don’t want people to think of me as a critic. Often my opinions stem more from feeling than actual critical thought, which may or may not be a good thing.
Say the name “McG” out loud. Sounds pretty stupid, doesn’t it? Now allow your natural reactions be displayed when I tell you he brought us Charlie’s Angels and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Are you vomiting yet? Now that you know all that, check out this little movie he just made based on the cult, critical, and fan favorite Terminator movies. (more…)
The cover has Sentinels on it. The opening credits have Sentinels in them. The back cover seems to promise this will be a really cool, animated adaptation of the classic X-Men comic-book two-parter “Days of Future Past.” So where in the flying hell are the Sentinels and a war-ravaged future in the freakin’ movie?
Oh, right — they’re all at the end. For about ten seconds. Niiiiiiice.
Adult fans of Marvel’s mutant super-hero team the X-Men — and even smaller fans over the age of seven — might be seriously disappointed in the new Wolverine and the X-Men: Heroes Return Trilogy. The DVD comprises the first three episodes of the same-titled series running on Nicktoons, and is in no way a spin-off of the previous X-series that came before it. Wolverine and the X-Men starts off by jumping right into the story, figuring that pretty much everyone on the planet knows by now who the various X-Men are, courtesy of Bryan Singer. We’re shown a typical training sequence with Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde and Colossus in the Danger Room, before we find out that Wolverine is leaving the mansion for some alone time. On his way out, he says his goodbyes to Beast and Jean Grey, and is about to chat with Storm and Professor X, when suddenly the Professor and Jean–being the resident telepaths in the group–feel a profound psychic assault, and then a bright light solarizes the screen, taking us forward to one year later. (more…)
The Uninvited has recently come out on DVD, and if you choose to watch it, several other words with an “un-” prefix may wander into your mind. You’ll find the film Uninteresting, and the DVD will quickly become Unwanted and Unwelcome by you or anyone within your household. Viewing it, you’ll find yourself Unwilling to become involved in this very Unwatchable film.
A bastardized remake of the Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters, The Uninvited stars Australian actress Emily Browning (Ghost Ship, Lemony Snicket’s ASeries of Unfortunate Events) as American teen Anna, recently released from a sanitarium after she attempted suicide following her mother’s death in a tragic boathouse explosion (seriously). She returns home to find her older sister, Alex (Arielle Kebbel), still angered by Anna’s supposed “abandonment” — while kid sis was away, their dad, Steven (David Strathairn), started banging the hot live-in nanny, Rachael (Elizabeth Banks), to help cope with his grief.
Although a major player in Norse mythology, the character of Thor is known primarily to comics fans, and only recently to the general public, due to the news that famed director Kenneth Branagh (Peter’s Friends, Dead Again) will be helming a movie for Marvel Studios based on the character’s heroic exploits, due out in 2011.
For those not in the know, Thor is the Asgardian god of thunder, once worshiped by Vikings as a source of strength and bravery, whose name was co-opted by Marvel Comics back in 1962, when the fair-haired character (originally red-headed in the mythology) first appeared in Journey Into Mystery. Thor’s story broke with tradition in several aspects, mainly in the fact that his father Odin, chief of the gods, sought to teach his son humility by trapping him in the body of a mortal, Dr. Donald Blake. Over the years, Thor gained in popularity as he became a charter member of the Avengers (the character will also appear in a live-action Avengers feature, due out in 2012) and Journey Into Mystery officially became the Thor comic book in 1964. Although rooted moderately in Norse mythology, the thunder god’s stories only paid lip service to his true history, until artist/writer Walt Simonson’s epic 1983-1986 run on the series restored the character to his true glory and revitalized fans’ interests in the Norse superhero.
Now the god of thunder–who has had spotty appearances in non-comics media, including an okay run in the Marvel Super-Heroes anthology cartoon and a laughably horrible live-action turn in the 1988 TV movie The Incredible Hulk Returns–faces another potential upswing in popularity with the still-casting Thor: God ofThunder. While Marvel Studios has achieved a true coup in nabbing Kenneth Branagh, a director well versed in Shakespearian lore (Henry V, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing) to take on a character whose mythic adventures preceded and in some ways partially inspired grand epics such as Tolkien’s Lord ofthe Rings, the true test of whether the film will succeed or fail will depend not so much on the script as on the actor who portrays the titular hero.
While rumored names such as Brad Pitt have been tossed about for being worthy of the role, and Alexander Skarsgard is supposedly cast (still just a rumor!), my own personal favorite choice of known actors for the role was Karl Urban, who played Eomer in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and will soon be seen as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek.
Note: Urban “was” my favorite choice…until I discovered James Preston Rogers existed.(more…)
Normally Bob Cashill does a top-ten list of films he’s looking forward to each summer and fall. As he’s “out of town” this week (which, in the writing industry, is code for “on a bender and can’t be found”), I’ve been asked to step up to the plate and cover for him while he’s “away.”
I’ve chosen ten summer films — well, nine as far as Hollywood’s definition of summer goes (the beginning of May all the way to Labor Day weekend), so forgive me for cheating with my first choice. I will now give my reasons as to why I’m either looking forward to these films or hope they die miserable, lonely deaths at the box office. Please be aware that while the majority of release dates have been locked down, film studios are sometimes fickle, and some later dates may be subject to change.
1. The Soloist (April 24), starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., directed by Joe Wright.
I’ve been looking forward to this film, based on the true story of celloist-violinist Nathaniel Ayers, an extremely talented musician who suffers from schizophrenia, for quite some time in spite of the semi-mediocrity of its trailer. While I’m certain the film will deliver the expected highs and lows of the friendship between Foxx’s Ayers and Downey Jr. as the reporter who befriends him, all replete with the expected script beats (pg. 50: “Have characters realize they’re more alike than different in spite of their dissimilar backgrounds”), the real reason to see this movie is for the act-off between two great thesps, and to begin the debate about which one will deserve to walk home with a statue come next year’s Oscars.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1), starring Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber, directed by Gavin Hood.
Yes, this film’s already hit the Internet, so most of you have probably already seen it. I’m waiting till it actually hits theaters, though, because I’d prefer to see the completed effects, thank you very much. Although I don’t understand the fascination with Schreiber (overrated in my book), the real reason for me to see Wolverine is that it’ll be cool to see Jackman as the title character once again. Fanboys and fangirls who vowed to boycott this Fox film due to the studio’s lawsuit brought against Warner Bros. for partial rights to Watchmen profits will more than likely shut the hell up and see it regardless; it could very well be one of the biggest actioners at the box office this year despite its illegal release on the Web. I’m borderline on the story and characters, but I’m looking forward to Jackman’s Wolvie taking a long list of names while he kicks ass.
Before we begin, a brief warning to all parents considering taking the wee ones to see Focus Features’ latest, 9. Be certain that whatever kids you’re taking are stout of heart, because there are some creatures within this film–and the actions they take against the main characters–that may seriously frighten younger children. The film’s rated PG-13 for a reason, so consider yourself duly noted.
The new Disney/Pixar collaboration, Up, has just opened to some of the best reviews the studio’s ever received. While it’s a very enjoyable film, I have to say it certainly isn’t among their best, in spite of the talent behind it.
If you’re a fan of superhero flicks, fan-made films or comics in general, then chances are you’ve seen the phenomenally well-crafted 
When our esteemed editor and 
The cover has Sentinels on it. The opening credits have Sentinels in them. The back cover seems to promise this will be a really cool, animated adaptation of the classic X-Men comic-book two-parter “Days of Future Past.” So where in the flying hell are the Sentinels and a war-ravaged future in the freakin’ movie?
A bastardized remake of the Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters, The Uninvited stars Australian actress Emily Browning (Ghost Ship, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events) as American teen Anna, recently released from a sanitarium after she attempted suicide following her mother’s death in a tragic boathouse explosion (seriously). She returns home to find her older sister, Alex (Arielle Kebbel), still angered by Anna’s supposed “abandonment” — while kid sis was away, their dad, Steven (David Strathairn), started banging the hot live-in nanny, Rachael (Elizabeth Banks), to help cope with his grief.
Although a major player in Norse mythology, the character of Thor is known primarily to comics fans, and only recently to the general public, due to the news that famed director Kenneth Branagh (Peter’s Friends, Dead Again) will be helming a movie for Marvel Studios based on the character’s heroic exploits, due out in 2011.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1), starring Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber, directed by Gavin Hood.