Frankenweenie: A New Twist on a Boy and His Dog

The latest animated movie from Tim Burton may be a bit too scary for children, but adults who like the director's work will enjoy it.

Director Tim Burton has created a different boy-and-his-dog animated movie, expanding on a short he made in 1984. Victor is a little boy in the town of New Holland who loves science and making monster movies. After his dog Sparky is hit and killed by a car, Victor determines to bring the dog back to life, with a few adjustments. With Frankenstein-like stitching, Sparky escapes from where Victor has hidden him and frightens his friends, neighbors and classmates.  The characters are voiced by Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan and Atticus Shaffer. Here's what the critics are saying: Parents need to know that Tim Burton's latest film, Frankenweenie, is being released just in time for the Halloween season -- and, like…

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Dinner and a Movie

'My Week With Marilyn' Has Oscar Potential

A bright young actress conjures up a movie icon. She may get an Oscar, but she also deserves a medal for bravery.

Michelle Williams gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn." Based on true events, the movie focuses on the summer of 1956, in which Monroe went to London to shoot "The Prince and the Showgirl" with British actor, Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). From the start, nothing goes well. Monroe is hopped up on pills, she messes up her lines, she's always late on the set, and she lacks self confidence. No one likes her, except for Dame Sybil Thorndike (played by Dame Judi Dench) and messenger boy Colin Clark (played by Eddie Redmayne). It is through his eyes that the movie is told. For all "Potter" fans out there, Emma Watson (Hermione) has a small role in this film as Colin's on-again, off-again …

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Dinner and a Movie

New Muppets Movie Will Please the Whole Family

An all-star cast of Muppets and people will leave a smile on your face.

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal and all the rest are back together again in "The Muppets." Jason Segel co-wrote and stars in the film as Gary. He and girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) head to Hollywood on a dream trip. Tagging along is Gary's brother Walter, a cute little puppet who is the world's biggest Muppets fan. Upon arriving in Hollywood, they find out the Muppets' studio has fallen into disrepair. Kermit and his gang of friends have long since parted company, but reunite just in time to put on a telethon to raise cash to buy back the studio. An all-star cast of Muppets and live actors make this a pretty good movie for young and old. Listen, I know the the Muppets are not for everyone -- they have always been in a …

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Movies Playing This Weekend

Worried about cabin fever? Take Thanksgiving guests to a family-friendly movie this weekend.

Quite a few family-oriented movies have come out over the past few weeks that would make a great evening out, especially with young children.  ("Twilight: Breaking Dawn" is not one of them.  Save that for girl's night out.)  The Muppets, rated PG, is playing at AMC Colonial 18 (825 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd.). In this latest Muppets movie, sans Jim Henson, the muppets fight to save their old theater from a greedy oil tycoon.  With Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Chris Cooper, this looks like an entertaining movie for all ages.  Zach Galifianakis, known for his shaggy beard and goofy characters, even makes an appearance.  Hugo, also at AMC Colonial 18, is playing in 3D and regular old 2D.  Directed by Martin Scorcese, this PG-rated film is about …

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Dinner and a Movie

'Tower Heist' Is a Comical Caper With Occupy Wall Street Undertones

Get ready for a comedy about a bunch of co-workers who turn the tables on a Bernie Madoff-type bad guy.

Ben Stiller plays an apartment building manager who, along with the other building staff members, gets ripped off by penthouse resident Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda). When the employees realize they have been swindled, they plan their revenge in the form of a "Tower Heist." After an FBI agent (played by Tea Leoni) leaks word about a large stash of cash in Shaw's apartment, Stiller's character hires Slide, a two-bit cat burglar played by Eddie Murphy, to plan the heist. When Murphy makes it on the screen, about 40 minutes in, the movie finally picks up. "Tower Heist" spends the rest of its running time tracking the staff members (played by Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Michael Pena and Gabourey Sidibe) as they try to infiltrate the penthouse …

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Dinner and a Movie

'50/50' Is a Good Bet

Let's face it, having cancer is no fun. Now there is a movie that offers up a cure, of sorts -- one that many say is the best medicine.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Adam, a 27-year-old man who has his whole life ahead of him until he discovers he has a rare form of cancer and only a 50/50 chance of survival. The people in Adam's life react differently to the news. His girlfriend, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, pledges to stand by him, then dumps him. His mother, Anjelica Huston, goes into smothering mode and his best friend, Kyle, played by Seth Rogen, tries to keep his spirits up by turning his life into a non-stop party. Rogen co-produces "50/50," a movie based loosely in part on the life of Rogen's good friend Will Reiser. Reiser, a screenwriter, beat cancer a few years back. "50/50" is a comedy, but it is never disrespectful. The fact of the matter is we are all dying. …

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'Moneyball' Could Be a Game Changer for Pitt

The latest Brad Pitt film throws a real curveball at the conventional sports movie, but is it Oscar worthy?

Brad Pitt sets out to revolutionize the game of baseball in the real-life story turned movie "Moneyball." Pitt plays Billy Beane, the Oakland A's general manager who hired math whiz Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill) to help revolutionize the game of baseball. There is not a lot of time spent on the field in this film, it is really all about Beane and how he created a winning organization not with roster talent, but by using statistics called sabermetrics. It is the story of a time when nerds took over what had always been a jock's world and hit a grand slam. "Moneyball" stands on its own with a strong supporting cast of personalities in a timeless David and Goliath story. Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the team manager at odds …

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Dinner and a Movie

'Drive' Is a Cool Crime Thriller

One of the hottest young actors in Hollywood will put you in the driver's seat for this crime thriller and dark comedy combined with a love story.

"Driver," played by Ryan Gosling, is a solitary stunt driver who works on movie sets by day and drives getaway cars at night in the movie "Drive." Driver falls for his apartment neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), a mom with a small son whose father is an ex-con. The ex-con drags Driver into a robbery that goes wrong and threatens both Irene and her child. Albert Brooks plays a crime lord with a thing for forks, Ron Perlman is the Jewish gangster who does business in a pizza parlor, and Bryan Cranston plays Driver's best buddy, giving this film plenty of acting horsepower. "Drive" is a gritty, yet glamourous film bursting with action. European director Nicolas Refn does a wonderful job with this ultra-violent, ultra-stylish flick in which the…

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'Warrior' Is a Real Champ

Two brothers face MMA combat in one of the best sports movies I have seen in years. If you're not careful, you may take a punch to the heart in this emotional film that will surely get some Oscar consideration.

Two brothers slug out their emotional baggage in the moving, melodramatic sports movie "Warrior." Joel Edgerton plays Brendan, a family man who earns a living as a daytime teacher and extra cash moonlighting as a fighter. His brother Tommy, played by Tom Hardy, is a brooding war veteran who has returned home under mysterious circumstance. Their father Paddy (played by Nick Nolte) is a once violent alcoholic who is now sober. The brothers have grown apart and dislike each other. The only thing they have in common is the hatred they share for their father and all his years of abuse. Through a series of MMA or mixed martial arts fights, the two brothers face off in a winner-take-all cage match. Brendan needs the money to save his home and …

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Dinner and a Movie

'Conan the Barbarian' is a Harlequin Romance on Steroids

Hasta la vista Arnold. The 1982 movie that made Schwarzenegger a star has been remade. This new 3D version introduces us to a new young movie star who more than fits the part.

Conan the Barbarian is back. Bare chested, bloody, and brutal, it is everything you would expect from a franchise that helped launch Arnold Schwarzenegger's career 30 years ago. Move over "ah-nold" -- there is a new barbarian breaking new ground. Hawaiian actor Jason Mamoa breathes new life into the role as Conan. Mamoa is best known for his role in the wildly popular HBO show "Game of Thrones" as Khal Drago. Now the long-haired actor, who looks as if he belongs on the cover of a Harlequin romance, brings his muscular physique to a whole new legion of fans. The storyline for this movie is classic good guy/bad guy stuff. Conan is set on revenge after his entire village is massacred by an evil overlord. He basically picks up a sword and …

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