Author: Jason Zingale

As a heterosexual male, I’m pretty much expected to scoff at any mention of “Sex and the City,” since no straight man could possibly grasp the cultural significance of a show about four middle-aged single women living in New York City. Having seen the since-cancelled HBO series in its entirety, however, I’m not only prepared to defend its popularity, but would also agree that while it isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, “Sex and the City” remains one of the network’s best shows. It’s exactly that kind of attitude that led me to believe I might be able to enjoy…

It’s no secret that with the theatrical release of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” comes plenty of unheralded comparisons to Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, but they really aren’t that necessary. Aside from the fantasy genre that both stories inhabit, the latter features a far more complex text and a fairly mature fan base. C.S. Lewis’ seven-part “Chronicles of Narnia” book series, however, is accessible to virtually any age group, and while the Christian undertones aren’t as prominent in the film adaptation as they are in the novel, it remains a relevant difference between the two…

Like so many independent films these days, “Son of Rambow” has the misfortune of being virtually impossible to market. That’s really the only reason it’s taken so long for the movie to be released in theaters, because while Paramount Vantage made a great play by picking up director Garth Jennings’ sophomore effort at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, it’s been an uphill battle in figuring out how to get people to actually go see it. They’re definitely on the right track by releasing the movie in conjunction with the upcoming “Rambo” DVD box set, but they’re still going to have…

When Marvel first announced they would be opening their own movie studio to produce films based on pre-existing properties, it was a given that their first project – a big-screen adaptation of “Iron Man” – would be viewed under a very large microscope. There was a lot riding on the success of the film, and though news of director Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr.’s involvement initially worried financers and fanboys alike, “Iron Man” has since become one of the most buzzed-about releases of the year. It will come as a great relief to many that the movie not…

The summer movie season may officially be upon us, but you wouldn’t know it with flaky rom-coms like “Made of Honor” still showing up on the release schedule. There’s a time and place for chick flicks, and with the exception of the upcoming “Sex & the City” movie, the blockbuster-driven months of summer aren’t it. In fact, there’s very little incentive in pitting your film against one of the season’s biggest heavyweights (“Iron Man”) unless you’re looking for a place to quietly dump it. A similar tactic was employed last year when the equally terrible “Lucky You” opened against “Spider-Man…

Stuck in development hell for over a decade, “Speed Racer” certainly isn’t the first TV-to-film adaptation to sound like a complete disaster from the get-go, but it takes the cake as the most over-hyped of the bunch. Much has been made of the Wachowskis’ return to the director’s chair, but what exactly have they done to earn such admiration and respect? Sure, they’re responsible for “The Matrix” (as well as its two subpar sequels), but that’s about the extent of their experience behind the camera, and it shows in their latest film, a nonsensical kaleidoscope of bright lights, candy-colored sets,…

Back in 2004, when “Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle” was released, nobody could have ever guessed it would become a cult classic. The film’s stars were virtual unknowns (John Cho was best known for his role as MILF Guy #2 in “American Pie”), and though a few lucky people were able to catch it during its limited theatrical run, it was ultimately labeled a failure. When it arrived on DVD, however, “Harold & Kumar” experienced an “Office Space”-like rebirth that not only transformed the film into an underground sensation, but also played a big role in removing the…

In case you didn’t hear, it’s good to have friends in high places. For Jason Segel, that friend just happens to be Judd Apatow. After transforming Seth Rogen into a leading man with “Knocked Up” and catapulting director Jake Kasdan into the big leagues with “Walk Hard,” the next logical choice for promotion amongst the Apatow disciples was Segel. It just so happens that Segel is also the most talented of the trio, and though his new film “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” never quite attains the same comedic excellence of past Apatow projects (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Superbad”), it’s still a really…

No matter how good “The Forbidden Kingdom” turned out, fanboys were still guaranteed to walk out a little disappointed. After all, it’s not very often that two martial arts titans like Jackie Chan and Jet Li come together to headline a big-budget action film, and expectations were astronomically high. Here’s hoping the second time is a charm, because even though there’s an enjoyable family-friendly adventure film hidden underneath all the hype, there’s not enough action in this Hong Kong “Wizard of Oz” clone to satisfy the very audience it was intended to please. The film stars “Sky High” graduate Michael…

Woody Allen may never return to the top form that made him such an iconic figure in the world of filmmaking, but his latest picture, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” is at least a step in the right direction. Though the film earned a considerable amount of buzz at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for a supposedly steamy threesome between stars Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz, the scene in question isn’t quite as titillating as you’d imagine. It’s an all-too-brief glimpse at what many would consider the most attractive trio ever formed, but to dwell on it any longer would…