What We Learned This Week at the Movies - May 13-19, 2013

We are really into the swing of Summer movie season now! Man… Summer comes earlier and earlier each year, people are still in school… come on Hollywood… but anyway Star Trek Into Darkness came out this week, and next week there are three more major releases, but we’ll get to that.

Movies Seen In Theatres This Week: Peeples, Star Trek Into Darkness.

Lesson 5.  Almost Only Counts In…

Before I dive deep into Star Trek Into Darkness, let’s touch on Peeples. Why? Because I saw it. Why? Because I had time to see it. Why? Because that’s what I do! Peeples is a film that is just like any other romantic comedy, typical plot, typical beats, typical jokes, typical plot holes, and typical moments of joy. Yes that’s right, joy. If you like the actors in this film (Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington, and David Allen Grier), if you like simple family films, than this is for you. It’s well made (for what it is) and although it’s full of many flaws, Peeples is enjoyable enough. If it had have let Robinson do his thing rather than force him into a Ben Stiller in Meet The Parents type of role, this would have been very enjoyable. But as it stands David Allan Grier is a joy to watch and everyone else is in his shadow. 2 out of 5 stars.

Lesson 4. In J.J. I trust

Let me dodge actually talking about Star Trek Into Darkness for a couple more points here. Starting with this one, In J. J. Abrams I trust. At least when it comes to films. I’m not the biggest Trek buff in the world, in fact the first Star Trek film I saw in theaters was Abrams’ Star Trek and I can’t say that I’ve seen a single episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation ( I have seen one of the original Star Trek-The Trouble with Tribbles is just too hard to resist). But what Abrams does is make me care for these characters that I’ve never really cared about while still respecting the source material. One of the main conclusions I came away from Into Darkness with is that I actually have hope for Star Wars Episode VII. If there is one person in Hollywood who will respect the fan base, characters, and source material and yet make each film his own new amazing franchise, it’s Abrams.  In terms of Star Wars (a franchise I personally care more about) In J.J. I trust.

 Lesson 3. Crystal Balls are Never Wrong

One final note before I jump all the way Into Darkness, and that is to look ahead at next weekend.   Summer will be in full force as The Hangover Part III, Fast and Furious 6 and the family film Epic hitting theaters at once, all looking to knock Iron Man 3 and Into Darkness off their pedestals. That will put 5 major studio blockbusters into theaters all before Memorial Day. I’m excited to see all three films, but for many different reasons. Hangover Part III is the “final” installment of the biggest comedy franchise of all time, and although  Part II was a critical flop, it still made a ton of cash. I enjoy the first film and it seems that Part III has gone back to its roots and is basing its comedy in its characters, not just on shock value. We’ll see, but I’ll give it a shot. Fast and Furious 6 revs into theaters, and coming off of the outstanding action film Fast Five it’s got a ton to live up to. If the pattern holds (odd films good, even films bad) then Fast 6 might be a giant pile of garbage but if Vin Diesel can pull an airplane out of the sky, this might be a good film. (Jeff’s Note: A great movie game is to turn on the subtitles of any Vin Diesel flick. As you watch it it’s like you and Vin are both reading the script for the first time.) Finally Epic, or Fern Gully 2013. This looks really familiar to us 90’s kids, but the trailer give me hope. If it really is a strong story about a young girl finding herself and becoming a hero while surrounded by endearing supporting character like the trailer suggests, it might do just fine (with the lack of  pure children’s films recently I’d be surprised if this film tanks). My Crystal Ball reading for next weekend’s box office. 1. The Hangover Part III 2. Epic 3. Star Trek Into Darkness 4. Iron Man 3 5. Fast and Furious 6.

Lesson 2. Getting It Right

Benedict Cumberbatch: With a name like that, you've got to be good.

I’ve gone on long enough, time for the main attraction. Star Trek Into Darkness, wow… just wow. I can’t believe how much I truly enjoyed this film. It’s film full of twists and turns that I personally wasn’t expecting and it furthers every relationship within the universe with specific focus on Kirk and Spock. There is barley a wasted moment in the film and it all comes together nicely. What I very much enjoy about this film is that everything our c characters do is motivated by logic. What else should you expect from a film with a Vulcan in it. Great pacing, humor, and action sequences bring together this fast paced, engaging, and fascinating joy ride through space. I give this film one knock for trying to over-think itself at times, a plot that you can’t dig too deep into without it falling apart (cough-Damon Lindelof-cough), a plot a little too close to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and some small cases of needless pretention. Overall a great summer blockbuster, 4 out of 5 stars.

Lesson 1. Heroes are Movie Stars, Villains are Actors

My favorite part of the film – a man I predict will be snubbed come Oscar time, Benedict Cumberbatch. (Jeff’s Note: You never know, he might get recognition for the Oscar-bait August Osage County) HE IS WONDERFUL. I won’t go too much into his cold, manipulative, and collected character because his reveal of his true identity is quite fun. But Cumberbatch steals the film. To finish up a conversation we’ve been having for a while, a great summer blockbuster needs to have a great villain. I will say that one of the most important things about casting the Villain is to get a good actor. Someone who will understand the motivations of the character and play it with honesty, an actor who can create a full character rather than just play the surface evil characteristics, these are all things that an actor brings to the role. Movie stars can be the hero. What’s the difference between an actor and a movie star? Talent. Understanding of the craft. More than just a pretty face. A movie star is an actor who is famous based off a name and face, someone who is very talented in small range of circumstances. Let me be clear, to be a movie star you have to have some acting talent, but it’s not the most important thing. Carry a few scenes and let your fellow cast members do the rest of the heavy lifting - that’s the goal of star, of a lead, of a hero. (There are of course exceptions to this rule, like Robert Downey Jr., but we’re confident that it holds true in the majority of cases. Let me give you a few examples to prove my point.

Hero = Movie Star	Villains = Quality Actor
Jack Sparrow: Jonny Depp	Captian Barbosa: Geoffrey Rush
Thor: Chris Hemsworth	Loki: Tom Hiddleston
Neo: Kenu Reeves	Mr. Anderson: Hugo Weaving
Peter Parker: Tobey Maguire	Dr. Octopus: Alfred Molina
Harry Potter: Daniel Radcliffe	Lockhart: Kenneth Branagh, Black: Gary Oldman, Mad-Eye: Brendon Gleeson, Umbridge: Imelda Staunton and Lord Voldemort: Ralph Fiennes

Box Office Totals for the Weekend of May 17-19

Rank	Film Title	Weekend Gross	Total Gross	Budget	Weeks in Theatres
1.	Star Trek Into Darkness	$70.5	$84.0	$190	1
2.	Iron Man 3	$35.1	$337.0	$200	3
3.	The Great Gatsby	$23.4	$90.1	$105	2
4.	Pain & Gain	$3.1	$46.5	$26	4
5.	The Croods	$2.7	$176.7	$135	9
6.	42	$2.7	$88.7	$40	6
7.	Oblivion	$2.2	$85.5	$120	5
8.	Mud	$2.1	$11.5	$--	4
9.	Tyler Perry Presents Peeples	$2.1	$7.8	$15	2
10.	The Big Wedding	$1.1	$20.1	$35	4

All Numbers are in Millions and numbers are from of Box Office Mojo.com