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| ‘Popcorn’ photo by Petr Kratochvil |
It’s time to make weekend family entertainment plans and see if this week’s current crop of films will be part of your schedule. The following report covers motion picture theatrical releases opening nationwide beginning Friday, October 28, 2011 along with current film industry news.
If a film has not been provided with an official rating, additional information may, or may not be provided.
If a film is designated NC-17, very limited information will be furnished.
For your convenience, each film title links directly to the Internet Movie Data Base, which provides the most comprehensive listing about the movie’s storyline, and includes a trailer, cast and crew information, initial audience reaction (if prior screenings have taken place) and parent advisories when available.
As always, you are the single best judge for determining your child’s choice of entertainment.
NEW TRAILERS FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED UPCOMING FILMS
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY
DISNEY
Disney.com/Arrietty
Genre: Animation/AdventureRating: To be determined
Release Date: February 17, 2012
Voice Cast: Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Screenplay by: : Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa
Based on “The Borrowers” by: Mary Norton
Director – English Language Version: Gary Rydstrom
Executive Producers – English Language Version:Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
English Language Screenplay by: Karey Kirkpatrick
Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all. From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”
Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett).
Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theaters Feb. 17, 2012.
Studio Notes:
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most influential and admired filmmakers working in animation today and is a major figure in the Japanese cinematic landscape. His films have inspired moviegoers and colleagues around the world, from Pixar's John Lasseter to fantasist Guillermo del Toro to Chinese director Tsui Hark, and consistently top the box office in his native Japan.
Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a top animator at Studio Ghibli, was responsible for the animation in a signature scene in “Ponyo,” in which Ponyo runs atop ocean waves.
English language voice talent director Gary Rydstrom is a seven-time Academy Award® winning sound designer/mixer (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”). He joined Pixar Animation Studios as an animation film director in 2003. His directorial debut for the studio was the Academy Award®-nominated short film “Lifted,” and he directed the short film “Hawaiian Vacation,” which was released with “Cars 2” in June 2011.
Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are highly successful producing partners whose films, separately and together, include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” the Indiana Jones films and the Jurassic Park films. In total, Kennedy and Marshall have earned 11 Oscar® nominations.
English language screenplay writer Karey Kilpatrick’s credits include “Spiderwick Chronicles” and “Over the Hedge,” which he also directed (with Tim Johnson).
STUDIO NOTES
CHIMPANZEE
DISNEYNATURE
In theaters Earth Day 2012, Disneynature’s newest True Life Adventure introduces Oscar, a baby chimp whose playful curiosity and zest for discovery light up the African forest until a twist of fate leaves Oscar to fend for himself with a little help from an unexpected ally. Genre: True Life Adventure
Rating: To be determined
U.S. Release Date: April 20, 2012
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield
Producers: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield, Alix Tidmarsh
Executive producer: Don Hahn
Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with “Chimpanzee,” a new True Life Adventure introducing an adorable baby chimp named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family—including his mom and the group’s savvy leader — navigates the complex territory of the forest.
The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps, who’d rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. But when Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival band of chimps, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“African Cats” and “Earth”) and Mark Linfield (“Earth”), “Chimpanzee” swings into theaters on Earth Day 2012.
The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps, who’d rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. But when Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival band of chimps, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“African Cats” and “Earth”) and Mark Linfield (“Earth”), “Chimpanzee” swings into theaters on Earth Day 2012.
Notes:
“Chimpanzee” is the fourth release for Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years. The label was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to capture a variety of wildlife subjects and stories.
The first three releases under the Disneynature label—“Earth,” “Oceans” and “African Cats”—are among the top four highest grossing feature-length nature films of all time.
Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1948 and 1960, including “Seal Island” (1948), “Beaver Valley” (1950), “The Living Desert” (1953) and “Jungle Cat” (1958). The films earned eight Academy Awards®.
Opened October 28, 2011 13 – Drama, Thriller- R-because of “disturbing violence, language and brief drug use.”
Opened October 28, 2011 And They're Off... – Comedy-PG-13- because of “some crude and sexual references.”
Opened October 28, 2011 Anonymous – Drama-PG-13- because of “some violence and sexual content.” - NOTE: In limited release.
Opened October 28, 2011 The Double – Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller- PG-13- because of “intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images and language.”
Opened October 28, 2011 In Time – Crime, Sci-Fi, Thriller- PG-13- because of “violence, some sexuality and partial nudity, and brief strong language.”
Opened October 28, 2011 Janie Jones (2010) – Drama, Music- NOT RATED- NOTE: New York City and Seattle only.
Opened October 28, 2011 Like Crazy – Drama, Romance – PG-13- because of “sexual content and brief strong language.” -NOTE: In limited release.
Opened October 28, 2011 My Reincarnation – Documentary, Adventure, Biography- NOT RATED – NOTE: In limited release.
Opened October 28, 2011 Puss in Boots – Adventure, Animation, Comedy- PG- because of “some adventure action and mild rude humor.”
Opened October 28, 2011 The Rum Diary – R- Drama, Mystery, Thriller- because of “language, brief drug use and sexuality.”
For information on films that opened October 21, 2011, which included: Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey; Elevate; Glitch in the Grid; Johnny English Reborn; Le Havre; Margin Call; Martha Marcy May Marlene; The Mighty Macs; Norman; Oranges and Sunshine; Paranormal Activity 3; Revenge of the Electric Car; Snowmen, and The Three Musketeers, please click on the link below.
For information on films that opened October 14, 2011, which included: The Big Year; Father of Invention; Fireflies in the Garden; Footloose; The Skin I Live In; Texas Killing Fields; The Thing, and Trespass, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s moviesThe Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
For information on films that opened September 23, 2011, which included: Abduction; Dolphin Tale; Killer Elite; Machine Gun Preacher; Moneyball; Pearl Jam Twenty; Puncture, and Thunder Soul, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
For information on films that opened August 19, 2011 to September 16, 2011, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
For information on films that opened June 24, 2011 to August 12, 2011.
For information on films that opened May 20 to June 17, 2011, please click on the link below.
For information on films that opened April 1 to May 13, 2011, please click on the link below.
For information on films that opened the weeks of Friday, February 4 to Friday March 25, 2011 please click on the link below, where you will also find previous listings and links for prior weeks in January, as well as films that opened in 2010:
