Disney Features 501-600
 
UP-TO-DATE
(February 25, 2008)

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Feature 501

Shanghai Knights [Touchstone]

February 07, 2003

After taming the Wild West, Chon Wang and Roy O’Bannon are out to settle a score in civilized London. When Chon’s estranged father is mysteriously murdered, Chon and Roy make their way to London to track down the killer. Chon’s sister, Lin, has the same idea, and uncovers a worldwide conspiracy to murder the royal family – but almost no one will believe her. With the help of a kindly Scotland Yard inspector and a ten-year-old street urchin, the acrobatic Chon uses his high-flying martial arts skills in Victorian Britain as h attempts to avenge his father’s death – and keep the romance-minded Roy away from his sister.

Sequel to Shanghai Noon (2000).

114 min. Directed by David Dobkin.

Feature 502

The Jungle Book II

February 05, 2003

Mowgli now lives in the man village, and he loves his new family and friends, especially his feisty little stepbrother Ranjan and his best pal Shanti, the girl who initially wooed Mowgli from the jungle. But Mowgli misses his buddy Baloo, who likewise pines for his little man cub. Baloo isn’t the only one hoping to see Mowgli again soon – Shere Khan impatiently awaits his revenge. When Mowgli sneaks away to the jungle, the chase is on to see who will find Mowgli first – his old pals, his new family, or the man-eating tiger.

Premiered in France and originally released on February 14, 2005.

72 min. Directed by Steve Trenbirth. Animated features, other #07

Feature 503

Bringing Down the House [Touchstone]

March 07, 2003

Peter Sanderson still loves his ex-wife and cannot understand what he did wrong to make her leave him. He is doing his best to move on, becoming smitten with a brainy, bombshell barrister he’s been chatting with online. However when she comes to the house for their first meeting, he quickly discovers she isn’t refined, isn’t Ivy League, and isn’t even a lawyer. Instead, it’s Charlene, a prison escapee, who proclaims her innocence and wants Peter to help clear her name. Charlene proceeds to turn Peter’s perfectly ordered life upside down, jeopardizing his attempts to get back with his wife and woo a billion-dollar client.

105 min. Directed by Adam Shankman.

Feature 504

Piglet’s Big Movie

March 21, 2003

Piglet gets an inferior feeling when his friends begin a “honey harvest” and he is told that he is too small to help. When Piglet disappears, the others use his scrapbook as a map to find him, and in the process discover that this “very small animal” has been a big hero in a lot of ways. After an eventful search and a dramatic climax, Piglet once again demonstrates how large an influence he has been on his pals.

75 min. Directed by Francis Glebas. Animated features, other #08

Feature 505

Ghosts of the Abyss

April 11, 2003

Cameras make an expedition below the surface of the ocean to the final resting place of the Titanic. Using state-of-the-art technology developed expressly for this expedition, the filmmakers are able to explore virtually all of the wreckage, inside and out, as never before.

Released in 3-D in regular and 70mm large format/IMAX.

60 min. Directed by James Cameron.

Feature 506

Holes

April 18, 2003

Stanley Yelnats, is a young man coming of age, dogged by bad luck stemming from an ancient family curse. Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is unfairly sentenced to months of detention at Camp Green Lake for a crime he did not commit. There, he and his camp mates are forced by the menacing warden and her right-hand men to dig holes in order to built character. Nobody knows the real reason they are digging all these holes, but Stanley soon begins to question why the warden is so interested in anything “special” the boys find. Stanley and his camp mates must stick together and keep one step ahead of the warden and her henchmen as they plot a daring escape from the camp to solve the mystery and break the Yelnats family curse.

Based on the award-winning book by Louis Sachar.

117 min. Directed by Andrew Davis.

Feature 507

The Lizzie McGuire Movie

May 02, 2003

Lizzie McGuire and her pals Gordo, Kate, and Ethan go on a class trip to Italy, where Lizzie is mistaken for Isabella, who is part of an Italian pop duo, and begins to fall for Paolo, Isabella’s handsome Italian-pop star former boyfriend. When Lizzie’s mom, dad, and annoying brother Matt get wind of this, they all jet their way to Italy. In the meantime, Lizzie is transformed from a gawky teen to a beautiful pop star. Gordo struggles to understand his true feelings for her, and a whirlwind of surprising events forces Lizzie to find the true meaning of friendship.

94 min. Directed by Jim Fall.

Feature 508

Finding Nemo [Pixar]

May 30, 2003

Nemo, a 6-year-old clownfish, is tragically stolen away from the safety of his undersea home at the Great Barrier Reef, ending up in a dentist’s office fish tank overlooking Sydney harbor. His timid father, Marlin, launches a search to find and rescue him, accompanied by a good Samaritan, a Regal Blue Tang fish named Dory. Meanwhile, Nemo is hatching a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

Academy Award: #84: Best Animated Feature, 2004: Andrew Stanton, producer.

Nominated for three other Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Sound Editing.

100 min. Directed by Andrew Stanton. Animated feature, computer #6

Feature 509

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

June 28, 2003

In the 18th century, Captain Jack Sparrow is roguish yet charming, as he sails the Caribbean. But Jack’s idyllic life capsizes after his nemesis, the wily Captain Barbossa, steals his ship, the “Black Pearl”, and later attacks the town of Port Royal, kidnapping the Governor’s beautiful daughter, Elizabeth Swann. Elizabeth’s childhood friend, Will Turner, joins forces with Jack to commandeer the fastest ship in the British fleet, the “HMS Interceptor”, in a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the “Black Pearl”. The duo and their motley crew are pursued by Elizabeth’s betrothed, the debonair, ambitious Commodore Norrington, aboard the “HMS Dauntless”. Unbeknownst to Will, whose father once served with the crew, there is a curse that has doomed Barbossa and his men to live forever as the undead, where, under moonlight, they are transformed into living skeletons. The curse they carry can only be broken if a once-plundered treasure is restored and blood is spilt.

Premiered at Disneyland.

Based on the Disneyland attraction “Pirates of the Caribbean”.

Nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Actor (Johnny Depp), Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup.

143 min. Directed by Gore Verbinski.

Feature 510

Freaky Friday

August 06, 2003

Dr. Tess Coleman and her 15-year-old daughter, Anna, are not getting along. They don’t see eye to eye on clothes, hair, music, and certainly not in each other’s taste in men. One Thursday evening, their disagreements reach a fever pitch. Anna is incensed that her mother doesn’t support her musical aspirations, and Tess, a widow about to remarry, cannot see why Anna won’t give her fiancé a break. Everything soon changes when two identical Chinese fortune cookies cause a little mystic mayhem. On the next morning, their Friday gets freaky when Tess and Anna find themselves inside each other’s body, eventually gaining a little newfound respect for the other’s point of view. But with Tess’s wedding coming up on Saturday, the two have to find a way to switch back and fast.

Based on Mary Rodgers’ classic novel, it is a remake of the 1977 film and 1995 television movie.

97 min. Directed by Mark Waters.

Feature 511

Open Range [Touchstone]

August 15, 2003

In 1882, Charley Waite, Boss Spearman, and Mose Harrison are all men trying to escape their pasts by driving cattle on the open range. They try to avoid violence, but one frontier town that is ruled through fear and tyranny changes their lives and forces them into action. Amidst this turmoil, Charley meets the spirited Sue Barlow, who embraces both his heart and his soul.

Based on the novel “The Open Range Men” by Lauran Paine.

138 min. Directed by Kevin Costner.

Feature 512

Cold Creek Manor [Touchstone]

September 19, 2003

Cooper Tilson and his wife, Leah, tiring of hustle and bustle of New York City, pack up their kids and move into a recently repossessed mansion in the sticks of New York State. One grand and elegant, the manor at Cold Creek is now a shambles, but the family has plenty of time to renovate. Then a mysterious former resident returns and a series of terrifying incidents occur at the house, leading the Tilsons to wonder about the family that used to live in their new home and what dark secrets are hidden inside.

119 min. Directed by Mike Figgis.

Feature 513

Under the Tuscan Sun [Touchstone]

September 26, 2003

Freshly divorced San Francisco writer Frances Mayes is depressed, but her best friend, Patti, offers a gift to try to shake Frances out of her lethargy – a ten-day trip to Tuscany, in the heart of Italy. Once there, under the Tuscan sun, Frances impulsively buys a run-down villa named “Bramasole”, literally “something that yearns for the sun”. As she embraces the local ways and devotes herself to the restoration of her new home, Frances finds herself forming close bonds with people around her and slowly rediscovers the pleasures of laughter, friendship, and romance.

115 min. Directed by Audrey Wells.

Feature 514

Veronica Guerin [Touchstone]

July 08, 2003

Veronica Guerin, a journalist covering the crime beat in Dublin in the 1990s, starts a crusade to expose local drug dealers, and in doing so she neglects her family and is accused of glory-seeking. Guerin relentlessly pursues her mission, and her obsession eventually leads to her murder.

Premiered in Ireland in July and originally released on October 17, 2003.

98 min. Directed by Joel Schumacher.

Feature 515

Brother Bear

October 24, 2003

Set in the Pacific Northwest after the last Ice Age, this film tells the tale of three Native American brothers: Sitka, the eldest, Denahi, and Kenai, the youngest. After Sitka is accidentally killed by a bear, Kenai sets out on a quest of vengeance, only to be turned into a bear himself by the Great Spirits. As he discovers the world through the eyes of another, Kenai is befriended by a rambunctious bear cub named Koda and has a hilarious encounter with a pair of misguided moose, Tuke and Rutt. Kenai discovers that Denahi is attempting to avenge his death by trying to kill the bear that Kenai has become, believing that it is Kenai’s killer. Before all is resolved, Kenai must decide whether he wants to change back into his human form or continue living as a bear.

The last two thirds of the film, after Kenai changed into a bear, are filmed in CinemaScope.

Nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Feature in 2004.

Directed by Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker.

85min. Animated feature, classic #43

Feature 516

The Haunted Mansion

November 26, 2003

Workaholic real estate agent Jim Evers and his wife and business partner, Sara, drag their family up to the big, creepy Gracey mansion, located on a remote Louisiana bayou, when Jim gets a call that owner Edward Gracey wants to sell. Jim senses the biggest deal of his career, hoping to rebuild the mansion into a lavish new condo development. When the Evers family gets there, however, they are stranded by a torrential thunderstorm and quickly find that they are not alone – not when 999 grim, grinning ghosts come out to socialize. With all these happy haunts that won’t leave until their unfinished business has been completed, it is up to Jim to break the curse, while at the same time, he discovers how much his family needs him.

Based on the Disneyland attraction “The Haunted Mansion”.

88 min. Directed by Bob Minkoff.

Feature 517

Calendar Girls [Touchstone]

August 09, 2003

A group of ladies attend dull weekly meetings at the Woman’s Institute branch in Knapely, Yorkshire, but two regulars, Chris Harper and Annie Clark, feel the institute needs a shakeup. Their plan is for the group of mature women to pose nude for a calendar to raise money for a local hospital. As a result they become international celebrities.

Premiere at the Locarno Film Festival and originally released on December 19, 2003.

108 min. Directed by Nigel Cole.

Feature 518

The Young Black Stallion

December 25, 2003

This prequel to the 1979 classic film presents the horse’s adventure with a young girl named Neera, who has been separated from her family in Arabia by World War II. Left alone in the desert, she befriends the wild colt, which she names Shetan (“the devil”). Once reunited with her grandfather, however, Neera remains haunted by images of the “lost horse of the desert”, one of a few stallions of legend, rumored to be “born of the sands, sired by the night sky, drinkers of the wind”. Neera devises a plan to race the wild Shetan in the annual horse race and help restore her grandfather’s reputation. Staking everything on the race, Neera finds her iron will and courage is combined with Shetan’s untamed power and determination.

Based on the book by Walter Farley and Steven Farley.

Disney’s first dramatic feature filmed in 70mm large format/IMAX.

50 min. Directed by Simon Wincer.

Feature 519

Teacher’s Pet

January 14, 2004

Spot, a talking canine, has the ultimate wish of becoming a real boy. When the opportunity presents itself, through the DNA manipulations of wacko scientist Dr. Ivan Krank, Spot quickly follows his family to Florida in order to make the evolution to human form. However, Dr. Krank’s experiments have had far-from-perfect results and, although Spot’s transformation to human is complete, not all the calculations are exactly correct. It will take hi best buddy Leonard and his quirky pet pals, Mr. Jolly, a cat, and Pretty Boy, a bird, to help him out of his tight spot and try to right this genetic wrong

Based on the television series created by Gary Baseman.

74 min. Directed by Timothy Björklund. Animated features, other #09

Feature 520

Miracle

February 06, 2004

In the 1980, the U.S. ice hockey team needed a miracle. Coach Herb Brooks was charged with taking his ragtag squad to the Olympic Games at Lake Placid, but even the encouraging coach was not sure what his boys could do against the storied teams from the Eastern bloc countries and the juggernaut from the Soviet Union. Despite long odds, Team USA rose to the occasion in one of the most thrilling moments in the country’s sports history.

Based on a true story.

136 min. Directed by Gavin O’Connor.

Feature 521

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

February 20, 2004

Teen Lola Cep finds her life turned upside down when her family moves from New York City to the “cultural wasteland” of suburban New Jersey. As she juggles making new friends at a new school while standing up to new rival, Lola finds it hard enough just to live her life, let alone remember how important it is to live her dream.

90 min. Directed by Sara Silverman.

Feature 522

Hidalgo [Touchstone]

March 5, 2004

The film is based on the true story of the greatest long-distance horse race ever run. Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire, a 3,000-mile survival race across the Arabian Desert was a challenge restricted to the finest Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and nobles lines, owned by the greatest royal families. In 1890, a wealthy sheik invited an American and his horse to enter the race for the first time. Frank T. Hopkins was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the U.S. Cavalry who had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The sheik would put this claim to the test, pitting the American cowboy and his mustang. Hidalgo, against the world’s greatest Arabian horses and Bedouin riders, some of whom were determined to prevent the foreigner from finishing the race. For Frank, the Ocean of Fire becomes not only a matter of pride and honor, but a race for his very survival.

Based on a true story.

136 min. Directed by Joe Johnston.

Feature 523

The Ladykillers [Touchstone]

March 26, 2004

An eccentric Southern professor assembles a band of less-than-competent thieves to rob a Mississippi riverboat casino. When the gang rents a room from unsuspecting, straitlaced, churchgoing little old Mrs. Munson, they get more than they bargained for, along with a strong reminder that crime doesn’t pay.

Inspired by the 1955 film.

104 min. Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen.

Feature 524

Home on the Range

April 02, 2004

A greedy outlaw named Alameda Slim schemes to take possession of the Patch of Heaven dairy farm from its kindly owner, Pearl. Unwilling to stand by and see their idyllic way of life threatened, three determined cows – Mrs. Caloway, Maggie, and Grace – a karate-kicking stallion named Buck, and a colorful corral of critters join forces to save the farm. This unlikely assortment of animals braves bad guys and the rugged western landscape as they match wits with a mysterious bounty hunter named Rico in a high-stakes race to capture Slim and collect the reward money.

An early version title was Sweating Bullets.

Directed by Will Finn, John Sanford.

76 min. Animated feature, classic #44

Feature 525

The Alamo [Touchstone]

March 27, 2004

An epic retelling of the 1836 battle in San Antonio de Bexar where less than 200 men, led by James Bowie, Lt. Col. William B. Travis, and the legendary Davy Crockett, try to hold the small, ruined mission, the Alamo, against the much larger forces of Mexican general Antonio López de Santa Anna. The Texans and their deeds would pass into history as General Sam Houston’s rallying cry for Texas independence and into legend for their symbolic significance.

137 min. Directed by John Lee Hancock.

Feature 526

Sacred Planet

April 22, 2004

An inspiring journey around the world viewing the landscape, the people, and the animals indigenous to the land, showcasing the natural beauty of our planet’s diverse regions.

Filmed in 70mm large format/IMAX.

47 min. Directed by Jon Long.

Feature 527

Raising Helen [Touchstone]

May 28, 2004

A career-minded head of a top Manhattan modeling agency and party girl, Helen Harris finds herself plunged into motherhood when her sister’s three children come to live with her, bringing her carefree lifestyle to a screeching halt. She learns that staying up and dancing till 3 a.m. doesn’t mix with getting the kids ready for school on time. Along the way, Helen finds support from Dan Parker, the handsome young pastor and principal of the kids’ new school.

119 min. Directed by Garry Marshall.

Feature 528

Around the World in 80 Days

June 16, 2004

Eccentric London inventor, Phileas Fogg has come up with the secrets of flight, electricity, and even Rollerblades, but the world has dismissed him as a crackpot. Desperate to be taken seriously, Fogg makes an outlandish bet with Lord Kelvin, the head of the Royal Academy of Science, to circumnavigate the globe in no more than 80 days. With his two sidekicks – Passepartout and femme fatale Monique – Fogg is headed on a frantic, heart pounding, round-the-world race that takes our heroes to the world’s most exotic places by land, sea, and air, facing many adventures and obstacles along the way.

Based on the novel by Jules Verne.

Remake of Mike Todd’s classic 1956 film for United Artists.

120 min. Directed by Frank Coraci.

Feature 529

America’s Heart & Soul

July 02, 2004

In this documentary, filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg emphasizes that it is the people that make America so special. Audiences meet ordinary Americans with extraordinary stories, and learn their values, dreams, and passion. The unusual, captivating, inspiring, and emotional stories make us into something more than a collection of individuals.

88 min. Directed by Louis Schwartzberg.

Feature 530

King Arthur [Touchstone]

July 07, 2004

A reluctant leader, Arthur wishes only to leave Britain and return to the peace and stability of Rome. Before he can, one final mission leads him and his Knights of the Round Table – Lancelot, Galahad, Bors, Tristan, and Gawain – to the conclusion that when Rome is gone, Britain will need a leader to fill the vacuum. Under the guidance of Merlin, a former enemy, and with the beautiful Guinevere by his side, Arthur will have to find the strength within himself to change the course of history and lead Britain into a new age. A story of chivalry, bravery, and one man’s destiny, being a fresh look at the origins of the legendary hero.

126 min. Directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Feature 531

The Village [Touchstone]

July 30, 2004

In 1897 a close-knit community lives with the frightening knowledge that a mythical race of creatures resides in the woods around them. The evil and foreboding force is so unnerving that none dare venture beyond the borders of the village and into the woods. But when curious, headstrong Lucius Hunt plans to step beyond the boundaries of the town and into the unknown, his bold move threatens to forever change the future of the village.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Score (James Newton Howard).

108 min. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Feature 532

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

August 11, 2004

Mia is ready to assume her role as princess of Genovia, but no sooner has she moved into the royal palace with her beautiful, wise grandmother, Queen Clarisse, than she learns her days as a princess are numbered – Mia has to take the crown herself. And, according to Genovian law, princesses must be married before being crowned, so Mia faces a parade of suitors who would all like to be her king.

Sequel to The Princess Diaries (2001).

113 min. Directed by Garry Marshall.

 

Feature 533

Mr. 3000 [Touchstone]

September 17, 2004

A middle-aged, retired baseball star’s record of 3,000 career base hits is in jeopardy when three of those hits are disqualifies. Reluctantly getting back into a Milwaukee Brewers uniform to pursue his goal, he rediscovers his love of the game, realizes the importance of teamwork and ethics, and, in the process, falls for a though-minded sports reporter.

103 min. Directed by Charles Stone III.

Feature 534

The Last Shot [Touchstone]

September 24, 2004

Hollywood screenwriter Steven Schats has long held the great ambition of selling his morbid screenplay, but he has had no success. Then he meets Joe Devine, who represents himself as the man who can green-light Schats’s low-budget movie. But Devine is not who he claims to be. In truth, he is not an agent – not of the movie industry at least – but rather with the FBI, and he is on a covert mission to ferret out mobsters with criminal ties to Hollywood. Devine I as determined to be a star at the Bureau as Schats is to be one in his industry, and he is clever enough to make the trusting screenwriter believe that he is at last on the fast track to filmmaking success.

Based on a true story about inspiring filmmakers, Gary Levy and Dan Lewk, who became unwitting pawns in a covert government operation, as related in the article “What’s Wrong with This Picture?” by Steve Fishman.

93 min. Directed by Jeff Nathanson.

Feature 535

Ladder 49 [Touchstone]

October 01, 2004

A devoted firefighter, Jack Morrison, is trapped in a major warehouse blaze, and while wondering if he will be rescued, he reflects back on his life. He remembers back to his first day with the Baltimore Fire Department and recalls his initiation into the close-knit, prank-filled, courage-fed band of brothers at the firehouse, and the discovery of his own deeply held compulsion to save lives. Pushed to the limits of loyalty and courage, Jack holds tight to inedible memories as h waits for his own rescue. Outside, his best friend, Captain Mike Kennedy, risks his life to save him.

115 min. Directed by Jay Russell.

Feature 536

The Incredibles [Pixar]

November 05, 2004

Bob Parr used to be one of the world’s greatest superheroes, known to all as “Mr. Incredible”, saving lives and fighting evil on a daily basis. But now, 15 years later, he and his wife, Helen, a former superhero in her own right, have been forced, because of a series of unfortunate accidents and frivolous lawsuits, to take on civilian identities and retreat to the suburbs to live normal lives with their three kids. As a clock-punching insurance claims adjuster, the only thing Bob fights these days is boredom and a bulging waistline. Itching to get back into action, the sidelined superhero gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to the remote island of Nomanisan for a top-secret assignment. When things go seriously awry, and Bob is taken prisoner by an evil genius named Syndrome, Helen and the kids fly to the rescue to help straighten things out. The whole family has to battle Syndrome and his seemingly unstoppable ominous Omnidroids.

Academy Award: #85: Best Animated Feature, 2005: Brad Bird, writer-director.

Academy Award: #86: Best Sound Editing, 2005: Randy Thom, Michael Silvers.

Two more Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay (Brad Bird) and Best Sound Mixing (Randy Thom, Gary A. Rizzo, Doc Kane)

115 min. Directed by Brad Bird. Animated feature, computer #7

Feature 537

National Treasure

November 19, 2004

A patriotic, third-generation treasure-hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates has spent his life searching for a great treasure that no one believed existed. Our Founding Fathers left clues to the treasure’s location right before our eyes – from our nation’s birthplace, to the national’s Capitol, to clues buried within the symbols on the dollar bill. Gates’s journey takes him to the last place anyone thought to look, on the back of the Declaration of Independence. But what he thought was the final clue is only the beginning. Joining with two friends, he realizes that in order to protect the legendary treasure, he must now do the unthinkable: steal the most revered, best-guarded document in American history before it falls into the wrong hands. In a race against time, Gates must elude the FBI, stay one step ahead of a ruthless adversary, decipher the remaining clues, and unlock the mystery behind our greatest national treasure.

131 min. Directed by Jon Turteltaub.

Feature 538

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou [Touchstone]

December 10, 2004

Eccentric, down-but-not-out oceanographer Steve Zissou and his motley crew – Team Zissou – find themselves in troubled waters when they attempt to track down the mysterious “jaguar shark” that ate Zissou’s partner while filming a documentary of their latest adventure. Adding to his troubles, Zissou must contend with a beautiful journalist assigned to write a profile and a new member of the team who might possibly be his long-lost son. Zissou faces hilarious complications trying to keep his expedition afloat while contending with budgetary woes and a host of other challenges including a close encounter with marauding pirates.

118 min. Directed by Wes Anderson.

Feature 539

Aliens of the Deep

January 28, 2005

In this documentary, a team of young oceanographers and NASA scientists study, among other things, an ecosystem, two and a half miles below the surface of the ocean, that has hypothermal vents at its core.

Filmed in 70mm large format/IMAX.

47 min. Directed by James Cameron

Feature 540

Pooh’s Heffalump Movie

February 04, 2005

Roo, the half-pint kangaroo, sets off on a solo journey to face and capture the dreaded Heffalump. While the older characters head off to save Roo from certain peril by setting makeshift traps to thwart the Heffalumps, Roo comes upon a young, playful Heffalump and makes friends with him. The Heffalump’s name is Heffridge Trumpler Brompet Heffalump III, known as Lumpy. Roo discovers that Heffalumps are nothing like the creatures of the ominous stories he has been told, and that the creature is equally afraid of his silly pals. Roo and Lumpy work together to dispel the unfounded fears of their respective friends and families.

68 min. Directed by Frank Nissen. Animated features, other #10

Feature 541

The Pacifier

March 04, 2005

Assigned to protect the endangered children of an assassinated scientist working on a secret invention, Navy SEAL Shane Wolf is suddenly faced with juggling two incompatible jobs – fighting evil while keeping house. Shane must not only defeat a world-threatening enemy but also wrangle teen rebel Zoe, uplift sullen 14-year-old Seth, and outwit 8-year-old Ninja-wannabe Lulu, simultaneously keeping toddler Peter and baby Tyler out of mischief, not to mention harm’s way. Being used to drop zones, demolitions, and the destruction of enemy targets, he has no idea what tough really is until he pits his courage against diapering, den-mothering, and driver’s education. He is truly out of his element, but this tough-guy loner soon realizes that he is facing the most important mission of his life – becoming part of a family and bringing them all closer together.

95 min. Directed by Adam Shankman.

Feature 542

Ice Princess

March 18, 2005

Casey Carlyle, a brainy bookworm, gives up a life devoted to schoolwork for a thrilling new world of ice skating. After deciding to do a report on the physics of figure skating, she gets to meet the elite skaters at her local rink. It turns out that Casey’s smarts have helped her become a skating prodigy. She gets a chance to train with champion-in-the-making Gen Harwood and her famously tough coach and mother, Tina, and soon sets off on a fun, comedic, and life-changing adventure as she prepares for the big championship. At the same time, she gets her first taste of romance as she falls for Gen’s teenage brother, Teddy, the rink’s hunky Zamboni driver.

98 min. Directed by Tim Fywell.

Feature 543

A Lot Like Her [Touchstone]

April 22, 2005

A pair of dynamic, diametrically opposed twentysomethings – Oliver and Emily – have an initial fateful meeting that sets off sparks, but then seems to go nowhere. Over the next seven years, they continue to meet through changing careers and different relationships. There always seems to be plenty keeping them apart, and yet there is also something utterly inexplicable pulling them together.

107 min. Directed by Nigel Cole.

Feature 544

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy [Touchstone]

April 20, 2005

The Earthman Arthur Dent is having a very bad day. His house is about to be bulldozed, he discovers that his best friend is an alien, and to top things off, Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace freeway. Arthur’s only chance for survival is to hitch a ride on a passing spacecraft with the help of his best friend Ford Prefect. Arthur sets out on a journey in which he finds that nothing is as it seems – for example, a towel is the most important thing in the universe. He finds the meaning of life, and discovers that everything anyone ever wanted to know can be found in one fantastically entertaining electronic book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe

Based on the novel by Douglas Adams, which was created after a 1978 BBC Radio 4 play.

109 min. Directed by Garth Jennings.

Feature 545

Howl’s Moving Castle

September 2004

Sophie Halter, an 18-year-old girl, seems doomed to the life of a hat maker, but when she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste with the body of a 90-year-old woman, she goes to the moving castle of the wizard Howl, who is supposed to have eaten the souls of young girls. But Howl himself has been cursed by the Witch, and is looking for the love of a young girl to help him break the curse. Sophie befriends Calcifer, the fire demon, who is under contract to Howl, and she helps him break the contract so Calcifer can help her return to her original shape.

Premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2004, and originally released on June 10, 2005.

Based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones.

119 min. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Pete Doctor, Rick Dempsey.

Feature 546

Herbie: Fully Loaded

June 22, 2005

The famous VW enters the world of NASCAR racing with his new owner, Maggie Peyton, a third-generation member of a legendary NASCAR family. Racing is in Maggie’s blood, but she has been forbidden from pursuing her dreams by her overprotective father, Ray. Ray offers to buy Maggie a car for her college graduation, but takes her to a junkyard where a 1960s era Volkswagen beetle catches her eye. She leaves in the rusty, banged-up car, soon discovering it is no ordinary auto, but a charmed car that will literally help change the course of her life. With a little help, Herbie becomes stronger and faster than ever, and he and Maggie get the chance to realize their dreams on the NASCAR track.

101 min. Directed by Angela Robinson.

Feature 547

Dark Water [Touchstone]

July 08, 2005

Dahlia Williams is starting a new life: newly separated, with a new job and a new apartment on Roosevelt Island in New York, she is determined to put her relationship with her estranged husband behind her and devote herself to raising her daughter, Ceci. As the strained separation disintegrates into a bitter custody battle, her situation takes a turn for the worse. Her new Apartment 9F – dilapidated, cramped, and worn – seems to take on a life of its own. Mysterious noises, persistent leaks of dark water, and strange happenings cause her imagination to run wild, sending her on a puzzling and mystifying pursuit to find out who is behind the endless mind games. As Dahlia frantically searches for the links between the riddles, the dark water seems to close around her.

Based on the novel “Honogurai Mizuno Soko Kara” by Koji Suzuki and the Hideo Nakata film Dark Water.

105 min. Directed by Walter Salles.

Feature 548

Sky High

July 29, 2005

When you are the son of the world’s most legendary superheroes, The Commander and Jetstream, there is only one school that is entrusted with the responsibility of molding today’s power-gifted students into tomorrow’s superheroes. The problem is that Will Stronghold is starting with no superpowers of his own and, worst of all, instead of joining the ranks of the “hero” class, he finds himself relegated to being a “sidekick”. Now he must somehow survive his freshman year while dealing with an overbearing gym coach, a bully with superspeed, and a dangerous rebel with a grudge and the ability to shoot fire from his hand…not to mention the usual angst, parental expectations, and girl problems that accompany teenage life. But when an evil villain threatens his family, friends, and the very sanctity of Sky High, Will must use his newfound superpowers to save the day and prove himself a “hero” worthy of the family tradition.

99 min. Directed by Mike Mitchell.

Feature 549

Valiant

March 25, 2005

In England during World War II, a young pigeon, Valiant, inspired by the heroic exploits of squadron leader Gutsy of the Royal Homing Pigeon Service, decides to join up. In Trafalgar Square, Valiant meets up with a Cockney con-bird, Bugsy, who also enlists. After a rigorous training period, they and their Squadron F are sent to France to collect a message from the Resistance despite attacks by a brigade of vicious enemy falcons, led by the ruthless General Von Talon.

Premiered in the United Kingdom in March, but generally released on August 19, 2005.

CGI-animated film from Vanguard Animation and Ealing Studios.

76 min. Directed by Gary Chapman.

Feature 550

Flightplan [Touchstone]

September 23, 2005

Flying at 40,000 feet in a cavernous aircraft, Kyle Pratt faces every mother’s worst nightmare when her 6-year-old daughter, Julia, vanishes without a trace mid-flight from Berlin to New York. Already emotionally devastated by the unexpected death of her husband, Kyle desperately struggles to prove her sanity to the disbelieving flight crew and passengers while facing the very real possibility that she may be losing her mind. While neither Captain Rich nor Air Marshal Gene Carson wants to doubt the bereaved widow, all evidence indicates that her daughter was never on board resulting in paranoia and doubt among the passengers and crew of the plane. Finding herself alone, Kyle can only rely on her own wits to solve the mystery and save her daughter.

98 min. Directed by Robert Schwentke.

Feature 551

The Greatest Game Ever Played

September 30, 2005

In 1913, when golf was a rich man’s sport, dominated by English and Scottish athletes, a 20-year-old amateur player and former caddy, Francis Ouimet, against all odds, becomes the first American, and amateur, to win the U.S. Open. Caught between a world of hardship and a beckoning life of privilege, Francis needs to prove his unfailing will and ability to make it to the tournament. There, flanked by his ten-year-old caddy, Eddie, he defeats his idol, the defending British champion Harry Vardon.

Based on the book by Mark Frost.

120 min. Directed by Bill Paxton.

Feature 552

Shopgirl [Touchstone]

October 21, 2005

Mirabelle is a “plain Jane” overseeing the rarely frequented glove counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. An artist struggling to keep up with even the minimum payment on her credit card and student loans, she keeps to herself until a rich, handsome fifty-something named Ray Porter sweeps her off her feet. Simultaneously Mirabelle I being pursued by Jeremy, a bachelor who is not quite as cultured and successful as Ray. The film is a glimpse inside the lives of three very different people on diverse paths, but all in search of love.

Based on Steve Martin’s best-selling novella. 

106 min. Directed by Anand Tucker.

Feature 553

Chicken Little

November 04, 2005

It’s the classic fable of a young chicken who causes widespread panic when he mistakes a falling acorn for a piece of the sky. Chicken Little is determined to restore his reputation, but just as things are starting to go his way, a real piece of the sky lands on his head. Chicken Little and his band of misfit friends – Abby Mallard, Runt of the Litter, and Fish Out of Water – attempt to save the world without sending the town into a whole new panic.

Opened also in a new Disney digital 3-D process.

81 min. Directed by Mark Dindal. Animated features, computer #8

Feature 554

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

December 07, 2005

Four Pevensie siblings – Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter – in World War II England enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of hide-and-seek in the rural country home of an elderly professor. Once there, the children discover a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs, and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Under the guidance of a noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch’s powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular, climactic battle that will free Narnia from Jadis’s icy spell forever.

Academy Award: #87: Best Makeup, 2006: Howard Berger, Tami Lane.

Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis.

Nominated for two more Academy Awards.

140 min. Directed by Andrew Adamson.

Feature 555

Casanova [Touchstone]

September 02, 2005

For the first time in his life, the legendary seducer, swashbuckler, master of disguise, and wit, Casanova, is about to meet his match with an alluring Venetian beauty, Francesca, who does the one thing he never thought possible: refuse him. Through a series of clever disguises and scheming ruses, he manages to get ever closer to Francesca. But he is playing the most dangerous game he has ever encountered – one that will risk not only his life and reputation, but his only chance at true passion.

Premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2005, but generally released on January 06, 2006.

111 min. Directed by Lasse Hallström.

Feature 556

Glory Road

January 13, 2006

The inspiring true story of the underdog Texas Western Miners basketball team. Passionately dedicated coach Don Haskins’ decision to play his all-African American team helped break down barriers of segregation that affected every segment of society and set a new course for the future as the team did the one thing they could to prove themselves to a watching world – they played their hearts out. The Miners took the country by storm and, in a surprise turn of events, won the 1966 NCAA tournament title against the all-white juggernaut of the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

Based on a true story.

118 min. Directed by James Gartner.

Feature 557

Annapolis [Touchstone]

January 27, 2006

After winning admission to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Jake Huard wonders if a regular kid from a poor blue-collar family can fit into the Academy’s pressure-cooker atmosphere. Barely making the grade as a plebe, Jake has one last shot at proving he has what it takes to become an officer – he decides to enter the notoriously fierce Navy boxing competition known as the Brigade Championships, and face off against his arch nemesis, Midshipman Lt. Cole. Everything Jake has ever hoped for stands in the balance: the chance to make his father proud, validate his lieutenant’s faith in him, stand up for his fellow plebes, and, most of all, forge a different future.

104 min. Directed by Justin Lin.

Feature 558

Roving Mars

January 27, 2006

This documentary presents a look at the awe-inspiring and amazing Mars landscape as seen through the eyes of Spirit and Opportunity, the two Mars Rovers. Their dogged quest over the rugged terrain enables audiences to explore the surface of Mars as never before.

Filmed in 70mm large format/IMAX.

Directed by George Butler.

Feature 559

Eight Below

February 17, 2006

Three members of a scientific expedition in Antarctica – Jerry Shepard, his best friend Cooper, and a rugged American geologist – are forced to leave behind their team of beloved sled dogs due to a sudden accident and perilous weather conditions. During harsh Antarctic winter, the dogs must struggle for survival alone in the intense frozen wilderness for over six months until the adventurers can mount a rescue mission.

Suggested by the film Nankyoku Monogatari (1983).

120 min. Directed by Frank Marshall.

Feature 560

The Shaggy Dog

March 10, 2006

Workaholic Deputy D.A. Dave Douglas takes on a case involving an animal laboratory – one that will take him away from his wife and kids, who already yearn for his all-too-distracted attention. But when Dave I accidentally infected with a top-secret, genetic mutation serum, he’s transformed from family dad to family dog. As a dog, Dave is able to gain a whole new perspective into his family’s secrets and dreams, learning what it really means to be his family’s best friend. He wants nothing more than become human again, but first he has to stop the evil forces behind the serum.

Updated Remake of The Shaggy Dog (1959).

99 min. Directed by Brian Robbins.

Feature 561

Stay Alive [Hollywood Pictures]

March 24, 2006

After the mysterious, brutal death of an old friend, a group of teenagers find themselves in possession of “Stay Alive”, an ultra-realistic 3-D videogame based on the spine-chilling story of a 17th century noblewoman known as “The Blood Countess”. The gamers don’t know anything about the game other than they are not supposed to have it, and they are dying to play it. Not able to resist temptation, the group begins to play the grisly game and soon a chilling connection is made – they are each murdered one-by-one in the same method as the character they played in the game. As the line between the game world and the real world disappears, the teens must find a way to defeat the vicious and mercilous Blood Countess, all the while trying to stay alive.

86 min. Directed by William Brent Bell.

Feature 562

The Wild

April 12, 2006

A group of animals leave their comfy life at the New York City Zoo to head out on a rescue mission to Africa. Led by the lion, Samson, Bridget, a nearsighted, intellectual giraffe; her boyfriend Benny, a cheeky streetwise squirrel; and Larry, a boa constrictor, manage to make it through the urban jungle, but when they reach Africa, it is a whole new world. None of them has ever been in the wild and they have to quickly learn lessons about the survival of the fittest.

CGI comedy from C.O.R.E. Feature Animation & Complete Pandemonium.

85 min. Directed by Steve “Spaz” Williams.

Feature 563

Stick It [Touchstone]

April 28, 2006

Independent 17-year-old Haley Graham defies authority and the laws of gravity with her dirt-biking pals. When a joyride results in a trip to juvenile court, the judge sentences Haley to do time at the elite Vickerman Gymnastics Academy run with military regimentation by hardnosed coach Burt Vickerman. It is a world Haley knows only too well – she was a former Junior Finals gymnastics champion who inexplicably walked out in the middle of the prestigious championships, betraying her teammates, scrapping her own aspirations, and trashing her reputation. Here is a battle of wills with Vickerman, who sees Haley’s innate talent, and he is committed to helping her come back to a world she could easily rule, whether she wants to or not. Haley’s talent and one-of-a-kind personality galvanize the squad who find a hero in their new teammate and learn that, along the way, some rules are meant to be broken.

103 min. Directed by Jessica Bendinger.

Feature 564

Goal! The Dream Begins [Touchstone]

September 8, 2005

A poor Mexican-American immigrant from Los Angeles, Santiago Munez, seems destined to follow in his father’s path in life – laboring at menial jobs to earn just enough money to support his family – but he has an amazing gift on the soccer field. Discovered by a British scout, he is given a chance with one of England’s premier soccer clubs, Newcastle United. Santiago, alone in a world where soccer is a religion and players are gods, must prove that he has the talent and determination to make it among the best in the world.

Premiered at the Deauville Film Festival in 2005, but generally released on May 12, 2006.

118 min. Directed by Danny Cannon

Feature 565

Cars [Pixar]

May 26, 2006

Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 tow of Radiator Springs. En route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town’s offbeat characters – including Sally (a snazzy 2002 Porsche), Doc Hudson 8a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past), and Mater (a rusty but trusty tow truck) – who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame, and sponsorship.

World Premiere was held at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The idea for the film came from director John Lasseter’s love of cars and a 2000 road trip with his family across the country.

The film is dedicated to longtime storyman Joe Ranft who passed away in 2005 after his work on the film was completed.

117 min. Directed by John Lasseter. Animated features, computer #9

Feature 566

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

June 24, 2006

The decidedly eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow is caught up in another tangled web of supernatural intrigue when he is reminded of a blood debt he owes to the Ruler of the Ocean Depths, the legendary captain Davy Jones. Unless the ever-crafty Jack figures a cunning way out of this Faustian pact, he will be cursed to an afterlife of eternal servitude and damnation in the service of Jones aboard the ghostly Flying Dutchman. This startling development interrupts the wedding plans of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, who are once again thrust into Jack’s misadventures, leading to escalating confrontations with Jones’s destructive sea monster, the Kraken, cannibalistic islanders, flamboyant soothsayer Tia Dalma, and the mysterious appearance of Will’s long-lost father, Bootstrap Bill. Meanwhile, ruthless pirate hunter Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company sets his eye on retrieving the fabled Dead Man’s Chest. According to legend, whoever possesses the Dead Man’s Chest gains control of Davy Jones, and Beckett intends to use this awesome power to destroy every last Pirate of the Caribbean.

Academy Award: #88: Best Visual Effects, 2007: John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allon Hall.

Premiered at Disneyland.

Sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

151 min. Directed by Gore Verbinski.

Feature 567

Step Up [Touchstone]

August 11, 2006

Hip-hop dancing rebel Tyler Gage has grown up all his life on the streets, and he knows he is unlikely to ever make it out of there. But after a brush with the law lands Tyler with the community-service gig at the city’s Maryland school of the Arts, everything changes. He meets Nora, the school’s prima ballerina, an alluring diva who is desperately searching for someone to replace her injured partner before the school’s all-important Senior Showcase. Spying Tyler’s moves, Nora can’t help but notice he’s got a raw but natural gift. She decides to take a chance on Tyler, but as they begin to train, the tension between them, and their polar-opposite backgrounds, skyrockets. The only thing standing between Tyler and the void are his dreams of making it off the streets – and the only thing standing in the way of Nora’s obviously brilliant future is the Senior Showcase. Now with everything on the line, Tyler will have just one performance to prove to Nora, and to himself, that he can step up to a life far larger than he ever imagined.

103 min. Directed by Anne Fletcher.

Feature 568

Invincible

August 25, 2006

When Dick Vermeil, the coach of Vince Papale’s beloved hometown football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, hosted an unprecedented open tryout in 1976, the public consensus was that it was a waste of time – no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way. Certainly no one like Papale, a down-on-his-luck, 30-year-old substitute teacher and part-time bartender, who never even played college football. But against these odds, Papale made the team and soon found himself living every fan’s fantasy – to be standing on the field as a professional player – while at the same time inspiring his team to break through their 11-season losing streak and rediscover their winning spirit.

Based on the life story of Vincent Papale.

104 min. Directed by Ericson Core.

Feature 569

The Guardian [Touchstone]

September 29, 2006

Legendary Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Ben Randall becomes the sole survivor of a deadly crash at the height of a massive storm. In the wake of the accident, he is sent against his will to teach at “A” School – the elite training program that turns young recruits into the best and bravest of Rescue Swimmers. Reeling with grief and regret, Ben throws himself into teaching the only way he knows how, turning the entire program upside down with his unconventional training methods. But Ben understands exactly what’s at stake – his students will one day have to make tough decisions between who dies and who lives. When he knocks heads with cocky swimming champ Jake Fisher, Ben sees someone with what it takes to be the best of the best – if only he can combine his raw talent with the heart and dedication necessary and avoid the mistakes that Ben himself has made. Heading out on his first treacherous mission to the fierce, turbulent waters of Alaska’s Bering Sea, Jake will have to put all that he’s learned into action as he discovers just what it means to truly risk everything.

Created with the full cooperation of the Coast Guard.

Directed by Andrew Davis.

Feature 570

The Prestige [Touchstone]

October 20, 2006

Two young Victorian-era magicians in London, where magicians are idols and celebrities of the highest order, set out to carve their own paths to fame. The flashy, sophisticated Robert Angier is a consummate entertainer, while the rough edged purist Alfred Borden is a creative genius who lacks the panache to showcase his magical ideas. They start out as admiring friends and partners. But when their biggest trick goes terribly awry, it sparks a powerful rivalry that builds into an escalating battle of tricks and an unquenchable thirst to uncover the other’s trade secrets. Trick by trick, show by show, and now enemies fro life, their ferocious competition builds until it knows no bounds, even utilizing the fantastical new powers of electricity and the scientific brilliance of Nikola Tesla, while the lives of everyone around them hang in the balance.

Based on the novel by Christopher Priest.

130 min. Directed by Christopher Nolan.

Feature 571

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

November 03, 2006

Scott Calvin, aka Santa, juggles a full house of family and the mischievous Jack Frost, who is trying to take over Santa’s holiday. At the risk of giving away the secret location of the North Pole, Scott invites his in-laws to share in the holiday festivities and upcoming birth of baby Claus with expectant wife, Carol, aka Mrs. Claus. Along for the adventure are Scott’s extended family – son Charlie, ex-wife Laura, her husband Neil, and their daughter Lucy – who, together with head elf Curtis, foil Jack Frost’s crafty scheme to control the North Pole.

Second sequel to The Santa Clause (1994).

92 min. Directed by Michael Lembeck.

Feature 572

Déjà Vu [Touchstone]

November 22, 2006

Called in to recover evidence after a bomb sets off a cataclysmic explosion on a New Orleans ferry, ATF agent Doug Carlin is about to discover that what most people believe is only in their heads is actually something more powerful – and will lead him on a mind-bending race to save hundreds of innocent people. As Carlin’s investigation deepens, it not only probes through the very fabric of space and time using top-secret surveillance techniques that can look back in time but it becomes an innovative love story that unfolds in reverse when Carlin discovers his puzzling emotional connection to a woman whose past holds the key to stopping a catastrophe that could destroy their future. There remains the question: Can he alter an event that has already happened?

This film is dedicated to the strength and enduring spirit of the people of New Orleans.

126 min. Directed by Tony Scott.

Feature 573

Apocalypto [Touchstone]

December 08, 2006

The story is set in the times of the turbulent decline of the once great Mayan civilization. Jaguar Paw is a young father eking out a meager existence in the rain forest as a traditional hunter. His idyllic existence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, which captures him only after he manages to hide his pregnant wife and small son in a deep pit. Jaguar Paw is bound to a pole and taken on a perilous march through the forest to a great Mayan city, a city ruled by fear and oppression, where he is chosen to be sacrificed to the gods atop a mighty pyramid. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family, he is able to make a desperate break for freedom, embarking on a long and harrowing foot chase, pursued by fierce warriors, to return home and attempt to save his way of life.

The dialogue is entirely in the Yucatec language, the primary Mayan dialect spoken in the Yucatan peninsula today.

138 min. Directed by Mel Gibson.

Feature 574

Primeval [Hollywood Pictures]

January 12, 2007

In Africa, a legendary and bloodthirsty 25-foot crocodile known as Gustave has claimed over 300 victims. A news producer, cameraman, and reporter are dispatched to track him down and bring him back alive. However, they find their work much more difficult and deadly than expected, especially after a feared warlord targets them for death.

Inspired by a true story.

94 min. Directed by Michael Katleman.

Feature 575

Bridge to Terabithia

February 16, 2007

Jess Aarons is a young outsider on a quest to become the fastest kid in school. But when the new girl in town, Leslie Burke, leaves Jess and everybody else in her dust, Jess’s frustration with her ultimately leads to their becoming friends. At first it seems Jess and Leslie couldn’t be more different – she’s rich, he’s poor; she’s from the city, he’s from the country – but when Leslie begins to open up the world of imagination to Jess, they find they have something amazing to share: the kingdom of Terabithia, a realm of giants, ogres, and other enchanted beings that can only be accessed by boldly swinging across a stream in the woods on a strand of rope. Here, Leslie and Jess rule as King and Queen among the fantastical creatures they create, and not even the forces of evil can break their bond. Now, no matter what happens in the real world, in Terabithia Leslie gives Jess a magical place that will always be filled with amazing stories and dreams.

Based on the 1978 Newbery Medal-winning book by Katherine Paterson.

96 min. Directed by Gabor Csupo.

Feature 576

Wild Hogs [Touchstone]

March 02, 2007

Four friends wear suits and work in offices during the week, but transform into leather-bound Harley riders on the weekend, hoping to unleash some of that free spirit which dwells within and get out into the great outdoors to ride. Then one day they decide to rev up their ho-hum suburban lives with one last-hurrah, cross-country motorcycle trip. Taking o long-dreamed-of breather from their jobs and responsibilities, they cannot wait to feel the freedom of the open highway. But when the guys don their leathers and hit the road, they find themselves in an unwitting rivalry with the real-life biker gang known as the Del Fuegos, for whom biking is not a hobby but a way of life. The foursome soon finds themselves out of their league with unexpected travails and secrets within their own ranks.

100 min. Directed by Walt Becker.

Feature 577

Meet the Robinsons

March 30, 2007

Lewis is a brilliant twelve-year-old with a surprising number of clever inventions to his credit. His latest and most ambitious project is the Memory Scanner, which he hopes will retrieve early memories of his mother and maybe even reveal why she put him up for adoption. But before he can get his answer, his invention is stolen by the dastardly Bowler Hat Guy and Doris, his diabolical hat and constant companion. Lewis has all but given up hop in his future when a mysterious boy named Wilbur Robinson whisks him away in a time machine and the two travel forward in time to spend a day with Wilbur’s eccentric family. In a world filled with flying cars and floating cities, they hunt down Bowler Hat Guy, save the future, and uncover the amazing secret of Lewis’s future family.

Based on the book A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce. Disney had originally acquired the book in order to make a live-action feature but the animation staff saw great possibilities in it for animation.

Danny Elfman provided the score.

Also released in a Disney Digital 3-D version.

94 min. Animated features, computer #10

Feature 578

The Invisible [Hollywood Pictures]

April 27, 2007

By mistake, a high school senior is attacked and left for dead in a forest, but his ghost appears and starts shadowing the people who attacked him, led by a feisty and angry girl who is an outcast in the school. He also visits his family and best friend, trying to clue them in as to where to find his body and save him, though of course he is invisible to them and they cannot hear him. He comes to realize that his widowed mother really loved him, even though they constantly fought and she did not accept his desire to go to London to study writing.

Based on the novel “Den Osynlige” by Mats Wahl and the Swedish film of the same title.

102 min. Directed by David S. Goyer.

Feature 579

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

May 23, 2007

Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Company has gained control of the terrifying ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, and its malevolent, vengeful captain Davy Jones. The Dutchman now roams the seven seas unstoppable, destroying pirate ships without mercy under the command of Admiral Norrington. Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Captain Barbossa embark on a desperate quest to gather the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court, their only hope to defeat Beckett, the Flying Dutchman, and his armada. But one of the Lords is missing – Captain Jack Sparrow – now trapped in Davy Jones’ Locker, thanks to his encounter with the mysterious Kraken. Our heroes travel to exotic Singapore to confront Chinese pirate Captain Sao Feng to gain charts, and a ship, that will take them off to world’s end to rescue Jack. But, even if Jack is successfully rescued, the Lords my not be able to hold back the fearsome tide of Beckett and his cohorts, unless the capricious seas goddess, Calypso, imprisoned in human form, can be freed and convinced to come to their aid. As betrayal piles upon betrayal, with no one to be trusted, each must make their final alliances for one last battle, in a titanic showdown that could eliminate the freedom-loving pirates from the seven seas forever.

Second sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), with much of it filmed concurrently with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006).

Nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup.

168 min. Directed by Gore Verbinski.

Feature 580

Ratatouille [Pixar]

June 29, 2007

A rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family’s wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the city of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. Despite the apparent dangers of being an unwanted visitor in the kitchen at one of Paris’ most exclusive restaurants, Remy forms an unlikely partnership with Linguini, the garbage boy, who inadvertently discovers Remy’s amazing talents. They strike a deal, ultimately setting into motion an exciting chain of extraordinary events that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down. Remy finds himself torn between following his dreams or returning forever to his previous existence as a rat. He learns the truth about friendship, family and having no choice but to be who he really is, a rat who wants to be a chef.

Academy Award: #89: Best Animated Feature, 2008:  Brad Bird, writer-director.

The film is the first animated feature from Pixar after Disney’s purchase of the company.

Nominated for three more Academy Awards: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Score, and Best Original Screenplay.

Directed by Brad Bird.

111 min. Animated features, computer #11

Feature 581

Underdog

August 03, 2007

After an accident in the mysterious lab of maniacal scientist Dr. Simon Barsinister, an ordinary beagle, Shoeshine, unexpectedly finds himself with unimaginable powers and the ability to speak. Armed with a fetching superhero costume, Underdog vows to protect the beleaguered citizens of Capitol City and, in particular, one beautiful spaniel named Polly Purebred. When a sinister plot by Barsinister and his overgrown henchman Cad threatens to destroy Capitol City only Underdog can save the day.

Based on the 1960, 121-episode, animated television series created by W. Watts Biggers.

82 min. Directed by Frederik Du Chau.

Feature 582

The Game Plan

September 28, 2007

A famous Boston football quarterback is shocked one day to find an 8-year-old giral at the door of his elegant bachelor pad, claiming she is his daughter and left there by her mother who is in Africa for a month. This puts a definite crimp in his lifestyle, but he grows to love the manipulative little tyke, taking her to ballet lessons and even taking a part in a ballet with her. She captivates everyone she meets, including the whole football team.

Filmed in Boston in Super35.

110 min. Directed by Andy Fickman.

Feature 583

Dan in Real Life

October 26, 2007

Dan Burns has a popular newspaper advice column, called “Dan in Real Life”, but he has less success as a widower raising three daughters. When the family travels to his parents’ house for a family reunion, Dan becomes infatuated with a woman, Marie, in a local book store, only to later discover that she is the new girlfriend of his brother. Tensions arise as both Dan and Marie are staying in the same house, but trying to keep the fact that they have met and been attracted to each other a secret.

98 min. Directed by Peter Hedges.

Feature 584

Enchanted

November 21, 2007

In this fairytale spoof beginning in the colorful, musical, animated world of Andalasia, the beautiful Giselle’s wish to meet the handsome prince of her dreams and share “true love’s kiss” comes true when Prince Edward hears her lilting soprano raised in song and rushes to her side. The very next day, on her way to marry Edward, Giselle is tricked by the evil Queen Narissa and banished from her fairytale kingdom to modern-day New York City, where the film turns to live action as Giselle, a very real woman, experiences the cruelty of the big city. Giselle soon meets a handsome, no-nonsense, divorce lawyer, Robert, and his young daughter, Morgan, and begins to change her views on life and love. Robert also eventually changes, accepting that innocence and joy can exist in our jaded world. Prince Edward and the two-faced lackey Nathaniel, along with an eager chipmunk, are also transported to Manhattan, with Edward searching for his princess, and Nathaniel, acting under orders from the Queen, trying to keep them apart. With this collision of two worlds, Giselle finds herself wondering whether her storybook view of romance, complete with “happily ever after”, can survive in our world.

Three Academy Award nominated songs: "Happy Working Song", "So Close", and "That's How You Know".

Directed by Kevin Lima.

107 min. Live-action feature with animated segments #9.

Feature 585

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

December 21, 2007

When a missing page from the diary of assassin John Wilkes Booth surfaces, treasure hunter Ben Gates discovers that his great-great grandfather, Thomas Gates, is implicated as a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln’s death. Determined to prove his ancestor’s innocence, Ben uses portions of a cipher on the page fragment to follow an international chain of clues, searching for the true story. The search for truth turns into a race to discover the whereabouts of a mythological treasure, taking Ben on a chase from Paris to London to Washington to South Dakota’s Black Hills. Doggedly pursuing Ben is Mitch Wilkinson, a descendent of Confederate General Albert Pike, who seems to have fiendish and less noble desire to uncover his own family history and find the treasure for himself. Along the way, and while keeping the FBI at bay, Ben enlists the help of his ex-girlfriend, his technology-whiz partner, his long-separated university professor parents, and even the President of the United States, who is purported to have a highly guarded, enigmatic book of secrets, kept by presidents and known only to them, which holds the final clue.

124 min. Directed by Jon Turteltaub.

Feature 586

Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert

February 01, 2008

A filmed version of the hugely successful, sold-out concert tour to 69 cities.

Shot in Disney Digital 3D.

min. Directed by Bruce Hendricks.

Feature 587

Step Up 2 the Streets [Touchstone]

February 14, 2008

Andie, a rebellious street dancer, lands at the elite Maryland School of the arts where she finds herself fighting to fit in while also trying to hold onto her old life. When she joins forces with the school’s hottest dancer, Chase, to form a crew of classmates outcasts to compete in Baltimore’s underground dance battle – The Streets – she ultimately finds a way to live her dream while building a bridge between her two separate worlds.

Second sequel to Step Up (2006).

min. Directed by Jon Chu.

Feature 588

College Road Trip

March 07, 2008

High school student, Melanie, is eagerly looking forward to her first big step toward independence when she plans a “girls only” road trip to check out prospective universities. But when her overbearing police chief father insists on escorting her instead, she soon finds her dream trip has turned into a nightmare adventure full of comical misfortune and turmoil.

min. Directed by Roger Kumble.

Feature 589

The Cronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

May 16, 2008

A year after their previous visit, the Pevensie siblings are pulled back into the land of Narnia, where they discover that thirteen hundred years in Narnian time has passed since they left. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct, Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines, and it is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy. The children meet Narnia’s rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. The Pevensie kids once again are enlisted to join the colorful creatures of Narnia in combating the uprising king.

Sequel to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005).

Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis.

min. Directed by Andrew Adamson.

Feature 590

Wall●E (Pixar)

June 27, 2008

TEXT FOLLOWS

Directed by Andrew Stanton.

min. Animated features, computer #12.

Feature 591

Swing Vote (Touchstone)

2008

Bud Johnson, an apathetic, beer-slinging, loveable loser, is coasting through a life that has passed him by. The one bright spot is his precocious, overachieving twelve-year-old daughter Molly. She takes care of both of them, until one mischievous moment on election day, when she accidentally sets off a chain of events that culminates in the election coming down to one vote – her dad’s.

min. Directed by Joshua Michael Stern.

Feature 592

South of the Border

August 01, 2008

A pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, she must rely on some unexpected friends, including a street-hardened German Shepard named Delgado and an amorous pup named Papi, to lend her a paw and help her to find her inner strength on their incredible journey back home.

min. Directed by Raja Gosnell.

Feature 593

Morning Light

2008

A true-story documentary about a group of 15 intrepid and daring young men and women, on the cusp of adulthood, who embark on the TRANSPAC, the most revered of open-ocean sailing competitions, in a high-performance 52-foot sloop, the Morning Light. He crew matched wits and skill in a dramatic 2,300-mile showdown against top professionals. From their earliest training sessions in Hawaii conducted by world-class teachers through their test of endurance on the high seas, they form an unbreakable bond in the process of becoming a singular team that is greater than the sum of its parts.

min. Directed by Mark Monroe, Paul Crowder.

Feature 594

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

2008

East High School senior Troy and Gabriella face the prospect of being separated from one another as they head off in different directions to college. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes, and fears about the future.

min. Directed by Kenny Ortega

Feature 595

Miracle at St. Anna (Touchstone)

2008

The story of four black American soldiers who are members of the U.S. Army’s all-black 92nd “Buffalo Soldier” Division, stationed in Tuscany, Italy during World War II. They experience the tragedy and triumph of the war as they find themselves trapped behind enemy lines and separated from their unit after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.

Based on the novel by James McBride.

min. Directed by Spike Lee.

Feature 596

Confession of a Shopaholic (Touchstone)

2008

Rebecca Bloomwood is a sweet and charming New York City girl who has a tiny problem that is rapidly turning into a big problem: she is hopelessly addicting to shopping and is drowning in a sea of dept. While Rebecca has dreams of working for a top fashion magazine, she cannot quite get her foot in the door – that is, until she snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine published by the same company. Overnight, her column becomes hugely popular, turning her into a celebrity. But when her compulsive shopping and growing debt issues threaten to destroy her love life and derail her career, she struggles to keep it all from spiraling out of control, and is ultimately forced to reevaluate what is really important in life.

Based on the best-selling novels by Sophie Kinsella.

min. Directed by P.J. Hogan.

Feature 597

Bolt

November 26, 2008

For super-dog Bolt, every day is filled with adventure, danger, and intrigue – at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet – a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help of two unlikely traveling companions – a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens and a TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball named Rhino – Bolt discovers that he doesn’t need superpowers to be a hero.

min. Directed by Chris Williams, Byron Howard.

Feature 598

Bedtime Stories

December 25, 2008

TEXT FOLLOWS

min. Directed by Adam Shankman.

 

 
 
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