It’s time to make Thanksgiving holiday family entertainment plans and see if this current crop of films will be part of your schedule. The following report covers motion picture theatrical releases opening nationwide beginning Friday, November 18, 2011 through November 25, 2011, along with current film industry news.
The movies listed below have a rating, which has been established by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and have been provided with an italicized commentary from the Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA).
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.
NEWS
To celebrate new Muppet movie release Disney provides free app for fans: ‘Tap Tap Muppets’
Disney Mobile just released “Tap Tap Muppets” for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and it’s available for free from the App Store.
“Tap Tap Muppets” brings Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal and the rest of the gang together for fans to join in the fun and celebrate their favorite Muppet music.
Based on the popular “Tap Tap Revenge” gameplay (the most successful mobile music franchise of all time) “Tap Tap Muppets” features six full tracks including three songs from Disney’s “The Muppets” soundtrack, which is set for release by Walt Disney Records on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011.
The app also includes three of the most memorable songs from the Muppets tribute compilation, “The Green Album.”
“Tap Tap Muppets” Full Song List Includes:
“Life’s A Happy Song” Performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter
“Let’s Talk About Me” Performed by Chris Cooper
“Me Party” Performed by Amy Adams and Miss Piggy
“The Muppet Show Theme” Performed by OK Go
“Movin’ Right Along” Performed by Alkaline Trio
“Night Life” Performed by Brandon Saller and Billy Martin (Good Charlotte)
“Tap Tap Muppets” also includes video, character profiles, movie info, and the ability for players to connect socially to the Muppets.
“Given the important role music has always played with the Muppets, it makes perfect sense that ‘Tap Tap Muppets’ is the first Disney-branded game for the ‘Tap Tap’ franchise,” said Bart Decrem, general manager of Disney Mobile. He adds, “This app gives Muppets fans and gamers alike an opportunity to experience the beloved music of the Muppets in an entirely new environment.”
The launch of “Tap Tap Muppets” on the App Store coincides with the theatrical nationwide big screen release of Disney’s The Muppets on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011.
The video below provides a glimpse of what the app is all about.
‘TANGLED’ directors to premiere their short film ‘TANGLED EVER AFTER’
The Walt Disney Studios announced that directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, the talented team behind Disney Animation Studio’s global blockbuster Tangled, will premiere a delightful new animated short film spotlighting the royal wedding of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and Flynn Rider – a.k.a Eugene – (Zachary Levi) in front of each screening of Beauty and the Beast in 3D, which opens on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012.
Tangled Ever After is an ideal accompaniment to Beauty and the Beast, which is returning to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ and introducing a whole new generation to the classic with new 3D imagery.
By popular demand, Greno and Howard are bringing back some of Disney’s most beloved characters when Tangled Ever After picks up where Tangled left off. The Kingdom is in a festive mood as everyone gathers for the royal wedding of Rapunzel and Flynn. However, when Pascal and Maximus, as flower chameleon and ring bearer, respectively, lose the gold bands, a frenzied search and recovery mission gets underway.
As the desperate duo tries to find the rings before anyone discovers that they’re missing, they leave behind a trail of comical chaos that includes flying lanterns, a flock of doves, a wine barrel barricade and a very sticky finale.
Beauty and the Beast was nominated for six Academy Awards®, winning Oscars® for Best Song, by the renowned Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and Best Original Score (Menken).
NEW TRAILERS FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED UPCOMING FILMS
BRAVE
Disney•Pixar
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Adventure
Rating: To be determined
U.S. Release Date: June 22, 2012
Voice Talent: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane
Directors: Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Producer: Katherine Sarafian
Composer: Patrick Doyle
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.
Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson).
Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane).
Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian
Studio Notes:
Director Mark Andrews served as story supervisor for the Disney•Pixar films “Ratatouille” and “The Incredibles,” and was Oscar®-nominated as the co-writer/co-director of the Pixar short “One Man Band.” He also contributed to the screenplay as co-writer and served as second unit director for the 2012 Walt Disney Studios film “John Carter.”
Director Brenda Chapman directed DreamWorks Animation’s “The Prince of Egypt” and was story supervisor for the Disney classic “The Lion King.”
Producer Katherine Sarafian produced the Pixar short film “Lifted” and served as production manager for “The Incredibles.”
Actress Kelly Macdonald stars as Margaret Schroeder on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," and as Ravenclaw's ghost, The Grey Lady, in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” Her film credits also include “No Country for Old Men,” “Gosford Park” and “Trainspotting.”
Appearing in the movies “Men in Black 3” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” Emma Thompson is an Oscar®-winning actress (“Howards End”) and screenwriter (“Sense and Sensibility”) who most recently starred in, wrote and executive produced “Nanny McPhee Returns.”
Scottish comedian Billy Connolly most recently served as narrator for the Walt Disney Animation Studios short “The Ballad of Nessie” and appeared in “Gulliver’s Travels.”
Brave, a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor, opens Friday, June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.
Below for your enjoyment, is the newly released trailer for Brave.
FILMS OPENING THIS WEEK
Opened November 18, 2011 Another Happy Day – Drama- R- because of “teen drug/alcohol abuse, pervasive language including sexual references, and brief graphic nudity.” – NOTE: Los Angeles and New York City only.
Opening November 23, 2011 The Artist – Comedy, Romance, Drama- PG-13- because of “a disturbing image and a crude gesture.” – NOTE: In limited release.
Opening November 23, 2011 Arthur Christmas – Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family- PG- because of “some mild rude humor.”
Opening November 23, 2011 A Dangerous Method – Drama, Thriller- R- because of “sexual content and brief language.”
Opened November 16, 2011 in Los Angeles and New York City and now in wider release as of November 18, 2011 The Descendants – Comedy, Drama-R- because of “language including some sexual references.”
Opened November 18, 2011 Happy Feet Two – Animation, Comedy, Family, Music- PG- because of “some rude humor and mild peril.”
Opening November 23, 2011 Hugo – Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery- PG- because of “mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking.”
Opened November 11, 2011 The Lie – Drama- R- because of “language and some drug use.” - NOTE: Los Angeles and New York City only.
Opening November 23, 2011 The Muppets – Comedy, Family, Musical- PG- because of “some mild rude humor.”
For information on films that opened November 11, 2011, which included: 11-11-11; The Greening of Whitney Brown; Immortals; Into the Abyss - A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life; J. Edgar; Jack and Jill; London Boulevard; Melancholia and Tropa de Elite 2 – O Inimigo Agora E (Elite Squad: The Enemy Within), please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
For information on films that opened November 4, 2011, which included: A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas; Killing Bono; The Son of No One and Tower Heist, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
For information on films that opened October 28, 2011, which included:
13; And They're Off:….;Anonymous: The Double; In Time; Janie Jones; Like Crazy; Medianeras; My Reincarnation; Puss in Boots and The Rum Diary, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
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.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
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 movies
For information on films that opened October 7, 2011, which included: 1911; Blackthorn; Dirty Girl; The Human Centipede II; The Ides of March; Real Steel and The Way, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies
For information on films that opened September 30, 2011, which included: 50/50; Courageous; Dream House; Margaret; Sarah Palin: You Betcha; Take Shelter; Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and What’s Your Number? , please click on the link below.
The 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:
G GENERAL AUDIENCES (All Ages Admitted) PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED (Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children) PG-13 PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED (Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13) R RESTRICTED (Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian) NC-17 NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED – As determined by the Rating Board/Motion Picture Association of America.
