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Cheap DVDs: The Departed, The Reader, Fight Club

Anet Hovhanesian — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:00:55 +0000

Looking for great deals on DVD’s and Blu-RAY? Look no further as we bring you what they want…good movies at bargain prices. Whether you like action, fantasy or just something to make you cry, we have it all in our bargain list of this week. DVDs anywhere from $4 to Blu-Rays starting at $15. We bring you something that you will all like.

Check out the deals we found this week on Amazon:

Under $10

Intermission | $3.98
Carbon Copy | $ 3.98
Weapons of Self Destruction | $9.99
The Phantom of the Opera | $8.99
The Departed | $7.99

Pick of the Week: The Departed

With a director like Martin Scorsese, you really can’t go wrong, but in his crime thriller it’s the cast makes the movie a must see. With Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen AND Alec Baldwin, there is no shortage on big names and big talent giving some of their best performances of all time. The film centers around cops and and and a Irish mafia where moles are planted, and lines between enemies and friends are unclear. Definitely a film worth owning.

$10+

Ponyo | $13.99
Capitalism: A Love Story | $14.99
The Men Who Stare at Goats | $14.99
My Sister’s Keeper | $11.99
The Reader | $11.99

Pick of the Week: The Men Who Stare at Goats

Grant Heslov’s comedy film is about a reportes who gets more than he bargains for when he meets a special forces agent who reveals the existence of a secret, psychic military unit whose goal is to end war as we know it. The film stars the George Clooney, Ewan McGregor and Jeff Bridges. Buy it, you won’t regret it.

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Blu-RAY

The Dark Knight | $14.99
The Matrix | $13.49
Fight Club | $13.99
The Day After Tomorrow | $13.99
American Gangster | $9.99

Pick of the Week: Fight Club

What’s better than watching Brad Pitt fighting, cursing, smoking and standing around with no shirt on? David Fincher’s Fight Club, starring Pitt and Edward Norton is one of the best… aww shit… I wish I could go on but frankly I’m not allowed to talk about it.

Which one of the films from this weeks list is something you were looking to buy?

Movie Releases: District 9, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Pnyo

Anet Hovhanesian — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:34:57 +0000

After seeing the posters, the trailers, the image of an alien-like figure with its spaceship, the time has come; Neill Bloomkamp‘s District 9 comes out this week. The sci-fi thriller has been getting a lot of hype, let’s hope it delivers. On the complete opposite end of the movie spectrum, we have the romantic-drama The Time Traveler’s Wife starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams (you know you have a hit love story when McAdams plays the lead female role). And did anyone even know Ashton Kutcher had a movie coming out this week? Well, he does. It is comedy called Spread and it also stars Anne Heche. We probably didn’t know much about it, besides the trailer we showed you back in July, because it doesn’t seem like a movie worth knowing about, but I might be wrong.

Here are the movies coming out August 14th:

District 9 | Screencrave Review | Neill Blomkamp Interview p art 1, part 2 | Sharlo Copley interview | Peter Jackson, Blomkamp, Copley Press Conference | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets
Bandslam | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets
Ponyo |Screencrave Review | Interview Hayo Miyazaki and John Lasseter | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets
The Time Traveler’s Wife | Sreencrave Review | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets
Earth Days | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets
Grace | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets
Spread | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets

Watch the Trailers:

District 9

Bandslam

Ponyo

The Time Traveler’s Wife

Earth Days

Grace

Spread

Tell us what your favorite movie coming out this week is and why.

Ponyo: Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:00:54 +0000

Bright colors and lots of fantastical elements paint the canvas for Hayao Miyazaki‘s latest animated feature, Ponyo. The film is laced with an A-list cast of actors, but lead by second generation Disney spawns, Frankie Jonas and Noah Cyrus. Ponyo is a family-friendly-feast filled with comedy, adventure, and dare I say a touch of romance? The film offers you a one way ticket to the land of make believe, but to enjoy it make sure you park your common sense at the door.

Check out the review after the jump…

The Plot:

The film centers on a young gold fish named Ponyo (Cyrus), the daughter of a water wizard named Fujimoto (Liam Neeson), who was once human, but is now a being of the sea. He believes that it’s his job to maintain balance between creatures of the ocean and on land. Ponyo, is the most rebellious of his children and is curious to see how life with humans could be. She escapes from under her father’s thumb and takes a trip to the surface. By chance she meets a five year old boy named Sosuke, and within a scene or two she declares to him, “Ponyo loves Sosuke!” Similar to The Little Mermaid, (which Ponyo is loosely based) the twosome go through several trails and tribulations to prove how strong their friendship really is. Will Ponyo stay on land or will she be forced to return to the sea? You’ll have to see it to find out!

The Good:

The Animation: This was an obvious choice. The animation in this film is beyond beautiful. It’s like walking through a coloring book. In a world currently over-saturated with CGI films this was a breath of fresh air. It’s traditional, yet not understated.
The Music: The music was pitch perfect. It made you feel as if you were physically being whisked away to another time and place. It definitely aided the story, especially in the action scenes. Joe Hisaishi was responsible for creating a score which was complimentary but not distracting.
Frankie Jonas/Noah Cyrus: These young actors starred in the lead roles of Sosuke and Ponyo. It’s hard not to be charmed by these two while in character. There’s a sweet, naivety that Ponyo has that Noah brings out without sounding forced. Sosuke is more of an independent character who has moments of vulnerability every now and again, and Jonas brings it out naturally.
The Direction: What more can I say about Hayao Miyazaki that hasn’t already been said? Every scene, every shot, and every frame of Ponyo was placed perfectly. There was a good flow of timing with the various themes from the film. Moments of sadness, excitement, and fear blended seamlessly from one point to another.

The Bad:

The Supporting Cast: Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Betty White, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin all do voice over work in this film. Did they do an over the top, extraordinary job with their scenes? I’d have to say no. There was nothing spectacular about their performances that couldn’t have been done by any other actor. They were simply there for name value.
Extremely Young Love: This is one of those things that will bother you, if you apply logic to this movie. The plot puts a lot of pressure on a five year old couple. Sosuke’s love for Ponyo is actually the backbone of the story. It’s a lot to ask from a child, and sometimes that comes off a little too strong.

Overall:

Ponyo is a good family film that will entertain and delight viewers of all ages. It’s an escapist piece that allows you to take a break from all reality. I would definitely recommend you seeing this film this weekend. If not for the kids, go to get a kick of nostalgia for yourself.

Ponyo opens in theaters nationwide on August 14, 2009.

Rating: 9.5/10

Interview with Ponyo’s Hayo Miyazaki and John Lasseter

Kara Stanford-Jones — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:55:20 +0000

At last weekend’s Comic-Con, I was able to interview the incredibly talented animator Hayo Miyazaki and director John Lasseter for their upcoming film Ponyo. Miyazaki is one of the most well known directors in his native country Japan, and although he’s not as well-known in the US, he was put on the map for his film Spirited Away, and is about to become a household name for his work in Ponyo. With help from director John Lasseter, the man behind many Pixar movies including, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story, and Cars, they have managed to make a groundbreaking animation. Needless to say, these are two very talented duo, and based of the ten minute clip we saw at Comic-Con, you will not be disappointed.

In the interview, Lasseter discusses the future of 3-D in Pixar films, how Miyazaki inspired him, and how they went about translating Ponyo for US audiences. Miyazaki talks about the personal and environmental themes within Ponyo and much more.

Check out the interview below…

You stated this was your most personal film to date, can you tell us about that?

HM: Ponyo just touches the entry point of my personal qualities. You would have to go much deeper in order to get more personal.

What is the biggest difference between your latest and previous film?

HM: I think the most obvious difference is that I have aged. This film is a result of my aging.

Should we expect the next film to dive any deeper?

HM: It is not in any form quite yet, but it is my position and my role, in Gihbli, is to search for those types of personal depth in films.

You seemed to criticize the English version of Spirited Away, how happy with you are the American version of Ponyo?

HM: I don’t think I criticized the English version before. I think they have always done a good job. I think Spirited Away was a very difficult film to understand, but I think they did the best they could; I think they did a good job with it. I don’t really feel critical of the English version.

How different is the Japanese version from the English version of Ponyo?

JL: The first thing we do is get an exact, word-for-word translation even though the sentences won’t make any sense. It is very important for me to understand what he is saying. Then we start putting it into proper English. Then we go from there and try to make it seem realistic for our ears, like what a mother would say to a child. The way they would normally say things. I never ever change the meaning of anything. I want to protect his vision and I am very dedicated to that. It is about keeping the audience in the same level of understanding as the Japanese audiences. For instance, in Spirited Away, when Sen walks up and sees a bathhouse, all Japanese audiences would know that that is a bathhouse just from the way it looks. No on in this country would know it is a bathhouse, so we added a line offstage saying, “Oh, it is a bathhouse.” It is the subtle things like that that communicate the meaning that much more. Ponyo has a few moments like that. This film was a little easier, although it is set in Japan it is the same level of understanding.

The elements of nature are dominant themes of your film, what elements should we expect in Ponyo?

HM: I think Ponyo’s natural strength is connected to the strength of the sea and ocean. I think when you look deep, the strength of people is connected to nature. That is why, when Ponyo reaches land, she uses the strength of the sea to come. It is not really a film about environmental or ecological issues in it, but more so about the strength and the power of nature.

Where do you see 3-D going in the future and how is the technology evolving in Pixar’s films?

JL: I am always inspired by new technology. Pixar is the studio that created the first computer animated film. What I think is important is to let the filmmakers really understand the technology and what you can and can’t do. All of our computer animated films, at Pixar and Disney Animation, will be in 3-D from here on.

As you start creating a film, you start to get used to it and start to try new things. All of the sudden, you start to see the designers start staging things more dynamically with 3-D. We don’t try to do the “coming at you” stuff all the time because, I believe, that pops the audience out of the film; what we try to do is envelope the audience and suck them into the story that much more.

Are you going to convert any other movies, besides Toy Story, to 3-D?

JL: Right now we don’t have any plans for anything else. It is something we can always do, as we look forward to the future of 3-D. If 3-D gets into the home, we may look at it. We have it, it is all data that we can bring back.

John, as an artist, what have you learned from Hayo Miyazaki?

JL: I think that in Miyazaki’s films, there are so many things that have inspired me as a filmmaker. I think his action sequences are so beautifully staged. They are so clear, but they are so inventive. That really ups our game. I think one of the biggest influences is that his films always celebrate the quiet moments. In American film-making, there tends to be a focus on faster and more action. I think what is so great about his films, in every one, there are all these quiet moments, that are kind of a breath, and they are so beautiful. They add depth to the film. Then it makes what comes after it and the contrast that much stronger. When you watch Up!, there are so many quiet, beautiful moments that come in contrast to action. I think it helps make the film deeper. That has been a huge inspiration.

Hayo, are you currently working on anything else at the moment?

HM: I am not making any feature length films at the time. I am supporting our young staff and currently training young animators.

Ponyo will be in theaters on August 14. Watch the trailer below…

New Ponyo Theatrical Trailer

Krystal Clark — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:54:58 +0000

After seeing director Hayao Miyazaki speak at this year’s Comic-Con I’ve become an even bigger fan of his work. A second trailer has just been released for his upcoming English language feature, Ponyo. It literally features an A-list cast of actors that’s too long to fully mention, but some of the stars include Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey, and Liam Neeson. Ponyo opens in U.S. theaters on August 14, and it looks like a visually stunning treat!

Check out the new trailer after the jump!

What do you think of the latest trailer for Ponyo? Are you planning on seeing the film?

Comic-Con 2009: Disney Animation Panel

Krystal Clark — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:19:16 +0000

2:48: It’s over! They just walked off the stage. After watching all these clips I feel like my eyes have been visually raped, but in a good way…if that’s possible.

2:43: A fan asked why Miyazaki mostly chooses females as the protagonists in his movies and he said, “Because women are strong and beautiful!” That’s right, ha!

2:42: Miyazaki was asked about where the inspiration for his films comes from, but he said he wish he could remember how he comes out with these crazy stories. Then he just smiled and bowed his head. This guy is hilarious.

2:41: At the Pacific Gaslamp theater tonight, Miyazaki will personally introduce the feature length presentation of Ponyo to the audience.

2:35: Oh wait, Patton Oswalt has returned to moderate. No surprise there. Get out of here Remy!

2:33: WOW! This man is amazing! The Comic-Con International Ink Pot Award is being given to both Jon Lasseter and Mr. Miyazaki!!

2:26: He’s brought us a clip from Ponyo. I’m starting to notice that Mr. Miyazaki has a good sense of humor, even through his interpreter!

2:21: When asked about the colors in his films: “I wanted to make it a simple story and show simplicity through the colors.” The main character in the film is red, so he didn’t want them to overpower the other characters.

2:20: He came up with the idea of Ponyo, the little boy picks up a frog, but I couldn’t work out a good character for a frog so I turned it into a goldfish. I think I was lucky, it was good I turned it into a gold fish. We just saw a film about a frog.”

2:19: I think working on the storyboard alone is a custom that we have in Japan in terms of animation. It’s not just I that works that way, but since I’m slow it seems like i’m working on the storyboard all the time.

2:18: He describes his storyboarding process as “thinking, thinking, and thinking. If you have a better way please let me know.”

2:15: Hayao Miyasaki is getting introduced!!! The crowd is going insane! He’s getting a standing ovation. I can barely see him! This is amazing!

2:09: Poor Prince Naveen, we just watched how and why he turned into a frog. The song portion of it reminded me of the “Never had a Friend like me” sequence in Aladdin. I like it!

2:03: They are about to show us 8 minutes of footage featuring the song “Friends on the Other Side,” by Randy Newman!

2:00: Randy Newman has done seven songs on the soundtrack. They’re also putting a big emphasis on Disney’s return to hand drawn animation. This panel is making me want to run home and crack open some of my oldies but goodies.

1:57: The director of Aladdin and the Little Mermaid, discusses The Princess and the Frog. “Our story is set many years ago in the twenties.” It takes place in New Orleans. “Our princess is Tiana. She’s grown up under tough circumstances.”

1:47: They showed the performance clip from Beauty in the Beast when they sing the song “Belle.” in the opening of the film.

1:43: They brought a clip!!!

1:41: My youth is back! They’re discussing Beauty and the Beast in 3-D!! The director of the film, he says, “It’s definitely not your father 2-D to 3-D transfer.It’s just going to know your socks off.”

1:40: They just showed a clip entitled “Groovin with Ken,” which introduces the character to us. It’s so funny! Good job Michael Keaton!

1:37: The entire cast has returned including the return of Barbie, and she will bring Ken with him!! He will be voiced by MICHAEL KEATON!

1:33: The director of Toy Story 3, Lee Unkrich just came out. He said the film has been 3 years in the making.

1:32: That was cute! The films will run for 2 weeks in theaters starting October 2, 2009.

1:31: They’re premiering the first trailer for the Toy Story double feature!

1:29: John Lasseter has stepped on the stage and is talking about the production of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D, and how they’re coming out as a double feature.

1:23: They announced for everyone to put on their 3-D glasses, and we just saw the beginning of Toy Story 2. What happened to my youth?

This year at Comic-Con Disney wants to stick out and in a big way. The studio is dedicating an entire panel presentation to it’s upcoming animated features. As presented by Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, and Disney Animation Studios, we will get out first look at exclusive footage from the double feature Toy Story and Toy Story 2, as well as Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story 3, The Princess and the Frog, and Ponyo.

Some of the special guests expected to appear are Lee Unkrich, Kirk Wise, Ron Clements, John Muskar, and Hayao Miyazaki. John Lasseter will host the panel, which will once again be moderated by Patton Oswalt (he’s everywhere!). I’m personally looking forward to Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Frog, but that’s just me.

The Disney 3-D panel will take place on Friday, July 24 from 12:45 – 2:15 pm.

Expect plenty of live blogging with exclusive photos and video that only we can bring you! You can also keep up with our coverage by following us on our official ScreenCrave Twitter account. Keep checking back here for more updates, as we will be posting throughout the presentation.

International Ponyo Trailer

Mali Elfman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:31:06 +0000

Time for some magic! We’ve already seen photos and the first trailer for Ponyo, but not we get a more extensive look at the The Little Mermaid inspired fairytale about a baby goldfish named Ponyo (voiced by Noah Cyrus) who wants to become human with the International trailer. Ponyo magically gets her wish and runs away from her home in the sea and befriends a five-year-old human boy named Sosuke (Frankie Jonas). The movie boosts an impressive cast which includes, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, and Tina Fey.

So far everything about this film screams classic. It looks like it might be able to live up to the The Little Mermaid

Check out the new trailer below…

Ponyo debuts in theaters later this summer on August 14.

Do you think it will live up to the high expectations people are setting for it?

Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo Film Trailer

Krystal Clark — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:55:13 +0000

A trailer for the English dubbed version of Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s latest feature has been released. Walt Disney Pictures is behind the American distribution of Ponyo, which will appear on over 800 screens across the country. If you’re one of the few people who won’t see Transformers this weekend, the film’s trailer will play in front of My Sister’s Keeper which opens this Friday.

If you can’t wait until then, you can check out the trailer right now after the jump.

Here’s a short description of Ponyo courtesy of /Film.

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Little Mermaidthe film tells the story of a baby goldfish named Ponyo (voiced by Noah Cyrus) who desires to be a human, and gets her wish. She runs away from her home in the sea and befriends a five-year-old human boy named Sosuke (Frankie Jonas).

The animation for this film looks gorgeous! It does remind me of The Little Mermaid, which is one of my favorite Disney films. As for casting, I’m not even going to refer to the use of Cyrus and Jonas Jr. in this film, because we all know Disney likes to keep it in the family. The movie also stars Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, and Tina Fey. Ponyo debuts in theaters later this summer on August 14.

What do you think of Miyazaki’s latest animated film?

New Pictures and Poster from Miyazaki’s “Ponyo”

Kara Stanford-Jones — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:25:42 +0000

Pictures from the new Hayao Miyazaki film, Ponyo, have been released. To say they are beautiful is an understatement. I’ve never really gotten into anime, but I can certainly appreciate the skill of this animator. By simply looking at the pictures, you can tell it’s going to be an amazing children’s movie; the colors are vibrant and expressive. The film is about a little bou who befriends a goldfish princess who wants to become human. The film was actually released in Japan last year, and Disney is releasing it later this year in the United States. The trailer is going to be released sometime around the 4th of July weekend.

The voices, for the American version, are pretty stellar. The cast includes Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Betty White, and Lily Tomlin. Anime isn’t really my thing, but between the photos and the cast, I’m pretty curious to see it.

Check out the photos and the poster below…

Source: First Showing

ScreenCrave.com » ponyo

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The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 9.5/10

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