Ethan’s’s Score: 5.5/10

I feel kind of bad that I’m about to give this film a negative review. It’s a sweet, well-intentioned and non-offensive comedy. And how many of those do we get? But it’s unfortunately pretty generic and predictable. And I have to be that asshole critic if I want any credibility. It just really pains me to say that Ricky Gervais could’ve done so much better in his American starring role debut.

Gervais play Bertrum Pincus, a misanthropic dentist who gains the ability to see ghosts after dying for six minutes during a colonoscopy. Many of the ghosts he sees beg him to take care of their unfinished business. But one that stands out is Frank (well-played by Greg Kinnear). He constantly follows and talks to Bertrum about his wife who he wants to make amends with. Bertrum gets to doing it and eventually ends up falling in love. You can probably see where this is going. And that was the big problem for me.

Gervais, who I consider one of the funniest people in the world, is able to squeeze some laughs out his well-known style of humor. Sometimes it doesn’t always fit in, but most of the time it hits. He has good chemistry with Kinnear and even if the writing isn’t great, it’s still fun to watch them. But unfortunately, at times the movie’s humor feels a bit closer to the sitcom-within-a-sitcom from Gervais’ Extras, When The Whistle Blows. A bit ironic I found that.

So I’m not saying this a terrible movie, it’s just far from a great one. In fact I could ‘ve easily given this a 6 or 6.5 but I have to be an asshole every once in a while. I’ll just end by saying to wait for DVD. It’s not really required theater viewing.

The Pit pimping continues!  This time around, we’re giving away a poster of The Pit and the Pendulum signed by director Marc Lougee as well as a large Pit and the Pendulum t-shirt!  I’ll have a pic of the t-shirt up tomorrow evening, but since we’re giving away two things, you’re going to have to work just a little harder this time around.

You won’t have to work for hours (hopefully) or anything, but we do want some thought put into your entry.  All you have to do is send an e-mail to contest at screengeeks dot com, make the subject Pit Contest #2, and tell us what Edgar Alan Poe story you’d like to see made into a stop-motion animation feature and why.  You don’t have to write a novel, but we’d like to see a couple of sentences, at least.

Pretty much the same rules apply as the other contest.  We will only accept one entry per person.  More than one entry will result in disqualification.  This contest is only open to US and Canada residents.  We will accept entries until 10pm Mountain time on Wednesday, September 3rd.  The winner of this contest will also be announced on ScreenGeeks Radio Episode 47.

Good luck everyone!

This week, we talk about bad movie remakes (and a couple good ones).  We also have the privelage of talking with Lar Park Lincoln.  Also, don’t forget to enter our Pit and the Pendulum contest!

 Show Notes Incoming.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Like I mentioned in our first contest post, Marc Lougee is debuting the DVD of Ray Harryhausen Presents Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum about three days before it launches at his website at Rue Morgue’s Festival of Fear in Toronto.

Well, I’ve talked with Marc and worked out something cool.  If you’re a ScreenGeeks fan, make sure you stop by his booth.  If you are the first person to tell him that ScreenGeeks sent you and you can answer his question (that’s a breeze to answer if you listen to the show), you’re going to get a pretty cool prize.  Both Marc and I know exactly what it’s going to be, but I’m going to leave it a suprise for whoever is the lucky visitor.

Even if you don’t win, stop by and talk to Marc.  He’s a cool guy!

Edit:  I’m going to be out of town on Friday, so I’ve extended the deadline. 

It’s not like we haven’t been talking up Ray Harryhausen Presents:  Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum or anything.  I’m sure that we didn’t mention it’s release at Rue Morgue’s Festival of Fear this weekend, either.  Well, director Marc Lougee has been kind enough to send us some goodies to give away.  We’re going to be running two contests to win some pretty cool stuff.

This contest is going to be pretty straightforward.  Up for grabs is a poster for The Pit and the Pendulum signed my Marc.  I’ll have a picture of the poster up this evening, but it looks very cool!  If you want to win this poster, all you have to do is send an e-mail to contest at screengeeks dot com and tell us what 90’s MTV show Marc worked on.  If you listened to SGR Episode 35, you probably already know the answer.  If you haven’t, we talk about it there and the information is also located on the Official Pit and the Pendlum webiste. 

When e-mailing your entry, please put Pit Contest #1 in the subject line so we can sort the entries for both contests.  We will accept entries until Wednesday, September 3rd at 10pm Mountain time.  We will then draw a random name from the correct answers to be our winner.  We will only accept one entry per person.  If you enter more than once, you’ll be disqualified.  The winner will be announced on ScreenGeeks Radio Episode 47, but will be contacted by e-mail before then.

Update:  Unfortunately, we have to limit the entries to listeners/readers in the US and Canada.

Good luck!

I’ve had this set up for a couple of weeks, but decided that today is the day to finally announce that we have a Cafe Press store.  You can get to it at http://www.cafepress.com/ScreenGeeks.  You can now get some pretty cool SG shwag in many different varieties.  Because of how high the initial prices are at CafePress, we’ve decided that we won’t be making any money on these shirts.  I set up this store so you can represent your SG love.  If you buy something, make sure you e-mail us a picture with you rocking it!

Better late than never!  This episode, we talk Comic-Con with Chris Stipp, Trailer Park columnist for Quick Stop Entertainment.  Also joining us are Nate and his brother Marc.  We also get plenty of mail and just have a good time all around!

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week, Josh warns us not to look into Mirrors, we have a spirited discussion about Tropic Thunder and what was supposed to be a discussion of George Lucas turns into a rather in-depth debate about the Star Wars prequel trilogy.  We even stay friends afterward!

My apologies about episode 44 being so delayed.  We have a great Comic Con discussion coming, and I’m having to do much more editing than usual.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Ethan’s Score : 8.5/10

Ah, the satire. A notion long abused and misunderstood by hacks who simply figure that the defintion of it is having people dressed as characters from popular movies getting hit in the balls. But Ben Stiller’s hilarious send-up of Hollywood reminds that it isn’t dead. It cleverly skewers action franchises, oscar bait, low brow comedies, hip-hop culture, method acting and good ole fashioned egotism.

Stiller who pulls triple duty as actor-director-writer balances an amazing cast of comedic talent and actual visual flair. Some recent comedies have been criticized for being funny but being visually drab. Luckily Stiller has veteran DP John Toll (of Braveheart and The Thin Red Line) to give the film the real look of a war film. This helps remind us of the ridiculousness that making event films is like and the cliches that pervade all dramatic and action pictures.

Much has been made of Robert Downey Jr.’s performance. And it deserves all this controversy. Because he’s fricking hilarious. He pretty much dominates every time he’s on screen. A truly fantastic jab at method acting. And much has also been mentioned of an extended cameo by a certain sunglasses-wearing Xenu worshipper. With this he reminds us why we all loved him in the first place. The dude can be really, really funny. This performance will no doubt give his career some goodwill that it desperately needs.

Everyone (well, except the easily offended) will dig the crap out of this film. Average Joe’s can laugh at the dirty humor. But film geeks will get the numerous references and spoofs of war films such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Saving Private Ryan. Really, just go check out the comedy event of the year.

Nate’s Score:  4/10

Walking into the screening theatre for The Rocker was exciting, just as exciting I suppose as waiting for a fish to bite. Sadly, this fish just wasn’t as big as it seemed to be while I was reeling it in. Getting away from this horrible analogy, it was quite the anticipated wait to get into the theatre and see Rainn Wilson as well as his brand new film, but the hype seemed to build expectations higher than they ever should have been.

(more…)