” We’ve been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay Puft’s okay! He’s a sailor, he’s in New York; we get this guy laid, we won’t have any trouble!”
Peter Bernstein conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as they perform Elmer Bernstein’s iconic score to GHOSTBUSTERS live along with the film May 17th and 18th at Powell Hall in St. Louis (718 N Grand Blvd). Both shows begin at 7pm.Ticket information can be found HERE
Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! A team of scientists become “ghostbusters” and stumble upon a gateway to another dimension, leading to an attempt to save New York from complete destruction. Join as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performs Elmer Bernstein’s iconic score live while Ivan Reitman’s comedic masterpiece plays on the big screen.
Follow the escapades of scientists who wage a high-tech battle with the supernatural.
Experience the 1984 comedic classic on the big screen at Powell Hall.
Arrive early to get a photo with the Ecto-1 Ghostbusters car.
Film with live score.
New York City has a problem: paranormal occurrences have been plaguing the city in increasing numbers, and the only people who know this are three extraordinarily bright, slightly offbeat NYU parapsychologists who have lost their research grant. Forced out of academia, they start their own business. In this 1985 Oscar® nominee for Best Special Effects, Drs. Venkman (Bill Murray), Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Spengler (Harold Ramis) set up shop in an old firehouse and become Ghostbusters, trapping pesky ghosts, haunts and poltergeists for money. But even the spirit exterminators are severely tested when beautiful Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and her weird neighbor (Rick Moranis) become possessed by demons living in their building. Soon every spook in the city is loose, and our heroes face their supreme challenge at a rooftop demonic shrine.
Jim Jarmusch’s new zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die is underway in production with Focus Features. This is the writer-director’s third film with Focus having previously made Broken Flowers (2005) and The Limits of Control (2009) together. Joshua Astrachan and Carter Logan will produce.
The cast is led by many past Jarmusch collaborators including Academy-Award® nominee Bill Murray (Broken Flowers), Adam Driver (Paterson), Academy-Award® nominee Chloë Sevigny (Broken Flowers), Academy-Award® winner Tilda Swinton (Only Lovers Left Alive, Broken Flowers), Steve Buscemi (Mystery Train), as well as Selena Gomez in her first Jarmusch feature.
Focus Features and Universal Pictures International will distribute the film worldwide.
Current and upcoming domestic releases from Focus include Jason Reitman’s new comedy Tully, starring Charlize Theron and written by Diablo Cody; Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, director Morgan Neville’s documentary on Mister Rogers; Lenny Abrahamson’s atmospheric thriller The Little Stranger; Joel Edgerton’s coming-of-age and coming-out drama Boy Erased, about a boy’s true-life experience at a conversion therapy program, starring Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe; Mary, Queen of Scots with Saoirse Ronan as Mary and Margot Robbie as Elizabeth I; On the Basis of Sex, the real-life drama of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg staring Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer; Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s directorial debut Mustang; and Spike Lee’s new film BlacKkKlansman.
The Hi-Pointe Theater, at 1005 McCausland Ave in St. Louis, is the best place to see a Wes Anderson movie. Something about its city locale, its nostalgia factor, its retro interior, and the fact that they sell wine by the bottle make me think that Anderson would be happy to know that his newest, ISLE OF DOGS, is currently playing there. It’s been showing at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Theater (a fine venue) for the past week and I certainly don’t begrudge anyone who already saw it there. After all, I did claim ISLE OF DOGS “deserves a prominent spot in the run for this year’s best-animated feature Oscar.” in my 5-star WAMG review last week (read my complete reviewHERE), but The Hi-Pointe is the place to be and is where I’ve already seen it a second time and will likely indulge a third.
Here are the showtimes for ISLE OF DOGS at The Hi-Pointe:
Monday, April 9 -Thursday, April 12: (5:30), 8:00
ISLE OF DOGS is a treat for fans of director Wes Anderson, who makes a welcome return to stop-motion animation ten years after THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX. Anderson’s new film looks raggedly beautiful, is hilariously off-balance, warm-hearted, and perfectly composed and detailed – much like every other Wes Anderson movie. The title is a reference to Trash Island, a mountainous accumulation of garbage where, in the near future, the canine population of Megasaki City in Japan is banished by cat-loving Mayor Kobayashi (voiced by Kunichi Nomura). This is after a plague of Snout Fever (also known as the Dog Flu) has broken out, endangering both dogs and humans. The pooches are dropped from planes onto the island where they battle over maggot-infested food scraps plucked from piles of trash. Mayor Kobayashi’s 12 year-old nephew Atari (Koyu Rankin) commandeers a small airplane and crash-lands it on Trash Island in hopes of finding his cherished pet Spots (Liev Schreiber), who’d been dropped there six months earlier. Atari is aided in his search by a motley band of alpha hounds including tough stray Chief (Bryan Cranston), leader Rex (Edward Norton), former dog food commercial star King (Bob Balaban), gossipy Duke (Jeff Goldblum), and former sports mascot Boss (Bill Murray). Their journey leads them across the island, where word has it that Spots may be among a savage pack of feral dogs and they soon discover that the enclave is not only a trash heap, but also a dumping ground for a failed nuclear plant. Back in Megasaki, tenacious (and freckled ) American foreign exchange student Tracy Walker (Greta Gerwig) leads a pro-dog resistance movement against Kobayashi’s government after discovering, with the help of scientist Yoko Ono (Yoko Ono), a conspiracy to suppress a found cure for Snout Fever.
Original, eye-popping, and somewhat topical in its story about a shady government fabricating its own truths to feed fear and prejudice, ISLE OF DOGS is essentially a Wes Anderson movie with eccentric humans replaced by eccentric stop-motion mongrels. Anderson’s clever script (co-written by Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman) is casually but meaningfully voice-acted by a stable of Anderson stalwarts who deliver their lines with the same cadence that makes his live-action films so endearing (Scarlett Johansson, F. Murray Abraham and Tilda Swinton are also on board). The cool pauses, the dry wit and clever humor are all in full effect and the way this movie comes together is a testament to Anderson’s distinctive abilities (the sushi prep bit is pure Anderson). It all plays out under another of Alexandre Desplat’s terrific, off-beat scores. Anderson is clearly enamored of Japanese cinema and culture and while much of the dialogue is spoken in Japanese without translation (though sometimes explained in narration by Frances McDormand’s ‘Interpreter Nelson’), there’s never doubt as to what is going on in the story. There’s a lot to take in a second viewing is likely mandatory to absorb all of the detail and personality. It may be slightly over-extended and the standard complaint about Wes Anderson that his visuals are so colorful and characters so whimsical that the story often takes a back seat to the quirk could apply (but not enough for me to dock it any points). ISLE OF DOGS isn’t a movie that will appeal to children or tweens looking for a more energetic animated film and I’d say it’s even less kid-friendly than THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX, but it’s a genuine charmer and deserves a prominent spot in the run for this year’s best-animated feature Oscar.
5 of 5 Stars
ISLE OF DOGS opens exclusively in St. Louis March 28th at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Theatre
Want a delicious way to get a FREE pass to the new Wes Anderson movie “Isle of Dogs” before it opens in theaters?
Purchase a ticket to Tenacious Eats presents “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Brunch on Sun, March 18thhttps://m.bpt.me/event/3348535 .
Enjoy food inspired by the popular Wes Anderson film, and while you’re there, visit with some adoptable doggies from Gateway Pet Guardians! $15 from every ticket sold will go to their organization 🦊 and everyone in attendance will get a free pass to the “Isle of Dogs” advance screening!
ISLE OF DOGS tells the story of ATARI KOBAYASHI, 12-year-old ward to corrupt Mayor Kobayashi. When, by Executive Decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.
” I’m just a mean green mother from outer space and I’m bad!”
Special Cinema Event to Feature an Exclusive Interview with Director Frank Oz, Plus the Film’s Original Ending, Never Before Seen in Theaters
For the first time ever, the cult-hit musical “Little Shop of Horrors” will be presented in movie theaters nationwide with its original, spectacular ending during a special two-day-only in-cinema event on October 29 and 31 from Fathom Events and Warner Bros.
In addition to the elaborate, 23-minute finale, which has been digitally restored to the acclaimed 1986 musical, this special theatrical presentation of “Little Shop of Horrors,” written by the Oscar®-winning team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, will also include a brand-new, exclusive interview with the film’s visionary director Frank Oz.
Fathom Events and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will present “Little Shop of Horrors” on Sunday, October 29, and Tuesday, October 31, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time each day.
Tickets for “Little Shop of Horrors” can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Moviegoers throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy this event in nearly 500 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Eventswebsite (theaters and participants are subject to change).
Originally released in December 1986 and based on the off-Broadway musical adaptation of Roger Corman’s low-budget 1960 horror comedy, “Little Shop of Horrors” stars Rick Moranis as Seymour Krelborn, a loveable loser whose fortunes change when he discovers a mysterious plant he calls “Audrey II” after the demure love of his life, Audrey (Ellen Greene). But as Audrey II (Levi Stubbs) grows, Seymour discovers the plant has a taste for blood, preferably human … and a lust for power.
“Little Shop of Horrors” was nominated for two Academy Awards®, including the high- energy “Mean Green Mother From Outer Space,” which Ashman and Menken wrote specifically for the film. “Little Shop of Horrors” received widespread acclaim from critics upon its initial release, and became a perennial best-seller on home-entertainment formats. Its loyal following has grown over the years, and while the film’s original ending has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, this special presentation by Fathom Events and Warner Bros. marks the first time it has been shown to a large-scale audience in cinemas.
“Little Shop of Horrors” combines a stunning visual flair with a remarkable score by Ashman and Menken, who would go on to create such classic movie musicals as “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin.” The film’s iconic supporting cast includes Steve Martin, Vincent Gardenia, James Belushi and Bill Murray, along with a unique trio of Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks and Tisha Campbell as “Greek chorus” Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon.
“This special presentation of Little Shop of Horrors will delight longtime fans and also offer them a new sense of discovery in an ending that the studio and Frank Oz have allowed us to present for the very first time,” Tom Lucas, Fathom Events VP of Studio Relations, said. “For fans of movies and musicals, this is truly a cinematic event.”
“This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.”
So you have to relive the same day over and over again? Think of what you would do? Harold Ramis did and developed it into the beloved 1993 comedy GROUNDHOG DAY. Bill Murray plays Phil, an obnoxious weatherman trapped in a day he can’t escape. No matter what he does every morning he wakes and its Groundhog Day again. There’s no explanation of how this happened to him (good!!) but its great watching him deal with it. His main challenge is to make Andi McDowell love him and his attempts are wonderfully funny. If you haven’t seen GROUNDHOG DAY, you’ll have your chance when it screens exclusively at Marcus-Wehrenberg Theaters on Wednesday February 1st and Thursday, February 2nd at 7pm. If you have seen it, watch it again. Admission is only $5! See it for the laughs, for Andi McDowell’s beauty, for the performance of a great cast (Bill Murray is truly superb), or see it to make life feel a little bit better.
Disney presents the live-action epic adventure The Jungle Book, directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “Chef”) and produced by Favreau and Brigham Taylor (executive producer of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” “Tomorrowland”), “The Jungle Book” is a live-action epic adventure based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories, inspired by Disney’s classic 1967 animated film and centered on Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Disney’s Groundbreaking, Live-Action Adventure arrives on Digital HD August 23 and on Blu-ray™ August 30.
udiences were mesmerized by Disney’s live-action epic adventure “The Jungle Book,” which has earned more than $911 million at the global box office to date. Critically acclaimed, Jon Favreau’s stunning live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic, will be available early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on August 23, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand on August 30.
Venture behind the scenes with in-depth bonus features that reveal the innovative filmmaking technology used to create the richly immersive jungle world and characters; Follow the journey of the film’s only on-screen actor, charismatic newcomer Neel Sethi (Mowgli); Delve into a candid and humorous scene-by-scene audio commentary with director Jon Favreau and meet the all-star voice cast who help bring the film’s colorful characters to life, as well as the musicians who accent the adventure with a majestic music score.
The all-star cast includes Bill Murray (“Lost in Translation”) as the voice of Baloo, Sir Ben Kingsley (“Learning to Drive,” “The Walk”) as Bagheera and Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) as the voice of mother wolf Raksha. Scarlett Johansson (“Avengers: Age of Ultron”) gives life to Kaa, Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad”) provides the voice of alpha-male wolf Akela, Idris Elba (“Beast of No Nation”) roars as the voice of Shere Khan, and Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter”) lends his iconic voice to King Louie.
Check out this trailer for the home release of THE JUNGLE BOOK:
Bonus features include*:
BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:
“The Jungle Book” Reimagined – Favreau sits down with producer Brigham Taylor and visual effects supervisor Robert Legato to discuss “The Jungle Book” and reflect on the years they devoted to the reimagining of this timeless tale. Discover how Rudyard Kipling’s original stories and the classic animated film influenced their unique approach, witness the technical wizardry that enabled the team to create a believable and thrilling movie-going experience, and learn how they borrowed a page from Walt Disney’s innovation playbook to make it all happen. Lastly, meet the all-star voice cast who help bring the film’s colorful characters to life, as well as the musicians who accent the adventure with a majestic music score.
I Am Mowgli – Follow the extraordinary journey of 12-year-old Neel Sethi, who was selected from thousands of hopefuls worldwide to play Mowgli “alongside” some of today’s biggest movie stars. Get a glimpse of Neel’s life before Hollywood came calling, check out his audition that sealed the deal, and see how a close-working relationship with Favreau brought out his best. Plus, Neel shares how filming “The Jungle Book” was one wild ride, from working alongside imaginary animals to performing some super-fun stunts.
King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer – So, exactly how do you create a musical number featuring one man-cub, a massive, legendary ape and an army of wild and wily monkeys in the Seeonee jungle? Viewers are granted rare and unique access to the development of the “I Wan’na Be Like You” sequence in which King Louie attempts to coerce Mowgli into giving up Man’s deadly “red flower” (fire). A fast-moving musical progression reel showcases storyboards, animatics, Christopher Walken’s recording session and visual effects layers, which ultimately merge to form one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
Audio Commentary – Favreau delivers his scene-by-scene perspective on the live-action adventure “The Jungle Book” with all the candor and humor you’d expect from this multi-talented actor-writer-director-producer.
DVD
King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer – So, exactly how do you create a musical number featuring one man-cub, a massive, legendary ape and an army of wild and wily monkeys in the Seeonee jungle? Viewers are granted rare and unique access to the development of the “I Wan’na Be Like You” sequence in which King Louie attempts to coerce Mowgli into giving up Man’s deadly “red flower” (fire). A fast-moving musical progression reel showcases storyboards, animatics, Christopher Walken’s recording session and visual effects layers, which ultimately merge to form one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
Note: The 3D version of The Jungle Book will be available later this year.
The film’s musical score, composed by Emmy® winner and Oscar-, BAFTA- and Annie Award-nominee John Debney (“Elf,” “Iron Man 2”), features a classic orchestral sound accented by ethnic instruments and pays homage to the original film by highlighting snippets of the classic songs we all know and love.
In anticipation of the worldwide release of GHOSTBUSTERS, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, in theaters July 15, 2016, audiences will get a chance to build their excitement for the new film by revisiting the classic 1984 movie, directed by Ivan Reitman, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, and starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson, as Fathom Events brings moviegoers a nationwide limited-time re-release of the classic, and, in New York City, BBQ Films presents a special, immersive Ghostbusters experience.
On June 8 – the anniversary of the original 1984 release of the classic film – with an encore date of June 12, Fathom Events will bring the original film to moviegoers across the country with a special re-release in more than 750 movie theaters nationwide, including a sneak peek at the new Ghostbusters. Tickets for these screenings will go on sale May 6, 2016 at FathomEvents.com and participating theater box offices.
Also starting June 8th in NYC, BBQ Films will present the world’s only official immersive screening of Ghostbusters. An event production company that creates transportive experiences and events around classic movies, BBQ Films will invite moviegoers to strap on a proton pack, grab a trap, and head for the Ecto-1 as they bring their immersive Ghostbusters experience to Villain in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
As they transform the venue into the Ghostbusters’ HQ – featuring a 360-degree interactive experience, with live Ghostbusters characters, themed rooms, screens showing the film, and, of course, ghosts – BBQ Films will bring moviegoers into the Ghostbusters’ incredible world and allow them to experience the 1984 movie as never before. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.bbqfilms.com/ghostbusters.
Following these special screenings, the classic film will go back in the vault until the release of the new film.
Commenting on the announcement, Dwight Caines, President, Theatrical Marketing for SPE said, “Before the new Ghostbusters film hits theaters on July 15, there’s no better way to get excited than by seeing the classic film. Fathom Events is bringing the original to audiences all across the country, and if you’re a moviegoer in New York, you’ll have the chance to experience the movie as never before as BBQ Films transports you to the world of the Ghostbusters. We’re thrilled that audiences will have the opportunity to revisit the beloved original movie on the big screen.”
Ghostbusters makes its long-awaited return, rebooted with a cast of hilarious new characters. Thirty years after the beloved original franchise took the world by storm, director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today – Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. This summer, they’re here to save the world!
The film is produced by Ivan Reitman and Amy Pascal, and written by Katie Dippold & Paul Feig, based on the film “Ghostbusters,” written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on July 15, 2016.
Disney has released two talking animal films this year and both have a lot to say. While ZOOTOPIA wowed many with its strong female lead that’s not afraid to take on a stubborn and judgmental world, I found it a bit preachy and heavy-handed – not balancing the fun factor with the weight of the social commentary. Prior to the expedition into THE JUNGLE BOOK, I didn’t know what to expect. It has been decades since I’ve seen the animated film or the live action film. And while I know the story, I’m not sure I was necessarily aware of the degree of subtext inherent in the story. Either that, or Jon Favreau isn’t afraid to let his call of the wild echo through the jungle.
One of the running themes in the film is that because Mowgli is human, he has the gift of intellect and problem-solving. He uses “tricks” to get out of a bind, or in most cases, to help others succeed or survive (as is the case when he helps the bear Baloo get his honey). The classic story of a boy who embraces his animal instincts and his humanity is punctuated with just enough heart and the right amount of social awareness this time around by Disney.
The man-cub Mowgli (Neel Sethi) lives his life wild and free with a pack of wolves in the jungle. But when his life and the lives of the pack are threatened by the tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba), Mowgli runs away from home in search of the human village where he “belongs.” Guided by Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) the panther and the bear Baloo (Bill Murray), Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, where he encounters the seductive snake Kaa (Scarlett Johannson) and the giant ape King Louie (Christopher Walken).
Jon Favreau hits the ground running both literally and figuratively. The film opens with Mowgli running with the wolves through the jungle, and the viewer immediately is thrown into a visually lush treat for the eyes. Your eyes are forced to adjust to the visual effects – that look extraordinarily real, and yet you know they aren’t. But wait, there’s another catch. You are then asked to perform another task. The visual adjustment is followed immediately by having to accept that the animals talk to our young jungle boy. Yes, of course, this is the point of the film, but could it have been not as jarring? I can’t help but think about the stunning opening of Matt Reeves’ DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. That film doesn’t immediately throw the audience into accepting talking animals. It’s a slower process that takes into consideration what audiences are used to viewing from photo-realistic animals. To ease into both the hyper-realistic visuals and the fact that the majority of the main characters are CGI creations that are going to be talking to us, it might have been better to ease into the anthropomorphic jungle.
The voice talents on display are almost all superb, the highlights being the incomparable Bill Murray and Idris Elba, in a terrifying turn. The idea of having Murray play an iconic animated character seems like a hard challenge to overcome, but you can practically see Murray smiling through the lovable character’s muzzle. His old-world voice doesn’t come across as curmudgeonly as it sometimes does. Murray’s heart of gold still shines through the fur and the claws, making this another memorable moment in his iconic career.
The chemistry between Murray and young newcomer Neel Sethi is infectious. Their charming banter builds and builds to the rousing moment when they finally start to sing “Bare Necessities” while floating down the river. Watching Sethi splash water on Baloo and play the bear’s belly like a drum is a crowd-pleasing moment for fans of the 1967 animated feature.
The same can’t be said about the other main musical number. “I Wanna Be Like You” seems out of place after King Louie is presented as this hulking mafioso in the shadows. It’s played like a sly, jazz-infused spoken-word poem, but that doesn’t fix the fact that it comes across as shoe-horned and just as a way for this version of the film to feel more like the old version.
Seeing THE JUNGLE BOOK in IMAX 3D truly is an immersive experience. Every buzz and hum from an insect and every blade of grass comes to life. The artistry on-display is worth the price of admission alone. However, leaving the young ones at home might be something to consider. Regardless of the fact that the film has a PG rating – which more or less is an invitation to bring all children – THE JUNGLE BOOK is surprisingly intense as times. Shockingly intense, in fact. Sure, Rudyard Kipling’s original novel wasn’t intended as a children’s book, but that’s not exactly what Disney is adapting this time around. They are adapting their own 1967 animated film, which is a children’s film. Mistaking the innocence found in that film with the harsh reality of life-like tigers swiping out from the screen and viciously attacking other animals could prove detrimental if you’re a parent to a sensitive child.
Jon Favreau did not make a children’s movie. However, he made a great and thrilling film that most of the family can enjoy. These gorgeously rendered talking animals not only come to life on-screen, but they speak about life as well. Reminding us that despite our differences, we can still coexist and work together as a family. And that my friends, is “the bare necessities of life.”
Overall rating: 4 out of 5
THE JUNGLE BOOK is now playing in theaters everywhere
