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Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Escape From Planet Earth Opens 2/15! #review #giveaway



Family movie night can be a great escape.   And we just saw one that's out of this world!    With major name power on the voices, a witty script, and sweet visuals, Escape from Planet Earth is just the ticket to beat the winter blahs and have some family fun.




ChiIL Mama caught a sneak peek at Escape from Planet Earth, the Weinstein Company's latest animated 3D feature, opening nationwide on February 15th.  I took a set of reviewers with me who are 9, 10 & 11 respectively and included boys and girls.   They all thought the movie was hilarious and they had a blast!   It's action packed, has character and characters, and has a great overall message.





It's refreshing when the smart and peaceful prevail over megalomaniacs with revenge fantasies.  I though the social media quips, and creative black and white retro clips were fresh and fun.  And the insinuation that search engines, social networks, cell phones, and more were alien technology we stole, is an amusing premise.

We love that the stay at home mom IS a rocket scientist, and kicks some serious booty, the nerd has the girl, and kids are not underestimated.   Sometimes even superheroes need to be team players.   Brains can trump arms.   And the scrawny can rescue the brawny.  Check it out yourself.

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama--WIN a rockin' Movie-Goers goodie bag
which includes popcorn, candy and a $25 gift card for our winner to use towards a movie night out at Escape from Planet Earth!  




Goody bag sweet treats


Thanks to The Weinstein Co, for providing this sweet giveaway to our readers and for comping us press tickets to review an advanced screening.

Click Rafflecopter below to enter to win:


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Escape From Planet Earth

The 3D animated family comedy catapults moviegoers to planet Baab where admired astronaut Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is a national hero to the blue alien population.  A master of daring rescues, Scorch pulls off astonishing feats with the quiet aid of his nerdy, by-the-rules brother, Gary (Rob Corddry), head of mission control at BASA.  When BASA’s no-nonsense chief Lena (Jessica Alba) informs the brothers of an SOS from a notoriously dangerous planet, Scorch rejects Gary’s warnings and bounds off for yet another exciting mission.  But when Scorch finds himself caught in a fiendish trap set by the evil Shanker (William Shatner) it’s up to scrawny, risk-averse Gary to do the real rescuing.  As the interplanetary stakes rise to new heights, Gary is left to save his brother, his planet, his beloved wife Kira (Sarah Jessica Parker) and their adventure-hungry son Kip (Jonathan Morgan Heit).

To learn more, please visit Escape Earth Movie here for free games, video clips, photos and more.



To elevate the viewing experience, you can also download the free “Escape From Planet Earth” Movie App that is available for iOS and for Android here.

Valentine Fun:
You can print these free downloadable valentines from your home computer.  ChiIL Mama's stoked to premiere these funny valentines.


















Educational Fun:
  

Disclosure:   This is a sponsored post.   Big thanks to The Weinstein Co. for providing us with review tickets for our family and the giveaway items mentioned above!  

Friday, November 23, 2012

Hitchcock Opens TODAY #Review




Looking for a little escape from or with the adults in your family this holiday weekend?   Hitchcock opens today.   We had a chance to catch Hitchcock at an early press preview on Tuesday and highly recommend it.   



Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock in Sacha Gervasi's HITCHCOCK


HITCHCOCK is a love story about one of the most influential filmmakers of the last century, Alfred (Anthony Hopkins) Hitchcock and his wife and partner Alma Reville (Helen Mirren). The film takes place during the making of Hitchcock's 
seminal movie PSYCHO.


Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins in Sacha Gervasi's HITCHCOCK


The casting for Hitchcock is spot on, and it was a pleasure to see the strong, smart, creative woman behind the genius finally get her due.   This film is more of a relationship flick than horror film, although Hitchcock's lecherous voyeurism, leading lady crushes and obsessions are a bit horrifying.   It's cool to get a glimpse into the Hollywood machine of yesteryear, when morality and censorship resulted in suggestions of sex and violence much scarier still than some of today's show all, tell all bloodbaths.



Jessican Biel as Vera Miles, Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh and James D'Arcy as 
Anthony Perkins in Sacha Gervasi's HITCHCOCK


I'm also a sucker for films about projects that were dinged and turned down repeatedly and then ended up being huge success stories.   I love the message of determination, believing in yourself, and gambling all on an idea that everyone said couldn't be done.


Hitchcock's film have changed our society, stood the test of time, and inspired countless creatives in the horror genre.   Whether you're a fan or merely curious, this film is well worth the time to check out.   I'm completely enamored with Alma (Helen Mirren), the Hitchcock who used to be Alfred's boss, and who gets the job done with competency, creativity and brilliant insight.   She stands behind and beside her famous husband even when he was difficult to live with and put their home and all their savings on the line to make a questionable investment in Psycho.   She is every bit as much of a true Hitchcock genius as her husband ever was.   


Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh in Sacha Gervasi's HITCHCOCK


Despite a PG13 rating, we'd recommend saving this one for the adults--not because it's particularly violent, but because of the complex adult relational themes.   The acting is excellent, and the subject matter is compelling.   So go already.


Click here for advanced tickets, more info and show times/locations near you.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

National Theatre of Great Britain's Frankenstein a Must See at Music Box #review

Frankenstein--dark, dazzling & macabre

2012 TONY© AWARD-NOMINATED ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS, JUNE 16 & 21, AND DANNY BOYLE’S SMASH STAGE PRODUCTION OF FRANKENSTEIN, STARRING JONNY LEE MILLER & BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, JUNE 18-19, & JULY 22, 25-26!


We were super stoked to have an advanced press sneak peek at Frankenstein (Version 2) Jonny Lee Miller as The Creature; Benedict Cumberbatch as Victor Frankenstein (2h 5m).   Pure theatre geeks will want to check out both versions, documented in this fabulous flip flop of leading roles.   We could only make the second version, but chatted up other critics who saw both and they personally preferred the second.   

Coincidentally, both actors are currently playing TV versions of Sherlock Holmes, and word is both did stellar jobs alternating in the stage roles of The Creature and Victor Frankenstein.  We thoroughly enjoyed Jonny Lee Miller's Creature, who embodied both the innocence and wonder and the vengeful fury of a toddler thwarted.  The brief "making of" documentary at the beginning was also an intriguing and informative high point and a welcome prelude.   

We've been doing a long form exploration via video interviews on How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows.   This was a stellar example of what we've been discovering.   Producing a new human changes you on a fundamental physical and mental level and flows through creative work in a vital way.  Miller said there was a lot of his two year old that went into his depiction, and it showed.   Even the initial entrance of The Creature was so birth like, as he emerged into this world.

By contrast, the others who saw Cumberbatch's Creature said his characterization was much more lurchy and marionette like.  The actors also studied stroke victims and those recovering from accidents, doing physical and speech therapy to regain control of their adult bodies, which also manifested in the physical characterization.   All in all, this challenging role was handled with impressive finesse.   

We were also quite impressed with the set design, lighting, costumes and make up.   The choices were unique and added much to the caliber of the show as a whole.   Sometimes it's hard to capture the immediacy and intimacy of live theatre on film, but the camera work is phenomenal and the show is still compelling on screen.  We liked the steam punk costume choices for the villagers.  The mob made a symbolically and visually impressive entrance when they first met The Creature, on their noisy, industrial, gear laden contraption.    

The Creature more closely resembles a man than a big green monster, but the play painfully and poignantly showcases the monstrous nature within man.   Mentally and emotionally this adaptation is more true to Shelley's book than most other Frankenstein movies and screen plays, but even more cynical and crackling with dark intensity.  The multilayered characters, excellent plot twists, and psychological and moral conundrums have us still thinking about the show days later.   Highly recommended.

We had planned to catch a press preview of One Man, Two Guvnors, too, but I ended up making an emergency trip to the vet instead, as my 110lb Akita was yelping in pain.   Fortunately it turned out to be a pinched neck nerve, so very painful but nothing lethal.   However, sometimes family....even the creatures under our care, have to take precedence.

Music Box tickets for all 3 shows are priced at $15 (advance), $18 (day of), and $20 to see both Frankenstein versions (advance sale only).  They can be purchased at the Music Box Theatre box office or online by clicking here.

The Music Box Theatre, Chicago’s year round film festival located at 3733 N. Southport Avenue, is proud to present limited engagement screenings of two National Theatre of Great Britain hits this summer:  the 2012 multiple Tony Award-nominated One Man Two Guvnors, featuring the current Broadway cast that transferred from the National, and Danny Boyle's smash hit stage production of Frankenstein, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch, who alternate in the roles of The Creature and Victor Frankenstein.   


*Can't make the Music Box dates?   You've got one more chance at Northwestern.
SAVE 20% ON THE NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE BROADCAST OF FRANKENSTEIN!
June 26 & July 24, 2012


Oscar-winner Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire) returned to the theatre to direct this visionary production with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in alternating roles of Frankenstein and the Creature. It will return to cinemas worldwide this summer for a limited season of encore screenings, with two broadcasts at the Theater and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University: Tue, Jun 26, 7pm & Tue, Jul 24, 7pm.  The broadcasts will be held in the Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston.  Mention code NUNTL and save 20% on full-price tickets (valid on advance purchase only).  (847) 491-7282 or  buy online!





Dueling Sherlocks


Can't get enough of JONNY LEE MILLER & BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH playing the same characters?


People on both sides of "the pond" and around the world dig Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes, on the BBC series of the same name.   A third series of the contemporary take on the timeless characters is slated for 2013.
 

This fall, CBS is set to unveil a new modern day version of Sherlock Holmes, "Elementary," set in New York and starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu.   Check out the trailer here.


The Show


On Air:

Thursdays 10/9c

 

Starring:
Jonny Lee Miller (Sherlock Holmes)

Lucy Liu (Joan Watson)

Aidan Quinn (Captain Tobias Gregson)

 

Executive Producers:
Rob Doherty

Sarah Timberman

Carl Beverly

Michael Cuesta

 

In a modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes, the iconic detective is taking on New York. Just out of rehab, he's been assigned to live with his worst nightmare-sober coach, Dr. Joan Watson. Holmes's unsurpassed skills of deduction and Watson's medical expertise come together to create a dream team for solving the NYPD's most impossible cases.


 

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