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Video Game Review: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’ Delivers on High Expectations
20 hours ago
Chicago – One of the more anticipated games in years is finally here and, by now, most diehard fans of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” have played through “Modern Warfare 2” on multiple difficulty levels and spent countless hours working through the variety of multiplayer modes and special ops missions. Hardcore fans of this franchise don’t just “play” these games. They eat, breathe, and live “Modern Warfare” for months after the game’s release and with a title this good, who can blame them?
Video Game Rating: 4.5/5.0
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” is essentially divided into three separate, time-consuming installments - a single-player campaign, a massive multi-player experience, and a series of missions entitled “Special Ops”. Much has been made about the brief length of the single-player campaign, running under five hours for most players, but it’s merely a third of the overall title and it is such an accomplished, »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: Remarkable 20th Anniversary Edition of ‘Say Anything...’
20 hours ago
Chicago – Sometimes fans have the choice between holding on to the standard DVD version of their favorite films or upgrading to the latest format, anniversary, or ultimate collector’s unrated fantastic edition. With many Blu-Ray releases merely improving the technical specs but often leaving the special features alone, it can be a tough call. Such is not the case with the 20th anniversary edition of the great “Say Anything…,” a release packed with excellent bonus material that make it a must-own for fans of Cameron Crowe’s directorial debut.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
After breaking through with his script for “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” Cameron Crowe fell into the worst project of his career, a lackluster ’80s teen movie called “The Wild Life”. After that experience, Crowe told himself that he wanted to write something personal and real; a film that took the lives of young people seriously and not merely »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: Rocky Balboa Fights His Way to ‘Undisputed Collection’
20 hours ago
Chicago – There are very few characters as iconic as Rocky Balboa. A few images, sound bites, or even just a few notes of a song and audiences of the right age are transported back to the first time they saw the Best Picture-winning “Rocky,” the film that made Sylvester Stallone a star over three decades ago. That beloved sports film and the five sequels that followed have been collected on Blu-Ray for the first time in “Rocky: The Undisputed Collection”.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
The original “Rocky” looks a little more dated with each passing year, but the spirit of the film is still effective. Watching it again for the first time in years, I was struck by how many films that followed it have copied the basic beats and tone of the film. Stallone’s smartest move with “Rocky” was keeping it simple; making it a story to which everyone could relate. »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 20 ‘Everybody’s Fine’ Chicago Passes With Robert De Niro
28 November 2009 7:38 PM, PST
Chicago – In our latest comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 20 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Everybody’s Fine,” which stars Robert De Niro!
“Everybody’s Fine” also stars Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell, Katherine Moennig, James Frain, Melissa Leo, Ben Schwartz, Lucian Maisel and Cheryl Woolsey from writer and director Kirk Jones. The film opens on Dec. 4, 2009.
To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Everybody’s Fine” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! This screening will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.
“Everybody’s Fine” stars Robert De Niro.
Image credit: Miramax Films
Here is the “Everybody’s Fine” plot description:
“Everybody’s Fine” (a »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: Tiresome ‘Four Christmases’ is Four Too Many
25 November 2009 12:02 PM, PST
Chicago – How has Vince Vaughn become one of the most boring actors in America? It has little to do with his performances and everything to do with his career choices. Sure, Vaughn has pretty much made a habit out of playing the exact same guy since “Wedding Crashers”: a fast-talking, self-absorbed, overgrown adolescent whose funniest quips are delivered under the breath and between punch-lines. Since you’re never sure what will come out of his mouth next, he’s consistently entertaining to watch, but the vehicles he chooses have become increasingly uninspired.
Blu-Ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
“Four Christmases” is a particularly obnoxious holiday offering, primarily because its filmmakers are convinced that they’ve created something that people can relate to. The film centers on a couple who routinely make up excuses to avoid spending the holidays with family. But when they enter the airport on their way to Fiji (foreshadowing Vaughn »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas’
25 November 2009 11:44 AM, PST
Chicago – Yes, comedy fans, there is a Santa Claus, and he’s here early with a raunchy, gleeful take on holiday traditions courtesy of Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Danny DeVito, and the twisted writers of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas”.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
Essentially, “A Very Sunny Christmas” is a pair of episodes (it runs about that length) crammed into a straight-to-dvd special and timed for the peak of the current TV season and the holiday one. The current season of FX’s hit show has been pretty hit and miss with some wildly inconsistent episodes in between a few series highlights (two words - kitten mittens). Not surprisingly, the Blu-Ray release of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas” is basically of the same caliber of the current season. In other words, if you’ve been disappointed in the show lately, »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
DVD Review: Breathtaking 5-Disc Gift Set For ‘Gone With the Wind’
25 November 2009 10:48 AM, PST
Chicago – If local news reports are to be believed, nearly everyone reading this will go holiday shopping sometime during the upcoming weekend. To those of you that are considering a DVD giftset purchase like the recent release of “The Wizard of Oz,” “Christmas Vacation,” or even “Mamma Mia!,” you couldn’t do much better than the breathtaking five-disc release marking the 70th anniversary of “Gone With the Wind”.
The lavishly-packaged new collector’s edition giftset of “Gone With the Wind” is one of those overwhelming releases in which the film itself practically becomes an afterthought to the collectibles and special features. Honestly, if you haven’t seen “Gone With the Wind,” it’s required viewing for the history of film. One of the most beloved movies ever made, even if you don’t love it (and I’ll admit that it’s not a personal favorite of mine like it »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Oppressively Bleak ‘The Road’ Buries Great Viggo Mortensen Performance
25 November 2009 10:18 AM, PST
Chicago – The long-delayed and highly-anticipated adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” has moments of stark beauty and a typically fantastic lead performance from Viggo Mortensen, but the film ultimately misses its mark as a whole piece, coming off numbing its bleak, repetitive view of the end of the world instead of inspiring emotionally or creatively.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
In works like “All the Pretty Horses,” “No Country For Old Men,” and “The Road,” author Cormac McCarthy has made his opinion of the human race crystal clear. We are headed for our end days as a time of decency among human beings has gone away. His highly-acclaimed novel “The Road” was the ultimate in bleak nihilism, giving readers a glimpse of how difficult it will be to hold on to any shred of humanity if we continue down our current path.
Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “The Road” in our reviews section. »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: HBO’s Epic ‘Rome’ Released in HD Series Set
24 November 2009 8:53 PM, PST
Chicago – Just in time for holiday shopping, HBO has released both seasons of the epic “Rome” in one gorgeously-packaged Blu-Ray set with all 22 episodes and bonus material including audio commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Whatever you may think of the show, “Rome” was one of the most beautifully designed programs of the decade and a perfect fit for 1080p.
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
The winner of seven Emmy Awards takes place four hundred years after the founding of the Republic. Rome is brought vividly to life as an allegory for power struggles in any era. In the show, the days of shared power has come to an end and everyone is fighting for their part of the new structure - it’s the perfect backdrop for betrayal, excess, and corruption.
Blending historical figures like Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, and Cleopatra with their own narratives, “Rome” was a gorgeous blend of style and substance. »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ Suffers From Uplift Overkill
24 November 2009 7:50 PM, PST
Chicago – Sometimes all it takes is a glance at a film’s poster to know where it’s stepped wrong. The poster for “My Sister’s Keeper” shows photogenic stars Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin smiling at each other, while their saintly co-star (Sofia Vassilieva) drifts below them, blowing bubbles. Anyone who has read Jodi Picoult’s book (on which this film is based) will know that there’s no reason why these two characters should be smiling at each other, except to fool audiences into thinking this is some kind of heartwarming feel-good drama. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what filmmaker Nick Cassavetes intends to transform his source material into, and the resulting film fails to grapple with the issues Picoult’s book boldly addresses.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
The premise holds great promise: eleven-year-old Anna (Breslin) was genetically engineered and conceived by her parents to be a donor to her sister »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
DVD Review: ‘Humpday’ Takes Heterosexual Comedy to a New Level
24 November 2009 7:40 PM, PST
Chicago – While Apatowian bromances like “I Love You, Man” play male bonding for laughs, Lynn Shelton’s perceptive indie comedy delves into the untapped complexities of brotherly love. After garnering the Special Jury Prize at Sundance, “Humpday” had a very limited theatrical run, and deserves to find an audience on DVD. It is one of the best micro-budget indies to fall under the media-created genre definition of “mumblecore.” These films examine the sex lives and relationships of ordinary twenty- and thirty-somethings with a level of candid intimacy rarely achieved in mainstream filmmaking.
DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0
Shelton is one of the few “mumblecore” filmmakers who attempts to bridge her improvisational scenes with a strong narrative arc (the Duplass Brothers made a similar successful effort in “The Puffy Chair”). In “Humpday,” Mark Duplass (currently on FX’s “The League”) stars as Ben, a young man on the verge of starting a family with »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’ Given Gift Set Treatment
24 November 2009 7:30 PM, PST
Chicago – It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Blu-Ray and DVD collectors. Every holiday season, studios pull out their most beloved films, polish up the picture, maybe add a special feature or two, and usually throw in a few collectibles for a gift set. Recent gift set releases include limited edition boxes for “Gone With the Wind,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Christmas Vacation”. The gleefully campy “Mamma Mia! The Movie” seems like a perfect fit and “The Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! More Gift Set” should make fans of the movie happy but is clearly the lowest rung on the ladder when it comes to these season releases.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
Before we even get to the movie, what qualifies as a gift set? With recent releases including such unusual items as a watch (“Wizard of Oz”) and fake snow (“Christmas Vacation”), don’t you think a film as weird as “Mamma Mia! »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Wii Round Up, Nov. 24, 2009: ‘We Cheer 2,’ ‘Family Feud,’ ‘Where’s Waldo’
24 November 2009 10:53 AM, PST
Chicago – Several Nintendo Wii games have been released in the last few weeks that might be just what you’re looking for when you do your holiday shopping this season. With so many huge releases like “Uncharted 2,” “Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time,” “Left For Dead 2,” and more taking up advertising space, it’s easy for smaller games to slip through the cracks. We’re here to catch them. Find release date and official synopsis information below.
“The Price is Right: 2010 Edition” and “Where’s Waldo? The Fantastic Journey” were released on September 22nd, 2009.
“Family Feud: 2010 Edition” was released on September 29th, 2009.
“Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo” was released on October 20th, 2009.
“Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked” and “We Cheer 2” were released on November 3rd, 2009.
“The Price is Right: 2010 Edition”
Photo credit: Ubisoft
Official synopsis: Experience all of the classic moments »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: Beloved Kevin Smith Films Released in High Definition
23 November 2009 3:38 PM, PST
Chicago – Very few filmmakers provoke the same kind of passionate adoration as the sometimes-great Kevin Smith, a man who has such a following that he can sell out large theaters filled with people who merely want to ask him questions for hours. Smith is a charismatic, interesting, clever filmmaker and his best work reflect his gregarious personality. Three of his best are captured in “The Kevin Smith Collection,” including two films with all-new Blu-Ray material.
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
If you were designing the Kevin Smith set and could only pick three films, what would you choose? The man has directed eight full-length feature films and we can probably cut “Jersey Girl” from consideration from the beginning, leaving seven to choose from. Personally, I would go with three different periods of his work and choose “Clerks,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” but then that »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Video Game Review: ‘Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time’
23 November 2009 3:18 PM, PST
Chicago – There have been several highly-touted, well-marketed video game releases this season including “Uncharted 2,” “Assassin’s Creed II,” “Left For Dead 2,” and “Cod: Modern Warfare 2,” but one of my most personally anticipated titles of the year has gone somewhat unnoticed. The lack of press made me wonder if perhaps I would be let down by “Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time”. Wonder no more - this is easily one of the best games of the year and a worthy entry (and reported finale) in this beloved franchise.
Video Game Rating: 5.0/5.0
As intensely addictive as anything released this year (or the last several), fans of the “Ratchet and Clank” series will have nothing to complain about and this title is entertaining enough that I believe even players who couldn’t tell the two characters apart would have a tough time putting down the controller. Continuously inventive, masterfully paced, and »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Ugly Truth’ is Neither Funny Nor Romantic
23 November 2009 2:02 PM, PST
Chicago – Here’s an alleged romantic comedy as clueless about romance as it is about comedy. It has a premise designed to illustrate how women think with their minds, while men think with their nether regions. Yet the male and female leads of “The Ugly Truth” are practically indistinguishable from each other. They’re both overly judgmental, profoundly self-absorbed, and thoroughly reprehensible. Neither of them would dream of dating a member of the opposite sex that didn’t meet their rigid list of superficial expectations based on physical features. These two people are clearly made for each other.
Blu-Ray Rating: 1.5/5.0
Too bad they’re played by Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, two of the most energetic and generally appealing stars in Hollywood. Their inherent likability directly conflicts with their unlikable characters. Heigl plays a TV producer who has all the warmth of Kate Gosselin, while Butler plays a local cable »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Exclusive Portraits: Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz of ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ in Chicago
23 November 2009 1:33 PM, PST
Chicago – This five-image slideshow contains our exclusive Chicago photography of Ashley Greene (who stars as Alice Cullen) and Kellan Lutz (who stars as Emmett Cullen) in the highly buzzed “Twilight” sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which hit theaters on Nov. 20, 2009.
Ashley Greene also appeared as Alice Cullen in the 2008 box-office sensation “Twilight”. In addition, she will play the same character for the third film in the franchise, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” which is slated to open on June 30, 2010.
Kellan Lutz also appeared as Emmett Cullen in “Twilight”. In addition, he will play the same character for “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”. Kellan Lutz was also in Chicago to film “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” which is scheduled for its theatrical release on April 30, 2010.
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed and »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Interview: Debbie Reynolds Dishes on Her Lucky Star Career
23 November 2009 9:04 AM, PST
Chicago – Debbie Reynolds, who began her movie star journey as a teenager during another show biz era, made her big splash in 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain.” What followed was a long and varied career as a singer, dancer and respected film actress.
Born Mary Frances Reynolds in El Paso, Texas, she lucked into her career by winning a beauty contest, which included a contract with Warner Brothers. Making her debut in “June Bride,” she also scored a charted hit with the song “Aba Daba Honeymoon.”
Following her big break in Singin’ in the Rain, she worked steadily for the next several decades in film, stage and Las Vegas revue. Notable films include “Tammy,” The Tender Trap,” “The Catered Affair,” “How the West was Won,” “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “Mother.”
Besides her long run in the movies, Reynolds is prominent as the mother of “Star Wars »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: After ‘New Moon’ Sets, Pick Up ‘Near Dark’
23 November 2009 8:32 AM, PST
Chicago – It’s funny the way that the Blu-Ray market has developed in that success of a new title can often bring an old one to the HD format more quickly than it otherwise would get there. In the case of the great “Near Dark,” it’s the success of two films, one that shares a theme (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”) and one that shares director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”). Whatever the reason, don’t fail to include arguably the best vampire movie ever made in your collection.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
I’d like to think that the success of one of the best movies of the year in Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” is why we’re seeing one of her earlier films on Blu-Ray but the cheesy, re-done cover that makes the thing practically look like a “Twilight” sequel leads me to believe that it’s »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 ‘Transylmania’ Chicago Passes to ‘Twilight’ Meets ‘Scary Movie’ Film
23 November 2009 12:20 AM, PST
Chicago – In our latest comedy/horror spoof edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Transylmania,” which is like “Twilight” meets “Scary Movie”!
“Transylmania” stars Patrick Cavanaugh, James DeBello, Tony Denman, Paul H. Kim, Jennifer Lyons, Oren Skoog, David Steinberg, Musetta Vander, Irena A. Hoffman, Natalie Garza and Nicole Garza. The film opens on Dec. 4, 2009.
To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Transylmania” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! This screening will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 at 8 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.
“Transylmania” stars Patrick Cavanaugh.
Image credit: Full Circle Releasing
Here is the “Transylmania” plot description:
A group of American college students travel to Romania on an »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
20 articles
