Trailer Tuesdays!

RYAN: The holidays are upon us, and this week ushers in the Oscar caliber movies we've all been waiting for. Let's start with "The Road," starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron.

CAROLINE: I'm excited for this movie despite the fact that it was supposed to come out a year ago at this time. I wanted to see it then, and I want to see it now; so hopefully the delay has nothing to do with the quality of the movie.

RYAN: I hope so too. This movie looks really intense. I'm just wondering if we can handle yet another movie about the apocalypse.

CAROLINE: Seriously! All this end-of-the-world stuff is getting a little tiresome. This movie is based on a Cormac McCarthy novel as was "No County For Old Men," so it will face the inevitable comparisons. I don't know that it's a Best Picture contender though.

RYAN: We'll have to buckle down for some serious subject matter here, including cannibalism.

CAROLINE: Ick. But I'm psyched for it nonetheless. And the kid in it is supposed to be great. Check out the trailer here:

RYAN: Next up is "Old Dogs" starring John Travolta and Robin Williams. I'm going to go ahead and take this movie out of the Oscar caliber category I mentioned earlier.

CAROLINE: This movie is what we call a paycheck for these two. It looks so embarrassingly dumb. It's from the same director as "Wild Hogs." Need I say more?

RYAN: Please don't. The less said the better. I cringe every time I see this trailer.

CAROLINE: The cast includes Justin Long, Matt Dillon, Seth Green and, in an act of wild nepotism, John Travolta's daughter, Ella Bleu, and wife Kelly Preston. Seems like a lot of good talent going to waste in this movie. Here's the trailer:

PLANET 51

RYAN: "Planet 51" is a new animated film written by the guy who did "Shrek" and directed by some video game directors.

CAROLINE: You know I don't do kids' movies. So lay it on me.

RYAN: It's good.

CAROLINE: ...but what?

RYAN: But nothing. I mean, it's not the best animated movie I've ever seen but it's clever and very cute.

CAROLINE: That's acceptable.

RYAN: Yes. And it's actually one of the first movies I've had the opportunity to take my niece and nephew to - ages 9 and 7 - and they both loved it.

CAROLINE: Well, that is telling, since they are the target audience.

RYAN: Exactly. But really, the premise is great. It's clever, you know, about a human being as the alien on an alien planet. And of course he's misunderstood and feared and all that we'd probably do if an alien came to Earth. And I appreciate the sci-fi angle.

CAROLINE: Who are the voices?

RYAN: Kids movie extraordinaire, Dwayne Johnson, is the human.

CAROLINE: Is there ever going to be a kids movie ever again that he's not in? Or no - will he ever make a non-children's film?

RYAN: With his upcoming "Tooth Fairy" film, I'm sure that's a rhetorical question. Anyway, I like him a lot. He's talented. I've seen most of his movies from "Race to Witch Mountain," etc... and I think he's great.

CAROLINE: Who else?

RYAN: Justin Long, Seann William Scott, John Cleese, Jessica Biel and Gary Oldman.

CAROLINE: Random mix. Was Jessica godawful?

RYAN: She was actually fine in this.

CAROLINE: How long was it?

RYAN: Just an hour and forty minutes. Not bad.

CAROLINE: Well they got that right.

-- BOTTOM LINE --

RYAN: It's not quite a blockbuster-caliber animated film, like "Disney's A Christmas Carol," but it is rather adorable and fun. The music is fabulous. There's enough innuendo and comedy to entertain the older crowd who accompanies the kids to this one. It's not a must see but the kids will enjoy it for sure.

-- RATING --

Box Office Results

1. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," $140.7 million.

2. "The Blind Side," $34.5 million.
3. "2012," $26.5 million.
4. "Planet 51," $12.6 million.
5. "Disney's A Christmas Carol," $12.2 million.
6. "Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' by Sapphire," $11 million.
7. "The Men Who Stare at Goats," $2.8 million.
8. "Couples Retreat," $2 million.
9. "The Fourth Kind," $1.7 million.
10. "Law Abiding Citizen," $1.6 million.

RYAN: All hail "New Moon."

CAROLINE: Sizneriously. I thought it would maybe do $80. But $140 million? Shazam!

RYAN: The Twilight series has now entered the realm of major motion picture players. It's one thing to make your stars pop culturally relevant; it's another to shatter records.

CAROLINE: It's the fourth highest grossing opening weekend ever. Of course, that never accounts for inflation.

RYAN: That doesn't matter in the movie biz.

CAROLINE: It's so it not worth it.

RYAN: I loved it. Though it's nothing compared to a Harry Potter movie.

CAROLINE: You can say that again. Almost every critic agrees these Twi-movies are very mediocre.

RYAN: It was also the highest opening day of any movie.

CAROLINE: I'm over it. "The Blind Side" also set the record for a sports drama this weekend with $34 mill.

RYAN: How nice for Sandy B.

CAROLINE: You know what's really remarkable though is how amazingly well "Precious" is doing. Really. Thanks Oprah.

RYAN: It's this year's little movie that could, or "Juno," if you will.

CAROLINE: Oh I will. It's getting Oscar buzz.

RYAN: I really hope "The Princess & the Frog" does Disney proud.

CAROLINE: I'm actually looking forward to that too.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

CAROLINE: The much anticipated follow-up to "Twilight" is finally in theaters as of midnight last night. Let's talk "New Moon."

RYAN: I really didn't like "Twilight" the movie that much, especially since I'd read the book which was much better. But with "New Moon," I didn't read the book and wound up really liking the movie. I thought it was ten times the movie "Twilight" was.

CAROLINE: Well, let's keep it real - neither of them is a good movie. They're pretty terrible albeit still entertaining. But I was so much more entertained by "Twilight." I loved the forbidden love story and all the teen angst and longing stares in the cafeteria. "New Moon" movie didn't speak to me on that level.

RYAN: I actually connected to the story in this movie more, what with the love triangle and all. Plus, Taylor Lautner is so hot. I can't even.

CAROLINE: Honey, he's 17. You need to settle down. But he did look great shirtless, I'll give you that.

RYAN: When he finally got his haircut, I was like, "Sweet Jesus, what are they trying to do to me?" I either swooned out loud or in my head.

CAROLINE: Several girls at the screening screamed at that moment. His acting was only slightly less atrocious than that of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The first forty minutes of the movie are almost unwatchable.

RYAN: I liked the movie throughout, but Kristen and Rob are both wooden and emotionless. They operate solely on angst. Kristen looks so pretty as Bella though. Her hair, wardrobe and make-up are so great in this movie.

CAROLINE: She's very cute, and Robert P. is hot. I think they did a good job toning down the white vampire make-up in this movie. Though his brother still looks like a freak.

RYAN: The make-up, cinematography and special effects are much improved in this movie. The fight scenes were fantastic. Chris Weitz is just a really good director, even if he can't get performances out of his actors.

CAROLINE: I can't really agree there. It looks like it had a bigger budget than "Twilight," and the werewolf C.G.I. is really cool, but the first half of the movie stinks. The script is terrible, the acting is beyond amateurish and I just couldn't get into it. It picks up in the second half, but is still not a well made movie.

RYAN: I thought it was totally well made. The editing, the soundtrack and the costumes were all great. I was into it from beginning to end. I must have enjoyed this a lot more than you.

CAROLINE: I enjoyed parts of it, but I couldn't help but think without all the hype surrounding this cast, this movie would have been just another piece of crap. It's the Twi-Hards who will make this movie a success. Let's be honest, no bad review is going to keep the fans away.

RYAN: I also want to mention Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning. They have pretty small parts, and Michael Sheen is always brilliant, but Dakota really surprised me. It's a serious role for her and I was impressed.

CAROLINE: She's fine, but she's only in it for about three minutes. I was expecting more after all the buzz. But the scene she's in is very good.

-- BOTTOM LINE --

RYAN: I'm a convert. This movie could possibly turn me into a Twi-Hard. I'm curious to read the rest of the books now since I liked the movie so much. It's just a really good movie, and I'm impressed.

CAROLINE: I think you're in the minority there. It's an entertaining enough movie, but hard to not laugh at it. I liked some parts, but others were just plain awful. Nonetheless, it's tracking to make at least $80 million this weekend.

RYAN: Now I'm really looking forward to the next one, which comes out next June. Can't wait!

-- RATING --

THE BLIND SIDE

CAROLINE: I was so excited to see "The Blind Side," mainly because of Sandra Bullock. Plus I always enjoy a heartwarming movie; especially when it's based on a true sorry.

RYAN: I just couldn't be bothered to care about this one. It looks so schmaltzy I just had to allow myself to skip it. What did you think?

CAROLINE: It kind of disappointed me. I think it was trying too hard. Sandra B. is very good and totally believable, but the movie... not so much.

RYAN: I was worried this was her desperate attempt to channel Julia Roberts in "Erin Brockovich." How's her bad blonde hair and Southern accent?

CAROLINE: Actually, both are great. She's very convincing in the role of a tough but loving Mom. The story itself is very good - it's about a wealthy white family in Memphis who takes in a poor, uneducated black boy and basically adopts him. He becomes an athlete and now he plays for the Baltimore Ravens. I was so ready to cry and get really into the story, but I never did.

RYAN: Was it very badly written?

CAROLINE: I think that was part of the problem. It definitely felt cheesy and almost After School Special-ish at times. It tackles some good themes, but I never got as into it as much as I thought I would. I didn't even shed one tear; though I did well up once or twice.

RYAN: Please, what's there to cry about?

CAROLINE: It's a touching story! I just wasn't feeling it... mostly because the kid who plays the football player is such a bad actor. I didn't buy him at all. And you can never tell if his character is mentally challenged or just uneducated. He barely speaks for most of the movie. I wish they'd showed us more of his back story.

RYAN: Sounds like you were underwhelmed.

CAROLINE: A little bit, yes. I just don't think anyone would be talking about this movie if Sandy Bullock weren't in it.

RYAN: Anyone else in it worth mentioning?

CAROLINE: Tim McGraw plays the husband but he only has a few scenes. He does have one of the funniest lines in the movie though. And Kathy Bates plays the woman who tutors the football kid. She's great as always.

-- BOTTOM LINE --

CAROLINE: This movie has the feel-good sentiment that's perfect for this time of year; I just wish it was a better film. The characters, especially the main kid, weren't fleshed out enough for me. They touched on a lot of themes and story lines, but not deeply enough. I liked Sandra Bullock a lot, but the movie is only so-so.

-- RATING --