Bee Movie is a odd one. Barry B Benson (voiced by Jerry Seinfeld, who also co wrote the screenplay) is a recently graduated college bee who discovers, to his horror, that humans eat the honey his people harvest. Feeling jipped, he decides to sue. Yes, sue. He walks into a courtroom with his little bee feet and sues.
"At its relaxed best, when it's about, well, nothing, the slyly comic Bee Movie is truly beguiling", offers Rolling Stone.
Seinfeld has barely written or performed since his staggeringly popular TV show ended in 1998. It is great to have his distinctive nasal whine back, but whining in live action and in something to do with Larry David would be preferable.
Comparably Francis Ford Coppola has not directed a film since 1997. Though his latest effort, Youth Without Youth, is an apparently dreadful thriller. "Youth Without Youth will translate to cinemas without audiences", says Variety in a less than a favourable review.
The plot centres on linguistics scholar Dominic Matei (Tim Roth) who is struck by lightening during WW2. The bolt bestows him with reinvigorated youth and an even sharper intellect. When the Nazis get wind of his transformation, the professor flees to finish his vital language research (yes, really) before they can strap him to a vivisection table and sharpen their scalpels.
It is safe to say that nobody was expecting this oddity from the man who brought us The Godfather trilogy. As such, perhaps nobody in their right mind will go to see it.
We also wonder who'll be seeing Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium this Christmas. Can Molly (Natalie Portman), an overwhelmed pianist who inherits a magical toy shop from her 243 year old boss (Dustin Hoffman), learn to believe in herself enough to run his fabled Emporium?
"This children's tale of magical whimsy miraculously avoids even toying with violence - while confronting the finality of death head on", says Channel 4.
With characters named 'Jordan, Who Said Hi' and 'Derek, Who Opened the Door', director/ writer Zach Helm is obviously trying hard to be kooky. For those cynical enough to wonder how a man over two centuries old has not fallen foul to legal retirement laws, this might be its downfall.
And just a quick mention of Enchanted, Disney’s clever tale of a princess suddenly catapulted from her cosy animated realm into the real world has charm by the bucketload.
"Enchanted sees Disney have its fairy cake and eat it, ribbing its own heritage while retaining a dollop of innocence", gushes Total Film.
We are all far too manly to watch it though. Aren’t we?
POSTED...
Tue 18 Dec 2007 at 8:28am
