Unbroken

Review by Joseph Anthony

There has never been a shortage of World War II stories coming out of Hollywood – PATTON tearing through the scenery of Africa, a rescue mission in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, the weight of the Holocaust in SCHINDLER’S LIST, or the beaches of the Pacific Theater in LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (the list goes on).  This year, Angelina Jolie directs the true story of Louis Zamperini in UNBROKEN, based on Laura Hillenbrand’s 2010 novel of the same name.

Zamperini’s story is absolutely incredible, the kind of story that has to be told. He is inspiring, strong, and – though he is of Italian descent – oozes the American spirit. Zamperini was raised in Torrance, California with his Italian family where he is bullied because of his heritage. As a result, he embraces a loner lifestyle. Eventually Zamperini turns his anger into fuel, going on to be one of the best high school track runners in the country and eventually participating in the Olympics in Germany.

Maleficent

Review by Pete Roche

Hard to believe it today, but Disney considered 1959’s SLEEPING BEAUTY a commercial disappointment after the triumphs of FANTASIA, DUMBO, and BAMBI.  The House of Mouse put all potential “princess” features in hibernation—like their own poisoned apple-munching maidens—for three decades.  But the film has endured, delighting (and terrifying) new generations of tikes over the years. 

Like SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES and CINDERELLA before it, SLEEPING BEAUTY became a definitive “princess” picture.  Princess Aurora is innocence idealized in pen and ink.  And if vengeful Maleficent isn’t the Mother of All Movie Villainesses, she’s damn near close, perhaps sharing the mantel only with The Wicked Witch of the West. 

In The Land of Blood and Honey to play Cleveland Cinematheque

[Press release from the Cleveland Cinematheque.]

Angelina Jolie’s Bosnian War drama IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY has been added to the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque’s March line-up. The Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film will show one time on Monday, March 19, at 7:15 pm in the Institute’s Aitken Auditorium, 11141 East Boulevard in University Circle. Tickets (at the door only) will cost $9; Cinematheque members and CIA I.D. holders $7; ages 25 & under $5 (with proof of age). Free parking for filmgoers is available in the Institute of Art lot.

Monday, March 19, at 7:15 pm

IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY

USA, 2011, Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie wrote and directed this love story set during the Bosnian War. A Golden Globe Nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, the movie tells of a Bosnian Serb soldier who discovers that a Muslim woman he once met at a nightclub in pre-war Sarajevo is now a prisoner in a camp he commands. He does his best to protect her from rape and other atrocities. "Rather than a glossy, superficial movie-star vanity project, In the Land of Blood and Honey feels like the sober, hard-hitting work of a humanitarian." -USA Today. Cleveland premiere. Subtitles. 35mm color & scope print! 127 min. www.inthelandofbloodandhoney.com

For further information, call (216) 421-7450 or visit www.cia.edu/cinematheque.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Review by Pete Roche

It’s been almost three years since Po the panda (Jack Black) left his stepfather’s noodle restaurant to fulfill his destiny as “Dragon Warrior” under the tutelage of Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and defeat dastardly snow leopard Tai Long. 

Now, in KUNG FU PANDA 2, Po and his acrobatic animal friends in the Furious Five must defend the Valley of Peace against a new threat—power-hungry peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman).  An opening narrative explains that Shen was banished from his village long ago after he co-opted the magic of fireworks for his own evil ends (explosives). A soothsaying yak (Michelle Yeoh) predicts Shen will be thwarted by a warrior of “black and white.”  But in an effort to circumvent this fate, Shen and his wolf minions (led by Danny McBride) decimate the pacifist panda population.

Well, almost decimate.