'Brave' Review

Pixar's "Brave" doesn't deserve some of the icy ink it's getting, but it isn't exactly a triumph, either. Still, those ruby red locks are a wonder to watch, and it's nice to see a rare mother-daughter tale in the animation landscape.

My full review of "Brave" is now online at SouthPhillyReview.com. CLICK HERE.

Angelina Jolie as MALEFICENT

Yes! Here's the first still of Ms. Jolie as Maleficent in Disney's new live-action film:

According to a press release that just went out, production commenced on June 13th. Here's the official release info:

     Directed by two-time Oscar®-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland”), in his directorial debut, and produced by Joe Roth, “Maleficent” is written by Linda Woolverton (“The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and executive produced by Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Matt Smith and Palak Patel. Co-starring in the film are Sharlto Copley (“District 9”), Elle Fanning (“Super 8”), Sam Riley (“On the Road”), Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake”), Miranda Richardson (“The Hours”), Juno Temple (“Atonement”) and Lesley Manville (“Secrets & Lies”). 
     This is the untold story of Disney’s most beloved villain, Maleficent, from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” The film reveals the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora. Behind-the-scenes talent includes Academy Award®–winning cinematographer Dean Semler (“Dances with Wolves,” “In the Land of Blood and Honey”), production designer Gary Freeman (“Saving Private Ryan,” “The Bourne Supremacy”), two-time Oscar® nominated costume designer Anna B. Sheppard (“Schindler’s List,” “The Pianist”) and seven-time Academy Award–winning makeup artist Rick Baker (“Planet of the Apes,” “Men in Black”). 
    “Maleficent” is scheduled for a March 14, 2014 release in 3D.

'Hanna' Review

It's worth noting that every time I searched "hanna movie" in Google Images, a certain infernally smiley Disney Channel alum took up a good 40 percent of the results. I should have expected as much, but honestly, the name connection never occurred to me. Now I can't stop thinking about what a fun potential movie mash-up we've got on our hands here. It's not that much of a stretch, really: father grooms daughter to become uncannily powerful super-princess, ultimately hangs self in the process. Might we get these two teen queens together for a combo sequel/spinoff? "The Hannas Go Bananas?" Saorsie Ronan's character already has all the pop culture coaching she'll need from her bi-curious BFF, and guns aren't exactly scarce in Miley's hometown of Nashville. They could travel the world and...

...okay, I digress. But I was onto something there. Anyway, Joe Wright's "Hanna" is one trippy chase thriller, and while indeed rather showy, it's a very welcome departure from the debacle of "The Soloist" ("it's Wright's atonement and then some," I tweeted...hehehe). Its sheer bizarreness is its best quality, save a performance from Ronan that's...well, it's no Hannah Montana.

Read my full review of "Hanna," now online at SouthPhillyReview.com. CLICK HERE.