Two's a trend: Mall-cop movies!

emily faith Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 11:44 PM EST

- "Will Davis Sun" - said:
A movie like Paul Blart Mall Cop is just another bigot movie. It's bigotry toward the plus sized population. This movie should be looked at for what it is, a hate crime. It's a violation of the basic civil rights for all larger people. It insults those with medical conditions, both physical and psychiatric, that inflicts many good people who find them selves overweight and requiring help. This movie also will cause poor public relations with the men and women who serve as security officers in most public places, of which may cause safety and protection issues. Everyone should be free to enjoy civil rights in this great nation. This movie should be banned as a hate crime and a threat to public safety.
~~~~~~~~
I apologize, but that's an ignorant comment. Restrict CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS just because you're offended?Ridiculous. You're not forced to watch the movie, are you? Americans don't need the government telling them what they're allowed to view.

Nick Sun, Mar 8, 2009 at 10:41 PM EST

Mars Attacks and Independence Day

Alex Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 07:54 AM EST

Yeah, it was Listen 2 This. I liked those, but then they started not being exclusively about music, (they started to include video games & comic books too) http://hardwood-floor.emenace.com/brucehar62/75.html garage floor mat undefined

Tressa Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 11:05 AM EST

This was TV, but the Amy Fisher and Joey Buttafucco story was made into three - count 'em, 3 - TV movies. And to water down the audience even further, they all played in the same week. Not to mention, the incredible decision by network programmers to actually run 2 of the TV movies at the exact same time, on the exact same night. Mind boggling!

Will Davis Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 04:21 AM EST

A movie like Paul Blart Mall Cop is just another bigot movie. It's bigotry toward the plus sized population. This movie should be looked at for what it is, a hate crime. It's a violation of the basic civil rights for all larger people. It insults those with medical conditions, both physical and psychiatric, that inflicts many good people who find them selves overweight and requiring help. This movie also will cause poor public relations with the men and women who serve as security officers in most public places, of which may cause safety and protection issues. Everyone should be free to enjoy civil rights in this great nation. This movie should be banned as a hate crime and a threat to public safety.

Merle Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 04:24 PM EST

Paul Blart will undoubetly be cute and occassionaly funny. Observe & Report has Seth Rogen, which is great, but Dark Comedy, while appreciated by me, is lost on so many people.

Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:54 PM EST

the problem is there shouldnt be a "trend." paul blart should never have been greenlit

mscisluv Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:23 PM EST

How about a very current example: "Inkheart" and "Bedtime Stories" - two movies about guys who can bring stories to life. It's very weird to me that such similar concepts are released within a couple weeks of each other. By the way, they both look kind of stupid (although, apparently Inkheart is a decent book).

Nell Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 06:58 PM EST

The farm movies: "The River" with Sissy Spacek, "Country" with Jessica Lange, "Places in the Heart" with Sally Field

jack Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 06:37 PM EST

Observe and Report: Gonna be great
Paul Blart: What the decline of western civilization looks like

LoveMeSomeCrap Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 04:13 PM EST

I must admit even the picture of the King of Queens makes me laugh. In other news- that's Seth Rogen? When did that happen?

Em Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 03:49 PM EST

The Seth Rogen one sounds interesting, but it also sounds like the kind of movie I would wait and rent on DVD instead of seeing at the theater for $10. But seriously, mall cops? Weird subject. Have any other mall cop movies ever been made, or is this a new trend?

DanOregon Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 03:34 PM EST

My twofers: Pre(fontaine) and "Without Limits."
Top Gun and Iron Eagle

Kelmar Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 03:27 PM EST

Didn't two movies about Steve Prefontaine come out at about the same time? That seemed kind of random to me, even more than mall cops.

Colin Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 02:45 PM EST

Volcano
Dante's Peak

Ken Adams Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 01:26 PM EST

The new Sherlock Holmes movies in development (action drama with RDJ and Jude Law + comedy with Will Ferrell and Sasha Baron Cohen)

Daneason Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 12:46 PM EST

I agree... The Illusionist and The Prestige were both GREAT movies and in completely different ways! Good call!

Melissa Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 12:35 PM EST

I think Kevin James is hilarious and can't wait for Paul Blart, Mall Cop. Every time I see the trailor I crack up. He slays me!

Anj Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 12:17 PM EST

1. the illusionist
2. the prestige

both great in different ways.

Casey Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 11:09 AM EST

1)Mission to Mars & Red Planet
2)Lions for Lambs, In the Valley of Elah, Rendition

Kevin Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 11:01 AM EST

i hate kevin james and his mall cop movie is going to be crap.
how does this guy have a career? he's not funny!

KevinAZ01 Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:51 AM EST

I have two "three-fers":
1) Leviathan / Deep Star Six / The Abyss (all 1989; although the latter was not of the horror genre, all dealt with sea-bound anomalies)
2) Weird Science / My Science Project / Real Genius (all 1985; clearly geek was chic in '85 with these 'teens conduct science experiments' movies, unless, that is, you look at the box office takes and leave out Back to the Future)

cajunsblues Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:49 AM EST

At least every 2 years (if not every year it seems) you get 2 victorian pieces. Not that they do big in the box office but always seem to dominate the academy awards

Elizabeth W Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:35 AM EST

"Chasing Liberty" and "First Daughter." And while my love for Mandy Moore equals a love for "Chasing Liberty," neither First Daughter compares to the 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie "My Date With the President's Daughter."

Mr. Smith Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:27 AM EST

"Bug's Life" & "Ants"
"Armmegedon" & "Deep Impact"
"Volcano" & "Dante's Peak"
"Tombstone" & "Wyatt Earp"
"The Illusionist" & "The Prestige"

gac Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:26 AM EST

Platoon (Released December '86) and Full Metal Jacket (Released June '87)
Finding Nemo and A Shark's Tale
Turner and Hooch and K-9
Like Father Like Son and Vice Versa
The Truman Show and Ed TV
Volcano and Dante's Peak
United 93 and World Trade Center

Jay Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 09:46 AM EST

Panda Express & Yoshinoya Beef Bowl

EP Sato Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 09:46 AM EST

I can remember a few two-fers

Two turn of the century, semi-victorian movies about magicians (The Prestige and The Illusionist), and two Christopher Columbus movies in 1992.

Honorable Mention: The Sopranos came out about the same time as Analyze This. While one was tv and the other a movie, EW even noted how odd it was. Also, both the movie (sequel) and tv show made references to each other.

Also, TV mention: 30 rock and studio 60 covered more or less the same material and came out the same season.

And weren't there a bunch of animated penguin movies that all seemed to come out at the same time like a year or two ago?

Sara Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 09:44 AM EST

Paul Blart looks awful and juvenile - I didn't laugh once during the idiotic trailer. Oh and of course it's set in Jersey, land of malls. Observe and Report however, should be excellent, and not just because I loooove Seth Rogen - a dark comedy about mall cops? How is that not awesome?

Jen Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 09:42 AM EST

Not movies, but TV...remember a couple of years ago when 30 Rock and Studio 60, TV shows about TV shows, came out at the same time? We all know how that turned out...

Jenn67 Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 09:41 AM EST

A bunch of movies about penguins came out at the same time: Happy Feet, March of the Penguins, and some other stupid one about surfing penguins. Seriously BAD timing!

RPM Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 09:33 AM EST

Columbus and 1492 in the early 90's. I don't know if they came out the same year, but I remember Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp and Tombstone being relesed pretty close to each other.

Rebecca Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 09:03 AM EST

Madagascar and The Wild. I can't stand when this happens. It annoys me a LOT.

Jordo Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 08:54 AM EST

There are numerous examples of this, but what springs to mind first is the animated ant duo of the Woody Allen/Sylvester Stallone voiced "Antz" and Pixar's oft-forgotten (compared to their other stellar films) sophomore effort: A Bug's Life

anonymous Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 08:53 AM EST

there was also the two first daughter movies with similar twists in plot, one with mandy moore and the other katie holmes

MAC Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 08:38 AM EST

Paul Blart Mall Cop - I can't even see a commercial w/out instantly laughing.

Elizabeth Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 08:15 AM EST

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - I've been looking forward to this since I saw the trailer last year.

As far as a trend goes, I'm sure remakes don't count, right?

Philip Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 08:05 AM EST

"Volcano" and "Dante's Peak"?

Steve Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 07:41 AM EST

The were two Robin Hood films that came out at the same time - one Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and the other Robin Hood with Patrick Bergin. History shows which was the bigger hit even though the Patrick Bergin one was releases first (IMDB lists it as a TV movie but I remember it in the cinemas).

James Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 07:20 AM EST

I'll try to give it a chance. But this does not portend a good trend.