Emmanuelle Chriqui

TV Review: Disney XD Launches Likely Hit in ‘TRON: Uprising’

BrianTT — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:12:50 -0400

CHICAGO – What took so long? It’s the question that keeps nagging at the back of one’s mind while watching the series premiere of Disney XD’s “TRON: Uprising,” a new animated program debuting on the network on Thursday, June 7, 2012 and a virtually guaranteed hit. This is dark, well-made, entertaining material that mines a common thematic vein in young adult fiction — defying authority.

TV Rating: 3.5/5.0

“TRON: Uprising” takes place in the same universe as the recently-released Disney theatrical hit, “TRON: Legacy,” and was created by two of the writers of that film — Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (who were also executive producers on “Lost” and “Once Upon a Time”). On a storytelling level, it feels very much in step with “Legacy.” If you were put off by that film, don’t expect to fall in love with this show. At the same time, if you’re one of the pre-teens who adored the return to “TRON,” the show should work for you. It’s well-made, intense, and interesting on a design level. I wish the writing was a bit stronger and it doesn’t stand up to today’s best young adult animation (at least not in the premiere) but there’s enough to like here to recommend it to the audience for which it was intended. “TRON” fans should be satisfied. And that’s all that really matters.

TRON: Uprising
Photo credit: Disney XD

Elijah Wood voices Beck, a new character in the universe of “TRON” (although familiar ones will be referenced and sometimes even make appearances as Olivia Wilde will do in a future in episode and Bruce Boxleitner does throughout the series). Beck is a part of a generation of programs in the universe of “TRON” who are tired of being beaten down by the ruthless Clu and his henchman General Tesler (Lance Henriksen) in a city on The Grid named Argon City. Beck’s best friend Bodhi is derezzed in the blink of an eye by Clu’s Army and the young man decides it’s time for a revolution. It’s time for an uprising. Beck’s plans catch the attention of Tron (Boxleitner) and he trains him to follow in his footsteps as a leader of the people.

TRON: Uprising
Photo credit: Disney XD

It’s a classic young adult story — the average kid turned hero against authority — but it’s done in a modern enough way that the audience probably won’t even notice the cliches. Naturally, the focus here is on action, often in slow motion and scored to consistent music. And so things like dialogue and character kind of miss the mark. I wish I could have seen more than one episode since the premiere naturally has to be heavy on effects and action to keep audiences interested in coming back. But I hope Beck becomes a more dynamic protagonist in future episodes.

Until then, the two things that elevate “TRON: Uprising” are simple and related — the pedigree of the voice cast and the quality of the animation. Wood is fantastic, as usual, and co-stars like Emmanuelle Chriqui, Mandy Moore, and Paul Reubens add depth to a voice cast that could have been thin without them. They’re all quite good. And “TRON: Uprising” looks great. The show is a CGI program, of course, but it has a 2-D look at times that allows it to stand out.

In many ways, “TRON: Uprising” is better than “TRON: Legacy.” Whereas that film wore out its welcome with a bloated running time and fell due to self-seriousness, “Uprising” is a perfect adrenalin shot of sci-fi that knows it should be hyperactive young adult fun. The universe of “TRON” feels like it was always meant for TV animation. What took so long?

“TRON: Uprising” features voice work by Elijah Wood, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Mandy Moore, Paul Reubens, Nate Corddry, Lance Henriksen, and Bruce Boxleitner. It premieres on Disney XD at 8pm CST on June 7, 2012.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: Renny Harlin’s ‘5 Days of War’ Succumbs to Action Clichés

mattmovieman — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:32:11 -0400

CHICAGO – “5 Days of War” is a stark reminder of the atrocities that can occur when a B-movie director tries to tackle serious material. The Russo-Georgian War of 2008 was largely ignored by the U.S. government and media, so it was only a matter of time until filmmakers attempted to raise belated awareness about the devastation. Too bad director Renny Harlin is skilled solely in the art of action-packed kitsch.

Rating: 1.5/5.0

This is the sort of low-budget imitation of a Michael Bay-sized blockbuster that would seem to have been destined for a direct-to-video release. Harlin went through the trouble of shooting the film in actual Georgian locations, but his approach to the material is so simple-minded that it causes the audience to become completely detached. It doesn’t matter how authentic the locales are if the audience can’t believe what’s happening in front of them. Some of the animated fire and smoke are so poorly superimposed that they look as if they were stolen from “Birdemic.”

Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “5 Days of War” in our reviews section.

Yet the real problem with “War” is its utterly forgettable characters. There isn’t a person on the screen that doesn’t appear to be a hybrid of archetypes recycled from other mediocre pictures. Though the film opens with a dedication card to the “500 war reporters killed in the last decade,” it doesn’t seem like the filmmakers put forth any effort into attempting to portray the psyche of reporters who would actually take such life-or-death risks in capturing a vital story. The hero of the piece is American journalist Thomas (Rupert Friend), a Loose Cannon Who Has Trouble Relating To People. He’s joined by cameraman Sebastian (Richard Couple), a Portly Food-Addict With a Heart O’ Gold, and Tatia (Emmanuelle Chriqui), an Exotic & Emotionally Damaged Hottie. They are each so tidily developed that the entirety of their personality could fit snugly on a 3 by 5 index card. I didn’t believe them as people for an instant, thus causing the entire production to nosedive past the point of no return. Perhaps Harlin made a conscious decision to utilize these mainstream caricatures in order to reach a wider audience, though that decision backfired once the film was relegated to art houses, and I doubt that it will find much of a following on DVD or On Demand. I can’t imagine this film pleasing anyone, let alone the Georgian extras whose reenactments of their nation’s recent tragedies are treated as background fodder.

‘5 Days of War’ stars Rupert Friend, Richard Coyle, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Johnathon Schaech, Rade Serbedzija, Andy Garcia and Val Kilmer. It was written by Mikko Alanne and directed by Renny Harlin. It opens Sept. 2 at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. It is rated R.

Continue reading for Matt Fagerholm’s full “5 Days of War” review.

Rupert Friend and Emmanuelle Chriqui star in Renny Harlin’s 5 Days of War.
Photo credit: Anchor Bay Films

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Chicago Anytime Passes to ‘5 Days of War’ With Val Kilmer, Andy Garcia

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:52:39 -0400

CHICAGO – In our latest action/war drama edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two run-of-engagement movie passes up for grabs to the new film “5 Days of War” with Val Kilmer, Andy Garcia and Rupert Friend!

The film opens in Chicago on Sept. 2, 2011. “5 Days of War,” which is based on actual events, also stars Heather Graham, Dean Cain, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Richard Coyle, Mikko Nousiainen, Antje Traue, Rade Serbedzija, Mikheil Gomiashvili, Johnathon Schaech and Anna Walton from director Renny Harlin and writer Mikko Alanne based on the screenplay by David Battle.

To win your free run-of-engagement movie pass for “5 Days of War,” just answer our question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! These movie passes are valid during the film’s theatrical run at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The movie poster for “5 Days of War” with Val Kilmer, Andy Garcia and Rupert Friend.
Image credit: Anchor Bay Films

Here is the plot description for “5 Days of War”:

Inspired by the real events of the swift but devastating five-day war between Russia and the Georgian Republic in 2008, this action-packed international thriller centers around a renegade American journalist (Rupert Friend) and his cameraman (Richard Coyle). They’re caught in the combat zone during the first Russian airstrikes against Georgia while filming in the border village of Viziana.

In rescuing Tatia (Emmanuelle Chriqui) – a young Georgian schoolteacher from the attack – the two reporters agree to help reunite her with her family when she loses them in the chaos in exchange for serving as their interpreter. As the three attempt to escape to safety, they witness and document the devastation from the full-scale crossfire and cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians.

While they desperately attempt to broadcast the footage while under attack from the Russian soldiers and mercenaries, they’re met with resistance from American and international networks either shorthanded from covering the Beijing Olympics or simply fatigued by war news. The trio realizes their survival is paramount so they can live to broadcast the truth.

This vivid, heart-pounding film directed by acclaimed director Renny Harlin (“Die Hard 2,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” “Cliffhanger”) sheds light on the complicated politics and dangers involved with exposing the truth during times of war. “5 Days of War” also features an international ensemble cast including Heather Graham, Johnathon Schaech, Rade Sherbedgia, Mikko Nousiainen and Andy Garcia with Val Kilmer.

The movie trailer for “5 Days of War” can be watched now below.

To secure your free “5 Days of War” pass, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com Web site account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having a free Web site account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this Hookup.

Next, simply answer our question. You must submit your answer using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Comments have been disabled on this page.

You must include your first and last name, e-mail address and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will not be sold or shared, will be kept strictly confidential and is only for awarding winning entries. Please answer our question below.

Would you give up your life to reveal a grand truth?
Note: Comments are disabled on this page.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: 25 HollywoodChicago.com readers will be randomly selected as the winners of our “5 Days of War” Hookup! The winners will be mailed their run-of-engagement movie passes at our expense. Good luck!

Disclaimer
HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and
its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Adam Sandler is White Ladies Man in Judd Apatow’s ‘You Don’t Mess With the Zohan’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:01:00 -0400

CHICAGO – In the relatively anemic anthology of recent Adam Sandler flops, “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” hangs above with comedic charm and a nonsensically amusing plotline. The story is divisively intermingled with racial and ethnic sensitivities between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

At first, it even feels like a scribe sat down for a few weeks, slammed back a few brewskies and toked daily on the good ganja while attempting to ink a forcefully novel plot.

Surprisingly, its idiosyncratic nature tends to work as you build esteem for the libidinous man Adam Sandler has transformed into. While Sandler has played the full gamut of roles in recent memory, this time he’s actually a Thor who beckons women to his sexual mercy.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” in our reviews section.

View our huge, high-resolution “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” image gallery.

Sandler as Zohan is the white version of the legendary Tim Meadows character The Ladies Man from “Saturday Night Live” but with a thick Israeli accent. Zohan is an Israeli counter-terrorist commando who fakes his own death in order to pursue his unlikely and embarrassing dream of becoming a hairstylist in New York.

To make matters more outlandishly canned, Zohan’s arch nemesis, Phantom (played by John Turturro), has a similarly humiliating reverie: selling shoes.

Lainie Kazan is welcome motherly relief – except when she’s revealed utterly nude from the rear and causes an eruptive audience gasp – and Rob Schneider, of course, can’t let an Adam Sandler flick make it to the big screen without joining him on it. As well, you might notice Dave Matthews in the film, but I didn’t.

In “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” Emmanuelle Chriqui stars as Dalia: a Palestinian immigrant to New York and owner of a hair salon who gives Zohan his big break in his dream to become a hairstylist.
Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

In “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” Adam Sandler stars as Zohan: an Israeli commando who fakes his own death in order to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist in New York.
Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” review.