This week more 80's remakes, a movie about bird watching, and the most disappointing movie I have seen this year comes home.

These are the movies that were released on Friday October 14th, 2011

The Thing (20011) – Rated R 

This is a prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 horror classic.  With an intro like that this film has the bar set high.  Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the lone woman in a Norwegian expedition to the South Pole.  This group finds a something sinister in a frozen block of ice.  I love the fact the producers of this film realized they couldn’t/ shouldn’t try to top Carpenters movie but instead go the prequel route.  I am very interested to see where they go in terms of the scares as we the film audience knows what’s going on.

Verdict – As a horror fan this one has been on my radar for a long time.

Footloose (2011) – Rated PG-13

In a remake of the 1984 that helped put Kevin Bacon on the map, Kenny Wormald goes against Dennis Quaid because all he wants to do is dance.  Footloose is an 80’s staple yet they are going to remake it.  A mostly country soundtrack to a movie about Rock n’ Roll makes me wonder.  Luckily I am not a huge fan of the original so I will cut this remake some slack.

Verdict – I am only interested in how evil and bad Dennis Quaid can be as the dreaded Rev. Shaw Moore.

The Big Year – Rated PG

Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, and Jack Black try to out bird watch each other.  Yeah that’s the plot.  I think this cast that includes Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston, Jim Parsons and Jole McHale will make it work.  This is from the guy who directed The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me.  I honestly don’t know about this film.  My hope is that the three stars make something enjoyable.

Verdict – Lets hope this is funny or I will feel bad for Steve Martin
Box Office Top 5 Movies In The Country
1. Real Steel – PG-13

2. The Ides of March – Rated R
3. Dolphin Tale – Rated PG

4. Moneyball – Rated PG-13

5. 50/50 – Rated R

Real Steel took #1.  I am not surprised.  I read mixed reviews of this so my thought of it has not changed.  Lets see how much it trails off next week. 

Still In Theatres
Abduction – Rated PG-13, Contagion – Rated PG-13, Courageous – Rated PG-13, Crazy, Stupid, Love – Rated PG-13, Dream House – Rated PG-13, Drive – Rated R, The Help – Rated PG-13 , Killer Elite – Rated R, The Lion King 3D – Rated G, Spy Kids: All The Time In The World In 4D – Rated PG, What’s Your Number – Rated R,

These are the movies released on DVD Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Green Lantern – Rated PG-13

I was disappointed with this film.  As a Green Lantern fan I had my hopes up.  Big mistake.  They did too much for the first film. I enjoyed the casting. They barely touched the characters of Sinestro, Tomar-Re, and Kilowog.  Correctly exploring those characters and their relationship to Ryan Reynolds Hal Jordan is a movie right there.  This made some money but you know you did bad when the studio has already fired the director for the sequel and said they are going to go darker.

Horrible Bosses – Rated R

The second best comedy of the summer is home on DVD.  I have heard as much good stuff about Horrible Bosses as I had about Bridesmaides.  I haven’t seen this yet but that will be rectified this weekend.

Tree of Life – Rated PG-13

Sean Penn wonders about life and remembers his past (including his dad Brad Pitt) in this movie brought you by the guy who helmed The Thin Red Line.  It won something at Canes but I can barely remember it in theatres.  I am willing to over look the semi mixed review because its Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.  How bad could it be?

Next week more Pirating with Johnny Depp,  an over stylized version of a literary classic, and seriously I thought we were done filming everything and being scared by it.  Wait now it takes place in the 80’s and is a prequel to the last two movies?  Well I am glade there isn’t another Saw coming out this year.

Credit – IMDB.com, Boxofficemojo.com, & Yahoo!Movies.com