This week we have the counter programming duo of the comedy Nothing but the Holidays and the Sci Fi remake The Day the Earth Stood Still. Oh, and Clint Eastwood is hanging around as well. Let’s see who the judges liked more.
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Conelly
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Plot: An alien representative named Klaatu comes to Earth to see if humans can stop their destruction of the environment, and if they can’t, order humanity’s destruction.
Rotten Tomatoes Freshness: 23%
Critic Consensus: “Heavy on special effects, but without a coherent story at its base, The Day the Earth Stood Still is subpar re-imagining of the 1951 science-fiction classic.”
Nothing Like the Holidays
Starring: John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, Luis Guizman
Directed by: Rick Najera
Plot: The Rodriguez family gathers together for Christmas, and hijinks ensue.
RT Freshness: 50%
Critic Consensus: “The performances are the strength of Nothing Like the Holidays, a rather ordinary holiday comedy with a latin twist.”
Gran Torino
Starring: Clint Eastwood
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Plot: Grizzled veteran Walt Kowalski has to deal with a changing world, especially when an Asian family moves in next door.
RT Freshness: 75%
Rolling Stone: “A lifetime in movies runs through this prime vintage Eastwood performance. You can’t take your eyes off him. The no-frills, no-bull Gran Torino made my day.”
Terminator: Salvation
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdvaP9oNe2M
Zach: Man, they seem to be pulling out all the stops for this one. You have regular terminators, flying terminators, motorcycle terminators and giant terminators. Anything would be better than T3 but with Christian Bale in the lead and what looks like some cool action and effects this could be a fun ride this summer.
Brian: It’s still too early for me to gauge whether or not this movie will be good. As I’ve said before, Bale is a good sign… McG is not. But the trailer does look a bit like fun, I just wish they just don’t get into the movie-of-just-extended-action-sequences that was T3. I’m holding my judgement, but so far… not too bad.