I'm going to start off this weeks article with a moment of disturbing realism that many of us may be afraid to admit to.  On January 22nd 2008 when Heath Ledger died due to an accidental overdose, about 95% of people reacted to the news in this manner: "Oh my God...did they finish The Dark Knight?"  The level of anticipation for this movie has been just as high as, or higher than any other film in recent memory.  Batman Begins was a movie that not only redeemed the entire Batman franchise from such horrific failures as Batman and Robin, and Batman Forever, but also redefined the comic book movie genre by adding levels of intense realism, dark protagonist character conflict, and situations concerning the morality of man. 

Everyone has been sitting on pins and needles over this movie for the past 3 years, and why not? There's a lot that has been hanging in the balance.  Is it possible that this movie will be able to stand up to the greatness of Batman Begins? Or will it be a gross disappointment that tarnishes the series we fell in love with, like Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3, and Spider-Man 3?  Will Heath Ledgers acting stand out since the last great portrayal of the Joker; Jack Nicholson in the 1989 Batman?  

Gather 'round, children, and lets find out.

It's time for a get together with everyone's favorite muscular, cigar puffing, profane friend who's obsessed with kittens and daytime TV.  No, I ain't talkin about your Grandma, it's Hellboy, and this weekend he's back in theaters for the visual packed sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army. 

You may know the director, Guillermo del Toro (who looks like a jollier, nerdier Michael Moore) from his signature directing style; making movies with more stunning, dreamlike visuals than you can shake a stick at " Blade II, Hellboy/Hellboy II, and Pan's Labyrinth.  To be quite honest, I wasn't that big a fan of the first Hellboy.  The characters were entertaining and very creatively made, but the plot was a bit shaky to say the least, and it felt like del Toro didn't get the chance to maximize his visual potential.  I just wasn't feeling it.

I went into the theater with about the same mentality, not really expecting much at all other than a movie I probably would never have seen unless it was playing late at night on TBS.  I can definitely say now that I was really surprised by The Golden Army. 

Everyone knows that 4th of July weekend belongs to Will Smith. All you have to do is look back at Independence Day, MIB, Wild Wild West, MIB II, and I, Robot just to name a few to realize that Hollywood seriously knows how to bank on an actor as big as Will. Now I've been obsessed with and praising the talents of Will Smith ever since the days of Fresh Prince...and that's exactly why this is going to be so hard. I can already sense the tension in the air from that last sentence. Stay with me guys, breathe deeply, and believe me when I say this:

Hancock is a gigantic disappointment.

Seriously. I'm not talking about being sad because you strolled over to the vending machine and they're out of peanut butter Twix disappointment, I'm talking going to your best friends bachelor party to find out when you get there that the stripper who popped out of the giant cake turned out to be your sister level of disappointment. Now before you turn green and rip your shirts off, let me explain. Almost every question sent to me looked like this -

Nowadays, Hollywood fires more gigantic mega million dollar movies at our faces than a crazed cheerleader with a high-powered T-shirt gun.  Every now and then a change of pace can be a little refreshing.  Enter, The Wackness.

Never heard of it?  That's OK, I still hold you in the highest regard.  Let me drop some knowledge in your general direction.  The Wackness is a comedy that made a splash over at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival by picking up the Audience Award for director Jonathan Levine.  The film got picked up and is now being distributed by Sony Pictures Classic for release in the US this July.  I was lucky enough to get invited to an advanced screening, where I sat back in the comfiest of chairs and got taken back to a much more simpler time: 1994.