Planet Movie: August 2007

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

IN THEATERS JULY 11, 2007 In the silver-screen adaptation of J.K. Rowling's HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, the fifth chapter in the beloved book series, everyone's favorite wizard-in-training (Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself in increasingly perilous situations. Not only is Harry in trouble with the Ministry of Magic for using his abilities outside of school, his trusted mentor, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), has grown distant, and an icy new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), has arrived to bring a frightening level of discipline to Hogwarts. And waiting in the shadows is the demonic Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), an ominous figure whose very existence is questioned by the powerful Ministry, leaving Harry and his friends--most notably Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson)--to form a rebel group, Dumbledore's Army. Helmed by little-known British director David Yates and written by Michael Goldenberg (the first scribe to fill the boots of Steve Kloves), THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX continues the darker tone of the two preceding POTTER installments and deftly follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they face new foes and impending adulthood. While Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson all continue to imbue their characters with vitality and complexity, Staunton steals the show as the strict, merciless Umbridge, though the story, which lacks some of the special-effects-heavy set pieces of past chapters, happily leaves room for other actors to shine, most notably Alan Rickman (as the ever-enigmatic Severus Snape), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), David Thewlis (Remus Lupin), and Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange). Another fine offering of POTTER movie magic, PHOENIX may not astound quite the way that THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN did, but it easily stands as one of the best films in the series.

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Skinwalkers

IN THEATRES AUGUST 10, 2007 A young boy is startled to find himself being stalked by one group of werewolves and protected by another in this action-packed horror flick.

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Resident Evil: Extinction

Alice, now in hiding in the Nevada desert, once again joins forces with Carlos Olivera and L.J., along with new survivors Claire, K-Mart and Nurse Betty to try to eliminate the deadly virus that threatens to make every human being undead...and to seek justice. Since being captured by the Umbrella Corporation, Alice has been subjected to biogenic experimentation and becomes genetically altered, with super-human strengths, senses and dexterity. These skills, and more, will be needed if anyone is to remain alive.

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The Simpsons Movie

After 18 years on the air, Springfield's favorite family finally makes it to the big screen. Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa (Yeardley Smith) and Maggie Simpson will be there, along with regulars like Moe the bartender (Hank Azaria) and Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer).

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I Am Legend

Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable...and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City...and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by "the Infected"--victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. All the while, the Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville's every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind's last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But his blood is also what The Infected hunt, and Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time.

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Last Legion

IN THEATERS AUGUST 17, 2007 Set as the Roman Empire is on the decline, THE LAST LEGION follows a brave young warrior who travels to Britain in search of a new world. Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley star.

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National Treasure: Book of Secrets

IN THEATRES DECEMBER 21, 2007 Nicholas Cage returns to play Ben Gates in this sequel to the 2004 action hit NATIONAL TREASURE. This time, Gates and his team solve a mystery that stretches from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln to the contemporary streets of Washington, DC.

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The Bourne Ultimatum

All he wanted was to disappear. Instead, Jason Bourne is now hunted by the people who made him what he is. Having lost his memory and the one person he loved, he is undeterred by the barrage of bullets and a new generation of highly-trained killers. Bourne has only one objective: to go back to the beginning and find out who he was. Now, in the new chapter of this espionage series, Bourne will hunt down his past in order to find a future. He must travel from Moscow, Paris, Madrid and London to Tangier and New York City as he continues his quest to find the real Jason Bourne--all the while trying to outmaneuver the scores of cops, federal officers and Interpol agents with him in their crosshairs.

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Dragon Wars

IN THEATERS SEPTEMBER 14, 2007 (Limited) Dragons take over Los Angeles in this modern-day monster movie starring ROSWELL's Jason Behr.

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Nanny Diaries

IN THEATRES AUGUST 24, 2007 Scarlett Johansson is an impoverished New Jersey nanny who goes to work with a posh Manhattan family in this delightful comedy.

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Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

As the charismatic and unpredictable Jesse James (Brad Pitt) plans his next great robbery, he wages war on his enemies, who are trying to collect the reward money - and the glory - riding on his capture. But the greatest threat to his life may ultimately come from those he trusts the most.

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Resident Evil: Extinction

Superbad

IN THEATERS AUGUST 17, 2007 Judd Apatow produces this raunchy-but-hilarious comedy about two best friends (KNOCKED UP's Jonah Hill and ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT's Michael Cera) who plan to celebrate their high school graduation with a night of parties and girls.

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No Reservations

IN THEATRES JULY 27, 2007 Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart are charming in the romantic comedy NO RESERVATIONS. Zeta-Jones stars as Kate, an executive chef at a popular restaurant in New York City's Greenwich Village. She is so dedicated to her job that she has no time for a personal life; she even brings gourmet cuisine to her therapist (Bob Balaban), feeding him food rather than opening up her soul. But her life changes when her sister dies in a car accident, leaving Kate to take care of her sister's young daughter, Zoe (Abigail Breslin, from LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE). Suddenly, Kate is responsible for more than just fancy dishes; she is responsible for another human being, which confounds her. After taking a few days off, she returns to her kitchen, only to find that the restaurant owner, Paula (Patricia Clarkson), has hired another chef to assist Kate, a playful, talkative, talented man named Nick (Aaron Eckhart) who likes listening to opera while he works (Kate considers that a major distraction) and so wins over the rest of the staff that Kate feels threatened. But deep down, she also feels a little attracted by the attention Nick pours on her. However, Kate is not sure she can mix being a mother, a master chef, and, perhaps, a lover. NO RESERVATIONS, based on the award-winning German film BELLA MARTHA (MOSTLY MARTHA) (Sandra Nettelbeck, 2001), is a satisfying soufflé of comedy and romance, directed by Scott Hicks (SHINE, SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS) and featuring a piano-based soundtrack by minimalist musician Philip Glass. And just as she did in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, Breslin will both charm and break viewers' hearts.

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Becoming Jane

IN THEATRES AUGUST 3, 2007 (Limited) BECOMING JANE is based on an incident in the life of the beloved writer Jane Austen, and follows the real-life romance that inspired her classic novels. Like many of her heroines, Jane (Anne Hathaway, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA) is bright, strong-willed, and unwilling to marry merely for money, even though her family is struggling financially. Though many of her friends wish her to pair up with the nephew of a rich woman (Maggie Smith, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX), Jane wants something more. When she meets the Irish rogue Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND), she initially can?t stand him, but their romance blooms, serving as the inspiration for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Director Julian Jarrold (KINKY BOOTS) is no stranger to literary fare. Though BECOMING JANE is only his second feature film, he directed several productions for British television, including GREAT EXPECTATIONS, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, and WHITE TEETH. At times, BECOMING JANE feels exactly as it should: a long-lost Austen novel that?s just been rediscovered. The themes and characters here seem familiar, as they?ve appeared in Austen?s work many times. There?s the devoted father, difficult mother, loving sister, and, of course, the charming young man with whom the protagonist initially clashes but later falls for. As Tom, McAvoy proves he deserves the attention he received for roles in THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and STARTER FOR TEN. He?s the perfect choice for a romantic lead in an Austen film, taking his place next to Matthew McFadyen in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Hugh Grant in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. As Austen, Hathaway exudes intelligence and energy, playing exactly the sort of woman who appeared in the writer?s work. For those who can?t wait for the next adaptation of Austen?s work to arrive, BECOMING JANE is an engaging look at the writer?s life and love.

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Daddy Day Camp

IN THEATRES AUGUST 8, 2007 Fred Savage makes his feature-film directorial debut in this sequel to DADDY DAY CARE. Charlie Hinton (Cuba Gooding,Jr.) and Phil Ryerson (Paul Rae) decide to parlay the success of their "Daddy Day Care" into day camps in order to save Camp Driftwood. Once the crème de la crème of camps, Driftwood has seen better days, while rival Camp Canola has become a hot property featuring paint ball, dirt bikes, and jet skis. Charlie and Phil buy the camp in order to save it, only to find themselves completely out of their element, which becomes painfully obvious on the first day of camp. With foreclosure impending, Charlie swallows his pride and calls in the ultimate reinforcement: his father, Colonel Buck Hinton (Richard Gant). Of course, Buck and his son have completely different child-rearing styles, leading to some tension as the elder Hinton tries to whip Driftwood?s motley campers into shape for the annual Olympiad with Camp Canola. DADDY DAY CAMP serves up lessons about the importance of teamwork, honesty, believing in yourself, and following your dreams. And the campers are not the only ones who learn important lessons; both Charlie and Buck learn to be better fathers and to appreciate each other despite their differences. Gooding and Rae step into the roles originated by Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin in the first film. Brian Doyle-Murray appears briefly as Uncle Morty, the camp?s owner, and Lochlyn Munro is amusing as Charlie?s childhood nemesis, Lance Warner. But the real stars of this film are the campers, who are subjected to endless nature walks, bus crashes, and commando raids by Canola campers. Spencir Bridges, son of actor Todd Bridges, plays Charlie?s son, Ben.

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Hot Rod

IN THEATRES AUGUST 3, 2007 Amateur suburban stunt man Rod Kimble (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE's Andy Samberg) believes he?s destined to follow in the footsteps of his late father, who made test runs of Evel Knievel?s stunts before the better-known daredevil repeated them and took all the glory. Kimble risks life and limb strictly for fun and the entertainment of the neighborhood kids, but when his macho stepfather, Frank (DEADWOOD's Ian McShane)--who repeatedly beats and belittles Rod in basement sparring matches--develops a life-threatening heart ailment, Rod attempts the biggest jump of his career to raise the $50,000 necessary to get Frank a heart transplant so that he can have one last chance to fight Frank and prove his manhood. HOT ROD establishes its mission statement early on when Rod pedals his moped past a Salvation Army thrift store in his sloppily hand-decorated costume. Seemingly inspired by NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, THE KARATE KID, and the HAPPY DAYS episode in which the Fonz attempts to jump his motorcycle over 14 garbage cans, director Akiva Schaffer (Samberg?s longtime cohort in the online comedy venture THE LONELY ISLAND) sets Pam Brady?s (TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE) screenplay in what seems like the mid-1980?s (complete with Europe-heavy hair metal soundtrack), though allowing for the existence of the Internet and Vitamin Water. The simple plotline is merely a jumping-off point for a series of failed stunts and often hilarious non-sequiturs. Samberg is likeable in his first starring role, but he is more than equaled by a supporting cast including SNL?s Bill Hader, Danny McBride, fellow Lonely Islander Jorma Taccone, and Isla Fisher (WEDDING CRASHERS), who comprise Rod?s loyal crew. McShane chews the retro scenery when onscreen and the always-welcome Sissy Spacek lends credibility to the proceedings in her few scenes as Rod?s mom.

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I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine are the pride of their fire station: two guy's guys always side-by-side and willing to do anything for each other. Grateful Chuck owes Larry for saving his life in a fire, and Larry calls in that favor big time when civic red tape prevents him from naming his own two kids as his life insurance beneficiaries. But when an overzealous, spot-checking bureaucrat becomes suspicious, the new couple's arrangement becomes a citywide issue and goes from confidential to front-page news. Forced to improvise as love-struck newlyweds, Chuck and Larry must now fumble through a hilarious charade of domestic bliss under one roof. After surviving their mandatory honeymoon and dodging the threat of exposure, the well-intentioned con men discover that sticking together in your time of need is what truly makes a family.

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Incident at Loch Ness

In the Summer of 2003, acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog set out to make a documentary about Scotland's infamous Loch Ness, purported home of a prehistoric creature known as "Nessie." Herzog's stated intent was "to explore the origin and the necessity of the monster" rather than to look for the creature itself. The film was to be called "Enigma of Loch Ness." At the time Herzog began production, noted cinematographer and filmmaker John Bailey was already directing a documentary about him, tentatively called "Herzog in Wonderland." This would not be the first time that Herzog would be profiled while making a film, but it would perhaps be the last. What neither Bailey nor Herzog could have predicted is that ¿Enigma of Loch Ness¿ would never be completed. The chaos that had followed Herzog on his other epic quests would follow him to Loch Ness. The production ground to a halt after a boating accident just weeks into shooting. Charge of mismanagement, and even criminally negligent behavior, were leveled in multiple directions. For the first time in his career, Herzog would shut a film down for good. In the fall of 2003, the unfinished "Enigma of Loch Ness" was combined with the footage John Bailey had shot for "Herzog in Wonderland." The resulting film, ¿Incident at Loch Ness,¿ was completed by editors Howard Smith and Abby Shwarzwalder, but due to numerous pending lawsuits, the credits for that film remain undecided. In the ensuing legal fracas, a series of startling film clips made their way onto the internet. The footage was purported to be the clearest ever taken of the elusive monster, but it was accompanied by claims of a hoax. The answer as to the origin and validity of these clips remain unclear. "Incident at Loch Ness" chronicles the story of the making (and unmaking) of Herzog's film, as well as the aftermath of that fateful effort.

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THX 1138

'THX 1138' is a chilling look at a 25th-century totalitarian state where mankind is stripped of any individuality. People are numbered drones, and a government-enforced program of sedating drugs controls the populace. The story's title character, THX, is a factory worker whose life is irrevocably changed when he stops taking his mind-numbing drugs. THX 1138 - The George Lucas Director's Cut will be re-released theatrically in 20 cities on September 10, 2004. The DVD will be released on September 14.

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Transformers

The Earth is caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between two races of robots, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations.

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War

Trailer for War

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Dragon Wars

Hairspray

IN THEATRES JULY 20, 2007: Originally written and directed by filmmaker John Waters in 1988, and then put on Broadway, the camp musical HAIRSPRAY could easily have run its course with viewers. But thanks to playful direction, flashy costumes, over-the-top performances, and a positive message of peace, this newest spin proves to be yet another enjoyable incarnation. Set in 1960s Baltimore, the story follows a plump young girl named Tracy Turnblad (played by impressive newcomer Nikki Blonski) on an amazing journey as her dream of dancing on the popular Corny Collins Show becomes a reality. The local television program is a shiny spectacle spear-headed by Corny Collins (James Marsden), a gang of young dancers, and producer Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer), a seductress ice queen whose manipulative ways ensure her daughter Amber (Brittany Snow) gets more than her fair share of screen time as one of the show?s stars. When Tracy shows up at an open call, Velma can barely contain her rage, and sets out to rid the show of Tracy and the talented black dancers who make up the show?s popular "Negro Day." Thus begins a war of talent and a battle for justice, with those in favor of integration meeting many obstacles along the way. While less out-there than Waters?s original, the film still contains some very quirky humor. John Travolta playing Tracy?s overweight mother may seem an odd concept at first, but in this context it works. Scenes that would ordinarily be cheesy are made more interesting due to the odd dynamic between Christopher Walken and John Travolta playing man and wife. As the two dance and woo one another, the strange smile on Travolta?s lipsticked lips and the grace of Walken?s dancing will be sure to fascinate viewers. Viewers should also watch for cameos by Ricki Lake, and by John Waters as a Baltimore streaker. With all the wacky comedy, it?s often easy to forget that the meat of HAIRSPRAY is a battle over racial integration. The film manages to create some touching moments in the midst of sparkling musical numbers.

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I Am Legend

Last Legion

The Simpsons Movie

Skinwalkers

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Halloween

IN THEATRES AUGUST 31, 2007 After proving himself a skilled horror movie director, musician-turned filmmaker Rob Zombie tackles a true classic of the genre. A remake of John Carpenter's 1978 film, HALLOWEEN follows the same basic premise, but rather than telling the same story, steps back in time to examine the childhood events which shaped one of cinema's most memorable and interesting psychopaths, Michael Myers.

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The Bourne Ultimatum

Stardust

A young man named Tristan (Charlie Cox) tries to win the heart of Victoria (Sienna Miller), the beautiful but cold object of his desire, by going on a quest to retrieve a fallen star. His journey takes him to a mysterious and forbidden land beyond the walls of his village. On his odyssey, Tristan finds the star, which has transformed into a striking girl named Yvaine (Claire Danes). However, Tristan is not the only one seeking the star. A king's (Peter O'Toole) four living sons - not to mention the ghosts of their three dead brothers - all need the star as they vie for the throne. Tristan must also overcome the evil witch, Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), who needs the star to make her young again. As Tristan battles to survive these threats, encountering a pirate named Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro) and a shady trader named Ferdy the Fence (Ricky Gervais) along the way, his quest changes. He must now win the heart of the star for himself as he discovers the meaning of true love.

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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

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