It's dumping ground time at the mega-plex. Don't get taken by Hollywood!

Have more thoughts on this piece or just think I'm a big jerk? Drop me a line at jotto@reelzchannel.com

It’s late August and the good movies are drying up at the local megaplex. Yes, it’s what’s known in Tinseltown as the “dumping ground” for the movie world. It happens every year. Superbad gave movie fans one last hurrah, but now it’s time for every long-delayed, would-be-direct-to-video piece of cinematic garbage to be vomited out of the studio system in the hopes of scraping up a few dirty dollars before awards season brings in this year’s “classier” movie releases.

This weekend is a perfect example of the trend. We’ve got Balls of Fury, a movie that’s been promoted relentlessly all summer via a moderately funny trailer aired before any movie the studio could get it attached to. With Superbad scoring strong buzz for months now, they cleverly positioned the ping pong “comedy” a few weeks away from the Apatow powerhouse. Sitting through the first 15 minutes of Superbad will score more laughs than an entire viewing of Balls. Or maybe just trip a fat guy (might I suggest star Dan Fogler?). That's always good for at least one laugh, which is more than this movie will give you.

Then there’s Halloween. What is this obsession Hollywood has with remaking movies that were already done perfectly the first time around? Didn’t Hollywood learn its lesson with Psycho??? And maybe if some really intriguing director were taking a stab at the ghostly-Shatner-masked boogeyman, it might at least be an interesting project to consider. But I’m sorry, the name Rob Zombie just doesn't exactly scream "clever re-imagining." Devil's Rejects was fair, but House of a Thousand Corpses was garbage and so is Halloween. And one for three is only a good average if you're Ken Griffey, Jr.

Death Sentence? Well, we still hold hope that James Wan was more than a one-hit wonder with the first Saw, but then again, how many great or even good movies come out on August 31st? Critics are being kept away from this one like John Travolta from a gay pride convention, with Fox offering a single screening at 9:30 pm the night before. Seems like the Murdoch Co. have decided to cut their losses on this one.

Other entries into the junk food pantheon of late August/early September include The Brothers Solomon (even the poster is annoying), Hatchet (I have no idea what this is), Mr. Bean’s Holiday (might pick my teeth instead), The Nanny Diaries (I just threw up in my mouth a little), War (is this a real movie?) and The Invasion (stop it Nicole! You are better than this).

Of course, there are a few bright spots in this sea of sewage. 3:10 to Yuma is a masterpiece. Unfortunately, Lionsgate’s release during the “dumping ground” virtually ensures it being ignored come awards season. Shoot ‘Em Up is a lot of fun, an over-the-top summer shooter that easily could have held its own with a June or July release.

But for the most part, now is good time to catch up on the movies you missed earlier in the year. You might still find La Vie en Rose, Knocked Up, A Mighty Heart, Sunshine or Rescue Dawn at a second run house. Black Snake Moan, The Lookout (a Hidden Gem Pick from Leonard Maltin) and Waitress are now on DVD. (You can click on any of these titles for our full reviews).

Or heck, take this time to look back on a classic. A nice new special edition of Taxi Driver just hit shelves. I recently rented a little-know Dustin Hoffman drama from the 70’s that just hit DVD called Straight Time and it was terrific. Richard Donner’s very different re-cut of Superman II came out last year (click here for our review) and it is exceptional.

As a movie fan, this is usually the time of the year where you feel a little ripped off by Hollywood. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Just because Hollywood has decided to stop trying for a month or so doesn't mean you have to take a shot to the gut. Take my advice and you’ll find yourself cursing that $7 dollar popcorn just a little bit less. I promise.

Have more thoughts on this piece or just think I'm a big jerk? Drop me a line at jotto@reelzchannel.com