You would think X-Men: First Class predicted it’s box office reign with this title. The film reboot seemed to go over well with critics and consumers. What other films opened in theaters last week? How did they fair? We will take a look and see if it’s worth your money.
We only review films in wide release.
Unfortunately, the only wide film released last weekend was X-Men: First Class. So we will list films coming out this weekend in wide release and ask you to leave your review.
X-Men: First Class-PG-13: What’s the Buzz? The film received a certified fresh from rottentomatoes.com. Consumers seemed to agree this film was a great start for a reboot. Everyone agrees James McAvaoy and Michael Fassbender gave great performances and worth seeing it for this alone. Is it worth the money? Big Yes!
- Box office rank: #1
- Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 65 Positive, rottentomatoes: 86% (certified fresh)
- Consumers Say: Metacritic- 7.8 Positive, rottentomatoes: 88%
Wide release films coming out this weekend.
Super 8-Not Rated
Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer–PG
So there you have it what are going to see this weekend?
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
Heading to the 11:20 showing of Super 8 today! Will be back with a full report.
Woot, woot!!! 🙂
Ok, just got back. ANYONE WHO COMES ACROSS THIS SITE—GO SEE SUPER 8!!!!!! A true summer HIT!
CR–I think you will truly enjoy it! Although my husband says there is no way one small little truck would do that much damage to a train. I tend to believe him.
I am probably not going to be very popular here, but there is really not any movie this summer that is coming out that I would want to see. Well maybe the last Harry Potter or The Help, but even that…I am so tired of the big blockbuster movies. I love art house, indie movies, movies that have a meaning. I get tired of the shoot ’em up flicks. It seems that so many of the movies today are based off of books, meaning comic books or best selling novels etc.. Whatever happened to the original screenplay? Is Hollywood just taking the easy way out? I love, love, love old movies, maybe that is the reason why they are original. The last movie i physically went to the theater and saw was Water for Elephants. I was back home for the holiday and myself and a couple of friends went. We nicknamed the night “Vodka for Elephants”, since a lot of vodka was consumed before during and after. I had read the book about 4 or 5 years ago and really enjoyed it. I liked the movie but I did not necessarily care for all the changes that were made for the adaption.
I appreciate your honesty. I’m on a tight budget, as the ladies here know, so unless it is something I really want to spend my money on, I will wait for DVD.
I agree with your assessment of the films that are being made. WEre you around for our indie discussion? A lot of us feel the same way about the indies. There was a Part 1 and 2 in last months thread. Check it out!
I am excited about The Help because I truly loved the book and I am a big Emma Stone fan.
I think it’s good to be picky about what you want to see. I think if more people were, we would be more apt to have those films made. There are many indie films that are coming out that I know will NEVER make it to my theater, so I will have to put it on my netflix list.
I’m glad you are here! 🙂
Hi Francesca and LB-
Francesca-I’m glad u enjoy the site everyone’s views and opinions are welcomed. Also, I can’t agree with u more about original screenplays. They are rare in HW. Why do u think that is? I love old films as well. What are some of your all time favorites and why?
LB-Thanks for the Super 8 info. I’m so busy this weekend I won’t get a chance to see it. Hopefully I will soon and we can compare notes.
Hi OB!
I put this in the chat thread, but thought I would bring it over here as well. I found out the SM film festival will be Aug. 5-7. How do I get in to see the films? I’m looking online and haven’t found any info.
Nevermind! found it! 🙂 I’m trying to figure out how I want to pursue this because I really don’t want to go by myself.
Hi LB!
I’m really glad u are considering going I think it will be fantastic.
However, I really like going alone to films so I’m the worst person to ask.But u would be surprised how many people go alone to film festivals. U would not be a minority if u went alone.
Will I look obvious because I don’t know what the heck I’m dong?How does it usually work? Sorry this is sooooo off topic….:(
Hi LB!
LOL! That’s o.k. don’t apologize. I think u will be fine and will meet alot of people who are alone like u. I would see films that sound interesting to u. I would make myself a little schedule before hand so I can hop around quickly. Are you getting an All Event Pass or a All Screening Pass?
P.S. Don’t forget to come back and let us know what u thought.
Hi OB! Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 I think I will start small and just do the All Screening. My husband will be working that weekend so I will have to take my kids with me. I don’t want my mom to get to wiped out from watching them all day, so I better just stick to films.
And OF COURSE I will come back and report. Still working on my Super 8 answers. 🙂
Open Book-
Thanks for the vote of encouragement with regards to your site. I believe why HW has abandoned the original screenplay is that it is easier and more cost effective to adapt a book. Almost like they have become complacent and lazy? Most novels that are adapted already have a huge fan base and with that fan base already in place, people will go and they make money. Look at the movies that have been adapted in the last few years and what is coming down the pike. They all have been on the NYT best sellers list. I have always loved to read but since my job keeps me on airplanes about 90% of my time and along with being a diagnosed insomniac have become a ferocious reader and average about 5 to 6 books a month. I enjoyed the dragon tattoo series and did see the Swedish versions and really enjoyed them (thank god for subtitles) Very dark and graphic, but I do not think the American version will be anything like those which is really to bad because the books are very dark and address and very taboo subjects and we seem to shy away from those subjects. I also enjoyed On the Road, but will not go see it. I really do not care for some of the people that have been cast in the movie. I know that is not fair but I don’t want my feelings for the book ruined by bad acting. Another thing that drives me insane is the PG-13 ratings. Making all these movies with that rating because it opens it up to a larger base of movie goers, all to make more money, which takes away from the integrity of the book and reflects in the movie. I’m all for capitalism but I sometimes feel we are being treated like young stupid children, like we can’t see what they are doing. I really like directors that do not feed into that ideaology like Godard, Cronenberg and with that being said in reference to black directors Spike Lee.
Okay I have rambled on long enough. I could write a PhD dissertation on this subject. I need to think about my favorite old movies and narrow it down to the top 2 or 3. Citizen Kane would be in that 2 or 3.
Oh my gosh. I love you. I often wonder if original screenplays that are out there floating around are of such poor quality, no one wants to take them on. ITA with everything you have said, Francesca. I appreciate and applaud the directors who stick up for their vision and don’t let the powers that be control what content should be allowed or not. I may not go see a film, but that’s my choice.
I think our rating system needs to change. I hate how greedy HW is and continues to become. And don’t even get me started on the amount of money we pay famous actors and actresses. I don’t care if you have won 5 Oscars, 3 GGs and whatever else. Unless you have set foot on the war front and seen things that will haunt your dreams forever, you don’t deserve that kind of money!!!
I have become a more avid reader over the last year and there are so many books I would love to see on the screen, but then I realize it’s not going to be nearly as great as the book and just my luck they would cast someone who couldn’t do the characters justice. I thoroughly enjoyed WFE. I forgot a lot of it, so the changes didn’t affect me too much. I thought the tone stayed true to the book and for that I was very grateful.
What was the last film that you saw that you truly could enjoy and leave feeling that you had seen quality directing and acting?
Hi Francesca-
Great post! It saddens me HW has reduced the amount of original screenplays it produces each year. I loved the “The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo” book and film series. Although, I think the first one was the best. I’m afraid to see the American version I’m sure it’s going to lose it’s raw edge. I hate the fact they re-made “Let the Right One In,” I heard it wasn’t bad but I still can’t bring myself to see it. I know HW thinks American’s hate subtitles that’s why they remake foreign films but I think it loses it’s brilliance IMO! Have u seen Biutiful? What did u think of it?
What were your thoughts about Inception and Black Swan?
Also, I could not agree with u more about PG-13. I think it’s gotten impetuous and keeps consumers from thinking critically on their own. I mean in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s filmmakers really pushed the boundaries. Today, I think it’s laziness mixed in with fear with some filmmakers. It’s a shame! Can u imagine “2001: A Space Odyssey” getting produced today? LOL!!
I’ve been reading The Underworld by Delilo I really like this book. What are some books u recommend? I love reading contemporary French and Spanish authors as of late. We are all big readers and film buffs here so feel free to ramble anytime.
Take Care!
I have not seen Inception yet. But I loved Black Swan. I have never left a movie theater feeling like I had just seen a “theatrical” performance, and that is how I felt. I love Broadway shows, some plays and a few operas. I need to rent Inception. I really enjoyed Underworld, White Noise and Libra by Delillo I thought Cosmopolis was okay not IMO one of his best works. I currently (the last 6 months) have been obsessed with autobiographies and I am not sure why. I am reading Tina Fey’s book Bossypants. and prior to thatJerry Weintraub’s book. make it a point to read The Iliad, Dante’s Inferno and To Kill a Mockingbird at least once a year. I was turned onto that when I was in high school and absolutely love them. I really love any book by the author Carson McCullers and recently read the books Unbroken, Left to Tell, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and 13 Cats Lavelle which was written by a friend of mine. IMO all great reads. I at times have a hard time reading authors outside of America. I know that sounds snobbish, but sometimes the translation doesn’t read right and it just takes me longer to get through them. As for Biufiful I thought Javier Barden was very good and Oscar worthy. My only complaint is I had a hard time feeling sympathetic for him. I couldn’t blame him. Kind of reminded me of Soprano’s, I know I needed to dislike Tony for all that he stood for and for the things that he did, but he was to likable. I will be in Montreal on Tuesday, but have every intention of being on for the live chat. It is at 7:00 EST correct?
Hi Francesca,
U have great taste in books. ITA Underworld and Libra was one of DeLillo’s better novels. I have yet to read White Noise maybe that will be the next book I read. I thought the writing was great in Cosmopolis but not very engaing when comparing it to his other works. I would love to discuss books further with u in our Chat area I have alot to ask u about the other books u mentioned.
Inception u must see and let me know what u think? Black Swan definitely had an emotional richness I have not seen in films in a long time. The way the story slowly builds in complexity without alienating audiences was fantastic.
Biutiful-I think Alejandro Gonzalez focused way too much on Bardem, which is easy to do given how wonderfully Bardem embodies a character
but I think the story got lost. I do like AG staggered and seperate storylines style of writing and directing I think Babel was much better by comparison. ITA with u it was hard to sympathize with Bardem’s character.
Anyway, I hope u have a safe trip and can join us tonight at 7pm EST!