Curious George Review

-Directed by: Matt O'Callaghan

Starring the voices of:
Will Ferrell
Drew Barrymore
Dick Van Dyke

Soundtrack by:
Jack Johnson

If you're like me, winter has been a long and boring season. I'm itching for sunshine and warm weather like you wouldn't believe. Well, there's no better way to swing into spring than with the help of a little monkey named George and a man in a big yellow hat. Based on the classic children's stories, this movie isn't as high tech with its animation and it really shouldn't be. Instead, it's a gently entertaining children's movie that will keep grownups entertained as well.

The movie opens with the fantastically mellow "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson, as you see what sorts of trouble George can get into. As he moves from one mischevious good time to another, you're brought through what I'm going to call color settings. Blue to green to bubbles and back again just like a true jungle. But there's still this hint of sunshine even if George is peering out from the shadows. That's why this movie worked for me in one aspect. There's no gloom and doom in this movie. Instead, it's a really clever movie about love, friendship, and curiousity being a very good thing indeed. Frankly, it's a movie we've needed for a while. For too long the box office has been full of serious dramas and grossly inappropriate films, and it was driving your intrepid reviewer a little..well...bananas. To counter it, we have a happy monkey who you won't be able to stop laughing at.

The voice casting is ideal with the man in the yellow hat being named Ted and voiced by Will Ferrell. Maggie, a well meaning school teacher with a crush on Ted, is Drew Barrymore with Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Bloomsberry and Eugene Levy as the experimenter Clovis. Each brings a uniqueness to the movie that will keep you remembering it far longer than most standard "children's" movies. Don't get me wrong though. This is a kid's movie that makes no apologies for what it is. Your brothers and sisters will enjoy it, but don't be surprised if you do too. I did, and I was the oldest person in the theater.

(Photo from Yahoo!)

Upside Down, and the rest of the Curious George soundtrack is in stores now or can be downloaded from iTunes.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Serenity/Firefly Review

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me

Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me

There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me...

-Theme from Firefly

Written by: Joss Whedon

When I first caught an episode of Firefly, I was a bit confused. Beginning with a decidedly country theme song, what WAS this show anyway? Was it a western? Was it a space drama? Was it a comedy? Actually, the answer is yes to all three. Creator Joss Whedon, also of Buffy fame, has said this show is about the people who the starship Enterprise would leave standing in the dust. These people are cowboys, rebels, and most importantly a family. After only eleven episodes though, it was uncerimoniously cancelled by Fox. However, in 2005 it found a new life thanks to overwhelming fan support and the belief by Whedon that this was a project too good to be set aside. He was right, and thankfully Firefly and it's follow up movie Serenity are finding new life. So this isn't really a review about one. It's a review of both.

Whedon approached the space drama a bit differently than others. He put realistically flawed people into extraordinary situations, and instead of the constant heroics and perfect ideals that other shows have had for their leading characters...he had them stumble to their decision making. Just like real life. The crew commonly would do the right thing, and there's no doubt they were heroes. They just tended to complain a lot more about it. The bickering and infighting were something brothers and sisters would do, but when push came to shove there was no one who could harm the strangely loving family on board. The cast, led by Nathan Fillion, is one of the more interesting groups to date. There's a certain exotic quality to each of them, whether it be Fillion's striking eyes or Moreena Baccarin's luminous beauty, but when they speak and interact you can see a chemistry much like Whedon's other projects. From leading man on down the cast roster, there are quality actors finally given a chance to do quality work.

In the Firefly world, you are not only immersed into the lives of these people. You're immersed into an entire culture. Planets, government, ideas, religion, even language. You're given a window view onto an entire galaxy that's something like home, but with enough differences that you honestly wonder what's around the next turn. One thing to mention here is that in this universe, prostitution is considered a noble and refined art much like the courteasans or the geishas. After that catching me by surprise, something else did too. Whedon had a perfect opportunity for pointless shows of nudity, and he chose not to take it. The most you will ever see is the ship's companion, played by Baccarin, bathing. It's done so tastefully that it's appropriate for nearly all ages. You know what a companion does and is but you see nothing more than a PG rated moment.

Something else that you should know is that Serenity/Firefly is very much an action adventure. What makes it different though is that there's this certain wryness to it that reminds me of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. Even in the middle of some of the amazing chase and fight scenes, you can count on at least one moment of laughter. Moments like that make for really fun entertainment. I recommend Firefly the series and Serenity for anyone who likes a good sci-fi adventure, but also likes to laugh. You won't be disappointed.

(Picture and info from Yahoo)


-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Movies Opening This Month

Curious George

Get curious about George! One of the world's most famous monkeys is making his way to the big screen, and you have a chance to meet him here. With voices by Will Farrell and a groovy soundtrack by Jack Johnson, this bright and cheerful movie is the perfect way to swing into spring.

-Opens Feb. 10th



Eight Below

Just when you thought it couldn't get cold enough, Paul Walker stars in the movie based on a true story of love, friendship and loyalty for the people in your life that walk on four legs instead of two. Check out the action somewhere warm and check out the trailer here.

-Opens Feb. 17th



Doogal

Things are about to get hairy. Seriously. When the world is in danger, an unlikely hero is put on a path to find three magic stones. Did I mention the hero is a dog? Including voices by Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Smith and Ian McKellan, this trailer might be one of the few that's made me laugh more than once. Check it out here.

-Opens Feb 24th


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-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Hook

Starring:
Dustin Hoffman
Julia Roberts
Robin Williams


What if? What if we could fly with a happy thought and pixie dust? What if a kiss came in the form of a thimble? What if dreams could come true? It's a question that renowned children's author JM Barrie asks in his book Peter Pan, and director Steven Spielberg asks with one twist. What if Peter Pan grew up? Obviously set after the book ends, it wonders what might happen if the boy who never grew up found happiness in the real world. Or, at least he thought he did. Leaving Neverland behind, Pan finds a job, a family and forgets the dreaming and earnest love his endless childhood taught him. When his children are taken by Captain Hook, he must step back in time and fight for what really does matter: his family.

It's been argued that Hook isn't an especially good movie. Some would say that it's one of Spielberg's worst. The problem here is that that's not an especially bad thing. Of course, this isn't a bad movie. In a far more whimsical way than most of his other movies, Hook has the careful attention to detail that Spielberg is well known for. It also has casting that makes the story exactly what he means it to be. With the eternal child Robin Williams in the lead role, you are taken from an awfully boring life to one where sword fights are on the menu everyday. Williams is able to steer what could easily be a cinematic train wreck into a fun movie for your whole family. With Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell and Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook, you get two of our country's best actors in roles you'd never expect them in. Roberts is luminous and strong as Tink and you see a hint of the woman she is today as she helps Peter remember what he left behind. Under a wig, hat and hook, Hoffman snarks his way through the part that never fails to make you laugh. He knows what his part in this movie is, and while it's not the Oscar caliber work he's known for...he's right on point with his performance.

Movies are something people take far too seriously sometimes. What they're supposed to be, and what Hook will always be, is a celebration of fun, family and a reminder that dreams really can come true. So long as they're the right dreams. Make sure you follow the second star to the right, and head straight on until morning as you add this movie to your collection.

Celebrating it's 15th anniversary, Hook is in stores now.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Actor Profile: George Clooney

Actor, director, writer. Recent articles have correctly named George Clooney a triple threat when it comes to this year's Oscar race. Personally garnering three nominations, he tied a record held by Orson Welles which will put him in the Oscar trivia books forever even if he doesn't win. With his second feature film Good Night, and Good Luck Clooney has shown himself to be far more than what tabloids might make you believe. Nephew of Hollywood legend Rosemary Clooney, George has proven himself to be more than capable of following in her footsteps of stardom. What makes him different and someone you should watch is he does it with an effortless humor and style that's completely his own.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, George Clooney is the son of a journalist and a former runner up for Miss Kentucky so it might be understandable that he's used to a certain degree of public life. With an older sister and five cousins, he proved himself a performer early on and was known for charming audiences on his father Nick's local TV show with a humor he still has to this day. There was more to him though. A natural athlete, he played both baseball and basketball. He went so far with his baseball career that he was even selected for the final day of tryouts for his hometown Cincinnati Reds. Luckily, he didn't make it and moved on to other things.

His first work that people remember came after stints of being a face that people knew, but whose name escaped them. He was known as "that guy" until he appeared on The Facts of Life and Roseanne along with a memorable stint on Sisters. He also learned the hard lesson of failure though. With a string of cancelled shows, he had seen both sides of the television industry. Perhaps that was why, when success finally game with a vengence, he took to it with such humility. Commonly quoted as saying he was just happy to be a part of ER, it's not a secret that Dr. Doug Ross is one of the most memorable characters to come through County General's doors.

While on TV, Clooney began to build his film career with projects that allowed him to step outside what people knew him for. Starring alongside some of Hollywood's elite, he built a solid foundation with movies like From Dusk Til Dawn and the romantic comedy One Fine Day. There was also his turn as Batman. Though he's been quoted as saying he's ruined the franchise, it can't be denied that he was one of the more charming men to step into the role of Bruce Wayne. Slowly, he began to move away from choosing jobs and started making his moviemaking decisions based on the quality of the script. Those decisions have paid off with both box office and critical successes including The Peacemaker which was the first feature film by Dreamworks Studio. Adding to it the quirky comedy O Brother Where Art Thou, Clooney was successfully making the mark he wanted in Hollywood. Like his success with ER, he reached a point in his movies where success came quickly with a little film called Ocean's 11. A remake of a Hollywood classic, it was an ensemble movie that included Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon but Clooney's charismatic turn as Danny Ocean helped make it a blockbuster. From that movie formed the partnership of Ocean's 11 director Steven Soderbergh and Clooney in what is now known as Section Eight productions.

Since his days on ER, George Clooney has emerged as far more than just a handsome face. He's proven himself to be talented in arenas people might not expect him to even make a mark in. But of course, isn't that the real talent of any triple threat?

Good Night, and Good Luck is being rereleased in time for Oscar consideration and will be back in theaters on Feb. 3. All of Clooney's other work is available on DVD, and ER can be seen daily on TNT and in syndication. Check your local listings.

Information Credit: IMDB.com and ClooneyNetwork.com
Picture Credit: ClooneyNetwork.com


-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!