Fill out this form to email this article to a friend

Your name		Your email
Recipient email	You may enter up to 20 multiple email addresses, separated by commas.
Your message
Validation Code	Hear validation code
	Enter validation code

We were unable to send your email.

Click here to try again.

New movies for Aug. 15

By Joshua Gillin, tbt* staff writer
In print: Friday, August 15, 2008

Story Tools E-mail this story Contact the editor Print this story Comment on this story Social Bookmarking Digg Facebook Stumbleupon Reddit Del.icio.us Newsvine

ADVERTISEMENT Loading Video...

New movies

Tropic Thunder

The gist: A bunch of pretty good actors play a bunch of egotistical actors who are making a war movie but are so self-absorbed they don't notice when they encounter real bad guys. Where's Rambo? R

Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Jay Baruchel, Matt Levin, Andrea De Oliveira, Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise,

The buzz: Finally, a comedy after tbt*'s hearts. "It's raunchy, outspoken — and also a smart and agile dissection of art, fame and the chutzpah of big-budget productions," Entertainment Weekly gushes.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The gist: Javier Bardem gets to live out countless male fantasies in a Woody Allen flick about a guy who always gets the girl, for better or worse. PG-13

Starring: Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Rebecca Hall.

The buzz: Fairly smoldering, for a Woody Allen movie. "Vicky Cristina Barcelona isn't high-grade Allen," the St. Pete Times says. "... But it has Bardem offering a primer for any guy seeking action, and not a restraining order."

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

The gist: An embarrassing add-on from Lucas & Co. to try to squeeze the last few dollars out of your wallet. Seriously, Jedi saving Jabba the Hutt's son? Fail. PG

Starring: Voices of Matt Lanter, Ian Abercrombie, Anthony Daniels, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Kane, Matthew Wood, James Arnold Taylor and Christopher Lee.

The buzz: It captures none of the magic of either trilogy. "The video game-ready results play more like a feature-length promo for the imminent TV series of the same name than a stand-alone event," the Hollywood Reporter says.

Mirrors

The gist: Mega-creepy tale about Jack Bauer and his family fighting ghosties by torturing them to life. Or something. R

Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Cameron Boyce, Erica Gluck, Amy Smart, Mary Beth Peil, John Shrapnel and Jason Flemyng.

The buzz: No preview here, but the commercials are spooky enough for us to overlook that it'll be just awful.

Fly Me to the Moon

The gist: It's like A Bug's Life, but with houseflies. And the Apollo 11 mission. G

Starring: Voices of Nicolette Sheridan, Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Robert Patrick, Kelly Ripa, Adrienne Barbeau, Ed Begley Jr. and Buzz Aldrin in the flesh.

The buzz: The aim to teach about the space race is admirable, but this one can't achieve orbit. "An awkward mix of proficient 3-D animation, detailed technical recreation and strained storytelling that stalls on takeoff," the Hollywood Reporter says.

Bottle Shock

The gist: The French always think they're so special, with their Bordeauxs and their Burgundies. Look how the Napa Valley stood up to the bullies in this winemaking story. PG-13

Starring: Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, Rachael Taylor, Dennis Farina, Eliza Dushku and Bradley Whitford.

The buzz: Like Napa Valley wines, it's not too bad if you don't expect too much. "It's Rocky with a corkscrew, an underdog story easy to embrace even if you're a Bud drinker," the St. Pete Times says.

Henry Poole is Here

The gist: A terminally ill man ends up with a water stain that some people say looks like Jesus, and finds reasons to live life when he meets some woman and yada yad yada. PG

Starring: Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines, Rachel Seiferth and Morgan Lily.

The buzz: Predictable and flaccid. Even with this cast. "If inciting boredom is the worst sin a filmmaker can commit, being timid is right behind it," the Charlotte Observer admonishes.

— Joshua Gillin jgillin@tampabay.com