Nick Rundowns Some Movies

These movies aren't out yet but trailers are made for pre-release criticism.

THE RED BARON - This early fighter pilot film brings back 2006's FLYBOYS--but woefully without James Franco. And while it's from the German perspective, I don't think this movie will have the vague culture-sharing moments that dragged down LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (aside from everybody in Europe speaking English). Also, remember, it's only about WWI so it's okay to like the Germans in this movie.

EDGE OF DARKNESS - This movie was green-lit after the unpredictable success of Liam Neeson's star-vehicle: TAKEN. Another old, Oscar-winning actor beats up young thugs who have kidnapped/killed his daughter. But can Mel Gibson play a crazy man? Sounds like kind of a stretch to me.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Tim Burton retells another tale few people have actually read. He continues to make Burton-esque decisions; such as casting the eccentric Johnny Depp to play the eccentric Mad Hatter and assaulting your eyes with ugly colors. This movie does nothing but further confirm that experimentation is a dead concept to Burton and Depp.

CLASH OF THE TITANS - This movie can jump off a cliff. The preview indicates the filmmakers made this classic story as trashy, obnoxious and meaningless as possible. If there is justice in the world, after this movie Sam Worthington will at least be thrown in "movie jail" and at best become known as another "former next big movie star."

WALL STREET 2 - Oliver Stone will likely continue his streak of ruining timely concepts with awful writing, awful casting and self-important directing. I have no reason to believe Stone will reach for unique drama; but I can take some solace in the fact that he won't be butchering history in his own rendition of true people ala Nixon, JFK, Alexander, World Trade Center, W., etc.

SALT - Stupid.

ROBIN HOOD - The gray color schemed deconstruction of a literary hero is so last decade. And even if it wasn't, Ridley Scott still needs to prove this is a character with layers like an onion, not a balloon meant to be played around with for two hours and then left to deflate in silence. What frustrates me most is that the trailer includes the promise to show "the hero behind the outlaw" in Robin Hood's character. What? Everybody already knows him as a hero! If you're a trying to spin a different angle on Robin Hood, why not emphasis the outlaw-ness? Or loneliness? Or short-sightedness? This movie was too easy on every level.