Ticket or Click It? Earth vs. Call of the Wild - Reel News - Blog Entertainment

Welcome to Ticket or Click It, where we run down the choices for your October entertainment time and money: Should you take in a show On Demand in your living room or make a trip to your theater.

What’s on Demand?

American Violet
Not exactly 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' is it? The poor, black residents of a housing complex in Texas aren’t doing anything wrong, but “The Man” (as in the white sheriff) launches a huge drug raid anyway. As her neighbors are bullied into pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit, single mother Dee (Nicole Beharie) sticks to her guns. She’s innocent. Based on a true story.
Our Take: You never doubt where the filmmakers are coming from in this potentially preachy tale, but the performances elevate the film above mere lecture on American racism.

Parasio Travel
They dream that one day, with hard work and luck, their daughters can salsa with Obama: A Colombian couple travel through Guatemala and Mexico and eventually slip into the United States as illegal immigrants, where they find the American dream hard to come by. (Spanish with English subtitles)
Our Take: Although the topic is interesting and timely, the film is a one-note cumbia band. In other words, it lacks nuance.

Earth (available in HD)
Um, yeah, Junior, wolves do eat bunnies. Um, yeah, Junior, that lion is going to eat that gazelle. Listen, Junior, where do you think your hamburger comes from? The camera follows three families - polar bears, elephants, and whales – as they travel, have babies and fight to survive on our planet. Epic in scope, the film covers scores of other species, by turns cute, awe-inspiring, and throat-um-lumping.
Our Take: This film is a love note to our planet and the animals who share it with us. You’ll laugh at baby polar bears sliding on ice, coo over baby ducklings, be amazed at bird courtship rituals and feel shivers as sharks launch out of the water. In this uber civilized world, we don’t often experience awe, but "Earth" has genuine spine-tingling moments. However, if your kid is (or you are) the kind of person who gets very attached to animals, be aware that although the film doesn’t graphically show death, not all the stories end happily.

What’s In Theaters?

Law Abiding Citizen
Maybe he should take some advice from Dee: Clyde Sheldon (Gerard Butler) is a bit miffed at the justice system. He doesn’t think he should be in jail and thinks the man who killed his family should pay. Ditto, the District Attorney (Jamie Foxx) who prosecuted him. He’s not going to let a few prison-cell bars stop his revenge. Or, apparently, the laws of physics.
Our Take: This film stretches credibility almost as much as the Nobel Peace Prize committee. We’re used to flops from Butler, but hoping Foxx chooses his next script more wisely.

The Stepfather
Sounds like the next season of Jon and Kate: Mommy’s new boyfriend is the kids’ worst nightmare. As in that nightmare where Daddy Dearest is chasing you with a table saw.
Our Take: If your mom took up with Norman Bates, it would be this movie.

Where the Wild Things Are
Wild Thing, I think I love you: In this adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s book, wild boy Max sails away to the land of the Wild Things, where they make him their king.
Our Take: Visually beautiful, the setting is very in tune with the books illustrations. The script necessarily adds plot and depth to the monster’s characters, which may not jibe with some people’s perception of the book. Still, a satisfying flick that in the end upholds the ethos of the book.

Ticket or Click it?

Click it! "Earth" is a must-see; perfect for a rainy fall day.







Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 10-16-2009 02:20 PM