Cinematical

Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Monday Night Poll: Silliest Horror Villainshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/19/monday-night-poll-silliest-horror-villains/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/19/monday-night-poll-silliest-horror-villains/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/19/monday-night-poll-silliest-horror-villains/#commentsFiled under: Horror, Fandom, Polls

When it comes to making movies, few things are more subjective than horror. There's nothing that scares everyone, and even if your movie is about something that most people find frightening, that's no guarantee you'll depict it in a way that earns goosebumps. Meanwhile, plenty of good filmmakers have produced terror with things that audiences wouldn't have thought would scare them. (Before Psycho, was anyone ever afraid of showers?) So it's a crapshoot, basically.

Still, some horror films have had villains that they must have known -- or should have known -- wouldn't be scary, no matter how skilled the execution. (And the lousy execution of some of these didn't help.) The Child's Play films got intentionally goofy later in the series, but in the beginning Chucky the murderous doll was actually supposed to be scary, despite being 18 inches tall and weighing only a few pounds. Then there was the title character of Leprechaun, also diminutive and silly, AND he didn't even speak with an Irish accent! If I'm going to watch a movie about a leprechaun, that leprechaun had damn well better sound Irish. I'm just sayin'.

Or remember Darkness Falls, where the supernatural villain was the tooth fairy? Or the evil genie in the Wishmaster films, putting ironic, malevolent twists on people's wishes? Or Julian Sands' time-traveling he-witch in Warlock? The killer snowman in Jack Frost? What's your vote for the silliest horror villain? One of these, or someone else? Let us know in the comments.

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]]>childs playChildsPlaychuckydarkness fallsDarknessFallsfeaturedjack frostJackFrostleprechaunvillains09warlockwishmasterEric D. SniderMon, 19 Oct 2009 21:03:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: The Lamest Superhero Movie Villainshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/05/monday-night-poll-the-lamest-superhero-movie-villains/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/05/monday-night-poll-the-lamest-superhero-movie-villains/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/05/monday-night-poll-the-lamest-superhero-movie-villains/#commentsFiled under: Polls

I grew up loving all things Superman, but even as a lad of 13 I could tell that the villain in Superman IV -- Nuclear Man, created when Supes threw all the world's nuclear weapons into the sun -- was dumb. He had no personality. He didn't even have a name. "Nuclear Man" is what the closing credits called him, but no one in the film ever calls him anything. Rule No. 1 of being a supervillain: You must have a name. I cannot imagine any exceptions to that rule.

So Nuclear Man is probably my vote for the lamest villain in a superhero movie, but it's hardly a slam-dunk. He has a lot of competition. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campy Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin is legendary. At the opposite end of the muscles scale, there's whiny Venom (Topher Grace) in Spider-Man 3 and emo-goth Blackheart (Wes Bentley) in Ghost Rider. And don't forget Faye Dunaway in Supergirl, Sharon Stone in Catwoman, and the completely useless Gambit (Taylor Kitsch) in the completely useless X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Or the ineffectual but well dressed Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) in Daredevil.

We could go on forever, but we had to narrow it down for the poll. Now we seek your input. Who's the worst villain in a superhero movie? One of the choices below, or someone else? Feel free to explain your choices in the comments.

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]]>villains09Eric D. SniderMon, 05 Oct 2009 22:18:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: Can Megan Fox Act?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/monday-night-poll-can-megan-fox-act/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/monday-night-poll-can-megan-fox-act/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/monday-night-poll-can-megan-fox-act/#commentsFiled under: Horror, New Releases, Fandom, Polls

Megan Fox in 'Jennifer's Body'

We know she has breasts, though the unveiling of their full bared glory remains, teasingly, for the future. We know she likes to kiss boys and girls. We know she has a face to die for, as several unlucky victims discovered this weekend in Jennifer's Body. But can Megan Fox act?

Cast in her first lead role as iconic small-town cheerleader Jennifer, Fox certainly sashays well. As directed by Karyn Kusama, Fox looks terrific in slow motion, walking down a high school hallway like it was a catwalk, or emerging from a refreshing skinny dip, smiling secretly because she knows all eyes are upon her. Her lips and tongue look very kissable in extreme close-up. Even when she looks "bad," it's still better than most could hope for, as her ostensible BFF Needy (Amanda Seyfried) observes. When called upon to emote, however, Fox says lines -- scripted by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody -- without any deep conviction or sincerity, as though she were a TV spokesperson introducing a commercial break: "We'll be right back after these important messages!" Even when her character is involved in life-and-death struggles, she comes across as breathy and vapid, drawing less upon her soul and more upon presenting her best angle to the camera. I think her co-star Amanda Seyfried blows her off the screen.

But that's just my opinion. (Cinematical's Jenni Miller has a different opinion of the movie, while our reviewer Todd Gilchrist called her "fanboy catnip," which seems about right.) What do you think? Can Megan Fox act her way out of a paper bag? Or has she just gotten an unfair rap because of her beauty and outspoken behavior? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments!

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]]>amanda seyfriedAmandaSeyfrieddiablo codyDiabloCodyjennifers bodyJennifersBodykaryn kusamaKarynKusamamegan foxMeganFoxPeter MartinMon, 21 Sep 2009 22:03:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! The Final Battle!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/08/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-the-final-battl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/08/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-the-final-battl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/08/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-the-final-battl/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

The Dark Knight demolished Superman! Iron Man beat up Batman Begins!

Well, we made it. Oh sure we had a slight glitch in Round 5 and we've withstood all sorts of angry movie-fan banter in the comments sections ... but overall I'd call our first Cinematical Tournament a big success. Our readers had fun, the Twitter movie freaks were very supportive, and I even learned a little something about tolerance and love along the way. So without further delay (oh, except to say that we'll have a nice handy recap sometime soon) I offer to you the final match-up of The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME tournament. (Or at least until another good superhero movie comes out, whichever comes first.)

The Dark Knight (2008) vs. Iron Man (2008)

To track back how and see how we got here, click right here and go brew some coffee. Oh, and let it be known that we're certainly not done hosting tournaments. In fact, we're putting together our next one now, and may even ask for a little input from you first. Stay tuned!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergTue, 08 Sep 2009 22:02:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: Food, Family, Football, or Film?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/07/monday-night-poll-food-family-football-or-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/07/monday-night-poll-food-family-football-or-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/07/monday-night-poll-food-family-football-or-film/#commentsFiled under: Home Entertainment, Summer Movies, Polls

Monday Night Poll: Food, Family, Football, or Film?

With the summer crashing in a fiery heap this weekend, burning away all memories of blockbusters like leaves curling in a bonfire, it's time to bid adieu to the most popular season of the movie year and turn our attention to the fall, the season of festivals and award-worthy cinema. It's already begun, of course. Eugene Novikov has been sending in fine reports from the Telluride Film Festival, which is the unofficial starting point of the race for next year's Oscars, the Venice Film Festival is in full swing, and the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday.

Before we get out a tissue, we ask that you share with us how you spent your Labor Day weekend. Via Twitter, I know many film fans were celebrating the start of the college football season (Texas and USC romped, Oklahoma got upset, and Ohio State narrowly escaped), and some people were rooting for their division-leading baseball teams, while "family" types were spending time with their loved ones, playing and basking in the warm sun, grilling burgers, or building a closet bookcase to house hundreds of DVDs and finally get them out of moving boxes (which is what I did).

What about the movies, though? Did you bravely venture into Gamer (William Goss had a mixed reaction) or All About Steve (Jeffrey M. Anderson was disappointed)? Or did you try Extract (Jette Kernion didn't love it as unreservedly as I did, but still thought it was "much funnier and more fearless" than other grown-up comedies she's seen this year)? Or catch up with one or two indie or other limited releases? Or watch DVDs? Take our poll and let us know!

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]]>all about steveAllAboutSteveextractgamerPeter MartinMon, 07 Sep 2009 22:03:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #10! The Final Four!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/03/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-10-the/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/03/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-10-the/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/03/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-10-the/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

Yep, you read that right! Only four films left! Round 9 saw the original Superman feature baaaarely squeaking past the very excellent Spider-Man 2, and then The Dark Knight pretty much obliterated The Incredibles, Batman Begins did the same to Unbreakable, and Iron Man beat the first Spider-Man by a rather surprising margin. Which means our next two match-ups are.......

Superman (1978) vs. The Dark Knight (2008)

Batman Begins (2005) vs. Iron Man (2008)

Have a great holiday weekend! The final battle will start on Monday night!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergThu, 03 Sep 2009 22:03:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #9!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/31/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-9/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/31/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-9/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/31/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-9/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

Round 8 was NOT a good one for the X-Men! A reluctant superhero defeats an enthusiastic one! And ... OK, enough silly exuberance. Here are last round's results: Batman Begins beat down on X-Men, Unbreakable exsanguinated Blade, Spider-Man showed off all of Superman 2's bizarre tonal inconsistencies, and Iron Man smacked the holy snot out of X-Men 2. Which means we have only eight movies remaining! If you were going to invite your grandmother to vote in only ONE round of the tournment, this is the one!

Superman (1978) vs. Spider-Man 2 (2002)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #9!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergMon, 31 Aug 2009 22:03:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: How Would You Grade Summer 2009?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/31/summer-movies-2009-poll/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/31/summer-movies-2009-poll/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/31/summer-movies-2009-poll/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Summer Movies, Polls

If the unofficial end of summer arrives with Labor Day Weekend, then all we've got left are a few more days to discuss the summer that was before she rides off into the sunset with her billions in box office dollars and a few more sequels already green-lit. But how does she compare to the summers of the past? A quick glance shows us that, unlike 2008, this summer we didn't get a Dark Knight or an Iron Man ... though we did get a Star Trek and a Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. We didn't get a Wanted, a Hellboy 2 or an Incredible Hulk, but we did get some smaller, smarter sci-fi films like Moon and District 9.

Pixar came through yet again, but the rest of this summer's animation slate seemed pretty weak. Same goes for comedies, with the exception of The Hangover, which kinda made up for the disappointing Land of the Lost, Funny People, I Love You, Beth Cooper, I Hate Valentine's Day, The Ugly Truth and The Goods. Sam Raimi returned with a pretty awesome horror flick in Drag Me to Hell, though, and Harry Potter rolled in with what was perhaps his most entertaining installment of the franchise. G.I.: The Rise of Cobra surprised some with its fun, cheesy vibe, and Wolverine did just enough to score himself another go-round in Japan.

Continue reading Monday Night Poll: How Would You Grade Summer 2009?

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]]>district 9District9drag me to hellDragMeToHellgi joeGiJoeharry potterHarryPottermoonstar trekStarTreksummer movies 2009SummerMovies2009the hangoverTheHangovertransformers 2Transformers2Erik DavisMon, 31 Aug 2009 21:02:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #8!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-8/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-8/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-8/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

The first big battles are done! Here's how the last round went down: Richard Donner's Superman smacked down Tim Burton's Batman Returns! Spider-Man 2 made easy work of Hellboy 2! The Dark Knight obliterated the 1989 Batman! (I'll say.) And in a wonderfully strange semi-upset, Pixar's The Incredibles finished off those angst-ridden Watchmen! Congrats to those winners, and let's move on...

Batman Begins (2005) vs. X-Men (2000)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #8!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergThu, 27 Aug 2009 22:03:00 ESTPoll: Which Ridiculous 'Batman 3' Rumor Do You Want to See Come True?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/26/poll-which-ridiculous-batman-3-rumor-do-you-want-to-see-come/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/26/poll-which-ridiculous-batman-3-rumor-do-you-want-to-see-come/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/26/poll-which-ridiculous-batman-3-rumor-do-you-want-to-see-come/#commentsFiled under: Action, RumorMonger, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, Polls

As we crawl toward Labor Day Weekend, you may have noticed that news has slowed down considerably while Hollywood skips town for the last two weeks of August before dusting themselves off for the upcoming film festivals and awards season. So when it's a slow news time, you should expect some folks to take chances on a few crazy movie rumors in order to give them some nice traffic during an otherwise uneventful period. And what a better way to get traffic than to make up ridiculous rumors about the next Batman movie.

The latest rumors? Well, Britain's The Sun claims Megan Fox has been cast as Catwoman in the film. Yup ... and as I was writing that a pig flew past my window! Also, AICN (who, I'll admit, are definitely more legitimate than The Sun) claim there's a chance Christopher Nolan may shoot the next Batman flick using just IMAX cameras -- making it so the entire movie is in IMAX, instead of just a few key scenes like with The Dark Knight. Then again, there's also a chance Nolan will off a guy in the street with a machine gun while singing The Star Spangled Banner with two Twinkies hanging out his mouth ... but that doesn't mean it's actually going to happen.

These rumors, however, aren't much fun unless you collect them all together and vote on which one you'd actually like to see come true. So, because it's slow and because we love time-wasters, sound off below on which of the many Batman 3 rumors floating around online you'd like to see come true.

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]]>batman 3Batman3catwomanchristopher nolanChristopherNolancinematicalmegan foxMeganFoxErik DavisWed, 26 Aug 2009 17:02:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #7!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/24/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-7/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/24/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-7/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/24/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-7/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

And it's "Sweet Sixteen" time! Yep, only 16 films remain, which means we'll only be doing four match-ups from now on. But first, the Round 6 results!

Batman Begins (2005) vs. ~~Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles~~ ~~(1990)~~
X-Men (2000) vs. ~~Hellboy~~ ~~(2004)~~
~~The Rocketeer~~ ~~(1991)~~ vs. Blade (1998)
Unbreakable (2000) vs. ~~Fantastic Four~~ ~~(2005)~~
Superman 2 (1980) vs. ~~Hulk~~ ~~(2003)~~
Spider-Man (2002) vs. ~~Mystery Men~~ ~~(1999)~~
~~Swamp Thing~~ ~~(1982)~~ vs. X2: X-Men United (2003)
~~Superman Returns~~ ~~(2006)~~ vs. Iron Man (2008)

Ah, and here's an updated bracket!

Gallery: Superhero Movie Tournament Bracket

Superman (1978) vs. Batman Returns (1992)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #7!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergMon, 24 Aug 2009 22:02:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: Your Favorite Miyazaki?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/24/poll-your-favorite-miyazaki/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/24/poll-your-favorite-miyazaki/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/24/poll-your-favorite-miyazaki/#commentsFiled under: Animation, Foreign Language, New Releases, Polls

I was a little underwhelmed by Hayao Miyazaki's latest work, Ponyo, which seemed to me more cutesy and less dazzlingly expansive than what I am used to from the Japanese master of gorgeous cel animation. I suspect my reaction is due largely to the fact that this time Miyazaki wanted more earnestly than usual to appeal to the single-digit set, and so focused on keeping things as simple and adorable as possible. (Which, by the way -- if you're within grabbing distance of a tyke in the 5-8 age vicinity, haul him and her to the theater forthwith, as Ponyo will be gone by next weekend.) The result is less rewarding to Miyazaki's adult fans, but maybe that's unavoidable. I mean, Up -- a masterpiece and the best film of the year, if you ask me -- would probably bore a six year-old to tears.

Whatever your feelings about Ponyo, it's a vivid and not unpleasant reminder of the treasures that Miyazaki's filmography holds in store. If you're a movie buff who hasn't delved into Miyazaki, I envy you. If you have, what's your favorite? Mine, without a doubt, is Spirited Away, which is not only head-spinningly rich and imaginative like all of his work, but also haunting, and achingly sad, and somehow more personal. Even the poster -- as perfect a piece of movie artwork as I've ever seen -- is evocative and disquieting.

I'm curious to see if others share this view, so I've set up this poll. Which Miyazaki marvel is your favorite?

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]]>hayao miyazakiHayaoMiyazakiponyospirited awaySpiritedAwayEugene NovikovMon, 24 Aug 2009 21:02:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #6!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/20/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-6/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/20/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-6/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/20/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-6/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

OK, our Round 5 do-over went well enough, so here are your results:

Superman (1978) vs. ~~The Crow~~ ~~(1994~~)
Batman Returns (1992) vs. ~~The Incredible Hulk~~ ~~(2008)~~
~~Hancock~~ ~~(2008)~~ vs. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008)
~~Darkman~~ ~~(1990)~~ vs. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The Dark Knight (2008) vs. ~~Batman: The Movie~~ ~~(1966)~~
~~Blade 2~~ ~~(2002)~~ vs. Batman (1989)
~~Blade: Trinity~~ ~~(2004)~~ vs. Watchmen (2009)
~~Spawn~~ ~~(1997)~~ vs. The Incredibles (2004)

We'll be back on Monday with full results and an updated bracket. And now we move over to the C and D brackets!

Bracket C

Batman Begins (2005) vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

X-Men (2000) vs. Hellboy (2004)

The Rocketeer (1991) vs. Blade (1998)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #6!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergThu, 20 Aug 2009 22:03:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #5! Take 2!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/17/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-5-take/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/17/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-5-take/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/17/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-5-take/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

Because of a mistake with the previous bracket, we've re-jiggered the thing and are phoning in our one re-do for this round (click here and here for all the details). Apologies, and thanks for hanging in there with us as we work out the kinks. With that said, below is our brand new Round 5. Have at it!

But first -- a look at the new bracket!

Gallery: Superhero Tournament Bracket

Bracket A

Superman (1978) vs. The Crow (1994)

Batman Returns (1992) vs. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #5! Take 2!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergMon, 17 Aug 2009 22:02:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: Battle of the Sexes?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/17/monday-night-poll-battle-of-the-sexes/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/17/monday-night-poll-battle-of-the-sexes/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/17/monday-night-poll-battle-of-the-sexes/#commentsFiled under: Action, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, New Releases, Sony, Warner Brothers, Box Office, Polls

Is it as easy as 'men love action, women love romance'? Sci-fi thriller District 9 was the big winner at the box office, as Eugene Novikov reported earlier, taking in nearly twice as much as romantic drama The Time Traveler's Wife. Variety said District 9 drew "largely on the strength of males," while our reviewer Jeffrey M. Anderson said "no guy is going to want to sit through [The Time Traveler's Wife]. However, if you're a chick, the movie mostly works." Did couples head to multiplexes together, blow an air kiss, and then head their separate ways to different movies?

I saw both movies at advance press screenings, and so I didn't get a feel for how audiences in general might have been divided. Personally, I loved, loved, loved District 9 ("hellaciously entertaining," I wrote in part.) On the other hand, I mostly agree with Jeff Anderson's assessment that The Time Traveler's Wife is dripped in "soft, gooey gauze." Oh, and since I didn't feel the movie was particularly new or fresh, I didn't think Rachel McAdams' comments on The Daily Show really "spoiled" the plot twists, which, in any event, are telegraphed well in advance.

But I'm curious now about how all you movie-going couples handled the decision-making process. Did the ladies get together and leave the dudes behind to indulge in the gooey romance of The Time Traveler's Wife? Did the men go "woof, woof" and race off to see things go boom (with unexpected intelligence) in District 9? Take our poll and let us know! Feel free to elaborate in the comments section on how you decided what to watch. And a more general query: are you tired of being defined by your sex when it comes to movie-watching?

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]]>district 9District9featuredmen are for actionMenAreForActionrachel mcadamsRachelMcadamsthe time travelers wifeTheTimeTravelersWifewomen are for romanceWomenAreForRomancePeter MartinMon, 17 Aug 2009 21:03:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #5!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/13/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-5/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/13/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-5/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/13/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-5/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

...And there are 32 films remaining! We've had several requests for the full bracket, and now that the field has been trimmed down, you can scope out the full, official bracket by clicking the image below.

Gallery: Superhero Movie Bracket

Here's what Round 4 looked like, with no upsets whatsoever:

#4 The Incredible Hulk (2008) vs. ~~#13~~ ~~Superman 3~~ ~~(1983)~~
#5 Batman Returns (1992) vs. ~~#12~~ ~~My Super Ex-Girlfriend~~ ~~(2006)~~
#4 Batman (1989) vs. ~~#13~~ ~~The Punisher~~ ~~(1989)~~
#5 Blade 2 (2002) vs. ~~#12~~ ~~X-Men: The Last Stand~~ ~~(2006)~~
#4 Hellboy (2004) vs. ~~#13~~ ~~The Punisher~~ ~~(2004)~~
#5 X-Men (2000) vs. ~~#12~~ ~~Barb Wire~~ ~~(1996)~~
#4 Spider-Man (2002) vs. ~~#13~~ ~~Elektra~~ ~~(2005)~~
#5 Mystery Men (1999) vs. ~~#12~~ ~~Howard the Duck~~ ~~(1986)~~

Pre-Show / Round 1 / Round 2 / Round 3 / Round 4 / Current Bracket

Now let's move on. For the eight matchups in Round 5, we'll have all of Bracket A and all of Bracket B.

Bracket A

Superman (1978) vs. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008) vs. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #5!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergThu, 13 Aug 2009 22:03:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #4!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/10/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-4/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/10/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-4/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/10/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-4/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

The only pairings we haven't tackled yet are the "4 vs. 13" and "5 vs. 12" matchups. And so, after a recap of Round 3, we'll dig right into Round 4. The results of Round 4, and the full bracket, will arrive on Thursday night!

#3 Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008) vs. ~~#14~~ ~~Catwoman~~ ~~(2004)~~
#6 Hancock (2008) vs. ~~#11~~ ~~The Guyver~~ ~~(1991)~~
#3 Watchmen (2009) vs. ~~#14~~ ~~Batman & Robin~~ ~~(1997)~~
#6 ~~Sky High~~ ~~(2005)~~ vs. #11 Blade: Trinity (2004)
#3 Blade (1998) vs. ~~#14~~ ~~Judge Dredd~~ ~~(1995)~~
#6 The Rocketeer (1991) vs. ~~#11~~ ~~Spider-Man 3~~ ~~(2007)~~
#3 X2: X-Men United (2003) vs. ~~#14~~ ~~The Crow: Salvation~~ ~~(2000)~~
#6 Swamp Thing (1982) vs. ~~#11~~ ~~Tank Girl~~ ~~(1995)~~

Bracket A

#4 The Incredible Hulk (2008) vs. #13 Superman 3 (1983)

#5 Batman Returns (1992) vs. #12 My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #4!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergMon, 10 Aug 2009 22:02:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: Kill These Mediocre Franchises http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/10/monday-night-poll-kill-these-mediocre-franchises/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/10/monday-night-poll-kill-these-mediocre-franchises/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/10/monday-night-poll-kill-these-mediocre-franchises/#commentsFiled under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

'Terminator: Salvation' It's a dispiriting exercise to think about movie franchises that have been run into the ground. For years now, big Hollywood studios have focused on developing and cultivating franchise properties with worldwide appeal that are dependent more on iconic characters than the actors who play them.

When it works, it's fabulous (Star Trek). When it doesn't, it's awful (Fast & Furious). Even worse than the total misfires, though, are the movies that drag down a franchise into mediocrity, yet still make enough money to justify a sequel from a financial standpoint (X-Men Origins: Wolverine). Box office disasters don't necessarily discourage further installments, but often force a studio to rethink the property (Superman Returns). But good box office earnings despite negative reactions tend to empower executives and filmmakers, who then feel they can safely ignore the warning signs and make another sequel without really considering what could be done to improve the ~~product~~ film.

After two fabulous movies, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines "revived" the franchise, but was barely average as an action picture. The new producers of Terminator: Salvation tried to make it their own by bringing in a new director, new stars, and a new storyline, but the results were disappointing in every way but the bottom line. With total worldwide earnings of $341 million, however, Terminator 5 is on its way, and director McG is talking again about what he wants to do. As for me, I say it's time we kill off the franchises that have become mediocre. Let them lay fallow for a few years or decades. Which franchise would you most like to see put out of its misery? Take our poll and let us know!

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]]>fast and furiousFastAndFuriousmediocre movie franchisesMediocreMovieFranchisesstar trekStarTreksuperman returnsSupermanReturnsterminator 5terminator salvationTerminator5TerminatorSalvationx-men origins wolverineX-menOriginsWolverinePeter MartinMon, 10 Aug 2009 21:02:00 EST'G.I. Joe' ... On A Scale of 1-10http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/07/g-i-joe-on-a-scale-of-1-10/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/07/g-i-joe-on-a-scale-of-1-10/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/07/g-i-joe-on-a-scale-of-1-10/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

After months and months of poor buzz, ugly rumors and no press screenings, G.I. Joe finally makes its way to theaters this weekend. Critical reaction is mixed thus far -- you've got the folks who dug it and those who didn't, like with any film, but there's a lot of bitterness and angry resentment out there from those who weren't invited to an early screening, as well as those trying to defend their positive review following an early screening. In all honesty, it's a complete mess -- but the fact of the matter is, none of it has anything to do with you, the moviegoer. If it looks like your cup of tea, then by all means have a blast. All we ask is that when you come home, you take our poll and let us know what you thought of the movie on a scale of 1-10.

From Todd Gilchrist's review: "It's entirely possible that if I were nine or ten, the age that I first discovered the animated series, then G.I. Joe would be my favorite movie of all time. It features colorful, iconic characters, huge action scenes, and a plot that I'd feel smart for having figured out. As an adult, however, its shortcomings are obvious: thin, one-dimensional characters, death and destruction on an irresponsibly epic scale, and a nonsensical plot that I'd be depressed to have to try and "figure out." But G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was made for my nine-year-old self, and the nine-year-old in all of our selves; and while it certainly doesn't hold up to the scrutiny of a more mature or sophisticated perspective, it's a surprisingly fun time at the movies that reminds us we needn't be children in order to enjoy something the same way as when we were."

Sound off below ...

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedg.i. joeG.i.JoeErik DavisFri, 07 Aug 2009 20:02:00 ESTThe Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #3!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/06/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/06/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/06/the-best-superhero-movie-of-all-time-tournament-round-3/#commentsFiled under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Polls

OK, moving on! Round 1 was "1 vs. 16" and "8 vs.9." Round 2 (results below) was all the "2 vs. 15" and "7 vs. 10" pairings. Simple math indicates that Round 3 will encompass all of the "3 vs. 14" and "6 vs. 11" matchups. Expect things to get a little more interesting from here on out, although the really juicy battles won't start until late next week. Also, at the end of Round 4 (this is Round 3) I will post the full bracket for your perusal.

#2 Spider-Man 2 (2004) vs. ~~#15~~ ~~Steel~~ ~~(1997)~~
#7 Darkman (1990) vs. ~~#10~~ ~~Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer~~ ~~(2007)~~
#2 The Incredibles (2004) vs. ~~#15~~ ~~Captain America~~ ~~(1990)~~
#7 ~~The Shadow~~ ~~(1994)~~ vs. #10 Spawn (1997)
#2 Unbreakable (2000) vs. ~~#15~~ ~~Ghost Rider~~ ~~(2007)~~
#7 ~~Orgazmo~~ ~~(1998)~~ vs. #10 Fantastic Four (2005)
#2 Iron Man (2008) vs. ~~#15~~ ~~Superman 4: The Quest for Peace~~ ~~(1987)~~
#7 Superman Returns (2006) vs. ~~#10~~ ~~The Specials~~ ~~(2000)~~

Round 3!

Bracket A

#3 Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008) vs. #14 Catwoman (2004)

Continue reading The Best Superhero Movie of ALL TIME Tournament! Round #3!

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]]>superherotourn2009Scott WeinbergThu, 06 Aug 2009 22:03:00 EST