Contests »

Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game that whole-heartedly congratulates the New York Yankees on their 27th (!) World Series title! Last week we asked you to join a little staring contest with a few our of goat friends in honor of the new comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats (in theaters now). Congrats go out to our three animal-loving winners, all of whom have admitted to staring at Cinematical all day long (because we're just that cool).

1. "Part of a secret government program to... bake me a cake as fast as you can." -- Kurt P.

2. "The mirror game is a fun acting game to play in Army Acting Class...as long as you know and trust your partner implicitly." -- John R.

3. "Little did the woman know, but an electrifying rendition of the YMCA was about to break out." -- Ben M.

See full image and all captions

This week we're turning up the dial and tuning in for the upcoming release of Pirate Radio, about a group of rogue DJs who, in the 1960s, changed the world of Rock n Roll forever by playing rock records (and simultaneously breaking the law) from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Directed by Richard Curtis (Love, Actually), the film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost and Kenneth Branagh. The folks behind our three favorite captions this week will sail away with one Pirate Radio soundtrack and one Pirate Radio poster. Sound off below.



Read the official rules for this contest

Pictured: Just one of the many entries already in for Cinematical's Fifth Annual Halloween Costume Contest.

By now you've probably tricked and treated your tiny little hearts out, and either you're spending a quiet night at home with your favorite scary movies or you're heading out for a night on the town dressed up in some outrageous movie-inspired costume (because we know that's how you roll). If that's the case, and you're busy putting the finishing touches on your costume as we speak, then make sure to bring a camera out with you and take lots of pictures because Cinematical's Fifth Annual Halloween Costume Contest is still open for submissions until November 6th. That's right, you still have all next week to get us your fantabulous movie-inspired Halloween costumes for a chance to win some pretty cool prizes.

Like we do every year, this contest is open to folks under 18 and over 18 (with two separate prize packages), so no matter how young or how old everyone can participate in what's already shaping up to be our biggest (and best) contest yet. For more on this year's contest -- including rules, prizes and all that fun stuff -- head right over to our contest announcement page. We look forward to seeing your inspired creations real soon.

From our family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe Halloween.

Welcome back to another installment of Insert Caption -- the game that spent the past 36 hours staring at goats only to walk away with nothing but a migraine and a funky odor on its clothing. (Oh yes, games wear clothes -- you didn't know?) Last week we asked you to get in touch with your Cagey side and spit out a caption for a photo from Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage as the kind of guy you really don't want to have to buy Christmas gifts for. Congrats to our three winners for their inspired (and hilarious) captions!

1. "I had the boys mock up the poster to our next movie. I call it "Dress/ Off". -- Remy W.

2. "I know that it sounds romantic and all, but I'm not going to fight that bear for you." - Daniel M.

3. "Just don't let that leopard eat me, honey!!!" -- Joe P.

See full image and all captions


This week we're joining George Clooney in a goat staring contest as he throws on his strange dude hat for a role in The Men Who Stare at Goats, which brings its army full of paranormal military wackjobs to theaters on November 6th. The folks behind our three favorite captions this week will walk away with one The Men Who Stare at Goats book and one The Men Who Stare at Goats T-shirt. (Hint: If you stare at the below photo long enough, you may come up with the winning caption.) Sound off below ...



Read the official rules for this contest

Not long ago we told you about a little contest in which Fox Searchlight and Gen Art were bringing filmmakers and designers together to see which team could produce the best How-To video with the theme being Fantastic Mr. Fox costumes, based on the Wes Anderson movie due out next month. The idea behind it was that aspiring designers would submit costume designs, while aspiring filmmakers turned in treatments. From there a team of judges narrowed it down, chose the winning designs, and filmmakers were then given a small budget to go produce mini How-To videos/short films based on the costume design.

Some time has passed now, and Fox Searchlight has chosen four finalists. You can watch the four finalists over at the Searchlight site now (and my personal favorite after the jump), but Gen Art has also posted director's cut videos for two of the finalists, as well as a runner-up video over on their site. (I recommend watching the Ash Fox extended cut because it's full of Wes Anderson references and just a tad insane.)

If anything these videos will show you how to pull together a Fantastic Mr. Fox Halloween costume at the last minute on the cheap. As far as the actual film goes, that will arrive in theaters on November 13th.

This one is for the increasingly few of you who have steadfastly stuck with the Saw franchise through thick-and-thin in the aughts. The opening weekend numbers for Saw VI are the weakest since the first film, mostly thanks to some stiff competition from breakout hit Paranormal Activity. But box-office returns aren't everything. So: what'd you think?

I wrote this little piece before the release of Saw V last year, in the mode of a frustrated fan hoping for a revitalized franchise. It didn't happen; Saw V was boring and incomprehensible, and I was ready to skip the sixth film altogether. Then it got some decent reviews, and I thought what the hell. I'm glad I did. Saw VI, which sees editor Kevin Greutert take over directing duties, is easily the best Saw movie since the third. That may not be the most enthusiastic bit of praise I've ever issued, but miracle of miracles: the fifth sequel to a half-decent horror flick is legitimately pretty good. Here's how I think Saw got some of its bite back:

• Thriller momentum. For the first time in three years, a Saw movie is exciting, in an old-fashioned what-happens-next sort of way. There are creative traps a-plenty -- some of the most ingenious ones in the series, for those who are into that sort of thing -- but the film doesn't depend on them: it has a semblance of a protagonist, and a story that moves forward, and draws you in, and makes the 90 minutes feel like less. Which is related to my next point, namely:

Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game that, on a good day, is as bad as a corrupt, drug-addicted lieutenant from New Orleans. Oh, you don't wanna know what it's like on a bad day. Last week we asked you to torture us with captions for a photo from the latest Saw installment, Saw VI (in theaters now). Over 300 folks came out for this one, but unfortunately only three survived our evil, sadistic tests.

1. "Introducing ABC's new fall game show- "Extreme Simon Says" -- Shannon T.

2. "Hang out with Jigsaw, they said." -- Jordan K.

3. "Jerry seemed very upset when someone showed up to his Halloween party after having copied his marionette costume idea exactly." -- Abigail M.

See full image and all captions



This week we're celebrating Werner Herzog's wild and crazy kinda-sorta remakeof Abel Ferrara's dark, cold and twisted 1992 film Bad Lieutenant. This time around, it's called Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, and instead of Harvey Keitel, we get a crazy-to-the-bone Nicolas Cage. The film is due in theaters on November 20th, but the winners of this week's caption contest get to see it a drop earlier as two grand prize winners will each receive two tickets to the AFI premiere of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans in Los Angeles and two tickets to the Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans after-party. One runner up will also receive one Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans photography book signed by director Werner Herzog's wife and book photographer Lena Herzog.

Note: Prize DOES NOT include transportation to/from the premiere and after-party in LA. Winners are responsible for all costs associated with getting to/from the premiere. You also have to be over 21 in order to attend the premiere and after party.

Sound off below!



Read the official rules for this contest

Pictured Above: The winner of Cinematical's Fourth Annual Costume Contest in the adult category
Pictured Below: The winner of Cinematical's Fourth Annual Costume Contest in the child category

We host a lot of contests throughout the year, but it is now my pleasure to announce the official launching of my absolute favorite: Cinematical's Fifth Annual Halloween Costume Contest is on! Now you have more than one use for that awesome movie-related Halloween costume, right? Once again, we have all sorts of nifty prize packages for the best adult costume and best youth costume, and unlike previous years, this time we're giving away more than just DVDs. Um, yeah, there might be a sweet Blu-ray player among those prizes.

So, again, that's two prize packages this year: One for adults over 18 and one for kids under 18 (though this year we added a special treat for the parents of those kids who are over 18). Like in previous contests (check out last year's winners), your costumes MUST be movie-related. We're taking submissions starting now and all the way up until November 6th. Once our spook-tacular judges here at Cinematical narrow the field down to 10 finalists in each category, we'll then let you vote (via poll) for the winner. And speaking of winners, here's what you'll receive:

Grand Prize Package: Adult Winner

Insignia Blu-Ray DVD player
Collection of 5 Magnolia DVDs (The Host, Donkey Punch, Shrooms, Splinter, The Signal)

Grand Prize Package: Youth Winner (entrants under the age of 18)

Note: This prize package contains DVDs for both kids and adults (we figured you parents deserved something for all your hard work, too).

Peanuts 1970's Collection Volume 1
Chop Socky Chooks: Volume One
Curious George A Very Monkey Christmas
Aussie & Ted's Great adventure
Tom and Jerry Greatest Chases V3
Scare Tactics Season 3 Part 1
Turner Classic Movies: Greatest Classic Horror Films
The Hills Run Red
Trick 'R Treat

To Enter: Fill out the attached release (doc format or txt format) and email digital photos (along with aforementioned release) in .JPG, .PNG, .GIF, or .PSP format to the following email address: 2009costumecontest AT gmail DOT com, with the subject line "HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST." Please tell us who you are dressed as, in case we can't figure it out. Oh, and good luck!

For more complete details, please click on rules links below ....

READ THE OFFICIAL RULES FOR THIS CONTEST

Welcome back to another installment in our ongoing award-winning (imaginary, that is) Insert Caption contest -- where you provide the funny caption and we provide the deadly maniacal trap for you to escape from after claiming victory. Wait, different contest. Let me try again: You provide the funny caption and we provide the totally awesome movie-related prize package! That's better. Last week we asked you to churn out a caption for a photo from Law Abiding Citizen. Congrats go out to our two winners for obeying our laws and taking home some sweet swag. That third winner? Oh, well, let's just say they crossed state lines and, um, won't be playing anymore. Ahem. Kidding. Or am I?


1. "It was the biggest regret of his life to choose a candy bracelet as his last meal. Well, second biggest..." -- Chris O.

2. "TONIGHT, WE DINE... um, in the cafeteria... with the other inmates..." -- Ben M.

See full image and all captions


This week we're welcoming back our good friend (and world-renowned serial killer) Jigsaw, who, as luck would have it, decided to grace us with his presence for a sixth time with the film Saw VI. (Cue people screaming while trying to escape from some crazy, convoluted death trap.) The three lucky folks behind our favorite captions this week will (assuming they survive) walk away with one Saw VI t-shirt, one Saw VI poster, one Saw VI syringe pen and one Saw VI lollipop. Sound off below!



Read the official rules for this contest

Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game that's definitely law abiding ... except for that one time back in '87, but we won't go there. Last week we asked you to slam dunk some captions for a photo from the LeBron James basketball doc More Than a Game. Congrats go out to our three players of the game -- next time don't hog the ball so much.

1. "We're looking at making a sequel to Kazaam. Interested?" -- Drew T.

2. "Lebron James reacts to the news that he lost out on the part of B.A. Baracus in the new A-team movie." -- Tim P.

3. "Lebron, I'm really proud of you, and imma let you finish, but Space Jam was the best basketball-star movie of all time!" -- Zach B.

See full image and all captions



This week we're meeting Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx in a dark alley as both men get ready to square off in Law Abiding Citizen, a film that's definitely garnering some nice, juicy buzz online as it inches toward its October 16 release date. And in honor of the film, we're giving away a pretty sweet prize package to the two people who cough up the best caption for the photo below. And if you happen to be one of the two chosen winners this week, you'll slip away with three Law Abiding Citizen posters, one Law Abiding Citizen T-shirt, one DVD prize pack containing Collateral, 300 and The Italian Job and one pair of Bang and Olufsen earbuds. Sound off below citizens!



Read the official rules for this contest

Welcome back to another edition of insert caption -- the game that's, well, more than a game ... (okay that one was too easy). Last week we asked you to whip up some captions for a photo from that new coming-of-age flick starring Ellen Page and a pair of badass rollerskates called Whip It. Congrats go out to our three winners for successfully pushing and shoving their way to the top.

1. "With Ellen Page as the lead, critics were extremely surprised at the success of the new hit show on Broadway: Peter Pan - The Full Contact Musical." -- Evan T.

2. "Her teammates began to notice that Ellen's fish grew larger every time she told the story." -- James H.

3. "This is a never before seen casting session photo of Ellen Page trying to convince Sam Raimi, et al. that she would make a perfect Green Goblin." -- Stephen C.

See full image and all captions


This week we're running up and down the court with basketball's golden boy, LeBron James, who stars as himself in a very entertaining coming-of-age documentary about friendship and overcoming adversities in order to achieve your goals. It's called More Than a Game, and it's in theaters now -- so check it out. In the meantime, the b-ball haters behind our three favorite captions this week will fast-break away with one More Than a Game poster, one More Than a Game soundtrack, one More Than a Game T-shirt and one More Than a Game calendar. So put on your game face and sound off below ...



Read the official rules for this contest