Don’t listen to the box office numbers, Grindhouse is great fun. I caught a showing last night and was entertained for three hours (like most people who have actually seen it). The first movie was a gritty zombie fest and the second a Tarintino dialog driven rod-rod fueled show. And unlike a lot of movies, Grindhouse ends on a high-note. One of my favorite scenes was the very last one. If you like gritty movies and comedic violence, go check it out.

I saw Superman Returns this weekend and thought it was terrible. It was not an action movie, but the story was so poor that the movie had to ride on the mixed in action scenes. If you are going to be plot based there needs to be something there. There was no excitement or surprise anywhere in this movie. A monkey using a typewriter in sweatshop conditions could have been more clever.

The non-existant plot combined with weak acting and effects made for a movie that was just disappointing. The effects were bad, but it’s not the fault of software. It took humans to make Superman’s cape flap around in the still vaccum of space.

I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this past weekend and was fairly impressed. I have only white-hot hate for Johnny Depp (mostly related to his phony accent that fools people into thinking he’s sophisticated…) but was able to move beyond that and actually enjoy the movie.

While watching the movie, I was really reminded of Michael Jackson… Wonka and Jackson have similar traits: they live in a big fantasy world, children are central to their lives and according to Depp’s performance they both look and talk like women.

I had a serious chocolate craving throughout the movie, I am sure the concession stand made a killing that night.

Best in Show is a faux documentary (mockumentary?) about the Mayflower Dog Show. You follow an eclectic mix of characters and their dogs for several days. It’s by the same people as A Mighty Wind which is filmed in the same style. Waiting for Guffman is another one that I’ll have to check out soon.

For fans of the humor found in The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld, Best is Show is a sure winners. Very awkward humor that makes me smile.

It’s now official–I watch more TV shows on DVD/DIVX than I do on TV. This holiday weekend brought amazing sales to the world of TV shows on DVD. Here’s the damage:

• Simpsons Season 4
• Family Guy Seasons 1-2
• 24 Season 1
• Seinfeld Seasons 1-3
• Chappelle’s Show Season 1 (Gift!)
  

Yikes! I might add that I got deals like the 24 season at $11.99 (24 x 1 hour shows on 6 discs!) and Chappelle for $9.99, so it’s a lot more video than money. When a store can drop the price from $40 to $10 you can tell the profit margins they work with, pretty amazing.

I caught I <3 Huckabees tonight and was very impressed. I didn’t know much going in, but walked out a big fan. If it’s playing near you don’t miss it.

Why did I like it? Very, very creative. It reminded me of a pulp novel. Crazy at times, but refreshing.

[Thanks go to Sam for getting advance screening tickets]

If you’re up for awkward-funny, check out Napoleon Dynamite. I never stopped laughing. I saw people I knew reflected in Napoleon, which made it all the better. Here’s the high quality trailer.

Update: How’s this for a review quote (from IMDB):

‘Dynamite’ is an end product that is so deadening, unfunny, and ultimately loathsome, one might start to worry about the mental health of people who actually find this movie funny.

Whatevs.

Today starts the sale of Kill Bill Volume 1 on DVD. I picked it up at BestBuy along with Reservoir Dogs for $20. The list price for the Kill Bill DVD is $29.99. Kill Bill Volume 2 comes out Friday, but this lucky writer gets to see it tomorrow thanks to a Miramax early preview. Since it felt like the pause button was pressed for the last 6 months, I’m very excited to finish this story.

I think Volume 2 will be a success because the movie seemed to pick up steam in its absence. I know a lot of people who didn’t see the first in the theater, but plan to see the second (catch the first on DVD of course). A $100 million or so. Not huge, but profitable.

Anyone else excited?

Despite poor reviews, the new movie Stuck On You [trailer] is a winner. I’m a fan of Matt Damon, and it was nice to see him in a comedy. It’s an obviously silly movie (the “twins” look about 10 years apart), but was even enjoyed by “too-serious-for-a-kid” me. Next up? Return Of the King. Yum.

Why make a new movie when you can use the same texture maps and slap a 2 on the end? It looks good though. Shrek was a great movie, but part of the draw was that it was so creative. The sequel won’t have that advantage.