This week we take a look down the rabbit hole with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010).  The movie returns as the 19 year old Alice is running away from her betrothal announcement.  As with previous Burton films, including Corpse Bride (2005), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) the cast includes Johnny Depp (as the Mad Hatter) and Helena Bonham Carter (the Red Queen). Burton and Bonham Carter have been engaged since 2001 and have two children together. To add to the fun Depp and Burton have teamed up in three additional films, Sleepy Hollow (1999), Ed Wood (1994) and Edward Scissorhands (1990). You could almost predict there will be more films with this combination.  Listen in for our perspective of the view down the rabbit hole.

“I am Iron Man” the words that lead us into the next installment of the Iron Man movies. Tony Stark played by Robert Downey Jr fulfills the role as if it were meant to be played by him. The movie by Director Jon Favreau, who also directed Iron Man (2008) and plays the role of Hogan. Gwenyth Paltrow returns in her role as Pepper Potts. There are several more Marvelous characters who are brought into the mix with the sequel, including Whiplash/Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke). Rourke brings a raw quality to the role as he continues with his rise back to stardom. Also joining the cast is Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman/Black Widow, who I must say has a KICK-@&% action sequence. I could go on and on about the additional actors…Hammer is there and War Machine….but really isn’t it time to listen to the show and then GO see the movie, like you haven’t already. And stay for after the trailer…glimpses of movies to come.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway “Jeanne and Mike’s Movie Bits”.

This week Mike and Jeanne take a look at Dreamworks animated film “How to Train Your Dragon” which follows the young character Hiccup. His name is truer to his character than you may think, he is the hiccup in the village, where he goes disasters often follow. Hiccup is not your normal Viking and he sets out to prove himself in an unconventional way. The movie is not really about training a dragon, but more of a coming of age and growth opportunities for our young warrior and his competitors. The move is also presented in 3D and IMAX where available. With voice talent of Gerard Butler as Stoick, Craig Ferguson as Gobber, America Ferrera as Astrid and Jay Baruchel as Hiccup.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for Movie Bits…you could be the
owner of the limited edition t-shirt. Call us at 240-MOVIE-BIT or

email us at letswatchmovies@gmail.com

Thanks for listening and hope you enjoy the show.

This week we take a look “Up in the Air” starring George Clooney and Vera Farmiga. Ryan Bingham (Clooney) is the man you do not want to see on the other side of the table, he is the “termination pecialist”. We follow him in his detached, I don’t carry a backpack life as he is forced into the reality of changing times. Ryan meets Alex (Farmiga) who travels for her job as well…although we never really find out exactly what she does. They develop a unique bond as the movie progresses, and to find out what happens…well you’ll have to watch, but listen for our thoughts.
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Up in the Air was written and directed by Jason Reitman, son of director Ivan Reitman, he previously directed Juno. It seems he likes his films where the characters have a growth experience. And while you are listening…I mispoke Farmiga was nominated for an Oscar, but the winner was actually Mo’nique. Also nominated for an Oscar was Clooney for his role.

Couples Retreat, writeup to follow

Let’s start by saying it was Jeanne’s turn to pick the movie…so there will be no car chases or bombs exploding this week.  Instead we decided to celebrate the holiday many love to hate…and see “Valentine’s Day”.  The movie follows the interwoven lives of several couples as they experience the day of love. Some of the couples are in the brand new shiny penny version of love, others are trying to figure out where they stand, some are facing hard times, others reconnecting. And the cast of this movie is A M A Z I N G.  The main character Reed Bennett (played by Ashton Kutcher) is followed through most of the movie, all the other characters are connected through him, either directly or through friends of a direct link.  It’s like six degrees of separation to Reed.  Anyway, there are some serious names in this movie, including: Jennifer Garner, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Kathy Bates, Shirley MacLaine, Julie Roberts, Patrick Dempsey, Topher Grace, Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Jessica Biel, Queen Latifah and Hector Elizondo (who has apparently been 12 films by director Marshall) …whew my fingers are tired and that is just the surface…there are many more. The movie is directed by Garry Marshall, who brought us such favorites as Pretty Woman, A League of Their Own, The Princess Diaries and Beaches.  He had such talent to work with this movie must have been a blast to make.

Join us as we take a look at how small the world really is…and don’t forget to call the new voicemail hotline: 240-MOVIEBIT and tell us what you think, or recommend a movie…or enter the giveaway “Jeanne and Mike’s Movie Bits”.

This week we review the much anticipated James Cameron film… Aliens…I mean Terminator…no no that’s not right..it was Titanic. Actually, hard to believe, but Titanic was the last Big movie directed by Cameron.  Do I have your attention now?  I meant Avatar of course!!!  Written and directed by James Cameron, with a MONSTER budget of sources say anywhere from 280 million, plus marketing (Los Angles Times) to almost 500 million (The New York Times), but we will not know the real figures for months.  Regardless to say this is one of the highest costing films of our time.  With the director putting in some major capital to develop the technology that would make his dream of Avatar into a reality.  And 161 minute timestamp, they really wanted to get their monies worth.

The movie follows our paraplegic Marine into the world of Pandora.  Where the locals are 10 feet tall and BLUE called the Na’vi.  This environment is hostile to humans but rich in unobtanium (Mike prefers to call it Plot-tonium since it moves the plot along), yeah I know, hard to believe they named it that.  The goal is to get to this rock which is worth Billions and the way there is BY FORCE or Peaceful relocation.  This is where our Marine, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) comes in, with the help of Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm Spellmen (Joel Moore) they intergrate their minds with the human/Na’vi hybrid avatars.  This is a story on so many levels, listen as we tell our thoughts and take you to into the vivid imagination of James Cameron.

This week we review “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner. The movie follows McConaughey character Conner Mead along a “A Christmas Carol” type journey as he visits his past, present and future partners. Helping him along his journey was Uncle Wayne, played by Michael Douglas. Who brought an imperfect character to life and brought about many chuckles along the way. And to make everything more fun, the movie is set on the weekend of Conner’s brothers wedding.

Join Mike and Jeanne as they take a look at the movie.

And don’t forget to call the voice mail hotline 347-BUG-MIKE to enter
the “Jeanne and Mike’s MovieBits giveaway” or to let us know what you
think.

Also this month, call to let us know your favorite holiday movie. Some people prefer the old classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, while others prefer more modern interpretations of the holiday season and Christmas with movies like Planes Trains and Automobiles, lets hear from you and your favorites.

Planet 51

This week we decided to watch the kid friendly release of “Planet 51″.  The animated feature brought to the screen by Ilion Animation.  Written by Joe Stillman, who is also known for Shrek and Shrek 2.  The movie takes a unique view on first contact and is situated it the ’50s version of the planet.  The voice acting includes Dwayne ‘The Rock” Johnson as Captain Charles “Chuck” Baker our intrepid austronaut, Justin Long as Lem, the teeenager trying to find himself and stumbles upon “the alien”, Jessica Beal as Neera, the love interest of Lem and Gary Oldman as General Grawl, the over the top by the book Miltary presence.

Listen now for our thoughts on the movie, and as always you can call us at the voicemail hotline, 347-BUG-MIKE.

This week we take a look at a new twist on a classic tale, “A Christmas Carol”, written by Charles Dickens.  The movie is animated by using motion capture technology, which has seen some increase in recent years beginning with The Polar Express in 2004 and most recently, Beowulf in 2007.  These movies are also easily adapted to 3D, which A Christmas Carol has also been released in this format as well.

The voice acting includes the talented of Jim Carrey, playing the following characters: Scrooge / Ghost of Christmas Past / Scrooge as a Young Boy / Scrooge as a Teenage Boy / Scrooge as a Young Man / Scrooge as a Middle-Aged Man / Ghost of Christmas Present / Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, as you can see he is quite busy in the movie.  I must say my favorite was the Christmas Present.

Also in the cast are Colin Firth, playing Scrooge’s nephew Fred and Gary Oldman playing the characters: Bob Cratchit / Marley / Tiny Tim.

And don’t forget to enter the Jeanne and Mike Movie Bits giveaway, as always you can reach us at 347-BUG-MIKE or Letswatchmovies@gmail.com