Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a thief who specializes in the art of extraction, the stealing of secrets from a target's subconscious. Though his profession cost him everything he has ever loved and has turned him into a fugitive, an offer for a final job -- one that requires him to plant an idea instead of pilfering it -- could be his chance at redemption.
Buzz:
Our founder has already called this "the movie of the decade".
When CIA officer Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is accused of being a spy by a Russian defector, she goes on the run, putting all of her experience and skills to use to elude capture, learn the truth of her identity, and hopefully clear her name.
Buzz:
With Angelina Jolie in front of the camera and sensitive guy Phillip Noyce behind it, I have to stop and recall the point in time when this movie was almost made by Tom Cruise and director Michael Mann. We're thinking this could be the best one-off spy story since The Long Kiss Goodnight (a 90's fave), and the real-life outing of Russian spies in the U.S. couldn't have been more timely! Did you see Angelina in the newest issue of Vanity Fair? She (still) has it.
A trio of orphan girls cause the normally deplorable Gru to rethink his plan to steal the moon.
Buzz:
Universal is still looking for its first animated hit, and we think its gutsy for them to push an original story out into the summer's box-office waters. Initially annoying, Gru and those orphan girls have grown on us (the minions? um, no.), and we're hoping that families, still smiling from Toy Story 3, will be attracted to this tale.
Master sorcerer Balthazar Black (Cage) recruits a seemingly everyday guy (Baruchel) in his mission to defend New York City from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Molina).
Buzz:
Everyone's harping on Nic Cage's hair, his financial woes, and how 2010 seems to be his Dungeons & Dragons year. If National Treasure mastermind Jon Turteltaub were not behind this project, I'd have serious doubts about its chances; as it stands, I semi-seriously hope it's a surprise blockbuster -- maybe it'll even earn a sequel? I feel like parents and kids alike could entertained by the story and visuals. Strange how Monica Bellucci's presence is being played down ...
Woody (Hanks), Buzz (Allen), and the rest of their toy-box friends are dumped in a day-care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college.
Buzz:
Easily one of the biggest movies of 2010, the secret weapon here is screenwriter Michael Arndt, who wrote Little Miss Sunshine; his sentimentality is evident in the trailer, which causes Rex-sized lumps in our throat.
When grade-schooler Ramona Quimby (King) senses that her family's home is danger, she uses her boundless energy and enthusiasm to save the day.
Buzz:
A special-effects free family movie is a rare thing these days, although today's parents are probably more familiar with the name Beverly Cleary than their kids? I could be wrong there. Fox-Walden probably shelled out a bit in casting Disney Channel star Selena Gomez, but she's a good face for the marketing campaign as Ramona's long suffering older sister, Beezus. (Also, Ms. Gomez cost way less than Miley Cyrus, who was first approached for the role.)
After their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Buzz:
Adam Sandler didn't have much luck with Judd Apatow, but his success with director Dennis Dugan is nearly unparalleled. Together, with plenty of their famous, lovable friends and colleagues in tow (and Rob Schneider) they appear to be channeling 80s-era family comedy and trafficking in the getting-older themes of which Sandler has become so fond. Meanwhile, is Kevin James, in Chris Farley mode, the real draw here?
Bella Swan (Stewart) oscillates between vampire Edward Cullen, who wants Bella's hand in marriage, and werewolf Jacob Black, who has just declared his love for her. Meanwhile, the Cullens and the Quileute werewolves unite to stop an army of powerful vampires from seeking their revenge on Bella.
Buzz:
Call this third chapter the guy-friendly saga since the story provides both supernatural reveals and borderline epic action. Goth parents should revel in Peter Murphy's cameo, and newcomers should feel welcomed by the amount of back story built into the events here. Since Eclipse the book really pushed Stephenie Meyer's work into the spotlight, is it fair to say this movie might improve on New Moon's phenomenal success? The Fourth of July weekend berth should help in this matter.
Aang (Ringer), a young successor to a long line of Avatars, learns that he possesses the power to engage the Fire Nation and hopefully end their century-long war against the Water, Earth, and Air nations.
Buzz:
Regardless of the range of opinions on (1) M. Night Shyamalan's career trajectory and (2) the project's "racebending" controversy, TLAs trailers contain some of the best money shots of the year thus far. The springtime announcement that the movie will be converted into 3D was no surprise, but also entirely welcome. We're unsure exactly how big it will be in the U.S., though this is more worldwide entertainment -- the beginning of a potential trilogy and a renaissance for Shyamalan, who is attached to develop the other two films if all is a go.
A group of elite warriors are hunted by members of a merciless alien race.
Buzz:
When it comes to competing franchises, Predator is way less enduring than Alien, wouldn't you agree? Maybe that's why this reboot doesn't make me red-hot angry as much as Fox's planned Alien prequel. The cast is lean (hopefully Splice will be seen by the naysayers who think Adrien Brody isn't tough enough for the genre), and you really could ask for a much worse director/producer combo than Nimrod Antal and Robert Rodriguez. Truthfully, doesn't it just come down to how cool the creatures look?
When I was little, my mother, an avid classic movie watcher, loved the 1951 Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Back then, we’ll say the 1980s and 1990s, when it was on VHS, I
detested the film. I thought it was boring, and I hated the
black-and-white picture. I love vibrant colors, after all. But thinking
on it now, I see why it was/is a classic film. Alastair Sim, who plays
Scrooge in that version, is magnificent as the anti-hero.
The 2009 Disney’s A Christmas Carol, is another story. I thought because Jim Carrey is voicing Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas that it would be great. But in sheer Polar Express style, the only good thing about Disney’s A Christmas Carol is the 3D experience. The effects are great, but that’s all.
Written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, Carol falls with a scary thud. I have seen the classic story in film in many different ways, including the 2009 summer/Christmas film Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past, which wasn’t all that great, either. Zemeckis’ version is pretty cut and dried. The only thing that sets it painfully apart is the 3D and certain scenes which are so scary, I wonder why this film has been deemed kid-friendly.
Just like Harry Potter, Carol is starkly dark and filled with gotcha scary moments. The plot is also weak. I’ve seen the plot time and again, and I wonder why the film has even been re-made. The 1951 classic is really starting to look good to me now.
Jim Carrey is full of Carrey-ness in this film. Even as a dancing candle flame, he brings the comedy. But Carrey’s comedic timing isn’t enough to hold my interest. Halfway through the film, I was very bored and fidgeting in my seat, waiting for the end credits to roll. Carrey could do and has done so much better.
Gary Oldman as the voice of Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, and Tiny Tim is actually pretty good, however. His turn in CGI is entertaining and engaging. Colin Firth as the voice of Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, is engaging as well. I know the story is supposed to be, mainly, about Scrooge’s journey, but I wish Fred had received more screen time. He’s much more interesting.
Bob Hoskins as the voice of Mr. Fezziwig and Old Joe is delightful. His CGI caricature is pretty good. I could see Hoskins’ face quite clearly. Hoskins has always been a stand-up actor and is always ignored by the American audience; which is a shame because he’s so good at what he does.
Other actors’ voices of note are Robin Wright Penn lending her voice to Fan and Belle, and Cary Elwes’ voice as Portly Gentleman #1, Dick Wilkins, Mad Fiddler, Guest #2, and Business Man. It’s a shame Elwes’ voice was lent to such meager offerings. For those of you trying to place him, he was Westley in the 1987 hit Princess Bride, a fun comedy about a fairy tale romance set in medieval times. Elwes has a great voice for imagery, and Zemeckis has shamefully overlooked him.
I’d also like to mention the creative team that made this film visually bearable: the people at Image Mover’s Digital. The CGI is very lifelike. Moving imagery certainly has graduated in the past few years. Now, all children’s films are in 3D, and if you really want a great experience, you can get the 3D/Imax experience for optimum fun. But, as they do with action films, filmmakers are focusing more on imagery than actual plot.
Alas, Disney’s A Christmas Carol has fallen victim to the same phenomenon. If I had seen this film in regular 2D format, I probably would have been bored out of my mind, and would have had to slap myself several times to stay awake. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but I’m trying to put you readers into the mindset I had while watching this film.
I know Carol is mainly geared toward a child-viewing audience, but the adults who take the kids to the movie have to watch it, too. And if filmmakers keep putting out sloppy, tired plots, what will that do for the next generation of filmmakers? I’m sure there are thousands of little, budding filmmakers in theater audiences now thinking that this is real cinema. It’s not.
Let me get off of my soap box and be real. Disney’s A Christmas Carol is boring, and I hope the next 3D films from Disney are much better.
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Some scenes may be scary for younger kids. AND THE WHOLE WORLD! written by DisneyMoviesFAN27,
November 27, 2009
I agree. I saw it in the theaters and jumped out of my seat about 12 times. I know that Walt Disney would not create a film like this. I was the only one in my family who wanted to see this movie - that was stupid. It was scary, loud, and NIGHTMARE for someone like me. Horrible, horrible, horrible!
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