Leonard Maltin Reviews 'The King's Speech'

Leonard Maltin looks at The King's Speech and calls it "A great piece of entertainment"


The King's Speech | Leonard Maltin | Maltin on Movies | Movie Trailer

[via http://www.reelzchannel.com/trailer-clips/52311/maltin-on-movies-the-kings-speech]

Alice DVD Review

Be sure to check out a review of the Alice in Wonderland DVD by Richard Roeper over at  Reelz Channel!

Alice Review

     Alice in Wonderland came out today, and if you haven't seen it yet I'd recommend you do as soon as possible. I thought it was amazing! Helena and the rest of the actors did a fantastic job with their characters,  the animation was beautiful, and Tim Burton did a good job with the story, I thought.
      The list of great things about it goes on; Danny Elfman delivered a score that compliments the movie perfectly, as always, though I'm not sure how crazy I am about the Almost Alice soundtrack... But the instrumental tracks are lovely. The costumes were especially astounding-- Colleen Atwood is incredibly talented and I want her to make all of my clothes!
    And, of course, Helena and Johnny continue to be brilliant and talented, but I don't want to give anything away about their performances. ;)
You should go out and see the movie, either in 3D or 2D (I am yet to see it in 3D, only 2D. If you saw it in 3D you should leave a comment with what you thought, did you think the 3D made it better? Should people make an effort to see it in 3D?)
     The main complaint I've see in other reviews about Alice is regarding the story. (This may be considered a spoiler, so be warned) People expect the plot to be exactly like Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland, seeing as it has that title, but the plot is that of Through the Looking Glass. I don't think the movie should be judged off of the title or prior expectations the audience has, so I recommend you look passed the fact that it's Through the Looking Glass but called Alice in Wonderland. I assume that was Disney's decision as to make the greatest profits by giving it that title.
     So just go and enjoy the characters, the familiar story with the Burton edge, and Helena's giant head.

--Sierra

A Good 9 Review

I liked this review of 9 from thedartmouth.com

"Computer graphics have become a staple of modern cinema. Few movies are released without CGI, and many recent computer-animated films — such as “Wall-E” (2008) and “Up” (2009) — are favorites of our generation.
As a fan of this expanding medium, I find it disappointing that computer animation is never featured in action and horror movies. For this reason, it was a thrill to watch “9,” which finally introduces the computer-animation genre to a more mature audience.
“9” is an absolutely gorgeous film full of suspense, and the animation makes it possible for the creators to include sequences that would be impractical with live action."

Finish it at the link above.

9 Has OUTSTANDING Visual Quality!!

Dearest readers,

I just returned from the theaters this 9th of September in 2009, and I had my mind blown by the movie, 9! Other reviews have said that it lacked plot and had weak storytelling, but I think the story was told beautifully through the animation, music, and images. The movie didn't need a detailed script to tell it's tale. It is definitely one that you need to see on the big screen!

You had to love each of the rag dolls for it's own specific charm, and they were amazing fun to watch, and the detail of the scenery demands that you watch the movie again and again. So if you haven't seen it yet today, go catch a late showing because it's just not the same if you don't watch 9 on 9-9-09 =)

That's pretty much what I had to say, it was a great, very Tim Burton-y movie, and you should see it, discuss it, and love it!

Send us your reviews, and send in those last minute contest entries before 10pm to HBCfanclub@gmail.com

9 Movie Reviews

If you're interested in reading some reviews of 9, follow these links:

Visual marvels, not enough story in '9'. Director expands his perfect short, but needs more.http://www.sltrib.com/themix/ci_13291176

In the world of '9,' less was more

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/talking_pictures/

Ebert: '9' worth seeing, but disappoints

http://www.indystar.com/article/

Valley of the rag dolls: "9"

http://blog.oregonlive.com/madaboutmovies/

Bellatrix Review

http://www.metroweekly.com had this to say about Helena in Half-Blood Prince:

No one in the film even comes close to Helena Bonham Carter as the evil Bellatrix Lestrange. Granted it’s a great, sinister part, and she usually succeeds in this type of role, but Bonham Carter manages to increase the creep-factor by 10. And with Voldemort not even making an appearance in the film, Bellatrix is the embodiment of evil throughout.

More TNBC3D Reviews

Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is one of those classic movies from my childhood that shaped my view of art. It kept me enamored with animation for my entire life, opened up the world of stop-motion animation and made me love musicals. This new, 3-D version doesn't add any new scenes or change any of the plots. Instead, it makes an already visually impressive movie even more visually impressive.

For those not familiar with the "Nightmare Before Christmas," it follows the story of Jack, the Pumpkin King, a kind of a ruler/administrator for Halloween Town, the source of Halloween. As an immortal, he's been causing fright since Halloween first began. He's been at his job for centuries and he's not just good at it, he's the best.

However, Jack has long since become bored with scaring people. He wants to find something new. So, after one Halloween, Jack wanders away from Halloween Town and winds up in a forest that serves as a nexus for the towns of the different holidays. Curious, Jack opens a door shaped like a tree and falls into a wonderland of joy, color and snow.

After exploring this Christmas Town, Jack gets it in his head to celebrate Christmas instead of Halloween this year and returns home to explain it to the other denizens of Halloween Town. Unfortunately, none of the citizens of Halloween Town understand the holiday as well as Jack does, and Jack barely understands it at all. This leads to a near disaster on Christmas Eve as Jack goes on his journey of discovery.

The new version adds nothing to the movie, which is something of a blessing and a curse. None of the excellent songs or characters is altered in anyway. However, it still has the same problems the plot did in 1993. Oogie Boogie's role is still underplayed, which is something of a problem because his role is something of a mystery. He's not really the main antagonist, that would be Jack's misguided ego, but he's still a bad guy. It's as irritating now as it was 14 years ago.

Of course, what's important is how effective the new 3-D element is for the film. For the most part, it doesn't really add anything. It just makes some of the scenes look pretty neat. However, there are a few scenes where the added depth of the third dimension really adds to the picture.

The best example is right at the end when it's snowing. I felt like I could reach out and pluck the snowflakes right out of the sky as they fell. It was beautiful.

Read the rest here.

And another one...
http://www.tonight.co.za

A Great Sweeney Review by IESB.net

Script Review: Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Robert Sanchez
Thursday, 13 September 2007

The IESB has a look at the script of one of the most anticipated movies of this year. After a Short absence Michael Vaal is back with a unique view to Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd.

SWEENEY TODD

a script review best served piping hot by Michael Vaal

“There was a barber and his wife,

And she was beautiful.

A foolish barber and his wife.

She was his reason and his life,

And she was beautiful,

And she was virtuous,

And he was... naïve.”

I’ve recently had a chance to read the latest draft of the screenplay for SWEENEY TODD. While it is based on a famous musical, it is one that very few people have seen. This is primarily due to the dark subject matter, as the plot revolves around a past rape, false imprisonment, revenge, and murder which then transitions into cannibalism, believe it or not (see below).

And yet, unlike the vast majority of so-called “horror” films in theaters these days, the story of Sweeney Todd is not about puerile titillation or deviant gratification. For SWEENEY TODD is not only widely regarded as the legendary Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece (yes, this “horror movie” is a musical, and yes, I think it’s better than WEST SIDE STORY in every way), it is also one of the greatest tragedies ever written.

That's just smidgen of it so read the rest (highly recommended) here: IESB

HBCfan, out! <3>

More Reviews... Including Information About Sweeney Soundtrack

The Guardian, UK

September 8, 2007
by Jason Solomons

Tim’s perfect barbershop duet

I was given an exclusive peak at the first footage from Tim Burton’s upcoming film version of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, which will be released next year. Johnny Depp was presenting a clearly delighted Burton with Venice’s career Golden Lion, incredibly the director’s first ever award from a major film festival. Depp said: ‘Tim is my favourite director. I feel very lucky to have been included in his life and in his world of cinema. He’s a true original and a true auteur, a rare breed in today’s cinema.’ The exclusive clip was then shown. It featured Depp’s Todd duetting with Helena Bonham Carter’s panda-eyed Mrs Lovett. Both were doing their own singing, and most impressively, as they powered through a dark ode to a cut-throat razor. In the brief dialogue, it seemed that Depp might just have finally got a decent cockney accent, and he held the gleaming object up like Edward reunited with his Scissorhands.

At the end, the camera flew out of the window to reveal Mrs Lovett’s pie shop and an intricate, beautiful shot over the sky line of Dickensian London. This awesome set has been designed, at Pinewood, by the legendary Cinecitta team of Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo.

Nonesuch Nabs Soundtrack for Upcoming "Sweeney Todd" Film

By Ernio Hernandez
10 Sep 2007

Nonesuch Records — which produced the cast recording for the recent revival of Sweeney Todd — will also release the soundtrack for the forthcoming "Sweeney Todd" film. Titan Books will publish the film's companion book.

The new film, directed by Tim Burton, is slated for a Dec. 21 release. An updated credits listing reveals that Nonesuch Records will issue the film's soundtrack. A release date has not yet been announced.

Also in the works is a companion book for the film to be released on Dec. 4 by Titan Books. The hardback — penned by (the only on-set) journalist Mark Salisbury — will include "interviews with Burton and the cast and crew, extracts from the shooting script, over 200 photos, plus concept drawing and production designs," as a release states.

Following the reveal of a poster at San Diego's Comic-Con International and another shot of stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, the place holder on the official website has been replaced with an ominous graphic of Depp (as Sweeney) at the end of a tunnel with a straight-blade in hand. A sign that flashes down into view reads, "Beware, Sweeney Todd is coming this Christmas."

Fans can currently sign up for updates on the film by visiting sweeneytoddmovie.com.

The official synopsis for the film follows: "Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in a big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical thriller 'Sweeney Todd.' Depp stars in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge, not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, Sweeney Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who 'shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again.' Joining Depp is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. The cast also includes Alan Rickman, who portrays the evil Judge Turpin, who sends Sweeney to prison and Timothy Spall as the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

The DreamWorks/Warner Bros. film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical is penned by John Logan ("The Aviator," "Gladiator"). Filming has completed on the film, which receives a wide opening Dec. 21.

Depp ("Edward Scissorhands," "Ed Wood") takes on the title role with Carter ("Big Fish," "Planet of the Apes") as piemaker Mrs. Lovett.

The film will also feature Alan Rickman (Private Lives, the "Harry Potter" films) as Judge Turpin, Timothy Spall ("Harry Potter") as Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat," "Talladega Nights") as Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

Rounding out the cast are Laura Michelle Kelly (Fiddler on the Roof) as the Beggar Woman, Jamie Campbell Bowen as Anthony, Jayne Wisener as Johanna and newcomer Ed Sanders as Toby. "All the stars will do their own singing from Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics," according to the announcement.

Yet Another Sweeney Todd Review

From ain’t it cool web-site:

What’s this? What’s this? There’s magic in the air. I just got in from The Tim Burton Lifetime achievement award ceremony. Full details on that to follow.

After the award was given to Tim, he told the crowd he was going to give us a short preview of his new movie Sweeney Todd starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter . The film opens with a style similar to the second Batman with everything having a washed out and almost black & white look. Johnny starts to speak to Helena. There’s a real sadness and despair quality to his voice. Helena informs him that his whole family has been killed. He then says my name is no longer (can’t remember) but now it is Sweeney Todd so I can seek my revenge. Helena leads him upstairs to what appears to be her apartment. There is a baby crib covered with a blanket. She tells Johnny that its ok to look. He removes the blanket to reveal a dead baby. He then covers it back up. Helena bends down to remove a floorboard. She pulls out a case covered in dust. She removes the dust and hands it to Johnny. Johnny opens it with a gleam in his eye to reveal a box full of old fashioned razor-blade style knives. The camera has a long pause on the knives. Helena informs him that the knives are all silver. He agrees to that. He pulls one out and opens it.

Johnny Depp then starts to SING!!!!!! Yes, you read that correctly. Johnny sings on camera. Not a body double. Not an animated figure. But Johnny himself. And I’m here to tell you he has a killer voice. I wish I had a recording of the lyrics for you. Johnny sings a love song to the razor blade as he holds it in his hand! The song is about how happy he is to finally have the blade in his hands for his sweet revenge. Towards the end of the song, Helena joins in and they sing a duet to a knife!!!!! The scene ends with Jonny holding the knife in his hand and he says “Now, my arm is complete!”

The camera pulls back through the window to reveal a city from the 1800s. Lights come up. The audience is stunned.