Fall Preview: November

With your pumpkins withering, in certain parts of the country, winter is around the corner. But the month of November brings more than the cold winds of the upcoming winter, it’s the start (well, unofficially) of the Oscar season. For some, now that’s something to be grateful for. This month in our Fall Preview: November where we guide you in what to see and what not to see with simple recommendations like See It or Skip It, when you’re tired of family, or wanting to spend time with your families. Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving for awesome movies, but regardless, Killer Film is always grateful for our readers!

(November 6^th)

A Christmas Carol

Jon: One of the most repeatedly remade film of all time, is also one that I’ve seen almost every version of, but for all of the bells and whistles of Zemeckis used for the Digital IMAX 3-D, this is one version of the classic story, I’m not hyped about. For one, I’ve seen this story a zillion times. Two, Jim Carrey’s voice seems all wrong for Scrooge-too comical, no menace, and third, I’m kind of tired of Zemeckis using digital actors over real ones. Skip It

Donny: I could care less about this flick. I’ll watch the Disney cartoon or Scrooged instead.  After seeing the soulless shells passed off as characters in The Polar Express I don’t need to see this. Skip it.

The Fourth Kind

Jon: This could be very scary, or incredibly lame, but the trailer has this great hook of having Milla Jovovich telling us what we’re about to see and why, then uses this “real” footage mixed with re-enactments. It has this Mothman Prophecies vibe to it, and while genre films have been tapped out recently, I think this might win the dollars from us. See It

Donny: I’m with Jon on this one. The flick looks really creepy and Milla is always hot so this seems like a no brainer. I’m totally looking forward to this flick. See It

Precious

Jon: After all of the Sundance praise, and despite my reservations for the supporting cast of Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, and Oprah’s name as a producer, what sells me on it, is the incredibly raw emotions by new comer Gabby Sidibe. And that’s just from the trailer. Should be a powerful film, and an early Oscar contender. See It

Donny: The trailer looks stellar and the performances seem spot on, so if this flick makes it into the multiplex in my town, I’m there. I’m not as big a fan of indie drama as Jon, but I have to agree that this flick looks like a solid flick so I’m gonna say see it.

The Box

Jon: Oh, Richard Kelly and your incredibly odd films. Love him, hate him, his films are so curious, I say watch them, even though I never got the whole Donnie Darko phenomenon. Then again, I sorta dug that confusing, yet oddly watchable Southland Tales. I think this film looks to be like a perfect combination of linear storytelling (for the mainstream), yet kooky enough for his fans. But with Kelly, you can never judge a book by the cover. See It

Donny: Jon sir, you hurt my heart every time you mention Donnie Darko. I don’t understand how you can enjoy some of the boring crap that you enjoy, yet not dig Kelly’s magnum opus. I don’t care if the dude makes a flick called Crappy Movie I’m gonna be at the theatre on opening night. See It

The Men Who Stare at Goats

Jon: As funny as the trailer is, there’s something annoying about the film based on the trailer. Maybe it looks like everyone is trying to hard to be quirky? I don’t know. Good cast, funny title, but it’s not winning me over. Poor goats. Skip It.

Donny: I’m sort of tired of films that look like the the Coen Brothers shot them. I’m gonna skip it.

(November 13^th)

2012

Jon: Donny’s boy is Michael Bay. We all know that and while perplexed, we accept it. Me? If I want explosions and insane CGI-fests, my man is Roland Emmerich. While he has a few stinkers in his career, I’m always fond of most of his stuff, in the pure B-movie entertainment level. 10,000 B.C., Day After Tomorrow, and in parts-Godzilla suck. But I think with the hype of the hysteria surrounding December 22^nd, 2012, this insane action, maybe this could be on par with Stargate or ID4? I hope. See It

Donny: I’m totally stoked to see this flick! Why do I like Michael Bay, you ask. For the same reason I like Roland Emmerich, they blow shit up! I’m also excited about this flick because I’m thinking that maybe we might get a day or so off of work because of the panic (don’t laugh think about Y2K). See It

Pirate Radio

Jon: Despite changing the title from The Boat that Rocked, I think the cast and the story are intriguing, but….eh? Skip It

Donny: Finally, I was thinking Jon and I would agree on everything this month, but not on this one. I really want to see this flick. I’m a fan of the this type of rebel comedy and the cast is simply amazing. Don’t listen to Jon, he hates everything. Listen to me and see it.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Jon: This film’s humor is littered with Wes Anderson-isms, that despite all of the mumbo jumbo on how or if he directed this, Fox is clearly a Wes Anderson film…and I can not wait! Quirky, goofy, and using stop-motion animation, that has this ’70s vibe to the style, makes me smile from ear-to-ear. This will expand from this date to a wider release soon after, but please See It

Donny: I’m gonna let Jon see it, because I’m gonna skip it. I really don’t care for Anderson’s films and I’m not big on quirky for the sake of being quirky.

(November 20^th)

Planet 51

Jon: I really have to give it to these other studios not named DreamWorks or Pixar, this year for stepping up and offering audiences something different. While they all have had mixed success, I think it’s good regardless. As for this,  it has a neat spin on an alien invasion, and is certainly a kids film, which Fox is not, so for kids and families this might be a safe bet. All others Skip It

Donny: I’m gonna have to see it even if I didn’t wan to (I have kids), but fortunately for me, I’m actually excited to check it out. I think it looks funny, it doesn’t look quirky, and I enjoy seeing flicks with my kids. See It

Twilight Saga: New Moon

Jon: Let’s get this right out now: I’m not a Twilight fan, for Buffy and Anne Rice did it better a decade ago. But New Moon certainly looks like it benefits from a better director and bigger budget. I felt this first film looked like a made-for-TV film, so this really does look more theatrical. Will this win over new fans? No. But those who love this franchise, will gobble this up. Skip It.

Donny: VAMPIRES DON’T SPARKLE! SKIP IT

The Blind Side

Jon: Thanks to the Proposal, Sandra Bullock is a draw again. She looks like she slumming it up her for acting cred, and while I doubt that will happen, the film does look pretty solid, despite reeking of emotional manipulation. Hey, if you’re 50 years old, here’s your solid dramatic film this month, all others, see something else. Skip It

Donny: Sandra’s hot, so see it.

Red Cliff (limited)

Jon: John Woo is back with his first film done in his native China in like forever. While this isn’t the long 4-plus hour cut, I super excited for this epic, action, historical pic. Also, it should be a valiant return to form for Mr. Woo, after some American made duds. See It

Donny: All of my friends are gonna hate me for this (sorry Matt/Jon), but I really don’t have any desire to see this flick. I don’t really enjoy watching flicks about my own country’s history, so I’m not going spend time on China’s. Skip It

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (limited)

Jon: Here’s the toughest film to call. Nic Cage stars in a Werner Herzog semi-remake of a cult film. Herzog returns to feature film making after doing some documentaries for a bit, and he’s really solid in any genre. Nic Cage is not recognized as a wash up actor, so this could be the career boost he needs. I’m sensing a interesting, artistic drama, with some social commentary, but I could be way off base and we get a Wicker Man 2. Either way, we win! See It

Donny: I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that in my honest opinion I really, really, really don’t want to see this flick. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes Nic Cage’s wig is a decent actor, but most of the time I just can’t get into it’s flicks. Maybe if the wig got a life coach or something, I might be able to connect with it on a deeper level, but for now I just can’t identify with it. Skip It

(November 25/27^th)

Old Dogs

Jon: If you loved Wild Hogs, then expect for of the same here. If not, you won’t like the big, broad humor. Skip It

Donny: What he said. Skip It

The Road

Jon: This film took forever to come out. Cannibals seeking food that is Viggo Mortensen’s family? Sign. Me. UP. Taking from the book written by No Country for Old Men‘s author. See It

Donny: I can’t think of a flick I’m more excited to see this month than this one. I am counting the days until its release. See It.

Ninja Assassin

Jon: The director of V for Vendetta is back, and this looks all incredible action wise. Here’s hoping that the fun, over-the-top martial arts/ninja action will have some sort of good story behind it, but this might be the perfect film this month, to help you overcome all of the Thanksgiving food you just ate. See It

Donny: Ninjas are cool. See it.

What a month! There’s even more releases, depending on your market for those small releases. Maybe we will have something to be thankful this month, so keep coming back to Killer Film for all of these film’s reviews and other surprises! Feel free to comment below, or email us at donny@killerfilm.com and jon@killerfilm.com