Despicable Me: Why Am I Laughing so Hard?

Despicable Me starts strong with an ridiculous crime: somebody stole the great pyramid and replaced it with a giant inflatable replica. This scene does not just end with a punch line. It is funny all the way through: the dad that cannot come out of the bus door, the kid on a leash, the pyramid is a balloon, the mom who miscalculates her son’s landing point; a good opening scene to wet our appetite for laughs.

The cutest line in the movie, and one of the funniest moments: Agnes (Elsie Fisher), "It's so fluffy!"

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For a Better Transformers: Dark of the Moon

We are not part of the crowd of Michael Bay haters, but we have not been satisfied with the way he has handled the first two movies. The fact that they made an insane amount of money will not help the situation and get us better movies. Actually it will more likely be the reverse. Vindicated in the way he directed the previous installments, he will more likely either get cocky and shoot himself in the foot with the third one or just make another remake of the first (like the second movie).

Is the Transformers franchise just about giant talking robots, destruction and mayhem?

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a recycled Transformers, down to the Bumblebee’s speech impediment, the Decepticons’ quest, or the fight in the desert (which looks like the same desert by the way). Mostly identical “plots” with slightly different characters, on-the-nose dialogs and childish humor, wrapped in more or less the same order. Imagine characters delivering the same lines in both movies and you will have an idea.    Read more »

The Latest Trailers

For even more of the latest movie trailers (showing right now in theaters of coming soon) visit our YouTube channel. Subscribe for easy weekly updates. And don’t forget to give us a thumbs up now and then.    Read more »

Trailers

The weekend brings a giant’s comeback: Avatar will be back in theaters soon; we have heard of it. It will be release as a Special Edition, in 3D again, this month in the US (August 27 to be exact) and a few other countries. If it works again, I think they will probably keep it showing for the holiday season. We have two Avatar trailers for you: the new re-release trailer, and the long theatrical trailer of the original release.

Avatar is back in theaters this month, with addtional footage and in select theaters. Watch the new trailer.

Enjoy the trailers.    Read more »

This Week’s New Trailers

This week, we’ve got action galore! The funny Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is in theaters now; but the new Johnny Hallyday modern action western is coming, the creepy I Spit On Your Grave or the promisingly scary Devil. Denzel is starring in a new action flick by his pal Tony Scott, Unstoppable. We have high expectation for this one.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - Scene: Meet Roxy, Ramona's ex-girlfriend from her "bi-curious" phase. Hilarious.

Enjoy the trailers.    Read more »

Gallery: Terminator Salvation

Now set in the near future, John Connor helps the resistance fight Skynet to protect what is left of the rapidly decreasing human population. The machines have a new weapon: a mole. His objective: track and report John Conner’s father, Kyle Reese. As Connor puts it, “Kill Kyle Reese, reset the future. No John Connor.”

Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington): Skynet's Mole.

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Comedic Storytelling: Despicable Me

Despicable Me is an animated family comedy that sets the tone as funny from the very first shot. The pyramid of Giza has been stolen and no one knows which of the world’s villains is responsible for this “despicable crime.” Gru, the world’s number one supervillain is being outsmarted by a younger opponent and he needs to pull a great heist to get back on top.

Gru (Steve Carell), the number one villain, or so he thought! He plans to steal the moon to get back on top.

This movie is a collection of very funny gags correctly ordered into a coherent story. It satisfies and you will want to see it again, especially if you have kids. They will probably drag you by your feet if you resist.    Read more »

Gallery: Despicable Me

Gru used to be the world’s number one supervillain. Now he is being outsmarted by a young opponent named Vector. He needs to pull a great coup to get back on top. Unfortunately for his wicked ways, he adopts 3 little girls who end up progressively changing his ways. Gru becomes a dad.

Gru at his girl's dance class. The villain is losing his grip, and it is only the beginning...

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Gallery: Kung Fu Panda

Imagine the most unlikely Kung Fu master. Can you picture him as a panda? Po dreams of becoming the greatest Kung Fu master in all China. But he can see how remote the possibility is, until he is “accidentally” chosen to become the Dragon Warrior.

Told you he loved food, right? Here, Po (Jack Black) is fighting his master (Dustin Hoffman) for a tasty dumpling.

Now Master Shifu, his unhappy instructor, must transform the food-loving-fat-and-sensitive-in-the-flabby-parts panda into the warrior that will defend the valley from Tai Lung, a powerful and vengeful snow leopard who escaped from a high-security prison.

This classic comedy delivers laughs in every scene is soon to be followed by a sequel.

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Suspension of Disbelief: The Incredible Hulk

I was engaged in my favorite TV activity the other day, furious zapping, and I stumbled upon some interesting choices. I settled for Aliens and The Incredible Hulk, respectively, one of my favorite all-time classic and one that I like a lot. The common thread between the two is the length in which they require the audience to suspend their disbelief.

I thought they made great examples of successful believability. A nearly invincible species with “acid for blood” and a regular guy who turns into the 10-feet tall, green and bulky “most powerful superhero in the world” when he gets angry.

The Hulk emerges to face General Ross's men for the first time in broad daylight

This page is about believability in The Incredible Hulk. Read the one on Aliens here. The big question is: what in this movie makes us believe that a giant, green, excessively bulky “man” with unlimited strength can really exist?    Read more »