JURASSIC WORLDReel Rating: 5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril
Released in Theaters: June 12, 2015 (3D/2D/IMAX)
Best for Ages: 13+
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequel
Runtime: 124 minutes
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Studio: Universal Pictures
Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Nick Robinson, Ty Simpkins
Official Site: Jurassic World
SYNOPSIS: Twenty-two years after the tragic events of "Jurassic Park," the island of Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park named Jurassic World. But visitor rates are declining, and a new attraction created to ignite visitor interest backfires horribly.
REVIEW: The park is open! The "Jurassic World" park, that is. Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next installment of his groundbreaking "Jurassic Park" franchise.
Set 22 years after the horrific events of the original "Jurassic Park" film (it's also been 22 years since that first film was released), Colin Trevorrow directs this sci-fi terror adventure based on the novel by Michael Crichton. The movie opens with a mom (Judy Greer) sending her two sons -- tween Gray (Ty Simpkins) and teen Zach (Nick Robinson) -- off to visit their Aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), an executive at Jurassic World, now a fully functioning dinosaur theme park off the coast of Costa Rica. The tragic events from 22 years ago are long forgotten, and the park is now a bustling tourist mecca with attractions ranging from adorable dinosaurs in a petting zoo to a mammoth aquatic dinosaur who eats sharks for lunch. But visitor rates are declining, so to re-ignite interest in the park, the Jurassic scientists have created a brand new hybrid dinosaur called Indominus Rex. As the boys enjoy their VIP experience at the park, including cruising in a very cool glass orb called a Gyrosphere that glides over the landscape (I want one), Claire is dealing with several emergencies involving Indominus. When Jurassic World owner and billionaire Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) asks Claire to bring in security consultant, former Marine and Velociraptor whisperer Owen (Chris Pratt) to inspect the Indominus, things suddenly spiral out of control. The isolated beast breaks out of its pen and wreaks havoc, killing every dinosaur and person in its way. Owen and Claire must team up to rescue her nephews (still tooling around in the orb) and take down the Indominus with as few casualties as possible. That's a tall order, considering the beast ate its own sibling and then clawed out its tracker. "Jurassic World" is so much fun. It's the ultimate summer blockbuster, complete with visual thrills, cool gadgets, gorgeous scenery (it was filmed in Hawaii), memorable performances by the entire cast, and dinosaurs so detailed you'd swear they were real. The movie boasts plenty of suspenseful, jump-out-of-your-seat moments, and also has a high body count -- as you might imagine, with an angry, massive, hybrid dinosaur on the loose. Most of the deaths are auxiliary characters, but there's one, in particular, that's pretty scary, especially for younger viewers. Pratt and Howard have great chemistry and lots of fun banter. I love that Claire is not some weak female who needs to be rescued. She's strong, resourceful, and a good partner to Owen's former Marine manliness. He's funny and clever -- with a sensitive side, of course. I see a sequel in their future. Robinson and Simpkins also turn in believable performances as two brothers who are at times courageous, impulsive and scared to pieces. I like that the story mirrors the original "Jurassic Park" plot with kids lost in the park, which adds an especially terrifying element to the story. There are also several shout-outs to the original film, which I won't reveal! Other characters include the brash Hoskins (Vincent D'Onofrio), head of security with his own plans for the dinosaurs; Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong), the geneticist responsible for creating the dinosaurs (he was in the original movie); Barry (Omar Sy, who I so loved in "The Intouchables"), Owen's friend and Velociraptor trainer; Zara Young (Katie McGrath), Claire's personal assistant assigned to accompany her nephews; and Lowery (Jake Johnson) and Vivian (Lauren Lapkus), technicians working in Jurassic World's control room. Also, Owen's raptor pack -- Blue, Charlie, Delta and Echo -- steal the show. While "Jurassic World" isn't as groundbreaking as "Jurassic Park" was back in the day, it builds on the big-budget dinosaur genre and delivers on all fronts. There's some funny jokes about product placement for Coke, Verizon and other companies, made even more amusing by the fact that the movie is pretty much one big product placement. The film spends considerable time in the park's central hub, filled with restaurants and stores, many of which are real businesses that paid sizable product placement fees to Universal Pictures for a fictional storefront. Dave & Busters, Ben & Jerry's, Columbia Sportswear, Oakley Sunglasses and Starbucks are among them. I love that the film asks some of the same big questions as the original movie: Should we mess with Mother Nature? What happens when you start mixing DNA from one species to another? Should we use these massive creatures as vehicles of war? And are these living "assets" just numbers on a spreadsheet or emotional creatures with needs and wants. I saw both the 2D and 3D versions, and while I'm not generally a fan of 3D, I highly recommend paying the extra bucks to see "Jurassic World" in 3D or IMAX, if it's available in your area.
THE DETAILS (May Contain Spoilers):
Sex/Nudity: A few kisses and innuendos between Owen and Claire. Zach flirts with several teen girls. References to dinosaurs mating: Violence/Gore: Tense scenes throughout the movie include peril, terror, and frightening action. The body count is high, including a few supporting characters, who are eaten, ripped apart, trampled or burned in explosions. Violent fights between the dinosaurs, who hunt, kill and eat each other. Profanity: Infrequent use of "damn," "s--t," and "bulls--t." Drugs/Alcohol: There's a brief cameo of Jimmy Buffett, who's running with a margarita in each hand. One joke about a "stoned" dinosaur who's been sedated. Which Kids Will Like It? Kids aged 13 and older who like big-budget blockbusters, or the previous "Jurassic" movies. Will Grownups Like It? "Jurassic World" is a ton of fun!
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is the film critic and editor-in-chief of Reel Life With Jane. Contact her at jboursaw@charter.net and check out the shop for fresh editorial conte " target="_blank">
INSIDE OUTReel Rating: 5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements and some action
Released in Theaters: June 18, 2015
Best for Ages: 6+
Genre: Family, Animated, Comedy
Runtime: 102 minutes
Directed by: Pete Docter
Studio: Pixar Animation Studios
Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Kaitlyn Dias, Lewis Black, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling
Official Site: Inside Out
SYNOPSIS: After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.
REVIEW: Ahhh ... so THAT's what's happening inside our heads all day and night. "Inside Out" explains it all. There are all these emotions in there trying to work together. Everything usually goes pretty smoothly, but one little glitch can set off a domino effect causing chaos. It all makes sense now! But let's back up a bit. "Inside Out" begins with baby Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) born to loving parents (Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan) in Minnesota. Inside Riley's head are a quintet of emotions controlling things -- Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling). The pairing of these actors with their emotion characters is nothing short of brilliant. With Joy as their leader, the emotions live and work in Headquarters (aka HQ), helping to guide Riley through babyhood, the toddler years and childhood. She's a happy kid who loves hockey, but all that changes when she turns 11 and her dad gets a job in San Francisco.
Suddenly, Riley has to cope with a new house, new school and her parents' new stress. It's all too much for HQ to deal with. Joy and Sadness scuffle over Riley's core memories and end up getting sucked into long-term storage. As they struggle to get back to HQ, time is running out and all of Riley's internal "islands" -- Hockey Island, Goofball Island, Friendship Island, Family Island -- start crumbling one by one. "Inside Out" is such a fun movie. It's creative, heartfelt, and beautifully animated. Even better, it offers us something we've never seen before. That's extremely rare for a kids' movie these days. It also explains emotions and memories in a way that's easy for kids (and ok, adults) to understand. For example, when sweet Riley suddenly turns sarcastic to her parents, it's because Disgust and Anger are left in charge at HQ, and they don't have Joy's skill in helping Riley form words to express herself. There are some fun brain activities for kids on the official "Inside Out" website.
Ok, I know none of this is scientific, but I think the movie will help kids and parents navigate the powerful emotions that come with growing up (and, yeah, growing old). While some parts of "Inside Out" are sad, they're balanced by moments of joy and imagination, like when Sadness describes the subconscious as "the place they take all the troublemakers." And as mentioned, the emotions are perfectly cast, from Poehler's unbridled can-do attitude to Smith's sad-Eeyore demeanor to Kaling's total disgust. All. Perfect. But "Inside Out" isn't just about Riley's journey. It's also about Joy's. She ultimately realizes that every single emotion is important in the human psyche. Without sadness, loss and loneliness, there can be no joy. There's beauty in sadness, and that's a common theme in some of Pixar's best movies, including "Toy Story," "Up," "WALL-E" and "Monsters, Inc." Now we can add "Inside Out" to that list. Be sure to get in your seats early enough to see the sweet new Pixar short, "Lava," a love story between two volcanoes.
THE DETAILS (May Contain Spoilers):
Sex/Nudity: Riley's mind includes an imaginary boyfriend who says he'd die for her. Her mom recalls a handsome former boyfriend. Violence/Gore: Riley's fears include earthquakes, scary clowns, a dead mouse, and grandma's vacuum cleaner. Joy and Sadness are in peril when they're sucked into the memory core and have to journey back to HQ. Bridges collapse, islands crumble, and characters fall into a deep precipice. One character fades away. Anger's head bursts into flames when he's upset. Riley cries in class during her first day at a new school. Her stressed-out parents fight, and Riley yells at them and is sent to her room. Profanity: A few insults like "moron," "dumb" and "shut up." Anger says he knows curse words, and one of his words is bleeped out.
Drugs/Alcohol: None. Which Kids Will Like It? Kids aged 6 and older who like colorful animated movies with lots of action. Will Grownups Like It? "Inside Out" is one of those rare movies that both kids and adults will love. It's a great movie to see with your kids.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is the film critic and editor-in-chief of Reel Life With Jane. Contact her at jboursaw@charter.net and check out the shop for fresh editorial content. Images in this review used courtesy of Pixar. " target="_blank">
Sofia The First
Sofia The First, Written by Cathy Hapka, Illustrated by Grace Lee, 40 Pages, Ages 3-8
A young commoner dreams of becoming a princess – and then one day, after her mother marries the king, her wish comes true! What young girl hasn’t pretended she has been magically transformed into royalty, suddenly transported to live in a lavish palace, and dance at a crowned ball? A perfect premise for a story – and at Number 10 on this week’s NY Times Bestseller list, Sofia the First, written by Catherine Hapka and illustrated by Grace Lee, seemed like a wonderful – and identifiable – idea for a picture book. Yet, somehow, both the plot and the writing seemed contrived – and then upon further digging, I discovered that Sofia the First is actually a Disney Junior animated series. Not quite up to date on Disney Junior programming, I learned the show premiered in January and tells the story of Sofia, who – after her mother marries King Roland of Enchancia – becomes a princess. Sounds magical, except Sofia feels rather unprincess worthy – and being that it’s a Disney production, along comes a variety of Princesses and Fairy Godmothers to help out - Sleeping Beauty’s Fauna, Flora and Merryweather among others – and soon, Sofia is on her way to learning the basics of good ‘princessing’.
Thus is the recap of the book of Sofia the First. It’s basically an accompaniment to the show, published by Disney Press. Even so – and regardless of whether watch the Disney show – young girls (ages 3 – 8) will adore the story. The illustrations are quite lively and enjoyable and the Sofia’s overnight transformation is enchanting. The writing, however, seemed forced – truthfully, at first (and not knowing the show) when Sofia is unsure of her new relationship within the family and with her new step sisters and father, it almost seems as the book will tackle tough subjects like blended families and a young child’s insecurities about not being good enough. But these are then just glossed over, and soon there is the usual dose of magical fairy godmothers, spells gone wrong, and the token mean stepsister (who in the end becomes her close friend). Adults will probably find the book empty; children however, will undoubtedly love it – especially if they are more up to date on Disney channel shows and are familiar with the characters and plot line. (The show has already been picked up for a second season and Sofia the First toys are hard to find.) And truthfully, no matter how basic and almost cheesy the story, ultimately, like all good Disney princess stories, Sofia the First does remind young girls to always believe in themselves. That alone is worth the read.
Sofia The First
Written by Cathy Hapka
Illustrated by Grace Lee
Disney Press
40 Pages
Ages 3-8
REEL LIFE WITH JANE - Family Movie ReviewsWe're so excited to feature weekly family movie reviews from REEL LIFE WITH JANE!!
Entertainment writer Jane Boursaw’s work is published by hundreds of newspapers, magazines and web sites, including Family Circle, Ladies’ Home Journal, Woman’s Day, USA Weekend, Parade, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, Variety, People Magazine, Common Sense Media, Emmy Magazine, Disney.com, and FlipBoard/iPad.
As a mom of two, Jane knows the importance of making good choices for kids, which is why her reviews include details on profanity, violence, sex/nudity, and drug/alcohol content. As an editor for AOL’s TVSquad.com, staff writer for Popeater.com and Moviefone.com, and family movie critic for Kaboose.com and iVillage.com, Jane is a trusted resource for trend pieces, newsy entertainment stories, fun interviews, and thoughtful op-eds.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTEDby Jane Louise Boursaw
Reel Rating: 3 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild action and rude humor
Released in Theaters: June 8, 2012 (2D, 3D)
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Animated, Family
Runtime: 85 minutes
Directed by: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon
Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Frances McDormand, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short
Official Site: http://www.madagascarmovie.com/
SYNOPSIS: Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman are still trying to get home to their beloved Central Park Zoo in New York City. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus.
Sex/Nudity: King Julien is smitten with a tricycle-riding circus bear, who has a few provocative slow-mo scenes. The two are shown snuggling together, and Julien calls her his “big hairy beast.” Alex and Gia flirt and hug. Gloria and Melman are a couple and hug a few times.
Violence/Gore: Captain DuBois is a vicious animal control officer who’s determined to kill Alex for a trophy. She also shoots characters with a dart tranquilizer gun and puts several officers in the hospital. Fighting dogs threaten people. Lots of physical comedy involving the animals, including a chase scene through a casino and the streets of Monte Carlo.
Profanity: One character is surly towards the others. Another character says “that’s bull-shevik.”
Drugs/Alcohol: One scene takes place in a casino, but no obvious drinking is shown.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 6 and older who liked the other Madagascar movies or animated movies with talking animals.
Will Parents Like It? The non-stop action is mostly geared for little ones. This might be a good film for parents to catch up on some sleep.
REVIEW: Animated family movies often decrease in quality with each new sequel, and that’s the case with Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. Oh, it’s entertaining enough, and the non-stop action and funny characters will keep little ones happy. But non-stop action and funny characters aren’t necessarily enough to engage the whole family. There has to be more – a good story, a creative script, and characters that aren’t built on stereotypes. Unfortunately, Madagascar 3 is lacking in those departments.
The movie opens with the four characters we know and love from the other movies -- Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith), and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) -- still stranded in Africa and homesick for their beloved Central Park Zoo in New York City.
But first they have to track down those clever penguins, who managed to cobble together a plane and fly to Monte Carlo, where they’re living large on the casino circuit. When Alex et al arrive, they wreak havoc and end up being chased by a nefarious animal control officer, Captain DuBois (Frances McDormand), who’s determined to kill Alex as a trophy. And boy, is she determined. She’ll follow that lion to the ends of the earth to achieve her goal.
The animals seek refuge on a train with a traveling circus, led by grumpy Russian tiger Vitaly (Bryan Cranston) and sweet jaguar Gia (Jessica Chastain). But our friends have to do some pretty fancy talking to pass themselves off as circus performers. Thus we get the movie’s catch-phrase when Marty dresses up and chants, “Circus afro, circus afro, polka dot, polka dot, polka dot afro!” It’s cute for about five seconds, then it gets annoying.
One of my pet peeves with family movies is when the villains are so obviously stereotypical. Gruff Russian character with sad backstory? Check. Stern French cop who ends up looking like an idiot? Check. It’s not all bad, though. At one point, DuBois belts out a sad torch song that makes everyone’s mascara run (even the guys, which, ok, is a little weird).
And after reviewing thousands of movies, some things just jump out at me as obvious marketing ploys. There’s no doubt that Katy Perry’s “Firework” is a snappy tune that makes you want to get up and dance. But when used in this movie during the circus scenes, all I could think was, Paramount Pictures is cross-promoting her upcoming concert documentary, Katy Perry: Part of Me. Then again, I did want to get up and dance, so there’s that.
Other pluses: Madagascar 3 is bright, colorful, features a great voice cast, and includes the usual uplifting messages for kids: there’s more to people (and animals) than what you see on the surface, sometimes friendship requires sacrifice, and working together towards a shared goal is better than going it alone.
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sensuality
Released in Theaters: June 1, 2012 (2D, 3D)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Runtime: 127 minutes
Directed by: Rupert Sanders
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Toby Jones
Official Site: http://www.snowwhiteandthehuntsman.com/
SYNOPSIS: This new version of the classic fairytale finds Kristen Stewart playing the beautiful princess and Chris Hemsworth as the handsome huntsman. The evil Queen Ravenna orders the huntsman to kill Snow, but instead, he becomes her protector and mentor as she fights to take back the throne.
Sex/Nudity: The queen wears form-fitting gowns, and several scenes show her nude back, including one where she descends into a milk bath. On their wedding night, the king and queen are shown in bed, with him on top of her, kissing and caressing her until things take a violent turn. It’s clear that both William and the huntsman have eyes for Snow White. She gets a couple of kisses, and a dwarf has a crush on her.
Violence/Gore: This fairytale isn’t for kids. It’s dark and violent, with a high body count and scenes of Snow White being chased through a grim forest. The queen is beyond evil – she’s sadistic and tortures people by sucking the youth out of them so she can remain young. One scene shows a room full of bodies who’ve succumbed to her wrath. She eats the organs of birds and animals, and in one gross scene, she plucks a bloody bird’s heart out and eats it. She savagely stabs the king and kills others using mind control. The queen’s brother admits to staring at Snow White and approaches her as if to rape her, but she fights him and escapes from her prison room. A gruesome battle is said to have murdered everyone in the castle. Battle scenes include axes, swords, arrows, and fighting. During stylized fight scenes, the humans break apart like shards of metal. The forest is dark and full of frightening creatures, including a giant troll who tries to kill a main character. A poisoned apple nearly kills Snow White, who writhes on the ground in agony. A couple of secondary characters die, and it appears that a main character has died. A village of females and children is attacked by the queen’s army.
Profanity: “Hell,” “damn,” and “stupid.” The queen treats her brother and minions like slaves.
Drugs/Alcohol: Adults drink and get drunk, including the huntsman and dwarves. A dwarf says he feels “lovely” after eating mushrooms in the forest.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 14 and older who like Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, or dark fantasy movies heavy on the special effects.
Will Parents Like It? This film is well done, but too frightening for kids younger than 14.
REVIEW: “Are there no fairytales for kids anymore?” That’s the question my husband asked when I told him that Snow White and the Huntsman is a dark take on the classic story most commonly attributed to the Brothers Grimm (though it has origins throughout Europe).
I have to agree that the fairytales coming out of Hollywood lately are, well, grim. There’s this movie, for one. Also Mirror Mirror (admittedly a more comedic version of the tale), NBC’s Grimm and ABC’s Once Upon a Time – all geared for grownups.
Upcoming in 2013, we’ve got Bryan Singer’s Jack the Giant Killer, two Beauty and the Beast shows in the works, two Sleeping Beauty movies (Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie and Sleeping Beauty with Hailee Steinfeld), and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton. Clearly, whoever isn’t adapting a fairytale for the screen didn’t get the memo.
But it’s no secret that most classic fairytales are anything but lighthearted. The original Snow White involved not only a poisoned apple and homicidal queen, but also a glass coffin encasing the lovely princess. If that doesn’t frighten kids out of their minds, I don’t know what will.
Snow White and the Huntsman actually follows the original story fairly well. Kristen Stewart plays the pure and lovely Snow White, and while the Twilight actress doesn’t always get high marks from critics, I think she does an ok job with the role. When her mother the queen dies, young Snow (Raffey Cassidy) is imprisoned by the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron), who seduces, marries and then murders the king.
Queen Ravenna is evil and sadistic. She plucks the organs from bloody birds and animals and eats them. She tortures people and sucks the life out of them so that she can remain young and beautiful. In short, she’s a piece of work, and Theron sinks her hefty acting chops into this role with glee.
When the magic mirror (Christopher Obi) tells the queen that Snow White will soon be “Fairest of Them All,” she goes ballistic and sends her dimwitted brother (Sam Spruell) to kill the princess, who manages to escape into the dark forest. Ravenna then orders a handsome huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to capture Snow White, but he can’t do it, and the two end up joining forces and embarking on a journey that leads to her beloved childhood friend William (Sam Claflin) and seven fierce dwarves, played by veteran character actors like Ian McShane, Ray Stevenson, Nick Frost and Bob Hoskins.
The ultimate goal is to defeat the queen’s evil reign, but director Rupert Sanders could have capitalized on the female warrior theme a little more. We really only get a brief scene of the huntsman showing Snow how to fight (though she does save him at one point), but at the end of the movie, suddenly she and the kingdom’s displaced citizens are expert fighters, ready to take on the queen’s army with skillful expertise.
On the plus side, the cinematography and landscapes are both lush and horribly grim. When Snow escapes into the forest, it’s dark and scary and dirty. But the dwarves take her to a lovely area filled with fairies and mythical creatures, with which she has an instant connection. She’s Snow White, after all.
And surely the costumes, designed by Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood, will win a few statues during awards season. They range from the dwarves’ charming wardrobe to Ravenna’s elaborate gowns, including a feathery frock that turns into a flock of crows.
While the story lags here and there, the characters, scenery, costumes, forest creatures, special effects and veteran actors help to keep things moving along. I love that so many films this year, including Brave and The Hunger Games, are based on strong female characters. And while there’s a bit of a love triangle in Snow White and the Huntsman, it’s not neatly wrapped up at the end. I guess they’re saving that for the sequel, already in the works. http://www.snowwhiteandthehuntsman.com/
MEN IN BLACK IIIby Jane Louise Boursaw
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and brief suggestive content
Released in Theaters: May 25, 2012 (2D, 3D)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Sequel
Runtime: 103 minutes
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Bill Hader, Michael Stuhlbarg
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/meninblack3/
SYNOPSIS: Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones don the black suits and shades for the third time to battle aliens and save the earth. This installment involves time travel. And pie.
Sex/Nudity: The most offensive scene happens at the beginning of the movie, when an alien man with a freakishly long tongue French kisses a woman, who “sucks” on his tongue (I know, gross). That scene made me cringe, but other than that, mostly flirting between a male and female agent, a correctional officer joking about conjugal visits, and a woman wearing tight clothing with lots of cleavage (in 3D, if you see that version).
Violence/Gore: Weapons include a variety of high-tech space guns and conventional guns. Assorted aliens fight and kill with stingers, brute force and hand-to-hand combat. Men in Black agents kill aliens with a space gun that disintegrates them. The main villain, Boris the Animal, kills people by firing deadly darts at them. He also has a small, bug-like alien living in his hand that he releases to do his dirty work. A climactic fight scene involves Agents J and K and Boris the Animal on a space shuttle gantry as the craft is getting ready to take off.
Profanity: Several uses of “sh*t,” “bullsh*t,” “ass,” “damn,” and “hell.” Insults like “stupid” and “bastard.” One 1960s-era joke uses the term “darkies.” Reference to “pimp-slapping the shiznit” out of someone.
Drugs/Alcohol: Smoking and drinking at a party set in the 1960s.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 12 and older who liked the first two Men in Black movies or funny sci-fi films with lots of aliens and special effects (expect lots of alien goo).
Will Parents Like It? Men in Black III is a fun installment to the franchise. The PG-13 rating is mostly on target, except for the opening scene with the above-mentioned French kiss.
REVIEW: I must preface this review by saying that I have a thing for Tommy Lee Jones. Not that I want to marry him or anything, but just that he seems to play the exact same character in every movie and does it so well that people keep hiring him to play that character year after year. It’s really quite awesome when you think about it.
So the fact that this entire movie plays off the fact that Tommy Lee Jones is playing his usual Tommy Lee Jones character seals the deal for me. It’s one of my favorite movies so far this year. That and the fact that there’s pie. But I’ll get to that later.
You don’t need to have seen the previous two Men in Black movies to love this one, nor do you need to know the storylines. All you need to know is that Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) and Agent J (Will Smith) have been partners in the covert Men in Black program for many years now, and that they’ve dedicated their lives to saving the planet from aliens.
The story begins with Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) – an alien that Agent K arrested in 1969 – escaping from lunar prison and stealing a time travel device to go back in time and kill the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) in order to carry out his evil plan to destroy Earth.
After Boris erases Agent K from the current timeline, Agent J realizes he must also go back in time to stop Boris from killing K. After one of the wildest falling scenes in cinematic history, J does just that, and learns a few things about his own past in the process.
It’s been a decade since Men in Black II was released, but that doesn’t stop this movie from being totally awesome. In addition to the Tommy Lee Jones thing, we have his buddy-bromance relationship with Will Smith, who has some very funny lines, including one where he gripes about being “fish-slapped” by a humongous alien fish. (And I apologize for the adult-oriented phrasing in this family review, because I did not get the connection to being b-slapped until I just wrote that. Sometimes it takes me a while.)
Special mention must be made of Josh Brolin, who’s carved out a nice reputation as one of the best actors on screen today. He nails everything about Tommy Lee Jones, from his gravelly voice to his steely expressions to his deadpan delivery -- though he’s not nearly as grumpy, being four decades younger and less world-weary.
Bringing the story to 1969 allows for some fun references, including the fact that Andy Warhol (Bill Hader from Saturday Night Live) is actually a secret agent itching to shed his pop culture persona. We also get a little romance between Agent K and Agent O (Emma Thompson, deviating from her usual Merchant-Ivory type British roles).
I recommend that you see Men in Black III in 3D, a sentence you rarely ever read in my reviews. The special effects and aliens are 3D-worthy, and the aforementioned jump scene must be seen in 3D to be fully appreciated. The backstory: Agent J doesn’t realize that a time-jump means you actually have to jump – and from a very high place like the Chrysler Building.
And then there’s pie. In addition to Tommy Lee Jones, I also have a thing for pie. So to hear him utter the words “We need pie,” and then watch him actually eat a piece of pie at a diner … well, my world is now complete. I completely agree: When things get crazy, sometimes you just need to stop and eat a piece of pie to clear your head. That’s our philosophy in this household, and I can tell you it works wonders to stave off panic and drama. Try it sometime.
Reel Rating: 3 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action and destruction, and for language
Released in Theaters: May 18, 2012
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Based on a Board Game
Runtime: 131 minutes
Directed by: Peter Berg
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Tadanobu Asano, Hamish Linklater, Liam Neeson, Peter MacNicol, John Tui, Jesse Plemons, Gregory D. Gadson
Official Site: http://www.battleshipmovie.com/
SYNOPSIS: Battleship bears little resemblance to the Milton Bradley board game upon which it’s based, but star Taylor Kitsch gives this special effects-heavy flick panache. It’s a showdown of military personnel vs. aliens.
Sex/Nudity: One scene of a couple in bed; the guy is shown wearing just a towel after coming out of the shower. A female physical therapist wears form-fitting or revealing clothes, including one scene in which she wears a string bikini top and short shorts. A few passionate kisses.
Violence/Gore: High body count, tense action, and lots of explosions and artillery warfare on naval ships. Humanoid aliens in giant robotic crafts wipe out entire ships and towns, causing panic in Hawaii, China and across the globe. Characters are shown bloody and wounded, and a few secondary characters die. Minor brawls between naval officers.
Profanity: “Sh*t,” “ass,” “hell,” “bitch,” “damn,” “oh my God,” and insults like “idiot.” Two uses of “motherf**ker,” although the last part is covered up by an explosion.
Drugs/Alcohol: A bar scene includes people drinking, and two adult brothers do shots for a birthday. A main character gets drunk and makes questionable decisions.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 13 and older who like sci-fi action movies with aliens, military tactics, and massive ships with heavy artillery.
Will Parents Like It? Battleship isn’t the best action movie of the year, but the special effects are memorable (especially the aliens) and there are some cool scenes involving military personnel and aging veterans.
REVIEW: I’ve been a fan of Taylor Kitsch ever since I interviewed him when Friday Night Lights premiered on TV in the fall of 2006. Some people just have that special “something,” and you know they’re destined to be a big star. Kitsch, who excels at playing handsome rogue with a heart of gold characters, has that, even in a movie like Battleship which, for all practical purposes, is a big cheesy popcorn flick with cliché dialogue like “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” and “We’re gonna need a new planet.”
But look, what can you expect from a movie that bears so little resemblance to the 81-year-old Milton Bradley game of strategy on which it’s based that you might as well be playing Candyland. Some of us might remember the board game released in 1967, but Battleship was originally a pencil and paper guessing game that pre-dates World War I.
But of course, that’s not nearly exciting enough for this day and age, so you have to add aliens in big metal machines, special effects galore, a slacker kid brother, a gorgeous love interest, and Liam Neeson in his usual god-like role. Blockbuster? Well, maybe, depending on your definition of blockbuster.
Kitsch plays Hawaiian beach bum Alex Hopper, who on his 26th birthday gets a message from his older brother Stone (True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgard): “Clean up your act or join the Navy.”
So Alex joins the Navy, where Stone is an officer, and four years later, he’s a hot-headed lieutenant trying to summon the courage to ask the Admiral (Neeson) for his daughter’s (Brooklyn Decker) hand in marriage. Alex chickens out, and soon finds himself in the middle of a war games exercise with the Japanese when a group of unidentifiable objects appear in the Pacific Ocean and create an impenetrable field around three ships.
When two of the ships are destroyed by the objects – identified as aliens – Alex ends up as senior officer and must cooperate with the Japanese to bring down the aliens before they destroy the planet.
Sigh … There’s really only so much you can do with aliens at this stage of the game. Everything’s been done before (though we’ll see what the upcoming Prometheus brings). So that’s where the characters come into play, and Kitsch is the star attraction here. As mentioned, Liam Neeson is playing his usual god-like role, Alexander Skarsgard is tough to see as anything other than vampire Eric on True Blood, Brooklyn Decker is the sexy girlfriend, and Rihanna, who plays a tough-as-nails weapons officer … well, she should probably stick to singing.
It’s not all bad news, though. There’s a very funny scene where some real-life aging veterans, some in their 90s, spring into action with AC/DC’s Thunderstruck playing in the background. That alone is worth the ticket price. Gregory Gadson, a bilateral above-the-knee amputee, real-life 20-year Army veteran, and director of the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program, is a real scene stealer battling the aliens. And it’s hard to completely dislike a movie where Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is a key plotpoint.
And the characters have several redeeming qualities, like displaying leadership and courage under fire, learning to work with others, even sacrificing themselves for the greater good. It’s a great movie to release right around Memorial Day.
Be sure to stay through the credits, and watch for one of the old veterans uttering a version of that classic line from the 1960s Battleship commercial: “You sunk my battleship!”
Reel Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference
Released in Theaters: May 4, 2012 (2D, 3D)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comic Book, Sequel
Runtime: 142 minutes
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston
Official Site: http://marvel.com/avengers_movie
SYNOPSIS: When the earth is threatened by demigod Loki and his thugs, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury and his dysfunctional team of Avengers assemble to save the world from disaster.
Sex/Nudity: Some flirting between Black Widow and other Avengers. She wears a form-fitting costume. After the Hulk falls through a building, he transforms back to Bruce Banner and it’s implied that he’s naked, though nothing is shown.
Violence/Gore: Not much gore or blood, however lots of explosions, fighting, and weapons, including guns, arrows, bombs, shields, and more. Mayhem ensues on earth, with people running everywhere, buildings destroyed by creepy giant aliens, armies obliterated by lasers, cars flung from bridges and the like. The Hulk is menacing and tosses people about willy-nilly. Nuclear weapons are discussed, and a secondary character dies.
Profanity: Several uses of “ass,” “hell,” “damn,” “bastard,” “oh my God,” and “son of a bitch.”
Drugs/Alcohol: A character mixes a drink for himself. Some champagne toasts. A brief reference to “weed.”
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 12 and older who like superhero comic books or movies, or the previous Avengers movies, like Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man., and The Incredible Hulk.
Will Parents Like It? It’s very entertaining, and despite the PG-13 rating, I think it’s ok for kids 12 and older. The violence is very comic-book-like, and not much blood is shown.
REVIEW: Maybe the world needs a superhero movie right now. Maybe director Joss Whedon has a huge fanbase. Maybe we just love the Avengers. Whatever the reason, The Avengers opened to a record-breaking $207 million over the weekend, making it not only the highest grossing weekend in cinematic history, but also the fastest to cross the $200 million mark. And that’s just in the U.S. The film opened internationally ten days ago, which brings the its global box office haul to a crazy $648 million.
What can I say? The Avengers is just a fun movie with smart writing, an all-star cast, familiar characters, an interesting story, a villain we love to hate, and a director who’s built his massive fan base with TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly. Those folks are rabid! And I’m one of them! And if you haven’t yet watched those shows, no time like the present.
But back to The Avengers. Over the past few years, we’ve been getting movies based on individual Avengers characters: Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man and Iron Man 2, and The Incredible Hulk.
In The Avengers, all of these individual characters “assemble” (that’s the tagline: “Avengers Assemble”) to fight a powerful demigod named Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who’s come to Earth in search of the Tesseract, a mysterious artifact that holds limitless energy. There’s a ton of backstory with these comic book characters, but just stick with me.
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the director of the secret organization S.H.I.E.L.D., realizes it's going to take some powerful heroes to save the planet. So he calls in the toughest team he can find: Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), the Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), and skilled assassin Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson).
Collectively, they’re known as the Avengers, even though they act more like a dysfunctional family in need of a good therapist.
That’s pretty much it for the storyline – the Avengers trying to thwart Loki and his intergalactic thugs. But the fun thing about this movie is the characters, all of whom are fleshed out and dealing with their own issues. Iron Man doesn’t play well with others. Thor has brother issues (Loki is his brother), Hawkeye is compromised by the enemy, Captain America just wants to be in charge, and when the Hulk gets angry, he turns into a big green monster who smashes everything in his way.
The writing is smart and snappy – Robert Downey Jr. has some hysterical lines – and there are little Easter eggs here and there, like comic book god Stan Lee showing up for a brief cameo. And even as the Avengers are squabbling among themselves, they’re fighting for truth and justice. Everyone can get onboard that.
And it’s clear that Whedon knows how to build a compelling story with complex, flawed, conflicted characters, as he’s done so many times on TV. There’s a bit of extended setup at the beginning, which is probably needed for those who don’t know the individual characters or their movies. And the Tesseract is sort of forgotten amidst all the other stuff.
But there’s a strong takeaway message for kids: teamwork is everything. With each of their individual talents and skills, the Avengers are stronger together than apart, and they work to overcome their challenges (of which there are many) for the greater good.
Oh, yeah, as with the other Avenger movies, we’re rewarded at the very end with a couple of key scenes. Stay through ALL the credits. There’s a short bit after the initial credits and another bit at the very end. Well worth a couple extra minutes in the theater.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITSby Jane Louise Boursaw
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for mild action, rude humor and some language
Released in Theaters: April 27, 2012 (2D, 3D)
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Runtime: 88 minutes
Directed by: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt
Cast: Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek
Official Site: http://thepirates-movie.com/
SYNOPSIS: Based on two books by Gideon Defoe, this cute stop-motion movie from Aardman Animations follows a Pirate Captain (voiced by Hugh Grant) who’s on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) for the “Pirate of the Year” Award. In the process, the captain learns what’s truly important in life.
Sex/Nudity: References to “scantily-clad mermaids.” Cutlass Liz is curvy with lots of cleavage (which the male pirates stare at during one saloon scene). Darwin has a crush on Queen Victoria (who’s also curvy with cleavage) and says her bun “does it for him.” The Pirate Captain flirts with a female at a pub. The “Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate” is actually a woman who ends up in a tub (nothing is shown). References to an airship being a “massive lady magnet.”
Violence/Gore: Includes guns, sword-fighting, fist-fighting, explosions and a few close calls, though no one is seriously injured or killed. A character nearly gets his head cut off with a cleaver before being pardoned. A pet bird is threatened and nearly killed and eaten. The Queen is subdued in order to save the bird. “I hate pirates” is written on the Queen’s crest. The Queen is part of a secret society that eats rare creatures, which might be disturbing to little ones (and big people, too).
Profanity: Infrequent use of “hell,” “crap,” and “ass,” and insults like “stupid” and “idiot.”
Drugs/Alcohol: Ale, wine and other drinks are served at social gatherings and pubs. The Pirate Captain gets drunk with Charles Darwin and his friends.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 7 and older who like other Aardman films like Chicken Run and the Wallace & Gromit franchise.
Will Parents Like It? This movie is really cute and fun, though some of the jokes and themes will probably go over the heads of little ones.
REVIEW: In some ways, I’d like to give The Pirates! Band of Misfits two ratings: one for creativity and one for kid appeal. While I’m all for weaving science into any family movie, I’m not sure little ones will grab onto the concepts of Charles Darwin.
Also, a few scenes might be disturbing to kids, like the main character nearly getting his head cut off with a cleaver, a pet bird who’s nearly killed and eaten, and a secret society of people who eat rare and endangered creatures.
Now I realize that Darwin, while studying at Cambridge, was a member of the Glutton Club, which involved eating unusual creatures such as owls and parakeets. Still, it’s a little disturbing in this format, especially one scene where all the cute animals, including a sweet panda, are shown huddled in a room together awaiting the chopping block.
But overall, the story is amazingly inventive and confirms that stop-motion animation is still a welcome player in family movies. I should add that while the film is primarily stop-motion, much of the scenery was computer-generated animation. The story is also based on a couple of books (never a bad thing) by Gideon Defoe: The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Whaling.
It’s also nice to see Hugh Grant return to theaters (well, his voice anyway). My guess is it took him three years to recover from 2009’s Did You Hear About the Morgans?. Here, he voices the Pirate Captain, a salty seafarer who has entered the prestigious “Pirate of the Year” contest for 20 years straight. He always loses because his crew prefers simple pleasure like “Ham Nite” (“It’s like a meat ballet!”) rather than the hardcore looting, deadly diseases, and “scantily-clad mermaids” pirates are known for.
But when the other contenders for the 1837 award -- Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek), Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven), and Peg Leg Hastings (Lenny Henry) -- poke fun at the Pirate Captain, he takes it personally and embarks on an aggressive campaign to storm the other ships.
When the captain storms the ship of scientist Charles Darwin (David Tennant), he’s informed that his pet parrot is actually a thought-to-be-extinct Dodo. Darwin convinces the captain to dock in London so the bird can win untold riches at an annual science conference. Alas, when Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton) gets wind of it, she plots to nab the bird for her own nefarious reasons.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits has the same signature look as Aardman Animations’ other films like Chicken Run and the Wallace & Gromit franchise, as well as the same delightfully wacky and somewhat twisted humor. Who knew Queen Victoria was such a homicidal maniac?
Tennant’s Darwin is cunning and mad for power (which, from what I’ve read, is in keeping with the naturalist’s real-life personality). But the scene stealer here is his trained butler, a monkey called Mr. Bobo who communicates by holding up a series of cue cards a la Bob Dylan singing “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”
This movie has some good takeaway messages about loyalty, friendship, family, what happens when vinegar and baking soda are mixed, and doing the right thing in the face of danger. And the ragtag crew of the ship stand by the captain, even when he betrays them.
Good stuff, especially combined with the fact that this movie just looks different from all the other CG-animated family movies in theaters these days. It’s nice to see filmmakers putting some effort into it. Also, any family movie that works in The Clash singing London Calling is ok by me.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexuality and violence
Released in Theaters: April 20, 2012
Genre: Romance, Drama
Runtime: 101 minutes
Directed by: Scott Hicks; based on a book by Nicholas Sparks
Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Riley Thomas Stewart, Jay R. Ferguson, Adam LeFevre
Official Site: http://theluckyonemovie.com
SYNOPSIS: This super-steamy adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel stars Zac Efron as a Marine who’s adrift after serving three tours in Iraq. Back in the U.S., he searches for a woman (Taylor Schilling) he believes was his good luck charm during the war, and finds her running a doggy daycare business in North Carolina.
Sex/Nudity: Lots of steamy scenes for a PG-13 movie. A male and female kiss passionately under the running water of an outdoor shower (they’re clothed). Indoors, they remove each others’ clothing (no private parts are shown). Sex is implied in several scenes. A female moves her hand down the back of a man’s pants.
Violence/Gore: War scenes include gunfire, explosions and some blood; soldiers and innocent bystanders die via gunfire. A physically and verbally abusive man stalks his ex-wife and threatens her when she doesn’t give into his demands (though she later stands up to him). A man gets into a fight with another man and pulls a gun on him. One tense scene shows people – including a child – falling into a raging river during a storm. A man dies after a treehouse falls on him in the river.
Profanity: “Sh*t,” “damn,” “hell,” and “ass.”
Drugs/Alcohol: Adults drink on dates and at social events. A male character with anger and jealousy issues gets drunk and starts a fight with another man. A female character gets a little tipsy on a date.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 15 and older who like romantic dramas or Nicholas Sparks books and movies like Dear John, The Notebook and The Last Song.
Will Parents Like It? There’s a lot of sexy stuff for a PG-13 movie, which is why I don’t recommend it for kids younger than 15. But the story follows the same format as other Nicholas Sparks movies – heavy on the romance, drama and tragedy. It also suggests that women aren’t complete without the love of a good man, and is that a message we want to send to our girls?
REVIEW: There are several things you can count on with a movie based on a Nicholas Sparks book. It’s going to include two handsome people who are drawn to each other, despite being confronted by obstacles and personal issues. There’s going to be a horrible tragedy that will either throw them together or tear them apart forever. And there’s going to be a stunning house, amazing locale, or water of some sort -- the ocean, a river, a rainfall or a shower, usually with the main characters kissing in it.
The Lucky One has all of these elements. Does that make it a bad movie? No, it makes it a Nicholas Sparks movie. You know going into it what you’re going to get. That’s why people love Nicholas Sparks books and movies. There are no surprises here, and moviegoers who love this stuff will love The Lucky One.
But here’s the thing. Nicholas Sparks movies are schmaltzy and manipulative in a tear-jerker way, which is why I’ve shunned them through the years. But something about The Lucky One is making me think I could become a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. Maybe it’s the fact that my kids are growing up, my life is pretty much the same day after day, and when you’ve been married to the same person for 30 years, any “sparks” (pun intended) are often doused by mortgage payments and car repairs. Or, maybe the husband and I just need a weekend getaway! Either way, The Lucky One is a love story that plays all the right romantic notes.
Zac Efron plays Logan Thibault, a Marine who returns from his third tour of duty shell-shocked from several close calls. After a face-off with the enemy that left many dead, Logan stops to pick up a dusty photo on the ground. Pictured is a lovely young woman (Taylor Schilling) with a stay-safe message written on the back, and Logan immediately claims her as his good luck charm.
Upon returning home, he seeks out the woman, named Beth, and finds her in North Carolina running a doggy daycare business with her mom (Blythe Danner) and son (Riley Thomas Stewart). Unable to tell Beth why he’s there, Logan takes a job with them and ends up falling in love with Beth.
Of course, there are obstacles (see Nicholas Sparks notes above). Beth has an abusive ex-husband (Jay R. Ferguson – you might recognize him as Stan Rizzo on Mad Men) who is not about to let Logan waltz into her life without a fight (figuratively and literally).
If you like Nicholas Sparks books or movies, you’ll like The Lucky One, despite the fact that the acting is a little stilted in spots and the dialogue hokey. I will say, though, that the sexy stuff really pushes the PG-13 envelope. Efron and Schilling have great chemistry, but the filmmakers stop just short of an actual sex scene, which is why I don’t recommend it for kids younger than 15.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking
Released in Theaters: May 11, 2012
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Based on a TV Show
Runtime: 113 minutes
Directed by: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz
Official Site: http://www.darkshadowsmovie.com
SYNOPSIS: Based on the campy gothic-soap from the late 1960s, Johnny Depp steps into the role of Barnabas Collins, the cursed vampire who’s freed from his prison tomb after two centuries only to find his dysfunctional descendents dealing with their own secrets.
Sex/Nudity: Tons of innuendos, including references to people touching themselves, making noises, passionate kissing, and sexual encounters (some of them violently passionate). No outright nudity, but a female character rips off her top to reveal cleavage and lingerie, then places Barnabas’ hand on her covered breast. Barnabas has sex with a witch, and they crash around the walls and ceiling of a room, breaking everything in their path. A female character lowers her head off-screen, presumably to give a male character oral sex. Also, 15-year-old Chloe Grace Moretz is sexualized in the way she dances and talks.
Violence/Gore: Though the trailer made this movie seem comical, it’s a very dark comedy with plenty of violence and scary creatures, including a ghost. When Barnabas is freed from his coffin tomb, he attacks a crew of construction workers, kills them and drinks their blood. A supernatural fight between characters involves green projectile vomit, a human who turns into a creepy werewolf, and a house that “bleeds” (blood drips down the walls). A human walks deliberately off a cliff and plummets to their death. In a flashback, parents ship their little girl off to a scary asylum where she’s locked in a cell and receives shock treatments.
Profanity: “Shit” is used several times, also “bitch,” “damn,” “a**hole,” “hell,” “bastard,” “whore,” and “balls” (used as a double meaning). Insults include “harlot,” “succubus,” “hooker,” and “stupid.”
Drugs/Alcohol: A female character has a drinking and prescription pill problem, and she’s always drunk and/or hung over. A group of hippies smoke pot and act high around a campfire. A 15-year-old girl asks an adult if he’s stoned.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 15 and older who like Johnny Depp or Chloe Grace Moretz, or are familiar with the classic TV series.
Will Parents Like It? It’s an odd mix of comedy, fantasy and horror, but fans of Burton/Depp collaborations like Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland will find something to love about this movie. The PG-13 rating edges toward an R in some scenes.
REVIEW: About half-way through Dark Shadows, I pulled out my phone to double-check the rating on my Fandango app (judiciously, that is – I swear I’m not one of those people with their phone out in a dark theater all the time).
Yep, it was PG-13, but parts of it definitely veered towards an R rating, especially one scene when Barnabas and Angelique have violent sex. We don’t actually see them in the act, but it’s certainly implied as they strip down and roll around the floor and walls and ceiling, breaking everything in their path.
The violence is also an issue, including a scene at the very beginning where Barnabas kills an entire construction crew and drinks their blood. Dark Shadows is one of those movies that would have benefited from a PG-15 rating. It’s not quite R caliber, but still too intense for PG-13.
And if you’re thinking this movie is an extended version of the cult TV show that aired from 1966 to 1971, they’re really two different animals. Some of the same characters, but the movie is definitely a stand-alone story.
The story begins in 1760, with Joshua and Naomi Collins and their young son Barnabas setting sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in Collinsport, Maine. Two decades pass, and Barnabas is a rich playboy with the world at his feet – until he crosses a servant named Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) who turns out to be a witch. When he breaks her heart, she dooms him to a fate worse than death: turns him into a ghoulish vampire and buries him alive.
Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the world of 1972, complete with Lava Lamps, hippies, and shag carpeting. His once grand Collinwood Manor is in ruins, run by a ragtag family of dysfunctional descendents harboring their own secrets.
There’s matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), her husband Roger (Jonny Lee Miller), children Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz) and David (Gulliver McGrath), handyman Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley), and live-in psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter).
Unbeknownst to them, the family is still under the curse of Angelique. Her Angelbay Seafood company has driven the Collins family right out of business, and they’ll have to pull together to set things right again.
Having grown up in the 1960s and 70s, it’s really fun to see all the references in this movie: toy trolls (remember those?), Wheaties, Operation (the board game), vintage Scooby-Doo cartoons, and a soundtrack that includes Tommy Bolin, Alice Cooper (who makes a cameo), Curtis Mayfield, The Moody Blues, The Carpenters, and Donovan’s Season of the Witch. It’s a bit of a love letter to that era.
Johnny Depp has this unique ability to be confident, vulnerable and slightly disturbing all at the same time, but that’s partly because of director Tim Burton’s influence. Whenever those two get together, anything can happen. Throw Helena Bonham Carter into the mix, and it’s a virtual free-for-all. At this point, those three probably read each others’ thoughts.
It also occurs to me that someone should create a brand new genre for Tim Burton movies, because they defy any particular category. Dark Shadows is a mix of comedy, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, drama, and supernatural thriller. It’s certainly entertaining, but also a bit disjointed, because you never know what’s going to happen in the next scene. One minute a young family is boarding a ship to America, and the next, a creepy vampire is killing an entire crew of construction workers.
That said, there’s a message here: Family is the only true wealth, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a vampire, a werewolf, or a ghost. If you’re family, then you should put aside your issues and pull together for the greater good.
Look close, and you’ll see a few cast members from the TV show at the Collinwood Manor ball: Jonathan Frid (the original Barnabas), Lara Parker (Angelique), David Selby (Quentin Collins) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Josette DuPres). Sadly, this was Frid’s last movie, as he passed away on April 13, 2012 at the age of 87.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
Reel Rating: 3 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for slapstick action violence, some rude and suggestive humor, including language
Released in Theaters: April 13, 2012
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 92 minutes
Directed by: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Cast: Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Hudson, Craig Bierko, Stephen Collins, Larry David, Kate Upton
Official Site: http://www.threestooges.com/
SYNOPSIS: This big screen adaptation of the classic TV series finds Moe, Larry and Curly trying to save their childhood orphanage. In the process, they stumble into a murder plot and wind up on a reality TV show. In other words, just another day for the Three Stooges.
Sex/Nudity: A female character wears skin-tight outfits with lots of cleavage. In one scene, while hoisting a man over a wall, he steps on her breast and it honks. A married woman is having an affair (at a hotel called the Filander Inn) and hires the Stooges to kill her husband. A pretty nun appears in a revealing swimsuit. Brief shots of a man’s bare bottom and a lion’s testicles.
Violence/Gore: Plenty of pratfalls and slapstick violence, including poking, punching, jabbing, pushing, falling off roofs, and hitting with hammers, mallets and other objects. Moe takes a chainsaw to Curley’s head, and a person is run over by a bus for laughs (though, frankly, it’s more shocking than funny). The Stooges accept a job to kill a man and make comical attempts but don’t succeed. Moe inflicts beatings on the cast of Jersey Shore, including poking Snooki in the eyes. A mean character suffers multiple wounds and is shown with casts and bandages. The Stooges have a fight with peeing babies in one scene (one of the more bizarre movie scenes ever).
Profanity: Insults like “moron,” “stupid,” “shut up,” and Jumbotron” (referring to a large person).
Drugs/Alcohol: A salmon is shown with an unlit cigar in its mouth.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 9 and older who like slapstick comedy or the original Three Stooges.
Will Parents Like It? The three leads have all the right moves, wordplay and timing, but the story falters at every turn.
REVIEW: I was never a big Three Stooges fan. It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that it’s more of a guy thing, but I know women who like them, too, so that theory doesn’t hold up. I’m just missing the chip that finds humor in hurting people funny.
Oh, I know. It’s just comedy. And behind all the eye poking, head smashing and catapulting, you can tell the Stooges genuinely care for each other. But I’d much rather see a comedy where the writing is smart and the characters interact with each other in subtle ways. Think Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan in I Was a Male War Bride. Funny, physical, snappy banter, a motorcycle with a sidecar, and a close encounter with a waterfall. Classic stuff.
But back to The Three Stooges, which I’ll attempt to review with an open mind. From a stunts perspective, it’s fantastic. Chris Diamantopoulos (Moe), Sean Hayes (Larry), and especially Will Sasso (Curly) not only have all the right moves, but also great timing. It’s easy to watch this movie and feel like you’re watching the real-life Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard in the original shorts from the 1930s and 40s.
This movie is also formatted like the original shorts. It’s divided into three chapters featuring cute title sequences and that familiar Stooges theme song preceding each chapter. Nice way to pay homage to the classic series and characters.
It’s the storyline where things start to fall apart. I realize that when you’re talking about the Three Stooges, you’re probably not going to have a heavy-duty story that takes home an Oscar for best screenplay. I’m guessing they wanted moviegoers to focus on the physical stunts rather than the story, which revolves around the Stooges heading to the big city to raise enough money to save their childhood orphanage.
Things go south when they get involved in a murder plot and Moe lands a role on the reality show Jersey Shore. Whether that plot is designed to peg Snooki, The Situation and the rest of the gang as stooges, I have no idea. You make the call.
This movie also got me thinking about whether Stooges humor works in our modern world. My feeling is that a chainsaw to the head and someone getting run over by a bus doesn’t play as well in 2012 as it did in 1935. A recent Twitter discussion with a friend delved into whether movies like this should include a disclaimer. In fact, this one does. At the end of the movie, studly guys Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Justin Lopez appear with a don’t-try-this-at-home-kids message, complete with spongy hammers and break-away props. The fact that they’re portraying directors Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly is perfect.
I guess The Three Stooges qualifies as a family movie (though I was surprised when I first heard it was rated PG). Their goal of saving the orphanage is virtuous, and when Moe is adopted as a kid, he tries to bring Larry and Curly along with him.
But the good messages are leveled out when the Stooges’ violence hurts other people and they agree to murder a man for money (even though he’s described as terminal and the money would go to the orphanage). Also, Sofia Vergara, playing the woman who hires them for the hit, is distractingly dressed with non-family-friendly skin-tight outfits. Her boob honks at one point, too. Yes, you read that right. It honks.
Even with all that, The Three Stooges is goofy fun, and the kids in the theater where I saw it laughed a lot. The rest of the cast is terrific, including Jane Lynch as Mother Superior, Kate Upton as Sister Bernice, Jennifer Hudson as Sister Rosemary (yes, she sings in one scene), Brian Doyle-Murray as Monsignor Ratliffe, and Stephen Collins and Carly Craig as a couple looking to adopt.
Perhaps the best casting is Larry David as the mean-spirited Sister Mary-Mengele. Despite my earlier reservations about the slapstick violence, there’s something heartwarming about seeing the socially awkward star of Curb Your Enthusiasm as a target for the Stooges’ bumbling antics.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for some fantasy action and mild rude humor
Released in Theaters: March 30, 2012
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Runtime: 106 minutes
Directed by: Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
Cast: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Sean Bean, Mare Winningham
Official Site: http://www.mirrormirrorfilm.com/
SYNOPSIS: A re-telling of the classic fairytale Snow White finds Julia Roberts as the evil queen who steals control of a kingdom, and Lily Collins as the exiled princess who enlists the help of seven resourceful dwarves to win back her birthright.
Sex/Nudity: The queen admires the prince’s physique, including one scene where his shirt is stripped from him. A dwarf flirts with Snow White. The prince falls under a spell where he acts like a puppy, pounces on the queen and licks her face. During a sword fight, the prince spanks Snow White with his sword. The two share a kiss.
Violence/Gore: A few sword fights, though no one is seriously injured. Two giant marionettes, controlled by a witch, try to kill Snow White and destroy the dwarves’ home. A mythical beast nearly kills Snow White and the prince.
Profanity: Insults like “idiot” and “stupid”; a few derogatory terms for “short” aimed at the dwarves.
Drugs/Alcohol: Grownups drink at receptions and parties. A dwarf acts drunk.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 8 and older who like funny fairytale-themed movies or are familiar with Lily Collins.
Will Parents Like It? It’s fun and lively and, for the most part, good family fare.
REVIEW: I really wasn’t expecting much from Mirror Mirror. The trailer looked kind of dumb, and I wasn’t totally onboard with Julia Roberts as the queen. But I was pleasantly surprised to find the movie fun, lively and full of (mostly) interesting characters.
With her gaudy, over-the-top costumes and incessantly cruel comments, Roberts is a deliciously evil queen who obviously had a blast with the part. She manages to be both funny and charming (and we get to hear that big Julia Roberts laugh), while at the same time being hateful, ruthless, and the quintessential character you love to hate. Roberts also plays a more demure witch that the queen encounters when she goes “through” the mirror.
As the story opens, we learn that Snow White (Lily Collins) has spent the years since her father the king's disappearance imprisoned in the castle, while her stepmother the queen rules over the kingdom with little care for the poor citizens. Even as they’re starving, the queen imposes yet more taxes to maintain her lavish lifestyle.
When Snow White turns 18, she escapes to the village and is saddened by the poverty she sees in the kingdom. In the woods, she encounters two half-dressed guys tied upside down to a tree -- the result of some infamous “giant” bandits. Snow White frees the men, who turn out to be Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer, who with his good looks and twinkly eyes makes a great prince) and his valet (Robert Emms).
Sparks fly between Snow White and the prince, and they’re later reunited at a castle ball. The queen is looking to marry the prince and become even wealthier, so she instructs her aide Brighton (Nathan Lane) to kill Snow White. Instead, he frees Snow, who runs through the woods and stumbles upon the seven dwarves, a rag-tag group of thieves who teach her how to fight and be more confident.
Mirror Mirror is a panoply of different things. It’s a love story, a dysfunctional family story, a coming of age story, and of course, a fairytale. And at one point, it’s a bit of a horror movie when the queen’s beauty treatments involve gross insects and ugly grubs.
In fact, there’s a running joke about the queen’s wrinkles, which I’m guessing plays off the fact that Julia Roberts is getting older and, yes, has a few wrinkles. She actually looks older than her supposed 44 years, and is perhaps bucking the plastic surgery trend in Hollywood. She also has three kids, which, as every mom knows, are put here on earth to give their parents wrinkles and gray hair.
Lily Collins, who’s the daughter of singer Phil Collins, makes a lovely Snow White (though I admit I kept getting distracted by her bushy eyebrows, which I realize is completely superficial of me), but frankly, her character is a little boring and the weakest link in this story. Collins said in a recent interview that she auditioned for the role of Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman (in theaters June 1, 2012), but the part went to Twilight’s Kristen Stewart. A friend told me he wished the roles had been reversed – Stewart in this movie and Collins in Huntsman, but I’m looking forward to seeing what Stewart does paired up with Charlize Theron as the queen and Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman.
Nathan Lane, Mare Winningham (a castle cook) and Sean Bean (the king) add credibility to Mirror Mirror, but my favorite characters are the dwarves. They’re funny, roguish bandits who’ve been forced out of the village to live in the woods, and they give Mirror Mirror a Monty Python feel to it, only rated PG and without the frat humor prevalent in Monty Python movies. I found myself wishing that Mirror Mirror focuses more on the dwarves and less on the other characters. Perhaps a spin-off is in order.
I’ll sum up Mirror Mirror by saying it’s a cute movie with a brisk pace that’s fun for both kids and grownups, but if you’re looking for a fairytale with a little more depth and drama, check out Snow White and the Huntsman in June.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
Reel Rating: 2 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence and action
Released in Theaters: March 30, 2012 (2D, 3D)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sequel
Runtime: 99 minutes
Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman
Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Edgar Ramirez, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston, Lily James
Official Site: http://wrathofthetitans.warnerbros.com/
SYNOPSIS: This sequel to 2010’s Clash of the Titans finds Perseus (Sam Worthington) braving the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus (Liam Neeson), captured by his son Ares (Edgar Ramirez) and brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes), who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world. Yeah, there’s a world of family hurt among these dysfunctional gods.
Sex/Nudity: Minor innuendos and one kiss between a male and female character.
Violence/Gore: Fights include characters being stabbed, chased and tossed about. Perseus battles several computer-generated creatures, some of them big and scary. Innocent people are burned and killed by fiery monsters. Several gods die onscreen, turning gray and dissolving into ashes.
Profanity: “Hell” and minor insults are as bad as it gets.
Drugs/Alcohol: None.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 13 and older who liked Clash of the Titans or action-packed sci-fi movies with CGI characters and special effects.
Will Parents Like It? Probably not. Maybe go shopping at Target while the teenagers are at the cineplex.
REVIEW: I can count on one hand the number of action movies with a compelling plot and outstanding characters. Perhaps the filmmakers decide that because there are lots of sci-fi creatures, big explosions, and choreographed fight scenes, there’s no need to invest any time into the plot and characters.
The first Terminator movie is one that succeeded. You had a tense end-of-the-world story, a damsel in distress (who’d go on to become an iconic female warrior), a time-twisting story that made your head spin, and a cyborg-tastic Arnold Schwarzenegger in cool shades declaring, “I’ll be back.” Classic in every sense of the word.
Unfortunately, we have none of that in Wrath of the Titans. What we have is a convoluted plot, characters we couldn’t care less about, and cheesy dialogue that appears to have been written in the writers’ sleep. It’s like some bizarre cross between a Hallmark Channel movie and a Roger Corman cult classic.
Here’s the story, such as it is: It’s been ten years since Perseus (Sam Worthington) defeated the monstrous Kraken in Clash of the Titans. Now the half-god half-human is living a simple fisherman’s life with his son Helius (John Bell).
But Perseus’ dad Zeus (Liam Neeson) arrives with the warning that trouble is brewing. The gods must be crazy – no, wait, that’s a different movie. In this one, the gods are dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, and they’re losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos. If you’re keeping track, he’s the father of long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. Those three had overthrown their father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon deep within the cavernous underworld.
In the present, Hades (Ralph Fiennes), with help from Ares (Edgar Ramirez), cooks up a sinister plot to capture Zeus, drain his power, and resurrect Kronos, a giant, fiery creature who unleashes his wrath on innocent people.
Here’s where Perseus comes in. He decides to fulfill his destiny and be the (half) god he’s meant to be. Aided by the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son Agenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus embarks on a dangerous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans, and [drum roll, please] save mankind. All of this involves finding and combining three pieces of a mystical weapon.
If the characters had any personality at all, there might have been something here to glom onto. But aside from Agenor – who has some funny lines – the characters are bland, the conflicts between the gods and men are dumb, and by the time we get to the big climax, we just don’t care.
Ironically, the computer-generated creatures – of which there are many -- have a lot more personality than the gods or humans (though I admit that as soon as I left the theater, I kept getting them confused with the creatures in John Carter from a couple weeks ago).
However, there’s a takeaway message: If you’re smart, you’ll draw energy and strength from your kids, which is what happens with both Perseus and Zeus. Still, you have to think that film veterans like Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Bill Nighy were second-guessing their decision to get involved with this movie. On the plus side, Sam Worthington is nice to look at.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies and TV. Visit her at Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.
Reel Rating: 5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images, all involving teens.
Released in Theaters: March 23, 2012
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Teens, Based on a Book
Runtime: 142 minutes
Directed by: Gary Ross
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Willow Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Amandla Stenberg, Donald Sutherland
Official Site: http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/
SYNOPSIS: Based on the book by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic future where a boy and a girl are selected from each of 12 districts to fight to the death on live television. When young Primrose Everdeen is selected as the District 12 “tribute,” her 16-year-old sister Katniss volunteers to take her place.
Sex/Nudity: Peeta admits he’s had a crush on Katniss since they were kids. They kiss a couple of times, once somewhat passionately. It’s implied that Katniss’ childhood friend Gale is also smitten with her.
Violence/Gore. The whole premise of The Hunger Games is based on violence and death involving children in a televised pageant. Twenty-four kids aged 12 to 18 are selected to participate in a bloody reality show-type contest in which there is only one victor. There’s a sense of peril as the kids are chosen and prepare for battle during practice sessions with weapons and deadly skills. Once the Games start, there’s an immediate bloodbath involving fighting and weapons, and several kids are killed. We see the bodies, but the camera doesn’t linger on them. The contest continues with kids dying from spears, arrows, knives, poisonous berries, head-bashing, neck-snapping, and deadly “tracker jackers” and dog-like creatures (genetically engineered insects and beasts). The Gamemakers create situations to kill off characters, including a fire with fiery projectiles aimed at Katniss, who is badly burned. Peeta suffers a nasty knife wound. Riots take place in the districts, and government forces subdue people. We also see gory footage from earlier Games.
Profanity: “Damn,” “hell,” and ‘Oh my God.”
Drugs/Alcohol: Haymitch, a former victor who’s mentoring Katniss and Peeta, is often drunk and seen with a drink in his hand during the first part of the movie (though he gains focus as the Games begin). Adults and teens drink various beverages at dinner and party scenes.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 13 and older who like sci-fi thrillers involving teens or who’ve read the book or trilogy by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay).
Will Parents Like It? The PG-13 rating is definitely pushed to the limit, but this is a well-done film that follows the book fairly closely given the 142-minute limitations.
REVIEW: I’m conflicted about The Hunger Games. It’s a gripping, emotional movie with thoughtful characters and good special effects, and yet … you can’t overlook the fact that it’s a story about children being forced to kill other children while their friends and family watch. It doesn’t get much worse than that in the big scheme of tragic possibilities.
But I believe that’s precisely why the Suzanne Collins books are so popular, and why the movie grossed more than $153 million its first weekend. No one wants to see kids kill other kids. It’s tragic, brutal, inhumane and unthinkable. It’s like that proverbial train wreck from which you can’t look away. But perhaps stories like this will save our world in some distant, post-apocalyptic future where humans are treated like savages and kept alive for their ability to produce resources needed by evil leaders.
When I read The Hunger Games trilogy last summer, I didn’t expect to like it, for all the reasons mentioned above. Instead, I was immediately obsessed and read through the entire series in record time. I can’t remember the last time a book series affected me that way, and it’s because the characters aren’t distant strangers you’ve never seen or heard of. They’re you, me, our friends and family, and you hope that we’ll all have the integrity and determination of Katniss and Peeta if facing a similar fate.
The story takes place in a not too distant future in which the United States, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, has collapsed and been replaced by Panem, a country divided into a Capitol and 12 districts, with each district producing something of value to the Capitol. Each year, two young representatives, aged 12 to 18, from each district – 24 kids total -- are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Yes, the similarities to Shirley Jackson’s short story, The Lottery, are not lost on me.
The kids then train and fight in The Hunger Games, a competition which takes place in a large arena of woods, hills, rivers and forests, as well as genetically engineered creatures like the lethal tracker-jacker insects and ferocious dog-like beasts controlled by the Capitol. All the citizens of Panem are required to watch via live television, and there can only be one victor. Of those 24 kids, only one will survive.
When young Primrose Everdeen (Willow Shields) is selected as District 12’s female representative, her 16-year-old sister Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take her place. Katniss is an expert archer who hunts the animals in her district with childhood friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth). Selected as the male representative is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the son of the town baker whose only skill seems to be the ability to heft large sacks of flour on his shoulders.
Katniss and Peeta are pitted against bigger, stronger kids who’ve been training for The Hunger Games their whole lives. And yet, they’re still kids who’ve been brainwashed to believe this is their calling, so even as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds, you still feel sympathy for them.
That’s one of the reasons The Hunger Games is so compelling. Even though the plot is tense, dramatic and science-fictionish (though you have to wonder if our world will devolve to a similar fate at some point), the characters are completely realistic and behave in ways you’d assume people would behave in similar circumstances. Peeta, especially, talks of holding on to his humanity in this inhumane competition, thought Katniss confesses she “can’t afford to think like that.” She is entirely focused on survival, because she knows that her sister and mom depend on her for *their survival. Katniss’ dad was killed in a mining accident years earlier.
But it’s hard to have much sympathy for the leaders in the Capitol, particularly President Snow (Donald Sutherland), a cold, unfeeling soul who has no issues with pitting children against each other like gladiators fighting lions in a coliseum. The Capitol only wants to keep the citizens of Panem subdued and complacent.
You can see there are lots of social issues at play in The Hunger Games, but for me, it all comes back to the gripping story, realistic characters, perfectly-cast actors, excellent writing and production, all of which make this film a franchise that’s poised to carry the torch lit by Twilight and Harry Potter.
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: R for language
Released in Theaters: March 30, 2012
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 94 minutes
Directed by: Lee Hirsch
Cast: Ja’Meya Jackson; Kelby, Londa and Bob Johnson; Alex, Jackie, Philip, Maya, Jada, Ethan and Logan Libby; Kim Lockwood; David, Tina, Teryn and Troy Long; Devon Matthews; Barbara Primer; Kirk and Laura Smalley; Trey Wallace
Official Site: http://www.thebullyproject.com/
SYNOPSIS: With bullying in the school systems such a hot topic over the past few years, this documentary by Lee Hirsch couldn’t come at a better time. It explores the tough subject by taking a close look at a few kids who’ve been targeted by bullies.
Sex/Nudity: A gay teen is bullied.
Violence/Gore. Teen/tween suicide is a focal point, with families and friends mourning the loss of their loved ones. Kids recount incidents of physical, verbal and emotional abuse, including choking, stabbing with pencils, hitting, punching, shoving and threats. One teen has a history of cutting and suicide attempts. One boy tells a younger boy on the bus that he’ll shove a broomstick up his rear and cut him with a knife. A girl ends up in juvenile detention after being pushed too far and brandishing a gun at her tormenters on the bus. Guns are shown in a hunting context.
Profanity: Language is what landed this film an R rating, including several uses of “f**k,” “s**t,” a**,” “p***y,” “b*tch,” and many derogatory terms for homosexuals, including “f*g.” Brutal language and threats include an older boy on a school bus telling a younger boy, “I’ll f**king end you and shove a broomstick up your a** … I’ll cut your face off and s**t.”
Drugs/Alcohol: None.
Which Kids Will Like It? It’s a tough film to watch, but one with the potential to have a positive impact on kids 13 and older.
Will Parents Like It? It’s an eye-opening film, and one that’s important for parents to see, partly because they may not be aware of the depth of bullying taking place in the school system.
REVIEW: It’s my policy to not review R-rated films for my family movie syndicators, and in most instances, with the possible exception of The King’s Speech, I’ve never questioned that policy. So I polled my syndicators and asked if they would be opposed to a review of Bully, a documentary that looks at bullying in school systems across the country. The film is rated R for language, although there’s a big campaign to change it to PG-13.
The response was overwhelmingly in favor of me doing the review. Based on news reports and personal accounts, it seems clear that bullying has become more and more rampant in schools, many times with tragic consequences.
According to the film’s official site, http://www.thebullyproject.com, more than 13 million American kids will be bullied this year, making it the most common form of violence experienced by young people in the nation.
But the documentary doesn’t just give facts and figures. Filmed during the 2009-2010 school year, the film offers a close-up look at five kids who’ve been bullied and how it’s affected them. It also documents how their families have been affected, as well as the responses – or in some cases, non-responses -- of teachers, administrators and community members.
The kids’ stories are heartbreaking. Alex Libby is a sweet-natured 12-year-old boy in Sioux City, Iowa, who’s tormented by bullies on the bus ride to and from school. He assures his parents that the kids are only “messing with him,” but they don’t know the full extent of those threats, which include horrible slurs, curses and threats. Things only get worse as Alex begins middle school. It’s heart-wrenching when he tells his parents that if these kids aren’t his friends, then he doesn’t have any friends.
Ever since 16-year-old Kelby Johnson came out as a lesbian, she and her family have been treated like pariahs in their small town of Tuttle, Oklahoma. Once a star athlete, Kelby was forced out of her sports teams and is the target of hatred from both classmates and teachers. Her parents offered to move to a more open community, but the gutsy teen, bolstered by an adoring girlfriend and a few close friends, resolves to stay and make a difference. Like Alex, she’s a sweet girl who smiles all the time, despite the bullying.
Ja’Meya Jackson is a quiet 14-year-old girl in Yazoo County, Mississippi. Picked on relentlessly during her hour-long bus rides to and from school, one day she snaps, takes a loaded handgun from her mom’s closet, and brandishes it at the kids on the bus. Ja’Meya is charged with multiple felony counts and lands in a juvenile detention facility.
In October 2009, 17-year-old Tyler Long of Murray County, Georgia, hanged himself after years
of bullying from classmates and indifference from school officials. As his parents, David and Tina Long, mourn the loss of their son and demand accountability from the school, his death sparks a war in the community.
And then there’s Kirk and Laura Smalley. Following the bullying-related suicide of their 11-year-old son, they’re determined to prevent other kids from suffering a similar fate. Kirk launches an anti-bullying organization, Stand for the Silent, and coordinates a series of vigils to spark a change across the country.
Of course, I came home and immediately asked my two teenagers if they’ve encountered bullies in our local school system here in Traverse City, Michigan. They said they haven’t, which could mean a couple of things: it’s there and they just don’t see it, or bullying is more prevalent in certain parts of the country. I’m inclined to think it’s the second one.
But clearly, since Bully was filmed in real time over the course of a school year, it’s an example of what some kids see and hear every day. The director, Lee Hirsch, did a Skype interview with the folks in the theater after the screening, and he said that after a while, people just ignored the cameras. It drills home the point that bullying is so ingrained in some kids that they’ll do it even with a camera pointed at them.
Should Bully be rated PG-13? I believe it should, because the very people this film would help – school-aged kids – can’t even see it right now, because of the R rating. A PG-13 rating would allow the film to be shown in schools in a controlled setting, giving teachers the opportunity to open a discussion with the kids. Ultimately, the film encourages kids to “stand up, not stand by,” and reinforces the fact that everyone can make a difference, and “everything starts with one.”
I realize you can only fit so much into a documentary, but I would have liked to see more about the lives and motivations of the bullies themselves. What sort of home life do they have that causes them to be so vicious to other students? And why aren’t school administrators doing more to stop bullying? Parents expect school systems to be a safe place for their kids, and yet the administrators in this film come across as unhelpful, inflexible, and just plain oblivious to bullying.
And here’s my public service announcement. If you’d like to sign the petition to change the rating of Bully to PG-13, visit the film’s change.org page started by Michigan high school student Katy Butler.
If you don’t feel called to do that, visit the film’s Facebook page and official site to learn more about the film and The Bully Project, as well as how you can make a difference in your own school system and community.
Reel Rating: 3 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action
Released in Theaters: March 9, 2012 (2D, 3D, IMAX)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Based on a Book
Runtime: 132 minutes
Directed by: Andrew Stanton
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Bryan Cranston, Daryl Sabara
Official Site: http://disney.go.com/johncarter/
SYNOPSIS: Based on the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carter stars Taylor Kitsch as a Civil War veteran who’s transplanted to Mars, where he finds a lush habitat, 12-foot tall barbarians, and the beautiful princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins), who’s caught in the middle of a war.
Sex/Nudity: Gazing, touching, flirting and a few kisses between John Carter and Dejah Thoris. She’s shown in skimpy apparel in a few scenes, including one where she’s in bed with a sheet covering her while he’s outside on the balcony.
Violence/Gore. Heavy sci-fi violence includes battle scenes on land and in the air, a shape-shifter who plans to destroy the planet, and assorted weapons, including guns, spears, knives, swords and one that turns people to dust. A Gladiator-style battle takes place in an arena, where huge monsters are killed, another character is decapitated, and another is injured and expected to die. A Martian character is painfully “branded,” tortured and sentenced to death by her own people. John Carter is chained and nearly killed several times. A flashback shows how his wife and child died in a fire and he found their charred bodies. On Earth, John is chased by Indians and Army officers on horseback, and a gun battle ensues. An ancient skeleton is shown. On Mars, a group of unhatched eggs is destroyed. After a battle, Martian bodies are heaped and burned.
Profanity: “Hell,” “damn,” “goddamn,” and “stupid.”
Drugs/Alcohol: On Earth, John Carter is shown drinking and enters a saloon where everyone is drinking. On Mars, he drinks something that makes him queasy but allows him to understand the Tharks.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 13 and older who like movies with lots of sci-fi action and special effects. Also kids who are familiar with the Edgar Rice Burroughs books.
Will Parents Like It? It’s neither a huge blockbuster nor a bad movie. It’s somewhere in the middle. Though the story is a little confusing, the Edgar Rice Burroughs connection is interesting, the “good guys” are honorable and selfless, the special effects are cool, and there are a couple of strong female characters.
REVIEW: The cool thing about John Carter isn’t so much the movie itself. It’s the backstory. John Carter was the lead character in a series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs set on a fictionalized version of Mars known as Barsoom.
The story was first serialized in 1912 as Under the Moons of Mars in the pulp magazine The All-Story (under Burroughs’ pseudonym Norman Bean). In 1917, it was re-titled A Princess of Mars and published as a hardcover novel. John Carter was featured or appeared in several more Burroughs novels dating through 1940.
It helps to know all that going into the movie, partly because it’s interesting and partly because it makes more sense when the character Edgar Rice Burroughs (Daryl Sabara) is introduced as John Carter’s nephew.
Still, the story takes a bit of focus to figure out. At the beginning of the movie, we meet John Carter (Friday Night Lights’ Taylor Kitsch) and learn he’s a Civil War veteran who fought for Virginia and the Confederacy. Through flashbacks, we also learn that his wife and child died in a fire.
While mining for gold in the Arizona territory, John is chased on horseback by Army officers and a band of Apaches. He ends up in a cave, where he kills a mysterious figure whose magical amulet transports him to Mars. It doesn’t take long for him to realize he’s not in Kansas (or Arizona) anymore. He also learns that because of the lesser gravity, he’s super-strong and has the ability to fly … or at least hop really high.
On Mars, known by its inhabitants as Barsoom, John meets the nomadic Tharks -- tall, green, four-armed creatures who call him “Virginia” after mangling his explanation of who he is and how he got there. John also lands smack in the middle of a war involving a beautiful princess named Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). She’s trying to save her homeland, Helium, against invaders guided by a nefarious shape-shifting group of time-travelers known as Therns. Again, a little confusing to folks who don’t know the backstory.
I interviewed Taylor Kitsch years ago during the first season of Friday Night Lights, and you could tell even then he was a rising star. I’m not sure he’s the perfect person to play John Carter, partly because I still see his brooding Tim Riggins character on Friday Night Lights. But I try not to typecast people in my head, so I’m willing to give him a chance as an action movie star. And he’s buff and toned, so there’s that.
Kitsch doesn’t have a ton of chemistry with Lynn Collins, and it’s only when they’re separated that you get the feeling they’re meant to be together. But I love that her character is smart, brave and resourceful. John Carter may have rescued her in the beginning, but she is by no means defenseless. She can fight!
James Purefoy (Kantos Kan) and Mark Strong (Matai Shang) deliver their usual excellent performances, but it’s a challenge to see some of these actors outside their usual roles – Bryan Cranston, Dominic West, Ciaran Hinds and Thomas Haden Church, among them. Samantha Morton and Willem Dafoe lend their voices to two of the Tharks.
When I first saw the trailer for John Carter, the Tharks reminded me of the characters from the Star Wars bar scene. They even sound a little like Jabba the Hut, and I’m pretty sure I heard some light saber noises during the fight scenes. But John Carter doesn’t come close to Star Wars or Avatar or any of the other films to which it’s been compared.
If you’re a fan of action-packed sci-fi movies with lots of special effects, cool flying machines, and a few funny characters -- like the adorable monster-dog that follows John Carter around – this movie is probably worth seeing in the theater. I’ll even recommend the 3D version, even though at 132 minutes, it’s a little long. I must admit, though, I liked the scenes on Earth better than the scenes on Mars, especially after a recent Downton Abbey marathon.
But I’ll be curious to see what bonus features they include on the DVD and blu-ray releases. I’m sure it’ll be interesting to learn how the movie came together for its $250 million budget.
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for brief mild language
Released in Theaters: March 2, 2012 (the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss, who died in 1991 at age 87)
Genre: Family, Animation, Musical, Based on a Book
Runtime: 86 minutes
Directed by: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda
Cast: Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate,
Official Site: http://www.theloraxmovie.com/
SYNOPSIS: To win the affection of the girl of his dreams, 12-year-old Ted must track down the impossible in a city where everything is plastic – a real tree. But first, he must learn the story of the Lorax, a grumpy but charming creature who fights to protect the environment.
Sex/Nudity: Ted has a big crush on Audrey, and they share a brief kiss at the end of the movie.
Violence/Gore. The Once-Ler uses a huge axe machine to chop down the colorful Truffula trees. In one scene, the Once-Ler and a baby Barbaloot (a cute teddy bear-like creature) float on a mattress toward a waterfall, but neither is harmed. Characters are hit in the face with various objects, like marshmallows and hammers, but no one is seriously injured. Mr. O’Hare threatens Ted and others, and his henchmen are big and foreboding. One scene features a barbaloot in a refrigerator – not a good image for little ones, who might try to climb into a fridge themselves.
Profanity: Insults like “stupid” and “dumb.”
Drugs/Alcohol: None.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 5 and older who like Dr. Seuss books and films, or movies with cute forest creatures, bright colors and fun songs.
Will Parents Like It? Despite numerous consumer tie-ins, it’s still a cute story with a positive message about saving the environment.
REVIEW: You’d think that a family movie about environmentalism and corporate greed would be, you know, mindful about embedding consumer products at every turn. But I guess that’s a lot to ask in this day and age of films getting made and sold through sponsorships. Still, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax includes more than 70 merchandise tie-ins, including:
• The new Mazda CX-5 SUV -- the only car with the “Truffula Seal of Approval”!
• Seventh Generation household products and diapers emblazoned with the Lorax.
• IHOP’s kids’ menu items like Rooty Tooty Bar-Ba-Looty Blueberry Cone Cakes and Truffula Chip Pancakes.
• In-store promotions featuring the Lorax at Whole Foods, Pottery Barn Kids, and Target.
• Online Lorax games and sweepstakes for YoKids Yogurt, Comcast Xfinity TV, Target, IHOP, and HP.
• HP’s “Every Inkling Makes a Difference” in-school curriculum produced and distributed by Scholastic.
The upside is that along with the rampant consumerism, there IS a positive message about saving the earth. You just wonder if it all balances out somehow.
The classic story, based on the 1971 book by Dr. Seuss, a.k.a. Theodor Seuss Geisel, takes place in the town of Thneedville, where everything is plastic and fake and brightly colored. There are no real trees, grass or nature trails, which is why all the townsfolk have to buy air in plastic bottles from greedy Mr. O’Hare (voiced by Rob Riggle).
But all that plastic stuff isn’t enough for some people. When 12-year-old Ted (Zac Efron) learns that the girl of his dreams, Audrey (Taylor Swift), wants more than anything to see a real tree, he sets out to find her one. Encouraged by his Grammy Norma (Betty White), Ted rides his scooter to the edge of town, where he encounters a giant wall not unlike the one Jim Carrey encountered in The Truman Show.
But Ted pushes onward and ventures outside the wall, where he finds desolation and the reclusive Once-Ler (Ed Helms), who tells him the story of the Lorax (Danny DeVito), a small orange creature who “speaks for the trees.” It all goes back to when the Once-Ler chopped down all the Truffula trees to manufacture the thneed, a piece of fabric with a variety of uses, from wearing it as a hat to carrying it as an umbrella.
But the Once-Ler doesn’t paint a pretty picture. In his quest for wealth, it doesn’t take long before all the trees are gone, along with the beautiful landscape and air quality, forcing the inhabitants to sadly move on in search of a home elsewhere.
If you can get past the blatant commercialism of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, it’s really a cute story with colorful animation, adorable creatures (including the talented Humming-Fish), a great soundtrack, and even a few splashy song and dance numbers. Directors Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda make full use of Ed Helms’ quirky musical ability honed on The Office, and the rest of the star-studded cast do a fine job, as well. Danny DeVito is perfect as the curmudgeonly Lorax, and, of course, Betty White as Grammy Norma is still riding her awesome wave of success.
Passionate fans of The Lorax and Dr. Seuss’ commentary on the perils of consumption and ecological missteps in praise of the almighty dollar might not be able to get beyond the commercialism surrounding this movie. But even with all that, I still think it touts a simple and clear message that even little ones can grasp: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better, it’s not.”
RIOA misfit macaw named Blu (voice of Jesse Eisenberg) heads to Rio de Janeiro, embarks on a magnificent journey, and makes some loyal new friends in this animated adventure for the entire family. Domesticated from the time he was just a hatchling, Blu traded a life in the clouds for a contented existence in Moose Lake with his doting owner, Linda (Leslie Mann). They live under the impression that Blu is the last of his kind, but upon receiving word that a female macaw named Jewel (Anne Hathaway) has been discovered in Rio de Janeiro, Linda and Blu set their sights on South America on a mission to replenish the species. Shortly after their arrival in the Brazilian capitol, however, the two rare birds fall victim to a gang of greedy animal smugglers intent on making a mint by selling Blu and Jewel to the highest bidder. But the headstrong Jewel isn't about to be locked in a cage and put on display, so when the opportunity arises she stages a daring escape with the help of some wisecracking local birds, and takes her new friend Blu along for the ride. With the bumbling birdnappers fast closing in, Blu realizes that his only hope for making a clean getaway and reuniting with Linda is to finally summon the courage he needs to take flight. Rio also features the voices of Tracy Morgan, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez, and will.i.am. Rated PG http://www.rio-themovie.com/us/
HOPJobless slacker Fred (James Marsden) discovers that hares make horrible houseguests after injuring the Easter Bunny (Russell Brand) and agreeing to nurse the little hopper back to health in this animated comedy from the writers of Despicable Me, and director Tim Hill (Rocko's Modern Life, SpongeBob SquarePants). For the past 4,000 years, the Easter Bunny has brought joy and candy to kids all across the globe; however, the time has come for a new Easter Bunny to take over the tradition. But while EB is the next in line to receive the official title, he couldn't care less about becoming the official bearer of chocolate eggs and jellybeans. Escaping to Hollywood in a bid to find fame and fortune, EB hops in front of an oncoming car driven by Fred, who agrees to give him a place to recover until he's healthy enough to hop along home. Now, the harder Fred struggles to stop his furry new companion from sending his life into a tailspin, the more satisfaction he begins to get out of his newfound responsibility. With a little luck and a whole lot of patience, Fred just might become the man who saved Easter for everyone. Rated PG www.iwantcandy.com/
Lemonade MouthBe heard. Be strong. Be proud. It's time to turn up the music and have some fun with an all-new Disney Original Movie, starring Bridgit Mendler and Adam Hicks and introducing ten awesome new songs!
When five ragtag freshman first meet in detention, it seems they have nothing in common. But, through music, they form an unbreakable bond and discover they have the makings of the greatest high school garage band in history! In the face of incredible odds, Olivia, Stella, Wen, Mohini and Charlie find they can make a real difference when they learn to lean on each other and let go of everything holding back their dreams.
Turn the world into your own stage with Lemonade Mouth: Extended Edition, complete with an exclusive music scene and featuring an exclusive extended ending only available on Disney DVD With Digital Copy. Life is just a roller coaster; take the ride!
Release Date:5/24/11
Approximate Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA: TV-G.
I Am Number FourExtraordinary teen John Smith (Pettyfer) is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events-his first love (Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny. Written by Walt Disney Pictures
Rated PG-13 - Action/Adventure/Suspense/Thriller http://www.findnumberfour.com/
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - In Theaters May 20th“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise –this time in Disney Digital 3D(TM). In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love–or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.
Rush reprises his role as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally returns as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs. Claflin stars as a stalwart missionary, while Berges-Frisbey is transformed into a mysterious mermaid.
Gnomeo and JulietThe animated tale Gnomeo and Juliet knowingly follows the quintessential star-crossed lovers tragedy Romeo and Juliet, with the unexpected twist of making the characters garden gnomes that can move when human beings aren't watching. Though Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) belong to feuding garden gnome families, they meet and fall in love. But the clans' shared animosity is exacerbated when Tybalt (Jason Statham) dies in part because of actions taken by Gnomeo's to defend a friend that Tybalt was attacking. After getting some sage advice from a statue of William Shakespeare (Patrick Stewart), Gnomeo attempts to set things right, and win the heart of the lawn ornament he loves. The supporting cast includes the vocal talents of Michael Caine, Hulk Hogan, and Maggie Smith. Rated G www.gnomeoandjuliet.com/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick RulesIn this sequel to 2010's surprise hit, Greg Heffley, the kid who made "wimpy" cool is back in an all-new family comedy based on the best-selling follow-up novel by Jeff Kinney. (Kinney's "Wimpy Kid" series has thus far sold 42 million books.) As he begins seventh grade, Greg and his older brother - and chief tormentor - Rodrick must deal with their parents' misguided attempts to have them bond.
Read more: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - Trailers, Videos, and Reviews ComingSoon.net Movie Database http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=64078#ixzz1Huh2Dq8T
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is the inspiring true story and rare inside look at the rise of Justin from street performer in the small town of Stratford, Ontario to internet phenomenon to global super star culminating with a dream sold out show at the famed Madison Square Garden in 3-D. Rated G www.justinbieberneversaynever.com/
The Last LionsA resilient lioness in Botswana's Okavango Delta embarks on an epic journey of survival in this nature documentary from National Geographic and award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert. Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, The Last Lions follows Ma di Tau ("Mother of Lions") as she races to get her cubs to safety during a rampaging fire, and fends off ferocious lioness Silver Eye, the murderous matriarch of a rival pride. Crossing crocodile-infested waters on a quest to reach Duba Island, the fiercely protective mother discovers that in order for her family to survive, she must conquer a herd of buffalos with piercing horns. Later, in an incredible turn of fate, Ma di Tau forges a fragile alliance with a rival pride in order to wage a desperate battle to preserve their bloodline in the face of certain extinction. Rated PG movies.nationalgeographic.com/movies/last-lions/
Mars Needs MomsHis mother (voice of Joan Cusack) abducted by Martians intent on harvesting her maternal instincts to nurture their young, nine-year-old Milo (voice of Seth Green) stows away in an alien spacecraft bound for Mars in a bid to bring her safely back to Earth. Later, on the Red Planet, Milo befriends a subterranean-dwelling earthling named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a spirited Martian lass named Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), who agree to help him locate his missing mother and confront the head alien in charge (voice of Mindy Sterling). Rated PG disney.go.com/disneypictures/marsneedsmoms/
TRON LegacyAfter defeating Master Control and restoring freedom to the digital realm, gaming software genius Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) suddenly disappears, leaving his young son Sam to grown up alone in the real world. But everything changes when Sam turns 27, and his father's friend Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) receives a message on his old pager from the long-abandoned Flynn's Arcade. While investigating Kevin's disappearance, Sam finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Together, father and son race through a cyber universe threatened by the elder Flynn's upgraded program, CLU 2, whose hunger for power has gotten out of control. http://disney.go.com/tron/
TangledAfter receiving the healing powers from a magical flower, the baby Princess Rapunzel is kidnapped from the palace in the middle of the night by Mother Gothel. Mother Gothel knows that the flower's magical powers are now growing within the golden hair of Rapunzel, and to stay young, she must lock Rapunzel in her hidden tower. Rapunzel is now a teenager and her hair has grown to a length of 70-feet. The beautiful Rapunzel has been in the tower her entire life, and she is curious of the outside world. One day, the bandit Flynn Ryder scales the tower and is taken captive by Rapunzel. Rapunzel strikes a deal with the charming thief to act as her guide to travel to the place where the floating lights come from that she has seen every year on her birthday. Rapunzel is about to have the most exciting and magnificent journey of her life. http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/tangled
Despicable Me!In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!). Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world's greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes. http://www.despicableme.com/
