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October Movies: Where the Wild Things Are, Zombieland, Couples Retreat


Mark Vader

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As the leaves continue to change color and the weather keeps getting cooler, the month of October rolls in to bring in an array of movies to keep mature audiences interested in the final month of Adult Season. Still the diversity of movies this month has something for everyone, before the big movies of November & December reach us.

 

Finally coming to the big screen is one of the most beloved children's stories ever, "Where the Wild Things Are". Young, mischievous Max is sent to bed without his supper, but when his bedroom turns in to a magical jungle landscape filled with strange creatures, he embarks on a wild imaginary adventure. Director Spike Jonze has a great vision for this story, yet Warner Bros. is somewhat cautious after an early test screening reportedly had children screaming and crying during the movie. It ended up with a "PG" rating and the creatures are more nightmarish than cuddly. Still, the story is popular and all kids who are now grown-ups are eager to see this tale on the silver screen. Starring Max Sessions, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini, Forst Whitaker, Chris Cooper & Catherine O'Hara.

 

For all you zombie fans, you may want to take a trip to "Zombieland". For once we have a zombie movie that is'nt, A) Inspired from a comic book, or, B) Is not from George A. Romero. In a world overrun by zombies, a guy described as "the most frightened person on Earth" musters the courage to lead a band of refugees on a cross-country pilgrimage to an amusement park where they think they'll be safe. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard & Bill Murray.

 

Former "Swingers" Vince Vaughn & Jon Favreau reunite in the comedy "Couples Retreat". Four couples settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional. The ensemble cast includes, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Jean Reno, Kali Hawk & Temuera Morrison.

 

Hilary Swank stars in the biopic "Amelia". A look at the life of Amelia Earhart, the American pilot who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 on her history-making flight around the world. Swank has won two Oscars, can she win a third? Also starring Richard Gere & Ewen McGregor.

 

Drew Barrymore directs and co-stars in "Whip It". In Bodeen, Texas, indie-rock loving misfit Bliss Cavendar finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin. Starring Ellen Page, Kristen Wiig & Marcia Gay Harden.

 

Michael Moore is back with "Capitalism: A Love Story". Moore sets out to uncover the truth behind the current economic crisis with interviews from Wall Street and government insiders.

 

"The Invention of Lying" is a comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe & Tina Fey.

 

After being pushed back a month, "Astroboy" is finally released. Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Starring Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron, Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland, Eugene Levy & Nathan Lane.

 

Gerard Butler & Jamie Foxx star in "Law Abiding Citizen". After family man Clyde Shelton is failed by the court system, he concocts a series of events designed to exact his revenge on the killers of his wife and daughter.

 

The Coen Bros. are back with, "A Serious Man". A black comedy set in 1967 and centered on Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern professor who watches his life unravel when his wife prepares to leave him because his inept brother won't move out of the house. Starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind & Sari Lennick.

 

Now what's October without horror?

 

In "The Stepfather", Michael Harding returns from military school to find his mother living with her new boyfriend, David. As the two men get to know each other, Michael becomes suspicious of the man in his mother's life. Starring Penn Badgley, Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward & Amber Heard.

 

In "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assisstant", A traveling freak show's most mysterious attraction recruits teenager Darren Shan as his assistant, though the young man soon finds himself used as a pawn in a battle between vampires and their deadlier counterparts. Starring Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek & Ken Watanabe.

 

In "The House of the Devil", A broke college student (Donahue) is lured to a Victorian mansion deep in the woods for what she thinks is a lucrative babysitting job, though she soon realizes her creepy clients have nightmarish plans for her. Starring Jocelyn Donahue, Tom Noonan & Mary Woronov.

 

Finally, in "Saw VI", Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. Starring Tobin Bell & Tanedra Howard.

 

In "The Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day", The MacManus brothers, who are living a quiet life on the family farm in Ireland, return to Boston to exact their unique form of revenge on the mob forces who have framed the brothers for the murder of a local priest. Starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus & Billy Connolly.

 

"This is It" is a compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.

 

And in "Gentlemen Broncos", Soon after his latest work is published, science-fiction author Ronald Chevalier faces charges of plagiarism from aspiring teenage writer Benjamin Purvis. Starring Michael Angarano, Jemaine Clement & Mike White.

 

Calendar with Trailers.

 

10/2

"Capitalism: A Love Story": http://www.capitalismalovestory.com/

 

"A Serious Man": http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810041776/info

 

"Zombieland": http://www.zombieland.com/

 

"Whip It": http://www.foxsearchlight.com/whipit/

 

"The Invention of Lying": http://the-invention-of-lying.warnerbros.com/

 

10/9

"Couples Retreat": http://www.couplesretreatmovie.com/

 

10/16

"The Stepfather": http://www.welcometothefamily.com/

 

"Where the Wild Things Are": http://wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com/

 

"Law Abiding Citizen": http://www.lawabidingcitizenfilm.com/

 

10/23

"Saw VI": http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810053300/info

 

"Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assisstant": http://www.thevampiresassistant.net/

 

"Amelia": http://www.foxsearchlight.com/amelia/

 

"Astro Boy": http://www.astroboy-themovie.com/

 

10/28

"This Is It": http://www.thisisit-movie.com/

 

10/30

"Gentlemen Broncos": http://www.foxsearchlight.com/gentlemenbroncos/

 

"The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day": http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/boondocksaints2/

 

"The House of the Devil": http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810003893/info

 

That's all for now. Independent Films will be posted later. Enjoy.

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i don't think i have ever read the "where the wild things are", as a kid growing up, i seem to recall getting freaked out by it and i must have never let it go, because i don't think we ever had it in the house for any of my 3 kids....i may try and check it out after all this time...i have no idea what i have been missing

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i don't think i have ever read the "where the wild things are", as a kid growing up, i seem to recall getting freaked out by it and i must have never let it go, because i don't think we ever had it in the house for any of my 3 kids....i may try and check it out after all this time...i have no idea what i have been missing

 

Wow, that's weird. I could have sworn you were born and raised in the US. So where you from anyway?

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born in syracuse, raised in liverpool....i honestly have no recollection of the story...i may have read it, but i couldn't tell you the first thing about it....was it required reading? is that why you are so surprised?

 

Wow, that's weird. I could have sworn you were born and raised in the US. So where you from anyway?
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born in syracuse, raised in liverpool....i honestly have no recollection of the story...i may have read it, but i couldn't tell you the first thing about it....was it required reading? is that why you are so surprised?

 

Nah, just busting your cajones. I thought every kid read that book.

 

I guess you missed it having been raised in England. :thumbsup:

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Mark: I appreciate your updates on movies and am really looking forward to seeing Where The Wild Things Are.

 

It was an all-time favorite of mine as a kid and the trailers look truly incredible.

 

Sendak loves the movie, and here is a quick clip of the actor who plays Max sharing a quote from Sendak about the movie:

Max Sessions

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Mark: I appreciate your updates on movies and am really looking forward to seeing Where The Wild Things Are.

 

It was an all-time favorite of mine as a kid and the trailers look truly incredible.

 

Sendak loves the movie, and here is a quick clip of the actor who plays Max sharing a quote from Sendak about the movie:

Max Sessions

Great clip, thanks. I too am looking forward to Where the Wild Things Are. They've been wanting to make this into a movie for a long time. I am surprised that they decided to release it in October instead of November. Warner Bros could have released it around Thanksgiving and had a 5 day weekend, and gotten a huge opening. The only other family film scheduled that month is "A Christmas Carol", which I hear is going to be amazing, but there would have been enough time inbetween for WTWTA to do big business. Oh well, I'm sure WB knows what their doing.

 

You're welcome for the updates. I have a lot of fun writing these previews up for everybody. Not just for the big movies, but for the smaller ones that not many know about.

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Well no ****. You weren't raised on this planet.

 

I'm pretty sure I never read it either, but for some reason, I see those creatures and I know exactly what they're from. I don't get it.

 

 

I love how when the start of each month rolls around, I don't even realize it until this thread is posted. You're doing more than you realize with this thread, Mark. I've been down on the selection that last two months, but Zombieland has me curious. They've really been pushing this movie lately. And after the review I read yesterday, a certain cameo might just be enough to get me to the theater (they didn't spoil it, but it's pretty obvious).

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I'm pretty sure I never read it either, but for some reason, I see those creatures and I know exactly what they're from. I don't get it.

 

 

I love how when the start of each month rolls around, I don't even realize it until this thread is posted. You're doing more than you realize with this thread, Mark. I've been down on the selection that last two months, but Zombieland has me curious. They've really been pushing this movie lately. And after the review I read yesterday, a certain cameo might just be enough to get me to the theater (they didn't spoil it, but it's pretty obvious).

 

I agree regarding these threads. I usually don't participate seeing I'm not a movie person but I'll skim the reviews to see if there's anything that peaks my interest. I'm embarrassed to say how long it's been since I've been in a movie theater.

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Interesting article in today's paper about Couples Retreat.

 

The director is Peter Billingsley, who was Ralphie in A Christmas Story. He's now 38. This was his first big directing job. He was the Executive Producer for Iron Man. Vince Vaughn is a friend of his from years ago when they met at an audition.

He was also a producer for a TV series, but I can't remember which one and it's not in the IMDB.

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Interesting article in today's paper about Couples Retreat.

 

The director is Peter Billingsley, who was Ralphie in A Christmas Story. He's now 38. This was his first big directing job. He was the Executive Producer for Iron Man. Vince Vaughn is a friend of his from years ago when they met at an audition.

He was also a producer for a TV series, but I can't remember which one and it's not in the IMDB.

That movie looks so weak judging by the trailers. Hopefully the wife won't want to see that one. Last weekend we saw Zombieland. Really fun movie. Well cast and a decent enough story. The little girl from "Little Miss Sunshine" was in it. Of course Woody and Emma Stone who is very cute. Also, the kid who played the geek/nerd Jessie Eisenberg was maybe the best of all. Movie had a great sense of humor and generally just a lot of fun.

Also so Whip It, which I was pleasantly surprised by. It followed a hackneyed formula but they did a good job with it. Another strong cast. I always enjoy Marcia gay Harden(the mom) and Juliet Lewis is consistently solid. One of my favorite actresses.

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Where the Wild Things Are looks creeptastic and the stuff of nightmares. I do not think the story translates at all to the screen without heading into an awful place. I predict that lots of kids will have nightmares after seeing it, judging from the trailers. (All this from someone who probably read the book 50 times a day as a kid.)

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Where the Wild Things Are looks creeptastic and the stuff of nightmares. I do not think the story translates at all to the screen without heading into an awful place. I predict that lots of kids will have nightmares after seeing it, judging from the trailers. (All this from someone who probably read the book 50 times a day as a kid.)

 

Really! I was never creeped out by Sendak's work... Now, The Cat in the Hat always creeped me out, go figure!

 

I think my children have the stories on tape (as illustrated from the book)... Doesn't Carole King do the singing for Chicken Soup with Rice and the others in The Nutshell Library... ? I am gonna have to go home and try and dig it up.

 

Maurice Sendak rocks!

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Last weekend we saw Zombieland. Really fun movie. Well cast and a decent enough story. The little girl from "Little Miss Sunshine" was in it. Of course Woody and Emma Stone who is very cute. Also, the kid who played the geek/nerd Jessie Eisenberg was maybe the best of all. Movie had a great sense of humor and generally just a lot of fun.

Saw it today. The only thing I was disappointed in is that they never went of the entire list of rules. I think thy only mentioned 5 or 6 during the entire movie.

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