Gang of Four pictures with tag: film

Beyond the Multiplex: Cannes: Off with her head! Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" gets booed! Plus: Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett take the screen

Sofia Coppola had me from the first 10 seconds of "Marie Antoinette," her attempt to remake the historical costume drama for a 21st century audience. Over the opening title credits, and then our first glimpse of Kirsten Dunst as the doomed girl-queen of France, languishing in an overdecorated chaise and sampling pastries, we hear the jagged opening chords of "Natural's Not in It," by late-'70s art-punk legends Gang of Four. So began a film that promised to deliver a confident blend of celebratio

Published: 2006-05-24 Provider: Salon.com Keywords: sofia coppola, alejandro gonzález iñárritu, arts & entertainment movie reviews, reviews, movie reviews, beyond multiplex, beyond the multiplex, ent, andrew o'hehir, film, marie antoinette, cate blanchett, movies, babel, cannes, brad pitt, cannes film festival

GOOD KNIGHT, AND GOOD PLUCK

KIDS do grow up fast: Since the last time we saw the quartet from Narnia, they've aged 1,300 years.Another classic saga of deeds dastardly and swashes buckled, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" doesn't quite equal the first film, but some may find this one a less-insistent piece of pure entertainment because it isn't so overtly Christian. (A disclaimer: I'm on friendly terms with this film's producer Mark Johnson, who also produced the TV series based on my novel "Love Monkey.") "Narnia 2" has a bleak "Empire Strikes Back"-ish aura, with leaders making poor decisions that cause heavy losses, rebels in hiding and a psychological wrestling match inside a Jungian cave. In place of jolly Mr. Tumnus from the first film, the guide this time is a dour red-bearded dwarf (Peter Dinklage) who warns, "You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember." Cuteness is tightly rationed, with only a feisty sword-fighting mouse on hand to provide much in the way of comic relief.The four kids from the first movie are now fully licensed kings and queens of Narnia. But they are still stuck in wartime London, trudging around a train station in their school uniforms. Any hopes that they'll be getting in a rumble with the Hogwarts gang are dashed, though, when the station abruptly turns into Narnia, where they discover 1,300 years have passed while they were away for one year in earth time.Things are not well: The lion king Aslan is nowhere in sight, his good works lie in ruins and all of the magical creatures he once championed have been driven into near-extinction by the ruling tribe of vicious humans called the Telmarines. They speak in Italian accents and rock a conquistador look to produce an amusing anti-Mediterranean effect.With the king of the Telmarines dead, his brother takes over. The new despot, who will soon crown himself King Miraz, orders a hit squad to take out his nephew, the proper heir to the throne, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes of "The History Boys").Inst

Published: 2008-05-16 Provider: New York Post Keywords: Narnia, Aslan, film, movie, young, Adamson, Caspian, battle, four, king, producer, movies