Advertising for “The Amazing Spider-Man” heralds the reboot as “the untold story” of web-slinging teenager Peter Parker and his mysterious past. Don’t be fooled. The new film, released a little over 10 years after the first “Spider-Man” movie, is no novelty. It’s the “well and frequently told” story of how Peter Parker is bitten by […]
‘Amazing Spider-Man’ swings into familiar skies Read More »
With anything concerning Pixar, expectations can be a problem. Every new film from the computer-animated powerhouse is immediately compared to their grandest achievements, like “The Incredibles,” “WALL-E” and the “Toy Story” series. It’s an unfair comparison, especially considering many of the studio’s major talents have been focusing on non-Pixar projects lately (think Brad Bird with
Pixar’s ‘Brave’ a worth spin on Disney Princess line Read More »
Marvel has successfully assembled Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and The Hulk together on the big screen. After years of teasing and tedious setup (ahem, “Iron Man 2”), “The Avengers” is the movie that fans have long deserved. And, after two theatrical misfires, The Hulk finally gets a bold, fantastic showcase. When banished demigod Loki (Tom
‘Avengers’ exceeds its lofty expectations Read More »
Marilyn Monroe. J. Edgar Hoover. Margaret Thatcher. Three iconic figures in three notable biopics released last year. Let’s see what happens when we throw them into a cinematic steel cage match to the death. Move over, Katniss Everdeen. It’s the Iron Lady wielding an iron battle-axe. The Contenders Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in “My
Cage Match! Historical figures edition Read More »
I want to tell you why you should run out and see “The Cabin in the Woods.” I just can’t without giving away its secrets. Don’t worry. What follows is vague, spoiler-free praise. “The Cabin in the Woods” delightfully hacks and slashes through all the pathetic horror movie clichés that have ruined the genre in
‘Cabin in the Woods’ skewers horror movie cliches Read More »
Podcasts were a big thing several years ago, so naturally we are just getting into the phenomenon. Here is the very first edition of the Normdog Podcast. It’s shorter than the one’s you’ll hear in the future. Really, I was just testing the audio quality– it’s predictably terrible. Each topic will cover a specific topic
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Normdog Entertainment Podcast – The First Ever! Read More »
There may not be a movie as depressing as “Melancholia,” a fitting title for a good movie you’re probably better off not seeing. It takes an intimate look at the end of the world, focusing on the emotional state of two sisters rather than the destruction of national landmarks. There are no sensational news reports,
‘Melancholia’ the most depressing good movie ever Read More »
The fourth installment in the “American Pie” franchise (eight if you count four straight-to-DVD titles) is predictably one-fourth as funny as the original film. “American Reunion” brings the horny cast together this time for their 13th-high school reunion. That’s not a real thing, of course, but never mind. We’ve got numerous raunchy sex jokes and
‘American Reunion’ shows its age Read More »
Fans of Suzanne Collins’ book series came out in record numbers to see the trilogy’s first adaptation, “The Hunger Games,” hit the big screen last weekend. Box office domination, however, doesn’t always speak to the quality of the product. Just consider the painful experience of watching even five minutes from “The Twilight Saga.” “The Hunger
‘Hunger Games’ good for uber-fans, newbies and haters of ‘Twilight’ Read More »
We can have our good values and we can have our dignity, but sometimes we just need a paycheck. This is most true in Hollywood, where even the most respected actors and filmmakers work on a project for the sole purpose of banking a few million bucks. Some actors, however, seem perfectly content taking money
Six good actors who need to pick better projects Read More »
