Author: Jason Zingale

When we last spoke with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost about their new sci-fi comedy, “Paul,” it was under less-than-desirable circumstances. Not only were we forced to share the time with a handful of other journalists, but we hadn’t even seen the film yet. So when Bullz-Eye was offered the opportunity to speak with the duo again in conjunction with the movie’s August 9th Blu-ray and DVD release, we didn’t hesitate. Though our interview didn’t last as long as we would have liked, talking with Pegg and Frost is always time well spent, as there couldn’t be a nicer pair…

After running the franchise into the ground in the early 70s and then failing to reboot it with Tim Burton’s disastrous 2001 remake, Fox has been eager to make another “Planet of the Apes” movie for quite some time now. Fortunately, they decided to take their time in order to get it right, and though it’s taken an entire decade to do so, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is an excellent addition to the series’ legacy and one of Hollywood’s better prequel films to date. But perhaps more important than that, the movie actually makes you excited about…

Movies like “The Guard” make me wish that I had studied abroad in the U.K., because then maybe I wouldn’t have so much trouble deciphering those thick accents that tend to handicap U.S. viewers. Though the film isn’t affected too much by the actors’ Irish brogues save for the odd line of dialogue, you still get the feeling that you’re missing out on a few jokes as a result. It’s not as problematic as it sounds, but it’s worth noting, especially because “The Guard” manages to be amusing even when you’re not totally sure what’s going on. But while it’s…

It’s easy to see why some studios might have been hesitant about distributing a movie like “Attack the Block.” But despite the potential cultural roadblock created by the slang-heavy thick accents of its main protagonists, it doesn’t change the simple fact that director Joe Cornish’s directorial debut is one of the most purely entertaining movies of the year. A genre hybrid film with influences ranging from “The Warriors” to “The Goonies” to “Critters,” Cornish has created a lean, mean sci-fi action thriller that excels in getting the audience in and out without wasting a single minute. This is economic filmmaking…

Mel Gibson can rest easy: “Braveheart” is still the best historical action film of the modern era. In fact, “Ironclad” doesn’t even come close, although it certainly had the potential to be a lot more fun than it is. Though the “Seven Samurai”-like plot device has been played to death in cinema, “Ironclad” is unique in that it’s one of the few medieval takes on the classic men-on-a-mission story that doesn’t involve someone named Robin Hood. Unfortunately, director Jonathan English isn’t up to the task, squandering his impressive cast on a poorly executed story that results in a film that…

It’s no secret that adults tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to Hollywood making films for them, but it’s especially obvious during the summer months filled with CG-fueled movies about giant alien robots, superheroes and talking cars. This year has been considerably better, however, with adult-minded treats like “Larry Crowne,” “Midnight in Paris,” and now, “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” But unlike the Tom Hanks-directed rom-com, which was light and fun but not particularly memorable, “Crazy, Stupid, Love” has real substance to its story and characters that feel like genuine people. You don’t see that very…

Over the last few years, Marvel Studios has been slowly putting together the pieces to its ultra-ambitious superhero team film, “The Avengers.” And though they’ve received plenty of flack for sometimes being a little too deliberate with connecting the dots between movies, they’ve still done a good job of allowing each individual film to exist on its own. That trend continues with “Captain America: The First Avenger,” an old-fashioned adventure film that, while admittedly a little cheesy, is packed with the same charm and wit of the studio’s other movies. But for as much fun as the final piece of…

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you’re dealing with perhaps the most popular long-form story of this generation. You really have to applaud the team behind the “Harry Potter” films, because no one envies the arduous task that they had in bringing the series to a close. After all, not only was it a massive risk to split the seventh book into two movies, but there’s also the impossibly high expectations that come with any finale, not to mention the bittersweet feeling that fans were likely to have no matter how it turned out. It’s with great pleasure, then,…

There’s been a long-running debate in the film critic community over whether kids’ movies should be cut some slack when reviewing them. But when companies like Pixar consistently release great films with engaging stories, memorable characters and clever humor, it’s hard to take that argument seriously. So yes, while “Zookeeper” may have been designed more with kids in mind, it doesn’t exactly excuse it from being terrible. Just how terrible, you ask? Well, it’s definitely as bad as “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” but at least that movie was sort of fun to ridicule. “Zookeeper,” however, can’t even afford you that…

Even if you’ve never seen one of his films before, most cinephiles have at least heard about Japanese director Takashi Miike at some point in their lives, because he’s one of the most controversial directors working today. Those walking into “13 Assassins” expecting something sick and twisted, however, might be surprised to discover that it’s one of Miike’s most reserved films to date – a classic samurai tale that, while very similar to Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” in spirit, is actually a remake of the 1963 film by Eiichi Kudo. It’s a first for Miike, but he still puts his…