New Movies Podcast: 'Seven Pounds,' 'Yes Man,' 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'Tale of Despereaux'

by MLive.com Movies

Friday December 19, 2008, 11:56 AM

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AP PhotosTwo box office giants go head-to-head this weekend with Jim Carrey's "Yes Man" and Will Smith's "Seven Pounds."

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New Movies Podcast: 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' and 'Milk'

by Mlive.com Movies

Friday December 12, 2008, 11:11 PM

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AP File Photo | Focus FeaturesSean Penn portrays gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the film, "Milk." On the left, the real Harvey Milk is shown in April 1977 during the signing of San Francisco's gay rights bill.

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New Movies Podcast: 'Bolt' and 'Twilight'

by MLive.com movies

Friday November 21, 2008, 10:28 AM

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Summit Entertainment | Disney PicturesOn the left, Kristen Stewart (left) and Cam Gigandet are shown in a scene from, "Twilight." Animated characters, from left, Rhino and Bolt are shown in a scene from the film, "Bolt."

BOLT

Pixar and Disney are in top form as they join forces to produce "Bolt," about a dog who stars in a TV show and believes that the powers he possess in the show are real, leading him to a journey across the country to save his co-star from a threat which he also believes to be real. Voices are provided by John Travolta (Bolt), Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman and Mark Walton. Tip: Spend the extra few bucks to see it in 3-D, you won't be sorry.

REVIEWS

• James Sanford: Disney's endearing 'Bolt' is hilarious and beautifully made

• John Serba: Power pup: Doggy derring-do drives Disney's 'Bolt'

Based on the best-selling book series by Stephenie Meyer, "Twilight" tells the tale of a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire. It stars Kristen Stewart (Into The Wild, Jumper) and Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix).

REVIEWS

• James Sanford: Dear diary: My guardian angel is a vampire! 'Twilight' offers teen romance with a twist

• John Serba: Stylish 'Twilight' film a guilty pleasure

NEW ON DVD

• Wall-E - The beautifully done, animated robot love story is not only the best animated films of the year, but according to John Serba, is one of the best overall films of the year.

• Tropic Thunder - While poking fun at the film industry, many call "Tropic Thunder" one of the funniest movies of the year, with a great cast (Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and Director Ben Stiller) that bravely tackle subjects that most movies wouldn't go anywhere near.

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New Movies Podcast: 'Quantum of Solace'

by MLive.com Movies

Friday November 14, 2008, 9:09 AM

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AP Photo | Sony PicturesDaniel Craig stars as James Bond 007 in pursuit of an Mi6 traitor in a scene from "Quantum of Solace," the 22nd film in the James Bond franchise.

QUANTUM OF SOLACE

Daniel Craig returns for his second go-round as James Bond in the 22nd film in the franchise, which picks up right where the box office smash "Casino Royale" left off. Bond looks to avenge his lover from the previous movie, and while the die-hard fans will pack the theaters for this one, it might be a little dark for the average moviegoer.

REVIEWS

• James Sanford: 'Quantum of Solace': Bond gets Bourne again

• John Serba: 'Quantum of Solace' fails to capture viewers' hearts, minds

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New Movies Podcast: 'Madagascar 2' and 'Role Models'

by MLive.com movies

Friday November 07, 2008, 10:58 AM

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DreamWorksDON'T LOOK, DOLL: The penguins steal the show again in "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa."

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

The celebrity-voiced animals (and a lot of the jokes) from the first "Madagascar" are back for a music and pop-culture infused adventure. The quartet of mischievous penguins are the highlight again, but don't expect this cartoon to appeal to adults the way "Wall-E" or "King-Fu Panda" does. And how are kids supposed to react to a giraffe falling in love with a hippo?

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New Movies Podcast: 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno' and 'Changeling'

by MLive.com movies

Friday October 31, 2008, 10:00 AM

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The Weinstein CompanyElizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen spoof adult-film cliches in "Zack and Miri make a Porno."

Cult comedy heavyweight Kevin Smith helms this film, but he borrows quite a few of Judd Apatow's regular actors. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks play lifelong platonic friends who decide that the only way out of dire economic straits is to strip down and do the nasty on camera.

Banks' naturally effervescent performance is funny, sexy and awkward at the same time, but it doesn't make up for tired jokes about the adult film industry and scenes that drag for too long without ever reaching a punchline.

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New Movies Podcast: 'High School Musical 3' and 'Pride and Glory'

by MLive.com movies

Friday October 24, 2008, 11:37 AM

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DisneyZac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens dance away their worries in "High School Musical 3."

High School Musical 3

Fans of The Disney Channel's "High School Musical" will turn out in droves this weekend to see their favorite squeaky-clean teens sing and dance through their senior year on the big screen. But the ticket price might raise fans' expectations, and the finality of "Senior Year" means the characters should get a fitting send-off.

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New Movies Podcast: 'W.', 'Max Payne,' 'Secret Life of Bees' and 'Sex Drive'

by MLive.com movies

Friday October 17, 2008, 12:39 PM

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LionsgateJosh Brolin plays with the dogs on the White house lawn in Oliver Stone's "W."

W.

Oliver Stone's latest political pic is part send-up and part conspiracy theory. At its core, though, it's a thought-provoking examination of how a baseball-loving good ol' boy developed his unique leadership style.

Josh Brolin lends some depth to George W. Bush, portrayed as a simple man who achieves far beyond his ambitions, driven by the idea that he has to escape his father's shadow.

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New Movies Podcast: 'Body of Lies,' 'The Duchess' and 'City of Ember'

by MLive.com movies

Friday October 10, 2008, 12:37 PM

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Warner Bros.Russell Crowe calls the shots while Leonardo DiCaprio takes out terrorists in "Body of Lies."

Body of Lies

Movies about the war on terror haven't done well at the box office, but none of them have had names like Ridley Scott, Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe attached. DiCaprio plays a CIA agent hunting terrorists in the Middle East while Crowe is a chubby bureaucrat barking orders from the comfort of his own home.

The movie sidesteps political opinion on the war, focusing instead on high-tech surveillance, explosions, and people getting shot, and Scott makes all this look as awesome as you might expect.

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New Movies Podcast: 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua,' 'Nick and Norah,' 'Blindness' and more

by MLive.com movies

Friday October 03, 2008, 2:44 PM

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DisneyPiper Perabo dresses up her dog in "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

If you've seen the excruciating trailer for "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," you'll be happy to know that the movie itself isn't as bad as that. This parade of obvious CGI and doggie dress-up has a handful of laughs, but it's strictly for kids.

What's amazingly classy, though, is that there isn't a single poop or leg-raising joke. Disney includes a disclaimer about thinking it through before you adopt a Chihuahua, but it's a little presumptuous to think that this movie could incite a Chihuahua fad.

"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" review: John Serba

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New Movies Podcast: 'Eagle Eye,' 'Miracle at St. Ana,' 'Choke' and more

by MLive.com movies

Friday September 26, 2008, 11:59 AM

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DreamWorksShia LaBeouf fields a tough phone call in "Eagle Eye."

Eagle Eye

If you're a 14-year-old who prefers whizzing bullets and random explosions to coherent filmmaking, here's a movie for you. The ubiquitous Shia LaBeouf plays a guy who finds himself framed for a terrorist plot, forced to follow instructions from a mysteriously omniscient female voice on his cell phone. Meanwhile, a single mom (played by Michelle Monaghan) must follow instructions from the same mystery woman in order to save her son.

The convoluted plot gets more ridiculous from there as director D.J. Caruso attempts to establish himself as a modern-day Hitchcock with obvious nods to "North by Northwest" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much."

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New Movies Podcast: 'Ghost Town,' 'Lakeview Terrace' and 'Igor'

by MLive.com movies

Friday September 19, 2008, 12:29 PM

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DreamWorksKristin Wiig explains to Ricky Gervais that he briefly died on the operating table in "Ghost Town."

Ghost Town

You should know the name Ricky Gervais. He created TV's "The Office" for the BBC, and his HBO series "Extras" is brilliant. Whether you know him or not, you're bound to enjoy his performance in "Ghost Town," a comedy about a man blackmailed by ghosts after surviving a near-death experience.

Gervais' character starts out as a jerk, but his character's creepiness gives way to the awkward, stammering humor "Office" fans have come to love. John Serba says Gervais is the spoonful of bitter that makes this sappy, syrupy comedy go down.

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New Movies Podcast: 'Burn After Reading' and 'The Women'

by MLive.com movies

Friday September 12, 2008, 11:50 AM

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Focus FeaturesBrad Pitt plays a gym rat making a misguided attempt at blackmail in the Coen brothers' "Burn After Reading."

James Sanford is at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, so Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba joins us for this week's New Movies Podcast.

Burn After Reading

After winning Oscars for the dark and disturbing "No Country for Old Men," Ethan and Joel Coen return to comedy by teaming up with an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt, John Malkovitch, George Clooney, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton.

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New Movies Podcast: 'Bangkok Dangerous,' 'Man on Wire' and 'Bigger, Stronger, Faster*'

by MLive.com movies

Friday September 05, 2008, 12:04 PM

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LionsgateNicholas Cage may look like a tourist, but he's really a hitman in "Bangkok Dangerous."

Bangkok Dangerous

Nicholas Cage stars as a hitman in this Hollywood remake of a Thai action movie. This movie didn't screen for critics, which usually means a studio doesn't have much faith in the final product.

Besides, American remakes of foreign hits rarely stand up to the originals. A better bet this week is to check out a pair of independent documentaries — "Man on Wire" and "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" — making the rounds in Michigan's art-house theaters.

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New Movies Podcast: 'Hamlet 2'

by MLive.com movies

Friday August 29, 2008, 12:36 PM

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Focus FeaturesHigh-school thespians perform the infectious 'Rock Me Sexy Jesus" in new comedy "Hamlet 2."

Hamlet 2

Some Sundance Film Festival hits win big distribution deals and win over a huge mainstream audience. Unfortunately, "Hamlet 2" isn't "Little miss Sunshine."

It's the story of a failed actor-turned drama teacher (Steve Coogan) who decides to make his theater program's final show a sci-fi musical sequel to Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. The result is an unbalanced comedy with plenty of good laughs but an awful lot of dull moments as well.

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