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Top 10 Movies of 2009

Topics : Top Movies Lists
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 31, 2009

Wow this year blazed by so fast.  It’s crazy looking back at the year and to see how much you have accomplished, and well, how many new years resolutions have come and gone.  This new year brought us the Banter, and I hope everyone has enjoyed it.  Between Twitter, a new President, and of course [...]

And the Best Vacation Movie Is…..

And the Best Vacation Movie Is…..
Topics : Rants
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 30, 2009 national_lampoons_vacation

This past weekend I went home for the holidays to spend some time with friends and family.  Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas, I still love the day.  Free day off, and movies and Chinese food.  It was a great way to start up the nice weekend back.  On Saturday night I met up with [...]

Is Christopher Nolan a Movie Genius or Putz?

Topics : Movie News, Rants
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 29, 2009

Over the weekend I saw Sherlock Holmes and they had a couple of pretty cool trailers to get excited about for the 2010 movie lineup.  One of those movies was Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by the “It” director of the decade Christopher Nolan.  After revitalizing the Batman franchise where Batman Begins landed in [...]

12/27/09 Box Office Results: ‘Avatar’, ‘Holmes’, ‘Chipmunks’ All Unite to Break Holiday Record

12/27/09 Box Office Results: ‘Avatar’, ‘Holmes’, ‘Chipmunks’ All Unite to Break Holiday Record
Topics : Box Office
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 28, 2009 avatar_13

‘Avatar’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel’ all united to help this past weekend become the highest-grossing on record.

Snap Review of It’s Complicated

Snap Review of It’s Complicated
Topics : Movie Reviews
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 27, 2009 2009_its_complicated_003

My review of Nancy Meyer’s latest romantic comedy “It’s Complicated”.

The Triple Show

The Triple Show
Topics : Movie Experience
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 27, 2009

December 25, 2009 will now be known on my life calendar as the day I first completed the triple show. I’ve pulled off the double show before, as I’m sure many have you as well.  My recent absence from the movies forced my hand as my list of want-to-see movies piled up.  I had no [...]

Snap Review of Sherlock Holmes

Snap Review of Sherlock Holmes
Topics : Movie Reviews
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 26, 2009

Good Christmas Fun, right? Well, not so much. To sum it up real quick, Sherlock Holmes is a mess. The film stars RDJ, Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams and is directed by Guy Ritchie. Man has Guy Ritchie fallen from grace since his classics (i.e. Lock, Stock and Snatch). Sherlock Holmes was not well made, [...]

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Craig's 5-1

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Craig's 5-1
Topics : Top Movies Lists
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 23, 2009 crash

And here it is.  After a long but great decade full of tragedy and triumph in the world, pop culture and film seemed to carry us through the good times and the bad.  One of the most enjoyable aspects to writing about movies is the debates that they spark.  There is no right or wrong, [...]

Snap Review of Up in the Air

Snap Review of Up in the Air
Topics : Movie Reviews
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 22, 2009 Up-In-The-Air

Up in the Air is a poignant, fresh, and remarkable movie that brightens the day of anyone who sees it.  Adapted from the book of the same name, director Jason Reitman delivers his best movie to date, quite a feat after the presentations of Thank you for Smoking and most recently Juno. Ryan (George Clooney) [...]

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Matt's 5-1

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Matt's 5-1
Topics : Top Movies Lists
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 21, 2009

Our ‘Top 10 Films of the Decade’ column continues this week with each of our top 5 favorite movies of the decade (2000-2009). Without further or do, here is my Top 5 films of the decade 5. Batman Begins (2005) Years after the Batman franchise was embarrassed with Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy, Chris Nolan, [...]

RIP Brittany Murphy

RIP Brittany Murphy
Topics : Uncategorized
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 20, 2009

We have some sad news to report.  It has been reported that Brittany Murphy has past away at the age of 32.  Multiple news sources are reporting that the actress went into cardiac arrest early Sunday morning in LA, and, despite being rushed to hospital, was dead on arrival. Murphy entered the scene playing a [...]

12/20/09 Box Office Results: No Surprises Here: ‘Avatar’ Conquers the World

12/20/09 Box Office Results: No Surprises Here: ‘Avatar’ Conquers the World
Topics : Box Office
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 20, 2009 11ae_feature_forweb2-1

No surprises here: ‘Avatar’ opens at #1 with $73 million in my box office report.

Snap Review of Avatar

Snap Review of Avatar
Topics : Movie Reviews
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 19, 2009 2009_avatar_010

My review of James Cameron’s 12-years-in-the-making sci-fi epic “Avatar”

Early Review on Avatar

Early Review on Avatar
Topics : Early Reviews
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 17, 2009

The $500 million monster James Cameron project, Avatar, will hit theaters this Friday. The $500 million is a total budget amount  including both production and advertising, and is the most expensive movie ever made.  The hype bubble building for this movie will defuse Friday when you, me, and your neighbor will be able to check [...]

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Craig's 10-6

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Craig's 10-6
Topics : Top Movies Lists
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 16, 2009 SHREK

The new year fast approaches us and as we are all scrambling to find out what to do on the most overrated night of the year, we would like to look back at the past decade and reflect on the movies that it brought us.  The first decade of the new millennium has been a [...]

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Matt's 10-6

Top 10 Films of the Decade: Matt's 10-6
Topics : Top Movies Lists
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 14, 2009

Ok folks, we have arrived at the countdown. This week and next week, Craig, Nick and myself will each give you our list of the top 10 films of the decade.  Since this topic has been hotly debated over the recent weeks amongst film critics and fans, we want to give ample time to you [...]

Snap Review of Invictus

Snap Review of Invictus
Topics : Movie Reviews
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 14, 2009 invictus

Source: CBS News Invictus starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman directed by Clint Eastwood, is a tailing story about a country trying to unite as one.  Nelson Mandela (Freeman) is released from prison after 27 years locked behind bars, and soon after finds himself elected as President of South Africa.  The movie deals with the [...]

12/14/09 Box Office Results: ‘Princess and the Frog’ barely opens With a Croak, 'Invictus' starts Solid

12/14/09 Box Office Results: ‘Princess and the Frog’ barely opens With a Croak, 'Invictus' starts Solid
Topics : Box Office
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 13, 2009 disney_princessandthefrog_trailer2_1080p_n_806x453

‘The Princess and the Frog’ may open at #1 this weekend, but it barely opens with a croak.

Pee Wee Ready to Get Playhouse Movie Made

Pee Wee Ready to Get Playhouse Movie Made
Topics : Movie News, Rants
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 12, 2009 pee-wee-herman

Pee Wee Herman, our beloved creepy guy next door friend who also invaded our homes as children with his quirky laugh, funny acts, and even funnier outfit may be back again.  Paul Reubens, the actor who plays Pee Wee Herman is making his voice known that he wants to bring back the character for a [...]

Avatar + Team America = Funny Mashup Mock Trailer

Topics : Funny Clips, Trailers
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 10, 2009

Avatar, the new James Cameron flick is the most anticipated movie in a long time.  The movie is a 10 year in the making project and Cameron tells us that this new 3-D movie will revolutionize the industry with its stunning visuals.  While the visuals may end up being stunning, I think revolutionary is a [...]

Disney Returns to 2D Animation and I Couldn’t Care Less

Disney Returns to 2D Animation and I Couldn’t Care Less
Topics : Rants
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 10, 2009 2009_the_princess_and_the_frog_011

Disney returns to hand-drawn animation with this Friday’s “The Princess and the Frog”, and I couldn’t care less.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Teaser Trailer

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Teaser Trailer
Topics : Trailers
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 8, 2009 ukiemovies-764869828-1259773759

Potter part 7, well Potter part 6.5, has sent a teaser trailer to the web. If you don’t already know, the final installment in the Potter series will be broken up into 2 movies. From a business stand point, this is a brilliant idea. Why cash in once, when you can cash in twice?For us, [...]

Snap Review of Brothers

Snap Review of Brothers
Topics : Movie Reviews
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 7, 2009 Brothers Movie Poster

Brothers, based off a Danish movie is the story of Sam (Tobey Maguire) and how he goes missing and is presumed dead after heading back to Afghanistan to fight in the war.  His brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) after getting out of prison helps comforts Sams wife (Natalie Portman) and her two daughters, as a faux [...]

12/6/09 Box Office Results: ‘Blind Side’ Surprises as ‘New Moon’ Gets Old

12/6/09 Box Office Results: ‘Blind Side’ Surprises as ‘New Moon’ Gets Old
Topics : Box Office
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 7, 2009 THE BLIND SIDE

Sandra Bullock’s sports drama ‘The Blind Side’ finally defeated ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ at the box office in its third weekend.

The 10 Best Films of the Decade

Topics : Lists
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 6, 2009

Hello Banterers, The end of December 2009 will bring a close to first decade of the new millennium: the 2000-2009 decade.  In order to properly show our respects for this decade in film, Craig, Nick, and I will each put together a list of the 10 best movies of the decade. These lists will be [...]

Old School for the New School: Airport

Old School for the New School: Airport
Topics : Old School for the New School
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 6, 2009 airport

Airport (1970) Notable cast members: Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jacqueline Bisset Notable Awards: Oscar, Best Supporting Actress, Helen Hayes “Da da da duh dah….da da da DUH DUH!” One of the more memorable scores created for the disaster movie genre, it only takes a split-second for Alfred Newman’s score from Airport to announce to the [...]

Correction: Slumdog Millionaire is NOT overrated

Correction: Slumdog Millionaire is NOT overrated
Topics : Rants
Posted by : Matt Rosenberg on December 5, 2009

Sometime last February I wrote a post about how Slumdog Millionaire was overrated and did not deserve the acolades it was receiving. While I said it was a very good movie, I did not think it was great. Well, I changed my mind. Sometimes it takes a second or third or even fourth viewing to [...]

The Reviews Are In: ‘The Lovely Bones’ is a Bomb

The Reviews Are In: ‘The Lovely Bones’ is a Bomb
Topics : Early Reviews, Oscars
Posted by : Nick Ondras on December 4, 2009 zz025e4139

‘The Lovely Bones’ is performing rather poorly considering its writer-director, earning a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with only 16 reviews in.

Snap Review of Precious

Snap Review of Precious
Topics : Movie Reviews
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 3, 2009 precious-movie-poster

Precious, a movie about an illiterate girl who goes by the name Precious living in the slums of 1980′s Harlem.  After getting raped, she is now carrying the second child of her father and who is gone, and now living with her lazy mom who abuses her constantly both mentally and physically.  Precious gets introduced [...]

Second Run Theater Cured My Hangover

Second Run Theater Cured My Hangover
Topics : Movie Experience
Posted by : Craig Kessler on December 2, 2009 Hangover-movie-10

Movies are released on DVD only a few months after the movie was released in theaters.  This has had pros and cons to the movie industry, some times people don’t want to spend the high movie costs to see a movie in theaters.  Other times its great because with the movie fresh in their mind [...]