Kids Movies

Alexa Vega talks the Spy Kids films on Blu-ray

2011-08-23T09:49:00.000+05:00

The original Spy Kids trilogy has come to Blu-ray packed with family fun, slick special effects and bonus features. The films’ effects have aged a tad over the years, but they are just as entertaining and a fun way to spend an evening with the kids.

Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez (The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Sin City), the Spy Kids films feature star-studded casts that include Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Alexa Vega (Twister) and Carla Gugino (Sucker Punch) plus guest appearances by Teri Hatcher (TV's "Desperate Housewives"), Steve Buscemi (Big Fish), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), Salma Hayek (Frida), Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy) and Cheech Marin (Cars).
Combined, these family-friendly films have grossed more than $300 million at the U.S. box office. Each Blu-ray is loaded with bonus materials that include numerous featurettes, audio commentaries, music videos, behind-the-scenes and more.

Spy Kids - Masters of disguise, innovators of invention, and superstars of sleuthing, Gregorio (Banderas) and Ingrid (Gugino) are the best secret agents on Earth. Working for rival nations, they are sent to kill each other but instead fall in love. Now proud parents, they are called back into duty nine years later when their former colleagues start vanishing one by one thanks to evil genius Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming). But when they too disappear, there are only two people in the world who can rescue them...their kids! This high-octane adventure from director Robert Rodriguez is a must-see for everyone in the family.

Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams -The pint-sized spy siblings are back in action! Having joined the family spy business, Juni (Daryl Sabara) and Carmen (Alexa Vega) rise up to save the planet from a mad scientist (Buscemi) living on a remote island populated by all kinds of dangerous, crazy creatures. As this bizarre environment wreaks havoc on their gadgets, the Spy Kids must rely on their smarts - and each other - to save the day!

Spy Kids 3: Game Over -The Spy Kids have entered a new dimension that will test their abilities like never before! Under-age agents Juni (Sabara) and Carmen (Vega) embark on their most mind-blowing mission yet: the journey inside a virtual-reality video game world designed to disorient them. Relying on their bravery, cool gadgets, lightning-quick reflexes - and, most importantly, their family - the Spy Kids must battle through level after level of the game as they race against the clock to save the world yet again from a new megalomaniacal villain, the Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone).

Monsters and Critics was lucky enough to get a quick few comments via e-mail from superspy Alexa Vega about her experiences making the first three Spy Kids films, what the films mean to her, and what fans can expect from the new Spy Kids film

When you were making the first Spy Kids films, did you have any idea that they would become a big franchise and be this big a part of your young acting life?

Vega: We all knew that Spy Kids was something really cool and special, but we went into filming this movie without any expectations. We were just little kids having a good time. And when the film took off and people responded to it the way they did... I think we were just proud to be a part of something so cool and special.

From day 1, it was such a truly innocent and genuine excitement to be playing those characters. And it only made it that much better when everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.

Is it still your most recognizable role and how do you feel about the way the films helped launch a genre of kid-spy action movies that followed?

Vega: Carmen is a character that gets a lot of young kids excited. But Carmen is a brunette and I am naturally a blonde! So when I have my blonde hair I can be somewhat incognito. But it is so fun to see little kids recognize me as Carmen. Their eyes light up and right away they want to know where Juni is!!!
We have created this world that (to them) is this really cool reality. I think in some ways these characters give kids a drive to go out and want to do something. We aren't adults saving the world and doing great things. Carmen and Juni were just normal kids. It's great when kids can look up to other kids.

What was working with Robert Rodriguez like and how did his directing style change as you made the sequels?

Vega: Robert is the coolest director out there. He is so low key and has such an eye for everything that he does. I don't think his directing style has changed. He has always been so creative and confident as a director. He has always given us a solid path to follow.

Did you have the opportunity to learn from some of the acting legends in the films – such as Cheech Marin, Ricardo Montalban, Antonio Banderas, and Carla Gugino?

Vega: We were so lucky to have worked with the caliber of actors that were in these films. But when you’re kids... You don't appreciate it the way you do when you are older. I look back on that experience and think "Wow, we worked with Steve Buscemi!!!" It is just so cool.

With acting at such a young age, did you have any difficulty working around the special effects? Even the most veteran actors can sometimes struggle with working against a green screen or acting to a tennis ball, how did you get around the acting with stuff that isn’t actually there?

Vega: I started acting when I was four... And when you start at that age you don't really think of anything as being "difficult". It’s just all fun and good learning experiences. So by the time Spy Kids rolled around and we were working with even more special effects than the other films... I think we were ready. All the stunts and special effects were so fun!

One of the best aspects of the Spy Kid films is the fact that the kids save the day. How important do you think it is to have smart kids full of confidence (and with the latest high tech gadgets) be the ones saving the world rather than the adult heroes doing it?

Vega: Robert did something so cool and so different by making a movie where kids save the day. Usually, the heroes of films are adults. Like Super Man or James Bond... But when kids have other kids to look up to I think it empowers them. It gives them a drive and hope that they can do something big.
Carmen and Juni started off as ordinary kids and by working together with their family they were able to do great things.

The original three films are making their Blu-ray debut and like most Robert Rodriguez films are coming loaded with special features. Do you have any behind the scenes memories of Rodriguez and co-stars on the set? How actively is he already thinking of what is going on the DVD/Blu-ray when filming a movie?

Vega: There are tons of great memories from this set. We never think "Oh this is going to be great for the DVD extras..." We just had a great time and were normal kids. We'd goof off and play around. What we did never felt like work... We felt like we were at the most extreme version of summer camp. :D

How important are bonus materials on a Blu-ray or DVD to you? And what kind of bonus material do you look for – gag reel, commentary, trailers?

Vega: I really do love all the bonus material. It shows people how much fun we had on set and for us our behind the scenes footage is like our home movie that everyone can be a part of. Plus the gag reels are always hilarious.

Robert Rodriguez also includes cool features like “ten minute film school” or my favorite his “ten minute cooking school”? How good of a cook is he?

Vega: Robert is such a good cook. I think when you grow up in a big family you get plenty of practice at a young age.

When Spy Kids 3 wrapped in 2003, did you think you would be stepping back into Robert Rodriguez’s high tech world of spies again in 2011?

Vega: I had no idea we would be coming back to do another film. It was such a surreal moment walking on to set again for the first time. So many great memories ran through my mind.

How have filming and your approach to the Carmen Cortez character changed since the last time you played her on the screen?

Vega: I talked to Robert to get a feel for what he wanted from Carmen this time around. It helps when you have a director who really knows what he wants from you and the film. He helped guide me through it.

What do you think is the success behind the Spy Kids franchise and its secret to long life?

Vega: These movies are so special and teach kids such wonderful valuable lessons. The importance of family and working together to be able to achieve great things. I think parents love that we empower kids and teach great values.

Is there a chance we will see Carmen Cortez suit up for another adventure for a Spy Kids 5?

Vega: I don't know if this will be the final chapter for Carmen Cortez. It really is up to RR.

Horror-meister John Carpenter's mediocre comeback

2011-07-06T18:56:00.001+05:00

Much of the coverage of John Carpenter's new film, "The Ward" -- or rather "John Carpenter's The Ward," as some of the P.R. material distressingly insists -- revolves around the idea that the legendary horror-meister gets to take a mulligan on this one. Hell, the guy made "Halloween" and "The Thing" (or so the argument seems to go), and we're grateful to have him back making features after a decade-long hiatus, even if the result is a mediocre mental-hospital shocker starring Amber Heard that feels an awful lot like a low-budget knockoff of Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch."

I'd be happy to go along with that argument, if it made any sense. Unfortunately, "The Ward" fits entirely too well in Carpenter's oeuvre, which is consistently inconsistent. There's no disputing Carpenter's place in the history of horror movies, or his status as a genuine pioneer of American independent filmmaking. When somebody challenged me, a year or so ago, to one of those Facebook exercises where you name the 10 directors most important to you, right off the top of your head without cogitating or Googling, Carpenter made the list. (Along with Wes Craven and Paul Verhoeven and Michael Haneke and David Cronenberg and Tarkovsky and ... let's not get sidetracked, but it's a cool little self-administered personality test.) And it's not like "The Ward" is unbelievably terrible or anything. Hell, go see it, or better yet watch it on pay-per-view: It's a competent horror flick with creepy wide-screen atmospherics, a decent cast and a thoroughly worn-out premise, better than 75 percent of the genre.

But let's not kid ourselves: Carpenter's made a lot of junk over the years, and you could describe his entire career as a competition between brilliant concepts and indifferent execution. I mean, step right up to defend "Ghosts of Mars" and "Vampires" and "Escape From L.A." and "Village of the Damned," which were his last four movies before this one. Anyone? Yes, I hear you mumbling in the back, and it was cool, or halfway cool, to see Carpenter get back together with Kurt Russell's one-eyed Snake Plissken for "Escape From L.A." More accurately, it started out cool and then it got really sloppy, and that's exactly what I'm talking about. Carpenter gets by at least half the time on nifty ideas and half-baked left-wing social philosophy and his total DIY aesthetic (in his glory years, he usually directed, produced, co-wrote the screenplay, composed an electronic score and cast himself in a bit part). He's ambitious without being pretentious, he gets things done (or used to) and he's thoroughly likable. The world could do with more people like that.

Cars 2

2011-07-04T16:46:00.001+05:00

Larry the Cable Guy, Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, John Turturro, Joe Mantegna, Franco Nero, Jenifer Lewis, Sig Hansen, Vanessa Redgrave, Cheech Marin

Cars 2 is an independent film having no bearing on the prequel Cars. The action begins at sea amidst sinister oil rigs infiltrated by British spies Finn McMissile (an Aston Martin) and his aide Holley Shiftwell, who use all the weaponry at their disposal — wings, heavy arsenal, and underwater capability — to make a nocturnal escape with their dignity and paint jobs intact. In the American desert, the spiffy red Lightning McQueen is hot-rodding around with his tow-truck friend Mater when he’s persuaded to enter an upcoming series of races in which big shot Land Rover Sir Miles Axlerod hopes to prove the viability of his revolutionary clean fuel Allinol as a substitute for gasoline, which won’t deplete the planet’s shrinking oil reserves. Axelrod wants to prove it in a World Grand Prix to be run in England, Japan and Italy.

The plot highlight is that Lightning McQueen ends up in a championship duel with the Italian driver Francesco Bernoulli. At the same time, Lightning and Mater find themselves in the middle of a clandestine war between the forces of fossil and alternative fuels, involving the British secret agents Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell.

The John Lasseter and Brad Lewis- helmed Cars 2 features a wide range of cars and more action than films like say Fast Five; it is noticeably more rambunctious. The race events sparkle with crowd excitement — spectators of course being cars. No memory of the original is required to get one’s bearings, as this wonderfully designed and animated sequel stands on its own four tires. The voice talents — be it Michael Caine, Larry the Cable Guy, Owen Wilson, Eddie Izzard in starring roles or Joe Mantegna, Franco Nero and Vanessa Redgrave in a brief sound byte — lend their classic touches to the characters they voice.

Kids movies: 10 films for $5

2011-05-20T10:42:00.000+05:00

See 10 movies for just $5 during UltraStar Cinemas' 2011 Summer Kids' Movie Series. Movies, which are rated G or PG, will be shown at 9:30 a.m. Mondays-Fridays beginning May 23. A different film is featured each week.

Movies include “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Despicable Me.” Choose a day of the week you'd like to attend. Kids 2 and younger under are free.

Tickets are available at the two locations' box offices.

UltraLuxe Scottsdale, at the Pavilions at Talking Stick, 9090 E. Indian Bend Road, Salt River Reservation, Scottsdale, 480-302-6055; and UltraStar Surprise Pointe Cinemas, 13649 N. Litchfield Road, Surprise, 623-584-3884.

Rio tops North American box office

2011-04-19T17:41:00.001+05:00

Animated family comedy Rio has topped the North American box office according to initial figures. The film about a birdnapped macaw, which features the voices of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway, took $40m (£24.6m) in its first three days.

It was the best opening weekend takings so far this year, beating another animated comedy, Rango, by $2m (£1.2m). Horror sequel Scream 4 - the first film in the franchise for 11 years - entered the chart at two with $19.3m (£11.9m). The movie reunites original cast members Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette.

However box office receipts for the film came in lower than industry expectations, as its previous two movies both managed in excess of $30m (£18.4m) in their opening weekends. A spokesperson for the Weinstein Co said that the long period between films may have affected its takings as the typically young teenage horror fan would have been too young for the franchise the last time around.

Last week's number one film, animated comedy Hop featuring the voice of Russell Brand, fell to number three after two weeks at the top spot. Director Robert Redford's Lincoln-assassination drama The Conspirator was the only other new entry at nine.

It took $3.9m (£2.4m) after a limited release in 707 cinemas, compared to an average 2,900 cinemas for the rest of the top 10. The movie stars Robin Wright and James McAvoy in a courtroom tale of a woman accused of aiding Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth.

Funny Cartoon Movies For Kids

2011-04-12T15:25:00.000+05:00

Funny cartoon movies for kids are becoming more and more prevalent these days, as studios are realizing they can make a large amount of money off these films, due to the fact that both parents and kids can attend and be entertained. Due to this, studios like Pixar, Dreamworks and Disney are producing more and more funny cartoon movies for kids to see, hoping to draw in the parents as well.

1. "Up." One of the most original films from Pixar, "Up" is both a funny cartoon movie for kids and a heartfelt story about life for viewers of all ages. A man whose wife dies attaches a ton of balloons to his house which causes it to float away, leading him on an exciting adventure. It's tough to not love a film that makes you feel just about everything.

2. "Surf's Up." A fun, funny cartoon movie for kids about penguins who also surf. In the movie, we go behind-the-scenes of the penguin surfing championships. What's not to love about that?

3. "Ice Age." An original tale about animals who are surviving the Ice Age on Earth, this funny cartoon movie for kids has been so popular that it has spawned a number of hilarious sequels, for parents and their kids alike to love. One of the best parts is the endless quest for a prehistoric squirrel trying to get a precious nut that he has buried.

4. "Shrek." An animated fantasy film that has modern comedy and the voices of stars like Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy, "Shrek" is one of the highest grossing animated films ever made, spawning numerous sequels, many of which are unwatchable. However, the original is a very good and very funny cartoon movie for kids, even though a large green ogre and a talking donkey are its main characters.

5. "Toy Story." Unlike the "Shrek" series, every "Toy Story" movie has been incredibly well-made on all fronts. This funny cartoon movie for kids follow old toys who are trying to win the affection of their original owner back. But this is what Pixar does, striving for perfection and not a huge return at the box office, or so we are led to believe. "Toy Story" is one of the best funny cartoon movies for kids ever made and the second and third installments are almost as good.

6. "The Incredibles." Another gem from Pixar does their take on the superhero genre, adding all the elements that exist in any film to a wonderfully funny and entertaining story. The story follows a family of superheroes who have since settled down to live the middle-American family life when suddenly they must don their capes and costumes once again. What's even more entertaining is that the kids in the family, even the baby, must get involved and use their super powers to help save the day. This may be the perfect funny cartoon movie for kids.

Goody on Film: For kids actors, how much is too much?

2011-04-06T18:28:00.001+05:00

Is there a limit to what kids can - or, more to the point, should - do in movies? That question may pop up when "Hanna" opens on Friday, April 8. Director Joe Wright's film is tremendously entertaining, in large part because of his star, Saoirse Ronan, who is brilliant as a 16-year-old girl who, well, kills people. Lots of them, without hesitation or remorse.

Part of the conceit of the film is, of course, that she is indeed a kid who is doing this. We are meant to be shocked, and we are. But Ronan is a gifted-enough actress that we feel far more than surprise watching her break necks and fire guns.

Ronan is 16 in real life; she'll turn 17 a few days after the film opens. Certainly the violence she commits in the film makes us uncomfortable, but it's meant to. It would make us uncomfortable if a 35-year-old man was committing it. The effect is just more pronounced when it's a kid.

In this respect it takes us back to "Kick-Ass," in which 13-year-old Chloe Moretz played Hit-Girl, who sliced and diced bad guys in graphic ways while cursing like the proverbial sailor, only more so. This was, to some extent, played for laughs, which maybe makes it a little different, but the question was still asked: Should a kid this age be doing this, even in a fictional movie?

It's a question that people asked in 1976, when Jodie Foster, then 13, appeared in "Taxi Driver" playing a 12-year-old prostitute. (She got a best-supporting-actress Oscar nomination for her troubles.)

It's a tough spot. For realism, certainly, it helps not to have a 22-year-old pretending to be 10 years younger. But does it affect the young women playing the roles? I've spoken to Ronan and Moretz, and both seem like almost scarily well-adjusted kids. So if they - and their parents - are up to the task, sure. Let 'em act.

Speaking of movie violence, the folks at Complex.com have compiled a list of the 50 Most Memorable Movie Assassinations, just in time for the release of "Hanna" (while complaining that, as good as the movie is, Ronan's character kills people but doesn't technically assassinate them).

No. 1 on the list? A surprise, actually: The killing of Tony Montana in "Scarface." He goes down, of course, in a hail of bullets. From the write-up: "The lesson learned here: Don't do drugs. And always keep an M-16 grenade launcher handy."

Noted. It's kind of an odd idea for a list, but it's actually pretty cool once you dig in and start reading; there are some really powerful scenes here. Among the assassinations that make the top 10 are killings in "The Godfather," "Apocalypse Now" and "Malcolm X," among others. Without giving anything else away, I'd vote for their No. 2 as my No. 1; the scene didn't invent operatic violence, but it did perfect it. If you've been missing Arnold Schwarzenegger since he left office as governor of California, you're in luck.

If you haven't been missing him, he's going to be much harder to avoid. In addition to the already-announced "Governator" comic book and TV show he's creating with comic legend Stan Lee, Schwarzenegger is going to make an animated movie about the character, as well, that's scheduled to be released in 2013.

The character, the Governator of the title, is Schwarzenegger himself, fighting evil-doers as a superhero after leaving office. Insert your own budget-cutting jokes here. And then watch the trailer and decide whether you're excited to see Schwarzenegger back onscreen.

Dear Hollywood, More Smart Kids Movies Please

2011-02-24T16:25:00.001+05:00

This weekend, the animated movie Gnomeo and Juliet almost tied with the new film I Am Number Four at the box office. I Am Number Four, a teen sci-fi flick, brought in $19.5 million. Gnomeo and Juliet brought in $19.4 million, according to to Box Office Mojo estimates on Monday. (The Liam Neeson thriller Unknown topped the box office with $21.8 million.)

That’s a pretty impressive showing for Gnomeo, a retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story starring garden gnomes and set the music of Elton John. In its second weekend out, the film dropped only 23%. Compare that to Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never which dropped 54% and Adam Sandler’s Just Go With It which dropped 40%. Gnomeo and Juliet has already brought in $55 million at the box office.

Animated films that are not from DreamWorks or Pixar tend to get dismissed pretty quickly. Last year Despicable Me (from Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures) took everyone by surprise when it earned $527 million at the global box office.

But as a parent of young children I can tell you, I long for children’s movies. I scan the release schedules looking for tiny lifeboats of appealing kids flicks. It’s not that I’m so desperate to get into a theater where I don’t have to talk to my kids. It’s just that I love going to the movies and I love being able to do it with my entire family.

Like most parents, I won’t go see just anything. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, looked way to dumb to merit me spending any money on it.

But if a film looks halfway decent, I’m there, happily shelling out the money for 3 (non 3-D) tickets, popcorn, candy and drinks.

Gnomeo and Juliet was no Toy Story 3. But it was cute enough. It featured the voices of some of my favorite English actors (including Stephen Merchant and Maggie Smith) and played cleverly with the classic tragic Shakespeare tale. Plus the music was great. So when it was raining out on Saturday and my kids begged to go see it again, I was happy to oblige (at a steep matinee discount). Yup, I saw it twice.

I’m sure I’m not alone. So Hollywood, please, more kids movies with even a tiny bit of smarts. There’s a market out there. We will go. I promise. Every animated movie doesn’t have to be a major event. Just like there are people who will see smart adult films and people who will see female-centric films, don’t underestimate those of us who aren’t teenage boys. We love movies too.

10 Best 80's Kids Movies

2011-02-07T15:13:00.000+05:00

It’s time for a family-friendly marathon with these 10 best 80’s kids’ movies. The 80’s had many kid hits and many of them are still popular today. Many of the characters in these movies are known by kids today even though they weren’t alive during the movie's release.

10. “The Dark Crystal” (1982). This kids’ movie was from the puppet mastermind Jim Henson. This was the tale of good and evil told from the eyes of the fantasy creatures, the Gelflings, who fight to save their world from the Skeksis by replacing a shard from the Dark Crystal.

9. “The Goonies” (1985). This is a great underdog story that kids will instantly like. It’s the story of a group of friends who follow a treasure map in the hopes of saving their homes from a housing project. This was another great film from the mind of Steven Spielberg.

8. “The Little Mermaid” (1989). Disney took on Hans Christian Andersen’s mermaid tale with this story. It is one of the Disney classics that is still popular today. It is the tale of a young mermaid who falls in love with a human.

7. “The Land Before Time” (1988). This is the story of a little dinosaur who loses his mother and must travel to safety with a group of friends. Now twenty years later, the characters are still popular with multiple other movies having been released and a TV series.

6. “The Princess Bride” (1987). This movie is set up like the story is being told by a grandfather to his grandson. It is a wonderful fairy tale that took 80s pop-culture by storm. It is the story of the Princess Buttercup and her true love, Westley.

5. “Short Circuit” (1986). This science fiction movie is great for kids and the whole family. It’s the hear-warming tale of a robot who comes to life and is able to think outside of his programming. The government agency that designed the robot doesn’t like their weapon’s new found humanity and tries to have it destroyed. The movie was so successful that a sequel was later made.

4. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1984). This was Disney’s adaptation of the popular fairy tale. Snow White is put in a magic sleep by her wicked stepmother and is awakened by the kiss of a prince. It became an instant classic and is still a widely popular movie.

3. “A Christmas Story” (1983). This movie was very under appreciated during its release. The movie was set in the 1940s and told the story of a young boy who wanted a BB-gun for Christmas. The movie developed a cult following when TNT began airing it during 24 hour holiday marathons in 1997.

2. “The Last Unicorn” (1982). The movie was based on the book by Peter S. Beagle. This animated movie told the adventures of the last unicorn and her quest to discover what happened to the rest of her kind.

1. "E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982). Not only is this one of the best kids’ movies of the 80s, but it is also one of the most successful movies of all time. This movie helped rocket director Steven Spielberg to stardom. It was the story of a crash-landed alien and a young boy trying to help him get home.

GLAAD-Handed: The Kids Are Alright, Glee, Scott Pilgrim, Burlesque and More

2011-01-20T17:18:00.002+05:00

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has nominated the dramedy about a lesbian couple whose kids track down their biological father for Outstanding Film, Wide Release, for the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which honor movies, TV and pieces of music, journalism and theater that include faithful representations of the LGBT community. Not exactly thinking outside the box with that one...but a good choice, nonetheless.

Up against The Kids Are All Right in the Wide Release category (can you imagine how limited the "limited release" films must be?) are Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Sweden's The Girl Who Played With Fire, Easy A and Burlesque.

The Jim Carrey- and Ewan McGregor-starring prison romance I Love You Phillip Morris leads off the Outstanding Film, Limited Release, category, followed by the little-seen but much talked-about Howl, starring James Franco as poet Alan Ginsberg; Sweden's Patrik, Age 1.5, about a gay couple who think they're adopting a 1 1/2-year-old but actually get a 15-year-old; La Mission, in which macho Benjamin Bratt must come to terms with his brother's homosexuality; and Peru's Undertow, about a married fisherman who has an affair with another man.

Glee and Modern Family—both of which saw gay supporting characters take home Emmys and Globes this past year—unsurprisingly head up the Outstanding Comedy Series category, along with Greek, Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara.

Brothers & Sisters, Degrassi, Grey's Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars and True Blood will duke it out for Outstanding Drama Series, while 30 Rock, Bored to Death, Law & Order, Law & Order: U.K. and Drop Dead Diva were nominated for Outstanding Individual Episodes.

Top Chef: Just Desserts and Project Runway are among the shows up for Outstanding Reality Program, and country singer Chely Wright, who inevitably made new fans and, sadly, enemies by coming out last May, is up for Outstanding Musical Artist.

Movie review: Boston kids' breakup scenes in Guy and Madeline break out in song

2011-01-14T14:36:00.002+05:00

Of the many movies set in or near Boston in 2010, the black-and-white one about kids who erupt spontaneously into song might be the most exciting. "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench" isn't as well-acted as "The Fighter," as suspenseful as "The Town," as brilliantly structured as "The Social Network," or, for that matter, as confusing as "Shutter Island." It is, however, new and young. Those other movies were made by artists we know well.

"Guy and Madeline" is the work of an artist — Damien Chazelle — you want to know better. It's whimsical and winsome and a touch quaint. Not only does the movie look like it's set somewhere, it feels, cinematically, to have arrived from someplace — early John Cassavetes, the French New Wave, Eastern Europe. The characters drift around Boston environs such as Copley, the Back Bay and South End, with the camera at their backs or near their shoulders. They don't say much. But Chazelle gives his movie a mood that feels precise.

Essentially, this is a breakup movie. Guy is a trumpeter, played by the actual trumpet player Jason Palmer. He loves music. He loves women. It's simply unclear whether he'll ever love a woman. He's dating Madeline (Desiree Garcia), and our time with them lasts for a couple of scenes. Their split confirms that she needs to get her life together. But the lovesickness never leaves her face. In fact, singing about Guy near the old North Church only makes it worse.

Guy's spirit is freer. One afternoon, on the commuter train, he meets someone else. Her name is Elena (Sandha Khin), and they spend the better part of their ride staring at each other in the way that is customary for two attracted strangers. We just saw her giving her phone number to some performer in Faneuil Hall, and now, two scenes later, Guy is lying on the frameless mattress she calls a bed.

Calling this movie "Guy and Madeline" instead of "Guy and Elena" suggests that, at heart, Chazelle is old-fashioned. Madeline is a dreamy romantic. Elena is riskier, more carnal. Not that we see her carnality in action.

By "old-fashioned," I actually mean chaste. This film could have been made in 1957 without having to do much more than change the characters' races — Palmer is black, Khin is Asian, Madeline is Latina. But it doesn't feel like a throwback or even a tribute to another age. It's as though we've picked up a rock and discovered a colony of jazz nerds who attend cramped house parties where tap-danced musical numbers break out.

Guy, Madeline and Elena don't know what they're doing or where they're going. The windows of possibility that are a fact of youth appear only partially opened for them. These are young characters with heavy old souls.

Chazelle could go further into eroticism than he tries to here. The camera does glide down that trumpet as it rests in Guy's lap, pretty much wringing dry its phallic worth. He might turn into Denzel Washington in "Mo' Better Blues." For now, he's Sidney Poitier in "Paris Blues."

What's most exciting about "Guy and Madeline" is that Chazelle bothered to make it at all. Other artists his age (he's 25) and a little older make stage musicals and wind up with "Bat Boy," "Urinetown," "Avenue Q" and "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." Chazelle made a movie musical instead. I hope he loves the art form enough to make more.

JBFC Announces One Dollar Kids Films In 2011

2010-12-27T13:09:00.001+05:00

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) has announced that tickets for children for the “Movies for Kids (and their Families)” series will be $1.00 for 2011, in celebration of its 10th Anniversary. “We would not be able to offer tickets for $1.00 without Club Fit’s generous support. While Club Fit is a founding sponsor of the JBFC, we are especially pleased that they have chosen to direct their support in this way,” Steve Apkon, executive director of the Film Center said. “We are thrilled to be able to enhance our longstanding partnership with the JBFC by underwriting the cost of the tickets for this series,” Ellen Koelsch, vice president of Club Fit said.

“Movies for Kids (and their Families)” are shown every weekend at noon as well as some holidays and school vacations. To kick off the New Year, the five films scheduled for January and February feature Gene Kelly, singing and dancing his way across the big screen in such films as Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris. During the school break in February, two Charlie Chaplin films, The Gold Rush and City Lights, will be shown at noon. For a complete listing of films and dates, or to purchase tickets, please visit our website at burnsfilmcenter[dot]org. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office which opens one hour before showtimes on weekdays and 11am on weekends.

Ajay Devgn confident of the success of Toonpur Ka Superrhero

2010-12-22T18:10:00.001+05:00

Ajay Devgn seems very confident of the success of his next home production Toonpur Ka Superrhero. Though the release date of the movie is clashing with that of Tees Maar Khan , the actor-producer seems unfazed.According to him, the film which is based on a unique concept will be appreciated by the audience and the critics alike. " My movie has a new concept.

It is especially for kids. So, I think the concept will pull the audience to the theatres. With so many films being made and released simultaneously, you cannot expect to have a single release date. Whichever release date I choose, it will clash with some or the other film at the box office. Then why should I get scared? Most of my movies are released with big films.So it has now become very natural," he said.

Yogi Bear – movie review

2010-12-21T13:44:00.001+05:00

Yogi Bear is based on a TV show under the same name from the late 50′s. The Warner Brother film adaption stays true to the original series, with Yogi being the leader and BooBoo being his more down to earth sidekick. The story is set in Jellystone Park, and they, of course, are “smarter than the average bear.” They think up of new schemes that in the long run hurt Jellystone. Now with their home being in danger of being replaced, they have to try to help save it. The question is, can they save the park? They try to work their smarts to help save their home and Ranger Smith’s job.

The trailer for the movie does not really do it justice; despite the fact that they marketed it to kids, it is something many adults will enjoy. They tie in a lone love story and of course plenty of adventure, yet they do add in enough humor for adults to laugh along with the kids. They did a great job to keep the whole family entertained by the Yogi Bear; in my theater I heard many other adults have laughs, especially at some of the grown-up jokes like the city’s mayor getting filmed admitting his real goals.

I loved all of the characters, but BooBoo and Yogi are my favorites. While Yogi is vain and sometimes comes up with bad ideas, he always means well. BooBoo is the voice of reason, and he is just a really sweet bear. How can anyone not like BooBoo? I did not mind any of the humans; if I had to choose my favorite humans it would be Ranger Smith and Rachel. However, all of the characters were great in the movie–even the bad ones.

I loved the plot; it was cute, funny, and an example of a true family film. The writers did an amazing job on it, and I hope that they will make a sequel just because it is such a cute movie. It was easy to follow and understand, which makes it great for really young kids to watch. They kept it without any violence, which includes anything that you might see in a cartoon show like Looney Tunes. The actors and voice actors did a great job at really giving each character personality in this movie.

The CGI graphics that they used were amazing, and while they were not perfect, they did look real most of the time. Most of it was live action, so I am sure that helped with some of the real-looking CGI graphics. Most mixed live action and CGI films do not come out looking as good as this one did, so this is a bonus point for Yogi Bear. They also filmed the live action part in a beautiful area and used great sets for the indoor scenes. I will also point out that some of the stunts that Yogi did and how they placed him in the stunts was well above what is typical in CGI live action movies.

I will also say that this is a rare movie that all age groups can really enjoy, and even toddlers can watch. It is a simple and fun film to watch as a family or as part of a slumber/birthday party; it will be a great option for any reason. That is a tough thing to find these days, and I am happy that I was able to find such a movie like this. All in all, this movie was cute and is one you will remember later down the road. While it is not Oscar or Gold Globe worthy, it still has its place and is something I would not mind seeing again. It really hit the spot that they were aiming for, and I think they went well above their goals with this film. As I stated earlier in this article, I hope they will make a sequel, since my only issue is that I feel like the story could go on longer. They left a lot untold, I think, and I hope that they will keep the story going for a little longer. Other than that, it was a solid movie and I enjoyed it a lot. For my rating 1 out of 10, I give this an 8 ½. Very good, but as I said it could have told us more. If you want a family movie to see this holiday season and have young kids, this is the one. Even if you are older and want to see a lighthearted movie, this one would be worth your time to see.

MOVIE REVIEW: Whiz Kids

2010-12-13T11:49:00.001+05:00

This documentary follows three high school seniors from different backgrounds, as they prepare for a science competition and the chance to win $100,000 in scholarship money. It’s interesting how this highly overrated documentary shows what three smart kids can do if they work hard. You see, in the other highly overrated documentary Waiting for Superman, they talked about how horrible public schools were. These 17-year-olds aren’t from rich families, or “great” schools, yet they’re doing just fine in life. They’re going to do just fine at college, and in their careers. It proves what I’ve always thought – you can be at a horrible high school – if the child and their parents have them working hard in their classes, they’ll probably succeed.I’m not sure why so many uninteresting documentaries are being praised these days. Maybe I have a higher standard.

I don’t think every movie has to be Hoop Dreams or Spellbound. Spellbound (not to be confused with the Hitchcock film) followed eight kids that prepared for the national spelling bee. This movie only follows three.

One is a first-generation Ecuadoran girl that seems sweet. The other was a slightly annoying, precocious gal from West Virginia working on water purification. The third is a Pakistani immigrant working on fossil dating. He’s a very likable kid that I was really rooting for. Although, it’s hard to say you’re rooting against any child that’s working hard to win a competition.

I’m not sure if the film is hurt by the fact that most people don’t know what the Intel Science Talent Search is. It’s not like the spelling bee competitions, where the local news loves showing footage of young brainiacs spelling words we don’t even know.

You quickly get the gist of how important this science competition is. I just wish that as we learned more about the kids, it would’ve been more interesting. This is a movie that should’ve just aired on KPBS. Why somebody would want to spend $12 to go see it in the theatres is beyond me.

And nobody that recommends this movie can complain about people that watch reality TV shows that follow folks around. Sure…the models, chefs, singers, or people living on an island probably have half the IQ of these kids. That doesn’t make watching them for almost an hour and a half more interesting – probably less so.

Watching R-rated Movies Ups Odds of Teens Smoking

2010-12-08T16:54:00.001+05:00

Teens who are allowed to watch R-rated movies are more likely to take up smoking than teens whose parents bar them from viewing mature movie content, according to new research. In fact, the study authors estimated that if 10- to 14-year-olds were completely restricted from viewing R-rated movies, their risk of starting to smoke could drop two to threefold.

However, the study found that only one in three young American teens is restricted from viewing R-rated films, which are restricted at the box office to teens 17 and older unless the child is accompanied by an adult. "When watching popular movies, youth are exposed to many risk behaviors, including smoking, which is rarely displayed with negative health consequences and most often portrayed in a positive manner or glamorized to some extent. Previous studies have shown that adolescents who view movie smoking are more likely to begin smoking," said the study's lead author, Rebecca de Leeuw, a doctoral student at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

"Our findings indicate that parental R-rated movie restrictions were directly related to a lower risk of smoking initiation, but also indirectly through changes in children's sensation seeking," de Leeuw added.

"Sensation seeking is related to a higher risk for smoking onset. However, children with parents who restrict them from watching R-rated movies were less likely to develop higher levels of sensation seeking and, subsequently, at a lower risk for smoking onset," she explained.

Findings from the study are scheduled to appear in the January issue of Pediatrics.

The study included data from a random sample of 6,522 American children between the ages of 10 and 14 years old. The average age of the children at the start of the study was 12.

The children were followed for two years, and given periodic re-evaluations at 8, 16 and 24 months to see if they had begun smoking during that time period.

Just 32 percent of children reported that their parents fully restricted them from seeing R-rated movies at the start of the study.

The researchers found that the percentage of children who were willing to try smoking went up with their parents' level of permissiveness regarding R-rated movies. Only about 8 percent of children who had never seen an R-rated movie had tried smoking during the study period, while nearly 30 percent of those who could see R-rated movies "all the time" had tried smoking. The researchers felt that the parents' permissive attitudes, coupled with exposure to sensation-seeking behaviors in movies, probably influenced the increased risk of smoking in teens.

"This study really adds to the whole body of work that has shown that regular exposure to smoking in movies makes it more likely that a teen will take up smoking," said Dr. Deborah Moss, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. "Parents should not be afraid to say no. Restricting exposure to R-rated movies reduces smoking, and smoking is a gateway behavior. [Restricting R-rated movies] is one more thing that parents can do to raise a healthy teen," Moss added.

"Many parents relax their restrictions regarding R-rated movies during adolescence, but our results suggest that continued restriction is an effective means of reducing adolescents' risk for smoking onset," noted de Leeuw. In addition, de Leeuw said, the study authors think that movie theaters and video stores should help parents by enforcing policies restricting anyone under 17 from viewing or renting R-rated movies without a parent present. "This may prevent children from watching R-rated movies without their parents' knowledge," she added.

2010: It Wasn’t All Bad

2010-12-07T10:50:00.001+05:00

Ten things that cheered me up in 2010, not necessarily the most cheerful of years:

10. The San Francisco Giants’ first World Series championship! (And my favorite name for a ballplayer, or just about anybody: Buster Posey.) Go, eccentric underdogs, go!

9. Patti Smith’s emotional speech accepting the National Book Award in nonfiction for her memoir of bohemian life in sixties and seventies New York, “Just Kids.” Recalling her days as a clerk at Scribner’s bookstore, Smith said, “I dreamed of having a book of my own, of writing one that I could put on a shelf. Please, no matter how we advance technologically, please don’t abandon the book. There is nothing in our material world more beautiful than a book.”

8. The intelligent and thorough ruling in favor of a constitutional right to same-sex marriage written by district court Judge Vaughn Walker in August. Now onward and upward to the Supreme Court.

7. The new neo-soulish album “Good Things” by Aloe Blacc, and especially the song “I Need a Dollar,” a seductively catchy anthem for crummy economic times. And, while I’m at it, another example of galvanizing neo-soul: the Cee-Lo Green album, “The Lady Killer.”

6. The fact that California voters chose as their new governor Jerry Brown, a quirky septuagenarian with an undeniable dedication to public service, over the Republican eBay C.E.O. Meg Whitman, who spent an astonishing hundred and sixty million dollars on her campaign. And the cartoon that had an indignant Whitman saying, “But I was the highest bidder!”

5. And while I’m being cheerful about HBO: “Treme,” David Simon’s music-besotted portrait of post-Katrina New Orleans, which has been renewed for a second season—and its irresistible soundtrack album.

4. Gabriel Byrne as Dr. Paul Weston on HBO’s “In Treatment.” He makes listening sexy. And he’s helped to transform the show from a procedural about talk therapy into a meditation on the practice of compassion.

3. The Chilean miners’ rescue. And more than the rescue itself, the fact that the people involved in the operation thought so creatively for sixty-nine days about how to help the trapped men, providing everything from psychological and medical consults to movies, dominos, and empanadas, all through a tiny borehole that extended twenty-three hundred feet underground.

2. The fact that “The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1,” published, by the University of California Press, a hundred years after Twain’s death, is a bestseller.

1. Hermione Granger, as played by the lovely Emma Watson in the most recent Harry Potter movies, especially “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” At last: a heroine you and your tween daughter can both appreciate. Neither a hot-and-bothered vampire crush object nor a brat (obnoxious being the translation for “spunky girl” in so many recent kids’ movies), Watson’s Hermione is instead a person of character and playful intelligence.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale film review

2010-12-06T20:25:00.002+05:00

They don't come much weirder than this kids' festive film in which Santa Claus is not a rosy-cheeked man in red but a sinister, naked child abductor. While it does the soul good to know somebody out there is making movies this far removed from standard multiplex fare, just who is going to see this film? Not kids, that's for sure.

Set in a snowbound Finland in the days leading up to Christmas, a US expedition is digging into a mountain where Santa has been buried for hundreds of years. And it's not long before the reindeer are being slaughtered, the local children are going missing and a sinister old man is discovered bleeding and unclothed in an animal trap.

Revolving around a young lad called Pietari, this feels very much like one of those old 80s kids' films that wasn't afraid to scare its young audience but, while Rare Exports is certainly spooky, the plot is too thin to engage while its gratuitous use of the F-word and full frontal male nudity make it a children's film unsuitable for children. File under 'curio'.

Tangled

2010-11-26T17:08:00.002+05:00

Long-haired Rapunzel and a thief escape a villainess. With the voices of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi. Directors: Nathan Greno and Byron Howard (1:40). PG. At area theaters. Disney's "Tangled" is about life's journeys, not its destinations — and that makes all the difference. A Rapunzel retelling could have become just a retread of the studio's past princess tales, but this genuinely charming, chintz-free story does something new: It takes the time to chill out, as its heroine might say.

Except for Pixar's perfections, almost all CG-animated films zip around like toddlers on a sugar high. So "Tangled's" thoughtful pace and sweet heart make it perfect for girls 5 to 8 — an underserved audience — as well as 'tweens who don't want unnecessary pop songs, meta-riffs or mega-explosions in every movie.

This is an elegant film that begins, once upon a time, as a royal couple are expecting a daughter. After the queen drinks the juice of a magic flower, her child is born with hair containing restorative powers. But a vain old woman named Mother Gothel steals her from her crib and isolates her in a tower. As the girl grows, fearful of the outside world, her tresses are never cut and Gothel remains mysteriously youthful.

Nearing 18, Rapunzel yearns to see the world, but Gothel forbids it. A thief on the run, Flynn Ryder, helps her escape, and the two head off to see the beautiful floating lanterns the king and queen release into the air every year on their daughter's birthday. No one, including the girl herself, knows where or who she is.

There are laughs involving soft-hearted scoundrels and Rapunzel's silent chameleon sidekick, yet directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard keep the tale grounded, with tension coming from the inherently dramatic mother-daughter dynamic. The super-coiffed artist-
adventurer (voiced by Mandy Moore) and the narcissistic villain (deliciously mischievous Donna Murphy) occasionally feel guilt or loneliness, which adds depth without ruining the fun. Rapunzel and Flynn's (Zachary Levi) romance is cute, but this is a movie about finding yourself.

Which makes the movie a spiritual sister to "Beauty and the Beast" — thoroughly modern Rapunzel does most of the saving — with gorgeous, old-school Disney vistas and witty songs from Alan Menken ("The Little Mermaid").

There could have been more side trips on the road to self-discovery, but the plentiful lessons and derring-'do make "Tangled" a lock for playground pastimes. And maybe even some knotty parent-kid chats about finding your part in life.

Colin Firth Talks Movies, Kids & Cussing

2010-11-22T19:16:00.001+05:00

Colin Firth's much anticipated new movie, The King’s Speech, has just been slapped with an R rating because of some hard language and the actor isn't too pleased about it. Firth has an outburst of profanity during a pivotal scene in the British film, which tells the real-life story of King George VI’s efforts to conquer a disabling stutter.

Firth says he doesn't mind the language, and the R rating will prevent kids from ages 13-18 from seeing an important film. "As a father of small children, the context I would like to keep them away from is when it (the 'f' word) is casually used," he said, speaking of his two sons, Luca, 9, and Matteo, 7. "I find that almost as disturbing. I love football and I take them but I have to wrestle with myself because what they hear there would make a sailor blush.

"I don't relish those words or my children hearing them, so I'm not judging people who don't like the words... But, in the film, it isn't used in a vicious, sexual way."But Firth makes it clear it's the parents' choice. “I’m not saying, ‘Bring your kids to hear the F-word.’ If people don’t want their kids to hear that, it’s their right.”

A film fiesta for kids ahead

2010-11-15T14:56:00.002+05:00

Kids have a reason to rejoice yet again! The next couple of months will see a line-upof 10 children’s films up for release in the next three months. “It’s best to line up all the children’s movies after Children’s Day as the exams are over and Christmas festivities are also round the corner,” says a producer.

Actress Kajol, who’s involved with a children’s film that her actor husband Ajay Devgn is making, informs, “Our film (Toonpur Ka Superhero) will be released during December. I am really excited the way it has shaped up. It’s going to be a great entertainer for all our children,” said Kajol, who has just become a mother again, with son Yug.

Apart from a series of 3D films like Fantastic Mr Fox, Megamind, the next installment of the Narnia chronicles will also be released in December. “The third part of this blockbuster series will be released in 3D format on 10th December,” informs an official. Also lined up is the the much awaited Gulliver’s Travels, a film based on the 18th century novel of the same name by Jonathan Swift. Of course, last but not the least there’s the greatest of them all, the next instalment of the Harry Potter series which will be the prequel to the last film of the franchise.

Pixar NOT Planning 'Toy Story 4'

2010-11-04T15:23:00.001+05:00

After "Toy Story 3" hit theaters and became the highest-grossing animated movie, Pixar began thinking up ideas not only for a fourth installment, but also "Toy Story" short films. Movieweb has now caught up with "Toy Story 3" producer Darla K. Anderson, who revealed that the fourth film is NOT in the works. "No we're really not," she said. "We have no plans for it at this point. We really worked hard at bringing 'Toy Story 3' to a conclusion."

Anderson added that the plan is still to move forward with "Toy Story" shorts. "We do have the short films that we are working on because we love the characters so much and want to keep them alive," she explained. "One of the short films will be in front of 'Cars 2' next summer."

Ziggo launches 3D movies On Demand

2010-10-28T16:01:00.001+05:00

Ziggo, Holland’s largest cable operatporm has laucnhed the first 3D movies On Demand. More titles will be added during the next few months. The first three available 3D titles are Vliegen naar de maan (the Dutch langiuage version of Fly Me To The Moon), Spy Kids 3 and My Bloody Valentine. Three more titles are lined up for future addition, Streetdance, Oceanworld and Scar.

Just last month,. Ziggo launched its first permanent 3D channel, which at the moment has an upscaled 3D version of SBS Broadcasting’s Net 5 witgh native 3D programming during the night. Ziggo said it will add 3D content from other sources in the near future.

Kids Movies for Educational Purpose

2010-10-23T14:35:00.001+05:00

There are kids movies for child education purposes which are necessary for your kids. All you need is to make them watch under your supervision and guidance and nothing seems wrong. It can really be a positive for your child as there are many benefits associated with kids movies for educational purpose.

There have been many fictional and graphical movies which have been designed basically to promote earning in younger children. When kids watch movies they get inspired and interested in specific characters. They become curious to know and learn more about them. They ask you to get them books or they go on the internet to read more about the characters. In a way they start learning more and more. There are many documentary movies as well which kids love to watch.

The kids movies for educational purpose makes things happen for children. In reality not many can actually go and see a rainforest but through a movie they are able to see what they read in books. In the movies they see so many animals and different kinds of species. They learn from these and get interested in learning about them.
When kids movies for educational purpose are watched by the little ones they get influenced to act and play in the same manner. Usually the hero is a good guy and the kids start acting like them. This improves their behavior and they are more likely to participate in playing and learning.

Mostly the kids movies are made and based on published story books. This motivates them and inspires them to read the book. This indirectly creates the habit of reading books. Some children watch the movie before the reading and some watch it after reading the book.

When you watch kids movies with your children yon can ask them constructive questions which would help in building analytical skills. You can ask different kinds of questions regarding the story and the climax and make them think. Indirectly they would learn how to judge things and learn from the way they used their analytical skills.

Furthermore, make sure that when you get the kids movies for educational purpose they are best for your children. There are age limits which you should know about and get the correct movie for your kids. You can really change their behavior, and help them start thinking on different things. In fact, it is very important for parents to understand the importance of media and movies for children and their development. There are some parents who do not let their children come near the television sets. These couples should open their eyes and broaden their horizons so that their children can learn different things by watching movies designed only for them.

Black, white and Blu Psycho looks and sounds better than ever

2010-10-21T15:41:00.001+05:00

This is an exciting time for anyone beefing up his home video library with high definition Blu-ray discs. The studios have been rolling out the latest hits with pristine audio and video and the discs are usually packed to the gills with excellent supplements.

Luckily, the studios seem to have gotten past the annoying and pesky trend of releasing multiple versions and needless double and triple dips (standard version, director’s cut, super deluxe ridiculous bonus feature version, etc.). Just put the movie out with all the expected bonus features and be done with it for goodness sake. I’m sure this trend will return once the ever-increasing revenue stream for Blu-ray discs starts to level off, but that’s a topic for the future.

In addition to the steady release of new films, all the old classics are making their high definition debuts as well. My recent review for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast may seem a little odd considering what time of year this is, but this review is much more appropriate.

By the time Alfred Hitchcock made Psycho, he already had a resume that would establish his presence amongst the all-time greatest filmmakers. Who knew that a low-budget, black and white film made by his television production crew would cement his place as the master of suspense and become one of the most famous and notorious thrillers of all time? Critics at the time certainly didn’t think so.

One of the things that makes this film so unique is Hitchcock’s use of misdirection. The viewer initially perceives Psycho as a somewhat standard film noir depicting a woman on the run from a failed love affair and $40,000 stolen cash. The story and the structure change completely when Marion arrives at the Bates motel. Tame by today’s standards, the sudden and jarring switch shocked audiences at the time and made Psycho unforgettable.

Psycho’s arrival on Blu-ray is fantastic for film fans. The disc will look familiar to fans of the 1999 Collector’s Edition DVD. All of that disc’s special features have been transplanted (in original 4:3 standard definition) to the Blu-ray, but there are some new inclusions as well. If you haven’t watched the classic collection of supplements, you should. “The Making of Psycho” is an excellent 94 minute documentary featuring interviews from Hitchcock’s daughter, Janet Leigh, screenwriter Joseph Stefano, and others.

The doc examines Hitch’s filmmaking process, the development of the script from the original source novel, the production and the public’s reaction. Everyone remembers the shower scene, but you probably didn’t know that Psycho was the first film to show a toilet flushing. This innocuous and seemingly silly event was as taboo-shattering and unsettling as the scene following it. Poorly produced featurettes serve only as fluff promotional pieces, but this is one of those all too rare docs that educates, entertains, and enhances the enjoyment of an already classic film. Documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau has produced, written, and directed dozens of wonderful documentaries for home video over the last decade and I truly hope fans and industry figures appreciate the excellent work he has done.