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Director: Byron Howard Chris Williams Stars: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman (Full Cast) Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The Plot: Bolt (voice of Travolta) is a celebrity dog and the star of a hit TV show where his amazing feats and powers draw big ratings. But when a mail-room mix-up finds him roaming free on the streets of New York City, the wonder dog will have to learn to rely on his actual strengths -- as well as his new friends, an abandoned housecat and a starry-eyed hamster -- in order to find his way back home to his owner and co-star, Penny (voice of Cyrus).
THE BUZZ: Disney's latest morality tale sort of sounds heaps better than, say, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but way less interesting as the Monsters Vs. Aliens teaser trailer that popped up online earlier this week. Hmm, what else to say? Well, Travolta is nowhere near as creepy to look at here than he was in Wild Hogs and Hairspray. Good luck to Ms. Miley Cyrus in her voice-role debut; she might be barely audible among the presence of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" standout Sussie Essman -- listen for her to steal as many scenes as she's in, though she'll have to keep her language family-friendly here. Message Boards: Favorite character?? | Voice casting of Miley Cyrus Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Catherine Hardwicke Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke (Full Cast) Studio: Summit Entertainment The Plot: In her new town of Forks, Washington, misfit teenager Bella Swan (Stewart) falls for her alluring and mysterious classmate, Edward Cullen (Pattinson). As it turns out, Edward belongs to a lineage of vampires, although he doesn't fit the typical vampire mold. As their passion reaches dizzying heights, can Edward resist his natural urges, and will he be able to defend Bella from his family members who have come for her?
THE BUZZ: In terms of movies, 2008 will be remembered as the year superheroes went truly mainstream and, separately, the industry realized that female and gay male audiences are a neglected demographic. But what about the younger generation -- more specifically, teenage girls? Has any studio been able to figure out what they want, aside from Hannah Montana? Enter Catherine Hardwicke's adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's first novel, a project that first captured our interest very early this year when Kristen Stewart (Bella), Robert Pattinson (Edward), and a handful of their castmates took over our STARmeter chart, well in advance of any available footage from the production. The hype reached its first apex at Comic-Con, when the movie's panel earned Beatlemania comparisons from aging journalists who covered their ears as the teen girls and their "Twilight Moms" made the event more of a freak-out and less of a presentation. It's always tricky to predict if Internet buzz will turn into box-office gold (or, in this case, crimson) but I will say this: If the mother-daughter duos turn out for opening weekend (which was pushed up from mid-December to pre-Thanksgiving once Harry Potter decided to hide until 2009), Twilight could trump some higher-profile holiday movies, powered by repeat audiences, and send competing studios rushing off to optioned like-minded novels. Stephenie Meyer is keeping a blog on the movie's progress, so you might want to bookmark it as your destination for all things vamp as the release date draws near. Message Boards: Is Anyone Wearing Red Ribbons? | Just saw it. What did you think? Spoilers Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Hal Haberman Jeremy Passmore Stars: Michael Rapaport (Full Cast) Studio: Magnet Releasing The Plot: Metermaid Les Franken (Rapaport) has an unexpected reaction to the anti-depressant he's taking as part of a clinical trial; suddenly convinced he's a superhero, he embraces his new powers, dons a homemade costume, and hits the streets to protect the citizens of his city. the corporation behind the pill, fearing bad publicity about their drug, set out to bring down our hero, who in turn hones his abilities to fight off his new arch-nemeses.
THE BUZZ: This one has been around since '06, but Magnet Films has saved it from DVD obscurity as part of their Six Shooter Film Series. You can bank on an ace performance from go-to character actor Michael Rappaport (who is sadly un-super-famous), but reviewers say prepare for a tonal shift that steers the story away from its comedic beginning and into murky, paranoid territory. Is that a good or bad thing? Either way: It sounds better than Hancock to me. Message Boards: Really? Michael Rapaport? | Showing on HDNet Movies Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Marc Forster Stars: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric (Full Cast) Studio: Columbia Pictures The Plot: Picking up where Casino Royale left off, James Bond (Craig) sets his sights on the organization behind Vesper Lynd's betrayal. The mission puts him on a collision course with Dominic Greene (Amalric), a ruthless businessman who, Bond soon learns, is brokering a deal to take total control of one of the world's most precious resources. Relying on allies new and old -- including Camille (Kurylenko), a beautiful woman with her own agenda -- Agent 007 looks to bring down Greene and his conspirators. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: The first of Daniel Craig's two year-end punches has already landed around the world, as QoS pulled in $160 million in under two weeks -- and this is before its U.S. opening, where it's set to drown Casino Royale's $40 million debut, Vesper Lynd style. In a contemporary setting, where Roger Moore has croaked that the series has become "too violent," Amy Winehouse can't stay sober enough to record her Bond theme, and Jason Bourne is threatening to become the world's #1 super-spy, we have to admire Daniel Craig's PC nature (such a nice contrast to the vengeance-seeking character he plays here), as well as Marc Forster's rejiggering of the Bond formula by taking the action to South America for the shortest, densest chapter to date. Message Boards: For the love of god, please stop with the shaky cam / lightning editing | How much do you think Ford paid... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Eric Darnell Tom McGrath Stars: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer (Full Cast) Studio: DreamWorks Distribution The Plot: In the sequel to Madagascar, Alex the lion (voiced by Stiller) and his friends board an NYC-bound plane (that's been "repaired" by their penguin pals), only to find themselves touching down in the African plains. It's an opportunity for the animals to encounter their own kind for the very first time, and to discover, while various plots play out, what "home" truly means to each of them. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: Say what you will about the original's primitive animation and whatnot, but it tallied up over $400 million in worldwide receipts, so this crack-a-lackin' sequel comes as no surprise -- but did it really require three years to come together? Maybe those psychotic penguins held out for more money. Maybe this time around the creative talent behind the camera will have more going on in the wild (something sorely missing from the first movie). And while we expect a big return here, honestly, we're more primed for Dreamworks' 2009 offering, Monster vs. Aliens. Message Boards: The title isn't what you think it is.. | Who could like this amazing crapfest? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: David Wain Stars: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks (Full Cast) Studio: Universal Pictures The Plot: Unsavory behavior forces a pair of energy-drink reps (Rudd and Scott) to enroll in a Big Brother program, where the duo learn, however reluctantly, to bond with their assigned kids. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: David Wain (The Ten) isn't nearly as famous as Judd Apatow, but he got his career started the same way (both guys turned oddball comedy shows into cult hits in the early/mid-90s) before taking tentative steps toward the big screen. And from the sound of this movie's premise, it appears that Wain is learning the lesson Apatow aced a few years ago: Get less cerebral with your comedy, rotate key players through your projects, and gun for the hard-R rating. I'm curious as to why these Models earned a winter release when they are clearly a summer-movie confection, though it is a savvy and rather funny counter-programming effort by Universal ... Message Boards: Paul Rudd | Could of been a good PG13 movie Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Kenny Ortega Stars: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale (Full Cast) Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The Plot: As seniors in high school, Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: Here's the dirty little secret of the HSM flicks -- they're actually not half bad, executed with solid professionalism, boundless enthusiasm, and wholeheated willingness to embrace a world of 'dances 'n songs!' (here's a question: does the Generation HSM even know who Xander from "Buffy" is?). It's an immersive musical sensibility that recent big-screen musicals like Dreamgirls and Chicago shied away from with their jazz hands wide open. But will what looks great on TV transfer to the big screen? It's kind of beside the point -- the audience is built-in, with wallets already open, as the Hannah Montana concert movie proved. First Showing has the first trailer ... Message Boards: I think HSM2 was the best one | Things we learned from HSM 3 Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Clint Eastwood Stars: Angelina Jolie, Colm Feore, Amy Ryan (Full Cast) Studio: Universal Pictures The Plot: 1920s Los Angeles: A woman (Jolie) who is reunited with her missing son is subsequently committed to an insane asylum when she begins to question whether the boy is her child. Ultimately bringing her case to the city council, she begins to pick apart a conspiracy that reverberates throughout the city. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: This is the higher-profile project from Clint Eastwood this year (Gran Torino, meanwhile, is shaping up as some sort of spin on Tokyo Drift -- for serious) and it's definite awards-bait in the vein of L.A. Confidential and Chinatown, because we all know how much the Academy likes Angelina when she's been institutionalized. Cinematical has great things to say about Eastwood, Jolie, Amy Adams, and the rest of the talented cast and crew after seeing its Cannes debut. Message Boards: I will not sleep well tonight because of this movie | wow SPOILERS Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Kevin Smith Stars: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks (Full Cast) Studio: Weinstein Company, The The Plot: Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) look to solve their respective cashflow problems by directing and starring in their own adult film. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: Two of the busiest actors in L.A. get down for Kevin Smith and his legion of sex-hungry fanboys who probably won't take the second to realize that Elizabeth Banks and the slimmed down Seth Rogen look more like sister and brother than potential soulmates. As the f-word pings around theaters in THX, look for Banks to pull a Heigl and outshine her male counterpart; meanwhile here's hoping Kevin S. pulls away from Harvey W. and makes Red State his follow-up project. Message Boards: The 'WITH A PENIS' Game | Up to 26.5 Million. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Malcolm D. Lee Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac (Full Cast) Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) The Plot: Though it's been some twenty years since they have spoken with one another, two estranged soul-singing legends (Jackson and Mac) agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: Oh, man, how to market a movie about a deceased singer right after the passings of co-star Bernie Mac and supporting player Isaac Hayes? The pressure here is on distributor Dimension Films, good-natured director Malcolm Lee (Roll Bounce, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins), and co-star Sharon Leal, the Dreamgirls scene stealer who here plays Samuel L. Jackson's daughter and the new singer of the soul group. Message Boards: Thank You, Bernie!! | What was the funniest part of the movie to you... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood Stars: Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah (Full Cast) Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures The Plot: South Carolina, 1964: A fateful incident inspires young Lily Owens (Fanning) to flee her abusive household with Rosaleen Daise (Hudson), the only parental figure she's ever known, in tow. Together, the duo travel to the fictional town of Tiburon, where they are taken in by an eccentric trio of beekeeping sisters, and Lily begins to piece together the secrets of her deceased mother's past. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: No buzz jokes, please. Love & Basketball filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood adapted and directed Sue Monk Kidd's highly regarded novel, and the timing for her film could not be better, since I expect it'll appeal to mother-daughter duos (similar to Twilight moms and their progeny) in this femme-friendly year. Plus, could one of the Boatwright sisters find themselves nominated for Oscar? Message Boards: lapel pins | One nitpick Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: David Hackl Stars: Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell (Full Cast) Studio: Lionsgate The Plot: Forensics expert Hoffman (Mandylor) goes on the hunt in order to prevent being identified as the newest person to carry on Jigsaw's legacy. User Rating:
THE BUZZ: The fifth installment of the Jigsaw legacy has wrapped production under the direction of David Hackl (the production designer/trap master who has been with the franchise since the second chapter), and details have spilled like so much blood. Official Saw is the best place to go for updates and first looks; our message boards are the place to be if you want to read long theoretical strings about how Rigg will be the new Amanda. We hear there are two twists at the end here, so while you keep your eye on Hoffman, you might just want to keep Rigg in check as well. Message Boards: Autopsy could have happened DURING Saw V | Did Billy whisper 'Hoffman' to Perez? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Boards | User Comments | Reviews | |||||
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Director: Raja Gosnell Stars: Drew Barrymore, George Lopez (Full Cast) Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The Plot: While on vacation in Mexico, Chloe (Barrymore), a pampered Beverly Hills chihuahua, finds herself lost and in need of assistance in order to get back home. Coming to Chloe's aid is a a macho Chihuahua named Papi (Lopez), a spirit guide (Hayek) who endeavors to help Chloe discover her true heritage. User Rating:
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