MLive New Movies Podcast

This week, Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and pal Cory Olsen cut through the hype in the New Movies Podcast by addressing a big question: Is "Iron Man 2" all that we expect it to be? In addition to what could be the year's biggest movie, they discuss new documentary "Babies" and director Bong Joon-ho's excellent "Mother" (which opens this weekend at the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids).

So, how does the new remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" stack up to the original? That's the topic addressed this week in the New Movies Podcast. Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer pal Cory Olsen tackle Freddy Krueger, new releases "Furry Vengeance," "Greenberg" and "The Art of the Steal," and new DVD titles.

Is Jennifer Lopez's "The Back-up Plan" yet another formulaic romantic comedy? Is Disney's Earth Day doc "Oceans" yet another boring nature documentary? Is the entire "Red Riding" trilogy worth the time and effort? Do we really need to buy "Avatar" on DVD? Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba answers these questions and more in the New Movies Podcast with producer Cory Olsen adding his commentary, too.

So, does "Kick-Ass" live up to its title? Yes. No. Maybe. The critics are divided, and Grand Rapids Press film reviewer John Serba and podcast pal Cory Olsen discuss the more controversial elements of the new teen-superhero satire. Also on the agenda are "Red Riding: 1974," which opens at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts this weekend, "Death at a Funeral" and new DVD releases.

This week's New Movies Podcast is all about dynamic duos: One is comedic, as Steve Carell and Tina Fey have a quip-off in "Date Night."

The other is dramatic and musical, as Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart play punk rockers Cherie Currie and Joan Jett in "The Runaways."

Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer Cory Olsen discuss the aforementioned in this week's New Movies Podcast. Serba also raves about the pairing of Nicolas Cage and director Werner Herzog in "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," new on DVD.

Does "Clash of the Titans" live up to the hype? Does Miley Cyrus have the chops to handle weepie Nicholas Sparks adaptation "The Last Song"? Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and podcast producer pal Cory Olsen address these questions -- and peruse new DVD offerings -- in this week's New Movies Podcast.

Dreamworks is almost, but not quite, at Pixar's level when it comes to animated films. So says Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba in this week's New Movies Podcast. He and producer/commentator Cory Olsen also discuss crass comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine," erotic thriller "Chloe," British drama "Fish Tank" and new DVD releases.

A full slate of new releases for this week's New Movies Podcast includes Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler in "The Bounty Hunter," Roman Polanski's latest film "The Ghost Writer," comedy "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," gory thriller "Repo Men" and German adventure "North Face." Notably, one of them is proclaimed the best film of 2010 so far by Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba. He and podcast pal Cory Olsen also mull over new DVDs.

There's an odd conglomeration of new movies in theaters this week: Action with "Green Zone," starring Matt Damon and directed by Paul Greengrass. Romance with "Remember Me," starring "Twilight" hunk Robert Pattinson. And comedy, some more desperate ("Our Family Wedding") than others ("She's Out of My League"). Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba teams up with podcast producer pal Cory Olsen to discuss all of 'em, as well as several new and notable titles on DVD.

Skewed perspectives on a skewed perspective: That's what's going on in this week's New Movies Podcast. Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer/sidekick Cory Olsen discuss oddball director Tim Burton's skewed interpretation of "Alice in Wonderland," which puts Johnny Depp in the Mad Hatter's headgear. They also tackle "Me and Orson Welles," Romanian art film "Police, Adjective," cop drama "Brooklyn's Finest" and new DVDs "Ponyo" and "Where the Wild Things Are."