I wrote this review a long time ago and realized I never posted it.  But, since the film is being released on Blu Ray and DVD today, I have another bite at the apple.

Planet 51 is a creative idea.  Unfortunately, the movie fails in its execution with a formulaic exercise of film making.

The complete discussion, after the jump.

So while every tween member of Team Jacob and Team Edward in the country went to see New Moon (I even suspect they were all in my local theater), I took my four year old daughter to see Planet 51.  At the end I asked my daughter if she liked it.  She thought for a moment and responded turned to me and said, "Not really, Daddy, it wasn't very good." On that we can agree. 

I was very interested when I heard the plot of Planet 51.  The film follows a NASA astronaut, Captain Charles "Chuck" Baker (Dwayne Johnson) who lands on Planet 51 thinking he's the first to set foot on it. However, he discovers it's inhabited by little green people who live in a white picket-fenced world reminiscent of 1950s America. This freaks out the aliens, who think he's an alien invader.  The film features some well known stars to provide voices including,  Dwayne Johnson,  Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Seann William Scott, Gary Oldman  John Cleese and  Ryan Rosenfeld.  Each does a good job.

I'm not sure exactly where the movie went wrong.  It has an interesting plot, a great voice cast and even a cute robot.  Interestingly, the plot summary is the most interesting part of the movie.  The world in the movie has a lot of inside jokes (such as the names of the comics), but all of this backdrop can't fix the movie, as it walks through a formulaic plots and hackneyed dialogue.  There's even a musical number, featuring a souless cover of Greased Lightening.  The film is supposed to be a parody of the plot to almost every 1950s sci fi movie.  Unfortunately, while those classics have nostalgic value, they are quite boring to sit through.  So while the film may be inspired, it lacks heart. Or, in the words of a four year old, "it's not very good."

I had a chance to see Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland the other day. (judging by the opening box office--I wasn't the only one).  A couple of co-workers caught a 3-D viewing at the Regal Cinemas in Gallery Place.   I have never really been a Tim Burton fan--he's a little too weird for me.  I don't hate his movies, I just wish that he would take the weird darkness down a notch.  Despite this, I enjoyed Alice in Wonderland.

The complete discussion after the jump.

To me, the story of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (in it's various incarnations since 1865, including a Disney version in 1951) has always been a little boring. Basically, Alice is a curious little girl who just wanders around with wonderment and reacts as she meets weird awkward people. Despite the title of the books, there really aren't any adventures.   I find it a little frustrating and a little reminiscent of tax section meeting Tim Burton tries to cure this by adding an all new plot This time, Alice is the protagonist of her story.
  
In this movie, Alice is 19 years old and has returned to Wonderland even though she doesn't remember her earlier visits (I'm not sure they ever say why). This allows Burton to incorporate many of the fan favorite moments from the original tales.  And unlike earlier versions, Burton shows us that Alice herself is a "little off" herself--a free thinking outsider in the otherwise stuffy Victorian society.  When forced with a decision that could force her to stop her dreaming and join normalcy, she retreats down the rabbit hole and enters Underland. 

Alice is played by Mia Wasikowskan and does a very good job finding the right combination of strength and innocence.  (I was also amazed to see just how physically demanding the role of Alice was.) The only thing missing is that sense of curiosity that permeates the original Alice stories. I thought Alice accepted the weirdness a little too quickly.

Of course, Johnny Depp shines with resplendent weirdness as The Mad Hatter.  Depp actually downplays the madness this time and even displays heroic moments of sanity.  (He also has a dark origin for his madness).  I couldn't understand half of Depp's dialogue. I'm not sure if it was because of his scottish accent or because some of the words themselves were gibberish. 

Burton also combines two characters from the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass to create the main villianess, The Red Queen (played by Helena Bonham Carter.)  The Red Queen is a little brat with an over sized head who is constantly saying "off with your head." (We also find out where those heads go).  

Anne Hathaway stars as the White Queen, the Red Queen's nemesis.  Hathaway's great performance shows that there is also a hint of madness beneath the white Queen's angelic demeanor.

The cast is rounded out with Crispin glover as The Knave of Hearts; Stephen Fry as The Cheshire Cat, Matt Lucas in the dual roles of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Alan Rickman as The Caterpillar, Michael Sheen as The White Rabbit, Barbara Windsor as The Dormouse, and sci fi fans will immediately recognize the voice of Christopher Lee as The Jabberwocky.

I should also mention that Danny Elfman's score is one of his best. It is dark but adventurous and really fits in with the world Burton has created. 

I liked the movie.  Although, I wonder if 3D was the right choice.  Since, Wonderland is such a bright and beautiful place and Disney Digital 3D tends to mute the colors.  (I felt the same way about Pixar's Up).  I also wasn't crazy about the end of the film and thought he came out of nowhere.

Burton's Alice is an escape. The movie provides a fun, weird, and magical world.  It's not a great movie, but it is a good way to spend an afternoon.

I can't believe I got through this whole thing without telling you to "go ask Alice when she's eight feet tall."  :-)

Let' talk about Smallville.  The show pretty much takes place in Metropolis. Clark Kent (sans glasses) works as Daily Planet reporter with Lois Lane and has met pretty much defeated every major Superman villain. Finally, according to mythos, Clark Kent should have donned tights and cape to fly up up and away several seasons ago. 

Nonetheless, the WB has announced that Smallville will receive a tenth season. I'm actually pretty happy about this.  The current season (with the exception of a couple clunker) has been pretty good.  I hope this additional season will allow Laura Vandervoort to return as Supergirl, they never really gave that character a chance.     

The official press release after the jump.

"SMALLVILLE" TO RETURN FOR A TENTH SEASON ON THE CW March 4, 2010 (Burbank, California) - The CW Network has announced that its hit series "Smallville" will return in the fall of 2010 for a momentous tenth season. "Smallville," a modern retelling of the Superman legend, stars Tom Welling as Clark Kent. The series moved to Friday nights this season, where it currently ranks as network television's #1 show in its time period among men 18-34 and men 18-49. Additionally, "Smallville" has dramatically improved The CW's ratings performance in its Friday 8:00-9:00p.m.time period by 67% among adults 18-34 (1.5/6), 200% in men 18-34 (1.8/7), 75% in adults 18-49 (1.4/5), 183% in men 18-49 (1.7/6) and 74% in total viewers (3.12million). "Smallville" joins the five previously announced series - "The Vampire Diaries," "Gossip Girl," "90210," "Supernatural" and "America's Next Top Model" - which will all return for another season on The CW. "Smallville" was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar ("Shanghai Noon," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"), based on the DC Comics characters. Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson serve as executive producers, along with James Marshall, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

We picked up the Blu Ray of Ponyo yesterday.  It's a beautiful movie, but surprisingly light on extra features (especially for a Disney release).

I previously reviewed the film here.

I will be debuting my new novel, Sky Girl and the Superheroic Legacy at this years CGS Supershow.  The show is run by those great guys at the Comic Geek Speak podcast and is held in Reading Pennsylvania on March 27-28th.  They have some great guests and, based on past experience, it will be a fun intimate atrmosphere.  So, If you are near the area, you really should come and check out the show.

Click here for more information.   

I took my daughter, Elizabeth, to see Feld Entertainment's Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show at the Patriot Center over the weekend.  As with most of the Disney Live! shows, the plot revolved around main characters traveling around to find people for a show. This time, the Fab Four (Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy) are joined by an MC/cast member. Together, they take a magical car ride to recruit Disney characters for their Talent Show.  During their journey, they meet: Cinderella and her evil Step-Sisters from Cinderella; the green army men, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody from Toy Story; and Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.
  
And while this show features considerably less characters than other Disney Live! Productions, the musical numbers were fun enough for the adults and mesmerizing for the kids.  I was very impressed with the MC/cast member who not only sang, danced, hosted, and warmed up the audience, but he also moved all the set pieces--he was clearly the hardest working man in the Patriot Center that night. 

But, the real magic was the effect that this show (and pretty much anything Disney) has on my daughter.  Watching Elizabeth light up when she saw her favorite characters on stage was well worth the price of admission. She intently watched the characters and became engrossed in their plight as she sang with Cinderella, laughed with Goofy and bounced with Tigger (who she promptly pronounced is her new favorite character).  It is a memory I will have forever.

I saw signs for this in my recent trip to Los Angeles.  I travel a lot to the west coast and will be sure to take advantage of this.  I wish Disneyland did something similar.  The press release follows after the jump.

Here is the press release.

"Buy a Day, Get 2010 Free" Pass Offers Year-Round Access with No Black-Out Dates on the Price of a One-Day Admission Ticket Universal City, California—Universal Studios Hollywood’s popular "Buy A Day, Get 2010 Free" annual pass, an exceptional value offering free admission to The Entertainment Capital of L.A. for the entire 2010 calendar year, returns with a new benefit enabling year-long visits with no black-out dates. The "Buy A Day, Get 2010 Free" pass is available with the purchase of a full-priced one-day admission ticket purchased through April 30.The "Buy A Day, Get 2010 Free" annual pass also offers members numerous perks and privileges, including a designated member entrance located at the theme park’s main gates, exclusive sweepstakes and invitations to events, such as movie premieres, and a chance to be among the first to experience this summer’s new, state-of-the-art attraction, "King Kong 360 3-D" created by Peter Jackson, while enjoying such favorites as "The Simpsons Ride™," "Revenge of the MummySM—The Ride," "Jurassic Park®—The Ride" and "Shrek 4-D™."

The arrival of "King Kong 360 3-D" created by Peter Jackson coincides with major enhancements to the iconic Studio Tour and the most extensive backlot reconstruction ever in the history of Universal Studios. This spring, when guests venture aboard the behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, they will be greeted by a new experience showcasing innovative contemporary movie sets and striking facades on the backlot.

Recently converted into "mobile movie theatres" and outfitted with cutting edge HD flat screen monitors and digital playback systems, the backlot Studio Tour features numerous movie and television clips, corresponding to sites visited along the Tour route. Helmed by knowledgeable guides, the Studio Tour is enhanced with video commentary from filmmakers, actors and personalities offering insightful perspectives on film and television production.

"King Kong 360 3-D" created by Peter Jackson will roar to life this summer as a new signature attraction on the famed Studio Tour. Based on the 2005 Universal Pictures film, "King Kong 360 3-D" is being created under the direction of Oscar®-winning director Peter Jackson and will be the largest, most intense 3-D experience on the planet.

"Buy A Day, Get 2010 Free" with no black-out dates can be purchased online at UniversalStudiosHollywood.com <http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/ticket_2010_value.html> or at the Universal Studios Hollywood ticket booths and can be redeemed at the theme park’s Annual Pass processing center. Universal Studios Hollywood <http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/?__source=grinchmas> is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Universal Studios, a part of NBC Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May of 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

Last week, Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort announced plans for a summer celebration at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  This new celebration includes: the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade to the Magic Kingdom (It has been in Disney's California Adventure and actually hasn't been on Main Street for some time); a new fireworks show and new effects for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Disney's Hollywood Studio (NEE MGM).

More after the jump.

Here is the press release:

February 10, 2010 at 7:10 PM EST

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2010) – The “Main Street Electrical Parade” lights up the streets of Magic Kingdom and headlines a season of after-dark excitement coming to Walt Disney World Resort.

“After the sun goes down, our Walt Disney World parks will light up the night with ‘Summer Nightastic!’, ” announced Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort, at a media event Wednesday.

Disney magic will shine and shimmer in a whole new light. Here’s a look around:

• With floats and characters appearing for the first time at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” returns with its joyous sights and sounds. Direct from Disneyland and marking its first engagement in Florida since 2001, the cherished parade will be led by Tinker Bell waving from the basket of a magical balloon aboard a new float. Pinocchio and Snow White join the parade this summer, aboard bright new floats. Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” is set for its summer-long nighttime premiere in early June at Magic Kingdom.
• The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror welcomes “drop-ins” this summer with even more pulse-racing surprises. New lighting effects and the addition of a new drop sequence, created especially for “Summer Nightastic!”, will bring unexpected frights to guests who step into that infamous service elevator. If they dare.
• What could be more summery than fireworks on a star-studded night? Magic Kingdom will treat guests to a special summer fireworks spectacular. The night sky will explode in vivid colors and brilliant visual effects as whimsical music fills the air.
• Other fun! The return of the Sounds Like Summer concert series to Epcot and extended evening hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom several times a week add up to summer fun as only Disney can do – at all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

I've been on the road and haven't had a chance to post on this topic.  Clearly, the biggest news in comics last week was DC's new leadership.  As you may recall, a few months ago WB announced that it would be restructuring to create DC Entertainment (For more info click here), which would be run by  Diane Nelson, the movie executive that oversaw the Harry Potter franchise at Warner Brothers.  The company also announced that it would be removing long time DC Publisher Paul Levitz.  There was a lot of speculation of whether this would be the death knell of traditional comics publishing at DC.

We need not have feared.  DC announced that Dan DiDio  and Jim Lee will be taking the reigns as co-publishers.  This was a smart decision by Nelson and a great move for the company.  And while I will certainly miss Paul Levitz, both Lee and DiDio are respected and established comic book staples.  Together,  I believe will usher DC into a new era of greatness.  Of course, this probably means that we will never see the end of Frank Miller and Jim Lee's All Star Batman and Robin, which has been plagued with delays.

Equally interesting, DC has decided to take a page from Disney's book and promote Geoff Johns to the position of Chief Creative Officer.  (In April 2006, Disney purchased Pixar named John Lasseter as Chief Creative Officer of both Pixar and Disney animation studios--it worked out pretty well for them :-).  I only hope that Johns' new title doesn't distract from his top notch writing and that he at least continues to be the writer on Green Lantern.

Congrats to everyone at DC.

The press release after the jump:

Here is the official Press Release:

Jim Lee and Dan DiDio Named Co-Publishers DC Comics

Geoff Johns to Serve as Chief Creative Officer

John Rood Named EVP, Sales, Marketing and Business Development
Patrick Caldon Named EVP, Finance and Administration

(February 18, 2010 – New York, NY and Burbank, CA) DC Entertainment, founded in September 2009 to unleash the power of the DC Comics library of characters across all media platforms, has named its executive management team, including new co-publishers of DC Comics and a Chief Creative Officer, as well as heads of Sales/Marketing/Business Development and Finance/Administration. Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment, made the announcement today.

The new senior executive team includes Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, who have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics, and Geoff Johns, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. Additionally, John Rood has been named Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development, and Patrick Caldon will serve as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration. Each of these executives will report directly to Nelson.

“DC Entertainment’s new executive team is a creative ‘dream team,’ with accomplishments and talent unrivaled in the business,” said Nelson. “This announcement continues and underscores DC’s legacy as the ultimate destination for creators. We’ll benefit enormously from the deep experience this team represents, while re-energizing the direction and focus of the company. I’m excited and honored to have each of them with me at the helm of DC Entertainment.”

“With this new leadership team, Diane will be able to fully and respectfully integrate DC’s brand and characters, not only as key content drivers in the film division, but across all of the businesses of Warner Bros. and Time Warner,” said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. “I am very proud and excited about the accomplished executives who are charged with expanding this powerful library. They each have a diverse and complementary skill-set and are deeply committed to contributing to the DC Comics legacy.”

Prior to his current post, Lee served as Editorial Director, where he oversaw WildStorm Studios and was also the artist for many of DC Comics’ bestselling comic books and graphic novels, including “All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder,” “Batman: Hush” and “Superman: For Tomorrow.” He also serves as the Executive Creative Director for the upcoming DC Universe Online massively multiplayer action game from Sony Online Entertainment.
Lee is an award-winning comic book illustrator/creator/publisher who started his professional career at Marvel Comics where his work on the X-Men continues to hold the all-time sales record for single issue sales at eight million copies sold in one month. At Marvel, he also drew the Punisher and co-created many characters, the most popular being Gambit, featured in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” feature film. In 1992, he started his own production company, WildStorm Productions, and co-founded Image Comics, an independent comics company which quickly grew to become the number-three North American comics publisher. His most notable creations, “WildCats” and “Gen 13,” saw life beyond comic books as a CBS Saturday morning cartoon and as a direct-to-video animated movie distributed by Disney, respectively. In 1998, he left Image Comics and sold WildStorm to DC Comics.

DiDio most recently served as Senior Vice President and Executive Editor, DC Universe, overseeing the editorial department for the DC Universe imprint, including the ongoing adventures of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and scores of heroes and villains. He also worked to develop new titles with the industry’s premier writers and artists. At DC Comics, DiDio has spearheaded such bestselling projects as “All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder,” “Identity Crisis,” Green Lantern, Teen Titans and The Outsiders.

Before joining DC in 2002, DiDio was with Mainframe Entertainment, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs, overseeing the development, distribution, marketing and promotion of all Mainframe’s television properties. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of Children’s Programming for ABC, where he was also a publicity manager, having started his television career at CBS, working in a variety of positions.
Johns builds on his current role at DC from being one of today’s most prolific, popular and award-winning contemporary comic book writers with this new executive role. He is a New York Times bestselling author who has written highly acclaimed stories revitalizing Green Lantern, Superman, the Flash, Teen Titans, and the Justice Society of America for DC Comics.

Johns began his comics career creating and writing “Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.” for DC Comics while at the same time working with film director Richard Donner. After acclaimed runs on Flash, Teen Titans and the bestselling “Infinite Crisis” mini-series, Johns co-wrote a run on Action Comics with his mentor, Donner. Johns has also written and produced for various other media, including the acclaimed “Legion” and “Absolute Justice” episodes of Warner Bros. Television’s “Smallville” and Adult Swim’s “Robot Chicken” and “Titan Maximum.” He also wrote the story of the DC Universe Online massively multiplayer action game from Sony Online Entertainment.

Rood returns to Warner Bros. after 10 years with the Disney ABC Television Group, where he most recently was Senior Vice President of Marketing, ABC Family. While at ABC, he also consulted for ABC News during the recent transitions at “Good Morning America” and “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.”

Prior to Disney, Rood worked for six years at Warner Bros. Consumer Products, negotiating promotional deals with national advertisers using Warner Bros.’ properties, including the DC Comics characters. He has also worked in promotions for Equity Marketing on the Burger King account and in advertising for Leo Burnett on the McDonald’s and Miller Brewing accounts.

Caldon most recently served as Executive Vice President, Finance and Operations of DC Comics and MAD Magazine. Before that, he served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations, and his other posts at DC include Vice President, Finance and Operations, and Controller, the position in which he joined the company in 1985. Prior to joining DC Comics, Caldon spent a decade at Warner Communications in corporate accounting and as Senior Vice President and CFO of the Cosmos soccer team (owned by Warner Communications at the time).
DC Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, is charged with strategically integrating the DC Comics business, brand and characters deeply into Warner Bros. and all its content and distribution businesses. DC Entertainment utilizes the expertise the Studio has in building and sustaining franchises to prioritize the DC properties as key titles and growth drivers across all of the Studio, including feature films, television, interactive entertainment, direct-to-consumer platforms and consumer products. The DC Comics publishing business is the cornerstone of DC Entertainment, releasing approximately 90 comic books through its various imprints and 30 graphic novels a month as well as continuing to build on its creative leadership in the comic book industry.

I was digging through my old email and found an invitation from Marvel.com to attend the previews of Spider-man musical.  That was over a year ago. The show was delayed and then they were forced to refund the ticket priced for the premiere.  I am assumed the project was dead and went the way of the Captain America musical (see the ad at left) I often wonder what happened to the poor little kid who won the contest to be on stage with Captain American.

But I digress.

Back on point, After the jump.

Spider-man musical, blah blah  thought it was dead.

Imagine my surprise when the producers released a statement saying "The production is moving forward " and that  "A revised schedule of preview performances, and an opening date in 2010, will be confirmed shortly."  Maybe that Disney money may have helped this along.

I should also note that Spidey is not the first hero to get a musical.  "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman" was a broadway show based on, of course, Superman.  (I have a video from when it was aired on television, let me know if you want em to review it in a future column.)

  Here is the official description from Marvel.

Drawing from over 40 years of Marvel comic books for inspiration, SPIDER-MAN spins a new take on the mythic tale of a young man propelled from a modest rowhouse in Queens to the sky-scraping spire of the Chrysler Building, the bustling offices of the Daily Bugle, through the dizzying canyons of Manhattan, to new vistas never before seen. The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down literally when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek suddenly endowed with astonishing powers soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character. Spider-Man's battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected yielding new characters as well as familiar faces until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey.

SPIDER-MAN features music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy® Award-winners Bono and The Edge of U2 with direction by Tony® Award-winner Julie Taymor (The Tempest, Across The Universe, The Lion King). SPIDER-MAN is written by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger (Underneath The Lintel). The principal creative and design team for SPIDER-MAN includes Daniel Ezralow, Choreographer (Across the Universe, The Green Bird); George Tsypin, Sets (The Magic Flute, The Little Mermaid); Eiko Ishioka, Costumes (Academy Award® for Bram Stoker's Dracula, Tony Award® nomination for M. Butterfly, the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics); Donald Holder, Lighting (Tony® Awards for The Lion King, South Pacific); Jonathan Deans, Sound (Fosse, The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, Young Frankenstein); and Teese Gohl, Musical Supervisor (Across the Universe, Frida). Additional members of the SPIDER-MAN creative team will be announced at a later date.