Blog... Blog... Blog...
"Alice in Wonderland"'s $116+M opening weekend was a major shocker. That was the highest March opening of all-time, by $45M ("300" made $71M back in 2007). It even beat "Avatar"'s first weekend. As you know I didn't like either of those films. And, remember "Transformer 2" (another bad film) and it's big opening weekend last year.
I think it's become clear that the early box office success for movies has a lot more to do with the hype and marketing campaign than it does with the quality of the film.
A film I'm hoping is both good AND popular - "Smurfs", is starting to put it's cast together. Reportedly, Katy Perry and Geprge Lopoz will be doing voices in the film and Neil Patrick Harris wll be playing the main live-action character. Live-action characters in "Smurfs"? That's not too Smurfy!
Now in Theaters
Alice in Wonderland (PG) D+
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton have done several movies together, including "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Edward Scissorhands". However, their latest collaboration has me as mad as a hatter, because it's just not very good.
"Alice in Wonderland" is based on the two, classic Lewis Carroll books, but it's isn't a remake of the familiar story, it's actually a sequel.
Alice (who's played by Mia Wasikowska), is now 19, and once again she falls into the rabbit hole and enters Wonderland (or in this case "Underland"). And, again, she meets-up with The Mad Hatter (played by Depp) and gets in trouble with the Red Queen (who has the huge head and voice of Helena Bonham Carter). Her sister, the White Queen (played by Anne Hathaway), helps Alice throughout the story but it's Alice who must, in the end, fight the evil Jabberwocky and save the kingdom.
If you think this sounds a lot less like "Alice in Wonderland" and a lot more like the next installment of the "Narnia" series, well, as Alice says several times in the film: "I'm afraid so." Frankly, I like Alice better in her little blue and white dress and not in battle armor carrying a sword and shield.
Yes, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are involved in the story, but not that much. However, the one thing that is missing completely from this version of "Alice" is fun. Burton has made a serious film, that, at times, is even a bit depressing. And the movie gets off to a dreadfully slow start, as the first 20-minutes: Alice's life prior to falling into the hole, are completely unnecessary.
Instead of the joy and wonder of the original stories (and Disney's own 1951 animated classic) we get fighting and arguing and sadness. When the most popular line in a film is "Off With His Head", you know it's not going to be a lot of fun.
On the plus side "Alice" is great to look at. The animated characters blend perfectly with the actors and the make-up and costumed design is fantastic. And some of the characters, such as the Cheshire Cat and Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar are quite likeable. But that's it.
"Alice in Wonderland" is rated PG, for the action-violence and the smoking. It's appropriate for kids 7 and up and they'll want to see it, but be ready for them to get bored in a hurry.
On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "Alice in Wonderland" only gets a D+, a HUGE disappointment. After over a year of promotion and incredible hype, I have to say that this is one tea party that you need to skip.
On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World" gets a B+. These concert
Write a comment
- Required fields are marked with *.
Posts: 5
Reply #2 on : Mon March 08, 2010, 17:48:18
Posts: 5
Reply #1 on : Sat March 06, 2010, 12:27:01
Celine: Through the Eyes of the World (NR) B+
"Michael Jackson's This Is It" was one of my favorite films of 2009. A new concert documentary, starring another pop icon, Celine Dion, is now in theaters.
"Celine: Through the Eyes of the World" follows Dion from start to finish of her 2008 World Tour. We get to see her experiences, good and bad, during a tour that takes her to 25 countries, 93 cities and 131 shows. Along the way she meets with some extraordinary people, including Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali, visits historic sites, including a Nazi concentration camp and spends a lot of time with her family and fans.
And, of course, she sings. The movie includes performances of most of her popular songs, but only a few of them from start to finish. Maybe that's because this is not just a "concert film" but a "tour film". The movie spends much more time showing us Dion off stage than on. And we get to know her husband and son as well. You really get to understand what life is like on the road of a concert tour. And you appreciate the struggles Dion goes through with a few illnesses during the tour that caused her to lose her voice, and cancel shows.
The directing and editing are excellent. The film crew shot over 800 hours of footage. Getting that down to a 2-hour film could not have been easy. There are some nice moments with Dion and her dancers and back-up singers, and we see her trying to be a normal mom, with young son, Rene.
I wasn't a Celine Dion fan heading into the movie. I don't think I could have named one of her songs. But I still enjoyed this movie a lot. And if you are a fan - this is a must-see.
"Celine" is not rated. It's appropriate for everyone. The close-up's of her vocal chords during a visit to her doctor are a little gross, but other than that there's nothing to worry about. Two things to know if you're planning on seeing the film: Ticket prices are a little steep ($15) and it's only showing for a limited time in select theaters around the country. But it's worth the $$$ and it's worth finding.
On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World" gets a B+. These concert documentaries are starting to become a new, favorite genre for me.
According to Dion, all the footage was originally intended to become a home movie for her family, but soon they realized that it could be much more than that. A very good decision.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians:The Lightning Thief (PG) C
Chris Columbus, the director of the first two “Harry Potter” films - the man who developed one of the biggest movie franchises of all-time - is back to see if he can make “lightning” strike twice.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is based on the first installment of the popular book series of the same name.
At the start of the film, Percy thinks he’s just a regular high school student, even though he can breathe underwater for long periods of time, he can read Greek writing and he hears a voice giving him advice.
But on a field trip to a museum, Percy learns that, not only isn’t he a normal teen, but he’s actually a “demigod” - his mother is human but his father is the Greek god Poseidon. Percy is accused by Zeus, the King of the gods, of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt…which he didn’t do. And so Percy and two friends (NOT named Ron and Hermione) go on an adventure, around the United States and to the underworld, to try to straighten out the situation and prevent Zeus from waging all-out war against his brothers Poseidon and Hades.
From the trailer I was expecting “Percy Jackson” to be much more exciting that it turns out to be. There’s much too much dialogue from the characters explaining the story, though the movie does supply you with a nice lesson on Greek mythology, even though that’s wasn’t something I was looking for on the first night of winter vacation.
Overall the performances are not that strong. Logan Lerman, who plays Percy, sounds and acts a lot like Zac Efron. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. The other young actors are pretty bland.
Pierce Brosnan, Catherine Keener and Uma Thurman are also in the cast. Thurman is way over the top as Medusa, but I guess when you’re playing a Greek goddess with dozens of snakes coming-out of your head, that’s o.k.
The effects in the film are very well done, but a lot of the action scenes reminded me of other fantasy-action movies, including “Narnia: Prince Caspian”, “The Mummy” and, of course, the “Harry Potter” movies. Plus, there’s more than a touch of “Star Wars” here as well.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is rated PG for typical action violence and some mild language. It’s appropriate for kids 8 and up, but you fans of the series will be disappointed that Percy is much older here than in the book, where he’s only 12.
On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, “Percy Jackson” only gets a C. It's the biggest disappointment of the year so far.
There are four more books and, therefore, four more “Percy Jackson” movies on the way if this one’s a financial hit, which I’m guessing it will be. But after seeing “Lightning Thief” I don’t think the “Percy” series will come close to the success of the “Harry Potter” films.
Extraordinary Measures (PG) B+
Hollywood heavyweights Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford are best known for their action roles. But in their latest film they get to show -off their dramatic acting skills.
"Extraordinary Measures" is based on the true story of the Crowley family, which includes two children who suffer from Pompe disease, which causes their muscles to weaken and their hearts, livers and other organs to grow larger than they should. We learn at the start of the film that kids with Pompe disease usually only live until they are 9 years old.
John Crowley, the children's father (played by Fraser), reads about a scientist who thinks he's coming close to finding a treatment for Pompe. Ford plays the scientist - Dr. Bob Stonehill. The two come together to try to come up with the breakthrough that will not only save John's kids, but others who have the disease.
"Extraordinary Measures" really worked on me emotionally. You get caught-up in the story and root for the scientists to come-up with the treatment and the kids to stay alive so they can get the treatment. The film has a great message about not giving up, even when things look bad.
Ford, Fraser and Keri Russell, who plays wife and mom Aileen Crowley, are all excellent. The kids are also very good, and the real John Crowley even has a cameo.
With the Winter Olympics right around the corner I'm reminded of that famous quote: "Do You Believe in Miracles?" Well, this story is a perfect example of what people can do when they DO believe in miracles. It's been awhile since I left a theater feeling this good.
"Extraordinary Measures" is rated PG for a few dramatic scene involving the sick kids and some adult language. It's a nice option for families who are tired of the blockbusters and comedies. Children 10 and up should be able to handle the subject matter and appreciate the story.
On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, “Extraordinary Measures” gets a B+. Very moving.
This is the first movie from CBS Films, the new division of the TV network. Congratulations to the studio for getting off to an "Extraordinary" start.
Write a comment