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Video Views
December 2008
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRICE CASPIAN
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
STEP BROTHERS
BURN AFTER READING
THE HOUSE BUNNY
DEATH RACE
THE WOMEN
TRAITOR
THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
FLY ME TO THE MOON
THE LONGSHOTS
HAMLET 2
The Top 50 - Movie Contest - Feature Columns - Games
Coming In December
Dates are subject to change. Titles may not be available in all store locations.
DECEMBER 2
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN (PG) Action/Adventure/Fantasy Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes. (page 14)
WANTED (R) Action/Thriller James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Common. (page 4)
STEP BROTHERS (R) Comedy Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, Katherine Hahn. (page 4)
THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE (PG-13) Drama/Thriller/Sci-Fi David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly. (page 6)
FLY ME TO THE MOON (G) Animated Adventure/Comedy Trevor Gagnon, Christopher Lloyd, Kelly Ripa, Ed Begley Jr., Nicollette Sheridan, Tim Curry. (page 14)
THE LONGSHOTS (PG) Comedy/Drama Ice Cube, Keke Palmer, Tasha Smith, Matt Craven. (page 14)
DECEMBER 9
THE DARK KNIGHT (PG-13) Action/Adventure Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman. (page 3)
DR. SEUSS’ HORTON HEARS A WHO! (G) Animated Comedy Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Amy Poehler. (page 14)
DECEMBER 16
MAMMA MIA (PG-13) Musical Comedy/Romance Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried. (page 3)
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (PG-13) Action/Adventure/Fantasy Brendan Fraser, Jet Li. (page 4)
DECEMBER 19
TRAITOR (PG-13) Drama/Suspense/Thriller Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Said Taghmaoui, Jeff Daniels, Neal McDonough. (page 6)
DECEMBER 23
BURN AFTER READING (R) Comedy/Drama Directed by the Coen brothers, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich. (page 5)
THE HOUSE BUNNY (PG-13) Comedy Anna Faris, Emma Stone, Colin Hanks, Kat Dennings. (page 5)
DEATH RACE (R) Action/Thriller Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez. (page 5)
THE WOMEN (PG-13) Comedy/Drama Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman. (page 5)
HAMLET 2 (R) Comedy Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Melonie Diaz, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler. (page 6)
DECEMBER 27
EAGLE EYE (PG-13) Action/Suspense/Thriller Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie. (see January issue)
GHOST TOWN (PG-13) Comedy/Fantasy/Romance Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell, Aasif Mandvi. (see January issue)
THE DUCHESS (PG-13) Drama/Romance Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Charlotte Rampling, Simon McBurney. (see January issue)
DECEMBER 30
AN AMERICAN CAROL (PG-13) Comedy/Fantasy Kevin Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Robert Davi, Trace Adkins, Jon Voight, Leslie Nielsen. (page 6)
On the Inside
Coming In December
Reviews by the Video Views Staff
Pages 3-6
Contest & Games
Page 7
Top 50
Pages 8-11
Top Picks
Hail to the Chief - Art Slavin
Based on a True... - Sue Varno
Page 12
Another Look
Hugh Jackman
Page 12
Family & Kids Views
Pages 14-15
Look for the JANUARY issue of Video Views featuring: Pineapple Express; Righteous Kill;
Lakeview Terrace; Max Payne; Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys; Mirrors; Fireproof; Babylon
A.D.; Vicky Cristina Barcelona; My Best Friend’s Girl; Swing Vote; Bangkok Dangerous;
Disaster Movie; Brideshead Revisited; Tell No One; & MORE!
December 2008
Video Views
2
Sid Skolnik
The Dark Knight;
Burn After Reading;
Wanted; Hamlet 2;
Mamma Mia; Step Brothers
Art Slavin
The Dark Knight;
Wanted; X-Files; Burn After
Reading; Death Race;
Horton Hears A Who!
Rhonda Rae
The Dark Knight;
Burn After Reading;
Wanted; Hamlet 2;
Mamma Mia; Step Brothers
THE DARK KNIGHT (PG-13: v) Action/Adventure December 9
Crime is on the rise, keeping Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman) and the Gotham City police force
busier than ever. And in spite of all the help Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) gets from his trusty
butler Alfred (Michael Caine) and his company’s master technician Lucius Fox (Morgan
Freeman), even he as Batman can’t hold it all down. Amateur vigilantes try to help, but
the drug dealers still run rampant. In steps the crazy bank robbing clown-like Joker (Heath
Ledger) whose attacks are paralyzing the city as high government officials are being knocked
off. But there seems to be hope. The new District Attorney in town, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), has the confidence of the population… as opposed to Batman, whose reputation is
slipping badly. Not only that but Dent is dating Bruce’s ex-girlfriend Rachel Dawes (Maggie
Gyllenhaal), and the Joker is threatening to blow up Gotham unless Batman reveals himself.
Ledger’s performance is fantastic. 152 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: 2 disc includes “Batman Tech: The Incredible Gadgets and Tools.”
Partial Credits: Christian Bale (I’m Not There; 3:10 To Yuma; Rescue Dawn; The Prestige; Harsh Times; The New World; Batman Begins; Laurel Canyon;
Equilibrium; Reign of Fire; Captain Corelli’s Mandolin; Shaft; American Psycho; Swing Kids; Newsies; Empire of the Sun). Heath Ledger (I’m Not There;
Brokeback Mountain; Casanova; The Brothers Grimm; Lords of Dogtown; Ned Kelly; The Order; The Four Feathers; Monster Ball; A Knight’s Tale; The
Patriot; 10 Things I Hate About You). Aaron Eckhart (No Reservations; The Black Dahlia; Thank You for Smoking; Suspect Zero; Paycheck; The Missing; The
Core; Possession; The Pledge; Nurse Betty; Erin Brockovich; In the Company of Men).
MAMMA MIA (PG-13: bd) Musical Comedy/Romance
December 16
Donna Sheridan (Meryl
Streep) runs a hotel on
the Greek island to which
she brought three men to
over twenty years ago.
And while she had sent
them all away, now her
daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is getting
married to her boyfriend (Dominic Cooper) there tomorrow.
Sophie wants her father to walk her down the aisle but doesn’t
know who he is. After reading her mother’s diary, she narrows it
down to those three guys: Sam Carmichael (Pierce Brosnan), Bill
Anderson (Stellan Skarsgärd), and Harry Bright (Colin Firth)…
and unbenownst to Donna, invites them all to the wedding. All
three show up as do Donna’s sidekicks from their showbiz days,
Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters). While
the men are confused as to why they’re there, Donna is furious,
and wants them gone. But one night, each of the guys realizes
he must be Sophie’s dad. This hit Broadway musical inspired by
ABBA songs, is a joyous celebration from beginning to its surprising finale. 98 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: 2-disc will include on-screen lyrics for 22 musical numbers; Featurettes.
Partial Credits: Meryl Streep (Lions for Lambs; Rendition; Evening;; The Devil Wears Prada; A Prairie Home Companion; Prime; Lemony Snicket; The
Manchurian Candidate; The Hours; Adaptation; Music of the Heart; One True Thing; Marvin’s Room; The Bridges of Madison County; The River Wild;
Death Becomes Her; Defending Your Life; Postcards from the Edge; She-Devil; Heartburn; Out of Africa; Silkwood; Sophie’s Choice; Manhattan; Kramer
vs. Kramer; The Deer Hunter). Pierce Brosnan (Married Life; Seraphim Falls; The Matador; After the Sunset; Laws of Attraction; Die Another Day; Evelyn;
The Tailor of Panama; The World is Not Enough; The Thomas Crown Affair; Dante’s Peak; Tomorrow Never Dies; The Mirror Has Two Faces; GoldenEye;
Mrs. Doubtfire; The Lawnmower Man).
Ratings Codes: a-Adult Theme; m-Mature Theme; d-Sexual Dialogue; I-Coarse Language; n-Nudity; s-Sexuality; v-Violence; b-Brief; g-Graphic; p-Partial
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Video Views
December 2008
WANTED (R: m, bgd, gl, bpn, bs, gv) Action/Thriller December 2
Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) couldn’t care less
about his life. He has a dull job with a tryannical boss;
his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend; and
he swallows pills like candy for his panic attacks. Then
one day a beautiful woman (Angelina Jolie) steps in
and takes him on a mind-blowing trip to a place where
he is told that he is the son of a recently killed member of
their Fraternity, a band of assassins led by Sloane (Morgan Freeman). Their mission is to follow orders via a
code from a textile loom, and murder evil people. Wesley
is told he is the only one who can kill the rogue member
of their group who murdered his father, and that he must
go through some tough training to do so. From the first
scene to the last, you will be left breathless. With Terence Stamp and Common. Based upon Mark Millar’s graphic novel series. 110 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: 2-disc and Blu-ray editions will include eight Featurettes.
Partial Credits: James McAvoy (Penelope; Atonement; Becoming Jane; The Last King of Scotland; The Chronicles of Narnia; bit-Wimbledon). Angelina Jolie
(Beowulf; A Mighty Heart; The Good Shepherd; Mr. & Mrs. Smith; Alexander; Shark Tale (voice); Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow; Taking Lives; Beyond
Borders; Life or Something Like It; Original Sin; Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 1 & 2; Gone in 60 Seconds; Girl, Interrupted; The Bone Collector; Playing By
Heart; Pushing Tin; Playing God; Hackers).
STEP BROTHERS (R: m, gd, gl, bs) Comedy
December 2
It’s love at first sight for divorcée Nancy Huff (MarySteenburgen)
and widower Dr. Robert Doback (Richard Jenkins). They have a
lot in common, including the fact that each of them has a forty
year-old son still living with them. Neither Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) nor Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) is at all happy with his new
step-brother or their living arrangements when Nancy and Robert
get married. Both are spoiled brats with the brains and attitudes
of seven year-olds, resulting in a whole mess of friction. That is,
until Brennan’s successful but very arrogant younger brother Derek
(Adam Scott) comes to visit, and the boys find they have a lot in
common, including their hatred of Derek. So their animosity turns
into a close friendship, only to reverse itself again when they mess
up their parents’ lives. The laughs are plentiful, as are the sight
gags and gross humor. The finale is not only clever, but heartwarming too. 95 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Extended/Alternative Scenes; more.
Partial Credits: Will Ferrell (Semi-Pro; Blades of Glory; Talladega Nights;; The Producers (2005); Bewitched; Kicking & Screaming; Melinda & Melinda;
Anchorman; Elf; Old School; Zoolander; Superstar; Dick; A Night at the Roxbury). John C. Reilly (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story; Year of the Dog; A Prairie
Home Companion; Talladega Nights; Dark Water; The Aviator; Anger Management; Chicago; Gangs of New York; The Hours; The Good Girl; The Perfect
Storm; Magnolia; Boogie Nights; For Love of the Game; Never Been Kissed; The Thin Red Line; The River Wild; Hoffa; bits- Dolores Claiborne; What’s Eating
Gilbert Grape?; Shadows & Fog; Days of Thunder; We’re No Angels).
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (PG-13: v) Action/Fantasy
December 16
Rick and Eve O’Connell (Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello) have
retired to their English country home, no longer into war espionage. But somewhat bored, they agree to go to on a mission
to Shanghai. When they get there they run into their son Alex
(Luke Ford), who instead of having been at school, is celebrating having found the tomb of Emperor Han (Jet Li), a vicious
tyrant who centuries ago murdered for power and the elixir
that would give him eternal life. But when he betrayed the
sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) who showed him where to find it,
she put a curse on him, causing him and his armies to fall into
a comatose state that could only be reversed by the Eye of
Shangri-La. Now with the aid of Lin (Isabella Leong) to whom
Alex is attracted, the O’Connell’s must stop the awakened emperor before he takes over the world. Their journey is fraught
with horrifying monsters and a seemingly unconquerable force.
112 min. (Slavin)
Partial Credits: Brendan Fraser (Journey to the Center of the Earth; The Air I Breathe; Crash; Looney Tunes: Back in Action; The Quiet American; The Mummy
Returns; Monkeybone; Bedazzled; Dudley Do-Right; Blast From The Past; The Mummy; George Of The Jungle; Airheads; The Scout; With Honors; Encino
Man; School Ties). Jet Li (The Forbidden Kingdom; War; Jet Li’s Fearless; Unleashed; Hero; Cradle 2 Grave; The One; Kiss of the Dragon; Romeo Must Die;
Black Mask; Lethal Weapon 4). Maria Bello (The Jane Austen Book Club; Flicka; Thank You for Smoking; World Trade Center; A History of Violence; Assault
on Precinct 13; Secret Window; The Cooler).
November 2008
Video Views
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BURN AFTER READING (R: m, bd, gl, bs, bv) Comedy/Drama
December 23
CIA analyist Oswald Cox (John Malkovich) is a very angry man. He has just
been demoted and his wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) doesn’t listen to anything
he says. She’s too busy with other things, like her affair with Harry Pfarrer
(George Clooney), a married man who also surfs the Internet for women to
hook up with. Having quit his job, Oswald is now writing his memoirs, a computer disc of which is found by the cleaning man at Hardbodies Fitness Center.
Two of the trainers there, Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad
Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), thinking the disc contains top secret information, see
an opportunity for blackmail. Linda is especially intent on getting money for
a series of cosmetic surgeries, and pushes Chad into confronting Oswald, as
well as searching his house for more of this “damaging evidence” to sell to
the Russians. Meanwhile Linda, also a date surfer, hooks up with Harry, and
the plot turns into a riotous farce. With Richard Jenkins. 96 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Featurettes include “Making-of.”
DEATH RACE (R: m, bd, l, gv) Action/Thriller
December 23
The year is 2012 and the world economy has collapsed, with unemployment and crime at their highest rates ever. Reformed ex-con Jensen Ames
(Jason Statham) has been framed for the murder of his wife and is
sent to the infamous Terminal Island Prison, home of the most dangerous
criminals and now run by private enterprise. Corporate interests being
what they are, Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen) runs a nationally broadcast pay-TV show called “Death Race,” which pits prisoners against each
other in a “kill or be killed” competition that makes a demolition derby
look like a kiddy carousel. And she needs Ames to take the place of her
star racer Frankenstein, who unbeknownst to others, died in his last race,
losing to top rival Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson). But when Ames
figures out who really killed his wife, he must figure out a way to turn
the tables on the warden. Ian McShane is featured in this fast-paced
adventure. 89 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: includes rated and unrated cuts.
THE HOUSE BUNNY (PG-13: m, d, bl, bpn) Comedy
December 23
She was raised in an orphanage, but when Shelley (Anna Faris) grew up, she
became a raving beauty and found a home at the Playboy Mansion belonging
to Hugh Hefner (playing himself). She couldn’t have been happier, but when
she awoke the morning after her 27th birthday party, she was given a note
evicting her from the house. With nowhere to go, she wandered around until
she found a sorority house that was on the verge of losing its charter, and
successfully talked herself into a job as the house mother of seven geeky girls.
With the seemingly impossible task of getting thirty pledges in order to avoid
being closed down, and the underhanded tactics of a rival sorority making
sure they failed, Shelley with her ever-positive attitude and sexy approach,
worked her magic transforming the girls (Emma Stone, Katherine McPhee
and Rumer Willis among them), while they helped her find a boyfriend (Colin
Hanks). But there were still problems to overcome. 97 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Deleted Scenes; Featurettes; more.
THE WOMEN (PG-13: m, bd, bl) Comedy/Drama
December 23
In this remake of the 1939 Anita Loos classic, Meg Ryan stars as Mary
Haynes, a well-to-do suburban housewife whose husband is having an affair with sultry Saks Fifth Avenue sales clerk Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes).
When a chatty manicurist (Debi Mazar) unwittingly spills the beans to
Mary’s closest friend, magazine editor Sylvia Fowler (Annette Bening),
who in turn shares the info with her other best pals, the ever-pregnant
Edie Cohen (Debra Messing), and lesbian Alex Fisher (Jada Pinkett
Smith), they try to keep it a secret. But Mary goes to the same manicurist.
In spite of the comfort and advice she receives from her mother (Candice
Bergen), her housekeeper (Cloris Leachman), and a woman she meets
at a spa (Bette Midler), Mary still throws the bum out. The difficult times
over the next few months cause rifts between Mary and her friends, but
will loyalty, honesty, and trust eventually win out? Carrie Fisher has a
cameo as a poison pen columnist. 114 min. (Slavin)
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Video Views
December 2008
TRAITOR (PG-13: m, bl, v) Drama/Suspense/Thriller
December 19
Imprisoned in Yemen for selling explosives to terrorists, Samir (Don
Cheadle) is befriended by fellow prisoner Omar (Saïd Taghmaoui), who
is impressed with his devout attention to the Muslim faith. The two men
escape and Samir joins Omar’s group, recruiting and training youths to be
suicide bombers. After a bombing in Spain, FBI agents Roy Clayton (Guy
Pearce) and Max Archer (Neil McDonough) learn about dozens of terrorists recently arrived in America with one objective in mind. With Samir
as their prime suspect as the major player in these terrorist activities, the
FBI conducts an investigation and finds that he grew up in Chicago and
was a Special Operations Officer in the United States Army, an explosives
expert. He then went to Sudan and got back in touch with his roots and his
religion. As suspicions about him mount, Samir becomes more and more
involved in this web of intrigue. But he’s determined to accomplish his
mission. With Jeff Daniels as a CIA official. 114 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Commentary; Behind-the-Scenes footage of stunts, special effects; more.
THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE (PG-13: m, v) Drama/Sci-Fi/Thriller
December 2
Dana Scully (Gillan Anderson) is a dedicated surgeon, no longer associated with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. But when a psychic pedophilic former priest (Billy
Connelly) sees things that could aid the bureau’s efforts to find a missing agent, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) asks her to get Fox
Mulder (David Duchovny) to come out of exile to help. Scully, of course, is still a skeptic, and Mulder is still a believer in the extraoridinary; however, he won’t get involved
unless Dana does too. She reluctantly agrees, but since she has a critical and controversial issue regarding a dying young patient, she soon leaves Mulder to go it alone.
A journey filled with serial killings, underground medical experiments, and decisions
to make about psychic powers. It’s been six years since their last TV episode, but Scully
and Mulder are still getting it on… and the chemistry is still there. 100 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Commentary; Deleted Scenes; Gag Reel; more.
HAMLET 2 (R: m, d, l) Comedy
December 23
He made a few TV commercials, but Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan) never made it
as an actor. So he and his hard-drinking wife (Catherine Keener) moved to Arizona
where he took a thankless job as the drama teacher at a high school that had little
interest in its arts programs. And to top it off, except for a couple a geeky acting
addicts (Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole), his class consisted solely of totally disinterested roughneck kids. Dana’s plays thus far had been duds, and he was given one
last chance to keep his job. So he decided to write his own version of a Shakespearean
classic and get the kids to do it. But when the principal and parents saw how sacrilegious it appeared to be, it was sure to be closed down. In stepped an ACLU lawyer
(Amy Poehler) who sided with Marschz, and as they say, “The play’s the thing.”
David Arquette is featured, and Elizabeth Shue plays herself. 92 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Commentary; Deleted Scenes; more.
AN AMERICAN CAROL (PG-13: bd, bl) Comedy/Fantasy
December 30
At a Fourth of July picnic, a grandfather (Leslie Nielsen) tells a group of children a story
that’s a variation on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: Liberal documentary maker Michael
Malone (Kevin Farley, brother of the late comedian Chris Farley… playing a character
clearly based on Michael Moore), who’s campaigning to abolish the Independence Day
holiday, is visited by several ghosts… including Gen. George S. Pattton (Kelsey Grammer)
and George Washington (Jon Voight), who show him the error of his ways and his political philosophy. At the same time, a group of Afghan terrorists have approached Malone to
shoot their next “training video,” and he’s hoping their funding will enable him to make his
first feature film and get out of being a “mere” documentarian. From writer/director David
Zucker, (Airplane!, The Naked Gun, Scary Movie 3 and 4). 83 min.
Related Views
Please Visit our Website for the full list - www.morevideoviews.com
MAMMA MIA (Musicals) Hairspray; Grease; Dreamgirls; Rent; Little Shop of Horrors; Chicago; West Side Story; Sweeney Todd; Across the Universe;
The Producers; Phantom of the Opera; Moulin Rouge
STEP BROTHERS (Sibling Rivalries) The Savages; The Darjeeling Limited; Stuck on You; Adaptation; Atonement; In Her Shoes; The Other Boleyn
Girl; Cruel Intentions; Raising Helen; Margot at the Wedding; Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
BURN AFTER READING (Dark Comedies) School for Scoundrels;You Kill Me; Mr and Mrs Smith; Ice Harvest; Trainspotting; Little Miss Sunshine;
Death To Smoochy; Death at a Funeral; Secretary; The Savages; Fargo; Running with Scissors; The Ladykillers; American Beauty; Gross Pointe
Blank; The Cable Guy
December 2008
Video Views
6
Sid Skolnik’s
Movie Contest
Win $50.00
Match the correct title with the most appropriate clue.
One entry per person. Mail your answers to “Movie Contest” P.O. Box 596 Palos Park, IL 60464 or e-mail your entry to:
[email protected]. You must include where you obtained Video Views, as well as your current address. All entries must be sent by December 31.
The entry with the MOST CORRECT answers wins. Ties will be broken by a drawing.
This month’s winner will be announced in the February 2009 issue of Video Views.
s
C l ue
1. “I don’t read the script. The script reads me!”
A. Hancock
B. Leatherheads
C. Get Smart
D. The Incredible Hulk.
E. Run Fatboy Run
F. Tropic Thunder
G. Hellboy II
H. Fred Claus
I. Maid of Honor
J. Meet Dave
2. “Mom was right about you!”
3. “I know; I’m ugly!”
4. 1925.
5. A bottling plant in Brazil.
6. He gets a promotion.
7. Scotland
8. He left her at the alter.
9. Los Angeles.
10.
Mov
ies
More Cash Contests
on our web page
www.morevideoviews.com
October Answers 1-C; 2-G-; 3-A; 4-I; 5-B; 6-H; 7-J; 8-D; 9-E; 10-F
October Contest Winner:
Jody Hale of Tonganoxie, KS
Must call 708-671-1952 to claim prize!
All monthly winners are entered into the year end $200 Grand Prize drawing.
See our website for more details.
Video Game Views
TOP 10 (11- 25 on www.morevideoviews.com)
6. JAMES BOND 007: QUANTUM OF SOLACE (XBOX 360, PS3, Wii)
7. MIDNIGHT CLUB LOS ANGELES (XBOX 360, PS3)
8. FABLE II (XBOX 360)
9. STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED (XBOX 360, PS3, Wii, PS2)
10. CALL OF DUTY 4: WORLD AT WAR (XBOX 360, PS3, Wii, PS2)
1. FAR CRY 2 (XBOX 360, PS3)
2. GEARS OF WAR 2 (XBOX 3, PS3)
3. FALLOUT 3 (XBOX 360, PS3)
4. SAINTS ROW 2 (XBOX 360, PS3)66
5. DEAD SPACE (XBOX 360, PS3)
PRINCE OF PERSIA (PS3, XBox 360)
December 2
A new hero emerges: Master the acrobatics, strategy and fighting tactics of the most agile warrior of all time. Grip
fall down the face of a building, and swing over canyons, buildings and anything that is reachable.This new rogue
warrior must utilize all of his new skills, along with a whole new combat system, to battle Ahriman’s corrupted
lieutenants to heal the land from the dark Corruption and restore the light.
RISE OF THE ARGONAUTS (PS3, XBOX360) December 16
As the King of Iolcus, Jason had everything… a prosperous kingdom, the respect of his peers, and a beautiful fiancé. When she was killed on their wedding
day, he vowed to do anything to restore her life. Now, in order to accomplish
this heroic feat Jason must seek out the Golden Fleece, and with the help of
some of Greek mythology’s greatest heroes, Jason will set sail on the most epic
voyage of all time.
HEI$T (PS3, XBOX 360)
December 31
Allows gamers to become the leader of a group of renegade criminals as they rob and steal their way throughout
San Francisco, all the while their sites set on the big score… the Mint. It’s 1969, the summer of love in San Francisco. Playing as Johnny Sutton, fresh out of jail, and together with reunited crew, players are set to pull off dozens
of heists that will inevitably make a name for him as the greatest bank robber of all time.
Video Views December 2008 Vol. 19 Issue 12
Published Monthly by SBS Publications - All Rights Reserved©
Main Office (708) 671-1952 - P.O. Box 596 - Palos Park, IL 60464 - E-Mail: [email protected]
Publisher and Editor: Sid Skolnik - Art Director: Shaun Rowe
Advising Editor: Rhonda Rae - Writers: Art Slavin, Susan Varno - Consultant: Paul Kamzic
Visit our website - www.morevideoviews.com
7
Video Views
December 2008
Top 50
* Indicates a new entry - This list reflects current popularity
1. *HANCOCK (PG-13: bl, v) Action/Comedy/Fantasy Will Smith, Charlize
Theron, Jason Bateman. John Hancock is an unhappy and reluctant superhero who is
depressed and has started drinking very heavily. He has saved many lives in Los Angeles
over the years, but in doing so, he has no regards for damaging buildings, trains, roads,
cars, or anything that gets in his way. People have had enough of Hancock, and they
want him to stop or go to another city. Then one day, Hancock saves the life of Ray
Embrey from being run over by a train. Ray is a public relations executive who owes
Hancock his life, and he makes it his mission to change his superhero’s image and have
the public cheering him. But his wife Mary had some real problems with that… and for
good reason. 92 min.
2. *WALL·E (G) Animated Sci-Fi/Comedy (see page 15)
3. *TROPIC THUNDER (R: m, gd, gl, v) Comedy/Action Ben Stiller, Robert
Downey Jr., Jack Black, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Bill Hader,
Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Brandon Jackson, Danny McBride. They’re shooting a
movie based on the Vietnam war starring a five-time Oscar winner, an Australian who has
undergone a surgical makeover in order to play a black sergeant; a Rambo-like action hero,
whose career has plummeted; a dopehead, who has gained fame as a farting fatty in his
films; and a rapper, known for his commercial ventures Directed by an incompetent director
and supported by an overzealous explosives expert, the actors, along with a new kid venture
off to do their scene, when everything goes wrong and they find themselves in the middle
of real-life danger. 107 min.
4. *FRED CLAUS (PG) Comedy/Fantasy (see page 15)
5. *THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 (PG-13: m, bs)
Comedy/Drama/Romance America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel,
Blake Lively, Blythe Danner, Kyle MacLachlan, Shohreh Aghdashloo. Now three
years later, it’s summer break from college and the girls get together… but only briefly.
Bridget is going on an archeological dig in Turkey. Carmen had planned to spend time
with her pregnant mother, but decided at the last moment to go to an acting workshop
in Vermont. Lena has a scholarship at the Rhode Island School of Design, and Tibby is
remaining in New York to work on her script for summer school at NYU. While staying
in touch by sending the pants to each other, they are unaware of the problems they face
while apart. 117 min
6. *HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY (PG-13: bl, v) Action/Fantasy Directed
by Guillermo Del Toro. Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, John
Hurt. The director of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is trying to keep his
supernatural agents a secret. But when Prince Nuada steps into the picture in an attempt
to reverse a century old treaty between his family and the humans, Hellboy, his “superhot”
wife Liz, and Abe the lovable fish creature blow their cover in order to stop him. They are
joined by a new agent, an ultra-organized bossy robot Johann Strauss, and together they
must keep Nuada from obtaining the missing piece of a crown that will locate the Golden
Army of automatons the evil prince plans use to vanquish the human race. 110 min.
7. *KUNG FU PANDA (PG) Comedy/Action (see page 15)
8. *GET SMART (PG-13: bd, bl, bv) Comedy/Action Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp, Terry Crews, David Koechner.
Based on the classic television show. Maxwell Smart has been trying hard to become a
CONTROL field agent, but is considered too important as an analyst by The Chief. So he
continues to work in the office with his colleagues. However, when KAOS assassinates
all of the existing field agents, Maxwell is promoted to Agent 86 status and is sent in to
work with capable Agent 99 in order to find the source of a radioactive substance being
manufactured by Siegfried, the head of KAOS. In spite of all his bumbling, 86 and 99 track
down Siegfried, but no evidence of the weapons is found, and Max is thought to be a
double agent. 110 min.
9. *SPACE CHIMPS (G) Animated Comedy/Sci-fi (see page 15)
December 2008
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10. *STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (PG) Animated Sci-Fi/
Action Matt Lanter. The son of Jabba the Hut has been kidnapped, and in
spite of their conflicts, the Jedi must try to rescue him in order to keep their
outer ring safe from the Separatists. But all the Jedi knights are busy fighting the
Separatists’ droid armies. Since it appeared that Anakin Skywalker and Obi-WanKenobe had polished off their mission, Master Yoda and the General send for
them to find Jaba’s son. While Anakin and his Padawan learner fight on, Kenobe
is on the brink of surrender. Count Dooku and his sinister agents will stop at nothing to ensure that Anakin fails in his quest. Meanwhile on the front lines, Yoda
and Kenobe lead the massive clone army in a valiant effort to resist the forces of
the dark side. 98 min.
11. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (PG) Adventure/Sci-Fi (see page 15)
12. THE INCREDIBLE HULK (PG-13: bd, v) Action/Fantasy Edward Nor-
ton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson. Now a fugitive, hiding
out in Brazil and working in a bottling plant, brilliant scientist Dr. Bruce Banner is
striving to control his anger and find a cure for the blood condition that turns him
into the green hulk. But an accident at the factory causes a drop of his blood to get
into a soda bottle, thereby allowing General “Thunderbolt” Ross to locate him and
hunt him down. Close to a cure, and driven by his passion for the general’s daughter,
his one true love, Banner returns home, not only to be continually hounded by the
warmongering military men, but also beset by an egocentric soldier, who has been
turned into an evil monster. 114 min.
13. INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL
SKULL (PG-13: v) Action/Adventure Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf,
Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent. It’s
1957, and this time “Indy” and his sidekick “Mac” have been kidnapped by a
gang led by Russian KGB agent Irina Spalko, who wants them to lead her to a
supernatural treasure. Jones escapes but when motorcycling greaser Mutt Williams shows him a cryptic letter from mutual friend Professor Oxley, “Indy” is
enticed into joining the kid in following a series of riddles taking them on a death
defying journey into the wilds of Peru, Spalko is once again on their trail, which
leads to a reunion with old girlfriend Marion Ravenswood and surprises for both
Indy and Mutt. 124 min.
14. THE STRANGERS (R: m, l, bs, gv) Horror/Suspense Thriller Liv Tyler,
Scott Speedman. Kristen and James have arrived at a secluded vacation home in
the woods after attending a friend’s wedding. It’s four in the morning when there is
heavy knock at the door. They open it to find a dazed young woman hidden in the
shadows. Assuming she is lost, James sends her away, but Kristen is disturbed by the
late-night visit. Later, when James leaves to go on a drive and pick up some cigarettes,
Kristen is left alone, moving through the huge house in a painfully eerie silence, all
the while knowing that she is being watched. By the time James returns, Kristen is
in hysterics, and together they must face the terrifying fact that they are indeed in
grave danger. 90 min.
15. *THIS CHRISTMAS (PG-13: m, bd, bl, bv) Comedy/Drama Delroy Lindo,
Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown, Laz Alonso, Regina King, Mekhi Phifer.
The Whitford family has gathered for Christmas. And as intelligent, financially comfortable, and respectful as they are, each seems to have something they don’t want any one
else to know. The kids don’t know that Ma’Dere’s boyfriend Joe is living in… except for
Michael aka “Baby,” who is keeping quiet about his musical asprirations. Daughter Lisa,
who wants to sell the family business as well as her mother’s home, has an unfaithful
husband. While everyone is so proud of his uniform, no one knows that Claude is AWOL.
And Quentin, who hasn’t spent Christmas with the family in four years, attracts thug
creditors to the house. 117 min.
16. *MEET DAVE (PG) Comedy/Sci-Fi (see page 15)
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17. IRON MAN (PG-13: bd, v) Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi Robert Downey,
Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb. Directed by Jon
Favreau. Tony Stark is as brilliant as he is wealthy. As CEO of Stark Industries he has
changed the face of the weapons world. While in the Mideast presenting his newest
weapon to the US military, he is caught in an ambush and wakes up in the hands of terrorists who insist that he build his weapon for them. Instead he creates an impenetrable
suit, complete with built-in weapons that allow him to beat his captors and escape. Once
free, Stark discovers a deadly conspiracy that could destabilize the entire globe, and dons
his powerful new suit on a mission to stop the villains and save the world. 126 min.
18. THE HAPPENING (R: m, gv) Suspense/Thriller Written and directed by M.
Night Shyamalan. Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo. According to
reports, citizens in the vicinity of Central Park in New York City have suddenly and inexplicably began killing themselves by whatever means are at their disposal. As the phenomena
begins to spread and talk of terrorism fills the airwaves, Philadelphia high school science
teacher Elliot Moore, his wife, and their friend and his daughter board a train bound for
the presumed safety of the country. When the train screeches to a halt before arriving at
its final destination, the frightened passengers are forced to fend for themselves as each
consecutive news report paints an increasingly grim picture of the situation. 91 min.
19. YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (PG-13: m, d, bl, bpn, s) Comedy/
Action Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson, Lainie Kazan, Rob Schneider. Zohan Dvir, is the Israeli army’s best weapon. He can single-handedly
take out terrorists, and still find time to charm the ladies. But this lethal weapon is tired of
fighting Palestinian terrorists like the Phantom. He has bigger dreams: he wants to cut and
style hair. With an assumed identity, after faking his own death, he arrives in New York City,
but his lack of experience gets him laughed out of salon after salon. Finally, Dalia, a Palestinian
salon owner, gives him a shot, and the older patrons love him. But a Palestinian New York City
cabbie recognizes him, and suddenly the Zohan’s dream is in jeopardy. 113 min.
20. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL (R: a, gd, gl, bgn, s) Comedy/
Romance Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, Mila Kunis, Jonah Hill, Paul
Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Bill Hader. Sarah is a beautiful and successful television star who
has been dating Peter for five years. Peter has been struggling to create an innovative musical, but because of his relationship with Sarah, is satisfied writing the background music
for her series So he’s shocked and emotionally destroyed when she tells him that while
she loves him, she has found someone new… kinky English rock star Aldous Snow. Peter’s
step-brother convinces him to get out and play the field, but that doesn’t work. Maybe a
trip to Hawaii will help. But who’s there too? Sarah and Aldous, of course. 112 min.
21. *TRANSSIBERIAN (R: m, bl, bv) Drama/Suspense/Thriller Woody Har-
relson, Emily Mortimer, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega, Ben Kingsley. An American
couple who have been struggling with their marriage, Roy and Jessie, decide to take the
long way home from their recent sojourn in Asia on the legendary Trans-siberian Express
train from Beijing to Moscow. On their way, they meet another couple from the West,
Carlos and Abby, with whom they quickly form a familiar bond that often unites fellow
travellers away from home. When Roy accidentally gets separated from the group at a stopover, Jessie begins to realize that their compatriots aren’t exactly who or what they seem to be.
Then more danger begins to surface from a deceitful Russian detective. 111 min.
22. KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL (G) Drama/Comedy (see page 15)
23. LEATHERHEADS (PG-13: bl) Comedy/Romance George Clooney (also
directed), Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski, Jonathan Pryce, Stephen Root. It’s
1925. Dodge Connolly is a free-spirited, hard-living player in the fledgling American
professional football league. When his team loses its sponsor, Dodge reinvents the
game with the assistance of C.C. Frazier, a greedy public relations man, and Carter
Rutherford, a too-good-to-be-true college football star and war hero. Just as the game
begins to peak the interest of the American public, Dodge and Carter find themselves at
odds and the fragile credibility of the league teetering in the balance when they cross paths
with Lexie Littleton, a beautiful, ambitious reporter from the Chicago Tribune. 114 min.
December 2008
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24. WAR, INC. (R: m, l, bs, v) Comedy/Action John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Marisa Tomei,
Hilary Duff, Ben Kingsley, Ben Cross, Dan Akroyd, Ned Bellamy. A political satire set in Turaqistan,
a country occupied by an American private corporation run by a former US Vice-President. In an effort
to monopolize the opportunities the war-torn nation offers, the corporation’s CEO hires a troubled hit
man to kill a Middle East oil minister. Now, struggling with his own growing demons, the assassin
must pose as the corporation’s trade show producer in order to pull off this latest hit, while maintaining his cover by organizing the high-profile wedding of Yonica Babyyeah an outrageous Middle
Eastern pop star, and keeping a sexy left wing reporter in check. 107 min.
25. *THE PERFECT HOLIDAY (PG) Comedy/Romance (see page 15)
26. SEX AND THE CITY (R: a, gd, l, bgn, gs) Comedy/Drama/Romance Sarah Jessica
Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Jennifer Hudson, Evan Handler,
David Eigenberg, Jason Lewis. Follow up to the TV series. The foursome are still friends. Miranda and
Steve are married and living in Brooklyn; Charlotte and Harry have adopted Lily from China; Samantha
has moved to Malibu to be with Smith, whose Hollywood career has skyrocketed; and Carrie and Big
have decided to get married. But when Steve drops a bomb on Miranda, Charlotte comes up with a big
surprise for everybody, Samantha is unable to get New York out of her system, Big gets cold feet, and
dissention creeps into the close relationship of two of the girls, we’re in for a rocky ride. 148 min.
27. BABY MAMA (PG-13: m, d, bl) Comedy Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax
Shepard, Romany Malco, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Martin, Maura Tierney, Holland Taylor. Successful and single businesswoman Kate Holbrook has long put her career ahead of a personal life. Now
37, she’s finally determined to have a kid on her own. After unsuccessful attempts at in vitro fertilization
and adoption, she reluctantly hires a surrogate. But the executive’s well-organized strategy is turned
upside down when her Baby Mama, gum-smacking working girl Angie Ostrowiski shows up at her
doorstep with no place to live. Sructured Kate tries to turn Angie into the perfect expectant mom and
they struggle their way through preparation for the baby’s arrival. 99 min.
28. MADE OF HONOR (PG-13: m, d, bl, bs) Comedy/Romance Patrick Dempsey, Michelle
Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Sydney Pollack, Kathleen Quinlan. Ten years ago,
Tom and Hannah met under the most unusual circumstances, yet in spite of her refusing his advances,
became very close friends. Tom is still the womanizing bachelor he always was, saving Sundays for his
best friend Hannah. After a while, it seems that Hannah is starting to have feelings for Tom, and when
she has to travel to Scotland on business, Tom truly misses her and decides that she is the only woman
he wants. But upon her return she introduces her fiancé to Tom and asks him to be the “maid” of honor
at their wedding in Scotland. Tom agrees, but needs to find a way to stop the marriage. 101 min.
29. RUN FATBOY RUN (PG-13: bd, bl, bpn) Comedy/Romance Simon Pegg, Thandie
Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran. Dennis Doyle left his pregnant bride Libby at the altar, and over
five years later, he’s still after her. But she’s now dating Whit, a good-looking, well-to-do hedge fund
manager. And Dennis is a dork who can’t even pay his rent from his salary as a security. He’s a loving
father to their son, but his incompetence and irresponsibility seem to be no competition for Libby’s affections as are Whit’s good manners and considerate behavior. In an attempt to prove his worthiness,
Dennis decides to join Whit in running the Nike River Run marathon to show he’s more than a quitter
but then finds out just how much sweat, strain and tears it takes to run for 26 miles. 100 min.
30. THE VISITOR (PG-13: bl) Drama/Comedy
31. 88 MINUTES (R: m, bd, bl, bn, bs, v) Drama/Suspense/Thriller
32. DECEPTION (R: m, bgd, l, bn, s, bv) Suspense/Thriller
33. THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (PG-13: v) Action/Fantasy
34. THE LOVE GURU (PG-13: m, d, bs, bv) Comedy
35. WHATEVER HAPPENS IN VEGAS (PG-13: m, bd, bl, bs) Comedy/Romance
36. STUCK (R: a,l, n, s, gv) Suspense/Thriller
37. PATHOLOGY (R: m, d, l, n, s, gv) Suspense/Thriller
38. EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED (PG) Documentary
39. SPEED RACER (PG) Action/Adventure
40. STREET KINGS (R: m, gd, gl, gv) Drama/Thriller
41. SNOW ANGELS (R: m, bgd, l, bs, bv) Drama
42. THEN SHE FOUND ME (R: m, bl, bs) Comedy/Drama/Romance
43. MARRIED LIFE (PG-13: m, bs) Drama/Suspense
44. SMART PEOPLE (R: m, bgd, l, bs) Comedy/Drama/Romance
45. PROM NIGHT (PG-13: m, bd, bl, v) Suspense/Thriller
46. THE FALL (R: m, bv) Drama/Adventure/Fantasy
47. MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY (PG-13) Comedy/Drama/Romance
48. 21 (PG-13: m, bpn, bs, bv) Drama/Suspense
49. REDBELT (R: m, l, bv) Drama/Action
50. THE BANK JOB (R: m, d, n, s, v) Suspense/Thriller
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Hail to the Chief
Now that the election is over and we prepare for a new leader in Washington, it is appropriate that we consider our movie Presidents and
candidates for that office. Starting off with a few comedies about the
campaign process, watch Robin Williams as a news satire program
host win his run for President in MAN OF THE YEAR, co-starring Laura
Linney, Christopher Walken, and Lewis
Black. And in HEAD OF STATE, Chris
Rock plays yet another unlikely candidate. Quite a few famous actors have
played the President of the United
States. For example, Jeff Bridges sat
in the Oval Office as Joan Allen struggled to become the Vice-President in
THE CONTENDER. THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT played by Michael Douglas romanced a lobbyist (Annette Bening), and Mark Harmon had to watch
out for the first daughter as he played
the Commander-in-Chief in CHASING
LIBERTY. Dennis Quaid showed his
versatility by playing the President
from an untypical comic perspective in AMERICAN DREAMZ; while
William Hurt did a convincing job with his small role as the President
in VANTAGE POINT. Kevin Kline, in a double role, played both the
President as well as a guy hired to impersonate him in DAVE. Three
Presidents in one movie? Yes, in MY FELLOW AMERICANS, a couple
Based on a True Story
Some movies claim to be “Based on a True Story.” This often means
some of the action really happened to someone; but names, dates,
places or even some of the plot have
been changed to make a better story.
FLAWLESS (2007) is loosely inspired
by a true story. In London in 1960, a
janitor (Michael Caine) convinces the
only woman executive (Demi Moore)
in the company that controlled the
world’s diamond supply to help him
steal a few gems. Instead, he steals
all of them. DREAMGIRLS (2006)
changes names and music, but you
know it’s really about Diana Ross and
the Supremes and Motown Records
mogul Berry Gordy. More serious
stories include A MIGHTY HEART
(2007). In 2002 terrorists kidnapped
U.S. newspaper reporter Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) in Pakistan.
His wife Mariane (Angelina Jolie) galvanized the government and
used the media to try to rescue him. On 9/11, two Port Authority
policemen (Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena) were trapped in the
wreckage of the WORLD TRADE CENTER (2006). This is the story of
their courage and of the men who risked their lives to dig them out.
By Art Slavin
of past Presidents (Jack Lemmon and James Gardner)
romped across the country while Dan Aykroyd was in
office. Not a good guy, but a President who abused his office was
played by Gene Hackman in ABSOLUTE POWER. But Nick Nolte portrayed one of our most respected leaders in JEFFERSON IN PARIS. And
John Travolta looked and acted awfully like one of our more recent Chief
Executives in PRIMARY COLORS.
But I seriously doubt that Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the President
in MARS ATTACKS! was intended to
be realistic in the face of aliens. The
science-fiction thriller INDEPENDENCE DAY, however, took the alien
situation more seriously when Bill
Pullman had to make some tough
decisions as President of the United
States. More Presidents in troubling
situations were played by Harrison
Ford in AIR FORCE ONE, Donald Moffat in CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
(starring Harrison Ford), Ronny Cox in MURDER AT 1600 (with Diane
Lane and Wesley Snipes), Jim Curley in IN THE LINE OF FIRE (starring Clint Eastwood), David Rasche in THE SENTINEL (with Michael
Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland), and Bruce Greenwood in NATIONAL
TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (starring Nicolas Cage).
By Susan Varno
Other heartwarming takes include THE GREATEST
GAME EVER PLAYED (2005), THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN (2005)
and THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO (2005). Some true
stories tell of people who made a
difference. Inspired by their coach
(Denzel Washington), in 1935 THE
GREAT DEBATERS (2007) from all
black Wiley College in Texas started
debating white colleges. After winning most of these contests, their
coach challenged Harvard University
to a debate. Harvard accepted. A
woman (Charlize Theron) fought sexual harassment in the 1970’s coal
mining industry in NORTH COUNTRY
(2005), a 1960’s Washington D.C.
radio talk show host (Don Cheadle) asked his listeners to TALK TO
ME (2007) the night Martin Luther King died, and a football coach
(Matthew McConaughey) put together a new squad after the Marshall
University team died in a 1970 plane crash in WE ARE MARSHALL
(2006).
Another Look ­­­– Hugh Jackman
Born October 12, 1968, the youngest of five children, Hugh Michael Jackman grew up in Sydney, New South
Wales, Australia. When he was eight, his mother returned to England, leaving his father to raise the family.
Hugh took up acting at his private boys school, starring in “My Fair Lady.” After earning a journalism degree
from Sydney’s University of Technology, he joined the Academy of Performing Arts in Perth. On graduation,
the 6’ 2½” actor became a regular on the Aussie TV shows “Correlli” (1995) and “Halifax F. P.” (1998), and he
hosted the lifestyle series “In Fashion” (1997). His first movie roles were in a couple of Aussie films in 1999.
Jackman’s starring role in the London production of “Oklahoma!” (1999) inspired director Bryan Singer to cast
him as mutant superhero Wolverine in X-MEN (2000). He reprised the role in X-2 (2003) and X-MEN: THE LAST
STAND (2006), and he plans to star in the spin off X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE in 2009. In 2001, he fell for
Ashley Judd in SOMEONE LIKE YOU, was a reluctant hacker in the heist thriller SWORDFISH, and time-traveled
to NYC to romance Meg Ryan in KATE AND LEOPOLD. After winning a Tony as Peter Allen in “The Boy From Oz”
on Broadway, Jackman played VAN HELSING (2004), hunter of classic Transylvanian monsters. In 2006, he was exceptionally busy. Director
Woody Allen starred him as a British playboy and possible serial killer in SCOOP. For THE FOUNTAIN he played a Spanish Conquistador, a
present day neuroscientist and a future space traveler, all searching for the “Tree of Life.” In THE PRESTIGE he was an early 1900’s London
stage magician whose rivalry with Christian Bale leads to experimenting with life and death. In animated features Jackman voiced a tap
dancing penguin in HAPPY FEET and a rat who is FLUSHED AWAY into the London sewers. In DECEPTION (2008) he’s lures Ewan McGregor
into a life of depravity and murder.
December 2008
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Look for more Family choices in our other sections.
DR. SEUSS’ HORTON HEARS A WHO! (G) Animated Comedy
December 9
The classic language of Dr. Seuss narrated by Charles Osgood is
enhanced by clever additional dialog voiced by Jim Carrey, Steve
Carell, Carol Burnett, and a host of other stars in this tale of the
jolly elephant Horton (Carrey) who happens to hear voices coming
from a speck of dust flying through the air. Of course, none of his
neighbors believe him, especially the kangaroo (Burnett) who says
“If you can’t see, hear, or feel it, it doesn’t exist.” But it does. On
the speck is the town of Whoville, governed by its mayor (Carell),
who begins to notice some strange changes, and then finally hears
Horton. When the mayor finds that these changes might spell doom
for the town, he asks Horton for help. Horton is determined to find
a new home for Whoville, but everyone thinks he’s nuts. The residents
of Whoville are equally concerned about the mayor’s strange behavior.
88 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Commentary; 2-disc includes Deleted Scenes and Featurettes.
THE
CHRONICLES
Adventure/Fantasy
OF
NARNIA:
PRINCE
CASPIAN
(PG)
Action/
December 2
One year later, but 1,300 years have passed in Narnia since the Pevensie
siblings have been there. Caspian X (Ben Barnes), the rightful heir to the
throne runs for his life from his evil Uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), Peter
(William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Lucy (Georgie Henley), and
Edmund (Skandar Keynes) are called back to help. The true Narnians, a
community of little people, giant birds, minotaurs, centaurs, and talking
animals both large and small, have been in self-exile hiding from the
Telmarines who have taken over their kingdom. But now with Caspian and
the Pevensies to lead them, they are willing to fight back. Their initial
attempts are failures, but despite an effort by the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) to stop them, good triumphs over evil when Aslan (the voice of Liam
Neeson) steps in. Featured are Peter Dinklage as a skeptical but dedicated
dwarf and Eddie Izzard as the voice of a valiant mouse. It’s exciting with
a meaningful moral. 144 min. (Slavin)
DVD Extras: Commentary; Deleted Scenes; Featurettes.
FLY ME TO THE MOON (G) Animated Adventure/Comedy
December 2
The year is 1969 and kids Nat (Trevor Gagnon), brainy IQ (Philip Daniel Bolden)
and food-obsessed Scooter (David Gore) are lifelong friends who just so happen
to be talking houseflies. Nat feels like his life is boring, especially compared to
the events from his Grandpa’s (Christopher Lloyd) many years, including flying
with Amelia Earhart on her transatlantic solo trip. Nat concocts the idea that
he and his friends stow away onboard the Apollo 11 spaceflight to land a man
on the moon much to the horror of the boys’ moms, including Nat’s (Kelly Ripa),
who didn’t inherit Grandpa’s sense of adventure. They’re not alone, however, in
showing surprise about the stowaways. Not wanting them to be the first flies on
the moon, Russian General Poopchev (Ed Begley, Jr.) and Grandpa’s long-lost love,
Nadia (Nicollette Sheridan), order their inside fly at Cape Canaveral, Yegor (Tim
Curry), and his two goons to try to sabotage the trip. 90 min.
THE LONGSHOTS (PG) Comedy/Drama
Based on the true story of the first female quarterback to play in a Pop Warner football
game. In down-on-its-luck Minden, Illinois 11-year-old Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer)
copes with the pain of an absentee father and her classmates’ constant antagonism.
Jasmine’s fortunes begin to change with the emergence of her uncle, Curtis (Ice Cube).
Once a rising football star but now out of work, Curtis dreams of escaping Minden for
the sunny promise of Miami. But when he sees Jasmine’s gift for throwing the football,
Curtis helps her overcome self-doubt and skepticism to join Minden’s woeful team.
Inspired by Jasmine’s skill and toughness, and with the addition of Curtis as a coach,
the team earns a spot in the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Miami. But as the national media
swoop in to cover the team’s story, Jasmine and Curtis come face-to-face with their biggest
obstacle: the reappearance of Jasmine’s father. 94 min.
December 2008
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December 2
1. WALL-E (G) Animated Sci-Fi/Comedy Jeff Gar-
lin, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Fred Willard, Sigourney Weaver. It’s
the year 2775 and Earth has been abandoned for centuries by humans
whose trash eventually overwhelmed the planet. The one entity still at work,
however, is a robot known as WALL·E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earthik. He
spends his days scooping up and compacting garbage, but has developed a friendship with a
little cockroach, and the desire to collect various discarded items that he keeps as trinkets.
Things change when a spaceship unexpectedly lands on Earth and deposits an Extra-terrestrial
Vegetation Evaluator known as EVE, sent by those onboard the Axiom, a state of the art mother
ship that escaped Earth long ago. 97 min.
2. FRED CLAUS (PG) Comedy/Fantasy Vince Vaughn, Paul
Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Kevin Spacey, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth
Banks, Kathy Bates, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges. Fred Claus has lived almost his entire
life in his little brother’s very large shadow. Fred tried, but he could never live up to
the example set by the younger Nicholas. True to form, Nicholas grew up to be the
model of giving, while Fred became the polar opposite: a repo man who then steals
what he repossesses. Now Fred’s dirty dealings have landed him in jail. Over Mrs.
Claus’s objections, Nicholas agrees to bail his big brother out on one condition:
that he come to the North Pole and work off his debt making toys. The trouble is that
Fred isn’t exactly elf material. 116 min. 3. KUNG FU PANDA (PG) Comedy/Action Jack Black, Dustin
Hoffman, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Lucy Liu,
Michael Clarke Duncan. Po is a lazy, cumbersome panda who works in his father’s
noodle shop in the Valley of Peace in China. Po would love to learn Kung Fu, but he’s
satisfied just to go up to the palace to see who will be chosen as the Dragon Master.
Will it be Tigress, Monkey, Viper, Mantis, or Crane? Much to their chagrin the unwitting Po is chosen. Master Shifu is forced to train the bumbling panda, but it will take
years, if not decades, if it can be done at all. But time is of the essence, as the evil
Tai Lung has escaped from his supposedly inpenetrable prison and is on his way to
seek revenge by destroying the town. 88 min.
4. SPACE CHIMPS (G) Animated Comedy/Sci-Fi Andy Samberg,
Cheryl Hines, Patrick Warburton, Kristin Chenoweth, Stanley Tucci, Jeff Daniels. When a $5 billion
NASA probe disappears into an intergalactic wormhole, the agency recruits Ham III, grandson
of the first chimpanzee in space, to help retrieve the wayward craft. But Ham is a free-spirited
circus performer more interested in zero gravity high jinks than living up to his illustrious heritage. The simian slacker becomes a reluctant hero and learns the true meaning of courage as he
and his crewmates, the fearless Lt. Luna and their uptight commander, Titan, risk everything in
an effort to save the peaceful inhabitants of a distant planet from an evil dictator. 81 min.
5. MEET DAVE (PG) Comedy/Sci-Fi Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks,
Gabrielle Union, Ed Helms, Scott Caan. The minuscule captain of an alien spaceship
lands on Earth in the shape of a human being that looks just like him. The tiny crew is
responsible for making the spaceship look and act like a human being as they search for
a powerful orb that went off course and landed in Manhattan... sent months earlier to
drain Earth’s oceans of their salt. Along the way, the captain--aka Dave--is befriended by
a fifth-grade boy who is being raised by his artist mother. Although Dave and his crew
landed on Earth believing that the human race is inferior, they soon realize that there is
something to be said for emotions, feelings, and friendship. 90 min.
6. THE PERFECT HOLIDAY (PG) Comedy/Fantasy/Romance
Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Charlie Murphy, Katt Williams, Faizon Love. Nancy is a divorced
mother of three who is so busy raising her children that she’s forgotten to take care of herself as
well. With Christmas approaching, she takes her kids to the mall to meet Santa Claus, not knowing that her youngest daughter Emily has sensed her mother’s sadness and is determined to use
her time with Santa to make her mom happy again. Emily heard her mom say that all she wanted
for Christmas was a compliment from a man, so that’s what she tells Santa. Ironically, Santa, is
struggling song writer Benjamin, who might give Nancy just what she wants for Christmas. Mrs.
Christmas and her nemesis Bah-Humbug try to influence things. 96 min.
7. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
8. KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL
9. THE PIRATES WHO DON’T DO ANYTHING:
A VEGGIETALES MOVIE
10. NIM’S ISLAND
11. SPEED RACER
12. THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
15
13. COLLEGE ROAD TRIP
14. THE GAME PLAN
15. NANCY DREW
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December 2008