Opening this Week

This week at the box office looks to be filled with fun for the whole family. No matter what your mood, you are sure to find something to enjoy. From comedies to action to endearing stories, it’s all opening at the box office this week.

Ratatouille What is a rat to do when his dreams the impossible dream? Remy the rat loves fine food and lives in Paris behind one of the most famous restaurants in town. He longs to be a chef, but it’s a profession that frowns on rodents and with good reason. Remy makes a deal with the garbage boy who discovers Remy’s culinary talent. Ratatouille is rated G and is from Pixar Animation.

Sicko Michael Moore’s new film that takes a look at the American health care industry. This poignant look at health care is done as a documentary with a dash of comedy. Just what the doctor order. Sicko is rated PG-13.

Evening is a story that is about a Mother and Daughter and their friends. It follows the women who are all at different points in their lives. Evening stars Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson, and Meryl Streep and Mamie Gummer. Evening is rated PG-13.

Live Free or Die Hard is the fourth installment of the Die Hard series and once again stars Bruce Willis as John McClane. New York cop McClane must stop attackers on our nation on the fourth of July weekend. Live Free or Die Hard is an action-packed, sure to be summer blockbuster movie. Live Free or Die Hard is rated Pg-13.

Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End

When last we saw Captain Jack Sparrow, he was battling Davey Jones’ pet leviathan. In At World’s End, we learned what happens to Jack, his crew, as well as Will Turner and Elizabeth.

At World’s End ties up some loose ends but feels a little rushed and at times disjointed. I usually have to watch the Pirates movies at least twice to catch half the action that is going on. I watched Pirates of the Caribbean for the fifth time and still caught some references I hadn’t the other four times. There’s a lot that takes place in this third movie that it will be nice to watch it again when it’s released on DVD.

As far as entertainment goes, Pirates At World’s End is definitely a fun ride, complete with plenty of swashbuckling pirates, fighting, and action. Although At World’s End is a fairly long movie, it does seemed a bit rushed. There is a lot of story packed into this movie that parts could have been tighter while other elements could have used a bit more explanation. It will be nice to see it on DVD and hopefully some deleted scenes that help to fill in the storyline.

If you see it in the theatre, stay until after the credits as there is a scene that is very interesting. At World’s End is worth seeing in the theatre especially with all the special effects. It just looks better on the big screen. Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End delivers an action-packed 2 plus hours of entertainment.

Chinese Movie Pirates

No, not the 7 kwai DVDs from the back room.

China has censored part of the latest instalment of hit Hollywood movie “Pirates of the Caribbean” for “vilifying and defacing the Chinese”, the official Xinhua news agency said on Friday.

… “The captain played by Chow is bald, his face heavily scarred. He also has a long beard and long nails, whose image is still in line with Hollywood’s old tradition of demonising the Chinese.”

“Chinese censors also cut Chow’s line in which he states ‘Welcome to Singapore’ because it hints Singapore is a land of pirates …,” Xinhua added.

No word on whether the back room DVD shops stock have the American or the Chinese version of the movie.

BBC article here, Reuters here

Movies Opening This Week

Heading to the movies? Here’s a rundown of what’s new at the box office. So far it’s been a summer of sequels. This week stays true to form with another sequel hitting the big screen.

A Mighty Heart chronicles the story of Mariane Pearl, the wife of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan. The film is based on the book by Mariane Pearl where she writes about her husband’s disappearance, the search for him, and his murder. She wrote the book for their son, Adam, who will never know his father. A Mighty Heart deals with a tough yet poignant subject. A Mighty Heart is rated R and stars Angelina Jolie and Dan Futterman.

1408 stars John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson in this psychological thriller based upon a story by Stephen King. Cusack plays a guilt stricken Father who seeks to find a way to communicate with his daughter who has passed on. He goes to stay in a hotel where room 1408 is known for it’s paranormal activity. Samuel L. Jackson plays the hotel attendant who warns him of the dangers of staying in the room. Unconvinced of any real danger Cusack takes the room, but will he live to check out? 1408 is rated PG-13.

Evan Almighty is the sequel to the movie Bruce Almighty. Evan Almighty stars Steve Carell as Evan Baxter(newscaster from Bruce Almighty) and Morgan Freeman as God. In Evan Almighty, Evan is elected to Congress and moves his family to his new post. God shows up and wants Evan to build an ark. Evan’s family isn’t sure what is going on with him if he’s having a nervous breakdown or if he really is talking to God. Evan Almighty is rated PG.

Happily N’ver After

When Frieda, Ella’s stepmother, realizes that her string of bad luck isn’t just fate but part of a storybook plot line that can be altered, she hatches a plan to take over the kingdom. Ella realizes that it’s her stepmother causing the ensuing mayhem and sets out to stop her.

The story is told from the standpoint of Rick, voiced by Freddie Prince, Jr., who is the dishwasher/personal assistant to Prince Charming, voiced by Patrick Walburton. Prince Charming is good looking but that is about all he has going for him. Charming relies on his storybook for guidance. It’s kind of funny to watch a fairy tale where one of the characters has the book about the fairy tale. Rick is in love with Ella, but Ella is in love with the Prince.

Everything goes awry when the Wizard who watches over the fairy tales goes on vacation. Frieda learns of the Wizard’s place and how to alter the happy endings of the fairy tales. She summons all the evil-doers in the land to help carry out her plan. Ella figures out it is her stepmother who is messing up her happily ever after. She sets out to stop her.

Happily N’ver After is a cute animated movie and a nice little twist to the traditional fairy tales. Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Rumpelstiltskin are just a few of the fairy tales characters making an appearance. It’s funny to see Rumpelstiltskin in the role as Father. There’s a lot of funny dialogue so listen closely. Watch it twice or even three times.

Happily Never After is now available on DVD.

Ghost Rider

Johnny Blaze is a very talented stunt motorcycle rider who makes a deal with the demon Mephistopheles to save his father’s life. Mephistopheles keeps his word to a point, curing Johnny’s father but allowing him to die in a fiery motorcycle crash. Johnny then leaves home, running from his life and guilt. He becomes a famous stunt driver when the demon comes calling. Mephistopheles needs Johnny to bring his son Blackheart back under control. Blackheart has a plan to rule the world by taking control of a thousand souls.

Movies based on comic books have quite a few challenges. Fans of the comic book will have high expectations from the movie and will want the producers to stay true to the storyline. There are the non fans who will have to brought up to speed on the character to truly appreciate the character’s motivation.

Although the pacing seemed a little slow, the back story of Ghost Rider was done well. Some parts felt a little awkward like how Johnny finds out his Dad has cancer, and Dad returning from the doctor with news that he is all cured. Watching the movie I was anxious to see the Ghost Rider emerge and start kicking tail. Ghost Rider is the best part of the movie. Johnny Blaze was a cross between Batman and Spider-man. At some points he seems like the weight of the world is on his shoulders while at other times he is cracking jokes. I’m not sure how Blaze acts in the comics. While I’m usually a fan of Nicholas Cage, I just wasn’t that impressed with his portrayal of Johnny Blaze.

Ghost Rider is now available on DVD and is a fun movie to watch. Just don’t have high expectations of this being a memorable movie.

After Piaf, here comes Chanel

It seems like the world can’t get enough of female French icons. In the wake the success of the biopic based on the life of singer and French instIitution Edith Piaf, La Vie En Rose, it has been announced that Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, pictured) will be getting in the shoes and dresses of that other icon of French culture, fashion designer Coco Chanel. The $15m film will be directed by Anne Fontaine and has no official title yet. The plot will focus on Chanel’s childhood and early womanhood. The script was written by Fontaine and Christopher Hampton, who is also creative consultant, and was freely adapted from the Chanel biography “L’Irrégulière” by Edmonde Charles-Roux. Shooting commences in early 2008.