Chris Columbus

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Patti Cake$ Review

Essential

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie this year. It's an almost outrageously quirky comedy that shamelessly plays every crowd-pleasing card, but in ways we've never seen before. The offbeat characters are ridiculously loveable, the music infectious and the plot strong enough to have us on our feet cheering at the end.

In suburban New Jersey, Patti (Danielle Macdonald) is a chunky white girl who dreams of being a rapper like her idol O-Z (Sahr Ngaujah). She lives with her larger-than-life mother Barb (Bridgett Everett) and her cranky wheelchair-bound Nana (Cathy Moriarty), both of whom had musical ambitions of their own. Against all odds, she forms an act with her best pal Jheri (Siddharth Dhananjay), and they're understandably struggling to get noticed. Then she meets Basterd (Mamoudou Athie), a death-metal anarchist who joins her, Jheri and Nana in perhaps the nuttiest band of all time, PBNJ. The surprise is that their demo tape is actually very good. The question is whether they can win an upcoming competition organised by O-Z himself.

Writer-director Geremy Jasper shoots the film like a documentary, staying close to the characters as the real world rumbles along obliviously in the background. This draws the audience in, making it very easy to identify with these talented, likeable people who produce exhilarating music. Australian newcomer Macdonald is simply amazing, a magnetic force to reckon with. She brings Patti's yearning to life, as well as her snarky sense of humour, rapping skills and more than a little bitterness. She also has superb chemistry with all of her costars, each of whom develops a fully formed character who defies easy description. But then each person in this story deserves an entire film of his or her own.

Continue reading: Patti Cake$ Review

Chris Columbus Wants More 'Harry Potter' Movies


Chris Columbus Harry Potter Jk Rowling

Director Chris Columbus has revealed that he would like to make a series of sequels to the Harry Potter movies. He’s “fascinated” by the plotlines and back stories of the main characters, such as Hermione Grainger, Ron Weasley and the boy wizard himself, and would like to explore what happened to them after the books finished.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the 56 year old filmmaker who directed the first three official Harry Potter movies (Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban) said he wants to fill in the 19 year gap between the final book and its epilogue. Columbus is “fascinated about what happened to them” and wants to tell their stories.

Chris ColumbusChris Columbus has expressed an interest in theoretical 'Harry Potter' sequels

Continue reading: Chris Columbus Wants More 'Harry Potter' Movies

Pixels Chris Columbus - Featurette Trailer


Ahead of the release of comedy adventure 'Pixels' later this summer, the cast of the movie; Michelle Monaghan, Brian Cox, Josh Gad and Peter Dinklage; share their appraisals of Chris Columbus, who took on the movie as director.

Continue: Pixels Chris Columbus - Featurette Trailer

Pixels - Extended Trailer


Back in the eighties, NASA sent a time capsule up into space to connect with possible life forces on other planets. But when neighbouring aliens discover a feed of classic arcade games such as Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede and Space Invaders, they interpret it is a threat of war. Fearing for the safety of their planet, they send pixelated monsters in the shape of beloved video game characters to Earth to destroy mankind, and the only people who can stop it are record-breaking gamers Sam Brenner, Will Cooper, Ludlow Lamonsoff and Eddie "The Fire Blaster" Plant. Lt. Col. Violet Van Patten is also on the team, providing a set of creative weapons to defeat the characters. But can this group of gaming experts really stop Pac Man eating up the city?

Continue: Pixels - Extended Trailer

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb Review


Good

Now in its third instalment, it's clearer than ever that this franchise is based on one joke that has been stretched far beyond the breaking point. And not too cleverly at that. Fortunately, this movie retains much of the deranged idiocy that made the second part rather enjoyable. So it's watchable even if there aren't many new ideas, and even if filmmaker Shawn Levy is far too happy to settle for unnecessary digital effects work where a bit of character comedy would have been much more engaging.

Back on the job as a night watchman in New York, Larry (Ben Stiller) is now orchestrating the museum exhibits when they come to life to provide spectacular shows for visitors who think this is all a special effect. Even his boss (Ricky Gervais) isn't sure what's really going on. But when a glitch in the magical Ancient Egyptian powers causes chaos, Larry learns that he needs to travel to London so he can reunite Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek) with his father (Ben Kingsley), who's on display at the British Museum. Larry's teen son Nick (Skyler Gisondo) comes along, as do his revived pals Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), tiny soldiers Octavius and Jedediah (Steve Coogan and Owen Wilson) and others. But in London, while sneaking around local night guard Tilly (Rebel Wilson), Larry's team awakens a statue of the knight Lancelot (Dan Stevens), who dives into their quest with rather a bit too much gusto.

Until Lancelot turns up, everything about the film feels oddly tired, from the starry cameos to effects work that strains to be clever. Then Stevens injects a badly needed jolt of blue-eyed charisma and warped comical timing that makes the rest of the movie rather good fun. Rebel Wilson's side-plot is also rather amusing, with some wonderfully ridiculous touches. And even the cameos get better, notably a scene on a West End stage that's genuinely inspired silliness. Coogan and Wilson offer some raucous banter to accompany everything that happens, and Stiller kind of hangs on for dear life. But the filmmakers don't really care about these characters; they're just trying to create something visually impressive that's also goofy fun.

Continue reading: Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb Review

Robbin Williams: The Rocky Road To Mrs Doubtfire 2


Robin Williams Chris Columbus

When acting legend Robin Williams tragically passed away on 11 August, he left behind three adult children, a wife and a legion of fans heartbroken at the loss of such a talent. He also left behind a dense catalogue of hilarity, impressive drama and a cacophony of characters that only he could bring to life.

Mrs Doubtfire
Robin Williams transformed into Mrs Doubtfire at the Cannes Film Festival

One of these characters was the unconventional Mrs. Doubtfire, first released on the public in 1993.

Continue reading: Robbin Williams: The Rocky Road To Mrs Doubtfire 2

'Mrs. Doubtfire' Cast Reluctant For Sequel: A Cash Cow For Robin Williams?


Robin Williams Chris Columbus Sally Field Mara Wilson

The news that a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel is definitely in the works 21 years after the 1993 comedy classic has been met mostly with hearty cries of "hooray" and reminiscing about the movie's poofy early '90s hair-dos, bad fashion and the endlessly funny story of a man who disguises himself as an elderly Scottish nanny in order to sneak his way back into his ex-wife's and children's lives.

Robin Williams
Robin Williams Will Play Mrs. Doubtfire Again, In An Upcoming Sequel.

However, others have reacted with a mixture of trepidation and concern for fond childhood memories which could be about to be splattered all over a wall if Hollywood makes a classic hash of this most precarious of follow-up films. Actor Robin Williams and director Chris Columbus are driving the motion for a sequel, which is said to have been in slow development since 2001, the Mrs. Doubtfire sequel reportedly stalled several times due to Columbus and Williams not being sold on any proposed new takes.

Continue reading: 'Mrs. Doubtfire' Cast Reluctant For Sequel: A Cash Cow For Robin Williams?

Corey Feldman Echoes Richard Donner: 'The Goonies' Sequel Is "Close" To Becoming A Reality


Corey Feldman Josh Brolin Richard Donner Steven Spielberg Martha Plimpton Kerri Green Chris Columbus

Director Richard Donner unofficially confirmed he was working on a sequel to the hit 1985 children's classic, The Goonies, on Saturday (5th April). Although rumors have circulated for years, he stated the project was being seriously considered but gave little indication as to a release date or further details.

Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman has told fans all he knows about The Goonies 2.

Read more: The Goonies Director, Richard Donner, Unofficially Confirms A Sequel Is In The Works.

Continue reading: Corey Feldman Echoes Richard Donner: 'The Goonies' Sequel Is "Close" To Becoming A Reality

Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters Review


Good

There can't have been a very big demand for a sequel to 2010's The Lightning Thief, but at least this is another adequate adventure for the teen demigods. Much more child-friendly than the first movie, this episode is essentially just a series of heavily animated action set-pieces strung together by the flimsiest of plots. At least it has a sense of energy and some jagged humour to keep grown-ups engaged.

At Half-blood Camp, the refuge for the children of gods with mortals, Percy (Lerman) continues his rivalry with hot-shot Clarisse (Rambin). And when the protective barrier around the camp is poisoned, it's Clarisse who leads a mission to find the healing Golden Fleece in the Sea of Monsters. But Percy knows that he's the subject of a prophecy about the fleece being used to resurrect the destructive Chronos, and that his nemesis Luke (Abel) is up to something evil. So Percy takes his friends Grover and Annabeth (Jackson and Daddario), plus his newly discovered cyclops half-brother Tyson (Smith), and heads off on his own quest.

Despite a few close calls in which characters come close to death, we're pretty sure nothing nasty will happen to these young franchise characters. But director Freudenthal (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) never hangs around long enough for us to realise that there isn't actually any suspense or intrigue in the plot. The film's pace is frantic, as the characters bolt from one crazy scenario to the next, often without bothering to logically connect the two. Several scenes could be cut without changing the story, while others are pure indulgence, such as Fillion's extended cameo as Luke's parcel-delivering father Hermes.

Continue reading: Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters Review

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Trailer


Watch the trailer for Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Continue: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Trailer

Chris Columbus

Chris Columbus Quick Links

News Video Film Quotes RSS

Chris Columbus

Date of birth

10th September, 1958

Occupation

Filmmaker

Sex

Male


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Chris Columbus Movies

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

Pixels Chris Columbus - Featurette Trailer

Pixels Chris Columbus - Featurette Trailer

Ahead of the release of comedy adventure 'Pixels' later this summer, the cast of the...

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Pixels - Extended Trailer

Pixels - Extended Trailer

Back in the eighties, NASA sent a time capsule up into space to connect with...

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Movie Review

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Movie Review

Now in its third instalment, it's clearer than ever that this franchise is based on...

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Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Movie Review

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Movie Review

There can't have been a very big demand for a sequel to 2010's The Lightning...

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Trailer

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Trailer

Watch the trailer for Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson isn't...

Rent - Trailer Trailer

Rent - Trailer Trailer

Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning revolutionary rock opera Rent tells the story of a group of...

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