Remember the kid who was a little different? A little odd? Was it you? (for me it certainly was) Well, that’s Norman, except he can talk to dead people. So can other members of his family– a lineage and power passed from generation to generation to protect his little town from a witch’s ancient curse that threatens to bring zombies to life to terrorize the town on the anniversary of her untimely death.

ParaNorman is a nice little movie. It treads on a lot of familiar ground, borrowing heavily in tone and archetypes from things like The Goonies, Monster House, Harry Potter, Monsters Inc, and ET. Filmed in stop motion animation, it’s refreshing and fun to watch, with a few really amazingly-animated sequences. A scene where the ghost of Norman’s dead uncle is trying to talk to him through a toilet in the school bathroom, which then, of course, explodes, is really fun– as are the effects when the witch’s magic rains down on the town.

First-time writer and direct Chris Butler (he’d previously done animation and art direction for The Corpse Bride and Coraline, resemblances to both you can directly see) obviously has a huge passion for the project, and his excitement and enthusiasm almost oozes off the screen.  He’s backed up by an amazing cast, featuring John Goodman, Jeff Garlin, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick, Tempesst Bledsoe, and Alex Borstein. Yes. All of those people. And they’re all. REALLY. Good.

Like I said, this film plays off of archetypes and so we have Jeff Garlin as the disapproving dad who doesn’t understand his weird son, Leslie Mann as Norman’s loving mother, John Goodman as the crazy uncle,  and of course there’s a fat friend, a nitwit bully (played by McLovin himself, playing against type), the cheerleader sister (Kendrick), and the jock (Affleck– who almost steals the movie with his doofus characterization). The film is also filled with other smaller characters and lots of little gags and bits– like a guy who just put his quarters in the machine to buy a bag of chips who then sees zombies coming at him, screams and thinks about running away, but then waits for the chips to come out first.

It’s also got a good heart, and just like the other movies before it, shows that there’s a place in this world for the kids who don’t quite fit in or are otherwise special.

Now, walking in, I had two major questions: what is the age appropriate level for this movie and should I bother with 3D. The answer to the first is a resounding no. This film is kind of dark to begin with and you lose a lot with the 3D.  As for age, I had considered before seeing the screening bringing my 4 and 7 year old to this, as they both love Plants vs Zombies, Matilda, etc. I would probably not take either of them. There are some real scares in here. Most of them are probably not appropriate for kids under 9 or 10, but the real target audience is a bit older: kids in 5th-7th grade.

And now time to nitpick. The stop motion animation was overall really great, but there were certain things that. . . .just didn’t look “right.” Uncle Prenderghast’s beard just didn’t look right when it was moving– and since the voice actor was John Goodman, I couldn’t help but compare it to the attention Pixar gave to the way Sully’s hair moved in Monsters Inc. . .and this just looked a little janky, for lack of a better term. For those moments, it took me out of the movie and made me focus on that flaw instead of enjoying the movie, which is what I was doing 99% of the time.

And now, I have a somewhat major spoiler. I’m doing it all in invisotext, but I just have to comment on this because I think we might see a big backlash from people like the Family Research Council and other homophobic biddies out there. You have been warned:

In the final 5 minutes of the film, Casey Affleck’s character, the jock, who has been hit on the entire movie by the cheerleader character, is asked by her if he wants go hang out sometime, and he mentions that he has a boyfriend that would love to come along. Dum-dum-dum! Kind of a cheap joke, but funny, and explains his character the whole time and how oblivious he is to this girl throwing herself at him the whole movie.

Anyway, so prepare yourself for the backlash, which I think is just ridiculous, especially given the context of the film.  DOUBLE SPOILER ALERT– REALLY, DON’T READ ANY FURTHER UNLESS YOU WANT A MAJOR PLOT SPOILER. So it turns out that the “witch” condemned to die by the Puritanical town council centuries ago was, in fact, just a little girl who was different from everyone else, and because she was different (she pretended to talk to people and spirits who weren’t really there) they put her to death. A major theme of the film is bullying and people who are different, and considering the major problem we have with bullying of kids specifically by calling them gay or because they are gay, it would be in really terrible taste for someone to make a political statement out of this movie by saying because the jock is gay, then it must be inappropriate for kids.

Talk about a Puritanical town council standing in judgment of those who are different, eh?

Ok, rant and spoilers over.

I really liked ParaNorman. When I walked out I wasn’t so sure, but it’s been one of those films that I keep thinking about– a feat that has only been accomplished by 3 other movies for me this summer: Avengers, Batman, and Prometheus. So, pretty good for a kids movie. I didn’t like it as much as Brave or The Lorax, but this is a good film to take your kids to– especially if they, like me, were the ones who were a little bit odd growing up.

2 3/4 stars.

Steven Spielberg’s 1981 adventure film Raiders of the Lost Ark is reportedly getting an IMAX release prior to its Blu-ray debut on September 18.

Hollywood Reporter states that though Paramount has made no official announcement, more information is expected to be forthcoming.  The film is expected to open in theaters on September 7 and run for a week.

Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first film about the famed fedora-wearing adventurer also known as Henry Jones, Jr.  (He likes Indiana, but they named the dog Indiana).  When released on Blu-ray, it will be part of a set entitled Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures.  I’m not sure just how complete the adventures are without the addition of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles starring Sean Patrick Flanery, though.  Why, there was that spring break romp with Pancho Villa and the liaison with World War I spy Mata Hari (written by Carrie Fisher, who received a lamp as payment for the episode).

Director Steven Spielberg was involved in the process restoring the beloved films (and also the fourth one) for Blu-ray.  And the publicity department spared no expense promoting the upcoming release, bringing a Well of Souls filled with real *shudder* snakes to San Diego Comic-Con.  Snakes.  Why did it have to be snakes?

Though the Indiana Jones films have never had quite the following the Star Wars saga has experienced, they certainly have their fans.  I have no doubt they will descend upon IMAX theaters in September to see Toht melt on the big screen once again.

I know I will.

As a film, Jaws is a force of nature, breathtaking in the perfection of craft on display. There’s a maturity to the filmmaking that seems beyond Spielberg’s years if you take into account where in his career he made such a film.

The acting in the film is pitch perfect: right for the movie, right for the era, right for the characters. There can be no arguments that the USS Indianapolis monologue is one of the finest ever given in the history of film. Seeing anyone else even attempt it is cringe-worthy. Robert Shaw is a force of nature himself in this film as Quint, the salty sea captain who is hired to kill the shark.

Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss fill out the cast, giving perhaps the finest performances of their lives.

This new Blu-ray restoration of the film adds back in a new character to the film: flawless sound and picture quality. I’ve seen this film about a dozen times on the big screen on 35mm. I don’t miss an opportunity to see it when it’s being played in revival houses. And comparing those viewings, and the viewings of my well worn DVDs, to the Blu-ray experience is a little disappointing, only because the Blu-ray looks so fantastic and this is the way the film should be viewed. The colors are crisp, the sound is so well-orchestrated, and the transitions look better than they ever have. The colors didn’t seem as though they were off, which is something you get with some Blu-ray transfers, but these felt just right.

Here’s a piece about the restoration:

As for bonus material, this Blu-ray is packed to the gills with every sort of thing you could want.

As for me, the new documentary (and the old one) are the perfect way to spend an afternoon recharging my creative batteries. The documentaries give you that feeling that you were there and all parties involved seem so enthusiastic about the work they did and the film they made, even 40 years out, that their enthusiasm is infectious.

After watching the film, I never wanted to get in a boat and go out on the water again. I’m not drunk enough for that. After watching the making of the film, I never wanted to get in a boat and make a film on the water more in my life.

This movie stands up so well that it’s hard to imagine why they don’t try making films this great anymore. I mean, some people do, but this film is just… It’s a pinnacle of cinematic achievement. It really hasn’t dated at all. What made it feel contemporary still feels contemporary, but it’s also something of a period piece as you look back on it. Can you imagine a film like this capturing the cultural zeitgeist again in this day and age for a summer blockbuster? It might just be too sophisticated… I don’t know.

What I do know is that this is a Blu-ray you should be picking up today. Or ordering from Amazon. It’s only $17.99 for the Blu-ray and DVD combo pack. Well worth the money.

I might be biased, though. I’ve picked up every version of Jaws they’ve ever released and kept coming back for more. There aren’t many films I do that with. Star Wars and Indiana Jones mainly. And Citizen Kane. And Seven Samurai. That’s a pretty small list of fine films that I have like 40 copies of.

Jaws is in good company.

Cinemark announced the lineup for their next set of classic films they’ll be playing on their digital screens. There’s a lot of must-sees on this list, too.

Jaws is always a movie that I see on the big screen when I can. And having seen the Blu-ray restoration, I can tell you that you don’t want to miss it.

Bridge on the River Kwai is also one I won’t miss. Aside from Obi-wan Kenobi himself, Alec Guinness, that film is just a masterpiece of the highest order.

The African Queen is another masterpiece that looks fantastic in a digital format.

So, take a look at the theatres and the films and go out and see some GOOD movies.

Plano, TX, August 1, 2012 Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), the world’s highest attended motion picture exhibitor, is pleased to announce that the “Fall Classics Series,” featuring six legendary Hollywood movies, will take place in over 150 Cinemark theatres across the country. All of these digitally restored movies will be scheduled to play each Thursday, during the months of August and September, at two separate show times, 2 pm and 7pm.

“Cinemark’s Classic Film Series has proven to be a fan favorite for movie lovers of all ages,” states James Meredith, VP of Marketing & Communications for Cinemark. “Customers are taking advantage of this great opportunity to see some of Hollywood’s legendary films in crystal clear digital projection and incredible surround sound. Some of our locations will be featuring these titles on our Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema screen!”

Cinemark has selected six titles that were visionary films at their time of release, and still stand as true “classics” in every sense of the word. The list of films and dates of their presentation are:

August 23 Jaws (1975)
August 30 High Noon (1952)
September 6 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
September 13 Chinatown (1974)
September 20 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
September 27 The African Queen (1951)

Cinemark takes pride in creating the best entertainment experience in the industry. In order to make movie-going as easy and enjoyable as possible, Cinemark focuses on offering more choices to their customers. For example, “Print at Home” ticketing, available at www.cinemark.com, makes it easy for patrons to purchase tickets in advance from the comfort of their home or office. Customers can bypass lines at the box office and go directly to a kiosk in the theatre lobby. Also, guests can download and purchase tickets through Cinemark’s mobile applications that are available for iPhone and Android phones. Finally, to stay connected, customers can sign up online to receive free, weekly showtime e-mailers that contain online coupons for discounts at the concession stand and other weekly special offers.

A full list of participating Cinemark locations, advance ticket purchases and show time information can be found at www.cinemark.com.

I love Ben Affleck. And not in a friendly way, although he does feel like a friend. And not in a misplaced affection, puppy-dog way, although I’m sure that’s what you’ll call it. I love him and his work. Very, very simple, very truly.

Now that he’s moved on from teen hearthrob “it” boy dating J-Lo and making Gigli or Bounce or Pearl Harbor and has started acting and directing seriously great films like The Town or the upcoming Argo (which looks amazing), Affleck could be given the reins of a seriously amazing project: Justice League.

I, for one, think this is great. Kevin Smith, when people asked him who should play Daredevil, suggested Affleck. When asked why, he said he thinks Affleck can do anything. Want someone to play the iceberg in Titanic? Affleck. I’m of a similar mind.

Considering that it seems like Affleck is three times the director he was an actor (again, did you see The Town?), this is presumably a hail mary pass that could pay off huge for Warner Bros. Presumably, they’ve seen Argo and have been impressed.

Fanboy hate mail: “You really want Reindeer Games directing Justice League?”

To which I reply, “First, have you seen The Town? Have you seen the trailers for Argo?”

Fanboys: “Oh, but that’s just one movie. So what?”

“You know who else had really only done one move before taking on a huge franchise? Mark Webb. Joss Whedon had done the original Buffy and Serenity. Chris Nolan had Memento and Insomnia before Batman Begins. Tim Burton had done Bettlejuice and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure before Batman. Jon Favreau had essentially done Swingers and Zathura before Iron Man. And Sam Raimi had how many commercially successful films before Spiderman? So STFU.”

Granted, it’s an odd choice. But it might be that perfect odd choice, like the first time someone decided to put marshmallow fluff and bananas on peanut butter sandwiches. Marvel, by all accounts, made a huge risk with Whedon– and it paid off well. No, Ben Affleck is not Joss Whedon. But go back and watch Hollywoodland. Tell me there isn’t something there with Affleck’s portrayal of George Reeves that doesn’t say he doesn’t get Superman. And maybe it’s that oblique angle that will give us the Justice League movie we deserve.

And maybe he’ll give Kevin Smith a cameo as Bat-mite.

But what think the rest of you robots? Is Affleck up to the challenge?

Comic Book Movie is reporting that during a Walt Disney investors conference call it was announced that Joss Whedon would be returning to write and direct “The Avengers 2.” The chairman and chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, also said that Whedon is involved in a live action TV show that will be on ABC set in the Marvel movie universe!

It seems as though we are building towards Thanos in the Avengers 2, here is the mid credits sequence from the Avengers that gave us our first look at the big purple baddie!

The 3D adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby has been pushed back from Christams 2012 to Summer 2013.

The trailer debuted in May, so what happened between then and now to warrant such a decision?  Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, explains, “Based on what we’ve seen, Baz Luhrmann’s incredible work is all we anticipated and so much more.  It truly brings Fitzgerald’s American classic to life in a completely immersive, visually stunning and exciting way.  We think moviegoers of all ages are going to embrace it, and it makes sense to ensure this unique film reaches the largest audience possible.”

Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures elaborates, saying, “Baz is known for being innovative, but with this film he has done something completely unexpected—making it in 3D—while capturing the emotion, the intimacy, the power and the spectacle of the time.  The responses we’ve had to some of the early sneak peeks have been phenomenal, and we think ‘The Great Gatsby’ will be the perfect summer movie around the world.”

For those who weren’t required to read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel in high school, The Great Gatsby is a story narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to New York City from the Midwest and moves in next door to exciting millionaire Jay Gatsby.  Gatsby has carefully set events in motion to put his former love Daisy Buchanan back in his life.  She has married into money since they parted, and parties and passion play out against the backdrop of the Jazz Age.

Leonardo DiCaprio rejoins director Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet) as he portrays Jay Gatsby, and Tobey Maguire puts web-slinging away in favor of the role of Nick Carraway.  Carey Mulligan (An Education) is Daisy Buchanan, and Joel Edgerton (the young and less curmudgeonly Owen Lars of the Star Wars prequels) plays her husband Tom.

I’m rather sad about the delay.  Lurhmann’s Moulin Rouge! is one of my favorite movies, and I’m curious to see if his adaptation of Fitzgerald’s story thrills or disappoints.  Quite often, delays are the result of poor test screenings or issues with post-production or re-shoots.  However, since the sneak peek responses have been “phenomenal,” this does not seem to be the case.  So it may simply be what they say, and they’re aiming for a summer blockbuster rather than a holiday one.

Guess I’ll just have to wait until next year to see what happens.

It’s a well known fact that studios other than Marvel have rights to make movies with Marvel characters and can continue to retain those rights as long as they’re in production on a new film within a certain timeframe.

This is why you’ll never see Sony not in the midst of making a new Spider-Man, or Fox lapsing on an X-men (or mutant related) film.

Fox also owns Daredevil, which is under a similar contract.

Variety is reporting that Fox has until October 10th to begin shooting a new Daredevil film or they lose the character. They’ve been working on a script for a while now, but they haven’t even formally signed director Joe Carnahan to the deal. Getting a director negotiated, signed, and through pre-production by October 10 seems to be a stretch.

But Marvel is willing to play ball and give them extra time…

…as long as they hand back rights to Silver Surfer and Galactus.

With those two characters back in Marvel’s hands, there’s only one place I want to see the Avengers movies heading, and that’s into the realm of Galactus, the devourer of Worlds. What better way to test the Avengers?

Carnahan’s Daredevil is said be a gritty, 70s style street crime film, which I’m also happy to see.

Basically, Daredevil being in development hell for the last few years may be the single greatest thing that’s happened to Marvel Movies since the Avengers….

It is being widely reported that Christopher Eccleston, the tenth Doctor, has been added to the cast of Thor: The Dark World as its villain.

Or a villain, anyway.

He’s playing Malekith the Accursed, a Dark Elf.

Walt Simonson (one of my favorite artist/writers on Thor) did some very cool things with his creation during his tenure. At one point, Malekith took control of the casket that was the object of power in the first Thor film and covered the Earth in a deadly frost.

The reason I say a villain, is because in the comics, Malekith struck a deal with Surtur on behalf of Loki. We know that Loki is in this film and speculation has run high that Surtur might be a part of this film. The one piece of art other than the logo I’ve seen for the film seemed to imply a lava setting… And Surtur is a giant fire monster…

In any case, I’m happy to see Christopher Eccleston do more genre work. I adored his work on Doctor Who and, as a giant Thor nerd, I’m very happy to see him cast. Malekith is a crazy character, unbalanced perhaps, and I’m sure Eccleston’s take will be incredible.

Our good friends over at www.art.com have teamed up with us to offer our readers a chance to win some incredible Star Trek artwork! Art.com is going to give a lucky entrant a $50 online gift card to use towards some of their stunning Star Trek posters, which include not only premium prints, but also framed canvas ones as well!

One lucky reader will be receiving this amazing prize, so to enter, send an email with your name to editor (at) bigshinyrobot.com; use ‘I LOVE STAR TREK’ as your subject line so we can easily identify you.  Also, for some bonus entries, share this story on your Facebook timeline asking all your friends to like us on Facebook, and/or ask your followers to follow us on Twitter, @bigshinyrobot.

Just be sure to let us know in the email that you’ve done it!

Entries must be received by August 7, and we will contact the winner shortly after.

Best of luck to everyone, and be sure to check out this link so you can start dreaming about what you want your $50 to go towards!