FRIDAY - MAY 29

Grand Readership,

I have been looking forward to the weekend of MAY 29 for well over a year, and DISNEY PIXAR'S UP has teased me as far back as WALL-E. And that it's released in the same weekend as SAM RAIMI'S return to horror in DRAG ME TO HELL makes it seem too good to be true. I imagine UP to become the second highest grossing film of the summer and year, behind only MICHAEL BAY'S TRANSFORMERS. JAMES CAMERON'S highly anticipated AVATAR will challenge both come December, but will only have one week of release in 2009. If you're headed to the theater, be sure to see UP.

Enjoy!

UP (DIR. PETE DOCTER/BOB PETERSON (III))

Although it's impossible to have a house as richly talented as PIXAR, one would imagine the dream team tandem of PETE DOCTER/BOB PETERSON (III)) to be one of the best. I won't bother listing their successes, but rather will share a short anecdote: UP is widely rumored to be the last of the "original" ideas put on the table at PIXAR'S founding creative meeting. As if the picture didn't need any additional hype, what, between it's universal praise and breathtaking appeal, we're left with a sinking wonder if this will the last of the great DISNEY/PIXAR creations.


DRAG ME TO HELL (SAM RAIMI)

As most of the geek community is well aware that DIRECTOR SAM RAIMI (SPIDER-MAN TRILOGY) got his start in grassroots horror with the success of his BRUCE CAMPELL films, they will be able to smile as millions flock to theaters to see a genre rebooted from the master himself. OK, DRAG ME TO HELL isn't that special. But for the horror fans and geeks who don't want to see STAR TREK for the eighth time or see PIXAR make another smash by the same count, this is a solid choice.

PREVIEW WEEKLY - FRIDAY MAY 22

Grand Readership,

Surprisingly, I have avoided the BOX OFFICE report - but even if I didn't, my prediction that TERMINATOR SALVATION will disappoint wouldn't change. The first week won't be the worst, either. SALVATION will flop hard and send several WARNER BROS. productions to a screeching halt as they digest how they could produce TDK (THE DARK KNIGHT) one summer and then fluke hard and fast the next. NIGHT AT THE MUESAM should do fine - but really has no chance against DISNEY'S UP, being released next week. If I were you, avoid the theaters this weekend and wait for the good stuff.

Enjoy!

TERMINATOR SALVATION (DIR. McG)

TERMINATOR SALVATION is the latest footnote in WARNER BROS. well-publicized (a la T3) neglect for a once-great franchise; with the latest iteration being helmed by McG (CHARLIE'S ANGELS) and hailed as disaster. I suppose if you're a die hard TERMINATOR fan you may have interest, but even those would be mention this later picture same breath as T2: JUDGEMENT DAY. Let's face it, WARNER BROS. messed up - but they have time to recover. Let's just hope they listen. Avoid.


NIGHT AT THE MUSEAM: BATTLE FOR THE SMITHSONIAN (DIR. SHAWN LEVY)

The DIRECTOR, WRITERS and STARS from the original are back - a fact that would suggest 20TH CENTURY FOX is taking after their biggest competitor DISNEY in keeping together creative teams that work. Also adopted from DISNEY? The colon riddled title. BEN STILLER is tiresome, the gag is old - but frankly, its better than most of what's released. If you find yourself at the theater this weekend - its the best new pick.