Tag Archives: preponderance

‘Underworld: Awakening’: The Reviews Are In!

Critics aren’t too impressed with the latest entry in the series. By Kevin P. Sullivan Kate Beckinsale in “Underworld: Awakening” Photo: Columbia Pictures After taking a movie off, Kate Beckinsale slips back into her impractically tight leather unitard to battle werewolves — excuse me, Lycans — once again in “Underworld: Awakening.” The film didn’t screen in advance for critics, but some reports from midnight showings have trickled in, and the consensus is pretty bad. Some critics dismissed the film entirely, while others complained it’s just more of the same from the series. Here is our roundup of reviews for “Underworld: Awakening”: The Story “This film begins with vampiress Selene waking up after being in a cryogenically frozen state for 12 years, a convincing plot element since the 38-year-old actress doesn’t seem to have aged a day. Apparently we humans have gotten hip to the preponderance of Lycans — werewolves, to the uninitiated — and bloodsuckers in our midst and have made determined efforts to eradicate them.” — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter Kate Beckinsale “Kate Beckinsale is still in her prime as a gorgeous action starlet, and there was a lot of room for her character to experience some real development across the course of the story. Unfortunately, Selene reacts to her new circumstances with such unflinching stoicism that it’s hard to become invested in anything that’s happening. In one scene, Eve actually confronts Selene about how ‘cold’ she is, offering Beckinsale an opportunity to display some true emotion — which she does in such monotone, deadpan delivery that it is hilariously ironic (and not in a good way).” — Kofi Outlaw, Screen Rant The Outfit “Oh, and Beckinsale’s outfit. A word, please, on the outfit. Ever since the very first poster for the very first movie, which had her leathered figure looming atop a grim futuristic cityscape, these films have known which side their bread has been buttered on: They’re selling Selene’s suggestive, fanboy-friendly poses as much as they’re selling action or plot or anything else.” — Bilge Ebiri, New York The Look “The Swedish director duo of M

Where’s Billy Crystal on the New Oscars Poster?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the poster for the 84th Academy Awards, and it’s… nice? I mean, Oscar looks sexy as ever, and all those foggy images of awards-night glories past recall both the champagne-fueled afterparties and the preponderance of white folks who take this hardware home every year. But isn’t something missing? Like, the host? After all that hullabaloo about Brett Ratner and Eddie Murphy that the Academy worked to deflect, and after all the lengths that the Board of Governors went to just to replace Murphy with an ultrasafe, ultrastable emcee, and after years of advertising hosts from Chris Rock to Jon Stewart to Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin to Anne Hathaway and Anne Franco, where is Billy Crystal? If I’m a casual viewer, I’m far likelier to take positive notice of the host than of the centrally positioned reminder that Driving Miss Daisy actually won Best Picture once upon a sad, sad time. Also: Can’t we get some more color in here? Sidney Poitier? Denzel Washington? Mo’Nique? If it has to be Best Picture alums, maybe Poitier and Rod Steiger from In the Heat of the Night ? Even Anthony Mackie and Jeremy Renner from The Hurt Locker . I’m not sure what this says about the young demographic that the aging Academy claims to covet; I doubt they’re watching Giant and/or The Sound of Music . Or maybe they are! Are you “young” and obsessive-compulsively watching Gone With the Wind on a DVD loop in honor of white, uptight, vaunted Academy legacies? Tell us in the comments! [via Awards Daily ]

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Where’s Billy Crystal on the New Oscars Poster?