simplekindoflovely

Summer is quickly melting away and there isn't a single thing I can do about.  It seems like I was writing the June Movie Preview just last week!  But alas, July has finally come (My birthday's on the 25th!) and so has another round of fun at the movies.  

*Note: The buzz-o-meter is my way of rating my excitement to see each of these movies on a scale of 1-10. 

Out today: July 1- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Voiced by: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Dennis Leary, Simon Pegg, Queen Latifah

The first time I went to see Up in 3-D (Yes, I went multiple times....) I caught the teaser trailer for what is essentially Ice Age 3.  It followed Scrat (The squirrel above) choosing between a sexy female squirrel and his beloved acorn, an item he takes very seriously.  Of course, he hands over the acorn to the girl and gets duped taking a nose dive down a giant cliff.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, just know that it was very cute and endearing.  After all, Scrat is the best part of Ice Age.  Beyond him, Dawn of the Dinosaurs looks like it's close to running out of jokes about saber tooth tigers, wooly mammoths, and whatever the hell that character Sid is supposed to be.  However, adding Dinosaurs into the mix just might lead the movie in the right direction.  Who knows, maybe it will be more like Land Before Time! (Ducky anyone?...)

  I give it a 5, just because of Scrat.

Out today: July 1- Public Enemies

Staring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, the stunning Academy Award Winner Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum

Public Enemies has been on my radar for quite some time now, and only for the best of reasons.  First of all....uh hello....it's Johnny Depp.  Pretty much anything the guy touches turns to gold because he IS THAT GOOD. Period.  He truly has become one of Hollywood's greatest actors in my eyes and I'm not just saying that cause he's good-looking!  I mean who doesn't love chiseled cheek bones, a lazy smile, his southern charm, and Oops! I forgot I was supposed to talking about the movie!  The second reason, I've been waiting on Public Enemies is because it's plot hails from my hometown.  Just last year, Johnny Depp himself flew into the Indianapolis (IN) airport to play the famous gangster/bank robber John Dillinger who was held here (In real life) behind bars.  You see, back in the day, John Dillinger was Public Enemy Number One, robbing banks, breaking out of jail and so forth, so there is really no reason why this movie won't be kick ass (Especially with added Christian Bale and Channing Tatum whipped cream on top!).  Yummy.

 Yep, it's definitely a niner!

July 10- Bruno

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen otherwise known as Borat or Ali G

I personally was not a fan of Borat.  Did I laugh during it?  Yes.  But I wasn't exactly clamoring to see it ever again.  So what can I say about Bruno?  Well for one thing, he sure does seem to be raising some hell and as far as I can tell by the preview, Bruno appears to be way funnier than Borat ever was.  I mean, how did Sacha Baron Cohen come up with this guy, this gay austrian fashion reporter?  Did he look at Perez Hilton for inspiration and then think "Hmm...Nope, not gay enough!" deciding to give the character an accent and a passion for D&G? 

Anyways, wherever Cohen's inspiration came from, he is certainly taking on another hefty, politically charged comedy shot mostly guerilla style (I've heard Paula Abdul had no idea who he was!).  His impromptu meetings with celebs and common folk alike makes Bruno appear as though it's well worth the price of admission and despite the fact that I didn't like Borat I would definitely "swap this movie for an ipod."  

 Kudos for a movie with gay rights!

 Bruno gets a 7! Dats Hawt!

July 10- I Love You, Beth Cooper

Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Paul Rust

Hayden Panetierre is one little cutie, but damn is her name hard to spell.  She stars as well...Beth Cooper in this teen flick about a nerdy high school valedictorian who proclaims his love for the hottest girl in school during his graduation speech.  Afterwards she shows up at his house to help him to let his hair down, so to speak, giving him the best day of his life.  This story line kinda makes me wish I was a nerdy teen with a hot boy at my front door.  I already have half of that, but I'll let you guess which half.  

 Umm, I think it's a definite rental, so I give it 4.

July 15- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, etc., etc.

I really shouldn't need to explain to you the magnitude of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but I'm going to do it anyway.  I feel as though I grew up alongside Harry Potter, reading about his every ache and triumph as I myself progressed throughout the years.  That's why I'm super excited to see the Half-Blood Prince, because that means Harry (in the movies) has finally caught up to me in age and thus I can sympathize with him as I watch Harry, Ron, and Hermione's hormones kick in.  (Keep in mind that Harry was on the scene long before Stephanie Meyer stole the tween novel spotlight with Twilight.  So his hormones are definitely juicier than Rpattz's.)  Also, I think it will be really interesting to see the dynamic between Dumbledore and Harry as they try to unlock Voldemort's defenses.  Oh! and Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione, and Professor Slughorn, and the rest of the gang.  Very exciting/interesting indeed!  

This is my pick of the month for a midnight premiere.  I can't wait to see all of the fake lighting bolt scars when I enter the theater!  My only wish is that I could see it in IMAX the day it comes out.  If you haven't heard yet, it won't come out in IMAX until two weeks after it has been released.  Bummer for reals.

 Wouldn't dream of giving it anything but a 10.

P.S. Here's my shameless self-promotion.  Click here for some Harry Potter prep before the new movie comes out.  I'll be posting tricky questions and answers from each of the books.

July 17- (500) Days of Summer

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Every once in a while a film comes along and surprises me.  In a good way.  I have a feeling this is going to be one of those films.  First, it was the official selection at Sundance, which is a BIG deal.  Second, Zooey is just too charming, and third have you seen the trailer!?  It is beyond cute!  I honestly don't know too much more about it, beyond the fact that I really want to see it. 

  I give it a 6, but it has room to grow on me.

July 24- G-Force

Voices by: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Nic Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan.

I have little to say about G-Force.  I personally feel as though the live-action/CGI animal movies could use a rest.  I mean, what are they?  Gerbils? Hamsters? Guinea Pigs?  We've already had Cats, Dogs, and the combination of the two.  All I can picture is everyone crowded around the Disney board room, throwing around some ideas, and one person stands up shouting "Oh! Oh! Oh! *raises arm* Pick me!"  "Yes, Miller," responds the Head of Disney.  And then Miller, or whomever says, "I've got it! Crime fighting Guinea Pigs!" (Me=*cringes*)

On a side note, I am completely flabbergasted that this is Disney.  

 It's a 3, because I did laugh once at the preview.

July 24- Orphan

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sasgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman.

Just when you thought you'd seen enough creepy little girls in your life, here pop's up another one!  Just look at that death star! and those pigtails! EEP! Did I mention that her name is Esther? Unless this scary movie comes with a good plot (which is doesn't sound like it), I'm not buying into it.  How many times have you seen a movie where a new person joins a family, be it a new step mother, brother, uncle, whatever, and then said person starts to haunt everyone else?  It's been done before!  I'm already over it.

   Ehh... a 2 is being nice.

July 24- The Ugly Truth

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Kevin Connolly, Cheryl Hines

Ever since Katherine Heigl came out with Knocked Up, I knew I would love her for life.  I don't know what it is about her, but she has this charm and a knack for comedy which really makes me want to see this movie. Well, that and the fact that the guy she is initially after (not the THIS IS SPA-AA-RTTAA!!! dude) is totally hot.  I think I'm going to have to go see this one for a girl's night out for my birthday (which is the 25th), because it is definitely a battle of the sexes movie which I'm not totally sure guys will appreciate.  So if you're a girl, go for the feminism.  If you're a male, go for Heigl.  

 It's an 8.  I don't just go see any movie on my birthday.

July 31- Aliens in the Attic

Starring: No one important, unless you count Ashley Tisdale (Which I don't).

This movie looks dumber than a box of rocks, and the aliens are fugly (I hope I'm allowed to say that), which is why I gave it a 0 out of 10.  If you really want to go and see it, then be my guest, but don't come whining back to me about it.  

Oh yeah, and just because no one probably knows what it's about, I'll be nice and give you a plot.  It's about aliens who move into these kid's house, planning to destroy the world.  That and Ashley Tisdale's fake hair.

  No need to explain.

July 31- Funny People

Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman

In my first semester of film school, I took a pre-production class in which we would have hands on assignments that simulate what it would be like to prepare for making a real movie.  One of those assignments was to go to a prop house and pick out furniture for a fake set.  So, I went to the Warner Brothers prop house, meandered the long aisles, and came across tagged props for the movie Funny People (If a prop is tagged it means they would be using it in the movie).  Being the fanatical person that I am, I took a picture of myself sitting on one of the tagged sofas knowing that one day this movie would come out and I would have my claim to fame!  OMG I totally sat down on that couch!  

I'm positive Funny People will be just what it's title entails, and that is funny.  After all, it is Jud Apatow's third movie as director and his last two, Knocked Up and Superbad, were definitely hit out of the park.  Who knows what kind of chaos will ensue with both Rogen and Sandler aboard?!

 Can't hardly wait, thus it's a nine!

Okay, I've had my say, now it's your turn! What are your picks for July? What can you wait to see?

Will the real Harry Potter fans please stand up?