The delightful family movie “Up” hits DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 10, 2009. I thought it was a really well done movie; a little sad in spots (ok, downright weepy!), but a great movie with lots to say. Read my review of “Up” here.
I caught up with Jordan Nagai, who voices the part of Russell the Wilderness Explorer in the film. He’s enthusiastic and energetic – not unlike his on-screen counterpart – and they even look alike, don’t they?
Read on for Jordan’s thoughts on making “Up” and running an obstacle course before his recording sessions.
Tell us …read more

The lovely Disney/Pixar film “Up” hits DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 10, 2009 (read my review here), and I had an opportunity to catch up with writer-director Pete Docter (pictured), who talked about the challenges of making an animated movie.
Q: “Up” became the first animated film to open the Cannes Film Festival. Do you believe animated features are becoming accepted as a more serious artistic platform?
Pete Docter: We were very honored to be the first animated film to open the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Walking around there, I kept picturing Hitchcock, Coppola, Truffaut; these big time directors … …read more

A new version of the classic film “A Christmas Carol” is headed to theaters on Nov. 6, 2009. This time, Jim Carrey takes center stage as the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge, as well as all three ghosts!
The CG-animated movie is rated G, and also features the voices of Robin Wright Penn, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman and Michael J. Fox. Watch the trailer here.
Here are a few photos of Carrey and director-writer Robert Zemeckis on their “train tour” at Grand Central Station to promote the film. Looks like a blast!
By the way, Carrey has gained a few pounds for …read more

Seth Rogen, featured in tonight’s airing of “Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space,” features the voice cast of the original movie, including Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson and … Seth Rogen as B.O.B., the gelatinous blob!

The story follows Susan and the Monsters, who now work for the U.S. government. They’re sent to Susan’s hometown to stop an alien invasion in the days before Halloween. Clever as always, the aliens have adopted the guise of harmless jack-o-lanterns as they lie in wait for the perfect time to strike.
I caught up with Seth …read more

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is out on DVD and Blu-ray today. Can we ever get enough of that cute little pixie? I think not. She’s just darling, and that attitude!
In this DVD, Mae Whitman voices Tinker Bell, who journeys far north of Neverland to patch things up with her friend Terence and restore a Pixie Dust Tree. It’s all very noble.
Other voices include Raven-Symone, Jesse McCartney, Lucy Liu, Kristin Chenoweth, Pamela Adlon, and Anjelica Huston. Check out the clips:
Featurette: Fashion (bonus):

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The gang comes back and finds a paradise world underneath their ice. Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary star in this fun animated tale. [Film Gecko Review] [Buy It]
Orphan. Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star in this creepy thriller about a malevolent orphan who lands in the home of adoptive parents. [Buy It]
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (Two Disc + BD Live) [Blu-ray]. Raven Symone and Jesse McCartney star in this cute sequel that finds Tinkerbell saving the day. [Buy It]

Image: Amazon.com

The premiere of “Astro Boy” took place at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, and Kristen Bell was on hand to pose with Astro Boy himself! (Hmmm … who IS that under there?!)
In theaters Oct. 23, 2009, the CG-animated film is set in futuristic Metro City, where Astro Boy (voiced by Freddie Highmore) is a young robot created by a brilliant scientist named Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy has super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed, and the ability to fly.
It also features the voices of Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, and Eugene …read more

With Twitter going 24/7, and celebrities tweeting about everything from their latest hookup to what they had for lunch, you have to wonder how all of this is going down in their camps. It sort of takes the control away from their agents and publicists, and that can’t always be good.
WENN News is reporting that the head honchos of some movie companies are banning stars from joining Twitter, to prevent secret information from leaking out. The first victims: Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers. They’re set to star in another “Shrek” sequel, “Shrek Forever After,” next year.

Dreamworks execs have …read more

The video game “Spore” passed briefly through our household, but others like “World of Warcraft” took hold and stayed. Still, I can see the appeal of the cute little amoebic creatures, and apparently, so does Twentieth Century Fox.
The studio is pairing up with Electronic Arts to turn “Spore” into an animated feature film, with “Ice Age” director Chris Wedge attached to helm. Greg Erb and Jason Oremland, who also penned the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog” and “The Return of King Doug” are writing the screenplay.
Released in September 2008, “Spore” the video game lets players create their …read more

The “Toy Story” movies are those rare types of movies that could go into infinity and beyond, and I’d be the first person in line to see every one at the theater. They’re just so creative and fun. “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” are opening in theaters this weekend, packaged as a double feature re-released in 3D. That’s pretty cool, even though I don’t always go for the 3D movies. I think these will be the exception.
“Toy Story 3,” set for a June 18, 2010 release, finds Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toy box gang at …read more