Published: November 10, 2005 04:01 pm            

Movie mania

Holiday flicks include ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Narnia’

JOHNSTOWN — A teenage wizard and a computer-generated lion have the potential to boost holiday movie revenues into another world.

Richland Cinemas owner Ed Troll said he expects “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” to be his biggest attractions of the season.

Troll expects to run two screens each for these guaranteed audience-pleasers.

“Johnstown is big on family products,” Troll said. “A PG rating has total audience appeal.”

“Goblet of Fire,” which opens Friday at the theater, 420 Theatre Drive in Richland Township, will get a head start on other holiday movies that won’t be released until after Thanksgiving.

Troll expects Potter and company to have the strength to run through early next year.

“A sequel, if done properly, has more energy and punch than the original,” Troll said. “Potter No. 4 is a presold audience.”

In “Goblet of Fire,” Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint reprise the roles that fans have come to love.

Potter is in his fourth year at Hogwarts School for Wizards and is facing his greatest challenges and dangers yet. When he is selected as a contestant in the Triwizard Tournament, Potter must compete against the best young wizards from schools all across Europe.

As Potter prepares for the tournament, signs point to the return of Lord Voldemort, and Potter finds himself playing not just for the trophy, but for his life.

“Goblet of Fire” is rated PG-13.

To add to the excitement of a new Harry Potter release, on Saturday morning, Richland Cinemas will be turned into Hogwarts. Four classes for wizards-to-be of all ages will be held.

“There will be a wizards tournament and maze,” Troll said. “It’s based on the books. We have to keep the audience entertained with different stuff to do.”

On Dec. 9, the mystical world of Narnia will come to area movie theaters when C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” premieres.

The story features four children, played by William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley, who are separated from their parents in London during the German air raids of World War II.

They are sent to a house in the country where they find a magic wardrobe, which beckons them to enter. Once through the wardrobe’s doors, they find themselves in Narnia – a once-peaceful land of talking beasts, dwarfs and giants.

The central figure in the movie, and of all Lewis’ Narnia books, is Aslan, a stately lion who rules the land.

Aslan and the other Narnia creatures are computer-generated animation.

Aslan is voiced by Irish-born actor Liam Neeson, known for his roles in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” “Rob Roy” and “Schindler’s List.”

“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” marks the live-action directorial debut of New Zealander Andrew Adamson, who directed “Shrek” and Shrek 2.”

Because Narnia has been frozen into perpetual winter by the evil White Witch, the children must help Aslan break her spell and bring Narnia back to life.

“The key to a good movie is when the writer creates a plot so that kids and adults can both laugh,” Troll said. “When the parents take the kids and they both come out talking and laughing, it’s a good Disney-like movie with a happy ending.”

Troll said the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are the second biggest for movie theaters – the first being the no-holds-barred summer season, which begins in mid-May.

“The biggest movie day is Black Friday,” Troll said. “That’s when we get more people than any day of the year. People are out shopping, and the padlock is off the wallet.”

Troll expects moviegoers’ purse strings to be loosened again when a giant ape climbs onto movie screens on Dec. 14.

“King Kong” is a remake of the classic 1933 version, and Troll believes the new, improved Kong will have a lot more punch.

Naomi Watts is cast as the woman who can soothe the 25-foot-tall ape long enough to get him subdued and shipped back to New York for display.

Other remakes include “Fun with Dick and Jane,” “Yours, Mine and Ours” and “Cheaper by the Dozen 2.”

“Fun with Dick and Jane,” which opens on Dec. 21, is a remake of the 1977 comedy caper that starred Jane Fonda and George Segal.

The remake features Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni as a wealthy couple who lose their income and turn to a life of crime.

Angie Harmon, Richard Jenkins and Jeff Garlin also star.

“Yours, Mine and Ours,” opening Nov. 23, features Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo as widower and widow who get married, bringing together their combined 18 children under one roof.

The 1968 version starred Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda.

The 2005 version also stars James “Lil’ JJ” Lewis, Linda Hunt and George Lopez. It is rated PG.

“Cheaper by the Dozen 2,” which debuts Dec. 21, is a sequel to a remake.

Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt first starred in “Cheaper by the Dozen” in 2003. Martin played a father of 12 handling a new job and his kids at the same time.

The original 1950 version starred Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy.

In this new outing, the Baker family goes on vacation, which turns into a head-to-head competition with a rival family of eight children.

Piper Perabo, Tom Welling and Hilary Duff also star.

“Walk the Line,” which explores the early years of country music legend Johnny Cash, will debut Friday.

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon star as Cash and June Carter Cash, respectively.

“Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash approved the stars before their deaths,” Troll said.

“Walk the Line” is rated PG-13.

The rest of the holiday line-up includes everything from a Broadway musical to romantic comedies.

Troll thinks “Memoirs of a Geisha,” which opens Dec. 9, should be visually stunning.

“It’s totally different,” Troll said. “It’s done by the director of ‘Chicago.’ ”

“Rent,” the story of a group of young East Villagers coping with harsh urban realities, opens on Nov. 23.

“Rent” is based on the Tony Award-winning musical and is rated PG-13.

Romance and comedy go hand in hand in several upcoming movies.

“Just Friends,” a romantic comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Chris Marquette and Chris Klein, premieres Nov. 23.

After being told by his true love that they are just friends, a likable everyman transforms himself into a selfish womanizer, then returns to being a good guy when he reconnects with the girl who broke his heart.

“Just Friends” is rated PG-13.

It isn’t a merry Christmas when a bohemian family’s annual holiday gathering is thrown into turmoil when the son’s fiance, a high-strung New York businesswoman, is thrown into the mix.

“Family Stone,” which opens Dec. 16, stars Dermot Mulroney, Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes and Craig T. Nelson. It is rated PG-13.

Several dramas add a bit of seriousness to the season.

Starting Dec. 9, George Clooney will star as CIA veteran Robert Baer in “Syriana.”

The political thriller unfolds against the intrigue of the global oil industry as Baer begins to uncover the disturbing truth about his life’s work.

“Syriana” also stars Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper and Tim Blake Nelson. It is rated R.

In “All the King’s Men,” opening on Dec. 16, Sean Penn stars as Willie Stark, an idealistic southern politician who appeals to the common man while effectively playing dirty politics and becoming corrupted by the system.

The cast also includes Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.

Drama goes into the future in “Aeon Flux,” opening Dec. 2.

It’s the 25th century, and a rampaging virus has forced the remnants of humanity into the seclusion of a final city.

Flux, played by Charlize Theron, is an acrobatic assassin whose latest target is the government’s leader.

The science-fiction action-adventure also stars Frances McDormand, Marton Csokas, Jonny Lee Miller and Pete Postlethwaite.

In addition to Richland Cinemas, area theaters that will show holiday movies include Westwood Plaza Theater, 1910 Minno Drive in Lower Yoder Township; Palace Theater, Route 601 North, Somerset; Carmike 8, 600 Logan Valley Mall, Altoona; and Park Hills 7, West Plank Road, Altoona.



Ruth Rice can be reached at 532-5052 or rrice@tribdem.com.

        

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