Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
Arthur - Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner Hanna - Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana Soul Surfer - AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt Your Highness - Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman
Movie of the Week
Hanna
The Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana The Plot: A 16-year-old (Ronan) who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives. The Buzz: I'm moderately excited to see Your Highness, but Hanna wins 'movie of the week' here, as it looks to be a better film to see on the big screen. Director David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express) looks to have another great comedy on his hands in Your Highness, but if I had to pick just one to see in the theater, Hanna would be it. The premise here is at least moderately unique, and the young Saoirse Ronan is a solid heavyweight newcomer (at under 90 pounds easy). I like the way the film was shot, at least from what I can see in the trailer, and I'm pretty excited to hear what the Chemical Brothers have in store for us, score-wise. All in all, pretty stoked for Hanna.
Every Friday we'll have new reviews of the latest films. TSR's complete Film Review Database
New Blu-ray and DVDs released this week:
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (BD) - Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor And Justice for All (BD) - Al Pacino, Jack Warden, John Forsythe Arabesque (DVD) - Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, Alan Badel Arthur (BD) - Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud Babe (BD) - James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski, Christine Cavanaugh Benny and Joon (BD) - Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn Casino Jack (BD/DVD) - Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Jon Lovitz The Cove (BD/DVD) - Richard O'Barry, Brook Aitken, Joe Chisholm Fiddler on the Roof (BD/DVD) - Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey I Love You Phillip Morris (BD/DVD) - Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann Kung Fu Panda (BD/DVD) - Jack Black, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie Little Fockers (BD/DVD) - Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro Mirage (DVD) - Gregory Peck, Diane Baker, Walter Matthau Much Ado About Nothing (BD) - Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves Mystic Pizza (BD) - Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor The People vs. Larry Flynt (BD) - Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Edward Norton Peter Pan (BD) - Jeremy Sumpter, Jason Isaacs, Olivia Williams Taxi Driver (BD) - Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd Tron: Legacy (BD/DVD) - Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde Tron: The Original Classic (BD/DVD) - Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner The World in His Arms (DVD) - Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth, Anthony Quinn
Blu-ray/DVD of the Week
Tron: Legacy
The Stars: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde The Plot: Sam Flynn (Hedlund), the son of Kevin Flynn (Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the electronic world where his father has been living for the past 25 years. The Buzz: I was surprised that this film wasn't more of a blockbuster than it was -- it pulled in a respectable $172 Million domestically, but I would have predicted a higher gross. Many critics found this film boring, slow and anti-climactic. I was not one of those critics. I loved this film; it was my favorite cinematic experience of 2010. The IMAX-3D was brilliant, and the art design, the cinematography and the score were all tens across the board, IMO.
The film’s original teaser had been released eons prior to the film's release, which allowed for a tidal wave of anticipatory energy to build up -- a lot of times in such situations, people get their hopes up ridiculously high and expect nothing less than Godlike perfection. I was personally very excited to see this film, but I kept my expectations realistic. It was beautiful digital escapism, and for what it was, just a fun Disney adventure, I thought the film was perfect. Audio/visual spectacle was the only thing ever promised here, and Tron: Legacy delivered on such, and delivered well.
By the way, I really loved the Daft Punk score -- couldn't get it out of my stereo for awhile.
Check out our reviews of these movies and more ... TSR's complete Film Review Database