Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms

Runtime: 90 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release: Jan 21, 2009 Limited
Director: Sander Francken

Synopsis
Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms is a political documentary on the uncontrolled widespread of small arms, which rule and ruin the lives of a growing number of people in developing countries. ... Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms is a political documentary on the uncontrolled widespread of small arms, which rule and ruin the lives of a growing number of people in developing countries.

Through the eyes of different experts whose lives depend on small arms, the film shows the causes and impact of the trade—both legal, 'grey' and illegal—in small arms and its ammunitions, in particular in regions where the European Union and the United Nations are active, such as former Yugoslavia and Congo. Especially interesting for the western audience, the film shows how brokers—often under some 'organized' legal cover—buy weapons collected by the EU and NATO during their mission in Bosnia. These brokers transfer the weapons directly to African battlefields where they continue their killing lifespan unhindered.

Shot on location in Cambodia, Eastern Congo, Uganda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Germany, the United States and The Netherlands, Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms opens up our consciousness to a global reality rarely shown to the general public.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dealing_and_wheeling_in_small_arms/

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Marley & Me (2008)

Rated: PG for thematic material, some suggestive content and language.
Theatrical Release: Dec 25, 2008 Wide
Starring: Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner

Synopsis
John Grogan's bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog. Oscar-winner Alan Arkin costars in... John Grogan's bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog. Oscar-winner Alan Arkin costars in this comedy from director David Frankel (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA).

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/marley_and_me/

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The Tale of Despereaux (2008)

Rated: G
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release: Dec 19, 2008 Wide
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Robbie Coltrane, Dustin Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Kevin Kline, Frank Langella, William H. Macy, James Nesbitt, Tracey Ullman, Sigourney Weaver, Frances Conroy, Tony Hale, Ciaran Hinds, Christopher Lloyd, Stanley Tucci, Emma Watson
Director: Sam Fell, Rob Stevenhagen

Synopsis
Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, raucous laughter aplenty and gallons of mouth-watering soup. But a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, the princess filled with longing and the... Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, raucous laughter aplenty and gallons of mouth-watering soup. But a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, the princess filled with longing and the townsfolk despondent. All hope was lost in a land where sunlight disappeared and the world became dreary gray. Until Despereaux Tilling was born... A brave and virtuous mouse, Despereaux is simply too big for his small world. Though tiny, wheezy and saddled with comically oversized ears, Despereaux refuses to live a life of weakness and fear...believing he was destined to be celebrated in the tales of chivalry he so adores. When he's banished from his home for not following the rules that society expects of a mouse, Despereaux befriends fellow outcast Roscuro, a good-hearted rat who can't bear to look in the mirror and hopes to live far from the grim underground of his kind. While Despereaux begins his noble quest to rescue Pea--a princess who can't see beyond her distorted view of the world--his pal Roscuro receives a painful rejection from her highness that sets him on a course of self-destruction. Along their parallel adventures, the two encounter colorful characters from a serving girl who wishes to be a princess to the evil leader of the sewer rats, who plots revenge on humans from his fiefdom in the subterranean shadows he relishes but Roscuro can't abide. From the highest turrets of the glittering castle to the dankest dark of Dor's sewers, friendships will be tested as Despereaux and Roscuro embark upon a journey that will change the way they look at their world--and themselves--forever. In this tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption, one tiny creature will teach a kingdom that it takes only a little light to show that what you look like doesn't equal what you are.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tale_of_despereaux/

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Reclaiming the Blade 2008

Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 78 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release: Dec 15, 2008 Limited
Starring: Bob Anderson, Viggo Mortensen, John Howell, Richard Taylor, Karl Urban
Director: Daniel McNicoll

Synopsis
The sword plays a central role in many of history, literature, and film's most essential stories, but it has been overtaken in modern narratives by the presence of guns. Narrated by LORD OF THE RINGS star John Rhys-Davies, this documentary... The sword plays a central role in many of history, literature, and film's most essential stories, but it has been overtaken in modern narratives by the presence of guns. Narrated by LORD OF THE RINGS star John Rhys-Davies, this documentary examines the history of the weapon in both Europe and Asia, featuring interviews with experts, as well as actors and crew in Hollywood, including Bob Anderson, Viggo Mortensen, Karl Urban, and Richard Taylor.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/reclaiming_the_blade/

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Delgo 2008

Rated: PG for sequences of fantasy action violence
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release: Dec 12, 2008 Wide
Starring: Freddie Prinze, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Anne Bancroft, Chris Kattan, Val Kilmer, Malcolm McDowell, Louis Gossett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Eric Idle, Kelly Ripa, Burt Reynolds, Sally Kellerman
Director: Jason Maurer, Marc F. Adler

Synopsis
The land of Jhamora is torn apart by the mutual prejudice of two peoples—the winged Nohrin, masters of the skies, and the terrestrial Lockni, who harness the mystical powers of the land. When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni... The land of Jhamora is torn apart by the mutual prejudice of two peoples—the winged Nohrin, masters of the skies, and the terrestrial Lockni, who harness the mystical powers of the land. When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), hostilities between the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled Empress (Anne Bancroft) to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule.

Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and his faint-hearted best friend, Filo (Chris Kattan), must put aside their differences to join forces with a sworn enemy (Val Kilmer) and travel to the mysterious land of Perran, where they discover more than just a scorned Empress and her two bumbling servants.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1201910-delgo/

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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

All the loveable characters are back - Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins - in "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa." Left marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane - sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all - the vast plains of Africa itself - where our zoo-raised crew encounters species of their own kind for the very first time. While discovering their roots, they quickly realize the differences between the concrete jungle and the heart of Africa. Despite long-lost relatives, romantic rivals and scheming hunters, Africa seems like a "crack-a-lackin" great place...but is it better than their Central Park home?

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Bolt (2008)

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some mild action and peril.
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: Nov 21, 2008 Wide
Starring: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Malcolm McDowell, Diedrich Bader, Mark Walton
Director: Chris Williams

Synopsis
For super-dog Bolt (voice of JOHN TRAVOLTA), every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue—at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York... For super-dog Bolt (voice of JOHN TRAVOLTA), every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue—at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet—a cross-country journey through the real world to get back to his owner and co-star, Penny (voice of MILEY CYRUS). Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and the help of two unlikely traveling companions—a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voice of SUSIE ESSMAN) and a TV-obsessed hamster named Rhino (voice of MARK WALTON) -- Bolt discovers he doesn’t need superpowers to be a hero.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bolt/

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First Basket

Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release: Nov 14, 2008 Limited
Director: David Vyorst

Synopsis
David Vyorst’s documentary The First Basket explores the impact that basketball had on modern Jewish history, as well as the profound influence that unsung Jewish pioneers had on the evolution of basketball, as it grew from a game... David Vyorst’s documentary The First Basket explores the impact that basketball had on modern Jewish history, as well as the profound influence that unsung Jewish pioneers had on the evolution of basketball, as it grew from a game played with ash-cans on tenement steps to the second most popular sport in the world.

Though basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in Massachusetts, the game spread like wildfire through turn-of-the-century New York settlement houses and proved a perfect fit for urban Jewish kids. By the 1920s, basketball had become a staple of life in American Jewish communities, and many of the top teams grew out of these neighborhoods. The First Basket is the first documentary to comprehensively examine both the role that Jewish players had in the evolution of the game and the impact that basketball played in the assimilation of American Jews.

In The First Basket, Washington, DC based writer/producer/director David Vyorst and narrator Peter Riegert explore the little-known, yet very important, Jewish history of the game. Chock full of vivid anecdotes and distinctive characters, the film brings back famous as well as unsung basketball legends such as Red Auerbach, Red Holzman, Dolph Schayes, Red Sarachek, Barney Sedran, Eddie Gottlieb, Abe Saperstein, Ossie Schectman, Ralph Kaplowitz, Sammy Kaplan and many more.

The First Basket reveals the rich history and amazing contributions of Jewish athletes who became role models and heroes to generations of fans and changed the face and perception of Jews in all athletics. The First Basket is indeed ‘the greatest Jewish basketball documentary in the world.’

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/first_basket/

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Pray the Devil Back to Hell (2008)

Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release: Nov 7, 2008 Limited
Director: Gini Reticker

Synopsis
History has many unacknowledged heroes and this documentary examines a group of women who fought for peace in Liberia, campaigning to end the country's devastating civil war. Gini Reticker directs this eye-opening film about political... History has many unacknowledged heroes and this documentary examines a group of women who fought for peace in Liberia, campaigning to end the country's devastating civil war. Gini Reticker directs this eye-opening film about political action.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pray_the_devil_back_to_hell/

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Universe of Keith Haring

Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 82 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release: Oct 24, 2008 Limited
Starring: Madonna, Yoko Ono, David LaChapelle, Andy Warhol, Ann Magnuson, Fab 5 Freddy, Grace Jones, Junior Vasquez
Director: Christina Clausen

Synopsis
The Universe of Keith Haring by director Christina Clausen is an intimate portrait of world-renowned artist Keith Haring whose mantra was that "Art is for everyone!" The film is a thorough and intimate exploration of the background and... The Universe of Keith Haring by director Christina Clausen is an intimate portrait of world-renowned artist Keith Haring whose mantra was that "Art is for everyone!" The film is a thorough and intimate exploration of the background and career of one of the most popular and significant artists of the 20th century. The film features interviews and archival footage of Fab 5 Freddy, Jeffrey Deitch, Kim Hastreiter, Grace Jones, Madonna, Yoko Ono, David LaChapelle, Kenny Scharf, Carlo McCormick, Andy Warhol, Ann Magnuson, Tony Shafrazi, and Junior Vasquez, among many others. Audio excerpts from original interviews with Keith Haring, were conducted by Haring's biographer John Gruen (Keith Haring: the Authorized Biography). The film's theme song is by the famed DJ and record producer, Junior Vasquez, with an original soundtrack by Angelo Talocci. The film was edited by Silvia Giulietti.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/universe_of_keith_haring/

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High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)

High School Musical 3: Senior Year Synopsis: Amidst a basketball championship, prom and a big spring musical featuring all of the Wildcats, Troy and Gabriella vow to make every moment last as their lifelong college dreams put the future of their relationship in question. A crew of sophomore Wildcats joins in the fun as the film's incredible new music and exciting dance numbers take maximum advantage of the big screen.

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Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Rated: PG for some mild thematic elements.
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: Oct 3, 2008 Wide
Box Office: $29,000,000
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Andy Garcia, Jamie Lee Curtis, Plácido Domingo, George Lopez, Manolo Cardona, Eugenio Derbez, Piper Perabo, Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Piolin, Luis Guzman
Director: Raja Gosnell

Synopsis
In the Disney comedy, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, a pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe (voice of DREW BARRYMORE) finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in... In the Disney comedy, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, a pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe (voice of DREW BARRYMORE) finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, she must rely on some unexpected new friends -- including a street-hardened German Shepherd named Delgado (voice of ANDY GARCIA) and an amorous pup named Papi (voice of GEORGE LOPEZ) -- to lend her a paw and help her to find her inner strength on their incredible journey back home.

Walt Disney Pictures presents BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, directed by Raja Gosnell (“Scooby Doo”), screenplay by Analisa LaBianco from a story by Jeff Bushell and starring an all-star cast including Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona and Jamie Lee Curtis with the voices of Andy Garcia, Plácido Domingo, George Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin and Drew Barrymore.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10008587-beverly_hills_chihuahua/

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The Hannah Montana Movie

Opens May 1, 2009

The Hannah Montana Movie | Synopsis
Miley Cyrus' alter ego, Hannah Montana, gets her own big-screen adventure with this production from Walt Disney Entertainment. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Cast: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Mitchel Musso, Moisés Arias
Director: Peter Chelsom
Genres: Children's/Family

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Moving Midway

Opens September 12, 2008 | Runtime:1 hr. 35 min.

Moving Midway | Synopsis
Built in 1848, Midway Plantation was for many years one of the most celebrated homes in the Raleigh, NC area -- an antebellum mansion that stood as a reminder of the style and traditions of the old South. However, in late 2003, Charlie Silver, who had inherited the estate, made a decision that took many by surprise -- troubled by the encroaching urban sprawl, Silver decided to move the mansion and its outbuildings to a new and more peaceful location. Charlie and wife Dena planned to finance the relocation by selling roughly a third of vacant property to developers, but not everyone in his family supported this notion; the land had been owned by Silver's kin since 1740, and some relatives felt Midway should remain on its native soil. Film critic Godfrey Cheshire, who is Charlie's cousin, decided to make a film about the role of Southern plantations in American history, popular culture, and society, as well as the difficult project of moving the mansion. While documenting the relocation, Charlie and Godfrey became aware of a previously unknown chapter in their family's history; their great-great grandfather Charles Lewis Hinton, who built Midway, fathered a child with an African-American slave living on the property. As a consequence, Cheshire discovers the existence of dozens of African-American cousins who have their own perspective on Midway's legacy. Moving Midway offers a look at the nuts and bolts of moving a piece of North Carolina history, as well as the people whose lives are rooted in its past, and includes extensive interviews with Robert Hinton, Associate Director of African-American studies at New York University, whose family has roots in Midway. Moving Midway received its world premiere at the 2007 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Director: Godfrey Cheshire
Genres: Biography, Social History, Culture & Society

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Kung Fu Panda

Opened June 6, 2008 | Runtime:1 hr. 31 min.
PG sequences of martial arts action

Kung Fu Panda | Synopsis
A clumsy panda bear becomes an unlikely kung fu hero when a treacherous enemy spreads chaos throughout the countryside in this animated martial arts adventure featuring the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan. On the surface, Po (voice of Black) may look like just another portly panda bear, but beneath his fur he bears the mark of the chosen one. By day, Po works faithfully in his family's noodle shop, but by night he dreams of becoming a true master of the martial arts. Now an ancient prophecy has come to pass, and Po realizes that he is the only one who can save his people from certain destruction. With time running short and malevolent snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane ) closing in, Furious Five legends Tigress (Jolie), Crane (David Cross ), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), Monkey (Chan), and their wise sensei, Master Shifu (Hoffman), all draw on their vast knowledge of fighting skills in order to transform a lumbering panda bear into a lethal fighting machine. Now, if the noble Po can master the martial arts and somehow transform his greatest weaknesses into his greatest strengths, he will fulfill his destiny as the hero who saved his people during their darkest hour. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Cast: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen
Director: John Stevenson
Genres: Martial Arts, Children's/Family, Family-Oriented Comedy

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The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Opened May 16, 2008 | Runtime:2 hr. 20 min.
PG epic battle action and violence

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Synopsis
The adventure continues as producer/director Andrew Adamson teams with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely to tell the tale of the dashing Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) -- who sets out to defeat a tyrannical king who has overtaken Narnia and secure his rightful place on the throne. One year has passed since the events of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and now the kings and queens of that land have returned to make a shocking discovery. Though by their calendars it has been only 12 months since their last voyage into Narnia, the four children are aghast to realize that 1,300 years have passed in the wondrous alternate universe. The Golden Age of Narnia has come to an end, and now the malevolent King Miraz rules over the land without mercy or compassion. Miraz is determined to ensure that the power stays in his bloodline, even if that means killing his nephew Prince Caspian so that Miraz's own son will be next in line for the throne. Fortunately Prince Caspian has the Narnians on his side, and with a little help from the kings, the queens, and some loyal old friends, he may be able to ensure that peace and prosperity are restored on the once-beautiful realm of Narnia. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Cast: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Sergio Castellitto, Ben Barnes
Director: Andrew Adamson
Genres: Fantasy Adventure, Fantasy, Children's/Family

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