Most Downloaded Movies on BitTorrent:

(2010 rank movie downloads; worldwide grosses)

1 Avatar 16,580,000 $2,779,551,867

2 Kick-Ass 11,400,000 $96,130,432

3 Inception 9,720,000 $825,408,570

4 Shutter Island 9,490,000 $294,803,014

5 Iron Man 2 8,810,000 $621,751,988

6 Clash of the Titans 8,040,000 $493,214,993

7 Green Zone 7,730,000 $94,875,650

8 Sherlock Holmes 7,160,000 $523,029,864

9 The Hurt Locker 6,850,000 $48,612,915

10 Salt 6,700,000 $175,190,850

Green Zone is the title that shocked me here. Oh well, hope those thousands of lazy tweens enjoyed a shaky-cam version of these awesome films.

The Film:

One of the many stains on the Bush administration is that they engaged into a war in a search-and-find of those rumored WMDs, yet despite what we were fed on the news, as time rolled on and American causalities piled up, nobody found Saddam’s WMDs. It’s commonly regarded to as the source needed to start the war in Iraq, these mythical WMDs, and they were constantly a smoke-and-mirror for us to allow our government to do what they felt they needed to do. Saddam and his sons were people that needed to be out of governmental power, that’s for sure, but these ‘Where’s Waldo’ games on where those pesky WMDs were, tired and eventually angered the American people. Weaving facts and thrilling fiction is Green Zone, an adaptation of a non-fictional account by Washington Post journalist, Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

And no folks, this isn’t Bourne 4.

That assessment shows how popular the Bourne films are and how recognizable Paul Greengrass’s style is, but let’s end that point-of-view there. Green Zone is a political thriller that hinges itself through a myriad of facts (sometimes fictional facts) and action. Greengrass’s style of the ’shaky cam’ feels pretty natural with this material, even though I felt it was tired in Bourne Ultimatum. The opening sequence is this blitz of movement with Saddam’s top general trying to evacuate his home amongst the U.S.’s “Shock and Awe” campaign. As he escapes, the camera pans up to a large overview of Baghdad being bombarded with bombs. Against the night, the flurry of reds and oranges from the blasts paints this wonderful scene. Scenes like this, and there’s a few more, really elevate Greengrass’s style to more than the cinema verite work his Bourne films had. I know many have complaints on his camera work, as I did in Bourne Ultimatum, a film that felt cold and distant visually, but in Green Zone he’s in top form again.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and in Green Zone the script does feature a few typical liberal ideas, something even a person like myself who was critical of the past administration’s doings, can admit too. But that’s part of the entertainment of this political thriller, that mixes action with some insights. Matt Damon is as good as he has been, as an idealistic soldier that just really wants to find those WMDs. But if we had more people like his Chief Miller, maybe the Iraq Invasion, err, War wouldn’t have been such a cluster. That’s one of the film’s benefits though, these ideas and questions in hindsight should spark conversation after wards. I’m sure many might take issues with way some characters act and their actions, but semi-urgency of the film, with what we know now, aids the film, for without it, might just be another forgettable action flick.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video: Universal’s HD presentation is really great. The video is slightly harder to judge since Greengrass’s intentional gritty, grainy, washed out look makes it look not as good as one would assume, but the stark lighting, the colors hues used, all make for a proper transfer, a bit better than when I saw it in the theater. There’s a little too much grain for me, but again, the film has that hand-held look. Regardless, the DTS audio track is explosive. It’s very active, with bullets whizzing by in all directions, deep bass, solid dialogue reproduction, making for a stellar audio experience.

Commentary: Greengrass and Damon sit in for a chat on the making and even politics of the film, that for some, could be a turn off. Still, it offers some solid, laid back info for those inclined.

Matt Damon: Ready for Action: This short piece has Damon and the real life soldier hanging out as he is learn for his role. In HD.

Deleted Scenes: Seems more like outtakes really, but listen to the optional commentary because it’s pretty funny. Greengrass tells Damon his next film will not have any shaky cam work. The scenes themselves are okay, but wise cut from the film.

Inside Green Zone: An HD EPK featuring interviews and on-set footage; nothing to riveting.

U-Control: This offers two things: 1) you can access the commentary and watch Damon and Greengrass chat; 2) the pop-up featurettes that include making-of info and historical whatnot’s.

Conclusion: The film can be polarizing, perhaps why it wasn’t a bigger hit, but it’s still really good on another solid Universal Blu.

The Film: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Blu-ray: Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Universal has been trying to put together another Bourne film for awhile, mainly because they know there’s still tons of money to be made with it. But how do they expect to milk it out with lack of Damon and director Paul Greengrass? Universal’s going to have to work their magic if they want to even think about having the two back once more, which seems even less likely after the early year bomb that is Green Zone.

The large studio recently threw out in theaters the Forgetting Sarah Marshall spinoff Get Him to the Greek, so be sure to check your local AMC or what have you for show times. They go back into kid-friendly mode this July 9th with the release of the animated feature Despicable Me.

Since there’s no more Fantastic Voyage for Greengrass to uncover, he’s still eyeing some booty as reports start to swirl that the director is in talks to take on Warner Bros Pictures’ Treasure Island. The latest version of this popular tale is expected to be an updated sort, within the same vein as last year’s Sherlock Holmes. That appears to be a huge trend going on since other projects like Paul W.S. Anderson’s The Three Musketeers are suddenly going on the fast track for a 2011 release. With the kind of bank that Sherlock Holmes made last year, who could blame them.

* Feature commentary with Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass.

* U-Control

o Video Commentary with Matt Damon and Director Paul Greengrass

o Picture In Picture – Get behind the scenes features and interviews with the cast and crew while you watch the movie! (Blu-ray only)

* Matt Damon: Ready for Action— Matt Damon demonstrates the grueling training regimen he used to prepare for his role in Green Zone.

* Inside the Green Zone— An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of some of Green Zone’s most powerful scenes.

* Deleted scenes

* BD-Live (Blu-ray only)

The Blu-ray will feature a Digital Copy for a limited time.

Source: Blu-ray

Among those films released during this past weekend is the Sony Pictures Classic Chloe, making about $1 Million. Granted the picture did not get that much marketing out here, so that could be the judge of the Amanda Seyfried starring picture for not gaining enough attention. Repo Men and Green Zone continue to respectively plummet, although they both retain spots within the top ten list. Check out the rest of the list below from Box Office Mojo.:

Weekend Box Office (March 26-28)

1. How to Train Your Dragon  ($43.3 M)
2. Alice in Wonderland  ($17.3 M)
3. Hot Tub Time Machine  ($13.6 M)
4. The Bounty Hunter  ($12.4 M)
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid  ($10 M)
6. She’s Out of My League  ($3.5 M)
7. Green Zone  ($3.3 M)
8. Shutter Island  ($3.1 M)
9. Repo Men  ($3 M)
10. Our Family Wedding ($2.2 M)

April is just right around the corner, and that means the next wave of testosterone is flooding into the theaters. On April 2nd is the 2D and 3D release of Clash of the Titans along with Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?. In the limited release circuit is Don McKay, Leaves of Grass and The Warlords. There is a New York only release of The Thorn in the Heart with a New York and Los Angeles release of Breaking Upwards and The Greatest.

And no folks, this isn’t Bourne 4.

That assessment shows how popular the Bourne films are and how recognizable Paul Greengrass’s style is, but let’s end that point-of-view there. Green Zone is a political thriller that hinges itself through a myriad of facts (sometimes fictional facts) and action. Greengrass’s style of the ‘shaky cam’ feels pretty natural with this material, even though I felt it was tired in Bourne Ultimatum. The opening sequence is this blitz of movement with Saddam’s top general trying to evacuate his home amongst the U.S.’s “Shock and Awe” campaign. As he escapes, the camera pans up to a large overview of Baghdad being bombarded with bombs. Against the night, the flurry of reds and oranges from the blasts paints this wonderful scene. Scenes like this, and there’s a few more, really elevate Greengrass’s style to more than the cinema verite work his Bourne films had. I know many have complaints on his camera work, as I did in Bourne Ultimatum, a film that felt cold and distant visually, but in Green Zone he’s in top form again.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and in Green Zone the script does feature a few typical liberal ideas, something even a person like myself who was critical of the past administration’s doings, can admit too. But that’s part of the entertainment of this political thriller, that mixes action with some insights. Matt Damon is as good as he has been, as an idealistic soldier that just really wants to find those WMDs. But if we had more people like his Chief Miller, maybe the Iraq Invasion, err, War wouldn’t have been such a cluster. That’s one of the film’s benefits though, these ideas and questions in hindsight should spark conversation after wards. I’m sure many might take issues with way some characters act and their actions, but semi-urgency of the film, with what we know now, aids the film, for without it, might just be another forgettable action flick.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The first of those is the Paul Greengrass directed feature Green Zone, only being able to wrangle up $14.5 Million this weekend. The totals keep on getting lower as the heavily advertised She’s Out of My League brings in $9.6 Million with the Summit Entertainment film Remember Me only having $8.3 Million total. Last but not least is Our Family Wedding, making $7.6 Million on it’s first weekend. Check out the rest of the top ten below from Box Office Mojo.:

Weekend Box Office (March 12-14)

1. Alice in Wonderland  ($62 M)
2. Green Zone  ($14.5 M)
3. She’s Out of My League  ($9.6 M)
4. Remember Me  ($8.3 M)
5. Shutter Island  ($8.1 M)
6. Our Family Wedding  ($7.6 M)
7. Avatar  ($6.6 M)
8. Brooklyn’s Finest  ($4.2 M)
9. Cop Out  ($4.2 M)
10. The Crazies  ($3.6 M)

Were going into the middle of the month, and with that comes even more films. Among those on the list are Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Bounty Hunter, Repo Men and Hubble 3D on IMAX screens only. Those stuck in the limited releases are The Runaways (opening wide on April 9th), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Killing Jar and Vincere. Greenberg comes out in New York and Los Angeles this weekend but will be released wide on March 26th.

De Niro just starred last year in the drama Everybody’s Fine and will be seen on the big screen in several films like Machete, Stone and Little Fockers. Universal Pictures is getting themselves ready for yet another release under their company as the Paul Greengrass directed feature Green Zone is scheduled to come out this Friday. Another one set to come out under their company is the Jude Law and Forest Whitaker feature Repo Men.

Damon stars as Cheif Warrant Officer Roy Miller who’s team of Army inspectors were dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission.

Spun by operatives with intersecting agendas, Miller must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil for answers that will either clear a rogue regime or escalate a war in an unstable region. And at this blistering time and in this combustible place, he will find the most elusive weapon of all is the truth.

Green Zone comes out in theaters everywhere on March 12th. Check out the huge slew of pictures below, and if your interested in more stuff from the film, become an fan on the official Green Zone Facebook page.:

(March 5th)

Alice in Wonderland

Jon: On paper, this film seems like a perfect storm. You got Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Tim Burton directing, and if anyone is perfect with his style and sensibilities to direct this movie, it is Tim Burton. It’s almost too perfect, yet I can’t wait for the film just for that reason. Should be the trippy, stoner movie of the year! See it.

Donny: I’m not a fan of Tim Burton, even when Johnny Depp is involved (I do love Beetlejuice though), so I’m not really looking forward to this one. I’m gonna let Jon have fun with this one and wait for the Blu-ray. Skip It.

Brooklyn’s Finest

Jon: Yes, it’s another cop drama, but it’s from Antoine Fuqua (Training Day). It features a great cast: Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere, and Don Cheadle, but this could be the type of film everyone sleeps walks through. Point of interest? Wesley Snipes and Don Cheadle. Hopefully, Fuqua will add something new to this played out genre, as the trailer looked interesting. See It

Donny: I love all of the actors involved in this picture, and the director as well. I’m thinking it’s gonna be a solid flick. See It.

(March 12th)

Green Zone

Jon: The much delayed release of this Paul Greengrass/Matt Damon reunion looks amazing. Plus, I’m a sucker for political thrillers, and this looks like Greengrass’s Bourne films, but what’s wrong with that? Apparently, Universal was touting this as an Oscar film, but pulled it out of the 2009 race. Hmm. While the trailer gives a little too much away, let’s hope this is a furious political thriller in line with Bourne Supremacy rather than Bourne Ultimatum. See It

Donny: Maybe it’s just me, but something about this movies seems familiar. Eh…who cares, Matt Damon and Greengrass are a kick ass combination. See It.

Remember Me

Jon: Before we get all crazy about this new non-Twilight film staring Robert Pattinson, the film is the second script from Jenny Lumet (Rachel Geting Married), features a solid cast-Chris Cooper and Pierce Bronson, and with the Twilight fans eager for their RP fix before Eclipse, I fully expect this to be a hit. But for us non-Twi-hards, is it worth seeing? I think it looks decent, and the Lumet script has me curious. See It

Donny: What Jon said. See It.

She’s Out of My League

Jon: Here’s the next film from the Sex Drive guys, and it might be me, in my older age, but these sex comedies are getting tiresome and the trailer did nothing to prove me wrong. Skip It

Donny: I dug Sex Drive and still enjoy sex comedies, so I’m gonna be there on opening night. See It.

(March 19th)

The Bounty Hunter

Jon: While this could be just Gerald Butler and Jennifer Aniston in some average mainstream comedy, it looks like it could be a blast. Think of it as a perfect date movie, since young love is in the Spring air. It has the sex appeal for the ladies and the action for the guys, and while Hitch was okay, director Andy Tennent might have another big hit. See It.

Donny: I’m gonna have to see this one with the wife so I might as well try to enjoy it. At least Aniston is fun to look at! See It.

Repo Men

Jon: Okay, okay. Let me state that I’m friends with Repo: A Genetic Opera‘s Terrance Zdunich and Killer Film was one of the first sites to immediately support Repo. I stood behind his decision to seek a lawsuit for plagiarism against this film, which features plenty of similar themes and ideas, minus the singing. As a critic, I must be objective. So with that all being said, Universal’s Repo Men looks to be a slick, sci-fi film. I just can’t get over the similarity, and I’m sure the Repo Army will do everything to tank this film. Sadly, I must support them. I say sadly, because the film looks decent. Skip It

Donny: I’m going to agree with Jon on this one. I’m not extremely excited to see this flick since I’ve already seen it with a rocking cast and soundtrack behind it. Skip It.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (limited)

Jon: Having seen little on this film, but based on what I’ve seen it looks pretty good. It was a huge hit in its native Sweden, but I suppose many will see this either On-Demand or on DVD. See It.

Donny: I know nothing about this flick, but I have a weakness for hot goth chicks. See It.

(March 26th)

How to Train Your Dragon

Jon: DreamWorks has been becoming better in recent outings, and I’ll be that guy: I’m more excited to see this, than Pixar’s Toy story 3. Why? I think this looks like a blast based on the idea, the originality, and (yes) the 3-D. See It.

Donny: The trailer for this sold me. I’m really looking forward to seeing DreamWorks kick some 3-D ass! See It.

Greenberg

Jon: Noah Baumbach and Wes Anderson might be cut from the same cloth, but I’m so excited to see this. Maybe because the Ben Stiller’s character might be me in a few years or something, but I think this might be a huge hit for Baumbach as it has been advertised in front of a lot of big films lately. Quirky, good humor. See It.

Donny: I’m one of the few people that like Baumbach but doesn’t care for Anderson. I also really like it when Stiller takes chances on indie flicks. See It.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Jon: Ugh. Donny is all about this, ain’t you? I’m sick of these adults-missing-their-youth comedies, and I know everybody is raving about the Red Band trailer, but these aren’t my comedies. I’ll see Greenberg twice. Skip It.

Donny: Don’t listen to Jon, he hates everything. I, on the other hand, can spot a killer comedy like a lonely nymphomaniac in a see of goody-goodys. This flick looks like a great time at the movies and that’s enough for me. See It.

Outside of some indie films being released, that does it for this month. Look for all of these to be reviewed and other surprises all month long, only on Killer Film! But be advised, release dates are subject to change.  So what are you seeing and skipping this month? Comment below!

‘I have moved on,’ he told me. ’I finished [Green Zone] in July, had the summer off, and I came back and thought I could find a way to get engaged and make [a fourth Bourne film], [but] I thought in my head there were so many other things and films I wanted to make.

I didn’t feel like I had anything else to contribute. It just happens with franchises; you get to a point where you feel like you’ve done it.

‘They need to find someone else to come in to take it in a new direction I wouldn’t have thought of and it will be better.

Now with this new twist on the Bourne series, and the fact that actor Matt Damon has clearly told reporters that he would only come back for another Bourne movie only if Greengrass is on board, what is to be of the series? Will it just fade away, or will Universal Pictures try to find another way to bring Damon back in and still have a new director?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two weeks, this weekend Universal Pictures revitalizes their monster movie franchise with the Joe Johnston directed feature The Wolfman. Also coming out under their seemingly endless slate of films is Green Zone and Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood.