Today, South Africa!
Four new movies hit South African cinemas today as the Summer school holidays kick off, and employee concentration goes out the window in anticipation of the festive season run of public holidays. Two of today's films, comedy-documentary Religulous and concentration camp drama, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas are out in limited release. The remaining two films are high profile mainstream releases:
First up, for the kiddies, is the CGI-animated Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the sequel to the hit 2005 film. This time around the pampered, neurotic zoo animals attempt to fly from Madagascar back to New York, only to crash-land in Africa - where Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller) is reunited with his family.
I'll admit right now that I wasn't the biggest fan of the original Madagascar. Although beautifully animated it was hamstrung by all the typical failings of Dreamworks animated movies: an over-reliance on wacky humour and the gimmick of a celebrity voice cast (Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen) to camouflage a limp, over-used storyline.
Madagascar 2 has scored a healthy 60% Fresh over at Rotten Tomatoes. Although clearly dividing critics, general consensus seems to be that the film is better than the original. I'm certainly more likely to see it than the other major release of the weekend: The Women.
It seems that whenever a movie comes out with a big female ensemble cast the plot revolves around one of two things: 1) Robbing banks or 2) Relationships. The Women, a remake of the celebrated 1939 classic, falls squarely into the second category. It stars (brace for it)... Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman, Bette Midler, Carrie Fisher and Debi Mazar.
The Women centres on Ryan's character, a fashion designer envied by her close-knit circle of friends for her picture-perfect life. When she learns her husband is cheating on her, the friends start evaluating their own relationships and friendships.
These blatant chick-flicks usually feature way too much squealing and all-around Dramz for me, so I won't be going to watch The Women anytime soon. Especially since it scored a decidedly unimpressive 13% over at Rotten Tomatoes. You want to speak to my girlie side, give me sweeping romantic epics... like Australia, which fortunately opens in two weeks' time.
First up, for the kiddies, is the CGI-animated Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the sequel to the hit 2005 film. This time around the pampered, neurotic zoo animals attempt to fly from Madagascar back to New York, only to crash-land in Africa - where Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller) is reunited with his family.
I'll admit right now that I wasn't the biggest fan of the original Madagascar. Although beautifully animated it was hamstrung by all the typical failings of Dreamworks animated movies: an over-reliance on wacky humour and the gimmick of a celebrity voice cast (Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen) to camouflage a limp, over-used storyline.
Madagascar 2 has scored a healthy 60% Fresh over at Rotten Tomatoes. Although clearly dividing critics, general consensus seems to be that the film is better than the original. I'm certainly more likely to see it than the other major release of the weekend: The Women.
It seems that whenever a movie comes out with a big female ensemble cast the plot revolves around one of two things: 1) Robbing banks or 2) Relationships. The Women, a remake of the celebrated 1939 classic, falls squarely into the second category. It stars (brace for it)... Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman, Bette Midler, Carrie Fisher and Debi Mazar.
The Women centres on Ryan's character, a fashion designer envied by her close-knit circle of friends for her picture-perfect life. When she learns her husband is cheating on her, the friends start evaluating their own relationships and friendships.
These blatant chick-flicks usually feature way too much squealing and all-around Dramz for me, so I won't be going to watch The Women anytime soon. Especially since it scored a decidedly unimpressive 13% over at Rotten Tomatoes. You want to speak to my girlie side, give me sweeping romantic epics... like Australia, which fortunately opens in two weeks' time.
Comments
I think I'm going to take the kids to see Madagascar 2 either this weekend or next. While not thrilled by it (I hate Ben Stiller with the white hot passion yadda yadda yadda...), it'll make them happy.
Of course, they need to clean their rooms first...
Anyway, considering both you guys are going to see it, perhaps you can let me know how you found it?