More Disney Movie Information

[Another Voice]

Here’s a fresh helping of the latest Disney marketing for their films in the upcoming year. These descriptions are taken straight from the spinning camels so I make no claim to anything it says.


The Alamo
Where myth meets history… where legend meets reality… the roads cross at San Antonio de Bexar and the small, ruined mission there: The Alamo. In the spring of 1836, nearly 200 Texans – men of all races who believed in the future of Texas – held the fort for 13 days under siege by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, ruler of Mexico and commander of its forces. Led by three men – the young, brash Col. William Travis; the violent, passionate James Bowie; and the larger-than-life living legend David Crockett – the Texans and their deeds at the Alamo would pass into history as General Sam Houston’s rallying cry for Texas independence and into legend for their symbolic significance.


Brining Down the House
Peter Sanderson (STEVE MARTIN) is a divorced, straight-laced, uptight attorney who still loves his ex-wife (JEAN SMART) and can’t figure out what he did wrong to make her leave him. However, Peter’s trying to move on, and he’s smitten with a brainy, bombshell barrister he’s been chatting with on-line. However, when she comes to his house for their first face to face, she isn’t refined, isn’t Ivy League, and isn’t even a lawyer. Instead, it’s Charlene (QUEEN LATIFAH), a prison escapee who’s proclaiming her innocence and wants Peter to help clear her name. But Peter wants nothing to do with her, prompting the loud and shocking Charlene to turn Peter’s perfectly ordered life upside down, jeopardizing his effort to get back with his wife and woo a billion dollar client (JOAN PLOWRIGHT). In the end, our unlikely pair has the chance to put each other’s lives on higher ground…if they don’t end up bringing down the house.


Cold Creek Manor
Finally putting an end to their days as slaves to the hustle-bustle city life, Gothamites Cooper Tilson (DENNIS QUAID) and his wife, Leah (SHARON STONE), pack up their kids and all their possessions and move into a recently repossessed mansion in the sticks of New York State. Once a grand and elegant manor, the house at Cold Creek is now a shambles, but Cooper and Leah have unlimited time to show the house the TLC that it desperately needs. All’s well until Dale Massie (STEPHEN DORFF), the house’s former owner, gets out of prison, looking to reclaim his birthright by any means necessary. There are two kinds of people in Cold Creek – those who come there, and those who are born there – and Dale quickly shows that one kind always comes out on top, particularly when the house hides a dark secret.


Disney’s The Haunted Mansion
Workaholic real-estate agent Jim Evers (EDDIE MURPHY} drags his family up to the big, creepy Gracey mansion in hopes of rebuilding it into a lavish new condo development. When they get there, however, the family quickly finds that they’re not alone… not when 999 grim, grinning ghosts come out to socialize! With all these happy haunts that won’t leave until their unfinished business has been completed, it’s up to Jim to break the curse – and rediscover a family that needs him – before the clock strikes 13.


Finding Nemo
The Academy Award®-winning creators of “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” and “Monsters, Inc.” dive into a whole new world of computer-animated fun, fantasy, and heartfelt emotion with this splashy underwater adventure. The film follows the comedic and eventful journeys of two fish – Marlin and his son Nemo – who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken from home and thrust into a fish tank in a dentist’s office overlooking Sydney Harbor. Buoyed by the companionship of a friendly-but-forgetful fish named Dory, the overly cautious father embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic journey to rescue his son - who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home


Freaky Friday
Dr. Tess Coleman (JAMIE LEE CURTIS) and her fifteen-year-old daughter, Anna (LINDSAY LOHAN), are not getting along. They don’t see eye-to-eye on clothes, hair, music, and certainly not in each other’s taste in men. One Thursday evening, their disagreements reach a fever pitch -- Anna is incensed that her mother doesn’t support her musical aspirations and Tess, a widow about to remarry, can’t see why Anna won’t give her fiancé (MARK HARMON) a break. Everything soon changes when two identical Chinese Fortune Cookies cause a little mystic mayhem. On the next morning, their Friday gets freaky when Tess and Anna find themselves inside the other’s body. As they literally walk a mile in each other’s shoes, they gain a little newfound respect for the other’s point of view. But with Tess’s wedding coming on Saturday, the two have to find a way to switch back (and fast). Mary Rodgers’ classic novel gets a new spin in this big-screen adaptation.


Hildago
Based on the true story of the greatest long-distance horse race ever run, “Hidalgo” is an epic action-adventure and one man’s journey of personal redemption. Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire—a 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian Desert—was a challenge restricted to the finest Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and noblest lines, owned by the greatest royal families. In 1890, a wealthy Sheik invited an American and his horse to enter the race for the first time. Frank T. Hopkins (VIGGO MORTENSEN) was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the US cavalry who had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The Sheik (OMAR SHARIF) would put this claim to the test, pitting the American cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, against the world’s greatest Arabian horses and Bedouin riders—some of whom were determined to prevent the foreigner from finishing the race. For Frank, the Ocean of Fire becomes not only a matter of pride and honor, but a race for his very survival as he and his horse, Hidalgo, attempt the impossible.


Holes
Based on the award-winning book by Louis Sachar, “Holes” is a funny and poignant coming-of-age adventure. It tells the story of Stanley Yelnats (SHIA LaBEOUF) - an unusual young hero, dogged by bad luck stemming from an ancient family curse. Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is unfairly sentenced to months of detention at Camp Green Lake for a crime he didn’t commit. There, he and his campmates – Squid, Armpit, ZigZag, Magnet, X-Ray, and Zero – are forced by the menacing warden (SIGOURNEY WEAVER) and her right-hand men Mr. Sir (JON VOIGHT) and Mr. Pendanski (TIM BLAKE NELSON) to dig holes in order to build character. Nobody knows the real reason they’re digging all these holes, but Stanley soon begins to question why the Warden is so interested in anything “special” the boys find. Stanley and his campmates must stick together and keep one step ahead of the Warden and her henchmen as they plot a daring escape from the camp to solve the mystery and break the Yelnats family curse.


Hope Springs
In this charming romantic comedy, British artist Colin Ware (COLIN FIRTH) discovers that his fiancée, Vera (MINNIE DRIVER), the love of his life, is going to marry another man. Distraught and despondent, he gets on a plane for America and ends up in the tiny town of Hope in New England. At first, Colin is depressed, but he soon finds more than a shoulder to cry on when his innkeepers introduce him to Mandy (HEATHER GRAHAM), a beautiful nurse. All's going well and Colin has almost forgotten his old flame… until Vera suddenly shows up with a surprise of her own. “Hope Springs” is about finding happiness where you least expect it.


The Jungle Book 2
Disney’s “The Jungle Book 2” adds an all-new animated chapter to one of the best-loved animated classics of all time. Mowgli now lives in the man village, and he loves his new family and friends, especially his feisty little step-brother Ranjan and his best pal Shanti, the girl who initially wooed Mowgli from the jungle. But Mowgli misses his buddy Baloo, who likewise pines for his little man-cub. Baloo isn’t the only one hoping to see Mowgli again soon - Shere Khan impatiently awaits his revenge. When Mowgli sneaks away to the jungle, the chase is on to see who will find Mowgli first - his old pals, his new family, or the man-eating tiger. It’s an adventure packed with thrills, songs and fun for the whole family. The film gets a musical boost from both a reprise of “The Bare Necessities” and Smash Mouth’s rousing rendition of “I Wan’na Be Like You” as well as new tunes like the show-stopping “W-I-L-D” and the swinging beat of “Jungle Rhythm.”


The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Disney’s “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” serves up the comic foibles of lovable Lizzie McGuire and her pals Gordo, Kate, and Ethan, who all pack their bags and plan to live la dolce vita while on a class trip to Italy. Once there, Lizzie is mistaken for Isabella (who is part of an Italian pop duo) and begins to fall for Paolo (Isabella's handsome Italian pop star former boyfriend). When Lizzie’s mom, dad, and annoying brother Matt get wind of this, they all jet their way to the boot country. In the meantime, Lizzie is transformed from a gawky teen to a beautiful pop star, Gordo struggles to understand his true feelings for her, and a whirlwind of surprising events force Lizzie to find the true meaning of friendship. Disney’s “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” brings a new kick to the old world in this hilarious comedy.


Open Range
Academy-Award winning director Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves”) helms this traditional Western tale of a way of life that is quickly disappearing. Boss Spearman (ROBERT DUVALL), Charley Waite (KEVIN COSTNER), Mose Harrison (ABRAHAM BENRUBI) and “Button” (DIEGO LUNA) freegraze their cattle across the vast prairies of the West, sharing a friendship forged by a steadfast code of honor and living a life unencumbered by civilization. When their wayward herd forces them near the small town of Harmonville, the cowboys encounter a corrupt Sheriff (JAMES RUSSO) and kingpin rancher (MICHAEL GAMBON) who govern the territory through fear, tyranny and violence. Boss and Charley find themselves inextricably drawn towards the inevitable showdown as they are forced to defend the freedom and values of a lifestyle that is all too quickly vanishing. Amidst this turmoil, life suddenly takes an unexpected turn for loner Charley when he meets the beautiful and warm-spirited Sue Barlow (ANNETTE BENING), a woman who embraces both his heart and his soul. As these courageous men prepare for the decisive battle that looms, they are also forced to confront and conquer their own internal demons.


Piglet’s Big Movie
“Piglet’s Big Movie” brings “the little pink guy” to center stage for a story of friendship and appreciation as the gang from the Hundred Acre Wood learns that it doesn’t take somebody big to do big things. Piglet gets that inferior feeling when his friends begin a “honey harvest” and he is told that he’s too small to help. When Piglet disappears, the others use his scrapbook as a map to find him - and in the process discover that this “Very Small Animal” has been a big hero in a lot of ways. After an eventful search and a dramatic climax, Piglet once again demonstrates how large an influence he has been on his pals. The film features several new songs written and performed by Carly Simon, including “If I Wasn’t So Small” (The Piglet Song), the heartfelt “Mother’s Intuition” and the enchanting “With a Few Good Friends.”


Pirates of the Caribbean
Caribbean Sea, in the 17th century. Jack Sparrow, a gentleman rogue of a pirate, teams up with the daughter of a governor to stop the evil plan of a ship of dangerous pirates, led by the evil Captain Blackheart, who are trying to reverse an ancient curse that leaves them stuck between life and dead, with the light of the moon revealing their skeletons.


The Recruit
In an era when the country’s first line of defense, intelligence, is more important than ever, comes an explosive thriller starring Al Pacino and Colin Farrell that for the first time opens the CIA’s infamous closed doors and gives an insider’s view into the Agency: how trainees are recruited, how they are prepared for the spy game, and what they learn to survive. James Clayton (COLIN FARRELL) might not have the attitude of a typical recruit, but he is one of the smartest graduating seniors in the country – and he’s just the person that Walter Burke (AL PACINO) wants in the Agency. James regards the CIA’s mission as an intriguing alternative to an ordinary life, but before he becomes an Ops Officer, James has to survive the Agency’s secret training ground, where green recruits are molded into seasoned veterans. As Burke teaches him the ropes and the rules of the game, James quickly rises through the ranks and falls for Layla (BRIDGET MOYNAHAN), one of his fellow recruits. But just when James starts to question his role and his cat-and-mouse relationship with his mentor, Burke taps him for a special assignment to root out a mole. As the suspense builds toward a gripping climax, it soon becomes clear that the CIA’s old maxims are true: “trust no one” and “nothing is what it seems.”


Shanghai Knights
After taming the Wild West in the comedy “Shanghai Noon,” Chon Wang (JACKIE CHAN) and Roy O’Bannon (OWEN WILSON) are back in the saddle, but off the range – this time, they’re out to settle a score in civilized London in the sequel, “Shanghai Knights.” When Chon’s estranged father is mysteriously murdered, Chon and Roy make their way to London to track down the killer. Chon’s sister, Lin, has the same idea, and uncovers a worldwide conspiracy to murder the royal family – but almost no one will believe her. With the help of a kindly Scotland Yard Inspector and a 10-year-old street urchin, the acrobatic Chon (Chan) gives Victorian Britain a kick in the pants as he attempts to avenge his father’s death – and keep the romance-minded Roy away from his sister. Hilarious escapades, hair-raising adventure, and high-flying martial-arts action await our heroes as they do for Big Ben, Madame Toussaud’s, and the Covent Gardens what they did for the Old West.


Under the Tuscan Sun
Frances Mayes (DIANE LANE) is a 35-year-old San Francisco writer whose perfect life has just taken an unexpected detour. Her recent divorce has left her with terminal writer’s block and extremely depressed, and her best friend, Patti (SANDRA OH), is beginning to think she might never recover. “Dr. Patti’s” Rx: 10 days in Tuscany. And it’s there that, on a whim, Frances purchases a villa named Bramasole – literally, “something that yearns for the sun.” The home needs much restoration, but what better place for a new beginning than the home of the Renaissance? As she flings herself into her new life at the villa in the lush and beautiful Italian countryside, Frances makes new friends among her neighbors, but in the quiet moments, she is fearful that her ambitions for her new life – and a new family – may not be realized… until a chance encounter in Rome throws Frances into the arms of an intriguing Portobello antiquities dealer named Marcello (RAOUL BOVA). Can this be what she dreamed of? Can love last with Marcello? Will her new life flower under the Tuscan sun?


Veronica Guerin
In the mid-1990s, Dublin was nothing short of a war zone, with a few powerful drug lords battling for control. Their most fearsome opponent was not the police but the courageous journalist Veronica Guerin (CATE BLANCHETT), who covered the crime beat with unmatched intensity. As she investigated and exposed the “pushers,” balancing her home and family against her responsibility to her readers and her country, she became a national folk heroine to the people of Ireland; each attempt on her life only galvanized her legend. Her brutal murder in 1996 forced a dramatic revision of Ireland’s laws and led to the arrests of the nation’s top criminals. Based on a true story, this powerful, emotional film from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down,” and director Joel Schumacher (“Bad Company,” “A Time to Kill,” “Falling Down,” “Tigerland”), gives unique insight into a fascinating and complex aspect of the Irish conflict and a poignant portrayal of a journalist who risked her life in search of the truth. [Note: may not be released in 2003]