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DISNEY JOINS FORCES WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

TO PLANT 2.7 MILLION TREES IN CONJUNCTION

WITH FIRST WEEK TICKET SALES FOR

DISNEYNATURE’S DEBUT FEATURE, “EARTH”

Burbank, Calif. – April 29, 2009 -- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures has arranged with The Nature Conservancy to plant 2.7 million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, one of the planet’s most endangered rainforests, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. In keeping with the Disneynature Earth’s themes of protecting the planet and its wildlife, Walt Disney Studios volunteered to plant a tree in honor of every moviegoer who saw the film during its first week of release. The motion picture grossed an impressive $16.1 million at the box office during week one and broke an opening day record as well as an opening weekend record for a nature documentary. The film also garnered the highest praise from critics and moviegoers alike.

Where the Atlantic Forest survives, it presents some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth. The region is home to more than 200 bird species and 60 percent of all Brazil’s endangered species. And, on fewer than two and a half acres, scientists have identified more than 450 tree species – more species than are found on the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. The forest also is important because it is the source of clean drinking water for 120 million people. Today, however, only 7 percent of the original Atlantic Forest remains in well preserved but isolated fragments. The Nature Conservancy’s initiative in the Atlantic Forest contributes to the global effort by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to plant at least one billion trees worldwide each year, with a cumulative goal for 2009 of planting 7 billion trees worldwide.

Narrated by James Earl Jones, Earth tells the remarkable story of three animal families and their amazing journeys across the planet we call home. Earth combines rare action, unimaginable scale and impossible locations by capturing the most intimate moments of our planet’s wildest and most elusive creatures. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the acclaimed creative team behind the Emmy Award®-winning Planet Earth, combine forces again to bring this epic adventure to the big screen.

GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Emma Stone, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert and Robert Forster

Directed by: Mark Waters

Rated PG-13 for sexual content throughout, some language and a drug reference

By John Delia

Having seen the trailer for this chick flick I was expecting another bomb by McConaughey, but was pleasantly surprised by the storyline, acting and direction of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. The film is fun, sexy and entertaining.

The film centers on Connor Mead (McConaughey) a celebrity photographer who’s on top of the world when it comes to his job and love life. All his models fall at his feet and in bed. His brother Paul (Meyer), who he had to raise since childhood when their parents were killed, is just the opposite. Paul is getting married to his dream girl and much to her chagrin has invited the wild bachelor Connor to their wedding.

From the moment of his arrival on the night before the wedding Connor starts putting a damper on the festivities. His bachelor persona has taken him over and he tries to make a mockery of marriage. There is only one thing standing in his path to destroying his brothers wedding however, his childhood sweetheart, Jenny (Garner).

If you can get past the course the script takes which draws off the likes of Scrooge or The Christmas Story, then this very funny film becomes very enjoyable to watch. The story involves three ghosts, a ghost from Connor’s past, present and future. But what save the trite idea are the ghosts themselves. The Past is played by a hilarious Emma Stone who was Connor’s first coming of age experience. Stone pulls off a great performance taking Connor through some scary times when he was a nerd and reminding him that there was a time that he loved. The other two ghosts are fun as well and present Connor’s over zealous present and his possible depressing future.

Michael Douglas proves to be the right choice for Uncle Wayne the model for which Connor crafted his girl attracting skills. Uncle Wayne adds the right touch to the script with his dashing and debonair charm and wit.

There are some downsides to the film, one being some silliness involving the wedding cake, so it’s not the best comedy of the year thus far. But direction by Waters saves the film from going over the brink.

Although the film is rated PG-13 please note that it has sexual content throughout, some language and a drug reference so be cautious to this fact if you are bringing rug rats along.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A good flick for the chicks and some good fun for the guys. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Will.i.am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, and Daniel Henney

Directed by: Gavin Hood

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity

By John Delia

With a resounding YES! Wolverine slashes his way into theatres and I loved the film for the storyline, non-stop action, excellent direction, seamless CGI and cinematography mix, exceptional acting and much more. If you love action adventure films that pull no punches, then X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a must see. Guys, get ready for pumped up adrenaline levels. For the girls who are not afraid of a lot of carnage, there’s a cool love story.

The film opens with a sequence of Wolverine as a youngster, the death of his parents, and his participation along with his brother Victor (Schreiber) in wars from the Civil War to Desert Storm. Do not come late to the film or you will miss an amazing opening. I was like watching clips from The Patriot, Saving Private Ryan and Platoon to name a few.

This chapter of X-Men deals with Wolverine (Jackman) and how he got involved with the diabolical William Stryker (Huston) who is putting together an unbeatable fighting team to safeguard America. Wolverine resists the killing he is ordered to do and flees the fearsome team of super-combatants. We find Wolverine on a mountaintop sharing a cabin with Kayla (Collins) with whom he falls in love. But, the storm is brewing between a US General and Stryker because of the abundant deaths by the team causing a falling out. Taking matters in his own hands, Stryker makes a move to consolidate all the mutants, including Wolverine. When he attempts to bring in Wolverine against his will using his brother, a battle for supremacy begins.

The use of amazing cinematography combined with seamless CGI takes the X-Men to new heights in bringing comic book characters to life on the big screen. Very realistic, powerful and seemingly indestructible the mutants put on a great show. Direction by Gavin Hood, who although doesn’t have a big track record, is incredible bringing the stellar cast together and controlling their creativity in order to make the film brilliant. His ability to see how computer graphics mix just right to create the mutant powers realistically, shines in this film.

To tell you more about the film may hurt the experience, but I will add that the film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity so be aware of this when allowing immature pre-teens to see the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The most explosive, enjoyable and entertaining action flick of the year. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)