plus 4, Adults will love sly 'Mr. Fox' as much as kids - Courier-Post

Adults will love sly 'Mr. Fox' as much as kids - Courier-Post
Jessica Alba in comic book movie "The Insiders" - COMICBOOKMOVIE.com
'The Road' will battle 'Ninja Assassin' for film supremacy - Beaver County Times
Getting ‘Old’: Disney ‘comedy’ proves these ‘Dogs ... - New Haven Register
Teen bitten in neck after watching vampire romance movie, New Moon - MLive.com

Adults will love sly 'Mr. Fox' as much as kids - Courier-Post

Posted: 27 Nov 2009 03:54 PM PST

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" may be the perfect kids' movie for grown-ups.

Whether it's the perfect kids' movie for kids is a more complex question, but any parent who has endured repeat DVD viewings of "Barbie: Fairytopia" will leave the theater giddy with delight.

And once the DVD comes out, it'll likely be the parents hitting the "repeat" button on the DVD player.

Director Wes Anderson, the man behind such quirky delights as "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums," manages to bring his signature offbeat voice to Roald Dahl's book (Anderson and Noah Baumbach co-wrote the expanded screenplay.)

Notably, at a time when smoothly animated 3-D is all the rage, Anderson uses stop-motion animation, making "Mr. Fox" feel simultaneously both old-school and fresh.

George Clooney, a great choice to play a loveable rogue, gives voice to the title character. He's a bird thief gone straight -- or at least as straight as a job as a newspaper columnist makes you. But, while Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep) has happily settled into married life and motherhood, Mr. Fox finds the button-down life constraining.

So he decides to raid the three farms he can see from the window of his family's new home in a tree. Focused as he is on stealing from the loathsome farmers, Mr. Fox ignores his son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman), an odd kid who struggles to live up to his father's legacy as a great school athlete. Mr. Fox does, however, have designs on using the athletic talents of his nephew, Kristofferson (Eric Anderson).

Of course, with the kitchen pantry becoming increasingly stuffed with the spoils of Mr. Fox's nighttime exploits, it's hard to hide the truth from Mrs. Fox. How could he break his promise?

Well, Mr. Fox says with a shrug, he's a wild animal. She's not particularly impressed with his self-awareness.

Things go south, not just for the Foxes but for all their friends, as the farmers are not ones to sit idly by and let their products be stolen. It's up to Mr. Fox to fix things, which only seems right, since he's the one who caused all the trouble in the first place.

Is that the kind of joke kids will get? Probably not. They might not grasp how fitting the use of the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man" is in a later scene, either.

And frankly, I didn't care. There is plenty of action for them here in other places, sight gags and pratfalls. What's so good about "Mr. Fox" is that, even if it rates as only a serviceable kid film (and savvy children will see it as more than that), it's a genuine entertainment for adults, as well.

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Jessica Alba in comic book movie "The Insiders" - COMICBOOKMOVIE.com

Posted: 25 Nov 2009 10:27 AM PST

Pajiba reports Alba is now set to star in "The Insiders," which is based on a series of Belgian graphic novels that Alba had optioned the rights to over the summer, partnering up with Robert Rodriguez to make the purchase and that includes video game rights too. Rodriguez (Sin City director) is set to produce the comic book movie. Apparently Alba herself had put up her own money to buy the rights with a little Rodriguez help.

Pajiba also reported that French-Algerian filmmaker Mabrouk El Mechri is attached to direct this project who also directed the Jean Claude Van Damme movie drama of last year "JCVD."

The story centers on heroine Najah Cruz, she has the weapons expertise and combat skills of a female James Bond. She's Columbian and is as deadly as she is beautiful. At a secret request of the White House itself she infiltrates a worldwide mafia-like organization composed of businessmen and politicians and becomes the bodyguard of the organization's leader.

Theres no start date as yet, but by the sounds of it, it sounds like it's ready to start shooting very soon.

LEEE777 - I like a bit of Jessica Alba, and granted her "Fantastic Four" role wasn't up to much, but she was great in "Sin City" and i'd love to see her again in this comic book movie, thoughts below.

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'The Road' will battle 'Ninja Assassin' for film supremacy - Beaver County Times

Posted: 23 Nov 2009 02:47 PM PST

A gritty tale ("Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans"), a family picture ("Fantastic Mr. Fox"), an action romp ("Ninja Assassin"), a broad comedy ("Old Dogs"), a war epic ("Red Cliff") and an awaited adaptation ("The Road") are among the arrivals for this Thanksgiving period.

For complete descriptions, critical evaluations of previewed films, and explanations of the Motion Picture Association of America ratings in terms of violence, language and sexual content, please refer to the Movie Capsules.

The releases opening this weekend (with all dates subject to change) include:

"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," with Nicolas Cage ("Knowing") as an out-of-control cop who dabbles in drugs and sex while investigating the murder of five immigrants. Val Kilmer ("Spartan") and Eva Mendes ("Ghost Rider") co-star, and Werner Herzog ("Rescue Dawn") directed the R-rated film, which draws on elements from the Abel Ferrara cult favorite (1992) with Harvey Keitel.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox," with the voices of Meryl Streep ("Julie & Julia"), George Clooney ("Ocean's Eleven"), Jason Schwartzman ("Funny People"), Bill Murray ("Groundhog Day") and Willem Dafoe ("Antichrist") in a PG-rated stop-motion-animation film about a wily fox who outwits the three farmers seeking to destroy the creature that eats their chickens. Wes Anderson ("Rushmore") directed the picture, which is based on the children's story by Roald Dahl.

"Ninja Assassin," with the one-named Rain ("Speed Racer"), Rick Yune ("The Fast and the Furious") and Naomie Harris ("Street Kings") in a bloody R-rated action tale about a ninja killer seeking revenge for the murder of a friend.

"Oh My God?" with Hugh Jackman, Ringo Starr, Seal, Bob Geldof, David Copperfield and other celebrities sharing their thoughts on religion in director Peter Rodger's unrated documentary about a quest to understand the global concept of God.

"Old Dogs," with John Travolta ("Grease") and Robin Williams ("World's Greatest Dad") in an easygoing PG-rated comedy about two successful business partners who get overwhelmed after they become responsible for 7-year-old twins. The supporting cast includes Justin Long ("Drag Me to Hell"), Seth Green (HBO's "Entourage"), Kelly Preston ("Jerry Maguire"), Matt Dillon ("Crash") and the late Bernie Mac. Walt Becker ("Wild Hogs") directed.

"Red Cliff," with Hong Kong action legend John Woo ("Hard-Boiled") directing an R-rated historical adaptation of "Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms," a book about the naval Battle of Red Cliffs during the final days of the Han Dynasty in 208 A.D.

"The Road," with Viggo Mortensen (the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy), Charlize Theron ("Monster"), Guy Pearce ("The Hurt Locker") and Robert Duvall ("The Godfather") in a downbeat R-rated adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's bleak novel about survival in a post-apocalyptic world. John Hillcoat ("The Proposition") directed.

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Getting ‘Old’: Disney ‘comedy’ proves these ‘Dogs ... - New Haven Register

Posted: 28 Nov 2009 12:08 AM PST

By Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

Trashing "Old Dogs" is a bit like kicking a puppy. But here goes.

The new comedy from some of the folks who brought us "Wild Hogs" is badly written and broadly acted, shamelessly manipulative and not above stopping by the toilet for a laugh or two.

It's almost certain to be a big hit. Well, the least one can do is put on bunny slippers before the puppy-kicking

John Travolta and Robin Williams are professionally engaged in their roles — as lifelong friends and longtime high-rolling sports marketing business partners. They're just not believable as friends or as the "types" they play.

Travolta is Charlie — the womanizing, back slapping tell-the-client-a-funny-story half of the team. Most of the funny stories (not funny, BTW) are about Dan, played by Williams at his most downbeat. Sad Dan may be able to close the deal, but he's a lonely soul, divorced, pining over a one-night stand (Kelly Preston) from seven years before.

The guys are on the verge of their biggest deal ever when "South Beach Vicki" (Preston) comes back into Dan's life. She's going to jail (environmental protest) and oh, by the way, Dan's the father of 7-year-old twins. Would he mind watching them for a few weeks?

Surprisingly, few of the jokes have to do with the guys interacting with kids, which is what you promise when you label Dan "allergic to anything under 4 feet tall." Repeated "look at the cute grandparents" gags (Dan and Charlie are plainly fiftysomethings) and "We're a couple — they're our kids" gay jokes pepper the script. It's mainly a movie about two men coping with faux fatherhood and pretending they're not old at the same time. The funniest bits come from a mix-up in their daily pill regimen.

The kids (Travolta's lovely daughter Ella Bleu plays Emily, Conner Rayburn is Zach) are props — seldom-used props. Director Walt Becker has no time to film father-child bonding since he was squeezing in cameos by Ann-Margret, Matt Dillon, Justin Long, Rita Wilson and, in his final role, Bernie Mac as a puppet entertainer who straps Dan into a motion-control suit, maybe the un-funniest scene Mac or Williams has ever performed. We get the squish-faced Robin Williams here, one of those films where his face and body give away how deflated this material makes him feel.

There's nothing offensive here, even the trips to the toilet. But when the best thing you can say about a comedy is that it's harmless, you know these "Old Dogs" have lost their bite. Utterly.

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Teen bitten in neck after watching vampire romance movie, New Moon - MLive.com

Posted: 23 Nov 2009 07:41 PM PST

By Heather Lynn Peters | Muskegon Chronicle

November 23, 2009, 5:46PM

NORTON SHORES — Seventeen-year-old Erin Westrate got an unwelcome reality bite Friday after watching the popular vampire romance flick, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," at a Norton Shores movie theater.

The local teen, accompanied by a female friend, was bitten in the neck following the movie at Cinema Carousel, 4289 Grand Haven, by an unknown suspect who had been sitting in the row in front of them.

The bite did not break the skin, but the teen was frightened enough by the bizarre experience that she called 911. The incident was reported just after 8:30 p.m., police said.

"I was sitting with a friend having fun. Nothing was suspicious at all when we sat down. We were so excited about the movie," Westrate said.

The much-anticipated movie is based on the second installment of writer Stephenie Meyer's popular vampire romance series, which started off with Twilight.

Westrate said that as the movie was playing, comments from her friend about one of the "hot actors" in the movie apparently prompted some inappropriate comments from a man in the row ahead of them.

"My friend made a comment about wishing the actor would bite her, but she said it really quiet," Westrate said.

The man then turned around and made a sexual comment directed at both girls, she said.

"I said, 'What did you say?' He repeated it, and then I didn't say anything."

Westrate said that when her friend commented again about an actor in the movie, the man turned around a second time and made another sexual comment.

"When he made the comments, I wanted to move seats, but there was nowhere else to sit," Westrate said.

As they stood up to leave following the movie, the man approached Westrate and her friend. That's when Westrate began to feel especially "creeped out."

"He asked if we liked the movie, and I didn't want to make him mad, so I just said, 'It was good' and we started to walk away," she said.

But the man didn't let Westrate get very far.

"He grabbed the back of my hair and pulled me backward down a little bit and bit my neck and started laughing. He didn't let go right away. He was smiling at me in a creepy way," she said.

"I almost cried, but I didn't want to cry in front of him. I walked out so fast, I cut in front of everyone. It hurt when he pulled my hair and I had a red mark on my neck for about a half an hour."

The incident is particularly concerning to authorities who say the "blatant assault" is behavior of a possible "sexual predator."

"This is highly unusual, and I'd like to identify this person," said Norton Shores Police Lt. Jon Gale. "It was an assault, and that's a crime. He could be someone who has other issues and could be a sexual predator."

Gale is urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to call authorities. Westrate said the man was sitting with three other people in the theater.

"I would believe that he isn't someone we want walking around and going into movie theaters. He could be a danger to our society," Gale said.

Meanwhile, Westrate said she is trying to move past the incident.

"I am upset that someone is that creepy, but I'm not going to let it ruin my day," she said.

The vampire romance movie, which opened Friday, raked in $140.7 million in its first three days and pulled in a total of $258.8 million worldwide, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

E-mail Heather Lynn Peters at hpeters@muskegonchronicle.com

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