We live in the Age of Pixar where the art of animation has been elevated to its highest form yet. The real genius of that small California start-up was twofold. They combined the latest high-end computer graphics with primal emotional story-telling to create such cinematic gems as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and WALL-E. This bodes well for moviegoers young and young-at-heart but sends chills down the back of any film exec daring to wade into Pixar's pond. It is in this environment that Starz Animation and director Kelly Asbury bring the classic Shakespearean tragedy Romeo and Juliet to life as the decidedly less tragic Gnomeo & Juliet. Moving the action from fair Verona to neighboring gardens on Verona Street, Gnomeo & Juliet pits two color-coded gnome clans against each other as the titular duo risk life and limb for their forbidden love. Despite such strong and venerated source material, Gnomeo & Juliet fails to deliver in the plot department, producing an uninspired and emotionally hollow film that sports just enough visual splendor and cute sidelights to keep you and the little ones interested.

The film opens on two feuding neighbors: the red-hatted garden gnomes led by Lord Redbrick (Michael Caine) and the blue-hatted garden gnomes led by Lady Bluebury (Maggie Smith). Only a simple wooden fence separates these sworn enemies. Tybalt (Jason Statham) is the dashing red-hatted gnome who defends the honor of his clan from any usurper. Up to the plate steps Gnomeo (James McAvoy) the blue-hatted gnome who challenges Tybalt in that most sacred of battles, the lawnmower race. Sparks fly as the two race down the back alley leading to Gnomeo's defeat. Determined to defend his honor once and for all, Gnomeo embarks on a secret quest to gain the upper hand when fate drops a little crimson gnomette by the name of

Ah, January. Between Season of the Witch, the DVD release of The Last Exorcism, and now The Rite, it would appear movie makers are trying to turn this quaint wintery time into “Demonic Possession Month.” Yes, winter is known as that time of year when ol’ Satan brushes the snow off his jacket and thinks about all the souls he plans to corrupt, obviously. That aside, as the

The Company Men reveals one of the first glimpses of the financial meltdown, begun in 2008, and the aftermath of this crisis affecting not only the lower and middle classes, but also the upper crust of society. The story chronicles Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck), and his fall from corporate royalty when the recession leaves him and his family jobless. His character had gained so much during the company’s

Jacques Tati is a national treasure in France and should stand next to Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton in the pantheon of singular cinema comedians. That he is not known to most Americans is likely due to never making a film for an English-language audience and his very French approach to humor. In a forty year career he only made nine features, but they are among the most

Sofia Coppola went for broke in her candy-colored historical fantasia Marie Antoinette (2006), the kind of indulgent spectacle a film director only gets to attempt after a significant fan base has been established and awards have been bestowed. Though dubious in its history, Coppola’s version of the French aristocracy as a girl’s sparkle-journal fantasy was a delightful postmodern confection, solidifying her footing as one of a new breed

No Strings Attached, in a word, is funny. It is damn funny, actually. I am just as surprised to write this as you probably are to read this. In fact this movie is so funny, I found myself belly-laughing throughout the entire thing. The storyline in this film screams trite romantic comedy – guy and girl try to have a casual relationship solely based on sex, till inevitably

It is unfortunate when a film of significant value is primarily known for a ratings board controversy. Such is the case with the exceptional new indie drama Blue Valentine, a soulful scrapbook of a young marriage in its death throes and a proper introduction to an intimate new voice in director Derek Cianfrance. Initially damned with the stigmatized NC-17 rating by the MPAA, the movie was finally given

When most people think of The Green Hornet, most remember Van Williams as the Green Hornet and the legendary Bruce Lee as Kato. Despite the series lasting only one season (26 episodes) the two actors left an indelible impression. Van Williams portrayed Britt Reid as a suave, cool playboy and Bruce Lee was, well, Bruce Lee. More than 40 years later The Green Hornet has finally arrived on

Nowadays, when the name “Nicolas Cage” graces a movie poster, it usually means the viewing audience will be in for a bit of wide-eyed screaming, stuff blowing up, and maybe a scene of Cage sending a woman flying into a wall for reasons no one can adequately explain. Well, in a bit of a disappointment, Season of the Witch features Cage screaming very little, but lots of stuff

Country Strong is, in a nutshell, the story about the high price of fame that singer Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow) must pay for her country music superstardom. The film chronicles Kelly's life on tour after a brief stint in rehab (clichéd, yet somehow appropriate for the times) for alcohol abuse. She is talented, yet trapped in a life that she doesn't want. A life that her husband and