Leasing News

Fernando's View

By Fernando F. Croce

Moviegoers can savor a new version of "A Christmas Carol" and check out Michael Jackson's last dance steps in "This Is It," while DVD watchers can settle for animation ("Up"), action ("The Taking of Pelham 123"), or comedy-drama ("Lake Tahoe").

In Theaters:

A Christmas Carol (Walt Disney): Five years after experimenting with 3-D animation techniques in "The Polar Express," director Robert Zemeckis returns to Yuletide territory with this visually breathtaking adaptation of the beloved Charles Dickens novel. Jim Carrey portrays history's most famous miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who spends Christmas time by nursing his own bitterness and showering contempt on those around him. But when he's visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, he comes to realize the effects of his behavior. Will he grab the chance to change his life, or will it be too late? The plot should be familiar from dozens of screen adaptations, yet Zemeckis' inventiveness and a terrific cast (also including Gary Oldman and Robin Wright Penn) make audiences experience it as if for the first time.

This Is It (Columbia Pictures): With all the hoopla surrounding his eccentricities and scandals, it's often easy to forget what an astounding performer Michael Jackson really was. This unique behind-the-scenes look at the singer's last concert, made not long before his death this summer, gives viewers an exhilarating reminder of him as both an entertainer and an artist. The film has glimpses of Jackson practicing with a troupe of dancer in preparation for a London concert, and it includes generous doses of his greatest hits ("Billie Jean," "Thriller," "Beat It," "Black or White"). Director Kenny Ortega is an experienced hand at musical choreography (he's responsible for the last "High School Musical" installments), and the way he captures Jackson at work should impress fans and non-fans alike.

New on DVD:

Netflix Tip: One way to find interesting movies is to follow not just directors, but also actors. While searching for your next pick, do a little research and find the titles of some of the earlier films from a favorite performer's career. You may be surprised at their versatility.

Up (Walk Disney Pictures.): Pixar once again raises the bar in animated features with this colorful, family-friendly, heartrendingly humanistic adventure. The story focuses on Carl Fredrickson (voiced by Ed Asner), an elderly widower whose sense of adventure is sparked again by Russell (Jordan Nagai), a cheerful Boy Scout. Russell's enthusiasm is such that Carl decides to pursue his dreams of being an explorer, even if that means literally floating away in his house with the help of thousands of balloons. Following the two characters through a series of ravishing, comic and poignant episodes, directors Peter Docter ("Cars") and Bob Peterson offer some of the studio's most visually engaging and emotionally rich moments. Make sure to catch it in 3D.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (Columbia): Most movie remakes donÍt bring much new to the original stories, but this revamping of the smart and exciting 1974 thriller delivers plenty of thrills of its own. It seems like a day like any other for New York subway dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington), until a subway train is suddenly hijacked by bandits during his shift. As he negotiates the ransom demands over the radio with criminal mastermind Ryder (John Travolta), Walter uses his knowledge of the cityÍs underground system to help the police. Will he make it before time runs out? ThereÍs more than enough testosterone to go around, courtesy of director Tony Scott (ñTop Gunî), though itÍs the sharp interplay between Washington and Travolta that makes the movie fly.

Lake Tahoe (Film Movement): Mexican director Fernando Eimbcke, who made the charming comedy "Duck Season," returns to the subject of young people finding themselves with this offbeat sleeper. We first meet Juan (Diego Catano) in the aftermath of an accident, after he's hit his car on the side of the road. All he needs is to replace a piece of the motor, but finding a mechanic in his sleepy town makes his journey a day-long adventure. Along the way, we meet eccentric characters such as a teenage mechanic with a kung-fu obsession and an old man who gets Juan to take care of his dog. We also learn, subtly and gracefully, of the family situation that got Juan in trouble in the first place. Gently sad and funny, it's one worth seeking out. With subtitles.