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Movie Reviews: Bolt
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Critics are giving Disney's Bolt no standing ovation, as they are wont to do for most of the Pixar product the studio releases, but they are giving it plenty of polite applause. Consider A.O. Scott's comments in the New York Times: "If Bolt ... does not quite rise to the level of bona fide Pixar masterpieces like Wall-E, Finding Nemo and Ratatouille, it does manage to be frisky, funny and inventive enough to engage the attention of grown-ups as well as children." Claudia Puig in USA Today comes to the identical conclusion, writing: "Funny and heartwarming, if not entirely original, Bolt is bound to charm audiences of all ages." Roger Moore in the Orlando Sentinel comments that it "marries the best Disney traditions with Pixar polish." Lou Lumenick in the New York Post doesn't go that far, calling it "sporadically entertaining, occasionally quite funny and presented in unremarkable 3-D," but concluding that overall, it's "deeply mediocre." The movie itself reportedly underwent a major overhaul after the Disney/Pixar merger, and several critics observe that the touch of Pixar's John Lasseter, who is now overseeing all Disney animated fare, is evident in the movie. Writes Glenn Whipp in the Los Angeles Daily News: "Lasseter believes that 'for every laugh, there should be a tear.' Which is another way of saying that movies should have heart, a quality in short supply in Disney animated offerings this decade. ... You won't need to keep a pack of tissue at the ready here, but Bolt does have some lump-in-the-throat moments courtesy of a vividly drawn, huggable main character you grow to love." Similarly, Kenneth Turan writes in the Los Angeles Times: "At the end of the day, Bolt is a sweet Disney family film, but Lasseter's oversight has made it smarter than it otherwise would have been. It's not in Pixar's league, but it's laced with idiosyncratic characters with pleasantly wacky attitudes."
Big Weekend For Vampire And Dog
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Box-office forecasters are predicting huge crowds at the nation's multiplexes this weekend, with hordes of teenagers pouring in to see Summit Entertainment Group's vampire flick Twilight along with family groups arriving for Disney's latest animated feature Bolt. Each film is expected to take in around $50-60 million. Moreover, other moviegoers who missed last weekend's opening of the latest James Bond epic, Quantum of Solace, will be joining the crowd. It's expected to earn $30-40 million. All in all, the weekend box office total is expected to rise to its highest mark since summer -- ahead of the upcoming four-day Thanksgiving weekend.
Gilliam To Tilt At Windmills Again
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Director Terry Gilliam disclosed Thursday that he plans to restart production of The Man Who Killed Don Quixote next year after securing rights from the insurance company that paid out $15 million when the movie's sets were destroyed by a flash flood in 2000 and one of the stars of the movie pulled out following a serious injury. Speaking at a tribute to him Thursday night by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in London, Gilliam, who created the graphic images for the Monty Python TV shows and movies before launching his career as a film director, said that he now believes that God stepped in to "save his ass" on Don Quixote when the storm occurred. "I was in some way relieved that it did fall apart," he said. "Because I didn't have the money to finish it. It's a good thing it went down when it did because I would have got the blame for going over budget. I think this time we will make a better film."
SAG-AMPTP Talks Are Long, But ...
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Surprising many industry observers who expected the first meeting between the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers under the auspices of federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez would be perfunctory and unproductive, the two sides in fact spent 12 hours together, adjourning at 1100 p.m. Thursday night. They then said that they would meet again on Friday. Nevertheless, Daily Variety, citing people familiar with the meeting, said that "progress appears to have been negligible" and that it consisted mostly of each side repeating the positions they have taken previously.
Young Viewers Abandoning TV Sets For PC Monitors
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Helping to answer the question, why is the broadcast network audience diminishing at such a rapid rate? a new study indicates that 11 percent of 18-34-year-old adults now watches TV online at least once a week. The study by Knowledge Networks' MultiMedia Mentor, found that those who do watch TV shows online spend 80 percent more time on the Internet than the general population of the same age. Bob DeFelice, vice president for client service at Knowledge Networks, said in a statement that this segment of the key 18-34-year-old demographic group appears to be expanding. "As more and more of the 18-34 population moves in this direction," he said, "understanding this group's media preferences and habits will grow in importance to marketers. And we know that a 'platform-agnostic' approach -- one in which content is accessible many places, at the user's demand -- will be an essential ingredient of reaching young adults."
Palin's Appearance Is A Turkey
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Another TV appearance by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has hit YouTube. During an interview conducted in her hometown of Wasilla after she "pardoned" a local turkey, a number of other turkeys are seen being slaughtered in the background. The interview, accompanied by the butchering, continues for about three minutes. Meanwhile, CBS anchor Katie Couric has responded to Palin's characterization of her now-notorious interview with her that was lampooned on Saturday Night Live and elsewhere. Appearing on David Letterman's Late Show Thursday night, Couric responded to Palin's complaint that she found it "a little bit annoying" when Couric asked her, "'What do you read up there in Alaska?'" Palin went on to say, "I read the same things that you guys read in New York, and there in L.A. and in Washington state. ... What do you mean what I read up there?" Couric told Letterman that she had made not reference to Alaska, merely asking Palin what newspapers she read. "And I'm not sure whether she was afraid to offend certain people by, you know, she would offend conservatives by saying she read the New York Times."
Barbara Fires Back At Rosie
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Without mentioning her by name, Barbara Walters lashed out at Rosie O'Donnell on The View Thursday for her recent criticism of the show. Walters said that "some people who have done this show" feel a need "to dump on it, maybe for their own publicity." That, she said, "not only hurts me, but I resent it." Although she may also have had former View panelist Star Jones in mind, Walters' remarks came a day after O'Donnell had said that Walters had asked the show's hosts to pretend that they were friendly, while in fact they had little to do with one another. "The fact of the matter is there was not a lot of camaraderie off camera," O'Donnell had said.
24 Returning As 2-Hour Movie
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Fox has decided to bring back 24, once one of its biggest hits, as a two-hour stand-alone movie on Sunday night, hoping that it will permit fans to reconnect with the show after its audience plummeted during the 2006-07 season. It did not return in 2007-08 because the writers' strike prevented it from producing sufficient episodes. Fox presumably hopes that Sunday's movie, titled 24: Redemption will allow the producers to redeem themselves with the audience, many of whom had sharply criticized the story line of the series' last season. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Horizon Media's research director Brad Adgate said, "They've raised the bar so high for some of the story lines that it's very easy to disappoint viewers." The series is scheduled to return to the Fox lineup on January 11.
Ailes Reups With Fox
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Roger Ailes, creator of Fox News Channel, has renewed his contract with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp amid speculation whether the channel will adopt the newfound hospitable tone of the New York Post, another News Corp property, toward President-elect Barack Obama. Ailes on Thursday signed a new five-year contract keeping him in place as chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel and chairman of Fox Television Stations Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. While Fox News remains a potent force among cable networks, the stations group has been hit hard by the economic crisis as automotive and financial advertisers have drastically cut spending. Last June, after Obama had refused to appear on Fox News Channel, Murdoch, reportedly acting as mediator, brought Obama and Ailes together. When Obama asked whether he would get "a fair shake" from the news channel, Ailes reportedly replied, "Senator, you're the one who boycotted us. We're not the ones who boycotted you. Nor did we retaliate for your boycott." He later maintained that while the network's commentators would no doubt criticize his positions, "there are opinion shows and there are news shows." Obama subsequently made appearances on the channel.
Wall Street Gives CBS Black Eye
21 November 2008 1:34 AM, PST
Several media conglomerates that were hit hard in Thursday's attack of the bears on Wall Street recovered some of their losses today (Friday), but, as of midday, CBS had not. On Thursday, the broadcasting company fell 16 percent to a historic low of $4.51. It was down an additional .89 percent to $4.47 today, even as its corporate sibling Viacom rose 7.41 percent to $14.06. The continued downturn in the broadcaster's stock comes despite the fact that it continues to make ratings gains against all of its competitors. Last week, CBS shares rose after it said that it would pay a $.27 dividend in December, but some analysts warn that doing so will undermine the company's cash reserves.
Australian Animated Film To Open Sundance
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
The Australian animated feature Mary and Max has been chosen to open the 25th Sundance Film Festival on January 15 in Park City, UT. The claymation film, narrated by Barry Humphries, better known as Dame Edna Everage, tells the story of an 8-year-old girl who lives near Melbourne and her pen pal Max, a 44-year-old man who lives in New York City. It is the creation of Adam Elliot and Melanie Coombs, who won the animation Oscar two years ago for their Harvie Krumpet, which also screened at Sundance
WGA Claims Movie Studios Violating Contract
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) said on Wednesday that it plans to file for arbitration against the major studios and networks, claiming that its members are not being paid residuals when their work is reused on the Internet. In a statement the union said that it is "embarking on an aggressive contract enforcement program" to force the studios to "make good on their obligations." The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers did not immediately respond to the WGA's complaint, which came on the eve of the AMPTP's first meeting with Screen Actors Guild negotiators with a federal mediator present. On Wednesday, the AMPTP wrapped up its meeting with the International Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers with both sides indicating that an accord had been reached similar to the one reached between the AMPTP and the WGA, the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
After $40-Million Investment, CinemaNow Sells Out For $3 Million
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
Demonstrating yet again the difficulty of competing with Apple's iTunes store and other prominent DVD sellers for downloadable entertainment, the nine-year-old Marina del Rey company CinemaNow, has been snatched up for just $3 million by Sonic Solutions, known principally for its DVD-burning software. Since it was founded in 1999 investors have reportedly poured more than $40 million into the Novato-based company. Sonic Solutions, which reported a $3.6 million net loss in its first quarter, a $3.7-million loss in its second quarter and recently advised that it expects a similar loss in its third quarter (despite laying off 100 employees in October), reportedly plans to promote a "download to burn" model for online delivery of CinemaNow's library of about 6,000 titles.
Movie Reviews: Twilight
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
The vampire flick Twilight may be critic proof -- hundreds of theaters will be posting "Sold Out" signs before it even opens at midnight tonight (Thursday) -- but that hasn't stopped many critics from sinking their fangs into it. One of them is Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times. "If there were no vampires in Twilight," he writes, "it would be a thin-blooded teenage romance, about two good-looking kids who want each other so much because they want each other so much." He gives the movie two and a half stars, but not without acknowledging, "But I understand who Twilight appeals to, and it sure will." Claudia Puig in USA Today makes the same acknowledgment: "Despite questionable casting, wooden acting, laughable dialogue and truly awful makeup, nothing is likely to stop young girls from swarming to this kitschy adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's popular novel," she writes. Rafer Guzman in Newsday predicts many future midnight shows for Twilight "with crowds repeating dialogue line for line. That would be fitting: Twilight already seems like a work of camp." Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune is kinder, calling it "a film of intelligent strengths and easily avoidable weaknesses." Michael O'Sullivan in the Washington Post observes that the film contains some "good stuff," and that while he has some "quibbles" about the film, "on the whole Twilight works as both love story and vampire story, thanks mainly to the performances of its principals." And Peter Hartlaub in the San Francisco Chronicle concludes: "Although you may not get sucked into the world of Twilight, after watching this movie, you will at least understand what all the fuss is about."
U.K. Viewers Outraged Over Departure Of Dance Contestant
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
More than 2,100 viewers have flooded the BBC with complaints following the withdrawal of former news correspondent John Sergeant as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, the U.K. version of Dancing With the Stars. Week after week Sergeant had received the lowest marks from the show's judges but had been brought back by voting viewers. At a news conference on Wednesday, Sergeant said he decided to withdraw because he had "the frightening thought" that he might win. "Even for me that would be a joke too far," he said. "If the joke wears thin, if in fact people begin to take it very seriously, and if people really are getting so wound up that it's very difficult to carry off the joke, then I think it is time to go," he added. The BBC said that Sergeant will perform a "farewell" dance during Saturday's telecast. It also said it would offer to refund the cost of phone calls made by viewers who voted for Sergeant.
BBC Spanish-Language Kids Channel Coming To U.S.
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
BBC Worldwide is making the jump into the lucrative market of Spanish-language TV in the U.S. by bringing its CBeebies Channel, aimed at preschoolers, to the Dish network. Dish will provide a live feed from BBC's Worldwide Latin American network, based in Mexico. In a statement, Darren Childs, managing director of BBC Worldwide Channels, remarked that the introduction of the channel into the U.S. Hispanic market represents "a momentous achievement" for the broadcaster. "It means that we're able to reach out to millions of Americans for whom Spanish is their first language." The English language CBeebies, BBC Worldwide said, is the U.K.'s No. 1 children's preschool channel and also is carried in Africa, Australia, Poland, India and Asia. The announcement was made on the same day that Dish Network announced the launch of DishMEXICO, designed specifically for Mexicans living in the U.S. The package includes 50 channels, including the BBC's CBeebies. The package is being offered for $9.99 per month.
The Full Monty (Python) On YouTube
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
In the latest example of an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" strategy, the members of the '70s satirical group Monty Python have launched their own YouTube site, where they have posted dozens of clips from their TV shows and movies. In a statement posted on the site, the Pythons -- John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam (another Python, Graham Chapman, died in 1989) -- said that they had stood by while "youTubers" had been "ripping us off" by posting "tens of thousands" of their videos on YouTube. "Now the tables are turned," they said. "It's time for us to take matters into our own hands. We know who you are, we know where you live and we could come after you in ways too horrible to tell. But being the extraordinarily nice chaps we are, we've figured a better way to get our own back: We've launched our own Monty Python channel on YouTube." In return for posting high-quality clips from their TV shows and movies they said, they want something in return: "None of your driveling, mindless comments. Instead, we want you to click on the links, buy our movies & TV shows and soften our pain and disgust at being ripped off all these years."
Univision Revenue Down -- But Not As Much As English Nets
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcast network in the U.S., said Wednesday that its TV revenue had dropped to $397.2 million during its third quarter from $406.5 million during the same quarter a year ago, a 2.4-percent decline. But in a conference call after its earnings report was filed with the SEC, Univision CEO Joe Eva said that things might have been worse, pointing out that the TV industry as a whole saw a 9.4-percent drop in net revenue. He added: "The Univision Network is currently boasting its best season start ever with Univision seeing year-to-year audience growth among all major demographics for the first several weeks of the new season. All of the other major networks ... have seen their own audiences dwindle."
Gay Marriage Supporters Target Cinemark Theaters
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
Opponents of California's gay marriage ban, which received 52 percent of the vote in the November 4 election, are urging people planning to see the upcoming Milk, about gay legislator Harvey Milk, to do so at any theater except those operated by Cinemark. They object to the fact that the CEO of Cinemark, Alan Stock, donated $9,999 to the Yes on 8 campaign. A notice on the website, www.nomilkforcinemark, says in part, "If 1,000 of us commit to see Milk at a competitor's theater instead of Cinemark, at an average cost of $10 per ticket, that's $10,000 of lost revenue."
Mentalist Trips
20 November 2008 1:30 AM, PST
CBS's The Mentalist, regarded as the No. 1 hit of the new season (it placed eighth in last week's Nielsen ratings), lost 12 percent of its audience on Tuesday, placing third in its timeslot behind ABC's Dancing With the Stars and Fox's Fringe. CBS's NCIS, which posted its best numbers ever a week earlier, lost 12 percent of its audience on Tuesday.
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