July 4th weekend has arrived and that can mean only one thing: Vampires! Here’s a handy guide to the new releases.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
What’s the story: Because going more than seven months without seeing Bella, Edward and Jacob is unacceptable, here comes another Twilight movie. Director David Slade (30 Days of Night) takes over this time around for Eclipse, which means you can expect the action to be tuned a bit higher (read: decapitations!) and the vampires to be even more vampire-y. The good news is that Eclipse has the best reviews of any film in the saga, which is another way of saying it’s “not unwatchable.” Of course, pesky critics don’t actually matter—the film grossed $68.5 million on Wednesday and will threaten The Dark Knight‘s opening weekend before the last firecracker goes off on Sunday.
Who should see it: At this point, everyone.
The Last Airbender
What’s the story: We know you hear this every week, but: Say hello to the worst reviewed movie of the year! M. Night Shymalan does the honors with his adaptation of the kinda-beloved Nickelodeon cartoon about the first (and last) airbender—a child who is able to control the elements. Or something. Critics have been vicious—wrote Roger Ebert: “The Last Airbender is an agonizing experience in every category that I can think of and others still waiting to be invented”—and, like Clash of the Titans, the postproduction 3-D conversion is supposedly quite distracting. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? Quick question: Remember when M. Night made good movies?
Who should see it: Haley Joel Osment.
Also opening this weekend: Dame Helen Mirren becomes a Madam in Love Ranch, from director Taylor Hackford (a.k.a. Mr. Helen Mirren).
