Wednesday, August 31, 2011

September Movie Preview And Comment Tips

I have the honor of a special joint guest post with Talli and Matthew today! We’re over at Spunk on a Stick’s Tips offering tips on how to get blog comments. So, head on over – but after you’ve checked out the upcoming movies!

A whole lot of average, but then, it IS the September dumping grounds. All descriptions courtesy of the IMDB.

2 –

Shark Night 3D
Director: David R. Ellis
Stars: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Alyssa Diaz
The Plot: A lake-house retreat on the Louisiana Gulf turns into a nightmare for a group of vacationers when they are subjected to an improbable phenomenon: fresh-water shark attacks.
PG13 – lame! They should’ve just gone for an over-the-top R like Piranha 3D.

Apollo 18
Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego
Producer: Timur Bekmambetov
Stars: ?
The Plot: Decades-old found footage from NASA's Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, reveals the reason the U.S. has never returned to the moon.
Remember this one? How many release dates is this now? Yeah, I’d skip this one…


9 –

Contagion
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Stars: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law
The Plot: The Center for Disease Control dispatches an international team of doctors to stop an airborne virus from spreading around the world.
I really like Sodebergh’s movies, so hoping this one is also good.


23 –

MoneyBall
Director: Bennett Miller
Stars: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill
The Plot: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Pitt) works to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
This one looks intriguing!

Machine Gun Preacher
Director: Marc Forster
Stars: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon
The Plot: After finding God, Sam Childers (Gerard Butler) leaves his outlaw life behind and crusades for hundreds of Sudanese children who've been forced to become soldiers.
Based on a true story, if you can believe that!

Killer Elite
Director: Gary McKendry
Stars: Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro
The Plot: A retired member of Britain's Elite Special Air Service (Jason Statham) is forced into action when his mentor (Robert De Niro) is taken captive. His mission: kill three assassins dispatched by their cunning leader (Clive Owen).
This will either be a great story and a Statham vehicle or just a Statham vehicle…


30 –

Dream House
Director: Jim Sheridan
Stars: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts
The Plot: As Will Atenton (Craig) and his family relocate to a quaint New England town, they soon learn that a mother and her two children were murdered in the same residence. While most everyone thinks the killer is the husband who survived the incident, Will works with a local woman (Watts) to piece together an even more disturbing puzzle.
A good cast. (Kitty, your Daniel Craig stars!)

Tucker & Dale vs Evil (limited)
Director: Eli Craig
Stars: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden
The Plot: In the mountains of West Virginia, hillbilly pals Tucker and Dale (Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine) look to drink, fish, and relax at their cabin retreat, until their encounter with a group of college kids turns into a bloody, deadly misunderstanding.
The previews for this one are hilarious! And it has Firefly’s Tudyk – a must see. And it's on HDNet Movies on September 28 - I get to see it early!

Any appeal to you? Or are you holding out for next month?

Now you may visit Spunk on a Stick’s Tips!

112 comments:

Ciara said...

None of these really appeal to me. I think I'm going to hold out until next month. Headed over to where you are hanging today. Have a great day!

Arlee Bird said...

Been seeing plenty of ads for Contagion and it looks like a good one. I like these kinds of films. Not a bad cast either.


Lee
Tossing It Out

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I am not really into these films but as usual you write a very good review of them.

Yvonne.

Isis Rushdan said...

Many of these I haven't heard of since I live under a rock in England and AFN doesn't have regular commercials (sigh).

Contagion and MoneyBall look really good to me. Now on my list.

Leovi said...

We're in good time, I love Steven Soderbergh.

Anonymous said...

Okay, my pick of what I really want to watch from the list is Shark Night... Just watched Conan yesterday and it wasn't bad - especially the eye candy!!!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Ciara, it's a sad month for movies, isn't it?

Lee, I have hopes for it since it's Soderbergh.

Isis, hope you get to see them.

Leovi, Soderbergh is a great diector.

TF, figured the ladies would enjoy the eye candy.

Anne Gallagher said...

I think if I had to choose, I pick Moneyball. I love baseball, the premise sounds interesting, (computer generated hah!) and well, you know, Brad Pitt.

Laila Knight said...

Dream House may be my only nibble. A 3D shark movie is the last thing I need. :)

MOCK! said...

Having just discovered Firefly over the summer, Tucker and Dale will get the Redbox treatment at some point. Moneyball, too

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks for the reviews Alex.... heading over for the tips now.

Donna K. Weaver said...

That Dream House looks really creepy especially since in the preview I saw it show Craig as the father and it's his wife and kids who were murdered. Yet he didn't now it. Weird time thing going on.

Contagion's got a lot of big names in it. Looks good.

Lisa said...

Typically only blockbusters come to Malaysia.

Jules said...

OOH! I'm looking forward to "Contagion." I love disease movies, does that something about me?! :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Jeremy [Retro] said...

i want to see Shark Night and the long anticipated Tucker & Dale vs Evil.. outside of those i am not sure of any of the others.. maybe Killer Elite cause it has my favorite lady in it... Yvonne Strahovski

jeremy

Heather M. Gardner said...

Haven't we seen all those movies just starring different people?

I do want to see T&DvsE because of Mr. Tudyk.

PK HREZO said...

man, i really want a good shark movie to come out. I always hope and always see them and they just don't cut it. Oh well.
Dream House is looking pretty good, eh?
Contagion is sounding a lot like Outbreak. But I do like Soderbergh films too.
And Moneyball will work for me cuz, um, well Brad's in it. ;)

Amy said...

Shark Night looks great, and I can't wait to see it! A little bummed that it's PG13 though, hoping it doesn't ruin it.

Also looking forward to Dream House, I love me some ghost stories! Thank you for sharing! :)

Ellie Garratt said...

Contagion looks good. Shark Night 3D looks like the kind of film you end up watching even though you beforehand it is lame!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Moneyball and Contagion look the most interesting. Like you say, Sept. doesn't offer much. I seldom go to the movies anymore. Thanks for the link on tips!! I'm heading right over there.

Charles Gramlich said...

Cool, I'll check it out.

Matthew MacNish said...

Several great movies coming up.

Carol Kilgore said...

Contagion and Dream House, depending on reviews - especially yours.

Liza said...

Not my type of movies...but your guest post was great! As someone who has watched your blog grow Alex, you certainly get what works!

Dawn Kurtagich said...

I'm definitely going to see Dream House. Bring it on!! :D

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Anne, Moneyball looks good.

Mock, isn't Firefly awesome?

Oceangirl, I doubt these qualify.

Jules, yes, but I don't know what!

Jeremy, Tucker & Dale looks awesome.

Amy, it should've been an R.

Ellie, on NetFlix!

Liza, thanks!

Luanne G. Smith said...

LOVE the cast for Killer Elite. I'll be seeing that one.

Suze said...

The only one that caught my eye was Apollo 18.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

I've been looking forward to Contagion. Hope it's not disappointing.

~Sia McKye~ said...

I know the kid is going to want to see Tucker & Dale vs Evil and probably Dream House (ugh, I don't do horror). Contagion sounds good.

Hope all is good with you Alex!

Sia McKye's Thoughts...OVER COFFEE

Summer Ross said...

I'll hold out for next month- LOL

Though I did see "Season of the Witch" and "Priest" over the weekend and enjoyed both of them.

Have a terrific day Alex.

Christopher Hudson said...

Machine Gun Preacher ... now that's a title!

mshatch said...

Shark Night reminds me of a small part of a scyfy movie I saw recently in which a guy gets taken off a dock by a shark. It was so ridiculous it was funny although I suspect that was NOT the intent.

can';t wait to see all the bad movies :)

Ty said...

Super excited for The Killer Elite! Also Contagion, Warrior, and Drive look really good too.

Straw Dogs: don't really like remakes, but will watch it at our 5 dollar movie night in Wallingford, CT.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

LG, I will as well.

Mary, Soderbergh rarely disappoints.

Summer, I saw Season of th Witch and it wasn't awful.

MsHatch, that would be Swamp Shark!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Wow, lots of stuff coming out! Rating something PG-13 sounds like an odd tactic for Shark Night....

Anonymous said...

Money Ball intrigues me. And Machine Gun Preacher actually. What an ironic title!!

Doralynn Kennedy said...

There are several here that I want to see: Apollo 18 (soon as possible!); Contagion (I'm an apocalyptic kinda girl); and Machine Gun Preacher (anyone who really knows me can tell you why.) ;-)

Anonymous said...

Machine Gun Preacher? Wow. I'm gonna have to check that one out.

TS Hendrik said...

Soderbergh says he's retiring. Course he's said that before so who knows. Isn't it great how contagion comes out when they're talking on the news that the bird flu is back and mutated? If you ask me that's taking marketing a bit far.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Of these I will see Shark Night, Contagion, and Moneyball. They look decent. Shark Night looks so cheezy that if I don't see it, I will have missed out on life. Sharks in a lake lulz.

Mark said...

Good reviews:) But I've got to say Hollywood keeps manufacturing the same thing over and over again...another 3D shark...really? Really? And the sorrow of Apollo 18 is that it never happened...if we found aliens then at least we would have had more moon missions;)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Elizabeth, it does!

Milo, based on a true story!

Michael, and it's been done before and just as badly!

Mark, there are three of those shark movies coming out -really!

Glynis Peters said...

Fortunately I should be too busy being a first time grandmother in September. None of these appeal, Alex but thanks for sharing.

Bob Sanchez said...

Contagion and Money Ball might be fun, but I'll probably hold out for the DVDs.

Nice post over at Spunk on a Stick!

Hart Johnson said...

Contagion is the one that is most my thing, though Dream House looks like ones I could enjoy with my kids--they love haunted stuff and I like it pretty well.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Whoa, Alex! Do you really watch every movie that comes out? You should be Hollywood's Spy!

Looks like I'm not going to the movies this month. :P

Happy upcoming weekend!


♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
YA Paranormal Romance, Darkspell coming fall of 2011!

BECKY said...

Hi Alex! I hope, like you, that Contagion is good. I also want to see Money Ball. Just saw ads on TV last night and looks good, with some great actors!

Sarah Ahiers said...

i definitely want to see contagion. I wish apollo 18 looked stronger because i love space horror.
Off to check out the other blog

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm hoping Contagion is good :)

Sarah Tokeley said...

Definitely fancy contagion, I know the plot's been done to death but nice looking cast.

Would like to see MoneyBall because the new (American. So far, awesome,) owners of my favourite soccer team apparently employ this technique.

Killer Elite - I can't help it, I love Jason Statham films, even though he only plays Jason Statham, and Clive Owen, score.

Dream House. Daniel Craig. Nuff said.

Bethany Elizabeth said...

I really want to see Moneyball. It looks so good!!! :)

laughingwolf said...

nothing here for me... moving along

Old Kitty said...

I have two films I would really like to see this Sept. Aliens VS Cowboys and The Skin I Live In. Fingers crosses I get to see these! Yay!

Ooooh off I go to see you over at Talli's and Matthew's! Take care
x

M Pax said...

Guess I'll wait until October? Although, Contagion might be OK.

Old Kitty said...

p.s. ok I just twigged - you ain't over at Talli's and Matthew's - y'all at a place with the word "Spunk" in it! LOL and tee-hee, titter! Ok, off I slink off now..!!

Take care
x

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, Bob!

Elizabeth, I have about reached the end of NetFlix...

Sarah, I like Statham's standard character as well.

Kitty, you have to see Cowboys and Aliens for your Daniel Craig!

Leovi said...

I loved the post about the comments in Spunk on a Stick's Tips. I must admit that what they say are truths. I respond to all comments, even those who say to themselves.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I recently watched Tucker & Dale vs Evil and it is hilarious. It's a must-see.

Gail M Baugniet - Author said...

Jumped over from Spunk On A Stick. Thanks for sharing ideas about how to effective follow blogs and be followed successfully to receive quality comments.

I am still catching up on movies previously released in the theaters here. SARAH'S KEY is my top recommendation. The air conditioning was out at the theater on Sunday afternoon and everyone still sat, enthralled, through the entire movie.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Having been an Oakland resident for years, I'm amused by MoneyBall. Really? Could it be a PR stunt? They've worked so hard to try to get people to the games - free tix, dollar night, etc. Still, the stands have been pretty empty for years. Maybe Brad Pitt will increase their popularity.
xoRobyn

Elana Johnson said...

Yeah, I think I'll hold out until next month...

Elisa DeLany said...

...I actually really wanted to see Apollo 18...

Shark Night I will probably see when it comes out at the dollar theater just for laughs with friends. Contagion reminds me too much of Outbreak and I'll probably be terrified of it when I do see it.

Copyboy said...

Machine gun preacher strikes my fancy.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Leovi, thank you, and you do an amazing job responding.

Lynda, I can't wait!

Hey Gail! You know it's a good movie if people don't care the AC is out.

Robyn, maybe next they will try to improve the image of the Raiders as well.

Yeah, not much this month, Elana...

Marlena, that might be fun - you can all make fun of it together.

Unknown said...

Some of them look interesting but I'm really interested in your post with Talli and Matt so I'm heading over.

Rusty Carl said...

I'm looking forward to moneyball. I don't I'd care for any of the other, except maybe for Tucker & Dale, which I've only heard of just now. I get HDNet Movie channel too, so please remind me to watch that one.

Lydia Kang said...

I went over. What a great conversation going on over there!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Rusty, you need to watch it on September 28 then!

Thanks, Lydia.

ali cross said...

Yeah, I'm feeling the movie blahs this month. Darnitall.

ali's blog

Kimberly said...

I just saw a preview for Contagion so that one sounds interesting to me. :)

Jamie Gibbs said...

Contagion and Tucker & Dale are on my list of 'to sees'. Shame about Apollo 18; it had potential, but I've lost all interest in it.

Rhonda @Laugh Quotes said...

We have completely different taste in movies :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jamie, it did have potential, but since this is its third release date, that only means one thing - it's bad.

Sorry, Rhonda. I did go for a variety this month.

Unknown said...

Thanks Alex for the great reviews as usual! Off to check out your links.

Karen Lange said...

Thanks for the rundown on these movies! Will hop over to Diane's place!

Talli Roland said...

Not much appeal for me, sadly. Good to appear with you over at L Diane's!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Born, I'm definitely plugging the blogfest for you tomorrow. Unfortunately I have the Insecure Writer's Support Group post next Wednesday, Talli's book launch blogfest the week after that, and then Nicki doing a guest post the following Wednesday.

Talli, it was fun! Still getting comments as well.

Anonymous said...

I'm holding out high hopes for Contagon. My kinda movie. And Machine Gun Preacher looks good. I have met some of the Lost Boys from Sudan years ago, and I have a good missionary friend who has been going to The Sudan for years.

Anonymous said...

Oooh, lots of good ones here. I'm excited about KILLER ELITE.

Aleta said...

None of the movies are screaming out to me to watch them. If I didn't have to paint a house this weekend and next weekend and the following weekend (ugh)... I'd watch one or two of those movies :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You, Talli, and Matthew did a great job yesterday with the guest post.

I like Jason Statham. Might go see Killer Elite.

Pat Tillett said...

I'm thinking that Shark Night 3D might already make onto some "worst movies ever" lists...

I actually want to see a few of these. thanks for the reviews!

Crystal Collier said...

My goodness. I look forward to the day when Hollywood actually gets creative. *sigh*

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Aleta, even these movies sound better than painting!

Thanks, Diane.

Pat, I think you're right!

Crystal, don't hold your breath...

Jennie Bailey said...

I'm really disappointed about Apollo 18. The plot drew me in right away, but all the release date pushes do not bode well and I'm going to have to skip it. Definitely going to catch Tucker & Dale vs Evil!

The Man-Cave said...

I wish Shark Night 3D was R but I'm going to see it anyway. I has sharks and it's in 3D so I'm there. Tucker and Dale also looks great. Moneyball...meh. Read the book back in '03 and liked it but his formula and ideology didn't work long term. He got lucky with drafting Zito, Mulder and Hudson. After they left? Nada. Riccardi is out of baseball. I know too much of the real story to appreciate it. But the book is a fun read.

Unknown said...

I'll see Moneyball for sure. I'll also look for Tucker & Dale locally. Otherwise, I'm just looking forward to BluRay releases. September is always a good home movie month: X-Men First Class is a first day purchase for me! Hope the extras are as good as the movie.

Laura said...

I so enjoyed the tips - what a fab blog too - thanks for the intro...
I fancy seeing Killer Elite... (but then I have a Jason Statham habit!)
Lx

Nancy Thompson said...

I just saw trailers for Dream House and Contagion today, but other than that, I've never heard of any of those flicks. Then again, I've been away for awhile.

Great article on blog comments, Alex. And thanks for always coming by and commenting at my place. I don't know how you find the time to do it all, write, blog and comment.

Tanya Reimer said...

Ah yeah. Not sure why but contagion sounds so cool. Guess I'm sick that way.

Patricia Stoltey said...

I would put Contagion and Moneyball on my list (for DVD rental) and maybe Apollo 18.

I'm getting pretty picky about the movies I watch these days. I'm stopping a lot of DVD ten minutes into the show, and that's why I don't go to the movie theater very often. Once I've paid for that ticket and have my popcorn, I feel compelled to stay through the whole thing, no matter how miserable a movie it is.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jennie, that's why I dig you - you like the cool flicks!

Geof, I didn't read it, so maybe the movie will work for me.

EJ, that's one of my purchases!

Nancy, I make time for my blogger buddies!

Nicki Elson said...

I hope you noticed when you left your comment today that I took your tip and changed to a pop up comment box...or whatever that's called.

I'll be getting you my guest post within a couple of days - I'm excited for my visit. :)

RaShelle Workman said...

I'm really not excited about any of these. Although, I'm tempted to see Shark 3D simply for the large, gaping shark mouth!!! ;D

Jeff Beesler said...

I've hit a bit of a lull in commenting on other people's blogs lately. Hopefully I pick it up. But you said over on my blog that something is happening next Wednesday that'll knock the blogging world off kilter. What did you mean by that?

Dafeenah said...

dream house is the only one I might consider. You are a busy man, the campaign, the writers group, guest posting, movie reviews, being a ninja I don' t know how you do it all.

Ella said...

I really want to see Contagion and the Brad Pit one looks good, MoneyBall. DreamHouse isn't that the flick that brought Craig and Weisz out in the open(aren't they a couple).
Statham will bring them in, but will the story be strong enough?!
I love Gerard Butler, but as a preacher? It isn't working for me~ Great story, but the casting on this one is odd for me!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Nicki, good for you! Looking forward to hosting you.

Jeffrey, the first post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! All that insecurity hitting the Internet at once...

Dafeenah, I just don't sacrifice sleep, food, or sex.

Ellie, Butler as a preacher is odd!

Amity said...

Dream House? I'd love to watch that soooonnnnnn!!!

Hot Tamales? Yummm!!! That must be so hot and marathon movie viewing, another tempting idea...but my kids and hubby just had one last weekend. Kids were home for a long 5 days holiday in the country, and amidst the hammering rain in the rooftop we would pretend we're not hearing the noise, just engrossed in the movies "Sucker Punch", "The Priest", "No Strings Attached"... "Sniper"...and a couple more I could not recall the titles anymore... :P

Thanks Alex for being always there to serve wonderful previews...will bookmark this one...:) And yeah, thanks for being always my reader though I am not always around to blog!

Enid Wilson said...

I like Apollo 18's plot, always interested in space exploration stuff.

Every Savage Can Reproduce

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Amity, your words always have such a wonderful 'sound' to them - it's a delight to come by your blog. And I just got Sucker Punch from NetFlix, so I'll be watching it this weekend.

Angela said...

Dream House looks interesting.

Wendy said...

Apollo 18 is SO on my list of movies for this weekend. WOOT!

TerryLynnJohnson said...

I'm disappointed there aren't any good ones coming! Except Contagion of course. And anything with Daniel Craig is a must.

Karen M. Peterson said...

I'm not too excited by any of the September offerings. Might be a good time to catch a couple of lingering summer flicks that I missed the first time around!

I was intrigued by Moneyball, because I'm such a baseball fan and all, but I just have a hard time with this movie since it's about a strategy that pretty much failed miserably, but it's presented as a Cinderella type story.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Terry, Craig is a big draw!

Karen, there were some great movies this summer - go catch one of them.

Maurice Mitchell said...

I thought the same thing about the "Apollo 18" release dates. Not a good sign when they keep moving it.

Brianna said...

Dream House looks right up my alley!

msmariah said...

Yeah I originally really wanted to see Apollo 18, but it's has some problems. It's gotten horrible reviews. I'm really surprised they messed that one up.

Donea Lee said...

Dream House looks seriously creepy!! That's about the only one looking good to me...

Hey - where's your review of SyFy's "Jabberwock"????? (j/k...sort of...)

TerryLynnJohnson said...

saw Contagion yesterday. not bad, but a little slow. the trouble with germ movies is the threat moves sort of slow. but I wanted to wash my hands after I left the theatre. very real!

still looking forward to Daniel Craig.