In Bruges (4/5)
Leatherheads (4/5) - I love slapstick film and there is one scene that is so beautifully shot that I want to just hang it up on my wall.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (4/5) - About on par with 40 Year Old Virgin in terms of laughter, but I feel it is an all around better script.
Now to the real list, the top 5 big budget action/comedy films I want to see that are coming out later this year are.
5) Wall - E
I love Pixar with a passion. They tell stories that they want to. Never do they half-ass a movie just to make a buck, they aren't Dreamworks Animation. This movie seems to be the next great project. I mean, they have had a brilliant marketing campaign and I'm already in love with that goofy little robot who reminds me of Number 5 from Short Circuit. This is the story of a robot who finds his place in the world. The interesting part about it is that it is told with extremely limited dialog. This is going to prove exactly how good Pixar is if they can tell a compelling story without a main character that speaks, and I think they can. It also looks so beautiful.
4) Pineapple Express
Judd Apatow is awesome and so will this movie be. I actually have the script for it, and let me tell you it is a good one (however, many lines have changed I've seen from the trailer, but they've changed for the better. Script review will be up shortly). It is the story of Dale (Seth Rogen). He just wants pot, and he scores the best in town from his dealer Saul (James Franco). However, he witnesses a murder and all shit hits the fan. Saul and Dale have to hit the road and avoid being killed. I've watched this trailer about one time a day since it hit the internet and every time I see another thing. This is going to be hilarious. I love the part where Saul tells Dale how they can catch them.
3) Iron Man
Iron Man has always been one of my favorite superheroes. I used to rent a 60's cartoon where Iron Man fought War Machine. Now this movie just looks badass. Everybody looks incredibly perfectly cast. Especially Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. They pretty much share the same life, especially with Stark's later alcoholism. Downey seems to have taken on this role as a man who is forced into being a super hero after becoming a prisoner of war. I was fairly skeptical on what Favreu would do with it because he had never done anything like this, but it looks like he has nailed it. It also kicks off this year's summer movies. Seriously, this just looks awesome and a good start for Marvel Productions.
2) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Who doesn't love Indiana Jones? Nobody? Right, that is what I thought. I grew up watching them and I love all of the movies. The only problem that people could forsee with this movie is the time between the last one and this one. However, I feel that it is a good sign because they could have just chruned one out after the last movie and nobody would have batted an eye. They have waited their time to find the perfect script and the trailer, which I love, shows this. They know what fans know and what fans want to see in a new movie and it seems as if this is a happy balance between Raiders and Temple of Doom. I don't know much about the plot, as nobody really does, except for the fact Indiana is searching for some crystal skulls... sounds good to me.
1) The Dark Knight
Batman is my favorite superhero and I love what Nolan did with the last movie. My only complaint was how long it took to actually get Bale in that damn suit. However, it looks like Nolan has decided to make the Batman movie that every fan has wanted to see: a noir film with awesome action. I know that this isn't a noir film, but it comes off as much more a mystery to solve, just like the comics. In fact, it seems as if it is one of the comics that everybody loves. We don't have to waste time with origin or anything with this, just kick off with the action and the new struggles in Bruce Wayne's life. However, this movie could easily be below Indy 4 if it wasn't for one man: Heath Ledger. He was a good actor who was seemingly reaching his peak, which it looked like is this: the Joker. The ultimate comic book villian. Ledger looks unbelievably frightening and down right perfect for the role. No, it isn't exactly like the comics but it is the spirit of the character that is there and Ledger seems to have captured to what maybe a post-mortum Oscar nomination (those who have seen parts of this film say it is one of the best villians of all time. Michael Caine was even talking about it before Ledger died). This looks down right incredible and I can't wait. Not much is known about the plot other than Wayne must take down the Joker.
So there is my list, not very shocking, but enjoy.
