Reviews
Step Up
By Melanie DeWitt
Not just another movie in which the bad boy meets the good girl and falls in love, "Step Up" twists the genre in a different way, dancing its way into your heart. Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) is a bad boy from the wrong part of town. He spends his days with his friends going to school, playing pick up basketball games, and doing unlawful things. The later love interest "Nora" (Jenna Dewan) is a stand out dancer at the Maryland School of the Arts. Both of them feel pressure about how to live their lives (though they are in entirely different situations), and during the movie they discover common ground.
Future super stars: Jenna Dewan as "Nora" and Channing Tatum as "Tyler"
Tyler, Mac (Damaine Racliff), and Skinny (De'Shawn Washington) are the usual suspects up to no good. During a vandalism spree, Tyler takes the fall for his buddies. After being sentenced to community service he gets placed at the Maryland School of the Arts, the scene of his crime. He gets the less than spectacular job of being janitor in order to work off his service hours.
Through his time at the school he meets Nora and the movie begins its turns, twist, and spins. (Literally) Together the unlikely couple will learn some of life's most difficult and valuable lessons… most importantly, that in order to achieve your dreams, you have to work hard and lay everything on the line.
Drew Sidora gives a higly energetic and noteworthy performance as "Lucy" and Mario makes his feature film debut as "Miles." These two musical talents join forces not only on the big screen, but on the soundtrack as well.
The soundtrack is worth noting too with songs from some of today's hottest artists like Ciara, Kelis, Chris Brown, Samantha Jade, Young Joc, Sean Paul and two of the film's co-stars Drew Sidora and Mario. Like most dance movie soundtracks that have come before (think Dirty Dancing and Grease) the music is yet another element of this film that will make you a "Step Up" fanatic.
If you are looking for a movie to catch with a compelling story, excellent dancers, and a cast of up and coming stars check out "Step Up" at your local theaters.
Superman Returns
Superman Returns star Brandon Routh
Photo Provided by: ©2006 Warner Bros. All rights reserved
Superman Returns in Fine Form
by:
Stacy R Phay
It almost seems silly to do a review on the summer’s most anticipated film “Superman Returns,” seeing as you were probably going to see it whether critics told you it was good or not. But still, I am sure there are some things you’ve been wondering. So I am going to try to visit those things and let you guys make up your own mind on whether the movie is good or not.
Brandon Routh as Superman
Brandon’s performance is admirable. He has the daunting task of taking over a role that was held by one of the big screen’s most iconic stars, Christopher Reeve. And he does a great job. He has that hero quality. He captures Clark’s fumbling nerdy guy perfectly, and goes right into the Supes bravado with ease. And he looks pretty darn good in the costume!
Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor
Spacey is also admirable here. Where he could have gone way over the top and made Lex Luthor “I’m a crazy man, fear me,” he didn’t. He is fun to watch. However, being a nemesis to Superman, there is sadly only one actual encounter with Lex and the man of steel himself.
Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane
This is where I find a slight weakness. Kate does a fairly good job, but she is definitely the weakest of the bunch. That being said, Kate’s chemistry with both fiancé Richard (James Marsden) and “true love?” Superman play pretty well on screen, and she is convincing as a mom, surprisingly.
The Action
There is plenty of it. Planes, boats, land, water, everywhere imaginable there is action. The movie does a great job of keeping you on the edge of your seat. And none of it is frivolous. It all makes sense.
Again, I don’t need to tell you to go see this movie. You are going to anyway. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I did.
Stick It!
Stick It! stars Vanessa Lengies, Maddy Curley, Nikki Soohoo and Missy Peregrym
Photo Provided by: ©2006 KALTENBACH PICTURES GmbH & Co. All rights reserved
Stick It!
A Perfect 10 for the Whole Family
by:
Jeremy Stoa
Need a family movie with a good female role model? When this film starts, it seems that "Haley Graham" (played by Missy Peregrym) is not going to be the kind of role model that you would expect. In trouble with the law after a crazy stunt, she is given the option: gymnastics or a juvenile detention center. Funny how the easiest choices always end up to be the hardest. Obviously, since the movie is about gymnastics, you know the choice that is forced upon her.
Missy Peregrym as "Haley" and Jeff Bridges as "Burt Vickerman"
Photo Provided by: ©2006 KALTENBACH PICTURES GmbH & Co. All rights reserved
"Haley" finds herself at the Vickerman Gymnastics Academy under the watchful eye of Coach Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges). Not only does she clash with the coach, the teenager also finds herself at odds with other girls at the academy (played by Vanessa Lengies, Maddy Curley and Nikki Soohoo).
Coach Vickerman puys his students through the paces.
Photo Provided by: ©2006 KALTENBACH PICTURES GmbH & Co. All rights reserved
This is where the growing begins as Haley confronts what forced her away from gymnastics to begin with, realizes what she can do with her life, and becomes a role model for other girls to follow. I'm not going to give any plot away, but I highly recommend this movie for a date night in the manliest way possible. An athletic movie with humor (especially from Vanessa's character "Joanna") the plot and characters keep you interested until the end, which is different from the expected. "Stick It!" kept the action going, had a great story, and gave some insight into a sport that we may not always understand. A great cast and a great storyline make this a movie that should catch a niche audience and stick around for some time. (First time director, Jessica Bendinger who wrote "Bring It On" and "Stick It!" should be proud). Give it a chance and "Stick It" to the other spring movies. "Stick It!" hits theaters on April 28th near you.
Glory Road
"Glory Road:"
Scores Big in Every Area!
By
Susan J. Yeager
For someone who isn't all that interested in basketball, "Glory Road" won me over big time. How does that happen? Basically the cast and crew gets everything right.
They started by taking a very compelling and true story and condensing the highlights into a little less than two hour feature film. For us, the story begins in 1965 when High School girl's basketball coach Don Haskins is offered a job at Texas Western University. Haskins sees it as the opportunity of a lifetime; the university sees it as another parental unit in the dorms to try to keep the rowdy boys in line. Eyebrows are raised from the school's administration and benefactors when Haskins begins to actively recruit African American players for his team. Seeing talent and skill, not color… Haskins put together a team that has a potential for greatness.
The story then follows the trials and tribulations of the integrated team as they learn to play together (on and off the court) and how everyone involved navigates with not only playing the game but dealing with and breaking down prejudices between black and whites during that evolving time. Somewhere during all of this a lot of games are won and the team gets closer and closer to the 1966 NCAA championship game.
With uber-producer, Jerry Bruckheimer helming the production, the search was on to find actors who could play basketball (Al Shearer, Mechad Brooks, Derek Luke to name a few) and basketball players who could learn to act (Damiane Radcliff and Schin A.S. Kerr). They rounded out the cast with Josh Lucas to play the tough guy Haskins and Jon Voight to play rival coach, Adolph Rupp.
James Gartner had been approached several times by Bruckheimer to take the leap from his successful career creating and directing commercials to directing feature films but Gartner never found material that interested him until "Glory Road" came along. It was a big challenge for the Michigan based director to bring a story to life that is so well known to a lot of people but completely unknown to millions more. Overall, the film does a great job of conveying the level of emotion not only during the intense action on the court but the even more intense level of emotion during the racially charged action off the court.
This is a movie about a basketball team who played a very important part in sport's history. It's a given that sport's fans will find something to like about it. It's also a very important and moving look at how far we have come in race relations in the past forty years and yet serves as a slight reminder at how far we still have to go. It's the compelling, true drama that will draw praise from the not-so-sports fanatic audience. In terms of filmmaking, this picture is definitely a victory.
Bewitched
Be Warned . . . Be Ready . . . "Bewitched"
By: Bessie Sorge
If you are expecting to see the original "Bewitched," then you are in for a pleasant surprise. To take a quote from the film, "This isn't the old 'Bewitched,' it's rephrased." It is guaranteed to make you laugh and fall in love with the characters in this film. Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, The Hours) plays Isabel Bigelow, a witch who moves to the Valley to live a normal life - free of witchcraft and tricks - and wants to fall in love. Michael Caine (Alfie, The Cider House Rules) plays Nigel Bigelow, Isabel's father who is against her wanting to lead a normal life. Will Farrell (Anchorman, Old School) plays Jack Wyatt, a self-centered actor who just landed the role of "Darrin" in the remake of "Bewitched," but wants to be the only star of the TV series. Shirley MacLaine (The Matchmaker, Ocean's Eleven) plays Iris Smythson, a witch who was cast in the series as "Endora."
The story starts out with Isabel buying a house in California's San Fernando Valley, using her witchcraft. She goes shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond when her father appears to talk her into coming home. She tells him no and stresses that she wants a normal life free from witchcraft. They get to the cashier, but Isabel has no money to pay. "This will be my last trick," she says as she swipes a card through the machine.
Jack bumps into Isabel at a bookstore, and asks her to audition for the show. She hesitates at first, but when Jack says "I need you," she vulnerably agrees thinking that this could be her start towards a normal life. She auditions by twitching her nose, something that didn't come easily for Kidman. "I needed a mirror and I needed the slow-mo on the video in the VCR." Needless to say, she lands the role.
The film cleverly pokes fun at Hollywood. In a scene where Jack is discussing his contract with the casting directors, he makes numerous outrageous requests. One of the requests is that he receives cake every week. He has his own craft service table with his own cappuccino machine. Jack has a huge trailer, which sits next to Isabel's small shed-like trailer. How realistic are these requests, one might ask. "I've never really seen that," says Kidman, "They say that usually happens with people that are in fear."
What makes a good romantic comedy? "Great chemistry between the stars," says Delia Ephron, who, along with her sister, Nora Ephron, wrote "Bewitched." Kidman and Farrell definitely have that chemistry. The film goes on through the production of the show and we see these two characters hurdle over their obstacles and turn each other around.
You'll fall in love with "Bewitched" all over again. There is no better casting for Samantha. Kidman is enjoyable to watch. Farrell will keep you laughing. This comedy will reach audiences of all ages. "I was at a theatre in New York at a matinee," says Kidman, "and these girls come up to me and went 'We can't wait to see 'Bewitched.' It's really nice to have that generation of girls respond to you." So there you have it. Bewitched opened nationwide on June 24th.
Photos provided by: Columbia Pictures
Herbie: Fully Loaded
"Herbie" is action-packed and Fully Loaded
By: Bessie Sorge
Lindsey Lohan ("Freaky Friday," "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen"), stars in this film as Maggie Payton, a recent college graduate who is unsure of what to do with her life. She always dreamed of becoming a Nascar driver, but one thing stood in her way… her father, Ray Payton, (played by Michael Keaton -"First Daughter," "Mr. Mom"). Maggie's brother Ray Payton, Jr., played by Breckin Meyer ("Garfield: The Movie," "Kate & Leopold") is the driver of Team Payton, which their father runs.
Ray decides to get his daughter a car for her graduation gift. He takes her to a junkyard, where she finds a beaten up Volkswagen Bug. (*Film Note : According to director, Angela Robinson (D.E.B.S.), there were 37 VW Bugs used in the film.) The glove compartment falls open and a letter appears which reads "Please take care of Herbie." Maggie gets behind the wheel of her new Bug, but Herbie has a mind of its own. Herbie takes over and drives her to a local mechanic shop ran by Maggie's old friend, Kevin, (played by Justin Long - "Crossroads," "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story"). Kevin helps Maggie fix-up Herbie.
Herbie and Maggie are a lot alike; they both share a love and thrill for racing. When Maggie meets Trip Murphy, the champion Nascar driver, at a small car show, she is put to the test and goes against her father's will and races Trip. With the help of Herbie, she wins the race. Trip and Herbie instantly do not get along. The best scene in the movie is the fight scene between Trip and Herbie, where Herbie opens his door, hitting Trip's bum and knocking to the floor. Herbie was known for not always responding on cue. Long jokes, "I saw Matt Dillon talking to the car in between takes. Maybe getting into its head and kind of psyching it out."
Herbie had some great moments on screen, but the cast had the most fun making the film by playing pranks on Lohan, "They tortured me. We were shooting late one night and they shut the power off in my trailer. They put a vacuum on outside that sounded like a chainsaw and they were jumping on the trailer - shaking it. " Long recalls, "We were eating popcorn at a drive in theatre in Herbie, and the prop guy gave me this amazingly life-like rat, and I put it right under the top layer of popcorn. She just took it out and freaked out." Long enjoyed pulling pranks on Lohan because "she's so gullible."
The overall story of the film is that "if there is something you want to do, you should go for it, and not let anything stand in your way" says Lohan. For all you Nascar fans, there is a cameo appearance by Jeff Gordon, number 24. The film shot a lot of sequences at the Irwindale Speedway during a live Nascar Race. "Herbie: Fully Loaded" is a funny, action-packed and star-studded film. So buckle-up and get ready for the ride of your life. Herbie opens nationwide in theatres on June 22nd.
Photos Provided by: Walt Disney Pictures
“Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith”
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz (Yoda), Jimmy Smits, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker
Directed by: George Lucas
Twentieth Century Fox
Rated PG-13
Reviewed by: Stacy R. Phay
It took me a week to process all that I saw in the preview screening of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.” And still I do not know where to begin in my review. What I do know is that I am going to keep this review short and to the point so go ahead and keep reading…there are no spoilers to worry about!
As a Star Wars fan from the early days, I feel that George Lucas gave me what I was for. A damn cool film with nearly all questions answered and a clear transition into the original trilogy. As a regular film reviewer, my brain is still out of whack from seeing all there was to see on screen, man it was pretty, but wow was I tired when I left that theater!
For those of you who are fans I give you this bit of advice: this film was made for you. For those of you just going to the theater to see what all the hype is all about, don’t say you weren’t warned. This is not for the casual Star Wars watcher. There are long moments of dialog that bring all of us junkie’s into the loop on what has been going on since we last left our Jedi friends. There are little nuances, characters and visuals thrown in for those of us who will know what we’re looking at. The non-educated Star Wars geeks will not be bored by any means, but they may leave the theater wondering “why were all those people cheering when…?”
Episode III is a good film, packed with excitement, epic battles and tragedy all over the place. There is so much to take in that it really needs more than one viewing. It is beautifully shot, the acting has greatly improved (although the dialog still needs a lot of work) and there are some nice comic moments at just the right times. The movie has the ending we were all expecting and it did exactly what it needed to do.
“Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith” opens May 19 nationwide.
As the Academy Awards approach EnterTeenment News takes a look at some of the films that are being touted for the big awards.
Last year Oscar night was dominated (and rightly so) by Hobbits, Wizards and special effects. It is somewhat of a rarity to see a film like "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" so highly rewarded. Fantasy, action and science fiction are not often recognized by the members of the Academy. This year Oscar returns to normal, with not one action oriented film being mentioned for any of the top awards. Oscar rewards films about life experience, films with heart and soul, high drama and exciting adventure. The four films below belong in each of these categories.
The Heart and The Soul
"Finding Neverland" and "In Good Company"
The Heart
"Finding Neverland" is based on true life events that occurred many many moons ago when author J.M. Barrie, most known for his stage plays, meets and is inspired by a family whose lives have been disrupted by death and sickness. Johnny Depp plays Barrie, a high-class man who is faced with coming up with a great story for a stage play after his most recent one failed to please both the stuffy English audience and the manager of the playhouse (played by Dustin Hoffman). Barrie spends a lot of his time writing in a park near his home, bringing his big fluffy dog along with his pen and notebook. On one particular day Barrie happens upon three boys playing in the park. They are fascinated by the big fluffy dog and soon by Barrie himself who plays with them and becomes their partner in acting out fantastic tales (dreamt up by his mind, played out by the family). Barrie writes about his time with the boys and it soon becomes the now famous "Peter Pan."
The heart of this film is the relationship between Barrie and Peter, middle child of the family and a boy who is not dealing with the death of his father very well. Barrie spends a lot of time trying to teach Peter how to imagine, and how to write. He soon begins to spend more time with the family than with his own wife, but his adventures with them turns his life into something with more meaning than he could ever imagine.
Johnny Depp continues to be the most underrated actor with a heart felt portrayal of a man who risks everything to tell his story and help this family who is in desperate need. Kate Winslet is wonderful, as usual, as the boys' mother.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be entranced.
The Soul
"In Good Company" is the story of a man whose life is about as comfortable as one can get. He's an early-fifties father of two and head of the sales team at an advertising agency. His life is soon turned upside down when his company is bought out by a high powered corporation and his perfect life becomes more of a nightmare than a dream. The first in a series of stressful events occurs when Dan is embarrassingly demoted - his new boss Carter, played by "That 70's Show" alum Topher Grace - turns out to be exactly half his age. Then comes news that his wife is pregnant with their third child. Not wanting to put his job and family in jeopardy, Dan tries to make the best of his new work situation. Carter, however, is a man who isn't sure what he really wants, and his life has taken a turn for the worse as well. Just as he is promoted to head of the advertising department his wife breaks the news - she wants a divorce. Carter, feeling lonely and confused, somehow gets himself invited to dinner with Dan's family. Where he meets Dan's oldest daughter Alex (played by Scarlett Johannson). The two hit it off immediately, thus causing more drama in Dan's life. When Alex breaks the news that she wants to move to the city (New York) and attend NYU Dan is thrown for yet another loop. Wanting the best for his daughter, he agrees to send her to NYU.
Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace have great onscreen chemistry. Quaid brings a special touch to Dan, a man who is just trying to hold his life together. Grace is charming and sweet in the role as a "kid" who is taking on his first major role in the corporate world.
"In Good Company" is a sweet story about two men who are in very different places in their lives who end up having influences on each other. There are no car crashes, no chases, nothing blows up, it is just a nice story about life and how to deal with whatever comes your way.
"Spider-Man 2" Believe the Hype
by Stacy R. Phay
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco, Rosemary
Harris, J.K. Simmons, Vanessa Ferlito, Dylan Walsh
Directed by Sam Raimi
Columbia Pictures, Rated PG-13. Opens nationwide June 30
Sequels are always under the most pressure. Will the second live up to
the first? "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is the exception, as we know, where each film is more anticipated than the first and the triple threat is the best set of films we've seen in a really long time. "The Matrix" tried, and failed, though not at the box office. So what is one to do when you have a great character a set of actors who are willing to return and a studio that is behind you 100%? You take your chances.
Well, I'm here to tell you, the chance paid off. "Spider-Man 2" is well worth the hype.
The second in the series of what could be many films brings forth the question - what does is take to be a hero? For Peter Parker, as we saw at the end of the first film, it was giving up his one true love and keeping his secret from his family and friends. In "Spider-Man 2" Peter is learning to live with what that sacrifice means. Mary Jane Watson, Pete's long time love, has moved on, become an actor and found a new man. His friend Harry has taken over for Oscorp after his father's death. Peter is struggling to work 2 jobs and attend college while saving New York from the bad guys. And it just isn't working well for him. He's fired from a pizza delivery gig, he's falling behind in his classes, and he's alienating his friends and loved ones. His landlord is consistently asking for rent, his editor is hounding him for pictures of Spider-Man and his beloved Aunt May is still saddened by the loss of her husband.
Where this could all become dark and dramatic the Spidey team takes the other route. It's actually fun watching Pete struggle. Not in a point and laugh way, but in a "my goodness, what else could go wrong?" way. Peter is losing grip on everything in his life and we're watching it unravel and all the while we're chuckling, because although we can't fly through the air or shoot webs from our wrists, we can relate.
Things really hit the fan when Peter's idol, Dr. Otto Octavius, a scientist who is experimenting with fusion, has a demonstration go wrong, causing AI controlled tenticles to attach to his body turning him from the highly intelligent Dr. Octavius into the highly dangerous "Doc Ock." Ock becomes Spider-Man's nemesis and their fight scenes are out of control. I can't tell you how many times I shook my head in disbelief.
Again, where out of this world special effects and a hero vs villian story could have taken over the film, it didn't. The story remained focused on Peter Parker's growing struggle to be the hero he thinks he needs to be.
One of the greatest things about this movie is that is explores the "what is a hero" questions over and over. As Peter continues to lose his grip on the world around him the one thing he thought he knew how to be starts to unravel as well. His begins losing his powers. And one day he decides he's done. He's going to be Peter Parker and no one else. And again you are drawn into what that decision means. Sirens blare and Pete watches as cop cars whiz by. He does not follow. He finally has his life. College student, friend and nephew. But can he live without being Spider-Man?
The answer is no. And it is his Aunt May who helps him figure that out. For the rest of the film we are given the pleasure of seeing Peter and the people around him find out what we already know - he is Spider-Man.
Don't think that I'm going to wax on about the emotional story and not cover the rest. The special effects are on fire. Doc Ock and his multi-tenticles never once look cheesy, and the fighting between Ock and Spidey is phenomenal. Even Aunt May gets to get in on the action, after being taken by Doc Ock during a bank heist. Harry's continuing hatred for Spider-Man is constantly clouding his judgement and it almost gets his friends killed, when Peter is challanged by Ock to find Spider-Man and he takes Mary Jane as a sort of ransom.
"Spider-Man 2" is packed full of everything that makes a film a summer blockbuster with much more than just bells and whistles. It's a drama, it's a comedy, it's a love story and it's a comic-book hero action movie all rolled into one.
“White Chicks” Rules!
by Melanie DeWitt
Did you like Scary Movie 3? The Wayans Brothers TV show? If you did, Revolution Studios comedy “White Chicks” is the kind of movie you want to see. “White Chicks” was written, directed, and produced by members of the Wayans family, which means the movie is funny.
The movie stars Shawn and Marlon Wayans as brothers in the FBI, who seem to find trouble very easily. They are given the assignment of escorting two young socialites (think Paris and Nikki Hilton) to the Hamptons, and even screw up that assignment. So the fun starts as the Wayan brothers become the Wilson sisters, and deal with the problems any black man dressed as a white chick would have with friends, love interests and a wife.
Even with all the humor, it still has a message that men could understand their women better if they walked a mile in their shoes, or wore their clothes. So girls, take your guys, and guys go because it’s funny. Check out “White Chicks” at your local theater!
"Saved!"
by Stacy R. Phay
Mandy Moore, Jena Malone, Macaulay Culkin, Heather Matarazzo and Patrick Fugit star in this tale of teens dealing with the ever changing bonds of friendship, the pressures of fitting in, and the overwhelming task living as "good Christians."
The Outcasts: Jenna Malone, Eva Amurri and Macaulay Culkin (United Artists)
Jena Malone plays Mary, a senior at American Eagle Christian High whose life is about to be turned upside down. Mandy Moore plays Hilary Faye. She's what they call a "Jesus Freak" and she's very proud of it. She's also the leader of the Christian Jewels, the "popular girl" clique, in which Mary is a member, for the time being anyway. After some confusion over a message she thinks she got from Jesus, Mary ends up pregnant and deemed an outcast. And that's when things begin to unravel. Until she is befriended by the other misfits of the school, Hilary Faye's wheelchair-bound brother Roland (Culkin), the principal's skateboarder son Patrick (Fugit) and the lone Jewish girl at the all Christian school, Cassandra, the ultimate in rebels, played to perfection by newcomer Eva Amurri. Mary learns a lot about herself, the loyalty of friends and the true meaning of faith.
With the storyline carrying so much weight in the areas of teen pregnancy and religion, "Saved!" does a great job of not over-stating the message. There's still the same peer pressure, popularity contests, love and loss that are present in any other film of this genre. But this film takes a more lighthearted look at everyday life with a religious background.
The Christian Jewels: Mandy Moore, Heather Matarazzo and Elizabeth Thai (United Artists)
The cast does a phenomenal job of bringing their characters to life. Malone's portrayal of Mary and her slowly cracking belief system was perfection and Mandy Moore's performance as Hilary Faye is heavenly. She portrays the overzealous "Jesus Freak" with an intensity that never mocks, only pays tribute to, those have strong religious beliefs. But it is her quest to be everyone's savior that will leave you with a slight sadness. It's like the most popular girl who has everything but still isn't satisfied. Hilary Faye spends the entire movie trying to convert the school's only Jewish student into a Christian. Heather Mazaratto gives another stellar performance as a wannabe Christian Jewel who finally gets her wish when Mary is ousted and Macaulay Culkin's portrayal of Roland is never stereotypical.
"Saved!" will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you remember your beliefs, whatever they may be.
Opens May 28
United Artists
Cast: Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit, Heather Matarazzo, Mary Louise Parker, Eva Amurri, Martin Donovan and Chad Faust
Directed by: Brian Dannelly
Written by: Brian Dannelly & Michael Urban
"Mean Girls"
by Stacy R. Phay
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is entering public school for the first time. Being raised in the African bush country, she thinks she has a pretty good grasp on the nature of things. What she finds is that she may know a lot about how animals survive in the jungle, but she knows nothing about how to survive the trenches of high school.
"Mean Girls" is an unsettling look into the everyday issues girls have to go through to survive. Starting on her first day when she meets Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese), two characters who have decided that fitting in is not really that important. They try to guide Cady in the right direction, keeping her away of what they call "the Plastics," a trio of popular girls who are described as a mix between Queen Bees and Barbies. Somehow though, the Queen Bee of them all, Regina George (Rachel McAdams) takes an interest in new girl Cady and decides to make her one of them. This sparks a plan between Janis, Damian and Cady to infiltrate and take down the Plastics reign on their school.
The other Plasitcs are Gretchen Weiners, whose father was the inventor of Toaster Strudels, a rich girl follower who is not shy in letting everyone know who her father is. She's also very concerned with keeping on Regina's good side and has many panic attacks worrying about whether or not her "friend" is mad at her. Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried) is the dumb one, and doesn't really mind that moniker at all. She's a part of the Plastics just because she can be.
In the midst of living the double life of trying to befriend and betray Regina and her clones, Cady falls for Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett). Causing even more tension within the clique, since Aaron and Regina have only recently broken up. This being her first high school crush, the 15-year-old doesn't quite know what to do when Regina promises to talk to Aaron for her, and then manages to snag him back for herself. The plan to take down Regina and the Plastics becomes even more important to Cady and she begins to transform herself into one of them, thus alienating her friends and managing to jeopardize any chance of gaining Aaron's affections.
This film about what it's like to be a teenaged girl in the modern world is well put together, with the students voices being much more natural than your typical teen speak. It is nice to see that the popular jock love interest is also a smart guy who Cady manages to impress with her math prowess, not her ability to apply make-up without a mirror. It is also refreshing that the teachers do not have all the answers. Though the movie is wrapped up nicely in the end, things are not forced and lessons learned are not thrown in for that teen audience movie feel.
"Mean Girls" is based on the best-selling book "Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence" which Time praised as "a chilling account of the life our girls navigate in their school lunchrooms and hallways." Though screenwriter Tina Fey ("Saturday Night Live") decided to make the film a comedy, the events in the film read a lot like real-life and not like fictional musings of an outsider.
Opens April 30
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Tim Meadow, Ana Gasteyer and Amy Poehler
Screenplay by: Tina Fey
Directed by: Mark Waters
Paramount Pictures, Rated PG-13
"13 Going on 30"
by Amy Robinson
As an awkward adolescent, Jenna (newcomer Christa B. Allen) longs to be part
of the "six chicks" -- the popular clique at her school -- much to her best
friend Matt's dismay. In an effort to win over the girls, she invites them
to her 13th birthday party. They come...but only after Jenna agrees to do a
homework project for them.
Following a disastrous game of "Seven Minutes in Heaven," young Jenna makes
a desperate wish to become "thirty, flirty and thriving." With the help of
some magic wishing dust, it comes true.
When Jenna (Jennifer Garner) wakes up the next morning, she's no longer 13;
she's now on the verge of 30. As she tries to figure out who she is and what
has happened to her in the 17 years missing from her memory, she discovers
that she's a ruthless editor at a struggling fashion magazine with a famous
boyfriend and plenty of shallow friends. She's also not very nice.
Trying desperately to reconnect with her one-time best friend Matt (Mark
Ruffalo) -- they had a falling out in high school -- she reverts to her
kinder, more innocent childhood persona, which doesn't sit well with some of
her adult pals, particularly best bud Lucy (Judy Greer), though it does find
her new friends that the old Jenna completely ignored.
As the star, Garner is great. In a vast departure from her "Alias" role, she
displays her ample comedic talent, which has previously gone relatively
unexplored.
Her youthful features also fit the role of child-trapped-in-adult-body well,
and her exuberance is contagious. Though the film is overly sappy in some
parts, it's impossible not to smile while watching her performance.
The supporting cast, especially Ruffalo and Greer, does well, but, let's
face it; this movie is all about Jennifer Garner. From her hilarious
introductory scene, where she struggles to come to grips with her situation,
to the final scene, which is sappy but sweet nonetheless, Garner owns this
movie.
Opens April 23
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, Kethy Baker
Directed by: Gary Winick
Columbia Pictures, Rated PG-13
Mean Girls (Paramount)
"Mean Girls"
by Stacy R. Phay
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is entering public school for the first time. Being raised in the African bush country, she thinks she has a pretty good grasp on the nature of things. What she finds is that she may know a lot about how animals survive in the jungle, but she knows nothing about how to survive the trenches of high school.
"Mean Girls" is an unsettling look into the everyday issues girls have to go through to survive. Starting on her first day when she meets Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese), two characters who have decided that fitting in is not really that important. They try to guide Cady in the right direction, keeping her away of what they call "the Plastics," a trio of popular girls who are described as a mix between Queen Bees and Barbies. Somehow though, the Queen Bee of them all, Regina George (Rachel McAdams) takes an interest in new girl Cady and decides to make her one of them. This sparks a plan between Janis, Damian and Cady to infiltrate and take down the Plastics reign on their school.
The other Plasitcs are Gretchen Weiners, whose father was the inventor of Toaster Strudels, a rich girl follower who is not shy in letting everyone know who her father is. She's also very concerned with keeping on Regina's good side and has many panic attacks worrying about whether or not her "friend" is mad at her. Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried) is the dumb one, and doesn't really mind that moniker at all. She's a part of the Plastics just because she can be.
In the midst of living the double life of trying to befriend and betray Regina and her clones, Cady falls for Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett). Causing even more tension within the clique, since Aaron and Regina have only recently broken up. This being her first high school crush, the 15-year-old doesn't quite know what to do when Regina promises to talk to Aaron for her, and then manages to snag him back for herself. The plan to take down Regina and the Plastics becomes even more important to Cady and she begins to transform herself into one of them, thus alienating her friends and managing to jeopardize any chance of gaining Aaron's affections.
This film about what it's like to be a teenaged girl in the modern world is well put together, with the students voices being much more natural than your typical teen speak. It is nice to see that the popular jock love interest is also a smart guy who Cady manages to impress with her math prowess, not her ability to apply make-up without a mirror. It is also refreshing that the teachers do not have all the answers. Though the movie is wrapped up nicely in the end, things are not forced and lessons learned are not thrown in for that teen audience movie feel.
"Mean Girls" is based on the best-selling book "Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence" which Time praised as "a chilling account of the life our girls navigate in their school lunchrooms and hallways." Though screenwriter Tina Fey ("Saturday Night Live") decided to make the film a comedy, the events in the film read a lot like real-life and not like fictional musings of an outsider.
Opens April 30
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Tim Meadow, Ana Gasteyer and Amy Poehler
Screenplay by: Tina Fey
Directed by: Mark Waters
Paramount Pictures, Rated PG-13
"13 Going on 30"
by Amy Robinson
As an awkward adolescent, Jenna (newcomer Christa B. Allen) longs to be part
of the "six chicks" -- the popular clique at her school -- much to her best
friend Matt's dismay. In an effort to win over the girls, she invites them
to her 13th birthday party. They come...but only after Jenna agrees to do a
homework project for them.
Following a disastrous game of "Seven Minutes in Heaven," young Jenna makes
a desperate wish to become "thirty, flirty and thriving." With the help of
some magic wishing dust, it comes true.
When Jenna (Jennifer Garner) wakes up the next morning, she's no longer 13;
she's now on the verge of 30. As she tries to figure out who she is and what
has happened to her in the 17 years missing from her memory, she discovers
that she's a ruthless editor at a struggling fashion magazine with a famous
boyfriend and plenty of shallow friends. She's also not very nice.
Trying desperately to reconnect with her one-time best friend Matt (Mark
Ruffalo) -- they had a falling out in high school -- she reverts to her
kinder, more innocent childhood persona, which doesn't sit well with some of
her adult pals, particularly best bud Lucy (Judy Greer), though it does find
her new friends that the old Jenna completely ignored.
As the star, Garner is great. In a vast departure from her "Alias" role, she
displays her ample comedic talent, which has previously gone relatively
unexplored.
Her youthful features also fit the role of child-trapped-in-adult-body well,
and her exuberance is contagious. Though the film is overly sappy in some
parts, it's impossible not to smile while watching her performance.
The supporting cast, especially Ruffalo and Greer, does well, but, let's
face it; this movie is all about Jennifer Garner. From her hilarious
introductory scene, where she struggles to come to grips with her situation,
to the final scene, which is sappy but sweet nonetheless, Garner owns this
movie.
The Perfect Score (Paramount)
A brain, a jock, a misfit…wait this isn't "The Breakfast Club?" No but close. "The Perfect Score" takes the same formula and sets it in a different arena. Stealing SAT answers replaces rebelling against the school principle holding the "Brat Pack" in their high school library. Kyle (newcomer Chris Evans) has a dream. Cornell University. What's standing in his way? The SATs. A standardized test that every major college puts a whole lot of stock in when picking their college attendees. For the group of high schoolers in "The Perfect Score" the SATs mean everything. The jock, played by NBA player Darius Miles, needs a good score to go to St. Johns in order to play on their team. The misfit, played by Bryan Greenberg, is hoping to reunite with his girl whose already attending the University of Maryland. The brain, played by Erika Christensen, is a 4.0 student who is not good at taking tests, worrying more about her parents need for her to attend Brown University. The druggie, played by Leonard Nam, is accidentally pulled in when he overhears the plan, and the anti-establishment Web designer, played by Scarlett Johansson, is the only one who can help them pull it all off, being that her father owns the company where the answers are held.
"The Perfect Score" takes a fun look at what lengths teens will go to in order to impress their friends, family and potential colleges. There's romance, action and comedy. Chris Evans, who made his motion picture debut with "Not Another Teen Movie," makes a great leader and Scarlett Johansson takes on a role that is much different than the ones she played in "Lost in Translation" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring." This is an all around fun film that never takes itself too seriously, while reminding us that sometimes it's better to be different.
Chasing Liberty (Warner Bros.)
How did Mandy Moore get to be so lucky? First, she got to hook up with Hollywood hottie Shane West in her first major movie "A Walk to Remember." Then, she scored in real life, landing tennis ace Andy Roddick. Now, she gets to star alongside British babe Matthew Goode in her latest movie "Chasing Liberty."
In it, she's First Daughter Anna Foster, and she's sick and tired of the army of Secret Service agents who follow her every move. When they ruin her first date with a major crush, that's the last straw. She demands her freedom, and she sees the opportunity for it in an upcoming summit in Prague. There she plans on attending a concert with Gabrielle, an old French friend.
She and Dad strike a deal: only two agents will accompany her to the concert. However, when he sees how Gabrielle has grown up, he changes his mind and sends several more agents along. Anna sees them and, with Gabrielle's help, manages to escape. She hooks up with a hot photographer to make her getaway, little knowing that the photographer is actually Ben Calder, a British undercover agent hired by her father to protect her.
From Prague, Anna and Ben go on adventures in Venice and Berlin. As their trip progresses, the two begin to fall in love, though they refuse to admit it to themselves. Of course, the truth eventually has to come out, and when Anna discovers Ben's true profession, she is furious at him, leaving the question "Will their relationship be able to survive this?"
Moore and Goode truly make this movie. They are so great together that it's like watching any couple (well, aside from the whole First Daughter/Secret Service agent thing) fall in love for the first time.
Moore is very natural as an actress, and she comes across as the wholesome girl next door. Both on screen and off, she is so unpretentious that she seems like she could be your best friend, so it's fun to watch her adventure unfold. And Goode is a fresh new face who has yet to be tainted by tabloids and such, so he too is very easy to imagine as a real-life regular guy. Odds are, you'll find yourself falling for him just like Anna.
"Chasing Liberty" is a great romantic comedy for teens. However, it is rated PG-13 for some mild language, brief nudity and slight sexual content, so it probably isn't best for younger Moore fans.
"Finding Nemo" DVD is a Great Catch
By Amy Robinson
"Finding Nemo" was one of the biggest hits of 2003. This tale of an overprotective father's mission to find his captured son even beat out "The Lion King" to become the top-grossing animated film of all time. It captivated viewers everywhere and introduced them to a wide variety of quirky characters, including Dory the memory-challenged blue tang fish, Crush and Squirt the surfer-dude sea turtles, an eclectic group of aquarium-dwelling fish bent on escape, and, of course, the young clownfish Nemo and his father Marlin.
If you loved this charming movie in the theater, then be sure to check out the Collector's Edition DVD. The two-disc set features both the widescreen and full frame versions of the movie, so you can choose how you want to watch it. It's also packed full of nifty extra features that are just as much fun as the movie.
First, there's the short film "Knick Knack," which was shown prior to "Nemo" in theaters. In it, a poor snowman does his best to escape his icy snowglobe so that he can join the sun-bathing beauties residing in knick knacks just a few feet away. Though this bit is only a few minutes long, it's still a lot of fun to watch.
Other features include deleted scenes and recording sessions, filmmaker commentary, a tour of the Pixar Animation Studio and an exploration of sea reefs with underwater Jean-Michael Cousteau and "Nemo" characters. There's also "Learning Fun with Mr. Ray's Encyclopedia," where you can learn about the different aquatic animals featured in the film, and "Storytime" where you can read or have read to you a story about Nemo's day at school.
In addition, you can turn your TV into a virtual aquarium with animated scenes from the movie, complete with film characters swimming around your screen. Plus, you can even interact with some fish if you choose. The DVD lets you play "Fisharades" with the school of fish, who in the
