Tim Burton

Creating a stir is Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA) latest retrospective of Burbank-born Tim Burton, the live action and animated film writer, director and producer, known for his humorous-horror signature themes often referred to as 'Burtonesque.'

Over 700 works, many from Tim Burton's private collection, display the full range of Burton's extraordinary creativity through photographs, concept art, drawings, paintings, writings, film and video works, storyboards, puppets, maquettes, costumes and cinematic ephemera that include unrealized or little known projects personal to Burton that were not meant to be publicly viewed when created.

At the exhibit entrance awaiting the visitors is Trick or Treat (1980), a huge mouth with giant teeth leading to the three sections that trace the filmmaker's creative process from childhood to the present.

Surviving Burbank (1958 - 1976), marks the artistic creativity and energy displayed in Burton's early works of odd character doodles and sketchbooks. 

Next is Beautifying Burbank (1977 - 1984), illustrating the emergence of Burton's signature motifs, with several wild and amusing creatures, following his studies at CalArts, founded by Walt and Roy Disney, and four years as an animator at Walt Disney Studios. 

The final section, Beyond Burbank (1985 - present), centers around Burton's blossoming and successful feature film career through screen works such as Pee-wee's Big adventure (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

Making use of LACMA's outdoor space is a deer shaped topiary that originally appeared in Edward Scissorhands (1990). Balloon Boy, a 21-foot-tall, 8-foot-diameter, many eyed-creature will be displayed at the Los Angeles Times Central Court, near the Bing Theater where related film screenings will be shown during the run of the exhibit, and will be part of LACMA's permanent collection.

Particularly engaging is Robot Boy (2009) which at specific intervals, lights up, then opens up, and quickly shuts down. Accompanied by Danny Elfman's chilling music is the atmospheric dark and spooky room with a colorful rotating Carousel (2009) surrounded by walls filled with diverse creatures' eyes pointed towards the visitor.

Burton's unique visual style brings to the surface a visual culture that illuminates and infectiously teases one's imagination.

Organized by Ron Magliozzi, Assistant Curator, and Jenny He, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film, with Rajendra Roy, the Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, The Museum of Modern Art, the exhibit runs from May 29, 2011 through October 31, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org

Following its presentation at LACMA the exhibit will travel to La Cinématèque Française, Paris, March 7 to August 5, 2012.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Energetic martial arts sequences, ravishing visual effects and amusing new characters mark the latest DreamWorks animated action comedy directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Adding depth to the story are compelling issues of self identity and self worth.

Guided by his mentor master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), our Dragon Warrior hero Po (Jack Black), delves into a spiritual quest of self-discovery to find inner peace and fight the villain albino peacock, Lord Shen (Gary Oldman),
along with the legendary Furious Five kung fu masters: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), and Crane (David Cross).

Jack Black captivates as Po, but stealing every scene is James Hong in his heartwarming and funny portrayal of Po’s caring and loving father goose, Mr. Ping. Adding levity and humor is Michelle Yeoh’s rendition of Lord Shen’s goat prophecy foreteller, Soothsayer.

Yuh Nelson keeps the action fluid with superb animation. The battle scenes are a visual feast enhanced by the detailed special effects, Raymond Zibach's production designs, Tang K. Heng's art direction, and Rudolphe Guenoden's clever fight choreography.

With its deeper theme and colorful new characters, Kung Fu Panda 2 charms a wide audience with a joyful cool kick.

Pirates of the Caribbean: on Stranger Tides

This fourth installment of the widely popular hit franchise is back in a new Disney 3D action-packed high seas adventure. Featured are the most beloved pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) along with a few newcomers that include Penélope Cruz, the first female pirate of the franchise, adding flair, humor, and strength to her character Angelica, Ian McShane as the villainous Blackbeard, the radiant beauty Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as mermaid Syrena, and Sam Claflin as missionary Philip Swift.

Following a daring escape in London, Captain Jack is lured by his feisty and vengeful old flame Angelica (Penélope Cruz) to the 'Queen Anne's Revenge,' the ship of the most infamous pirate, and Angelica's father, Blackbeard (Ian McShane). They are in a frantic race to the Fountain of Youth, but so is the peg-legged Captain Barbossa's (Geoffrey Rush) who leads the expedition for King George II (Richard Griffiths), and the rival Spanish fleet.

The shortest of the series at 136 minutes, the feature leaves much to be desired. In his iconic character, Johnny Depp is very enjoyable to watch and delivers much of the humor and fun that mark this franchise. John Myhre's designs give Blackbeard's ship a majestic but evil look made of his victims' leg and arm bones, teeth, and walls out of skulls.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Nine), written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and based on Tim Powers' novel On Stranger Tides, the new adventure stands alone from the franchise's trilogy. John DeLuca's elaborate and beautifully choreographed sword-fights and action scenes are enhanced by John Frazier's visual effects team, Dariusz Wolski's lens and Hans Zimmer's score.

The fun spirited adventure embarks old and new fans on a journey filled with action and mayhem.

Bridesmaids

In what may be his best work, director Paul Feig, along with producer Judd Apatow, ground this raunchy comedy on women's real life experiences.

After hitting rock bottom, Annie's (Kristin Wiig) life dives into a bottomless pit, losing her apartment to her odd roommates Gil (Matt Lucas) and Brynn (Rebel Wilson) and her job. She alienates the two men in her life, the wealthy Ted (Jon Hamm) and cop Rhodes (Chris O'Dowd), as well as her best friend, bride-to-be, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), who appointed her as Maid of Honor. Shaking her life for good is the escalating series of disasters Annie finds herself in after meeting the bridesmaids: Megan (Melissa McCarthy) who has some of the best lines, Rita (Wendy McLendon-Covey) who constantly complains about her family and sweet Becca (Ellie Kemper).

However, it is the rivalry with the beautiful and poised bridesmaid Helen (Rose Byrne) that steers Annie's emotions the most.

In her career defining role, debuting co-writer and co-star, Kristen Wiig, perfectly complements the comedy with heartfelt sincerity, easily displaying a wide range of emotions and effectively connecting with the viewers.

Aided by the strong comedic ensemble cast, this entertaining movie keeps the laughter fresh and rolling.

THOR

Norse mythology comes to life in Marvel's latest world about sibling rivalry and a superhero who must earn the right to be king.

Chris Hemsworth stars as the strong-minded warrior Thor, the god of thunder, who is about to inherit the throne of his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the king of gods. Impatient to prove his worth, Thor defies his father's wishes and initiates conflict with the Frost Giants. Odin therefore strips Thor of his powers and banishes him to Earth.

After being discovered in the New Mexico desert, by astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Jane's assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Denning), and mentor Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), Thor begins a self-transforming journey necessary to return to his home planet of Asgard. Meanwhile, Thor's duplicitous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) takes throne and plots to kill him.

The strong cast includes the star-making performance of the charismatic Hemsworth who has the most humorous lines and a developing romance with Jane. There are also the very brief cameo appearances of Stan Lee trying to remove Thor's hammer lodged in a stone and Jeremy Renner, as Hawkeye, aiding the S.H.I.E.L.D specialty government branch with his archery skills.

While ensuring a fast pace flow, director Kenneth Branagh brings out the right balance between the action-adventure, drama and romance.

His direction along with the engaging special effects, Beau Welch's lavish sets and Alexandra Byrne's costumes deliver a final product that will please comic book geeks.