Movies Scheduled for the Week of 5/19- 5/25

Looks like summer is finally here with the Texas heat and some major blockbusters on the horizon. So with the big movies pending, let's see if everyone can get this right. Star Trek and Fast & Furious 6 loaded the list with people wanting passes and a few people offering and many people getting their posts rejected because they sent it here instead of responding directly to the person. tsk tsk. This is not new folks, and it's not rocket science. You must stop using the reply button on your phone, cause it sends it back here and you won't ever get what your want. One would think that if you get rejected once, you would remember never to do it that way again. Yeah...

Also...if you send a request once, there is really no need to keep sending the same request over and over again. Please be specific in your posts. Make it clear and simple. Use the proper header in the subject line with Want, trade, and offer. Don't put your phone numbers in the emails or send your addresses.

There are some of y'all who don't appreciate the calendar on the group page http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/DallasMovieScreenings/cal that shows all the known up coming screenings and the sources for the passes. Go look at that before quickly hitting reply and asking "when is the screening, what theater and what time?".
Don't have others do the work for you that you can do yourself. That includes entering the contests to get passes on your own.

May 19 - May 25

Sun
May 19

The Private Life of a Masterpiece:Edgar Degas, The Little Dancer Aged 14 (2004) - 2:00 pm - Kimbell Art Museum
Technically Crazy - 3:00 pm - Angelika Plano

Mon
May 20

Now You See Me - 7:30 pm - AMC Northpark
Fast & Furious 6 - 7:30 pm - Cinemark 17

Tue
May 21

Now You See Me - 7:30 pm - AMC Northpark
Frances Ha - 7:30 pm - Angelika Dallas
Hangover 3 - 7:30 pm - Cinemark West Plano

Wed
May 22

This is the End - 7:30 pm - Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley
Fast & Furious 6 - 7:30 pm - AMC Northpark
The Way Way Back - 7:30 pm - Angelika Plano
Fast & Furious 6 - 7:30 pm - Studio Movie Grill Royal

Thu
May 23

The Heat - 7:00 pm - Amstar 14
The Kings of Summer - 7:30 pm - Angelika Dallas

Fri
May 24

Sat
May 24

Star Trek: Into Darkness

The idea of rebooting the massively popular cult franchise by creating an alternative universe where the familiar characters are populated by attractive and talented versions of their former selves was brilliantly realized in 2009's Star Trek. J.J. Abrams is back directing the current continuation of the voyages of the Star Trek Enterprise with screen writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. They keep what all fans loved and appreciated in the series by making it fresh and ready for the next generation. True fans of the series and the movies have already been speculating on the return of a classic villain threatening the Federation. However for those too young or non-fans, they will be able understand the what's going on although they won't get the small nuances.

The movie opens with the new Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) doing what he does best, reacting by instinct. He's being chased by the indigenous inhabitants of a pre-technological civilization and going against Starfleet's Prime Directive in his attempt to save Spock trapped in a volcano. By ignoring the rules and regulations of Starfleet he gets his command taken away and he has to become the first officer to Admiral Pike (Bruce Greenwood). They attend a meeting of high ranking officers when a Starfleet facility in London was blown up. Somehow Kirk is the only one who figures out why, but not before some heavy casualties are incurred. Kirk and crew find themselves being sent to Klingon space to chase down the criminal John Harrington (Benedict Cumberbatch) holed up on an uninhabited planet. He has orders to shoot 72 long range prototype torpedoes at the planet. Instead Kirk on the advise of his crew captures him instead.

Kirk is dealing with some serious revenge issues when finds himself having to use Harrison who has revealed to him the bigger picture of what is happening around him. Suddenly he has to grow up from being a hot headed young captain to realizing that Starfleets' protocol is something that he grows to respect. It's great seeing glimpses of Shatner's Captain with a more sincere interpretation from Chris Pine. Quinto also softens his stiff necked Spock to realize his alternative self (Lenord Nimoy) who he met in the last movie had suggestions to him by embracing that human side. His romance with Uhura (Zoe Saldana) has some amusing moments too. Karl Urban does what he can with Bone's quaint folkisms while being Kirk's constant adviser. Scotty (Simon Pegg) has some problems with the new mission and walks off the job. Chekov (Anton Yelchin) dons a red shirt to become his replacement in engineering and Sulu (John Cho) gets to sit in the Captain's chair this time around. We are introduced to a new character Science Officer Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) who is the daughter of the Admiral (Peter Weller).

The Federation universe is nicely realized with a sense of place a more intimate look on how people live in this future world of 2259. There's scenes of London, San Francisco, the Klingon home world, the inside of engineering that's more machine than we have seen in the other Star Trek movies. Cars in the future float above the ground as does hospital gurneys. The visuals while outstanding is not the real drawing point of this film. It's the family dynamic of the Enterprise that fans have come to know and love and why this series keeps a loyal following. And when the familiar refrain of the theme song starts the film, it's nice to once more come home.
(Review by reesa)

The Iceman

Michael Shannon is one of the best actors living today. He should be nominated for an Oscar for this role. The directing was expertly delivered into a very slick movie with great cinematography. This movie time jumps between decades and just adds to the impressive eye candy. The acting is top notch and this is the best role I have seen Chris Evans (Captain America) do. Everyone did a very good job but Muchael Shannon carries this movie. The editing is paced well and in some scenes are gripping and nail biting. This is based around true hitman Richard Kuklinski who supposedly murdered over 100 people with no remorse. This is a great movie and it compares to goodfellas. 8.5/10
(Review by Chase Lee)

What Maisie Knew

“What Maisie Knew” is a difficult and poignant film to watch.  The initial illusion that Maisie, a 7 year old, is growing up in a healthy , loving, functional family unit lasts about 5 minutes before we realize that the adults are on a rapid downward spiral.  Maisie’s parents live in New York City. Mom Susanna (Julianne Moore), a middle-aged rock singer and Beale (Steve Coogan), an art dealer who travels, are both so self-absorbed with their own lives and how much they hate each other that Maisie is often overlooked.  She is showered with love and affection in excess when they have a spare moment but for the most part, she moves about the world of a solitary child on her own.
 
    She is portrayed with great nuance by Onata Aprile, who lets us see her as a real child, full of wonder, imagination and with a face that shows she is constantly trying to find her way in the eye of this hurricane. We look at her afraid we will actually see on her face the horror and fear she must be feeling inside.

     She has a loving and nurturing relationship with her Scottish nanny, Margo, who becomes and unwilling pawn, when Beale marries her in a ploy to gain full custody of Maisie.  Quick as a wink, mom marries bartender pal, Lincoln who also doesn’t realize his role in this tragedy either, as the new stepfather.  Both of these outside but loving caretakers are drawn into the parents’ scenes and fights, so Maisie bounces like a tether ball back and forth between the four, but we only really sense real love for Maisie from Lincoln and Margo, who allow her to be a child when they are together.  With them, her world is secure,  full of imagination and wonder. She paints, pretends, goes to school,  dresses up, enjoys nature and playing outside, loves a new pet turtle, sings and tries to keeps her roots intact but her parents will not allow that to be.  Mom and dad keep coming and going, faster than she can keep track of.  After a near tragedy is averted, Maisie begins to realize that she needs to  be with those who really care for her well being and has a tough decision to make for one so young.
(Review by Cheryl Wurtz)

Movies Scheduled for the Week of 5/12 - 5/18

Happy Mother's Day movie group. Hope y'all are treating your mom's or mom like people in your lives to something special to show your heartfelt appreciation. Even if it's just giving them a break for a couple hours.

Lots of movies, and it seems it's all on one day as usual. Obviously there's going to be many offers and requests for passes. Just a friendly reminder to please keep your negotiations off the list. Write directly to the person asking for or offering passes. Don't just hit reply and think it's going to get you what you want. It will just be "rejected" and sent back to you. Don't waste valuable time, the moderators and yours. Do it right the first time.

May 12 - May 18

Sun
May 12

Mon
May 13

Tue
May 14

Fast & Furious 6 - 7:30 pm - Look Cinema
Scatter My Ashes At Berdorfs - 7:30 pm - Look Cinema

Wed
May 15

The Purge - 4:00 pm - Cinemark West Plano
The Internship - 7:00 pm - Rave Ridgmar
Now You See Me - 7:30 pm - Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley
Fast & Furious 6 - 7:30 pm - Cinemark West Plano
The Way Way Back - 7:30 pm - Angelika Dallas
Star Trek:Into Darkness - 9:00 - Amstar 14
Star Trek:Into Darkness - 9:00 - Cinemark West Plano

Thu
May 16

Fri
May 17

Sat
May 18

Epic - 10:00 am - AMC Northpark

Peeples

Peeples is a comedy that you wouldn't call typical.  From the very beginning you can guess that it is going to be funny with some twists and turns.  In the very first scene of the movie Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) is entertaining & teaching a song to a large group of children on how to properly use the potty.  This was very funny but I personally had a problem understanding the words to the song and some parts of the rest of the movie. I got use to the sound quality as the movie progressed.  It could have been me but I asked a friend and she said she also had the same problem.  

In the next part of the movie Grace (Kerry Washington) Wade Walker's girlfriend is planning on going to her Peeples family reunion in the Hamptons without Wade.  He is not too happy because he has never met her family and was hoping to make the trip with her to meet the them.  She convinces him not to go with her since it is something that her family does each year. She leaves him in New York. Then he decides to surprise her after his crazy friend Chris Walker (Malcolm Barrett) says he need to go and meet the family. Chris Walker then surprises Wade and shows up too. Wade has a plan to ask Grace to marry him. 

Wade arrives at the Hamptons (after a very scary boat ride) and it is very obvious that he is in a very high class surroundings.  He was not prepared for the swanky Sag Harbor vacation home. He was introduced to Grace's mother Daphne Peeples (S. Epatha Merkerson) who is a recovering alcoholic. Grace's father Virgil Peeples (David Alan Grier) who was a judge and believes his daughter Grace is perfect therefore no man is good enough for her. Grace's sister Gloria Peeples (Kali Hawk) is a lesbian but the family doesn't know. Simon Peeples, Grace's brother. (Tyler James Williams) is a 16 year old kleptomaniac hip hop dancer.  He realized that he is a fish out of water among this picture-perfect East Coast Clan. Coming to the reunion was not what he expected.  He walked into a high-powered yet typically dysfunctional family who would do whatever it took to keep up appearances.  They didn't know Wade was even in Grace's life. Obviously Wade's plan to propose to Grace meets obstacles. Without giving too much away they all worked out their differences. It was a very fun movie with a lot of unexpected moments.

The scenery was gorgeous.  I laughed a great deal and could picture being in the same boat with someone I was in love with.  Peeples is written and first-time directed by Tine Gordon Chism who joins forces with producer Tyler Perry.  Don't expect it to be anything but fun and entertaining.  We all need a little humor in our lives.  It truly made me smile and laugh a lot though the whole movie.
(Review by Lila Katz)

Midnight's Children

By all accounts Salman Rushdie's novel was considered difficult project to bring to the screen. Rushdie spent two years pairing down his 600 page Booker Prize winning book to a 130 page script. The final script which has a 2 ½ hour running time was written and directed by Deepa Mehta. The shooting of the film had to be kept a secret as Mehta feared Islamic fundamentalists groups. The lush photography creates a magical India in a story that spans 60 years of the main character's life and the multiple twists and turns of his fate.

Saleem (Satya Bhabha) was born between midnight and 1 am on August 15, 1947 at the exact moment of India's independence. His wealthy family is unaware that the nurse switches the babies with the son of a street performer. Shiva who was actually sired by an English colonial and the wife of the street singer will turn out to be Saleem's eternal rival. For some unexplained reason, all the children born during those magic hours have a telepathic link to each other and a unique supernatural gift. Saleem being the strongest is a catalyst that brings them all together. They appear to each other like spirits. They become Saleem's only friends and at times an annoyance.

The historical backdrop of India will probably be unfamiliar to most people. Especially the 1971 Bangladesh war of independence and the state of emergency during the 70's under Indira Gandhi. The negative portrayal of the former Indian Prime Minister caused the film to stop screening by some Indian National Congress leaders. Rushdie apparently loathed Indira Gandhi so it's was probably not surprising. It's still interesting to discover other parts of the world no matter how slightly skewed it could may be.

The story weaves in and out of the tumultuous events with Saleem's adventures that work out to be somewhat like Forrest Gump in India. As crazy and interesting as poor Saleem's life becomes it often times meanders. That apparently works well in the novel, but on the big screen it makes it at time incoherent and painfully slow. The film is visually pleasing and with nice performances by most of the cast, but a large portion could be cut without anyone missing anything. What seems to be the drawing point from most of the film synopsis regards the connections between the midnight's children. However most of that though is secondary and doesn't play that big a part of the story. A good festival film.
(Review by reesa)