Way back in January, we visited the set of “Yes Man” and watched along as Jim Carrey took a long dive off a bridge (tethered, of course). Well now the film’s nearly in theaters (December 19), and we’ve got some exclusive footage from the flick — co-stars Zooey Deschanel — which finds Carrey as a man who tries saying yes to every question. Check out the featurette below after the jump, and when you’re through with that, click here to watch all of our exclusives from our new movie show “Spoilers,” including “Watchmen,” “Day the Earth Stood Still,” “The Spirit” and more.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
MTV’s John Norris Reflects On Importance Of ‘Milk’ Biopic
Add one letter to “MLK,” and what do you get? That’s right — “Milk.”
And rightly so. Harvey Milk is the middle-age mensch from New York who moved to San Francisco, opened a camera shop and set about changing the world. The first openly gay elected official in America became a martyr in 1978, when he, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, was gunned down by a deeply disturbed colleague. Milk has earned his place alongside those other M’s: Martin, Malcolm and Mandela. And if you have a problem with that — if you think that gay rights are something apart from other civil-rights struggles — I suggest you see the movie “Milk.” I’ll front you the 10 bucks.
This long-overdue dramatization of the life of a hero who so richly deserves it is opening now, against the backdrop of the passage of California’s rights-stripping Proposition 8 — and on the 30th anniversary of Milk’s death — is the sort of surreal convergence of events that only a screenwriter could dream up. (Milk’s story was also told in 1984’s excellent documentary, “The Times of Harvey Milk.”) A screenwriter, say, like Dustin Lance Black, who grew up a closeted gay kid in a Mormon (yikes!) military (2X yikes!) family in Texas (3X yikes!), who says he himself might have become another statistic — having contemplated suicide in his teen years — had he not been inspired by the words and story of Harvey Milk. Today, Black is watching as a script he shepherded for years has been realized as a major film generating major buzz, due in large part to the soaring performance of its star.
Sean Penn’s complete embodiment of Harvey Milk — nailing the drive, the guts and the charm that made him “The Mayor of Castro Street” — is a no-brainer Oscar nomination as Best Actor. But I think almost an equal lock for a Best Supporting Actor nod is Emile Hirsch, whose lovable-smartass portrayal of Harvey’s protégé Cleve Jones, fey but not too much, is an astounding transformation. And it doesn’t end there. The entire supporting cast — Josh Brolin, James Franco (doing some of his finest, warmest work ever), Alison Pill, Diego Luna, Joseph Cross, Lucas Grabeel, Victor Garber, Denis O’Hare — is a dream team.
And if any of those people are the reason you go see it, great. But do go see it. What would be a shame is if this powerful, important movie did not get seen beyond its immediate audience. Because those aren’t the people that need to know about Harvey. It’s people who are too young to remember him. As much as anyone, you are who this movie was made for. Consider its director, Gus Van Sant — from Indietown, USA: Portland — who, far from being part of any gay mainstream, has actually spent a good part of his career celebrating outsiders (hustlers, junkies, skaters, rock stars, disaffected types) looking for a way out. “Milk” is a biopic — an atypical film for Van Sant — but there are “Gus touches” throughout it. None more so than a scene in which Harvey receives a phone call from a kid in Minnesota who’s thinking of ending it because his parents are going to send him to be “reprogrammed.” Milk talks him out of it.
And for Harvey Milk, that’s what meant the most. His political successes aside — some say he would have been San Francisco mayor one day, or more — Harvey was about giving young gay people a reason not to despair. There’s a reason that New York’s high school for gay, lesbian and transgender students is named for him. If most teen and twentysomething gay people live lives in 2008 more accurately described as “post-gay” — more likely to have straight friends, hang out in mixed crowds, believe in thinking united and not apart — that’s because many of them have a lot less reason to fear harassment, abuse and discrimination than they would have 30 years ago. Back then, gay Americans were most definitely “the other.” It was a monumental struggle that was only beginning, and Harvey Milk was on the front lines. Months before his death, anticipating his possible assassination, a somber Harvey recorded an audio will, which was beautifully re-created by Sean Penn in the film. His last words on it were: “Last week I got that phone call from Altoona, Pennsylvania. And my election gave one more person hope. After all, that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about personal gain, it’s not about ego, it’s not about power. It’s about giving those young people out there in the Altoona, Pennsylvanias, hope. You gotta give ‘em hope.”
‘Sexiest Man Alive’ Hugh Jackman Laughs Off Gay Rumors
Normally I’m not one to ask actors about their sexuality but come on, we’ve all heard the Hugh Jackman rumors, right? And when he talked to Peoplemagazine about said rumors, well it seemed like fair game.
So credit Mr. Jackman as he stood his ground at the uncomfortable question and addressed the rumors with a charm that befits the Sexiest Man Alive. Watch below as the “Australia” star explains just how straight he is. And check out our full Hugh Jackman (and Nicole Kidman) interview here.
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart To Score $12M For ‘New Moon’?
Starring in the #1 movie in America has its advantages. Just a day after an incredible $70.55M opening weekend, “Twilight” leads Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are looking to bring home nearly $12 million dollars each for “New Moon,” the newly-announced sequel in the mega-franchise. This according to the Chicago Sun-Times, which notes the pair — until now hardly household names — took home paychecks of “just” $2 million for “Twilight.”
As fans can attest, Hollywood’s take on the second novel will be a decidedly larger affair than “Twilight,” with the addition of werewolves and journeys to Alaska and Italy. Pattinson himself told MTV News that “New Moon” ranks as his favorite of the four-book series. Check out his thoughts on the sequel towards the end of the video below, and then click here to read what the entire cast is looking forward to from “New Moon.”
As fans can attest, Hollywood’s take on the second novel will be a decidedly larger affair than “Twilight,” with the addition of werewolves and journeys to Alaska and Italy. Pattinson himself told MTV News that “New Moon” ranks as his favorite of the four-book series. Check out his thoughts on the sequel towards the end of the video below, and then click here to read what the entire cast is looking forward to from “New Moon.”
source: moviesblog.mtv.com
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Jason Statham Says His Transporter Character Would Kick BOTH Bond And Bourne To The Curb
Last year on the Movies Blog, we wondered, “Who would win a fight between the three best action characters of our age: Jason Bourne, James Bond, or Bruce Wayne?” and to show how serious we here at MTV News are about getting to the bottom of deep mysteries, we brought the question straight toMatt Damon himself.
n our haste to crown Bourne the champ, though, seems in our ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny battle royale we forgot about another tiny franchise star.
And Jason Statham doesn’t mince words about who he thinks would REALLY come out on top.
“Oh, he’d slap old Bond around a couple of times, wouldn’t he?” Statham laughed of his “Transporter” character Frank Martin, returning to theaters within a few weeks of Bond with “Transporter 3.”
“You know, it’s difficult to say but we do a lot of our own fight sequences and we keep it pretty realistic and pretty cool. We don’t have many stunt doubles. Not to take anything away from what the Bond franchise people do, but I know they work with a lot of stuntmen and we tend to get stuck in and do our own stuff.”
That’s for the fighting. Of course, what Frank Martin really does well is drive. So guess who Statham thinks would win in a road race between him and Jason Bourne?
“A road race?” Statham asked? “Well, it’s gonna be me looking in the rear view mirror I suppose!”
So who is it movie fans? Three men enter, one man leaves. Who wins in a fight between James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Frank Martin? Sound off on your thoughts below.
souce: n our haste to crown Bourne the champ, though, seems in our ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny battle royale we forgot about another tiny franchise star.
And Jason Statham doesn’t mince words about who he thinks would REALLY come out on top.
“Oh, he’d slap old Bond around a couple of times, wouldn’t he?” Statham laughed of his “Transporter” character Frank Martin, returning to theaters within a few weeks of Bond with “Transporter 3.”
“You know, it’s difficult to say but we do a lot of our own fight sequences and we keep it pretty realistic and pretty cool. We don’t have many stunt doubles. Not to take anything away from what the Bond franchise people do, but I know they work with a lot of stuntmen and we tend to get stuck in and do our own stuff.”
That’s for the fighting. Of course, what Frank Martin really does well is drive. So guess who Statham thinks would win in a road race between him and Jason Bourne?
“A road race?” Statham asked? “Well, it’s gonna be me looking in the rear view mirror I suppose!”
So who is it movie fans? Three men enter, one man leaves. Who wins in a fight between James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Frank Martin? Sound off on your thoughts below.
n our haste to crown Bourne the champ, though, seems in our ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny battle royale we forgot about another tiny franchise star.
And Jason Statham doesn’t mince words about who he thinks would REALLY come out on top.
“Oh, he’d slap old Bond around a couple of times, wouldn’t he?” Statham laughed of his “Transporter” character Frank Martin, returning to theaters within a few weeks of Bond with “Transporter 3.”
“You know, it’s difficult to say but we do a lot of our own fight sequences and we keep it pretty realistic and pretty cool. We don’t have many stunt doubles. Not to take anything away from what the Bond franchise people do, but I know they work with a lot of stuntmen and we tend to get stuck in and do our own stuff.”
That’s for the fighting. Of course, what Frank Martin really does well is drive. So guess who Statham thinks would win in a road race between him and Jason Bourne?
“A road race?” Statham asked? “Well, it’s gonna be me looking in the rear view mirror I suppose!”
So who is it movie fans? Three men enter, one man leaves. Who wins in a fight between James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Frank Martin? Sound off on your thoughts below.
source: moviesblog.mtv.com
‘Twilight’ Continues To Break Records, Sequel Officially Confirmed
Get used to ‘Twilight’ fever because if Summit Entertainment fulfills its promise a “New Moon” will dawn before too long. Yes, the numbers are continuing to pour in for this unprecedented opening weekend courtesy of “Twilight.”
First the news that will make all Twilighters smile today: a sequel has officially been greenlit. The announcement came straight from Stephenie Meyer herself who told fans in a message, “I don’t think any other author has had a more positive experience with the makers of her movie adaptation than I have had with Summit Entertainment. I’m thrilled to have the chance to work with them again on ‘New Moon.’”
Of course the fact that a sequel has been greenlit barely 24 hours after the first film has been released is because of one bottom line reason: money. And “Twilight” has been raking in a lot of it. Deadline Hollywood’s latest estimatesindicate “Twilight” earned an astonishing $35.7M on Friday (that number includes the $7 million from the midnight shows the night before).
As expected the film took a hefty drop on Saturday earning approximately $22 million. If these estimates hold look for the film to take in about $72 million for the weekend. That’s the kind of box office territory usually reserved for “Harry Potter” flicks in this season. No wonder we’ll be seeing more of Edward and Bella soon.
How many time shave you seen “Twilight”? Are you excited for “New Moon”? What changes, if any, should be made?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Oldboy will Adapt the Comic, Not the Film
There are already internet rebellions against the adaptation of Oldboy. And everyone pretty much ignores the ones that start off with the “there are no new ideas in Hollywood” line, so when Will Smith stopped to chat with Brian at Film School Rejects he gathered some intel that he hopes will change that.
Fans have already made themselves heard about their distaste for Oldboy being remade and Smith being the man rumored to take the lead. Well, we heard it straight from the star’s mouth that he is definitely starring in Steven Spielberg’s Oldboy…with a twist. Smith wanted to make a very strong point that this is not an adaptation of Chan-wook Park’s 2003 film. So what is it an adaptation of?We’re looking at that right now. Not the film though, it’s the original source material. There’s the original comics of ‘Oldboy’ that they made the first film from. And that’s what we’re working from, not an adaptation of the film…,” said Smith.
So the fanboys who were upset that this was going to be an American Adaptation of the Oldboy film are not likely to be placated by news that it will be a comic book adaptation instead. Pretty much the same thing really.
The proof will be in the final product. Right now, those who are opposed won’t change their mind just because they are making their film from the comic that another film was already made of. Six of one, half dozen of the other. But when it finally comes out those same people will still be comparing this adaptation of the comic against the previous adaptation of the comic, so it’s just redirecting the fanboy hate.
I haven’t read the graphic novel, so I don’t know how close the Chan-wook Park’s film came to it. Maybe the Spielberg Oldboy will be a closer adaptation. Wouldn’t that send the blogsphere for a spin?
source: themovieblog.com
Saturday, November 22, 2008
President-Elect Obama Reads ‘Twilight,’ So Is He Team Edward Or Team Jacob?
Barack ObamaPresident-Elect Barack Obama truly has a full plate. Revitilize a sinking economy. Energize a nation. Rehabilitate America’s fragile standing in the world. Oh, and get through four “Twilight” books with his youngest daughter.
Yes, according to the latest issue of US Weekly, Stephenie Meyer has a couple fans who will be moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a couple months. The magazine reports that the President-Elect and his ten-year-old daughter Malia often bond over addictive book series, “They read all the Harry Potter books together and have moved on to the Twilight series.”
What does this mean? A Presidential screening of “Twilight” at the White House? Robert Pattinson for Secretary of Dreamy Eyes? Anything is possible. Are you surprised that “Twilight”-mania has gone all the way to the Oval Office?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
50 Cent Jumps Loan Shark Role For ‘Dead Man Running’
50 Cent’s film career is on fire this year! Weeks ago, he became one of “13” badasses, now he’s jumped into a film that began shooting on Wednesday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he has signed onto Alex de Rakoff’s London gangster movie “Dead Man Running,” an indie thriller financed by two English soccer players. 50 Cent joins cast members Tamer Hassan (”Layer Cake”), Danny Dyer (”The Business”), Brenda Blethyn (”Secrets and Lies”) and Monet Mazur (”Stoned”).
While this sounds like your standard gangster movie, this one actually borrows from the headlines, as it portrays a criminal world that has been hit just as hard by current economic woes as Wall Street and Main Street. After all, if everyone’s getting laid off, who is going to spend the money on drugs, gambling, and other illegal activities? It’s trickle down economics at work — and it’s no laughing matter if even loan sharks are hurting.
At least we know one guy who isn’t going to be affected by economic woes — 50 Cent. As of right now, he has three films coming out in 2009. Since he clearly doesn’t sleep between them, he may rack up three more roles by December.
Will you be checking out 50’s performance? Do you see him as a Hollywood leading man? Chime in below.
Source: MtvMovies
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Twilight’ Clip Features Bad-Driving, Bad Excuses, And A Very Good Romance
It’s the moment that saves Bella’s life - well, for the first time, anyway. It’s the pivotal event that forces Edward (Rob “OME” Pattinson) to reveal his true self to his love (Kristen Stewart). It’s the world-famous “Tyler Crowley’s Runaway Van” scene, and now it can finally be seen for the first time in its (almost) entirety - at MTV courtesy of new movie show "Spoiler"
For those of you who haven’t read the book (and you’d better hurry, because “Twilight” is only 7 days away!), Tyler (Gregory Tyree Boyce) is the Forks, Washington equivalent of Billy Joel behind the wheel. In this scene, Bella makes eye-contact with the mysterious Cullen clan (including Nikki Reed as Rosalie, Kellan Lutz as Emmett and Jackson Rathbone as Jasper), clearly noticing that they’re on the opposite side of the Forks High School parking lot. Moments later, a ton of out-of-control steel comes hurtling towards her. (Watch the scene after the jump!)
As many women will undoubtedly find themselves saying next weekend: “Thank God for Edward!” Sticking his hand in the way of the van, the vampire uses his supernatural powers to save the teenager. Then, as Ricky Ricardo would say: He’s got some ’splainin’ to do!
“I was standing right next to you, Bella,” he tries to convince her in the scenes from Catherine Hardwicke’s upcoming movie that are cut together for the end part of the clip. But c’mon, Bella’s no dummy - we all know she’ll soon get to the bottom of that mystery. And in only one more week, so can the rest of us!
Hey Twilighters: If Edward were real, what kind of danger would you put yourself in to force him to reveal himself? Or would you be too chicken, and just hope he’d come out on his own?
'Twilight' Screening: Screams and...Dads?
Last night’s Twilight press screening at The Grove in L.A. included a lot of long lines, squealing, cheers and screaming—all of which I expected. I did not expect to see a lot of males in the theater, but there were more grown men than I anticipated. Dads escorting tweens, I guessed. One sported a Twilight Tee.
The crowd squealed excitedly when the lights dimmed. Cheers and claps erupted when the title showed. High-pitched screams accompanied the first glimpses of the Cullens and Jacob. Nervous giggles bubbled up during Bella and Edward’s first interactions, romantic one-liners produced “aaw”s, and vampire tree-hopping earned more squeals. Robert Pattinson ranked No. 1 on the scream-o-meter. I did not scream. I sat beside my co-workers, who would probably judge me if I did.
Robert Pattinson takes the scream king crown.
The Verdict: If you see Twilight this weekend, you’re going to have a lot of fun. Even if you’re not Cullen-crazy, being surrounded with Twilighters exuding giddiness is an experience in itself. Hundreds of showtimes have already sold out for Thursday’s midnight shows. High schoolers will be sleep-deprived on Friday! If you think you’re too old for this, you can take consolation in knowing moms and dads will accompany their young ones.
DVDs of the Week: 'Tropic Thunder,' 'Wall*E'
Two wildly different releases, each huge summer successes, come out today: Tropic Thunder and Pixar's Wall*E. I highly recommend both.
Tropic Thunder: Hollywood gets a somewhat safe skewering in this meta-tale of a group of egotistic actors shooting a war movie in the jungle who inadvertently end up actually becoming soldiers. The razor-sharp script has Robert Downey Jr., in blackface because he's so devoted to his craft, muttering such lines as "I don't read the script - the script reads me" in all seriousness, and an virtually unrecognizable Tom Cruise as a bombastic, smarmy studio boss. Terrific turns as well by Ben Stiller as action has-been Tugg Speedman and Jack Black, a heroin addict who bites the head off a bat who dares try to nab his stash. The hysterical faux trailers in the beginning might possibly be the funniest part of the film.
Best Extras: Robert Downey Jr.'s in-character commentary; alternate ending; Tom Cruise's makeup test; and the sketch from the MTV Movie Awards, with the four main characters filming a promotional video for the film.
Wall*E: Pixar's masterful sci-fi animation picture about Wall*E, the last robot on earth, and his love affair with a high-tech fact-finding robot named Eve shows off the studio's fearless risk taking in the genre at the same time it tells an almost heartbreakingly sweet relationship story couched in a thoughtful environmental message.
Best Extras: The deleted scenes, which show rough sketches narrated by director Andrew Stanton who explains why they were cut; "Captain's Log," which shows the early days of the film when most of the characters were shapeless, Jello-y blobs.
'Twilight'ers Camp Out
All Twilight, all the time...now columnist Nikki Finke is reporting fans started camping out Sunday for the movie's premiere tonight at Mann's Village theater in Westwood, Calif. By around 10 a.m. this morning, the crowd of mostly women had ballooned to 300.
The phenomenon has created havoc around the country. Hordes of fans braved foul rainy weather in Toronto last Friday to see the Twilight stars at MuchMusic's studios on Saturday; some 3,000 people showed for a similar event in San Francisco with only 1,000 capacity; and Robert Pattinson was mobbed in Chicago last week when he made an appearance at a mall where 500 fans waited for him.
The studio is arranging for Thursday midnight/Friday morning Twilight shows. Will you be there?
fandango.com
'Twilight' Dethrones AC/DC
Twilight's taking over, well, just about everything. On Wednesday, its soundtrack debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart. I bet rock band AC/DC (which bested High School Musical 3's soundtrack) was irked to find its two-week reign on the top spot cut short as the Twilight phenomenon upped sales to 165,000 copies. Twilight, which boasts tracks from Linkin Park, Paramore, Muse and star Rob Pattinson, is the third No. 1 soundtrack of the year after Juno and Mamma Mia!, Reuters reports. As an avid music fan herself, author Stephenie Meyer may have spawned an ardent new fan base when she posted playlists on her blog to listen to while reading her book.
"Twilight" melts AC/DC's "Black Ice."
"Twilight" melts AC/DC's "Black Ice."
Hugh Jackman crowned People's `Sexiest Man Alive'
Hugh Jackman says wife Deborra-Lee Furness teased him after finding out he'd been named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive."
Recalling Furness' reaction, Jackman says: "God bless her, she said, `I could've told them that years ago! And then she said, `Obviously Brad (Pitt) wasn't available this year.' And I said, `That was a joke, right?'"
The magazine's executive editor, Jess Cagle, said Wednesday on NBC's "Today" show that Jackman is a "surprising choice," but he'd been on the editors' minds "for a long time and it seemed like this was the year to do him."
Cagle pointed out that not only is Jackman's career at its peak, with the "X-Men" movies and his upcoming epic with Nicole Kidman "Australia," but he's "built like a tank."
New DVD Releases - This Week
New This Week November 18
Wall-E (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition) (2008)
Pixar genius reigns in this funny romantic comedy, which stars a robot who says absolutely nothing for a full 25 minutes yet somehow completely...Read more
- Cast: Ben Burtt, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Elissa Knight, John Ratzenberger
- Director(s): Andrew Stanton
- MPAA Rating: G (General Audience)
- Buy DVD
- Clips, pics & more
- Fan Reviews
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Widescreen Edition) (2008)
Ever wonder what the girls of Sex and the City might have been like if they'd been friends since toddlerhood? Probably a lot like the appealing...Read more
- Cast: Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera
- Director(s):
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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- Clips, pics & more
- Fan Reviews
High School Musical: DVD Game (2008)
Got what it takes to be a Wildcat? Join the coolest school in town.All you need is your DVD and a remote control! Play on your own, or with friends...Read more
- Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens
- Director(s): Kenny Ortega
- MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
- Buy DVD
Garden Party (2008)
Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 11/18/2008 Run time: 88 minutes Rating: NrRead more
- Cast: Christopher Allport, Erik Scott Smith, Vinessa Shaw, Ross Patterson, Patrick Fischler
- Director(s): Jason Freeland
- MPAA Rating: Unrated
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- Clips, pics & more
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![The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dsvLqo5XL._SL160_.jpg)
The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray] (2008)
- Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine
- Director(s):
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) (2008)
- Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine
- Director(s):
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008)
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 10/14/2008 Run time: 122 minutes Rating: Pg13
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone
- Director(s): Steven Spielberg
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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Wall-E (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition) (2008)
- Cast: Ben Burtt, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Elissa Knight, John Ratzenberger
- Director(s): Andrew Stanton
- MPAA Rating: G (General Audience)
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13.5x20 New Mini One Sheet Movie Poster
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow
- Director(s):
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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![Iron Man (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hso1X0GJL._SL160_.jpg)
Iron Man (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray] (2008)
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/30/2008 Run time: 126 minutes Rating: Pg13
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow
- Director(s):
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Three-Disc Unrated Collector's Edition) (2008)
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/30/2008 Run time: 229 minutes
- Cast: William Baldwin, Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel
- Director(s): Nicholas Stoller
- MPAA Rating: Unrated
Sex and the City - The Movie (Special Edition) (2008)
Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 09/23/2008 Rating: R
- Cast: Candice Bergen, Kim Cattrall, David Eigenberg, Willie Garson, Evan Handler
- Director(s): Michael Patrick King
- MPAA Rating: Unrated
![The Godfather - The Coppola Restoration Giftset (The Godfather / The Godfather Part II / The Godfather Part III) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ek%2BlM5IIL._SL160_.jpg)
The Godfather - The Coppola Restoration Giftset (The Godfather / The Godfather Part II / The Godfather Part III) [Blu-ray] (2008)
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/23/2008 Run time: 549 minutes Rating: R
- Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
- Director(s): Francis Ford Coppola
- MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
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Nim's Island (Widescreen Edition) (2008)
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 08/05/2008 Run time: 96 minutes Rating: Pg
- Cast: Jodie Foster, Michael Carman, Anthony Simcoe, Gerard Butler, Peter Callan
- Director(s): Mark Levin
- MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray] (2008)
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/02/2008 Run time: 143 minutes Rating: Pg13
- Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor
- Director(s): Michael Bay
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
New DVD Releases - Last Week
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (3 Disc Special Edition) (2008)
The feverish Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a very busy sequel that might have looked unhinged in the hands of a less visionary director than...Read more
Cast: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, James Dodd, Jeffrey TamborDirector(s): Guillermo del Toro
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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Fan Reviews
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Here's an excellent recipe for a holiday charmer: Take two charismatic and easy-on-the-eyes romantic leads (Morris Chestnut, The Brothers, and...Read more
- Cast: Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Faizon Love, Charles Q. Murphy, Katt Williams
- Director(s): Lance Rivera
- MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
This Christmas (2008)
This year christmas with the whitfields promises to be one they will never forget. All the siblings have come home for the first time in years...Read more
- Cast: Regina King, Columbus Short, Nia Long, Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba
- Director(s): Preston A. Whitmore II
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
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Buy DVDHarry Potter Years 1-5 (2008)
- Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Rating: PgRead more
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith
- Director(s): Chris Columbus
- MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Mister Foe (2008)
A benevolent voyeur sounds like a contradiction in terms, but no one would confuse David Mackenzie's charming Mister Foe with Michael Powell's...Read more
- Cast: Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles, Claire Forlani, Ciarán Hinds, Maurice Roeves
- Director(s): David Mackenzie
- MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
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I I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (2008)
Justin spies his mom kissing santa claus unaware that its his father dressed up in a santa suit. Justin turns naughty as he tries to teach santa a...Read more
- Cast: Corbin Bernsen, Sonny Carl Davis, Frank Gerrish, David Millbern, Connie Sellecca
- Director(s): John Shepphird
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
‘Bolt’ is tried-and-true fun, but nothing special
- BOLT STARS: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus and Susie Essman.
- DIRECTOR: John Lasseter.
- LENGTH: 96 min.
- RATING: PG (some mild action and peril)
Photo by The Associated Press
Animated characters, from left, Bolt, Mittens and Rhino in “Bolt.”
Harmless as a puppy, "Bolt" comes bounding into theaters, stumbling over its big, goofy paws, wagging its fluffy tail and begging to play ball.
It's sweet and eager to please but, sadly, nothing terribly special: Girl finds dog, girl loses dog, girl gets dog back. You've seen this sort of thing countless times before, namely in any movie with the word "Lassie" in the title.
But if you happen to be a girl who loves dogs, you may find yourself wiping away a tear or two.
This animated 3-D adventure follows a scrappy, white shelter mutt named Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) who isn't a superhero, but he plays one on TV. Trouble is, he has no idea he's an actor in a role. He thinks he's really saving plucky, young Penny (Miley Cyrus) – his "person," as he's so proud to call her – from bad guys and explosions over and over again.
When Bolt accidentally gets shipped across the country from Hollywood to New York City, in a totally contrived fashion, he must make that tried-and-true, intrepid trek back home. Travolta, so often pigeonholed as a tough guy or an idiot or both, shows some lovely glimmers of vulnerability here, especially once he realizes he's just a normal dog after all.
Along the way, he befriends the street-wise, wisecracking alley cat, Mittens (Susie Essman in a slightly less vulgar mode than you'd find her on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), and the overeager, overfed hamster Rhino (the scene-stealing Mark Walton), who's obsessed with television and is totally psyched about the prospect of being Bolt's crime-fighting sidekick. A sort of small, furry Louie Anderson look-alike, the delusional hamster is an undeniable hoot, but "Bolt" goes to him a few times too many for the reliable laugh; a little of Rhino goes a long way.
"Bolt" is the first animated feature created and executed under longtime Pixar guru John Lasseter, but it lacks the complexity of story and depth of character you so often find in previous Pixar releases such as "Toy Story," "Monsters Inc.," "The Incredibles" and this year's outstanding "WALL-E." The film is familiar rather than groundbreaking, safe when it should be moving. Call it an occupational hazard: Lasseter is too good at what he does; it's not a terrible problem to have.
As for the 3-D, it will suffice. "Bolt" could have survived without it and still have been as diverting. Thankfully, it doesn't fling anything at you gratuitously, nor does it envelop you wholly like last year's "Beowulf." Rather, with the help of some sturdy dark glasses, the 3-D effect provides "Bolt" with a pleasing sense of texture, an effortless tangibility in the blades of grass or the hair on the back of the lost pup's neck.
At the helm this time are Chris Williams and Byron Howard, veteran animators making their directing debut. "Bolt" certainly moves along at a lively clip that will satisfy both kids and adults, but the script (from Williams and Dan Fogelman) is a little too Hollywood-insider, which isn't exactly novel in this age of "Entourage." The director of the "Bolt" TV series (voiced with typical pomposity by James Lipton) obsesses over a boom mike in the frame. Penny's slick, shallow agent (Greg Germann) wants her to get over the loss of her furry friend and accept another, similar white dog as her co-star.
Meanwhile, the real Bolt has been trying to navigate the perils of the real world with no superpowers: "If I stare at the lock really hard, it'll burst into flames and melt," he insists earnestly. No such luck.
He does, however, run into a trio of pigeons who have a script to pitch once he makes it back to L.A. So maybe "Bolt" is a documentary after all.
'Twilight, Bolt' Top This Week's New Movie Releasest
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson star in 'Twilight,' which promises to draw young audiences to theaters in droves.
It's a something-for-everyone weekend at the box office, but as far as generating eager anticipation, one title stands out: "Twilight," the vampire romance based on the wildly popular book series.
The film, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, is targeted squarely at the teen market -- that unique market segment that tends toward repeated viewings of their favorite movies -- and judging by the amount of swooning I've witnessed in discussions with various people about the film, you can expect the film to enjoy a brisk opening.
Even then, though, it'll have competition. Chief among them: the new animated dog tale "Bolt," featuring the voices of Miley Cyrus and John Travolta. Not only is it an animated, family-friendly adventure -- a genre that always seems to do well, as proven by "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" a couple of weeks ago -- but its also got the Disney name attached to it, which is always a help.
Not all of this week's films are for young audiences, though. Here's a rundown of all the movies expected to open this Friday (Nov. 21), with the essential details a links to trailers where available:
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A scene from Disney's newest animated feature, 'Bolt.'
"BOLT" (Find the trailer here.)
A TV-star dog gets a rude awakening when he finds himself stranded in the real word -- and absent any actual superpowers. Miley Cyrus and John Travolta lend their voices to the latest animated adventure from Walt Disney Pictures. It is being released in 3-D and 2-D formats (Although only one local theater, the Grand in Slidell, is expected to show it in 3-D.) Rated PG for some mild action and peril. 1 hour 36 minutes.
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Asa Butterfield, left, and Vera Farmiga in a scene from 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.'
"THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS" (Find the trailer here.)
World War II, as seen through the eyes of the young son of a German officer at a concentration camp who befriends a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence. Asa Butterfield and Zac Mattoon O'Brien star in director Mark Herman's drama. Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material involving the Holocaust. 1 hour 33 minutes.
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Lina Leandersson in the Swedish horror film 'Let the Right One In.'
"LET THE RIGHT ONE IN" (Find the trailer here.)
Watch out, "Twilight" -- there's another vampire love story in town, in the form of this Swedish film about a bullied boy who finds friendship and strength in a peculiar girl with a ghastly secret. Named best narrative feature at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. In Swedish, with subtitles. Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson star in director Thomas Alfredson's horror-romance. Rated R for some bloody violence including disturbing images, brief nudity and language. 1 hour 54 minutes.
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Philip Seymour Hoffman and Samantha Morton in 'Synecdoche, New York.'
"SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK" (Find the trailer here.)
Left-of-center screenwriter Charlie Kaufman ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") directs for the first time in a dramatic feature about a neurotic New York theater director who embarks on his magnum opus, which involves turning an emormous warehouse into a stage that mimics the real life going on outside. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener and Hope Davis star. Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity. 2 hours 4 minutes.
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Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in 'Twilight.'
"TWILIGHT" (Find the trailer here.)
Young readers -- and more than a few not-so-young ones -- are already swooning over this horror-thriller-romance that chased "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to next summer. Based on the wildly popular book series about a girl who falls in love with a vampire, it stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (who just put the finishing touches on the New Orleans-shot drama "Welcome to the Rileys" with James Gandolfini). Catherine Hardwicke directs. Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality. 2 hours 2 minutes.
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