Best Film
BOURNE ULTIMATUM
Nothing, truthfully, came close, and rarely have we seen a blockbuster so lean. Knocked Up was great, but Bourne has a shout of film of the year, yet alone film of the summer.
Nominees
KNOCKED UP
DIE HARD 4.0
HARRY POTTER
***
Best Director
PAUL GREENGRASS (Bourne Ultimatum) & DAVID YATES (Harry Potter)
For reasons outlined above, Greengrass gets his nod. But Yates deserves to share the gong for his lean Len Wiseman gets a nomination for the surprisingly tight first half of Die Hard 4.0, in case you’re wondering….
Nominees
LEN WISEMAN (Die Hard 4.0)
JUDD APATOW (Knocked Up)
***
Best Actor
BRUCE WILLIS (Die Hard 4.0)
Simply because, single-handedly, he made a film work. Die Hard 4.0 was a pleasant surprise, simply to see Bruce doing his stuff so well.
Nominees
SETH ROGEN (Knocked Up)
GEORGE CLOONEY (Ocean’s 13)
MATT DAMON (Bourne Ultimatum)
***
Best Actress
IMELDA STAUNTON (Harry Potter)
Whoever decided to cast Staunton as a major role in a Potter movie needs a medal. The best thing in an already surprisingly-good film. The woman is a national institution.
Nominees
JOAN ALLEN (Bourne Ultimatum)
KATHERINE HEIGL (Knocked Up)
***
Best Supporting Actor
DAVID STRAITHAIRN (Bourne Ultimatum)
The same guy who was great in Good Night And Good Luck and Sneakers all those years ago. Give this man more big meaty roles.
Nominees
THOMAS HADEN CHURCH (Spider-man 3)
ALAN RICKMAN (Harry Potter)
AL PACINO (Ocean’s 13)
***
Supporting Actress
DAME MAGGIE SMITH (Harry Potter)
No other nominees. Maggie rules. End of.
***
Best Special Effects
TRANSFORMERS
We created the category especially for Transformers. Otherwise, the film wouldn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of winning anything.
Nominees
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3
SPIDER-MAN 3
***
Worst Film
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3
They’ll make a fourth one of these, inevitably. Equally inevitably, it’ll be about four hours long and just as boring as number three.
Nominees
SHREK 3
FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER
EVAN ALMIGHTY
***
Worst Actor
KEVIN SMITH (Die Hard 4.0)
Smith wasn’t in it for long, but is it any coincidence that when he appeared as the wildly unconvincing Warlock that the film started heading off the rails? And yes, that nomination for Radcliffe is harsh, as he was okay in Potter 5 – he just needed to be that bit stronger to hold a lot of the character stuff together. Pisses all over Kevin Smith, though.
Nominees:
MOST OF THE CAST OF FANTASTIC FOUR
DANIEL RADCLIFFE (Harry Potter)
TIMOTHY OLYPHANT (Die Hard 4.0)
JULIAN SANDS (OCEAN’S 13)
***
Worst Actress
JESSICA ALBA (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer)
We’re all for admiring Jessica Alba, but crikey, don’t give her any pivotal plot stuff to do or anything. Unless you’re an idiot.
Nominees
KIRSTEN DUNST (Spider-man 3)
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY (Pirates 3)
***
Worst Director
BRETT RATNER (Rush Hour 3)
In interviews, Ratner comes across like he knows what he’s talking about. On screen, there’s much less evidence, sadly.
Nominees
GORE VERBINSKI (Pirates 3)
MICHAEL BAY (Transformers)
***
Disappointment Of The Year
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
Because, Spider-pig and the rock and hard place joke aside, what was there? Given the pedigree of the show, the movie should have been a classic, instead of an overlong, okayish episode.
Nominees
SPIDER-MAN 3
SHREK 3
Start your argument engines, and we’ll see you in the comments field….
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By cjlines 1 August 17, 2007 09:26:45 AM
This isn't a very geeky list!
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By robert.mclaughlin 1 August 17, 2007 09:32:15 AM
no arguement here - I completely agree. Bourne was great ( thanks Cineworld for the advance previews) as was Die Hard for just sheer silly popcorn fun and as I am yet to see Knocked Up until tommrow I can only comment on the teams previous work ... which was great. Also the list of Turkeys is spot on, not for a long time have we had such a glut of medicore blockbusters that were either churmed our franchise fodder or had so little to offer.. Shrek 3, Spiderman 3, Pirates 3, all tosh and even not worth picking up on dvd. The only good film that was missed of the list was 300, which was just plain fun as well.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 17, 2007 09:37:10 AM
Umm, where to start? It might be easier if we just fight a death match. Perhaps even easier would be say "You're wrong". But I'll give a couple of points.
Len Wiseman nominated for best director? Was this a typo or are you skirting rock bottom with a fairly nasty crack problem?
Kevin Smith is worst actor? Next time you see a picture of Pete Doherty, take a look at his teeth. That's permanent. I hope you're receiving the help you need.
The Simpsons Movie was a bigger dissappointment than Spiderman 3? Were you expecting to meet a crack dealer in the theatre for the Simpsons? Because the Simpsons was pretty much what everyone expected where as Spiderman 3 was like going to Disneyland only to get there and find the whole thing was a trick and you're actually having all of your limbs amputated.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 17, 2007 10:13:07 AM
Len Wiseman: a real surprise. I maintain the first half of DH4 was really well directed. And, let's face it, there aren't many other potential nominees this summer.
Spidey/Simpsons: Spidey looked dodgy with three villains, Simpsons looked ace. The latter was the one I really thought would deliver.
Kevin Smith: I really like Kevin Smith, but you're not seriously suggesting that his performance in DH4 was actually any good?
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By cjlines 1 August 17, 2007 10:28:30 AM
I wish I had a decent counterpoint, but but I really can't say as anything's impressed me this summer and I haven't seen the Bourne movie. I just think it's a shame that the machismo brigade wins out here over superheroes and their cosmic antics. It feels like the jocks have invaded the tree house or something.
The only good film I've seen on the cinema this year was "Ghost Rider" and that was too early to a be a Summer blockbuster.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 17, 2007 10:33:48 AM
Oooh, debate.
Len Wiseman is a director with no sense of style whatsoever. His insistance on a constantly moving camera made Die Hard 4.0 a downright nautious experience at times.
I guess we had different expectations with The Simpsons and Spiderman3. I always figured that twenty years in, a Simpsons movie would be fine but there's only so much ground they haven't covered, the films not going to change the world. But Spiderman 3, even considering that a certain amounto f dodginess may have been hinted at, that movie sucked in way I could never have expected. Yes, I am specifically referring to sections of the movie where 'evil' (that means floppy hair and stubble) Peter Parker because overtaken with the sinister spirit of a 70's disco legend. There was always a chance the film would misfire in place but it was terribly dissappointing that it turned out to be retarded.
As far as Kevin Smith - I did think he was good. It's not like this is an alien point of view, he was very well received by critics too. To give him worst actor after sitting through Orlando Bloom in Pirates 3 just seems strange.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 17, 2007 10:41:10 AM
Ghost Rider and 300 were too early. Neither counts. And Ghost Rider was, of course, awful.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 17, 2007 10:51:04 AM
Len Wiseman, though, framed a few real jump shots quite cleverly. It really surprised me, because I always thought he was shit, and by the end of the film he was openly masturbating over the editing suite from what I could tell. But there were surprising signs from a director too often written off.
Kevin Smith. Die Hard 4. Dreadful. Really bad. There's no debate there. Surely?
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Spidergirl 1 August 17, 2007 10:54:52 AM
I heard that Die Hard 4.0 showed that Wiseman still doesn't know how to use colour. Confirm/deny?
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 17, 2007 11:06:19 AM
Some quotes on Kevin Smith in Die Hard 4.0?
"And still another Jersey guy spices up the movie: Kevin Smith, the former Red Bank and Highlands resident, arrives midway as Warlock, a cranky computer genius who knows how to find everybody, including the hackers. This is a perfect fit for Smith, who can talk so fast he sounds authoritative about things digital, and whose www.viewaskew.com was a pioneer in the marketing and blogging Web site world" -Eleanor O'Sullivan, Asbury Park Press
"The biggest laughs come from cameo scenes featuring filmmaker Kevin Smith, who delivers deadpan quips as a goofy tech guru with a mythical reputation online" - Lisa Rose, Newark Star Ledger
"Any doubts about how seriously pic is intended are dispelled in the third act with the arrival of Kevin "Clerks" Smith as the ultimate high-tech geek who humorously handles an overload of exposition and helps close the noose around Gabriel and his misguided cohorts" - Todd McCarthy, Variety
"Strangely enough, as distracting as he is, Kevin Smith's scene turned out to be one of my favorite pieces of the movie" - Quint, Ain't It Cool News
"or even director Kevin Smith moonlighting as a "digital Jedi" named Warlock, each performer noticeably adds to the film's effectiveness." - Kenneth Turan, LA Times
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By robert.mclaughlin 1 August 17, 2007 11:17:07 AM
For a Die Hard film it certainly stood up to the rest of the series as far as fun packed adventure was concerned. Although Willis did seem a bit indestructible it was a fun packed popcorn flick that delivered everything is should have for a blockbuster franchise.. unlike say last years MI3 which stunk the place out. I am not going to rant about Spiderman as I am sure what we saw on screen was certainly a lot different from the original vision of Raimi and co had in mind.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 17, 2007 11:41:11 AM
My quote on Kevin Smith on Die Hard 4.0:
"Smith single-handedly manages to put the brakes on a thus-far surprisingly strong action movie, and his appearance and ill-judged performance is something Die Hard 4.0 never recovers from"
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 17, 2007 12:08:06 PM
I can't take your quote into account, someone earlier in the comments section accused you of smoking crack which hasn't been denied. This ill-judged addiction is something your opinions never recover from.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 17, 2007 02:02:46 PM
Smoking crack? My inclination is always to see who is doing the accusing to see what they're hiding ;-)
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By robert.mclaughlin 1 August 17, 2007 03:15:04 PM
Sorry Matts comments just made me lol in the office.. i think people might have heard.. and I can see them thinking I am a bit (more) funny in the head that usual for laughing to myself at at things on the 'tinterweb
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 17, 2007 03:26:35 PM
By the same logic, does that mean you're suggesting that actually you weren't happy with your performance in Die Hard 4.0?
Similarly, you must have some serious issues with the British legal system. Somewhere there's a lawyer trying to get Michael Barrymore put away for his crimes (not just against entertainment) and you're accusing that lawyer of bumming someone to death in a swimming pool. Which for all I know, they may have done.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 17, 2007 03:43:08 PM
Maybe that's down to the drugs. If you can wean yourself off you might still be able to salvage some kind of acting career. Just look at Robert Downey Jnr.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By moakle 1 August 17, 2007 04:29:11 PM
aaargh, I haven't seen Bourne yet and now i really, really, REALLY want to.
need to go this weekend. need to convince wife that she'll love it.
any ideas?
Oh, and I totally agree on the Bruce Willis comment. Die Hard 4.0 was such a pleasant surprise for me (apart from the plane-vs-man scene) and I agree that was pretty much down to Bruce doing his thing. Shame they didn't let him swear properly though. And for what my lowly opinion is worth, Simon's right - the first half of Die Hard 4.0 is very good. Nice, tight and action packed.
as for the smoking crack thing - I really don't think Simon's the type...
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By moakle 1 August 17, 2007 04:32:17 PM
oo, oo, oo. Can i also just add my own suggestion for the one film of the Summer?
Sunshine - tenuous yes, but it's out on DVD this month so technically summer.
And anyway, tenuous is my middle name. Not, as many will claim, Beryl
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 17, 2007 04:34:43 PM
I was. I was *rubbish* in Die Hard 4. :-)
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 17, 2007 04:55:45 PM
My pipe is empty. Smith was crap. See? Utter coherence on my part :-)
This is a first for the site, though. I knew Smith's fanboys were dedicated, but accusing me of a drug habit? ;-)
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By RonHogan 1 August 17, 2007 05:30:20 PM
I can't take Matt seriously. He says Kevin Smith was good, but follows that up by quoting the absolutely bullshit Quint from AICN AND two newspapers from Kevin Smith's home state of New Jersey, including one WHERE SMITH LIVED. And also Variety and the LA Times, neither of whom are known for journalistic integrity. Now, I don't think Smith was all that awful in his limited role of a 30something balding dork, but find better evidence from less-shitty sources.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By RonHogan 1 August 17, 2007 05:36:33 PM
Trying to read these comments gave me brain cancer. Thanks a lot. That said, I was more disappointed by Spider-Man3, because Spidey 2 was such an ace film. The Simpsons has been on a downward spiral for years now, so if the film is mediocre, I won't be too put off. Going to see it Saturday.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 17, 2007 07:31:09 PM
In my defence, those were the easiest quotes to find.
I wouldn't say I was too fanboyish, it's just that I find crack addiction really, really funny.
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By Matt 1 August 18, 2007 09:35:29 AM
Hows this for a source
"An honourable mention is owed to Kevin Smith, whose cameo as the Warlock is a real highlight and is sure to strengthen his growing reputation as a performer" - www.denofgeek.com
Re: Summer Blockbuster Awards 2007: The Best & Worst
Posted By simonbrew 1 August 20, 2007 08:49:36 AM
Matt Edwards wrote: "Hows this for a source
"An honourable mention is owed to Kevin Smith, whose cameo as the Warlock is a real highlight and is sure to strengthen his growing reputation as a performer" - www.denofgeek.com" Er, Matt - that was your review!
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