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 | Released on Capitol records 6/17/08 Given the ridiculous anticipation and expectations surrounding Coldplay’s latest effort, it’s hard to imagine [b]Viva La Vida[/b] not disappointing on some level. But, Coldplay has nailed down perhaps the most commercially successful pop/rock blueprint since U2. While U2 has a much lengthier resume, it’s hard to argue the broad appeal Coldplay has, which at least rivals that of U2. [b]Viva La Vida[/b] feels like a transitional effort in some respects as there are some sonic qualities that are definitely a departure from what Coldplay has offered in the past. But, there’s still plenty of the Coldplay chemistry to satiate the hungriest fan.More |  | Not Your Average Superhero Superheroes don’t have it easy. Constantly asked to save the day, rescue kittens from trees, and foil nefarious villains day in and day out can take a toll. Being nearly invincible is certainly a blessing, but can any mere mortal truly understand the burden of being called upon whenever something goes wrong? [b]Hancock[/b] (Will Smith) understands this burden all too well given that he loosely falls into the category of "superhero". Albeit, the method in which Hancock saves the day isn’t always quite so "heroic".More |  | Smart. Max Smart. No summer would be complete without at least one breakout comedy. The past few years, Judd Apatow ([b]Superbad[/b], [b]Knocked Up[/b], [b]The 40 Year Old Virgin[/b]) has virtually owned this space. However, it would appear Apatow has some competition this summer with the arrival of [b]Get Smart[/b]. Steve Carell playing Max Smart (Agent 86) appears to have rediscovered his comedic stride in this remake of the popular 60s television series.More |  | Mr. Miyagi you are not Fred Simmons (Danny R. McBride) is a Tae Kwan Do master in his mind. The self-deluded Simmons runs the half-baked Concord Tae Kwan Do studio in a strip mall. He spends his weekends breaking a few wooden boards as part of similarly half-baked demonstrations designed to encourage random mall goers to sign up with him. They usually don’t.More |  | It Ain’t Happening... M.Night Shyamalan first made his mark as the writer/director of the cleverly constructed and well executed [b]The Sixth Sense[/b]. Shyamalan’s subsequent efforts have (arguably) become progressively worse. In a desperate attempt to recapture some of the magic of his first film, the trailer for [b]The Happening[/b] only mentions [b]The Sixth Sense[/b] and [b]Signs[/b] (the best reviewed Shyamalan films). For those clinging to the hope that [b]The Happening[/b] will rival [b]The Sixth Sense[/b], prepare for disappointment.More |  | Blood, Guts, Gore, and MUCH More! For the demented, warped, and generally twisted living in San Francisco, the month of June is a special time. Another Hole in the Head is back with an assortment of some of the most bizarre, blood spurting, and eclectic films that will likely never see a multiplex. If you don’t find blood exploding out of someone’s head after running afoul of a zombie run amok, this film festival is likely not for you. However, if the aforementioned blood geyser has you cackling to the point of giving yourself a seizure, carpe diem!More |  | A Less Than Magical Sequel It is a dark time in the land of Narnia as the tyrannical Lord Miraz has seemingly exterminated and/or banished all Narnians from the land. Miraz rules with an iron fist and legions of soldiers. Determined to ascend the throne and become king, Miraz attempts to kill the true heir to the throne, Prince Caspian. Hunted mercilessly through Beruna Woods, Caspian blows a sacred horn summoning help. Thus begins [b]The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian[/b].More |  | The Tip of the Iceberg It’s been nearly five years since we first witnessed the shocking photos of naked Iraqi prisoners being humiliated, tortured, and dehumanized in Abu Ghraib. It’s easy to look at these pictures and demonize the MPs in the photos (and the MPs responsible for the photos) and focus on this group of "bad apples". But, were these MPs just following the Standard Operating Procedure? How much do these photos really reveal?More |  | Nearly Unforgettable Comedy "auteur" Judd Apatow and his posse of actors (Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, etc.) have struck comedic gold time and again these past few years with classics such as [b]The 40 Year Old Virgin[/b], [b]Knocked Up[/b] and [b]Superbad[/b]. Once again Apatow comes up with a brilliantly comedic and awkward premise in [b]Forgetting Sarah Marshall[/b]. In short, Peter (Jason Segel) is dumped unceremoniously by his girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). In an attempt to "forget" Sarah Marshall, Peter heads to Hawaii for a vacation and ends up at a resort where Sarah is staying…with her new boyfriend.More |  | Made of Clichés Given Patrick Dempsey’s ascent to "dreamboat" (aka McSteamy) status on "Grey’s Anatomy", it’s not surprising that Hollywood execs would try to leverage his fleeting swoonability for all it’s worth. [b]Enchanted[/b] was a clever romantic comedy of sorts and Dempsey did his part as a handsome and charming would be prince. However, [b]Made of Honor[/b] is the kind of film that could end Dempsey’s resurgent film career before it’s even managed to get him laid a few times.More |
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