Last year it seemed that Hollywood was taking a short break from adaptations of toys, video games, comic books, and TV shows when two films were announced that would be live-action versions of classic fairy tales. Well, actually both would be based the same tale ” Snow White and the Seven Dwarves ” by the Brothers Grimm. The entertainment news magazines, blogs, and TV programs were all a flutter. Remember the dueling big asteroid and volcano movies from a decade ago! Would the movie-going public be interested in two versions of that raven-haired heroine? And more importantly, who would make it to the multiplex first?  Slowly photos and trailers hit the internet and it became clear that the films were quite different in tone. The darker, action-heavy SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN would fit better, perhaps, amid the big, blockbuster thrill-rides of the Summer. Spring was deemed a better time for a more lighter, irreverent, frothy retelling and so MIRROR, MIRROR is the first to hit the screens. Will this Snowy be the fairest flick of the two?

Most of us are pretty familiar with the basic story thanks to Disney’s ground-breaking first animated feature film. The MIRROR team has re-worked the plot and added bits and pieces from other fables and fairy stories. As it begins, the wicked stepmother queen herself ( Julia Roberts ) brings us up to speed with a prologue acted out by shiny porcelain puppets ( CGI, no doubt ). After the King disappeared into the dark forest many years ago, she’s ruled the kingdom ( plunging it into a constant dreary winter ) and kept lovely Snow White ( Lilly Collins ) locked away in the castle. The queen’s running out of funds and may have to marry the frumpy, older, much richer Baron ( Michael Lerner ). The villagers of the kingdom are almost taxed to starvation (shades of Robin Hood ). But then she meets the handsome Prince Alcott ( Armie Hammer ) after he and his valet are robbed by a pack of seven ( ! ) bandits in the nearby woods. Her plans go askew when he meets… guess who at the big animal-themed costume ball ( a bit of Cinderella there ). Banishment, deception, sorcery, reunions, and new friendships occur as the film hurtles towards several big reveals and the ( hopefully! ) happy ending.

This marks the fourth film of director Tarsem Singh ( he made THE IMMORTALS last year ). He gives us many of the same visual tricks ( slow and fast motion, extreme color palettes, wire-work acrobatics, rapid cutting ), but doesn’t have a light touch that this material demands. There’s no THE PRINCESS BRIDE subtlety on display here. There are opulent palace sets, outrageous over the top gowns ( hey Costume Design Oscar nominators! ), and an overly busy Allan Menkin score to capitalize every wink and grimace. And Singh seems to just be moving the cast like chess pieces ( as the queen does in an early scene ) toward the big action set-ups. Julia Robert’s drag-queen villainy and vanity, perhaps a riff on Tallulah Bankhead ( Google her kids! ), quickly becomes tedious. She’s also the mirror reflection/ witch who stares blankly, wears all white, delivers cryptic warnings, and sends killer marionettes ( huh? ) after the heroes. Collins’s Snow is a fairly vacant princess who looks lovely ( even with Peter Gallagher eyebrows ), but tends to be overshadowed in many scenes. She finally gets a bit more interesting after meeting the dwarves and gets a training montage ( surprised I didn’t hear ” Eye of the Tiger’! ) and a makeover ( ?! ) by the metro sexual member of the gang. Speaking of the seven, they’re played by actual diminutive actors ( as opposed to being “hobbit-ized” ) and are not the jewel-miners from the 37′ classic. After taking off their accordian-legs ( really !) we find that each has a name reflective of a trait or habit ( ” Grub ” loves to eat! ” Chuck” likes to laugh or chuckle! Sooo cuuute! And clever! ). One’s got a little crush on Snow and comes off a tad creepy. Hammer is pretty and prince-ly as Alcott ( should make the ladies’ hearts flutter ), but is too pompous and comes off as a teasing older brother in scenes with ” kid sister ” Snow. There’s very few sparks between the two. The very talented Nathan Lane is wasted as the queen’s put-upon aide who looks fearful as he scurries about ( literally after getting hexed! ) and peppers his royal compliments with a sarcastic snark. I was delighted to see a couple of great screen vets. Lerner get delightfully frustrated in his pursuit of the queen, while former ” brat packer” Mare Winningham as the head of castle cleaning and kitchens tries to nurture Snow while placating the queen. Most of the sets are imaginative except for the overused white-blanketed forest. Even in bare feet nobody seems cold there. The very small kiddies may find this amusing, but the pacing and tiresome attempts at wit should have the elders glancing at the time. For a wise cracking jab at story books I’ll take the first SHREK or PRINCESS BRIDE over this ( and I’ll take Jay Ward’s still fresh and hilarious ” Fractured Fairy Tales” from TV’s “The Bullwinkle Show” over all of them). I hope Charlize, Bella Swan, and Thor have a better flick with their take on this timeless tale in a few months.

Overall Rating : 1.5 Out of 5 Stars

Well, those sneaky Hollywood studios are trying to mess with the calendar once again! Or to be more specific, the start of the seasons. For several decades they’ve wheeled out their big budget, youth-oriented tentpole/ franchise blockbusters at the start of Summer ( although a few of these sneak between Thanksgiving and Christmas ). Summer movie time had started with Memorial day weekend , but slowly it has crept up to the first weekend in May ( hey the school year’s not over yet! ). Well now it looks like Lionsgate may be trying to stretch things into Spring ( or Spring break ). And what better way to test these still a bit chilly waters than adapting a popular Young Adult ( YA ) novel. After all, Harry Potter waved his wand for the last time this past year and another YA series ( which I’ll discuss later ) is sending out its last flick in a few months. And so the first of author Suzanne Collins’s trilogy, THE HUNGER GAMES directed by Gary Ross, opens everywhere ( nearly ) today. Is this the start of another money-making movie machine that will fill up multiplexes in the future?

Speaking of the future, the film is set in a near distant one. The story focuses in on Panem, a totalitarian society built up on the ashes of a postapocalyptic North America. It’s composed of 12 very poor districts governed over by the glitzy, opulent Capitol. After a failed rebellion many years ago, the Capitol established the Hunger Games as punishment to these districts ( and entertainment for the swells ). At a ceremony called the Reaping a teenage boy and girl ( 12 to 18 years old )are chosen from each of the districts to compete in a televised battle to the death. The sole winner. besides surviving, is awarded ” untold riches “.  In the impoverished District 12 lives Katniss Everdeen ( Jennifer Lawrence ) who runs the house she shares with her shy, skittish kid sister Prim and her emotionally shattered mother ( father was killed in the mines-the district’s main industry ). Times are tough, so Katniss climbs through the surrounding fences into the forest preserve where she hunts with her trusty bow and arrow. She’s often joined by her childhood pal Gale ( Liam Hemsworth ), who longs to escape the tyrannical government. Back home Prim is filled with worry that she’ll be picked for the upcoming games ( having just reached the proper age ). Sure enough when Capitol rep Effie Trinket arrives for the Reaping, she draws Prim’s name. As the Safety Patrol drags the hysterical girl away, Katniss steps forward and volunteers to take her sister’s place. She’s accepted and Prim is spared. A boy’s name is also drawn. It is Peeta Mellark ( Josh Hutcherson ) the baker’s son and an acquaintance of Katniss. The two are soon whisked away via a high-speed train to the Capitol and made ready to compete in the 74th Hunger Games. ” Games ” with the highest stakes imaginable-win or die!

One of the film’s great strengths is its futuristic look which is striking after the bleak opening scenes in District 12. The place looks like a Depression ravaged podunk ( shades of COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER! ) with its grey looking clothes and homes. But with the arrival of Effie we get a taste of the ultra-modern Capitol styles. The well-to-do folks wear bright neon 40′s and 50′s retro creations. The men and women favor extensive, detailed face makeup and their punk hairstyles are dyed in fluorescent colors ( Effie herself almost looks like a kabuki actor ). The gleaming Capitol domes and skyscrapers would not look out-of-place in LOGAN’S RUN. This is a future that looks great in the main city, but is really an oppressive 1984/ BLADE RUNNER nightmare. Many are comparing GAMES to the 2000 Asian thriller BATTLE ROYALE ( but no firepower here-it’s blades, spears, and arrows! ), while I was reminded of the campy Arnold classic THE RUNNING MAN and even back to WESTWORLD ( in the almost all white GAMES TV control center ). Hopefully the art direction team will get some recognition in the next award season.

Another of the film’s strengths is its large diverse cast. For the adult roles, it’s great to see Wes Bentley back in a high-profile blockbuster, although he’s saddled with some unsubtle, ‘El Diablo’ facial hair as Crane the Gamesmaster. I wanted to know a bit more about the stylist, Cinna played with great warmth ( and a lot of cool ) by Lenny Kravitz. Stanley Tucci  rocked some great blue hair and a huge set of choppers as the Games commentator/ interviewer, but seems to stuck in smarmy, condescending mode. We’re treated to way too few scenes of screen vet Donald Sutherland as the conniving, scheming President Snow. He projects an image of a kindly grandpa’ on TV while he plots and finangle ( almost like Nixon or Emporer Palpatine ) in his lush garden with Crane. Elizabeth Banks get to flit about as Effie while modeling many unflattering outfits and makeups ( the lovely Banks usually pops off the screen ). The most interesting of the screen pros may be Woody Harrelson as mentor, coach, and former Games champ Haymitch Abernathy. With his mop of stringy long hair ( like a blond Shemp Howard ), he spends most of his screen time boozing it up, calling Katniss ” sweetheart “, and acting as her fairy godfather. Could it be the horror he witnessed ( and perhaps committed ) during his competition that has him self-medicating?

Most of the young actors portray the other district’s Game players. Many are grimacing, growling villains like a well armed version of MEAN GIRLS’s Plastiques and THE KARATE KID’s blond rivals ( including a second generation star- Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid’s son Jack as “Marvel” ). Amanda Stenberg is affecting as the sweet, pint-sized Rue. But, let’s face it, this is the story of Katniss and Lawrence commands the screen as a terrific teen heroine ( as opposed to that other YA series heroine, Twilight’s Bella Swain, she’s not a damsel in distress to be rescued. Told you I’d get to that series! ), right up there with Buffy Summers and THE MATRIX’s Trinity. I had enjoyed her work in X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, THE BEAVER, and LIKE CRAZY, but this is a real showcase. Katniss is almost a futuristic version of her WINTER’S BONE character. And here lies one of the film’s problems, her male co-stars ( and love interests ) are just not as engaging as her. There’s no heat between her and Hutcherson ( so good in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, but not very believable here ). Perhaps she and Hemsworth could connect, but their only scene together is in the film’s first few minutes. During the games we get shots of him staring at TV screens. Perhaps the author was going for a Bella-Edward-Jacob triangle, but it’s not coming together in this installment.

Which may be another of the film’s problems. Too many things are unanswered, although there’s no big THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK cliffhanger here. A film should work without having read the source material, and this seemed lacking. Ross works well with these actors and tries to keep the wilder aspects of the story grounded. He is not exploitive with the violence, although some scenes were needlessly chaotic, perhaps in order to not got slapped with the dreaded ‘R” rating. Most of the science fiction aspects are handled with subtlety ( killer wasps work, the crude CGI pit bull/ panther hybrids need to stay in the darkness and the shadows ). Their game of deadly hide and seek lasted too long ( forest fatigue ). Fans of the books will likely be pleased with the reverent treatment. The rest of us should be happy to enjoy the great star making performance of Lawrence. Perhaps the next film will serve her considerable skills better.

Overall Rating; 3.5 Out of 5 Stars

“George Lucas is going to be sooo pissed!” This was the first thought that popped into my head after seeing JOHN CARTER. That is, until I realized he has no reason to get upset. Whether or not you’re familiar with the source material, it will become abundantly clear that Lucas drew a great deal of inspiration for his STAR WARS saga from A PRINCESS OF MARS, a science-fiction novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. In fact, once JOHN CARTER hits DVD and blu-ray, picking out the familiar STAR WARS bits would make one hell of a drinking game.

Long story short, director Andrew Stanton only steals back from Lucas what he stole from Burroughs in the first place. I say stolen in a purely playful manner, as is this incredibly fun, if not entirely perfect science-fiction action/adventure film that is one part Indiana Jones, one part STARGATE, and many parts STAR WARS in it’s visual appeal, story structure and even with it’s character development, in many cases. JOHN CARTER may have been officially derived from the original Edgar Rice Burroughs story, but the concept has had plenty of attention through the years, from the original novel and other books that followed, a magazine serial, television series and comic books.

Andrew Stanton, best known for directing the Pixar hits WALL-E and FINDING NEMO, makes his live-action debut with Disney’s CGI blockbuster JOHN CARTER, which they have allegedly spent upwards of $250 million or more to bring to life. If this is true, I fear Disney may have a box office financial flop, even if the film proves to be a popular pre-summer release. In all honesty, it will take a small miracle for the film to break even, but do your part and give it a chance for having the balls to beckon your hard earned bucks before the summer season officially begins.

Taylor Kitsch plays the legendary John Carter, a ruggedly handsome man in his twenties who stumbles upon a gateway between Earth and Mars, leading him into the adventure of a lifetime that will change the course of not one, but two worlds. Kitsch, perhaps best known as Tim Riggins to FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS fans, isn’t terribly recognizable beyond that somewhat cult following. Stanton is taking somewhat of a chance with a relative unknown in the leading role, but I’m sure it did shave a few million dollars off the total production cost. Kitsch presents himself on screen as the young Indiana Jones type, but with a bit more old west in his swagger. I am fairly certain there is a moment when explaining his name to the locals that he whips out a John Wayne impersonation, but it happens quickly, so don’t nod off.

JOHN CARTER is no lavishly written masterpiece of flashy dialogue or deep philosophical prose. This shows in the film, but what the film lacks in textual tact it gains in a pleasantly pulpy atmosphere and tone that makes the entire experience that much more fun. Sure, go ahead and see the film in 3D. As much as I oppose the current trend, this is the kind of film 3D is really meant for and it actually works fairly well. No gimmicks, the 3D is fully integrated and never really bares itself so blatantly as to pull the viewer from the story. As was certainly the style of pulp literature of its era, JOHN CARTER has moments of embellished heroism and sappy romance, but I encourage you to play along and enjoy the ride. One of the most fantastically absurd but equally rewarding moments is when John Carter takes it upon himself to prove his valor and worth to Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins), single-handedly facing a massive horde of grumpy, savage four-armed Tharks with his name on their blades. This scene is over the top, absurd, and entirely satisfying.

Without going into any great detail, JOHN CARTER follows an otherwise insignificant former Confederate Captain as he is whisked away to Mars and becomes a legend, courtesy of a certain variance in the laws of physics. The CGI in the film is vast and ever present, from the light ships and towering architecture to the arid landscape and especially the character design. While the majority of the alien characters are merely humans with a touch more red pigment and blue blood, the Tharks could be compared to the Na’vi from James Cameron’s AVATAR, but conceptualized with far more success. These four-armed, tusked natives are a major factor in the story and provide a great deal of the excitement.

Much of the star power for JOHN CARTER comes in the way of voice talent. Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church lend their voices to the two primary Thark males, Samantha Morton offers her voice to the primary Thark female, and Dominic West and Bryan Cranston round out the cast. Mark Strong puts on the villain’s shoes once again as a mysterious Thern, stirring the proverbial pooh while standing on the sidelines. This character reminds me of a far more nefarious “Observer” for those who follow the FRINGE television series. He’s one mean dude and he doesn’t play fair.

While the action sequences may be short in duration, there are enough of them in total to give it a pass. JOHN CARTER crosses two worlds, 50 million miles and vastly different cultures to produce a movie many times more enjoyable than THE PHANTOM MENACE, minus Darth Maul, even with its slightly elongated 132-minute running time that could definitely benefit from a snip here and a cut there. The lead performances are notably Kitsch-y (see what I did there) and it works. For someone who has not read the original source material, Andrew Stanton’s JOHN CARTER has inspired me to seek it out.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Motion capture animation and 3D appear to be the rising stars of cinema technology, both of which have the equal shares of supporters and opponents. One thing is for sure, both relatively new technologies are still within their infancy, but there are occasionally examples of the inspiring potential of this trend toward high-tech storytelling. The most current being THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN, a collaborative effort of gargantuan proportion.

While many audiences may not be aware of the film’s origin, or too young to know better, THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN — which happens to be the film’s official, unofficial full title — is adapted from a comic book series from the ’30s of the same name by the Belgian artist Herge, which also became an animated television series which ran 1991-1992. Sadly, I must report I have no personal knowledge or experience with either, so you will not find me referencing the source material in this review, but, by all means… seek them out as I plan to do.

With all the history behind TINTIN, it’s no wonder the film has such an all-star team of imaginative storytellers working behind the scenes to bring the adventures to a whole new audience. Directed by Steven Spielberg, who also co-produced the film alongside Peter Jackson (LORD OF THE RINGS), THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN was written by Steven Moffat, a very talented writer behind the popular BBC series SHERLOCK and DOCTOR WHO, with assistance from Edgar Wright (SHAUN OF THE DEAD) and Joe Cornish (ATTACK THE BLOCK). That’s a lot of creative star power, and we haven’t even introduced the cast yet.

THE ADVENTURES F TINTIN follows a clever, young report named Tintin – no, the dog is not names Tintin, that’s an entirely separate franchise – played by Jamie Bell (JUMPER). Tintin has an unquenchable curiosity, so when he happens upon a magnificent model ship, he manages to haggle a good deal. Immediately following, he finds himself the center of an immense mystery regarding that model ship, for which various unsavory and dark figures are seeking for them selves. This is where Tintin’s adventure begins, leading him to the drunken Captain Haddock, played by Andy Serkis (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), a man with a family history crucial to the mystery of the model ship. Tintin also encounters Ivanovich Sakharine, played by Daniel Craig (CASINO ROYALE), a deviously cunning and dangerous foe seeking the secret of the model ship.

One thing you will certainly not experience during the film is sleep. THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN is non-stop action and endlessly fun. Tintin is sort of a combination of the Hardy Boys and Indiana Jones wrapped up into a small, scrappy package, always getting into a pickle but always managing to find a way out of trouble. He and his trusty Scottish terrier – I may be off slightly on the breed — are an effective investigative team, as they work with Captain Haddock and his rum-induced amnesia to recover the secret of the model ship before Sakharine figures it out himself.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN takes the audience halfway around the globe to Morocco, where the greatest excitement of the story takes place. Tintin runs into a number of interesting characters along the way, including the bumbling Thompson twin detectives, played unrecognizably by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ). Cary Elwes (THE PRINCESS BRIDE, SAW) also makes a welcome vocal cameo as the Pilot. The most awe-inspiring scene in the film occurs in Morocco, one last massive chase sequence that resembles a deadly life-sized Rube Goldberg contraption that spans an entire ancient city. This sequence is bound to have you leaning forward, even partially lifted from your seat, as Tintin repeatedly navigates through the perils of the Moroccan streets and Sakharine’s henchmen.

I’ve never had a personal grudge against motion capture, which seems a logical marriage between live acting and animation, as we move forward into new cinematic frontiers of technology. With that said, THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN does a splendid job of capturing the energy and excitement of the story using motion capture, but I am also pleased to say that the film gets the 3D right as well, integrating the often intrusive and annoying technology into the entire film, still utilizing the gimmick value of the tool, but without getting in the way. The use of 3D enhances the story without causing hurdles for the film to stumble over, which is rare indeed.

John Williams has been a busy man in 2011, having scored WAR HORSE as well as THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN, but the difference between the two scores is the music’s presence. In WAR HORSE, Williams’ music n unconventional backseat, but in TINTIN his work stands front and center, making itself known with all its glory and becomes, as is usually the case, a character in and of itself.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN is likely to be the most fun you’ve had in an animated family flick all year, perfectly kid friendly with plenty of visual stimulus to keep the rug rats entertained, while still creative and intelligent enough to keep adults thrilled and engaged. Personally, this is the first animated film in some time I have left the theater with an immediate desire to watch a second time.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Mystery fans rejoice, the world’s greatest detective returns in SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, to be referred to as AGOS from here out. Guy Ritchie returns to direct the sequel to his 2009 reimagining of the eccentric, yet brilliant master sleuth. Robert Downey, Jr. (RDJ) returns as Holmes, along with Jude Law as Doctor James Watson. This film also offers the arrival of Swedish actress Noomi Rapace (from the original THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO) in a major Hollywood film, as the gypsy Madame Simza Heron.

Holmes is up to his normal shenanigans, but this time he’s obsessed with what he calls the greatest case of his career, or even of all time, in his words. The problem, however, is that Holmes is working alone. Watson is about to get married, but Holmes isn’t about to let that stand in his way, managing to unintentionally involve Doc Watson in his deadly pursuit of a genius evil mastermind by way of biting off more than he may be able to chew. Also assisting Holmes this time around, but in a smaller role and with comedic flair, is Stephen Fry (V FOR VENDETTA) as Holmes’ brother Mycroft.

AGOS sees the emergence of Professor Moriarty, played rivetingly by Jared Harris, an incredibly smart and dangerous foe to rival the wits of Holmes himself. The two engage in a battle of the minds, a sort of game to determine who is superior, but a game that has the lives of many, even world peace at stake. Moriarty’s plans are merely a business venture to him, but to Holmes this is a test of his own ability, proving to be his most challenging and deadly investigation.

For fans of the first SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009), expect more of the same from RDJ, cunning and clever, witty and ill-mannered, obnoxious and reckless. With Ritchie once again behind the helm, AGOS also maintains the use of the slow-motion, or “bullet time” effects photography that allows incredible detail during epic action sequences. As before, this technique works wonderfully for the hand to hand fights, illustrating how Holmes preconceives his every move before the fight even begins. However, as spectacular as one massive scene involving Holmes, Watson and Heron fleeing an arsenal of massive guns may be, the technique is used to a point of being stretched too thin. The result is a dampening of the initially induced awe.

Aside from the slight overuse of the slow-motion tactics, AGOS involves some truly exhilarating action sequences. Hans Zimmer’s score is nothing short of a damn good time, energetic and highly appropriate, but the pacing of the film as a whole is not quite as finely tuned as in Ritchie’s 2009 film. There’s plenty of fun to be had with this second adventure, but the 129-minute sequel feels significantly longer than the 128-minute SHERLOCK HOLMES that rebooted the franchise.

Guy Ritchie continues to prove his knack from combining comedy and action, a talent Brett Ratner could only dream to accomplish on this level. Holmes and Moriarty are something like a superhero and his arch-nemesis super villain, whose quarrel with determine the fate of the world. AGOS is as much a battle of intellects as it is a physical battle, as the two characters try and gain the tactical edge throughout the film, much like the symbolic chess match they undertake in the final act of the film.

I found myself thoroughly entertained by SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, despite the slower pacing. Unfortunately, the only real complaint I have about the film is the ending, which feels a bit too much like a Hail Mary, last resort effort to wrap up the final battle while setting up a twist to follow. The ending is absurd as it plays out, requiring more than it’s fair share of demand on the viewer’s suspension of disbelief, even for a popcorn movie such as this. Regardless of the faltering finale, SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS is well worth seeing for the fun factor on a Friday night.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr. and Ashley Judd star in the trailer premiere for DOLPHIN TALE (via Yahoo! Movies). Inspired by the remarkable true story, the film is about a courageous dolphin named Winter and the compassionate people who banded together to save her life.

Synopsis:

Based on true events DOLPHIN TALE is a family film about Winter, a young dolphin who loses her tail in a crab trap and Sawyer, the introverted, 11-year old boy who befriends her. Sawyer meets the rescued dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a marine rehabilitation center where she lives. Sawyer rallies friends and family alike to save Winter by convincing a pioneering doctor to create a unique prosthetic attachment to restore the dolphin’s ability to swim. Winter the dolphin will play herself in the movie.

From director Charles Martin Smith, the film stars Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Nathan Gamble. DOLPHIN TALE hits theaters in 3D and 2D on September 23, 2011

Apple.com has debuted the first trailer for WARRIOR, which stars Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte and is helmed by director Gavin O’Connor (MIRACLE). You can view it here http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/warrior/ or watch it below.

Synopsis:

Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime “and the wreckage of their broken family” within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting in Lionsgate’s action/drama, WARRIOR.

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) returns to hishometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, (Joel Edgerton) a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family after being suspended from his day job. Even though years have passed, recriminations and betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father.

But when Brendan’s unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.

WARRIOR will be hitting theaters on September 9, 2011. Be sure to “Like” WARRIOR on Facebook HERE for more upcoming exclusive content and visit the film’s official site HERE. Follow Lionsgate on Twitter HERE.

Scientists are constantly exploring the wonders of the human brain, particularly the subconscious. One of the discoveries is that in times of extreme trauma the brain can shut down responses to it’s surroundings and can either erase the experience or retreat into an alternate reality. This is one of the main themes of Zack Snyder’s new film SUCKER PUNCH. Unlike his previous movies, this is not a remake ( DAWN OF THE DEAD ) nor an adaptation of a graphic novel ( 300, WATCHMEN ) although much of the imagery here is inspired by other films, TV shows, animation, and comic books. In PUNCH, Synder’s main heroine enters another reality in her mind. And then another reality within that one( similar to the dream levels in INCEPTION ). Once again Snyder uses state of the art effects to create these different worlds.

The film begins after two theatrical curtains lift to reveal a simple bedroom backdrop. Atop the bed, crying, is a young blond woman of 17 or 18 named Baby Doll ( Emily Browning ). A doctor leaves her mother’s bedroom, shaking his head at Baby Doll’s step father. Baby Doll runs to console her kid sister as the sheet is pulled over their mother’s face. Later the step father seethes with anger as he reads the mother’s will. Everything will go to the daughters. Grabbing his bottle of booze, he storms into Baby Doll’s room. Rebuffing his advances, Baby Doll scratches his face, forces him out of her room, and locks the door. Gazing through the keyhole, she sees him lurching toward the locked closet where her kid sister hides. Baby Doll climbs out her bedroom window and scampers across the ledge to the window of the study. Inside she locates the pistol in a desk drawer. Racing down the hallway, she confronts her step father as he kicks in the closet door. She shakily points the gun at him and fires. The bullet whizzes past him and fatally strikes her sister. At the grave site, the stepfather signs the papers committing Baby Doll to a mental institution. After sedating her, they take her into the asylum where the director Blue Jones ( Oscar Isaac ) assures the step father that she will be lobotomized by the visiting doctor who will arrive in five days. Baby Doll is introduced to Dr. Gorski ( Carla Gugino )  who uses the auditorium stage for her therapy sessions. She encourages the inmates to act out their histories. Here Baby Doll’s mind transforms the stage into a nightclub/brothel. The other inmates, Rocket ( Jena Malone ), her sister Sweet Pea ( Abbie Cornish ), Blondie ( Vanessa Hudgins ), and Amber ( Jamie Chung ) are entertainers, Gorski is their choreographer/director/madame and Blue Jones is the club owner/pimp. Jones wants Baby Doll trained and ready for the arrival of the High Roller ( the lobotomist ) in five days. When Gorski instructs her to dance to some music, Baby Doll goes into a trance. Her mind enters a fantasy where she meets the mysterious Wise Man ( Scott Glenn ) . Before using a samurai sword to defeat three hulking shogun warriors, he explains that in order to gain her freedom she will need five things: a map, the key, fire, a knife, and something she will have to discover. She then awakes back on the dance floor. Everyone is astonished at her skills. Later in the dressing room, Baby Doll lays out her plan and tries to unite them as a team. Sweet Pea hesitates, but soon  reluctantly agrees to help. Working together can these ladies gather the items and bust out of the nightclub/bordello before the High Roller arrives? Or should I say- can they escape the hospital before lobotomy day?

The first scenes that set up Baby Doll’s entrance to the mental institution are played out almost as an old silent movie. Snyder uses a dark, greyed down color palette similar to 300. The hospital and the dance hall are both dreary places ( until the gals are entertaining ). The fantasy battle fields are gritty and grimy also. Each time an item is acquired the ladies go into another mission after getting orders from the Wise Man. After Baby Doll’s Asian themed first outing, they are all plunged into a steam punk version of World War I. Later they storm a medieval castle were Orc-like creatures serve a huge fire-breathing dragon and her offspring. Finally they must board a high speed train and stop a pack of faceless androids from detonating a bomb within a futuristic metropolis. These scenarios should be thrilling, but they become terribly repetitive after the first couple. It’s the ladies making impossible leaps while hacking, slashing, and gunning down endless hordes. In the backstage scenes between the mayhem, the woman are saddled with lots of ridiculous, forced dialogue as they alternately argue with and encourage each other.  The characters other than Baby Doll and Sweet Pea are almost interchangeable. Cornish does her best to be the cynical hard case, but her fights with Browning have very little spark. Gugino is saddled with a clunky Polish accent and has little to do besides tapping her cane. Isaac makes Jones a completely hiss-able , irredeemable thug who’s written like a mustache-twirling villain. You may have read that Jon Hamm is in the film. Be warned, Don Draper fans, that his role is almost a cameo. I’ve admired much of Snyder’s work in the past, but the slow motion suddenly becoming fast speed, the wire work, CGI creatures, and swirling, zooming camerawork quickly became tiresome. As the old saying goes, “full of sound and fury signifying nothing”. Still, I’m looking forward to Snyder’s take on the last son of Krypton. We’ll see if he can create characters that are as interesting as his visual imagination. The ending aspires to be a tribute to “girl power”. That deserves to be lauded and explored in something more substantial than this noisy, overdone video game of a movie.

Overall Rating: Three Out of Five Stars

From Summit Entertainment comes this first trailer for THE THREE MUSKETEERS by RESIDENT EVIL director Paul W.S. Anderson.

I’m not opposed to Alexandre Dumas’ swashbuckling tale seeing a face-lift every couple of years, however this seems totally unnecessary. But if you’re gonna do that, you seriously better have an all-star cast…not Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich. While I’m a fan of the Michael York, Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch 1973 version by director Richard Lester, my favorite Musketeer movie is MAN IN THE IRON MASK. Now THAT is how you do it…John Malkovich, Jeremy Irons, Leo DiCaprio, Gabriel Byrne and Gérard Depardieu. HUGE, BIG STARS. That movie is awesome…and don’t even get me started on the score by Nick Glennie-Smith.

Synopsis:

The hot-headed young D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) joins forces with three rogue Musketeers (Matthew MacFadyen, Luke Evans and Ray Stevenson) in this reboot of Alexandre Dumas’ story. They must stop the evil Richlieu (Christoph Waltz) and face off with Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) and the treacherous Milady (Milla Jovovich). The action adventure is given a state of the art update in 3-D.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS will be in theaters October 14, 2011…but I’m guessing it will be more of a rental.

Visit the film’s official site HERE and “Like” it on Facebook HERE.

Source: Apple iTunes

If you’re looking forward to the new adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” then you won’t want to miss the exciting new pirate experience coming to Disneyland park. Beginning March 25, you can join Jack and a crew of rowdy pirates for a Disneyland park-exclusive, extended 3D film sequence – a sneak peek of the new movie (opening May 20).

It’ll be “all hands on deck” as park guests take on the role of pirates and enter Festival Arena to “set sail” for high adventure with Captain Jack and many of the new Pirate stars in the unique, immersive 3D film experience, featuring a scene from the new movie. Look for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – Sneak Peek on weekend nights from March 25 to May 30, and seven nights a week from April 15 through May 1.

Check the Disneyland park Show Times Guide for nightly sailing times, and get ready for a rollicking good time filled with action, suspense and laughter.

Synopsis:

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past. The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

Join Jack Sparrow‘s Crew Text PIRATES to Disney (347639)* *standard message rates apply

Prepare for battle! PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES sails into theaters May 20th in Disney Digital 3D™. Visit the official website at: http://www.Disney.com/Pirates. “Like” PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN on Facebook at: http://www.Facebook.com/PiratesoftheCaribbean. Follow on Twitter: Twitter.com/DisneyPictures

Visit Capt. Sparrow’s Facebook page HERE. (http://www.facebook.com/CaptainJackSparrow)

Visit Barbossa’s Facebook page HERE. (http://www.facebook.com/PiratesBarbossa)

Visit Angelica’s Facebook page HERE. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angelica/168557266528629)

Visit Blackbeard’s Facebook page HERE. (http://www.facebook.com/PiratesBlackbeard)

Photos: Peter Mountain © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Disney has sent us some new info about the upcoming comedy adventure FRANKENWEENIE. In Tim Burton’s FRANKENWEENIE, young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences. The voice cast includes Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, and Atticus Shaffer. The film is scheduled for a October 5, 2012 release.

Synopsis:

From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

A stop-motion animated film, FRANKENWEENIE will be filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which will elevate the classic style to a whole new experience.

Movie Facts:

• When Tim Burton originally conceived the idea for FRANKENWEENIE, he envisioned it as a full-length, stop-motion animated film. Due to budget constraints, he instead directed it as a live-action short, released in 1984.
• FRANKENWEENIE follows in the footsteps of Tim Burton’s other stop-motion animated films “Corpse Bride” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas”—both of which were nominated for Academy Awards®.
• Over 200 puppets and sets were created for the film.
• The voice cast includes four actors who worked with Burton on previous films: Winona Ryder (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Catherine O’Hara (“Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas”), Martin Short (“Mars Attacks!”) and Martin Landau (“Ed Wood,” Sleepy Hollow”).
• Several of the character names—Victor, Elsa Van Helsing, Edgar “E” Gore and Mr. Burgermeister— were inspired by classic horror films.

The greatest love story ever told, starring…garden gnomes? In the upcoming GNOMEO AND JULIET, Shakespeare’s revered tale gets a comical, off-the-wall makeover. When feuding neighbors go at it on Verona Drive, the garden gnomes join the fight and it’s Red vs. Blue. Hunky blue gnome Gnomeo (James McAvoy) meets the rebellious red gnome Juliet (Emily Blunt) when they are both outside their yards on a quest for a rare flower in a near-by abandoned yard. Each disguised for their secret mission, neither realizes the other is actually the “enemy” and both are smitten. Once they discover each others true identity, they must convince their families that there is no reason to hate each other. With the help of cheeky frog Nanette and a hilarious plastic pink flamingo, they return to their yards only to find that world war three has broken out in the garden, complete with smashed gnomes and the killer uber-lawnmower “Terrafirminator” bent on total destruction.

This was one of those animated movies that you think is geared towards kids but ends up being so much fun for kids and adults alike. The voice casting was genius with the likes of Michael Caine (Lord Redbrick), Maggie Smith (Lady Bluebury), Patrick Stewart (William Shakespeare), Jason Statham (spot-on as the red gnome tough guy) and even Ozzy Osbourne as a dopey but loyal fawn. Throw in Hulk Hogan and Dolly Parton for some laugh-out-loud lines and you can’t go wrong.

One of the things I liked most was all the clever in-jokes and visuals. For those Shakespeare buffs paying attention, keep your eyes out for a brand of glue known as The Taming of the Glue, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern moving firm and Tempest Teapots.

What truly gave this movie its heart was the music. Executive producer Elton John provides a greatest-hits sound track, with each song perfectly framing the scenes where they are used. They capture not only the whimsy of the gardens and the gnomes, but also the sentiment of being young and in love. Listen to what Elton John says about the old and new songs and what it was like working with composer James Newton Howard courtesy of Hollywood.com.

So take everyone you GNOME this Valentine’s Day weekend to see GNOMEO AND JULIET! The film hits theaters everywhere in 3D today. Have you picked a side yet in the ultimate 3D battle? Get ready to see the Reds face-off against the Blues this weekend!

Overall Rating: Five Out of Five GNOMES

Like GNOMEO & JULIET on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/GnomeoandJulietMovie.   
 
GNOMEO & JULIET hits theaters everywhere in 3D today.

In the suspense thriller that was originally titled THE DARK FIELDS, here’s the trailer for what Relativity Media now calls LIMITLESS starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro.

Synopsis:

LIMITLESS is a paranoia-fueled action thriller about an unpublished writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret smart drug that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten his new life in this darkly comic and provocative film.

From the director of THE ILLUSIONIST, Neil Burger, LIMITLESS will hit theaters on March 18, 2011.

Relativity Media has released 4 new clips from their upcoming film SEASON OF THE WITCH opening on January 7th. Who doesn’t like a little Nicholas Cage and Ron Perlman to help ring in the New Year?

In case you missed it, here’s the original trailer that was released in November.

Synopsis:

Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage (National Treasure, Ghost Rider) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Hellboy II, Sons of Anarchy) star in this supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader and his closest friend who return home after decades of fierce fighting, only to find their world destroyed by the Plague. The church elders, convinced that a girl accused of being a witch is responsible for the devastation, command the two to transport the strange girl to a remote monastery where monks will perform an ancient ritual to rid the land of her curse. They embark on a harrowing, action-filled journey that will test their strength and courage as they discover the girl’s dark secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.

SEASON OF THE WITCH will be in theatres on January 7, 2011. Visit the film on Facebook here and on Twitter here.

In 2005, Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures made box office magic with director Andrew Adamson’s feature film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. It’s success prompted them to team up again for the next in the series, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:PRINCE CASPIAN in 2008. With the new film, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, several changes have happened with the team behind the scenes . Walden has now teamed up with 20th Century Fox while Michael Apted (COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER) has replaced Adamson as the director. Fortunately for the series fans the changes have not affected the quality of this entry in the fantasy film franchise.

At the film’s start we meet up again with the two youngest of the Pevensie children. Lucy and Edmund are staying with relatives in England while World War II rages (Edmund attempts to enlist) as Susan and Peter go to America. The two Britain based kids are in constant conflict with their obnoxious, selfish cousin Eustace. During a big argument, he pulls a painting from the wall of a ship sailing the ocean waves. Suddenly, water gushes from the picture and engulfs the room. The children swim toward the sunlight and pop up out of the sea in front on the massive ship, the Dawn Treader. On board the Pevensie children are reunited with Prince Caspian and the sword-wielding rodent, Reepicheep. The mouse soon catches Eustace stealing rations and gives the boy a fencing lesson. Caspian and his crew are on a quest to find the lost lords of Narnia. Soon the ship stops at the Lone Islands where they encounter slave traders and a mysterious green mist. Continuing, the Treader crew search for the seven swords of the lost lords and have many adventures along the way.

Like the previous two films, the special effects are state of the art. Reepicheep (last voiced by Eddie Izzard now by Simon Pegg) and Aslan interact seamlessly with their human costars. The mer-peoples that glide along the ship and the green mist that forms faces are very impressive. Of course, I have to mention two marvelous monsters: a gigantic sea serpent that almost crushes the Treader and a winged fire-breathing dragon(who is secretly a transformed human). Some fans may be a bit disappointed that Peter and Susan are relegated to brief cameos, but the funny, spirited performance of Will Poulter as bratty cousin Eustace should delight them. The film is playing at select theatres in 3D, but after seeing some early scenes in regular 2D I can say that the extra dimension is not essential to the story. The film’s a bit long at nearly two hours, but there’s enough adventures and creatures to keep the little tykes interested. I had hoped to be a bit more engaged by the main human characters. We get to see Edmund and Lucy maturing(she envies her older sister), but Caspian seems to be a Sindbad type sea hero in the installment. If you are a fan of the first two Narnia films and enjoy the C.S. Lewis books then you should enjoy this new movie visit to that world of fantasy and adventure.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Here’s a first look at the new trailer for Walt Disney Pictures’ MARS NEEDS MOMS.

Synopsis:

Take out the trash, eat your broccoli—who needs moms, anyway? Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she’s nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young. Produced by the team behind “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” MARS NEEDS MOMS showcases Milo’s quest to save his mom—a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling). With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom—in more ways than one.

Additionally, have a look at the six new images from Disney.

“Like” MARS NEEDS MOMS on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MarsNeedsMoms
 Look for the film in theaters everywhere in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D on March 11, 2011!

Fun facts about the movie:

• Berkeley Breathed, a Pulitzer-Prize winner for his comic strip “Bloom County,” is the author and illustrator of the book “Mars Needs Moms.” The story was inspired by a particular moment of disagreement that took place between his son Milo and his wife. 
• Producer Robert Zemeckis, who wrote, directed and produced “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” is a pioneer in performance-capture filmmaking.  The process digitally captures the performances of the actors with computerized cameras in a full 360 degrees, allowing actors like Jim Carrey and Tom Hanks to play several roles of varying ages in one film, and for 36-year-old Seth Green to portray a 9-year-old.

Time to saddle up. Yahoo! Movies has debuted the new trailer for Universal Pictures’ COWBOYS AND ALIENS. Watch as Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford team up to battle invaders in the Western action/adventure directed by Jon Favreau. Check out the new pictures below after the trailer.

I can’t wait to see this film - its like UNFORGIVEN meets INDEPENDENCE DAY! How totally awesome that Harrison Ford is in this? Sounds like he did in THE FUGITIVE. “I didn’t kill my wife ….You find the One-Armed Man!!” Ford even looks all jacked up like he did in that movie. And the thing on Daniel Craig’s arm makes me think of WESTWORLD too…no? A total throwback to Yul Brenner.

Synopsis:

Blockbuster filmmaker Jon Favreau directs Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in an event film for summer 2011 that crosses the classic Western with the alien-invasion movie in a blazingly original way: Cowboys & Aliens. Joined by an arsenal of top moviemakers – Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci - he brings an all-new action thriller that will take audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world.

1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents – townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors – all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

The script for Cowboys & Aliens is by Star Trek’s Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof (television’s Lost), based on Platinum Studios’ graphic novel created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Grazer, Howard, Rosenberg, Kurtzman and Orci produce. Spielberg and Denis L. Stewart executive produce.

From Universal Pictures, COWBOYS AND ALIENS will be in theaters on July 29, 2011.

Visit the film’s official website here, on Facebook here and on Twitter here.

Source: Yahoo! Movies

“In brightest day, in blackest night…” The first trailer for Warner Bros. Pictures GREEN LANTERN, starring Ryan Reynolds, is here at last. Enjoy!

So what’s the call on this one? I liked the brief glimpse of Mark Strong as Sinestro. Let us know what you think in our comments sections.

Synopsis:

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan. Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax…he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison, and Angela Bassett, GREEN LANTERN will be in theaters on June 17, 2011. Visit the film’s official site here and on Facebook here.

DISNEYNATURE ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH
THE AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION TO HELP SAVE THE SAVANNA DURING “AFRICAN CATS’” OPENING WEEK APRIL 22-28, 2011

BURBANK, Calif. (Nov. 12, 2010) – Disneynature announced plans to collaborate with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) on a program to celebrate the release of the new Disneynature feature film AFRICAN CATS. The program, “See ‘African Cats,’ Save the Savanna” was revealed in Nairobi, Kenya, during AWF’s 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday evening.  During the film’s opening week (April 22-28), a portion of the proceeds from that week’s ticket sales will be donated to the organization through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to ensure the future of lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, giraffes and a host of other animals in the vibrant African savanna. The AWF will be working to protect the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor, a passage between the Amboseli, Tsavo West and Chyulu National Parks, that is frequently used by a variety of wildlife.

“With its honest portrayal of life on the African savanna, ‘African Cats’ reveals the brilliance of the animals who live there,” said Alan Bergman, president, The Walt Disney Studios. “We are committed to helping the African Wildlife Foundation establish this protective corridor, building upon previous enormously successful conservation efforts from the Disneynature label.”

“The African Wildlife Foundation is proud to work so closely with Disneynature on the release of ‘African Cats,’” said Patrick Bergin, CEO, African Wildlife Foundation.  “We are celebrating 50 years of working with the people of Africa to ensure the wildlife and these wild lands endure forever; extending the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor will be a great step forward in these efforts.”

The film, which will be released in theaters worldwide, opens in North America on April 22, 2011. Tickets for groups of 20 or more are already available in the United States by calling 1-888-DISNEY6

AFRICAN CATS is the third release for Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years.

ABOUT THE MOVIE
An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna.  The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion.  Disneynature brings “The Lion King” to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill (“Earth”).  An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, “African Cats” leaps into theatres worldwide beginning on Earth Day 2011.  For more information about the movie and the “See ‘African Cats,’ Save the Savanna” initiative, check out Disney.com/AfricanCats.

ABOUT AWF Founded in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is a conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. AWF’s programs and conservation strategies are based on sound science and designed to protect both the wild lands and wildlife of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa’s people.  Since its inception AWF has protected endangered species and land, promoted partnerships with the private sector for ecotourism to benefit local African communities as a means to improve livelihoods, and trained hundreds of African nationals in conservation—all to ensure the survival of Africa’s unparalleled wildlife heritage. AWF is a non-profit organization currently operating in 14 countries across the continent. AWF is a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States. Visit www.awf.org.

ABOUT DISNEYNATURE
Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years, was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife subjects and stories with theatrical audiences. “Earth” (opening Earth Day 2009) was the first film to premiere domestically under the new label, and garnered a record-breaking opening weekend for a nature documentary. Its “Buy a Ticket, Plant a Tree” initiative led to the planting of 2.7 million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.  Hitting theaters on April 22, 2010, “Oceans” was the third highest grossing feature-length nature film in history. Its “See ‘Oceans,’ Save Oceans” initiative helped establish 40,000 acres of marine protected area in The Bahamas, preserving essential coral reefs.  Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1949 and 1960, which earned eight Academy Awards®. For more information about Disneynature, check out disneynature.com like us on Facebook: facebook.com/Disneynature, and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Disneynature. For more information about the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, please visit Disney.com/conservation.

The TRON: LEGACY Facebook page has made good on their promise. Once they reached 200,000 global fans, they wrote on their wall that they would reveal the third and final panel of the TRON: LEGACY triptych. See all the individual panels at the bottom. Disney also released this new picture of Jeff Bridges who plays two different roles in TRON: LEGACY – Kevin Flynn and his archenemy CLU.

Check out this newly released film clip, “Long Time”, from TRON: LEGACY.

In this video, the stars of TRON: LEGACY sat down to answer 10 questions about the film in a minute.

Enter the TRON Sweepstakes HERE to win 25 prize packs that include the “Art of TRON” book, the graphic novel, and much more!

ABOUT THE MOVIE

TRON: LEGACY is a 3D action-packed adventure set in a digital world unlike anything captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar® and Golden Globe® winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the abandoned Flynn’s Arcade – that could have only come from his father – he finds himself pulled into a world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-or-death journey across a visually stunning universe “created by Kevin Himself”which has become far more advanced with never-before-imagined vehicles, weapons and landscapes, and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape.

TRON: LEGACY hits theaters everywhere in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D on December 17th, 2010.

Visit the official website at: http://Disney.com/TRON. Like TRON: LEGACY on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/TRON or on Twitter here.

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