Movie Review: Bee Movie by CD

Title: Bee Movie
Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Kathy Bates, Chris Rock, Matthew Broderick
Directed By: Stephen Hickner, Simon J. Smith
Produced By: Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, Christina Steinberg
Genre: Comedy and Animation
Release Date: November 2nd, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG for mild suggestive humor.
Distributors: Paramount Pictures

Barry B. Benson is a graduate bee fresh out of college who is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a rare trip outside the hive, Barry's life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans are mass consumers of honey and decides to sue the human race for stealing bees' honey. -Yahoo Movies.

What can be said about a kid's movie filled with talking bees? Well your gonna find out my friends.

My wife and I took our son to see this film for 2 reasons, 1: he really wanted to see it and had been good. 2: My wife loves bees, so much so that she is actually a bee keeper. So this movie was like heaven for them both. I on the other hand had a real difficult time disconnecting from reality enough to enjoy this movie. Certain things just seemed TOO fantastical. Case in point, bees in my opinion shouldn't need to drive cars. Also because of this movie my wife has been over heard plotting on how to borrow 500,000 bees to see if they really can lift,fly and land a jumbo jet.

There isn't too much that makes this film stand out from all the other animated talking animal movies. The animation is average. Which is to say it's not horrible, but its nothing ground breaking. The soundtrack was the normal Disney instrumental fare. The only differences were Sheryl Crow sang a song for the end of the movie and they played Sugar Sugar by The Archies towards the mid point of the film.

One part I did enjoy was right in the beginning, you get a black screen with the fact that bee's shouldn't be able to fly. Their bodies are to fat and their wings are too small, so it is scientifically impossible for them to be able to fly. The reason given as to why they can fly was...”Bee's don't care what humans think is impossible”.

Another humorous element was the mention of “Bee Jesus” which sparked a very spirited bit of commentary on the way home. This movie is rife with the ability to make bad bee puns for weeks. Which as of yet has not stopped in my home.

I have sat and watched the previews again to see why I didn't enjoy this film that much, I think it could just be I wasn't in the right mindset. It has what it needs to make it watchable by the adults, but it isn't on the same level as some of the other kids movie's this past year.

This is definitely a movie I would recommend for your kids, but you might want to wait till it comes to DVD. That way if you don't dig it, you can read a book or something while it is on.

Awaiting the second Buzzing of Bee Jesus

Crobertdunham@yahoo.com

PETER JACKSON'S SECRET SCI-FI MOTION PICTURE "DISTRICT 9"

SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN AND ALL ENGLISH- LANGUAGE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
TO PETER JACKSON'S SECRET SCI-FI MOTION PICTURE "DISTRICT 9"

Deal Includes Distribution Rights
in a Significant Number of Foreign Territories



Los Angeles, CA - November 9, 2007 - Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights as well as distribution rights in a significant number of foreign territories, including all English speaking territories, to the Peter Jackson produced sci-fi motion picture "District 9" from QED International. The announcement was jointly made today by Peter Schlessel, President of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, and QED International CEO Bill Block.

Academy Award® winner Peter Jackson is producing "District 9" through his WingNut Films production banner. QED International, the Los Angeles based production, financing and international sales company, is fully financing the film. Jackson 's manager Ken Kamins of Key Creatives is serving as executive producer along with Bill Block.

Neill Blomkamp makes his feature film directing debut with "District 9", which he co-wrote with partner Terri Tatchell. The film is scheduled to begin shooting in Spring 2008 in South Africa . Details of the film's plot are being tightly guarded while pre-production is underway.

Bill Block says, "Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton and Jeff Blake and the entire team at Sony really understand this film and we couldn't be more excited to be in business with them. They are completely committed to the unique vision Neill and Peter have for ‘District 9.’

"We have seen some of Neil's enormously creative work launching Halo 3 and he is a true talent who understands how to use visual effects in full service of the story. With Peter Jackson and his team at WETA workshop working with Neil, we believe District 9 can be a true event tentpole on our release slate," said Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Negotiating the acquisition were Peter Schlessel for Sony Pictures Entertainment; Ken Kamins and attorneys Peter Nelson and Eric Suddleson on behalf of Peter Jackson; and Bill Block and Paul Hanson for QED International. Lara Thompson, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, was also integral in securing the rights to the film for the studio.

WES ANDERSON'S SHORT FILM "HOTEL CHEVALIER" TO JOIN

LOS ANGELES, CA, October 22, 2007 – Due to overwhelming demand, Fox Searchlight Pictures announced today that it will add director Wes Anderson's short film HOTEL CHEVALIER, starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman, to Anderson's hit comedy THE DARJEELING LIMITED beginning on Friday, October 26. The short is a companion piece to the main feature and details the life of one of the three brothers in the film played by Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody. The short has been a popular download on iTunes during its month long availability which ends October 23. The film, together with the short, will expand into approximately 650 theatres.

Fox Searchlight Pictures’ THE DARJEELING LIMITED set the all time record 2-day opening theatre average when it opened in New York theatres on Saturday, September 29. The film had its premiere as the opening night film of the New York film festival on Friday, September 28 and to date has grossed over $3.9 million on only 200 screens.

HOTEL CHEVALIER was screened in four select Apple stores on September 25, with Anderson, Schwartzman and Portman at the Soho store in Manhattan to introduce the film and answer questions following the screening and Roman Coppola (co-writer, THE DARJEELING LIMITED) at the Chicago store as well as in Los Angeles and San Francisco stores. On September 26, following the in store premiere, HOTEL CHEVALIER became available for download online exclusively at www.apple.com/itunes and has received hundreds of thousands of downloads.

“Wes has crafted a brilliant companion piece to The Darjeeling Limited, adding to an already engaging and funny film,” said Peter Rice, President of Fox Searchlight Pictures. “After generating enormous buzz from festivals worldwide, we are thrilled to be showing these two films together in theatres for the first time.”

HOTEL CHEVALIER was shot on location at the Hotel Raphaël in Paris approximately one year before THE DARJEELING LIMITED feature, and has been shown at numerous festivals worldwide. HOTEL CHEVALIER was written and directed by Wes Anderson. The thirteen minute short is set in a hotel room in France and stars Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman. It is the brief coda to a doomed romance and the prologue to THE DARJEELING LIMITED.

In THE DARJEELING LIMITED, three American brothers who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other -- to become brothers again like they used to be. Their "spiritual quest", however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray), and they eventually find themselves stranded alone in the middle of the desert with eleven suitcases, a printer, and a laminating machine. At this moment, a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman star in this film about their adventure and their friendship. The film was written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola & Jason Schwartzman, produced by Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Roman Coppola and Lydia Dean Pilcher and executive produced by Steven Rale

Jerry Seinfeld was in Detroit!

Jerry Seinfeld was in Detroit on October first to promote his new animated film Bee Movie. Bee Movie is a promising film about Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld), a bee that is not happy with his career, who goes out into the world and discovers that humans are stealing honey without compensating the bees. So with the help of Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), Barry sues the Honey company and it's affiliates. Little do they know the ramifications of their victory.

Seinfeld is very passionate about this film. For him to come to Detroit and do a presentation like this with little to no fanfare is proof of that. He has spent the last four years writing, acting and just dipping his fingers into every aspect of the making of this film. Along with directors Spike Feresten and Barry Marder, they have created an interesting take on bee life in general and the production of honey. As ludicrous as the plot sounds, it does have a point. We steal the bee's honey, plain and simple. Most other natural resources are either the resource themselves or byproducts, while honey is actually made by bees. We just take it without a thought. Now I know that in real life bee's don't really have feelings but since we are talking about an animated film, we can stretch our sensibilities a little and ask, “How would you like it if it happened to you?” I'd sue too.

Seinfeld came out and entertained us with some stand up like banter before getting to the honey, such as where has Seinfeld been for almost nine years? Well, this movie explains four of those years, two on the script alone! The other five saw a return to stand up as well as spending time with his family. Can't blame a man for that can we? After his short presentation he introduced us to the directors, Spike Feresten and Barry Marter, who proceeded to walk us through the clips they had brought. A courtroom scene in which Ray Liotta, playing a caricature of himself, was hilarious. And, it looked just like him! Gotta give a guy credit for being able to make fun of himself, right? Another showed the first meeting between Barry and Vanessa which showcased Seinfelds specific brand of humor as well as some close up shots of everyday objects with amazing detail. Water drops, blades of grass, even the texture of Vanessa's was realistic. Yet another showed a group of bees flying around, swooping around things, it almost made me dizzy. Ok, not really but it was a fun ride.

So that is my take based on the clips that we saw. With an all-star cast including Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Ray Liotta, Patrick Warburton, Oprah and more, Bee movie will be sure to entertain the whole family.

Bee Movie buzzes into theaters Nov. 6^th. In the meantime , visit the official site at http://www.beemovie.com/ and watch out for “Bee Movie TV Juniors” on NBC. TV Juniors are short little comical spots by Jerry about his experience making the film. We had the pleasure of viewing two of these and I must say they are just as entertaining as the film clips we saw.

I hope to see you at the theater!

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: 30 Days Of Night by ME

Title: 30 Days of Night
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Jon Bennett, Mark Boone Junior
Directed By: David Slade
Produced By: Nathan Kahane, Mike Richardson, Joe Drake
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror and Thriller
Release Date: October 19th
MPAA Rating: R for strong horror violence and language.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing

I usually give horror movies some leeway when it comes to realism because these scenarios would never happen in real life. I give the same leeway for movies based on comic books. 30 Days of Night is a horror movie based on comic book so don't go in expecting the next great Vampire flick. No sexy or cool Vamps or suave dapper Christopher Lee types. Just evil monsters that have been hiding for centuries, always on the go. They discover Barrow Alaska, where the sun sets and does not rise for 30 days, giving vampires plenty of time to slaughter the townspeople and hunt down the survivors. Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), Eben's younger brother Jake (Mark Rendall) and a handful of survivors try to make it to sunrise. Can they do it?

30 Days of Night is far from perfect. With plot gaps such as no reasons are ever given as to why Eben and Stella are separated as well as big gaps in continuity, the over use of the “Shaky Cam”, and vampires who annoyingly screech throughout, we are treated to a hit and miss addition to both comic book and horror genres by Hard Candy director David Slade. And you know what? That's fine with me. As long as there are good effects, good acting and a story that makes some sense, I consider it a decent horror movie. Cinematography wise, the color palette fits the mood of the film perfectly. Drab grays and shadows, even the snow is more gray than white. There is one shot that not only is a good example of the use of color, but the carnage that has been wrought by these monsters is and overhead shot that moves down the street, bodies lying in splattered puddles of blood, monsters darting here and there, grabbing victims. Great shot.

Besides seeming to always need a haircut no matter what role he is playing, Josh Hartnett is the strongest actor in the film, especially when it comes to protecting family. One scene in which his deputy has killed his family to spare them from the vampires has Hartnett shaking the man telling him, “You protect your family! Not kill them!” with emotion that you can feel. But then at other times he can be a little over the top. BUT remember, it is a vampire movie based on a comic book. Melissa George, who plays Stella, Eben's estranged wife is the standard strong woman character who wasn't even supposed to be in town (she missed her plane). I don't know the character name, so I can't look up the actor, but the lead vampire was extremely well acted. You don't want to mess with him because you can feel that he has centuries of experience at slaughtering humans. Which makes the final fight between him and Eben a little unbelievable. If you had centuries to practice, wouldn't you be the best warrior ever?

I can't quite put my finger on the reason why, but 30 Days of Night reminds me of Phantoms, a movie based on the novel of the same name starring Ben Affleck (Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms!- just a favorite quote from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back for those in the know), Rose McGowan and Peter O'Toole. But I digress. 30 Days of Night isn't without it's fair share of problems, but if you can overlook those, what you have left is more or less an action flick with elements of horror that is worth a rental on DVD.

http://www.30daysofnight.com/

Until 30 Days of Night 2: The Lost Boys Connection
keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Seeker: The Dark is Rising by JR

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising
Starring: Alexander Ludwig, Christopher Eccleston, Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, James Cosmo
Directed by: David L. Cunningham
Produced by: Walden Media
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Kid’s
MPAA Rating: PG for fantasy action and some scary images

A very normal boy, Will Stanton, newcomer Alexander Ludwig, is turning 14. He has a rather large family, five brothers and one sister, and they unfortunately appear to be more interested in getting the family together for the upcoming Christmas holiday than celebrating Will’s birthday. While his family seems to regard the day as nothing out of the ordinary (his brothers give him a sock because they forgot to get him a present), it seems as though Will is just stepping into the threshold of a new destiny for his life. Strange men are following him around with a look of hope and knowing on their faces. And then he is told that he is to be “The Seeker”: a boy who has been chosen to lead the forces of Light to overcome the impending arrival of the Dark.

Alexander Ludwig is sure to become a popular child actor, hopefully to recover from the Hollywood Child Actor Syndrome. He has mastered the art of being an awkward teen while still being a role model. Something that isn’t done too often these days. He has a crush on a girl at school and the shyness and the fear of rejection is clearly visible on his face. He’s the youngest brother and is often left out of the fun that his older brothers have, leaving him to relate more to his sister. He’s a very socially awkward boy and he just wants to fit in. When he is told that he is supposed to be “The Seeker”, he is very curious and excited to find out what exactly this entails, but he is also scared. Ultimately, he succeeds and overcomes all of the obstacles set before him to become a truly great character for kids to look up to.

Alexander Ludwig even holds his own against the supporting cast of fine, established actors in this film. It must have been nerve-racking to act alongside actors such as Christopher Eccleston (“28 Days Later”, “Doctor Who” and “Heroes”), Frances Conroy (“Six Feet Under”), Ian McShane (“Dallas”, “Hot Rod”), and James Cosmo (“Braveheart”, “Trainspotting”, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”). These four make up the group of “Old Ones” who have been chosen to pass down the knowledge of the Light and the Dark and to make sure that the Light prevails. They are a joy to watch onscreen together.

The film is based on a five book series by Susan Cooper. I have not read the book, so I cannot compare, but hopefully a little more explaining is done in the book. The film was funny and very entertaining, but dragged a bit, especially in the second half when the film was supposed to be the most exciting. But a few things would have been nice to see. More of the history of the “Old Ones” would be nice, as well as some more back story about Will Stanton’s relatives. Also, why are all of the “signs” that Will is supposed to find in his immediate area? And why are they scattered throughout time? A very cool idea, yes, but why? Why wouldn’t they be scattered throughout the entire world instead of scattered throughout a tiny town in England?

These minor plot points could cause some frustration among adults seeking more, but from the reactions of the audience, the younger crowd to which this is geared doesn’t really care. They were more interested in the powers that Will receives as “The Seeker” than the plot. They were more interested in Will succeeding than where or how he found the signs. The children in the theater were cheering for Will. There is a new hero for children, and he is brave and normal and just like your kids. Finally there is a great role model for them.

3 out of 5 stars

Jenny Rushing

beccajane67@yahoo.com

Movie Review: The Heartbreak Kid by ME

Title: The Heartbreak Kid
Starring: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Carlos Mencia, Robert Corddry
Directed By: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Produced By: John Davis, Joe Rosenberg, Marc S. Fischer
Genre: Comedy and Remake
Release Date: October 5th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, crude humor and language.
Distributors: DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Pictures

The Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter, remake a relatively obscure move titled The Heartbreak Kid in which Ben Stiller plays Eddie Cantrow, an everyman who meets Lila (Malin Akeman). Six weeks later they are married and on their honeymoon in Cabo where Lila gets a horrible sunburn which allows Eddie to wander around, meet, and fall for, Miranda (Michelle Monaghan). Eddie neglects to tell Miranda that he is on his honeymoon and the hilarity ensues.

While There's Something About Mary pushed the comedic boundaries and became a classic, The Heartbreak Kid fails to capture that same quality that made Mary so good. At times The Heartbreak Kid is a standard, yet enjoyable romantic comedy. But, every once in a while an over the top Farrelly gag is tossed in and feels really out of place. It's almost as if the Farrelly's couldn't decide if they were making a mainstream movie or a “Farrelly brother's comedy”, and it really shows. The clincher that ultimately tipped this from being an “ok” movie into the realm of a bad movie was the ending. Let's just say that Eddie didn't learn from his experience.

Although this is a Ben Stiller movie, the real stand out was Michelle Monaghan, who you may remember from kiss kiss bang bang or MI3. She plays a fun loving, sports oriented woman who captures Eddies heart and would be the perfect wife. She just gives a great and believable performance in a film that is full of stereotypical characters. Stiller's Eddie is still the same old Ben Stiller, just a little older and grayer. The Farrelly's must not have been able to get Cameron Diaz for this one so they hired her clone, Malin Akeman, who acts, looks, and moves just like Cameron. Carlos Mencia pops in and proves that he can't act as Uncle Tito, the hotel employee who is helping Eddie juggle the two women. Jerry Stiller has his almost obligatory part as, of course, Eddie's father and is the second most crass character in the film.

Not quite up to par with “Mary”, The Heartbreak Kid is pretty much just another mediocre comedy that will be easily forgotten. The best way to describe it tone wise would be if you took the heart of 50 First Dates and edited in all the raunchy bits from There's Something About Mary and hoped that you could satisfy fans of both films.

Visit the site at http://www.heartbreakkidmovie.com/

Until The Heartbreak Kid: The Honeymoon's Over,
keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com